Big Issue founder Lord Bird on Corbyn, "failure" politicians and the homelessness crisis

Welcome to a two part special edition of our podcast: The Climate Crisis Panel.Campaigner and TV presenter Chris Packham chairs a special panel of scientists and activists to discuss the climate crisis.In Part 2, the panel talk about how fast fashion affects the environment, whether public figures are doing enough to promote lifestyle changes and the panel reveal their climate change 'demands'.Daily Mirror Environment Editor Nada Farhoud wraps up the panel by talking about how those insights helped steer the Climate Issue edition of the newspaper and our coverage online.You can see our Climate Issue coverage on social media by searching #MirrorClimateCrisis and if you have questions for our panel, please send them to [email protected] For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a two part special edition of our podcast: The Climate Crisis Panel.In part 1, campaigner and TV presenter Chris Packham chairs a special panel of scientists and activists to discuss the climate crisis.The experts discuss why the climate issue is everyone's issue, what we can do to save the planet and break down some of the terminology around the debate.Daily Mirror Editor Alison Phillips speaks about why climate change is a cause the newspaper has to highlight, and the panel cover everything from the personal cost of saving the planet and whether Extinction Rebellion are making a difference.You can see our Climate Issue coverage on social media by searching #MirrorClimateCrisis and if you have questions for our panel, please send them to [email protected] For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MirrorNextGen is a ground-breaking project by the Mirror which has seen us hand over control of our print and online coverage for one day. It is a chance for a group of British teenagers to put the things they care about at the heart of the national conversation.In this special episode of the podcast, our Head of Politics Jason Beattie is joined by four members of that teenage team of editors: Jaspreet Khatkar, Ross Forman, Courtney Bradley and Saleem Akhtar.They explain how they put together the special edition of the Mirror, what they learned and how it has shaped their views on the media. They also discuss the challenges facing young people, votes at 16 and their ambitions for the future. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final podcast of 2018 we look back at a tumultuous, gripping and febrile year in politics.There were resignations and rebellions.There were moments of madness and moments of goodness. There was dancing and dark plotting.Above all it was dominated by the bitter battles over Brexit.It was also the year of the Salisbury attacks, rows over anti-semitism and the Windrush scandal.2018 also saw Theresa May suffer a vote of non-confidence, the Tories torn apart over Europe and the rise of the people’s vote campaign.The Mirror’s Jason Beattie, Ben Glaze and Nicola Bartlett discuss the highs and lows of the year.They give their verdicts on how the last 12 months went for Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems, name their heroes and villains and predict what could happen in 2019. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Philip Hammond claimed his Budget meant austerity was coming to an end.There was more money for the NHS, defence and to help ease the roll out of the universal credit.And sprinkled on top of the spending spree was a new round of income tax cuts.But how generous was the Chancellor?And does his boast about ending austerity stack up?In the latest Ayes to the Left podcast the Mirror’s Kevin Maguire, Jason Beattie and Dan Bloom deliver their verdict on Budget.They go through the small print to find out who are the winners and losers and explain why the spending squeeze is going to continue for years to come.They also look at Labour’s response and discuss how John McDonnell may have made a strategic blunder in refusing to reverse the tax cuts which overwhelmingly benefit the very richest at the expense of the poorest. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There were rows, rallies, parties and career-ending speeches.This year’s conference season saw Labour leave Liverpool on a high, the Conservatives suffer the blues in Birmingham and the Lib Dems struggle to be heard in Brighton.In the latest Ayes to the Left podcast the Mirror’s Kevin Maguire, Nicola Bartlett and Jason Beattie give their verdict on this year’s conferences.They discuss Theresa May’s speech, how the Boris Johnson bubble has burst and the Conservative angst over the threat posed by Jeremy Corbyn.They also name which politicians had a good conference and which return to Westminster with their tale between their legs. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Corbyn used his conference speech to sell his radical agenda to voters.The Labour leader made a persuasive case that his plans for renationalisation, handing power to workers and reshaping the economy were “common sense.”In this week's Ayes to the Left podcast the Mirror's Kevin Maguire, Jason Beattie and Nicola Bartlett give their verdict on Corbyn's big speech in Liverpool.The discuss why his policies are starting to chime with the public and what more he needs to do seal an election victory.They also review Labour's week which was dominated by Brexit. Is the party in the right place now on the issue or are there further rows still to come?And they look ahead, with unrestrained glee, to next week's Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vince Cable failed to rally the troops in a gaffe-prone and muted conference speech.The Lib Dem leader looked like someone on the way out as he addressed the faithful in Brighton.The only remarkable thing about his speech was his mangling of his phrase “erotic spasm”. Other than that he came across as someone trying to sell encyclopedias door-to-door in the age of Wikipedia.In this week's Ayes to the Left podcast Jason Beattie, Kevin Maguire and Ben Glaze deliver their verdicts on his big address and discuss how long he has left as leader.They also talk about why the Lib Dems are struggling, why their time in coalition remains toxic and who should take over the reins when Vince Cable finally steps down.They also look ahead to the Labour conference and ask whether Jeremy Corbyn will be able to keep the party united as it debates changes to candidate selections and the demand for a people's vote on Brexit. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lord John Bird says he got into the House of Lords by “lying, cheating and stealing”.In this week’s Ayes To The Left podcast, the Big Issue founder revealed how he learned the skills to build his hugely successful career in prison.In a frank and funny chat with the Mirror’s Mikey Smith and Dan Bloom, the avuncular crossbench peer talked about homelessness, poverty, Thatcher, Blair and whether he wants to see Jeremy Corbyn in Number 10. And he revealed whether he still thinks all politicians are “failures.” For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It has been an extraordinary few days of high drama, plotting and political turmoil.Theresa May was left fighting to save her career after the double resignation of Boris Johnson and David Davis.Her Brexit plans are now in doubt and she has been placed on warning by mutinous Tory MPs that they could still try to topple her.In this week’s Ayes to the Left podcast we examine one of the most turbulent weeks in recent political history.Jason Beattie talks to Prof Anand Menon of UK in a Changing Europe about the implications of Johnson’s departure and where it leaves Brexit.He explains how the chaos in Britain is viewed from Brussels and whether it will help or hinder the Brexit negotiations.And he discusses how Theresa May will almost certainly have to make further concessions to get her deal through. But could the EU also concede some ground?Anand also highlights the dangers which could still see the UK crash out without a deal. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices