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Is Britain’s welfare state still a safety net or has it become a pipeline for long-term dependency? Almost one in ten six-year-olds are now categorised as disabled through the benefits system and, on current trends, that figure would rise to one in four 16-year-olds. Reality Check’s Michael Simmons speaks to The Times's Fraser Nelson – former editor of this parish – about his investigation into Britain’s welfare system: why mental health and behavioural claims among children have surged, how disability benefits can follow young people into adulthood and why the system can leave people financially worse off for working. Can Britain break the welfare ‘pipeline’ and what would real reform look like? This episode is brought to you by Artemis Fund Managers, for more information on our fund range please click here: https://www.artemisfunds.com/ Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Gove is joined by historian Simon Schama to discuss the resurgence of antisemitism in Britain, why many British Jews increasingly feel unsafe, and what history can teach us about the war in Gaza. Simon argues that the language of genocide is being misapplied to Gaza and warns that historical ignorance, social media and political polarisation are fuelling a new strain of antisemitism on both left and right. They also discuss Holocaust education, Donald Trump and the politics of truth, the treatment of Jewish students in Britain, and what the rise of antisemitism tells us about the health of liberal democracy. Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Henry Lloyd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this week’s Book Club, Sam Leith, the Spectator’s literary editor, is joined by Shaun Bythell, proprietor of The Book Shop in Wigtown, Scotland, and author of The Diary of a Bookseller series, to discuss the fourth instalment, The Return of the Bookseller’s Diary. They discuss the strange characters who wander into second-hand bookshops, the customers who haggle over £2 books, and how Bythell’s shop helped turn Wigtown into Scotland’s unlikely book town. They also explore the changing world of bookselling, from the rise of online marketplaces to the 18th-century bookseller James Lackington, whose ‘buy cheap, sell cheap’ philosophy has more than a little in common with Amazon. Plus, Bythell reveals how keeping a diary has changed the way he sees his customers, the unexpected consequences of becoming a published author, and why the Covid-19 pandemic proved surprisingly good for business. Produced by Abigail Brierley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Gove is joined by shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy, live at Conservative party conference in Birmingham, to discuss prisons, policing and the fight against Islamist extremism. Nick reflects on swapping life as a Downing Street adviser for the Commons and makes the case that prison works, before turning to the Tories’ plan for 50,000 new prison places. Britain, he argues, must ‘come down like a ton of bricks’ on extremists – but why did 14 years of Conservative government fail to draw that line? Plus: West Midlands Police’s ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, the Trafalgar Square iftar, and why Nick changed his mind on legalising cannabis. Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Henry Lloyd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Prue Leith covers her foray into fashion and her life post-Bake Off; John Connolly explores Manchester's close links with the UAE; Flora Watkins asks whatever happened to the midlife crisis; and Lloyd Evans observes a far-right march. Produced and presented by Abigail Brierley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Franz Liszt is remembered as one of the great showmen of the 19th century: a dazzling virtuoso, breaker of pianos and notorious womaniser who inspired a frenzy among his admirers. But a profound Catholic faith ran through his life, which found an increasingly powerful expression in his music. For this Holy Smoke episode, Damian Thompson is joined by the award-winning British pianist Charles Owen, whose new album De Profundis explores the sacred music of both Liszt and César Franck. Owen explains how Liszt translated the stories of saints, scripture and even birdsong into what he argues is some of the most extraordinary music ever written for the piano. Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this special edition of Reality Check, economics editor Michael Simmons hosts a panel from Conservative Party conference on Britain’s growing NEETs crisis: the hundreds of thousands of young people not in education, employment or training. He is joined by shadow education secretary Laura Trott, the CBI’s Megan Bulford, Spectator commissioning editor Lara Brown and the CPS's Daniel Herring. Why are so many young people struggling to enter the labour market, and is the problem education, welfare, the cost of hiring or something deeper? The panel debate the value of university compared with apprenticeships, whether tax and employment regulation are shutting younger workers out, and whether Britain’s welfare system is making it too easy for young people to fall out of work altogether. Plus: are rising anxiety and poor mental health driving the crisis or are they symptoms of a labour market that is failing the young? Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this week’s Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by the Spectator’s commissioning editor Tali Fraser, Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens and the historian and Conservative peer Andrew Roberts. This week: why is antisemitism rising on both the left and right of British politics? On the third anniversary of 7 October, Tali writes in this week’s cover story about what she sees as a growing antisemitic convergence between Zack Polanski's Green Party and Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain. The panel discuss the Green Party’s ‘Zionism is racism’ motion – passed this week at their conference in Brighton – and the increasingly blurred line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Is this simply history repeating itself or has something changed in British politics since 7 October? Is the American right helping to normalise some of these ideas? And what does it mean for British Jews, many of whom now face extraordinary security measures simply to attend synagogue? Plus: did Kemi Badenoch have a good Conservative party conference? Andrew argues that she has finally set out the ideological battle lines, while Peter remains sceptical that the Tory recovery is real – and warns that Reform could still do serious damage. And finally: Andrew discusses his new book Napoleon and His Marshals, Peter makes the case for paying to visit Britain’s cathedrals, and the panel ask what’s happened to the midlife crisis. Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Book Club podcast, Sam Leith is joined by author Matthew Sweet to discuss his new biography, The Great Dictator, about the bestselling novelist Barbara Cartland. They explore the extraordinary life behind Barbara Cartland’s instantly recognisable image – from her beginnings in the aftermath of the First World War to her career as one of the bestselling authors of all time. They discuss why Cartland was so often dismissed as a joke by literary critics, and how her novels offered generations of women stories of romance, aspiration and consolation. They delve into the political side of her life, including her opposition to appeasement, her campaigning on behalf of Romani travellers and her close relationship with her brother, MP Ronald Cartland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch has opened Conservative party conference 2026 with statement on her political philosophy, and Michael and Maddie are in Birmingham to go through it. Michael is struck by how much of it disavows the government that he served in, from net zero to the Liz Truss mini-Budget, while Maddie welcomes a leader prepared to argue for incentives over optics. Will backing higher earners revive the 'nasty party' charge – and can Kemi see off Reform's pitch to highly productive workers? They also put the triple lock to a show of hands, with surprising results, and ask whether Shabana Mahmood has been left exposed by Andy Burnham in cabinet. Also: the Greens have voted to describe Zionism as racism. What does that mean for the voters who backed them over rivers and recycling? News clip credit: X.com / Sky News Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Henry Lloyd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: James Heale reflects on Labour party conference; Angus Colwell goes on the hunt for Britain’s wokest bar; Lisa Haseldine reveals what she has been stockpiling; and Chas Newkey-Burden provides his notes on pickled onions. Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Heale, Tim Shipman and Tali Fraser record live from Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. As we pass the two year mark of Kemi Badenoch's leadership of the Tory Party, the panel discuss whether she has done enough to win voters over and whether the party is ready for an early general election. Did Kemi miss a trick in not pressuring new Prime Minister Andy Burnham for one – and could Kemi survive an election defeat? Plus, the panel answer a variety of audience questions including: how to make Conservatism more attractive to younger people, how much the Manchester City scandal could tarnish Brand Burnham – and whether the pensions triple lock should be abolished. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Gove is joined by novelist and former Conservative Party deputy chairman Jeffrey Archer to discuss his final novel, Adam and Eve, and a life spent close to the centre of British politics. Jeffrey explains how the book was inspired by September 1940, when Hitler changed his mind three times about invading Britain. They also discuss class, snobbery in the House of Lords, Diana, and his advice for Harry and Meghan. Plus: Jeffrey reflects on Margaret Thatcher, reveals the prime minister he believes is the most underrated, and considers whether Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage could ever reach an electoral agreement. Jeffrey Archer’s final book, Adam and Eve, published by HarperCollins is out on the 6th of October 2026, pre-order here… Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Henry Lloyd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Heale is joined by Tim Shipman and Liam Halligan, Telegraph columnist and the new director of the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), to look ahead to Conservative party conference, which kicks off today. Kemi Badenoch’s latest attempt to draw clear dividing lines with Andy Burnham was through a tougher welfare offer aimed at the under-25s – as exclusively revealed by Tim in the Spectator this week. Will this, alongside tougher fiscal restraint and general plain speaking, appeal to the wider public? Plus: how do the Conservatives outflank Reform while seeking to appeal to those in the centre-ground who may have turned to Labour at the next election? The panel also discuss the state of public finances, the role of think-tanks such as the CPS and what to watch for in Birmingham – from party donors and business representatives, to the mood of younger activists. Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Simmons is joined live at Labour conference by TUC general secretary Paul Nowak to discuss the state of Britain’s labour market. Are higher wages and stronger employment rights making it harder to hire, or are taxpayers subsidising too many low-paid, insecure jobs? They also discuss energy costs, social care, taxing wealth and banks, and Labour’s biggest mistakes in government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.