Steve Baker

Reasons to be optimistic | with Michael Gove, Tim Stanley, Steve Baker & David Goodhart

From our UK edition

40 min listen

Post-holiday depression, failed New Year’s resolutions and battered bank balances: January’s Blue Monday has long been branded as the most miserable day of the year. Headlines warn of ongoing war, political turmoil and economic gloom – but could they be mistaken? Join The Spectator and special guests as they defy the doomsters to deliver an optimist’s guide

Under ctrl, the Epping migrant protests & why is ‘romantasy’ so popular?

From our UK edition

39 min listen

First: the new era of censorship A year ago, John Power notes, the UK was consumed by race riots precipitated by online rumours about the perpetrator of the Southport atrocity. This summer, there have been protests, but ‘something is different’. With the introduction of the Online Safety Act, ‘the government is exerting far greater control

Steve Baker on how to organise a successful rebellion

From our UK edition

25 min listen

As Labour rebels appear to have forced concessions from Keir Starmer over welfare this week, former Conservative MP Steve Baker joins James Heale to reflect on his own time as a rebel, and to provide some advice to Labour MPs. Steve, an MP for 14 years and a minister under Theresa May, Liz Truss and

Baby doomers: why are couples putting the planet ahead of parenthood?

From our UK edition

38 min listen

In this week’s episode: Why are a growing number of people putting the planet before parenthood? Madeleine Kearns writes about this phenomenon in this week’s issue and thinks that some of these fears might be unfounded. Tom Woodman author of Future is one of these people that Madeleine’s piece talks about. Tom has very real

The uncomfortable truth about white privilege

From our UK edition

When on BBC Politics Live this week Jo Coburn asked me about the Sussexes’ comments on structural racism, I knew what I wanted to say and that it would be controversial.  I represent a diverse constituency: Wycombe. When the Black Lives Matter protests were on, it became clear they were striking a chord with local

Autumn Statement: How long can we keep skating on thin bond market ice?

From our UK edition

In today’s Autumn Statement there was some great news on jobs and fuel duty, but it’s surrounded by a surreal atmosphere. We must still beware the bond market. Employment is at a high with 1.2 million private sector jobs created since early 2010. Youth unemployment is falling – we’re doing much better than our neighbours.