The Real Question with Shehab Khan

Zeteo
Zeteo
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Politics
  • Updated Semiweekly

A weekly show from Zeteo UK political editor Shehab Khan, asking the questions you want answered that too often go unasked. Challenging interviews and frank conversations about power, injustice and the issues shaping Britain. zeteo.uk

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    ‘It is a Death Sentence’, Son of Jailed Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Urges Britain to do More

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk The son of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has described his father’s 20-year prison term as “a death sentence” and said that the British government had been slow on helping to deal with his case. In an interview for ‘The Real Question with Shehab Khan’, Sebastian Lai said his 78-year-old father, who is a British citizen, had spent more than 2,000 days in solitary confinement: “He is kept in a tiny little cell from my understanding less than 60 square feet. They block off natural light, so in the summer he essentially bakes in that cell … all of these things are aimed to break him, so never mind 20 years, I don’t know if he’s got two or three years left.” Jimmy Lai founded the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, which became one of the most popular outlets in Hong Kong. Following massive anti-government protests, Beijing imposed a national security law which led to Lai’s arrest and Apple Daily’s closure. Lai was convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials and given the harshest penalty handed down under the national security law. The decision has been widely condemned by Western nations. Shehab also spoke to Sebastian about: * The importance of calls for his release from U.S. President Donald Trump and Keir Starmer, and his talks with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham * The emotional toll this has taken on their entire family * Why his father did not flee when he had the chance Paid subscribers can watch the interview above in full, without a paywall. Free subscribers can watch a three-minute preview.Consider becoming a paid subscriber to Zeteo UK today to unlock more of Shehab’s interviews as well as the rest of Zeteo UK’s content – and support independent journalism in the UK! ICYMI: More episodes of ‘The Real Question with Shehab Khan’

    ‘It is a Death Sentence’, Son of Jailed Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Urges Britain to do More

  2. Oct 12

    ‘Bring Back Jeremy Corbyn’: Andy Burnham Urged by John McDonnell

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk Jeremy Corbyn should be welcomed back to the Labour Party by Andy Burnham, the former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said. In an interview for ‘The Real Question with Shehab Khan’, McDonnell, who served on Corbyn’s front bench, said he was willing to talk to Downing Street to try to make it happen. Corbyn was suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party after a row over antisemitism, and former Prime Minister Keir Starmer prevented the party from endorsing Corbyn at the last election. That forced the former Labour leader to stand as an independent. McDonnell said that, with Starmer now gone and Burnham as leader, the time had come for Corbyn to return to the party he once led: “Whatever some people think, Jeremy has a following out there, particularly amongst young people as well, and I think he’s an electoral asset … I think it would be a magnanimous gesture for Andy Burnham.” Here are some other topics Shehab pressed McDonnell on in the wide-ranging interview: * His thoughts on Andy Burnham, the new prime minister * Whether changing the pension triple lock is a good idea * The need for electoral reform * Lessons from the 2017 and 2019 general elections

    ‘Bring Back Jeremy Corbyn’: Andy Burnham Urged by John McDonnell

  3. Oct 7

    Three Years After October 7, The Jewish Activist Mourning the Horror – But Also Opposing Occupation

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk Three years after the horrific October 7 attacks, a British Jewish activist has spoken to Zeteo UK about her personal experience of that day, saying she watched with “horror” and “anticipation of things about to get much worse.”In a wide-ranging interview for ‘The Real Question with Shehab Khan’ - Hannah Weisfeld, the executive and a founder of Yachad, a British Jewish organisation which works to push for a political resolution to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, described October 7 as a “cataclysmic moment” while also arguing there will be no lasting peace until there is an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Weisfeld, who has long campaigned for a two-state solution, also discussed the upcoming elections in Israel - arguing a change of government was needed to push for lasting peace. Here are some other topics Shehab pressed Weisfeld on: * The impact of the far-right influence over the Israeli government. * The use of the word genocide * Whether sanctions on Israel have any impact * The chances of a two-state solution.

    Three Years After October 7, The Jewish Activist Mourning the Horror – But Also Opposing Occupation

  4. Oct 5

    AI industry ‘past the stage’ of voluntary self-regulation, former DeepMind researcher says

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk The AI industry is ‘past the stage’ of self-regulating and an international body is required to keep us safe, a leading AI expert has warned. In an interview for ‘The Real Question with Shehab Khan’, Professor Jonathan Schwarz, who previously worked at Google DeepMind, discussed the threats that AI poses to the human race and raised worried about how accessible these powerful models are. When asked about non-state actors having access to sophisticated ai models, Schwarz, who has held positions at Harvard and Imperial, said: “I think every British teenager could easily do this on their laptop with just a little bit of Googling and a little bit of figuring things out. It is the single most accessible sort of technology of such sort of profound impact I think that’s ever existed.” Here are some other topics Shehab pressed Schwarz on: * AI agents acting beyond their desired instructions * Whether AI could cause human extinction * Concentration of power in AI companies * The profound impact it could have on our economy.

