Stay ConnectedAn occasional series revisiting conversations and ideas from Reasons to be Cheerful (2017-2024), formerly hosted by ex-Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, and Sony Award-winning radio presenter Geoff Lloyd.
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Copyright: © Cheerful
Hello! Half of land is owned by less than 1% of the population and the value of land in Britain has skyrocketed over the last two decades. This week we talk to Guardian journalist George Monbiot and academic Beth Stratford about Land for the Many - a major new report about how to spread the ownership and control of land.
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Comedian Harriet Braine edited the genetics to take away gender until you're 18, eradicating pollution, and banning Golf
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Hello! Is it time to extend the principles of the NHS to social care for the elderly? We discuss proposals for universal free personal care. Joyce Yendole tells us about her experience in Scotland, where personal and nursing care is already free for over 65s. Professor Pat Thane explains what the history of social care tells us about the problems we face today. Then Harry Quilter-Pinner talks us through IPPR’s recent report arguing for social care free at the point of need.
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Comedian Lulu Popplewell wants a VIP section for sober night bus users, a smoking ban, a free name change, and no more £__.99
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Hello! Fast fashion means more clothing is being produced at lower prices, with huge environmental and social costs. What is driving this trend and what can we do about it? We talk to environmental journalist Lucy Siegle about changes in the industry and how the ‘slow fashion’ movement has responded. Orsola de Castro tells us about founding the Fashion Revolution campaign. Then Labour MP and chair of the Environmental Audit Committee Mary Creagh explains their recent inquiry into the fashion industry and what government should be doing to address the issues.
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Comedian and impressionist Josh Berry caps Russell Brand's media appearances, teaches philosophy to children, declares a national holiday in Andy Murray's name, and fact checks Jacob Rees Mogg
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Hello! Private school pupils are 7x as likely to get a place at Oxford or Cambridge as those from state comprehensives. But why does access to the UK’s top universities matter and what can we do to widen it? This week Vee Kativhu tells us her story of (finally) applying to Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall on their new foundation year scheme. Then academics Vikki Boliver and Lee Elliot Major talk us through solutions to overhaul university admissions - from radical contextual offers to a lottery system to ‘comprehensive universities’.
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Comedian Steve N Allen joins us to advocate for status symbol taxes, banning handles on push doors, and tries to save science education before it gets taken
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Hello! How can we all campaign on issues that we care about and make change happen? This week we hear from inspiring campaigners who have done just that. We talk to Gina Martin who successfully campaigned to make upskirting illegal and Matt Zarb-Cousin from ‘Stop the FOBTs’, who won a reduction in the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals. Gina and Matt share the stories of how they got involved in their campaigns and lessons from their recent victories. Then executive director of Citizens UK Matthew Bolton explains the theory behind running successful campaigns, before persuading Ed and Geoff to try one of their key techniques.
Don’t miss our live show at the Underbelly Festival in London this Sunday afternoon (19th May). Book tickets here: http://www.underbellyfestival.com/whats-on/reasons-to-be-cheerful-with-ed-miliband-geoff-lloyd
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Hello! Unfortunately, Geoff can’t be here this week so Ed’s got a special guest international guest to help him on the intro... In the episode we’re talking about a gaping democratic deficit in British politics: there are still too few black and minority ethnic MPs and councillors, and huge disparities in voter registration. We hear from Simon Woolley, founder and director of Operation Black Vote, who has been campaigning on BME political representation for more than two decades. Simon talks to us about what has been achieved and the huge task still ahead. Then we speak to Mayor of Barking and Dagenham Sanchia Alasia about the barriers facing BME politicians and her experience with OBV.
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Comedian and podcaster Benjamin Partridge pitches a forfeit for Br*x*t delays, limiting hand-driers noise, free theatre, trouser washing research, delaying Christmas, discounted good from Gregs based on their temperature
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Hello! What if we told you there was something that could improve people's health, make our cities nicer places to live AND save the planet? This week’s guests argue that cycling can do just that. We discuss the benefits of cycling and what needs to be done to encourage it with transport expert Dr Rachel Aldred and The Guardian’s Peter Walker (author of Bike Nation: How Cycling Can Save the World). And we hear from Manuel Calvo - designer of Seville’s ambitious cycle network, which has revolutionised how people travel around the city.
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Comedian Laura Lexx calls for pedestrian tests, realistic eyebrows in castaway movies, policy tests when voting and realistic models for beauty products
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Hello! Ed’s been going on about it for years, but we’ve finally agreed to do an episode on his favourite topic: predistribution. It’s all about reducing inequality in the first place, rather than relying on tax and benefits later down the line. We talk to inventor of the term Professor Jacob Hacker to work out what it means. Brazilian academic and politician Roberto Unger argues for predistribution to tackle inequality in the knowledge economy. Then Madeleine Gabriel and Isaac Stanley from Nesta propose policies that we could adopt in the UK.
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We’re joined by comedian Carmen Lynch.
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Hello! Why are people reluctant to talk about the nation of England? And does this really matter? This week we’re getting stuck into the debate around English identity. John Denham, director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics and former Labour cabinet minister, discusses the importance of embracing Englishness and proposals for new political institutions. Journalist Sunny Hundal explains how to forge a progressive national identity and reclaim the flag from the far right. Then Green MP Caroline Lucas talks about exploring the relationship between England and Brexit on her ‘Dear Leavers’ tour.
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We’re joined by comedian Rachel Wheeley.
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Hello! With all eyes on Br***t, a surprising and encouraging trend has slipped under the radar over the past few years: polls indicate that attitudes to immigration are getting significantly more positive. This week we’re joined by Sunder Katwala from British Future and Rosie Carter from Hope Not Hate to work out what’s been going on. Sunder and Rosie discuss their recent national conation on immigration and the directions it points to for our approach to policy and how we conduct the debate.
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Comedian Athena Kugblenu wants stupidity to be painful, de-colonisation of art collections, fines for door hanging and a new way to vote on party manifestos.
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