The Wargame podcast: Fictional prime minister addresses the nation after Russia launches attack
The prime minister of a fictional British government is preparing to deliver an address to the nation after the UK came under armed attack from Russia in the latest episode of The Wargame podcast.
Were this happening for real, it would mark the most significant public broadcast by any British leader since the Second World War.
"Am I actually going to do it?" Sir Ben Wallace asks, breaking briefly from character in the new podcast series by Sky News and Tortoise.
The former Conservative defence secretary is playing the part of the prime minister, leading a team of fellow former top politicians and military and security chiefs in the scenario.
The British side is pitched against an imagined Kremlin.
The Russian attack has triggered a state of emergency in the UK.
Normal, everyday life has stopped. People across the country are being told to stay at home. Travel is restricted and the UK airspace has been closed.
The threat of a new wave of attacks is very real.
0:52
Needing to inform the public about what is going on and how the UK is fighting back, the prime minister is told that he really is going to deliver an address.
He exits a Cobra crisis meeting and enters a small radio booth for the broadcast.
4:35
The address to the nation is a key moment in episode 3 of The Wargame podcast series by Sky News and Tortoise, which is released on Tuesday along with episode 4.
The first two episodes were released last week and the fifth episode is out next week.
The scenario is designed to test the UK's defences after decades of cost-saving cuts. It also explores the reliability of Britain's NATO allies, in particular the United States.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
34 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Reeves considers softening inheritance tax changes amid non-dom backlash
Rachel Reeves is considering caving in to City lobbying and softening changes to inheritance tax that affect wealthy individuals who would previously have been 'non-doms', reports suggest. In her autumn budget, the chancellor confirmed that she would scrap the non-dom tax status, which allowed wealthy individuals with connections abroad to avoid paying full UK tax on their overseas earnings. 'Those that make the UK their home should pay their taxes here,' she said at the time. Jeremy Hunt, her predecessor, had already sounded the death knell for non-dom status, but Reeves's changes were expected to raise an additional £12.7bn over five years. She then announced minor adjustments to the transitional arrangements to the new regime at the Davos summit in January, after a backlash from some wealthy individuals. However, Reeves is now reportedly considering modifying changes that came into force in April, which make the worldwide assets of all UK residents subject to inheritance tax (IHT) at 40% – even if these are placed in trusts, according a report in the Financial Times. Responding to the report, a Treasury spokesperson said: 'As the chancellor set out at spring statement, the government will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure the new regime is internationally competitive and continues to focus on attracting the best talent and investment to the UK.' There have been reports of an 'exodus' of wealthy individuals from the UK, though these have been questioned by some analysts – including in a recent study from the thinktank the Tax Justice Network. When it projected the revenue from closing non-dom loopholes at Reeves's autumn budget, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility allowed for an additional 12%-25% of non-doms to leave the UK this year. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion But Reeves is keen to mollify wealthy global investors, as the Treasury is determined to attract foreign investment into the UK, as part of its mission to kickstart economic growth. She already faces a challenging fiscal picture in the run-up to the autumn budget, as the OBR is expected to revisit its optimistic productivity forecasts, potentially downgrading growth projections as a result.
The Herald Scotland
36 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Two-child benefit cap to end in Scotland from March 2026
The mitigation was first announced in 2023, but First Minister John Swinney said ministers needed time to put a system in place. READ MORE The benefit cap was introduced by then Chancellor George Osborne in his 2015 Budget. The policy, which came into effect in 2017, prevents households claiming child tax credit or universal credit from receiving support for a third or subsequent child born after 6 April that year. While popular with voters, campaigners have long blamed the limit for a surge in the relative poverty rate for children. It rose from 27% to 30% between 2010–11 and 2022–23 — an increase of 730,000 — with the rise entirely driven by a surge in relative poverty among families with three or more children. Labour is under pressure to reverse the policy, with Sir Keir Starmer saying he would be 'looking at all options' to tackle child poverty. The UK Government has so far resisted calls to scrap the cap, instead announcing a child poverty taskforce to look at tackling the "root causes" of child poverty., which essentially kicked the issue into the long grass. Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish Government could not wait for the UK Government (Image: Newsquest) Ms Somerville said Scotland could not afford to wait. 'The Scottish Government has consistently called on the UK Government to end the two child cap,' she said. 'Reports suggest they are reviewing the policy's impact, but the evidence is clear. Families — and Scotland — cannot wait any longer for Westminster to make up its mind. 'The Two Child Limit Payment will begin accepting applications in March next year.' She noted the policy would launch just 15 months after it was announced — the fastest rollout for a social security benefit in Scotland to date. 'This builds upon the considerable action we have taken, including delivering unparalleled financial support through our Scottish Child Payment, investing to clear school meal debt, and continuing to support almost 10,000 children by mitigating the UK Government's benefit cap as fully as possible,' she added. 'However, austerity decisions taken by the UK Government are holding back Scotland's progress. Modelling published in March shows that if the UK Government acted decisively on child poverty, they could help lift an estimated 100,000 children out of poverty this year.' According to the Scottish Fiscal Commission, the new policy will cost around £150 million in its first year, rising to nearly £200m by the end of the decade. In March, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned the policy could unintentionally discourage some low-income families from working more. While they said the Scottish Government mitigation was a cost-effective way to reduce child poverty, it could worsen 'cliff edges' in the benefits system. These occur when small increases in earnings result in large losses in benefits, meaning some families could be financially worse off by working extra hours. Anti-poverty charities have welcomed the Scottish Government decision and repeated calls for Westminster to abolish the cap nationwide. READ MORE John Dickie, Director of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said: 'It is absolutely right that the Scottish Government acts to effectively scrap the UK Government's two child benefit limit in Scotland. 'Families affected — most of whom are working — are facing real hardship, and the sooner these payments can be made, the better. 'The two child limit is the single biggest driver of child poverty across the UK. The Westminster Government must scrap it at source as a matter of utmost urgency. 'When it does, that will free up resources in Scotland to increase the Scottish Child Payment to the £40 a week that campaigners, including CPAG, have called for — helping make even more progress toward meeting Scotland's child poverty targets.'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Labour should give over-65s a stamp duty ‘freedom pass'
There's a growing problem in the housing market and it's hiding in plain sight. All over the country, large family homes are sitting half-empty. Children have long flown the nest, but their parents remain – more out of necessity than choice. It's not that older homeowners are unwilling to move on. Many would happily swap a high-maintenance house for a smart, well-located flat that suits their needs. But the reality of downsizing in this country is daunting. It's expensive, emotionally taxing, and, in many cases, downright impractical. Stamp duty is one of the biggest barriers. For someone in their 60s or 70s looking to downsize in London or the South East, it's not unusual for the tax bill alone to exceed £25,000. That's enough to stop even the most motivated mover in their tracks. So, here's a proposal for the Government: give homeowners over the age of 65 a one-time exemption from stamp duty, provided they're selling their primary residence and buying a smaller home. Think of it as a Freedom Pass for housing – a way to ease the burden of moving later in life and unlock thousands of family homes in the process. This isn't about forcing people out of their homes. It's about giving empty nesters the financial breathing room to make a decision that suits them – and benefits the wider market. When a couple in Primrose Hill or Clapham move out of a four-bedroom house, it creates space for a growing family to move up the ladder, and a first-time buyer to finally get on it. A single downsizer move can create a ripple effect of transactions. Imagine what this could free up for younger buyers. Almost four million older households, defined as aged 65 or more, under-occupy their homes, according to the English Housing Survey. A quarter have two spare bedrooms, while 40pc have three spare bedrooms and 21pc have four or more. Would cutting stamp duty encourage more people to move and free up some of this space? The closest way we can measure the potential impact of this policy change is to look at when the property tax was suspended during the pandemic. From July 2020 to July 2021, transactions increased by 19pc compared to the previous year. This is according to research from property firm CBRE, which concluded that the stamp duty holiday was key in stimulating this demand. This effect was more greatly pronounced in pricier properties. Average monthly sales of properties priced between £500,000 and £925,000 were 47pc higher than 2017-19, while transactions in the £925,000 to £1.5m price band were 40pc above normal levels. A stamp duty exemption would go a long way to helping free up space for upsizing families and first-time buyers. But we also need to talk about how hard it is for older homeowners to access finance. Some downsizers need to borrow a modest amount to top up their purchase, but if they're no longer in full-time employment, mortgage lenders offer little flexibility. Even those with significant equity and solid financial histories are often shut out of the market. We need more ways for people to access low-risk borrowing later in life. That might mean longer-term mortgages, more flexible affordability criteria or government-backed guarantees. Without this, many empty nesters find themselves asset-rich but trapped – unable to move because the financial system has written them off. Then there's the problem of stock. Downsizing doesn't mean settling for second best. These are buyers who want to stay in the neighbourhoods they love, close to friends, services and familiar routines. Too many new developments aimed at this demographic miss the mark, offering uninspiring homes in peripheral locations. If you've lived for 30 years in Dulwich, why would you move to a boxy flat on the edge of nowhere? Developers need to do better. That means building thoughtful, design-led homes with storage, light, and enough space for the grandchildren to stay. It means walkable neighbourhoods with cafés, shops and transport on the doorstep. And it means understanding that 'downsizing' isn't about giving up – it's about choosing a home that fits the next chapter. If we're serious about unblocking the housing market, we need to start with those who already have homes and might be open to moving, if only the system didn't make it so hard. A one-time stamp duty exemption at 65. Smarter lending for older borrowers. Better, more appealing homes in the right locations. These aren't radical ideas – they're common sense. And if we get them right, we can get the whole market moving again. Jonathan Brandling-Harris is co-founder of House Collective, an estate agency.