    AI industry ‘past the stage’ of voluntary self-regulation, former DeepMind researcher says

  5. Oct 3

    Jordan Stephens: I’d Hold Friend Ed Sheeran Accountable Over Macklemore Palestine Row

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk British rapper and long-time friend of Ed Sheeran, Jordan Stephens, has said he would hold his friend accountable over the way he handled the Macklemore Palestine row. Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s US tour after chanting Free Palestine and performing a song highlighting the genocide in Gaza but Stephens, who is best known as one half of the hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks, said Sheeran should have “stood up for the freedom for your friend to talk.” In a wide-ranging interview for ‘The Real Question with Shehab Khan’, Stephens talks about his activism for Palestine, why he believes it is “not a complex issue”, and the financial implications supporting Palestine can have in the entertainment industry. Shehab and Jordan also discussed: * The impact of fame from such a young age * The work Stephens is most proud of * His decision to turn down a role in a Star Wars project over his hair * Future projects that Stephens is working on.

    Jordan Stephens: I’d Hold Friend Ed Sheeran Accountable Over Macklemore Palestine Row

  6. Oct 1

    ‘We Were Betrayed’ – Humza Yousaf, Former Leader of Scotland, Hits Out Over SNP Scandal

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk Former Scotland first minister Humza Yousaf has said he knew he would face a backlash for calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in 2023, but “didn’t really care” because he believed it was the right thing to do. Mr Yousaf, whose wife’s parents were trapped in Gaza after October 7, said he expected to be “demonised” for his position, but felt his moral compass was being tested and he had no desire to abandon it. In a wide-ranging for ‘The Real Question, with Shehab Khan’ - Yousaf, the former First Minister of Scotland, discussed feeling betrayed by Peter Murrell after the party’s former chief executive and ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon, was jailed for stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds from the party. Yousaf said he wants to “look him in the eye” and confront him at some point. Here are some other topics Shehab pressed Yousaf on: * The impact on his family after an increase of Islamophobia and racism * His public clashes with Elon Musk * The end of his time as First Minister and the collapse of his power sharing deal * The challenges facing Scotland as anti-immigrant rhetoric ramps up.

    ‘We Were Betrayed’ – Humza Yousaf, Former Leader of Scotland, Hits Out Over SNP Scandal

  7. Sep 25

    Darren Jones: I almost quit Keir Starmer's cabinet over Lord Mandelson Scandal

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk Darren Jones, an ultra-loyalist and one of the most senior cabinet ministers in Keir Starmer’s government, has said that Andy Burnham was right to apologise over the previous administration’s handling of Gaza. In an interview for The Real Question with Shehab Khan, Jones, who served as Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in Downing Street just a few months ago, referred to Starmer’s infamous LBC interview where he said Israel had the right to turn off Gaza’s power and water supply and said Burnham’s apology was the right move. “He wanted to repair the relationship of the voters off the back of the interview… Andy Burnham is right to apologise for that, no question.” Jones, who was also the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, also revealed that he considered quitting from the cabinet over the fallout from Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US Ambassador, after reading reports that the Labour peer had been given the job despite the UK Security and Vetting Office advising against it. “I thought, if it turns out that Keir or the team in Number 10 knew and appointed him anyway, then there was no way I was going to stand up and defend that. And so I was on the train going back to London thinking, if they knew that, I’m going to resign today.” The government ultimately claimed Starmer did not know, so Jones stayed on. Instead, Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins, both lost their jobs. In the wide-ranging interview, Jones also talks about: * Keir Starmer’s handling of Gaza * His personal relationship with Lord Mandelson * The freebies scandal and ‘rookie errors’ that led to Starmer’s demise * Whether the government is equipped to deal with rapidly developing AI models. Subscribe to Zeteo UK to support independent journalism: https://zeteo.uk/subscribe Watch ‘The Real Question’ on Substack: https://zeteo.uk/s/the-real-question-with-shehab-khan Find Zeteo UK: Twitter: https://x.com/zeteouk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteouk/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteouk

  8. Sep 23

    Mothers of Two ‘Filton Four’ Palestine Action Activists Speak Out Over ‘Terror’ Sentencing

