Latest news with #ElectoralDysfunction
Sky News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Farage steps in while parliament is out
👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈 Nigel Farage is using parliamentary recess to grab the microphone - he's been out and about during the half-term holiday criticising the government and claiming Reform UK as the party for families. Harriet and Ruth ask whether he's been smart in copying the tactics we're used to seeing from leaders of the Opposition. It's just a week on from that EU debate he missed in the House of Commons because he was on holiday himself. So what are the rules for MPs going away in term time? Harriet has a tale of her own. Plus we have a holiday treat in the form of an interview with legendary satirist Armando Iannucci - recorded at the ED Live show in London.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Economy will have to be 'strong enough' for U-turn on winter fuel, business secretary says
The economy will have to be "strong enough" for the government to U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts, the business secretary has said. Jonathan Reynolds, talking to on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, also said the public would have to "wait for the actual budget" to make an announcement on it. Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday , which has been removed from more than 10 million pensioners this winter after it became means-tested. He and his ministers had insisted they would stick to their guns on the policy, even just hours before Sir Keir revealed his change of heart at Prime Minister's Questions. But Mr Reynolds revealed there is more at play to be able to change the policy. "The economy has got to be strong enough to give you the capacity to make the kind of decisions people want us to see," he said. "We want people to know we're listening. "All the prime minister has said is look, he's listening, he's aware of it. "He wants a strong economy to be able to deliver for people. "You'd have to wait for the actual budget to do that." Read more: Chancellor Rachel Reeves has committed to just one major fiscal event a year, meaning just one annual budget in the autumn. Autumn budgets normally take place in October, with the last one at the end of the month. If this year's budget is around the same date it will leave little time for the extra winter fuel payments to be made as they are paid between November and December. You can listen to the on tomorrow's Electoral Dysfunction podcast
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Thick of It creator reveals scene which cabinet ministers say happened in real life
The creator of the hit political satire The Thick of It has revealed which scene in the series cabinet ministers have confessed to experiencing in real life. Armando Iannucci told Sky News' live event with that the writers would make up scenarios to be "as stupid as they can" - only to be asked later by Whitehall officials how they had found out about it. One episode in particular that was close to the bone involves the fictional mouthy communications director of Number 10, telling a cabinet minister the policy he is due to announce to the media is being cancelled because it is too expensive - and he will have to come up with another one on the spot. Mr Iannucci said: "Sometimes we would come up with stories that were like, we had to invent them, you know, and we thought, let's push it as stupidly as we can. "And then a couple of weeks later, someone from Whitehall would say, 'how did you find out exactly? We thought we'd kept that very quiet'. "And you know, the opening episode has them in the back of a car trying to come up with a policy. Malcolm's rung up and said the policy you've called the press to hear, you cannot go ahead, It's too expensive. "So they've got to come up with a policy that sounds great but will cost nothing. And I've had various former cabinet members say to me quietly, 'I've been in the back of that car'." The Thick of It aired 20 years ago this month, when New Labour was in government. It satirised the inner workings of modern British government, with the focus on the fictitious Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship. Harriet Harman, one of the few senior female figures at the time and now a peer and co-host of Electoral Dysfunction, asked Mr Iannucci if anyone inspired the character Nicola Murray, who was the focus of series three. "I'm asking for a friend, because basically it's like she was so ineffective, but she was so hard working and a nice person. Yes, but she was utterly destroyed by Number 10 and her ministerial colleagues putting the boot in. "I just wondered if she was based on anyone in particular?". Mr Iannucci said everyone in The Thick Of It was "based either on a composite of different things we've heard in different people or on a kind of guesstimate of what this person might be".
