The Agenda

Policy Exchange
  • 4.9 (17)
  • POLITICS
The Agenda

The Agenda is a new podcast from Policy Exchange, described recently by LBC's Iain Dale as "the pre-eminent think tank in the Westminster village". It covers our latest research and immediate reactions to current affairs. We bring you analysis from our team of experts along with guest appearances from the leading thinkers in their fields. The current series responds to the Coronavirus outbreak and its wide-ranging impact on all aspects of government policy.

  1. DEEP DIVE: The Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill

    27/01/2023

    DEEP DIVE: The Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill

    In the latest episode of the Agenda, Juliet Samuels interviews Dr Michael Foran, lecturer in Law at the University of Glasgow and Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange on the controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. Dr Foran explores some of the most pressing themes in his recent Policy Exchange report, which is available to read here. https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/the-scottish-gender-recognition-reform-bill/ This report demonstrates that the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which aims to change the law regulating legal sex change for those born or resident in Scotland, will fundamentally alter the law relating to equal opportunities across the United Kingdom. The report argues that the United Kingdom Government can – and should – make a section 35 order under the Scotland Act 1998 to block Royal assent for the Bill, which would prevent it from becoming law.

    59 min

  2. 18/11/2022

    The Autumn Statement: An Effective Response to Crisis?

    Head of Economics Connor MacDonald speaks with two Policy Exchange experts on the Autumn Statement. Ruth Kelly, former Secretary of State for Transport, and Dr Gerard Lyons, leading economist discuss why the Chancellor made the decisions he did, what was missing from the Autumn Statement, and whether or not markets will be reassured. The Chancellor also said that he wanted monetary and fiscal policy to “work in lockstep” – what does this mean? What should the aims of fiscal policy right now be? What room to manoeuvre does the Government have in the face of an external shock? Policy Exchange’s economics experts discuss all this and more.

    28 min

  3. 19/10/2022

    After the U-Turns: Making Sense of the Government's New Economic Policy

    Head of Economics and Social Policy Connor MacDonald leads a discussion with Policy Exchange's two economics Senior Fellows, Dr Gerard Lyons and the Rt Hon. Ruth Kelly about the Government's new Economic policy. They explore why the Government felt it needed to change course, what difficult decisions need to be made, and what this means for the Bank of England, monetary policy and the future growth prospects of the UK economy.

    13 min

  4. 17/10/2022

    "Have you tried turning it on & off?" A new approach to household energy bills

    Head of Economics Connor MacDonald joins Senior Research Fellow in Energy Alex Simakov to discuss why the Government has changed its policy on the Energy Price Guarantee. They look at why the Energy Price Guarantee was such a potential problem, what Government could do instead, and why Policy Exchange’s plan for targeted relief, the Tiered Energy Relief Scheme, offers a blueprint for a support mechanism that subsidises demand but also leaves households who consume a large amount of energy exposed to the price mechanism.

    29 min

  5. 23/09/2022

    Alex Simakov and Connor Macdonald explore the causes of the European Energy Crisis

    Alex Simakov and Connor Macdonald explore the causes of the European Energy Crisis and the Truss Government's plan to support energy consumers through the winter. How exactly did Britain find itself in such a precarious situation, the importance of further measures on conservation and demand reduction, and what the new Chancellor's mini-budget means for the future of our energy security.

    20 min

  6. 23/09/2022

    Connor MacDonald talks to Gerard Lyons and Ruth Kelly about the Fiscal Event

    The Government’s fiscal statement amounts to one of the most substantial changes in fiscal policy in decades. Connor MacDonald, Head of Economics, discusses this radical shift of direction, and potential gamble, with two leading economic thinkers: Ruth Kelly, former Secretary of State for Transport and Economic Secretary to the Treasury; and Dr Gerard Lyons, leading economics commentator and prominent advocate for supply-side reform. They discuss the current fiscal stance, which supply-side reforms need to be prioritised, and where Government can be even more ambitious.

    19 min

  7. 12/04/2022

    Richard Hughes Talks to Policy Exchange about the OBR Forecasts

    Richard Hughes is Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility, the organisation tasked with providing non-partisan and rigorous forecasts about the UK economy. In this time of unprecedented volatility, Policy Exchange’s Head of Economics, Connor MacDonald, speaks to Richard about the OBR’s March forecasts, inflation, how to make projections in fluctuating economic circumstances, and what future challenges may be on the horizon.

    22 min

  8. 27/03/2022

    David Goodhart, Jochen Buchsteiner, Hans Kundnani and Daniel Johnson - Russia's War on Ukraine

    Germany’s “Zeitenwende” about turn on defence spending and energy dependence on Russia has been described as the most significant shift in the country’s geo-political stance since the end of the Cold War. But will it last? And should it really be seen as so unexpected given the liberal hawk stance of the Green party since the Joschka Fischer era? If Germany really is serious about playing its full part in the western alliance both politically and militarily what will that mean for its export-led economic model and its relations with China? And should Germany have its own nuclear weapons? These and other questions are touched on in a pithy 35 minute discussion chaired by Policy Exchange’s David Goodhart, former FT German correspondent, in conversation with Jochen Buchsteiner, London correspondent of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Hans Kundnani, director of the Europe programme at Chatham House, and Daniel Johnson, former Telegraph correspondent in Germany and editor of The Article.

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The Agenda is a new podcast from Policy Exchange, described recently by LBC's Iain Dale as "the pre-eminent think tank in the Westminster village". It covers our latest research and immediate reactions to current affairs. We bring you analysis from our team of experts along with guest appearances from the leading thinkers in their fields. The current series responds to the Coronavirus outbreak and its wide-ranging impact on all aspects of government policy.

Information

  • Creator
    Policy Exchange
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2023
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Agenda

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