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk The mothers of two of the “Filton Four” – Palestine Action activists jailed after a break-in at an Elbit Systems site near Bristol that caused £1.2 million worth of damage – have spoken out over the use of terrorism legislation in their daughters’ cases. In a wide-ranging interview for ‘The Real Question with Shehab Khan’, Sukaina Rajwani, mother of Fatema Zainab Rajwani, and Emma Kamio, mother of Leona Kamio, discussed their daughters’ convictions, imprisonment and the consequences of the judge’s finding that their offences had a “terrorist connection”. Kamio was sentenced to six years in prison, while Rajwani was sentenced to five years and eight months. Both were convicted of criminal damage, rather than a terrorism offence, but a “terrorist connection” was used for sentencing purposes. The mothers say the finding has had far-reaching consequences for their daughters, including for their imprisonment, release arrangements and restrictions following their sentences. Amnesty International has criticised the decision, saying criminal damage had not previously been treated as terrorism within the UK justice system. Here are the other topics Shehab discussed with Sukaina Rajwani and Emma Kamio: * The night of the action at the Elbit Systems site near Bristol * Their concerns about the trial process and restrictions on what the defendants could say in court * Their daughters’ experiences in prison and the consequences of the terrorism-related sentencing * The families’ appeal against the terrorism-related element of the sentences and their hopes for the future Subscribe to Zeteo UK to support independent journalism: https://zeteo.uk/subscribe Watch ‘The Real Question’ on Substack: https://zeteo.uk/s/the-real-question-with-shehab-khan Find Zeteo UK: Twitter: https://x.com/zeteouk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteouk/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteouk

    Mothers of Two ‘Filton Four’ Palestine Action Activists Speak Out Over ‘Terror’ Sentencing

  9. Sep 16

    Palestinian Ambassador Says UK Government Told Him Tougher Restrictions on UK Arms to Israel are Coming

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk The Palestinian ambassador to the UK has told Zeteo UK that British ministers have told him tougher restrictions on arms exports to Israel are coming. In an interview on ‘The Real Question, with Shehab Khan’ - conducted the day after the UK announced sanctions on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, Husam Zomlot said he was expecting further measures to follow soon. He said: “I’ve heard directly from the foreign secretary and from the ministers in the foreign office, and from several counterparts, that there will be a new regime for the arms trade, much tighter… much tighter.”Zomlot, who was previously the Palestinian Envoy to the United States, said he believed there had been a shift in priorities since Andy Burnham had replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister. Here are some other topics Shehab discussed with Ambassador Zomlot: * Israel’s reaction to the new sanctions * The UK’s involvement with the Board of Peace * Britain’s unique role in Palestine’s history * His personal experience of the genocide. Paid subscribers can watch the interview above in full, without a paywall. Free subscribers can watch a three-minute preview.Consider becoming a paid subscriber to unlock content like this from Shehab Khan, and a lot more else from Zeteo UK! Note: This interview was conducted on 9th September. For more from Zeteo UK:

    Palestinian Ambassador Says UK Government Told Him Tougher Restrictions on UK Arms to Israel are Coming

  10. Sep 14

    Sir Ed Davey: I Would Arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if He Came to the UK

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.uk Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he landed in the UK and Sir Ed Davey was running the country. In a wide-ranging interview - the first for ‘The Real Question, with Shehab Khan’ - Sir Ed, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said he would enforce the ICC arrest warrant if he was Prime Minister and was critical of the government for not sanctioning illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank much earlier.Sir Ed, who in 2024 delivered the Liberal Democrats their best result in a century, had previously served as a cabinet minister during the Tory/Lib Dem coalition years and said he hopes to get the Liberal Democrats back in government. Here are some other topics Shehab pressed Sir Ed on: * The UK’s future relationship with the European Union. * The Labour government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action. * Future coalition agreements that the Liberal Democrats are - and are not - considering. * His personal experiences of the UK’s social care system.

    Sir Ed Davey: I Would Arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if He Came to the UK

  11. Sep 13

    Zeteo UK’s Brand New Show: ‘The Real Question with Shehab Khan’

    The official trailer for ‘The Real Question, with Shehab Khan’. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Asking politicians the real questions, the ones that never seem to get asked. If you’re frustrated by the media coverage in this country, and if you’re bored of watching the same old Sunday political shows, please support us. Take out a paid subscription to Zeteo UK – we’re reshaping the media landscape. P.S. If you’re currently a Zeteo UK paid subscriber but want to get content from Zeteo in the United States too, consider upgrading to our bundle option. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zeteo.uk/subscribe

    Zeteo UK’s Brand New Show: ‘The Real Question with Shehab Khan’
  • 11 Episodes

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About

A weekly show from Zeteo UK political editor Shehab Khan, asking the questions you want answered that too often go unasked. Challenging interviews and frank conversations about power, injustice and the issues shaping Britain. zeteo.uk

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