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What James Corden's reign as London mayor will look like
It is hard to know for certain what put James Corden onto the idea of seeking elected office. Perhaps he craves a new challenge now that Gavin, Stacey, Smithy and Nessa have ridden off into the sunset. Or maybe, having returned to the UK after nearly a decade in the US, he realises how many lessons this history boy has to teach his motherland. We cannot discount the possibility that Corden has been inspired by the example of Volodymyr Zelensky, who has shown that there is a clear route from comedian to heroic wartime leader. All Corden needs is an election victory or two and an invasion by a large, hostile foreign power and he, too, could be on track to earn the respect of Ben Stiller. Attending the TV Baftas last weekend, Hillingdon's finest Peter Rabbit met the three hosts of the Electoral Dysfunction podcast: Sky News's political editor Beth Rigby, former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson and the former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman. According to one onlooker, Corden told the women he was a 'regular listener' and enjoyed the 'cut and thrust of politics'. In the same conversation, the onlooker told the The Mail on Sunday: 'It was suggested that he should step into the political arena and stand in the future. There was talk that he should run for Mayor of London.' Sadiq Khan is expected to step down before the next Mayoral election, scheduled for 2028, so Labour will need a new candidate. Corden is believed to be a supporter of the party, and criticised Jeremy Corbyn's leadership after the 2019 election defeat. 'I can't shake the feeling that if Tom Watson had been leader of the Labour Party the outcome of this could've all been so different,' he tweeted. 'Jeremy Corbyn has now lost two elections to opposition candidates who could've and should've been beaten.' The implication is clear: it would not have happened on Corden's watch. So, what might the Corden regime look like? He has kept his political cards close to his chest, although he supported Remain, so he might continue Khan's pro-EU agenda. There would surely be arts grants. If he is truly devoted to Harriet Harman, we can expect him to be pro the winter fuel allowance, which would put him out of kilter with Sir Keir Starmer. He has also suggested Donald Trump's agenda isn't simply 'politics', arguing opposing the US president is about 'good versus evil'. In that regard, a Corden mayoralty would follow in Khan's mould. Khan has also made many enemies with his aggressive anti-car policies. Corden, who gave the world Carpool Karaoke, a popular interview format in which he shout-sings over celebrity guests, might continue in this vein: what could be a worse advert for a car than the prospect of him singing in it? Cycling uptake would soar. Corden certainly has many of the attributes needed for a modern political career. He is famous, for a start, which is increasingly the main thing voters look for in a leader. The example of Trump shows that there is no ceiling to success, whatever your other personal qualities, provided you have been on telly a bit. Corden has broad appeal too. Granted, it is comic appeal. But it is broad. Gavin & Stacey and The Late Late Show pulled in vast audiences. He also has no shortage of famous friends, who he might rope in to the mayoralty. Harry Styles would be a good tsar for the capital's ailing nightlife. There's also Brooklyn Beckham, a man who has held a dizzying number of jobs – photographer, chef, hot sauce entrepreneur, racing car driver – without succeeding at any of them. In this regard, is he so different from Chris Grayling? Beckham without portfolio. And could Corden be the man, finally, to get his pal Prince Harry home? He has shown that after years of self-inflicted exile in California, it is possible to move back to the UK and bring a long-running family comedy-drama to a satisfactory conclusion. Harry take note. Anna Wintour, another friend of Corden's, was said to have been disappointed not to be Barack Obama's ambassador to the UK. She'd be a natural deputy mayor for culture, but it would be more interesting to see what she would do at Transport for London. The uniforms would be good, at any rate. Perhaps most importantly, Corden is also thick-skinned, having endured years of criticism about his character. There are many anecdotes about the star's rudeness and petulance in person. Last year Lily Allen said he had come on a bit strong, to which he – sorry, sources close to him – replied that he was 'over people talking about him in a negative way'. Then there was his much-publicised feud with the New York restaurateur Keith McNally, who called Corden a 'cretin' for his behaviour in the Manhattan brasserie Balthazar. Corden apologised and has been readmitted to McNally's restaurants. You know who else was rude in person but popular with the voters? Winston Churchill. The man himself has yet to confirm his ambitions either way. But it would be foolish to write Corden off. As Bob Monkhouse might have said, we laughed when James Corden announced his mayoral ambitions. Will we still be laughing when he wins? Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
What James Corden's reign as London mayor will look like
It is hard to know for certain what put James Corden onto the idea of seeking elected office. Perhaps he craves a new challenge now that Gavin, Stacey, Smithy and Nessa have ridden off into the sunset. Or maybe, having returned to the UK after nearly a decade in the US, he realises how many lessons this history boy has to teach his motherland. We cannot discount the possibility that Corden has been inspired by the example of Volodymyr Zelensky, who has shown that there is a clear route from comedian to heroic wartime leader. All Corden needs is an election victory or two and an invasion by a large, hostile foreign power and he, too, could be on track to earn the respect of Ben Stiller. Attending the TV Baftas last weekend, Hillingdon's finest Peter Rabbit met the three hosts of the Electoral Dysfunction podcast: Sky News's political editor Beth Rigby, former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson and the former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman. According to one onlooker, Corden told the women he was a 'regular listener' and enjoyed the 'cut and thrust of politics'. In the same conversation, the onlooker told the The Mail on Sunday: 'It was suggested that he should step into the political arena and stand in the future. There was talk that he should run for Mayor of London.' Sadiq Khan is expected to step down before the next Mayoral election, scheduled for 2028, so Labour will need a new candidate. Corden is believed to be a supporter of the party, and criticised Jeremy Corbyn's leadership after the 2019 election defeat. 'I can't shake the feeling that if Tom Watson had been leader of the Labour Party the outcome of this could've all been so different,' he tweeted. 'Jeremy Corbyn has now lost two elections to opposition candidates who could've and should've been beaten.' The implication is clear: it would not have happened on Corden's watch. I can't shake the feeling that if @tom_watson had been leader of the Labour Party the outcome of this could've all been so different. Jeremy Corbyn has now lost two elections to opposition candidates who could've and should've been beaten. — James Corden (@JKCorden) December 12, 2019 So, what might the Corden regime look like? He has kept his political cards close to his chest, although he supported Remain, so he might continue Khan's pro-EU agenda. There would surely be arts grants. If he is truly devoted to Harriet Harman, we can expect him to be pro the winter fuel allowance, which would put him out of kilter with Sir Keir Starmer. He has also suggested Donald Trump's agenda isn't simply 'politics', arguing opposing the US president is about 'good versus evil'. In that regard, a Corden mayoralty would follow in Khan's mould. Khan has also made many enemies with his aggressive anti-car policies. Corden, who gave the world Carpool Karaoke, a popular interview format in which he shout-sings over celebrity guests, might continue in this vein: what could be a worse advert for a car than the prospect of him singing in it? Cycling uptake would soar. Corden certainly has many of the attributes needed for a modern political career. He is famous, for a start, which is increasingly the main thing voters look for in a leader. The example of Trump shows that there is no ceiling to success, whatever your other personal qualities, provided you have been on telly a bit. Corden has broad appeal too. Granted, it is comic appeal. But it is broad. Gavin & Stacey and The Late Late Show pulled in vast audiences. He also has no shortage of famous friends, who he might rope in to the mayoralty. Harry Styles would be a good tsar for the capital's ailing nightlife. There's also Brooklyn Beckham, a man who has held a dizzying number of jobs – photographer, chef, hot sauce entrepreneur, racing car driver – without succeeding at any of them. In this regard, is he so different from Chris Grayling? Beckham without portfolio. And could Corden be the man, finally, to get his pal Prince Harry home? He has shown that after years of self-inflicted exile in California, it is possible to move back to the UK and bring a long-running family comedy-drama to a satisfactory conclusion. Harry take note. Anna Wintour, another friend of Corden's, was said to have been disappointed not to be Barack Obama's ambassador to the UK. She'd be a natural deputy mayor for culture, but it would be more interesting to see what she would do at Transport for London. The uniforms would be good, at any rate. Perhaps most importantly, Corden is also thick-skinned, having endured years of criticism about his character. There are many anecdotes about the star's rudeness and petulance in person. Last year Lily Allen said he had come on a bit strong, to which he – sorry, sources close to him – replied that he was 'over people talking about him in a negative way'. Then there was his much-publicised feud with the New York restaurateur Keith McNally, who called Corden a 'cretin' for his behaviour in the Manhattan brasserie Balthazar. Corden apologised and has been readmitted to McNally's restaurants. You know who else was rude in person but popular with the voters? Winston Churchill. The man himself has yet to confirm his ambitions either way. But it would be foolish to write Corden off. As Bob Monkhouse might have said, we laughed when James Corden announced his mayoral ambitions. Will we still be laughing when he wins?
