Spectator Out Loud: James Heale, Lionel Shriver, Toby Young & Lara Prendergast

For this week’s Edition, William Moore is joined by the Spectator’s economics editor Michael Simmons, the journalist and author Simon Jenkins and the actress and Spectator book reviewer Genevieve Gaunt.This week: are the British giving up on the state? Michael’s cover story looks at the growing number of people paying privately for healthcare, dentistry and other services – despite public spending remaining close to record levels. Britons now spend more out of pocket on healthcare than Americans, while satisfaction with the NHS has collapsed from 70 per cent to 26 per cent since 2010. Is the post-war bargain – in which everyone pays in and everyone has a stake – beginning to break down? And would charging to see a GP really be so outrageous?Also: could the village save Britain? Simon discusses his new book The Village in Britain and argues that, in an age of loneliness and atomisation, we need to recreate village life even in our cities. From pubs and churches to neighbours and home ownership, have we forgotten how to build communities – and has working from home made the problem worse?Finally, the panel choose their books of the year – from the late Doris Lessing to Sebastian Faulks and Michel Houellebecq. Plus, how much can you trust historical fiction?Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Healey’s budget on Wednesday contained 98 measures, the most since 2010, and yet the OBR appears to be questioning the extent of his £15 billion in headroom. Tim Shipman speaks to the OBR’s David Miles about a tax take heading for a post-war high, the cuts pencilled in for the end of the parliament, and why, by his reckoning, Britain is 25% poorer than it expected to be in 2008.Produced by Henry Lloyd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of Michael Gove’s conversation with Douglas Murray, they discuss the rise of antisemitism, the Left’s obsession with Palestine and the unlikely alliance between Islamists and the radical Left. What does the future hold for Israel – and would replacing Netanyahu really change anything?They also turn to the things that make Western civilisation worth defending, from Britain's great cathedrals to classical music and literature. Despite the challenges facing the West, can it be saved even at the 13th hour?Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chancellor John Healey has just delivered his first Budget of the Andy Burnham premiership – but has he done enough to turn the economy around?In this special live edition of Reality Check, economics editor Michael Simmons is joined by deputy political editor James Heale, former Treasury adviser – and Managing Director of Forefront Advisors – James Nation and pollster Scarlett Maguire – founder of Merlin Strategy, to unpack the Budget. From £100 energy payments and downgraded growth forecasts to what this means for Britain’s banks – is the Chancellor offering households genuine 'breathing space'?Plus: has this first Burnham-Healey Budget stoked the flames, or dampened expectations, of an early general election?Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the embers fade from last week’s unrest in France, could Britain be heading for a similar fate? In the first of a two-part interview, Michael Gove is joined by author and Spectator columnist Douglas Murray to discuss the future of Western civilisation.Douglas argues that decades of mass migration and failed integration have left Britain facing the prospect of civil conflict, warning that violent extremists could one day ‘take this country by force’. He also asks why successive governments have allowed alleged jihadists to settle in Britain while pursuing members of our own armed forces. Has Britain lost the will to defend itself – and is it already too late to change course?Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just days after The Sunday Times revealed that five SAS soldiers were sent back into the war zone while under a three-year murder investigation, MPs passed the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which the SAS Regimental Association has threatened to challenge in the High Court. To understand it's implications, Tim Shipman speaks to Richard Williams, former commanding officer of the SAS, about lawfare, the chain of command and what it means for Britain’s standing with Washington.Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Henry Lloyd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: James Heale tells all about his trip to Plymouth with Reform party leader Nigel Farage; Lionel Shriver asks what the destruction in France has actually achieved; Toby Young talks us through his recent trip to Islay and wonders if we’re in a whisky recession; and our executive editor Lara Prendergast reflects on her experiences giving blood.Produced and presented by Abigail Brierley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who was the real Sherlock Holmes? In this episode Sam Leith is joined by medical historian and author Lindsey Fitzharris to discuss her new book, Sleuth Hound: The Case of the Real Sherlock Holmes.Fitzharris tells the extraordinary story of Joseph Bell, the Edinburgh surgeon whose powers of observation inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective. How did Bell learn to read the human body like a crime scene, and what role did he play in the emergence of modern forensic science? From Victorian murder cases to the Ripper investigations, Bell’s work helped bring medical evidence into the courtroom – while his real-life achievements were often overshadowed by his fictional counterpart.Plus: why did Conan Doyle want to kill off Sherlock Holmes, and how did Bell react to becoming the inspiration for one of literature’s most famous characters?Produced by Abigail Brierley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this week’s Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by the Spectator’s economics editor Michael Simmons, writer Louis Sarkozy and broadcaster Sir Loyd Grossman.This week: is France heading for revolution? As protests and unrest grip the country, Louis argues that France faces overlapping political, economic, demographic and security crises – and warns that the turmoil is likely to have consequences for next year’s presidential election. Is Macron losing control? Could Marine Le Pen finally take power? And to what extent are the violent riots uniquely French, or part of a wider European unrest? Also: why does Napoleon still loom so large over French politics and culture? Louis discusses the emperor’s obsessive reading habits, while Loyd asks whether today’s politics are once again being shaped by 'great men' rather than institutions.Plus: here in the UK, what should we expect from John Healey’s first Budget? Michael explains why ministers want it to be seen as a small and boring Budget – while warning that tax rises could still be on the way. And, as Peter Hitchens argues against letting generals dictate foreign policy, the panel debate defence, patriotism and whether the young would still fight for their country.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Abigail Brierley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham’s first Budget as Prime Minister is approaching – but higher borrowing costs have already made the sums more difficult. Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane joins Michael Simmons to warn that Britain has little room left to borrow more.For this episode of Reality Check, Andy tells Michael what could be in next week’s Budget, why devolution alone is not a growth strategy and why he appears to have praised Kemi Badenoch’s economic policies this week. Plus: they discuss the Bank of England’s record on inflation – with Haldane arguing the Bank has not 'learnt its lesson’. What would he have done differently?Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Henry Lloyd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.