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The Critic Show

Outpost Studios

Weekly podcast from the Critic, Britain’s most civilised magazine.


For the full, premium episodes, subscribe at:

https://www.outpoststudios.net/s/the-critic-show

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 29 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • Monday · 19 min

    Reform’s polling problem

    Reform’s fortunes are changing, while the Conservatives face a difficult balancing act: keeping older voters onside while finding a compelling offer for younger generations. On this week’s Critics Show, Chris Bayliss is joined by Henry Hill and Scarlett Maguire to untangle the confusing web of where voters’ loyalties really lie in a political landscape defined by fragmentation on the right and disappointment on the left. They discuss Scarlett’s latest research, which suggests Reform has been in decline since earlier this year, while also examining the rise of younger right-wing parties such as Restore. Henry and Chris also talk to Scarlett about the Conservative–Liberal Democrat contest and what shifting voter loyalties could mean for the political landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 27 · 20 min

    Inside Britain's secret PR machine

    This week on The Critic Show, Henry and Tom are joined by Seb Milbank to discuss the Home Office’s Research, Information and Communications Unit, otherwise known as RICU, and the growing suspicion that the British state has tried to shape public narratives after acts of violence involving immigrant communities. Seb gives listeners an insider explanation on explains how the unit operates, and the intricacies of the counter-terrorism and national security, why Freedom of Information requests so often hit a wall. The podcast explores how, increasingly, journalists, PR agencies and government departments can end up working together to manage political fall out by bending the truths we live by. The conversation ranges from the 2014 Sun front page on Islamic State to family statements after recent killings, the response to Manchester Arena, Martin’s Law, social media regulation, and the wider collapse of trust in British institutions. They also discuss why big, archaic institutions in Britain are now failing so visibly that the old social contract is breaking down. What happens when people no longer believe in a state that can protect them? Don’t forget to subscribe at www.outpoststudios.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • June 19 · 15 min

    The Great Trail Debate

    In this episode of The Critic Show, Tom Jones is joined by Sam Butler, vice chairman of the Future of Hunting campaign, to discuss Labour’s proposed ban on trail hunting and what Butler sees as a wider assault on the countryside. They look back at the 2004 Hunting Act, the creation of trail hunting, and the argument that a new ban would do little for animal welfare while threatening thousands of hounds, rural jobs and the social fabric built around hunts, point-to-points, pubs, farriers, vets and farming communities. The conversation then widens into the politics of rural Britain: family farm tax, land use, net zero, shooting, fishing, housing, private property and the failure of successive governments to take the countryside seriously. Butler argues that rural communities are tired of being treated as a political football, while Tom asks whether the battle over hunting has become part of a deeper fight over civil liberties, land ownership and the future of the political right. Full episode linked below https://www.outpoststudios.net/p/the-great-trail-debate Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, share and subscribe. See you next week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • May 25 · 20 min

    The Decline of Statecraft

    This week, Chris and Tom are joined by Dr Ioannes Chountis de Fabbri, the historian of political ideas, political conflict and the decline of the Royal Navy. Comparing the Navy of decades past with the Navy we have today, one must ask: how did civil servants, bureaucrats and government bring about its decline? This inevitably leads to the question of the efficacy of the civil service, whether we have too many bureaucrats in the modern world despite huge technological advances, and how people were paid then compared with how the system works now. What did statesmen of the past understand about power, defence and Britain’s place in the world that politicians today do not? For the full premium episode, head over to: https://www.outpoststudios.net/s/the-critic-show and subscribe for full access. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.outpoststudios.net/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • May 18 · 19 min

    Why We Poll

    Tom and Henry are joined this week by pollster and strategist Scarlett Maguire, who explains the Wild West of British political polling. Like the soothsayers of old, politicians use polling in all sorts of mysterious ways, making claims that may not always stack up with reality. This is how they can claim momentum even when their parties remain unpopular. In unrelated matters, they also discuss Kemi Badenoch and the wider challenges facing the Conservatives. What are the limits of polling? In particular, what happens when policies that sound popular in theory crash into reality when put into practice? In an ever more politically volatile world, we also now have increasingly idiosyncratic voters, whose views often cut across party lines. They might back Reform on some issues while favouring the Greens on others. What does that mean for modern British politics? For the full episode, go to: https://www.outpoststudios.net/p/why-we-poll-e78 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.outpoststudios.net/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • May 11 · 31 min

    What has become of Britain?

    May marks the beginning of summer, and this month Tom, Henry and Graham are here to talk you through May’s edition of The Critic, leading with the question of whether Britain has any vision left. After months of headlines and mistakes, it is hard to understand where the Government might go next, or what it actually wants. Does it want to rejoin the EU, or is this simply a visionless pitch from a Prime Minister who is running out of steam? When did Britain lose its direction, and will we ever win the World Cup again? Political editor Henry Hill discusses what could actually generate growth, why Britain has entered a period of cultural and economic decline, and how we have been living in a simulacrum in which people spend more than they have, while the Government appears unable to fix the broken system we now live under. Finally, the hosts take a trip to Dubai, where Fred Sculthorp has been experiencing the world of influencers amid the blitz. Despite being a city full of self-employed entrepreneurs, Dubai also highlights the uncomfortable reality that, even during wartime, it offers more opportunities for young professionals than Britain currently does. For this and much more, make sure to subscribe to The Critic, and don’t forget to like, share and subscribe. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.outpoststudios.net/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • May 4 · 21 min

    The Generation Delusion

    This week on The Critic Show, Henry Hill and Chris Bayliss are joined by the Reverend Marcus Walker to discuss the erosion of intergenerational responsibility. From defence and infrastructure to fiscal policy, the Government just keeps getting it wrong, repeatedly prioritising electoral gain over the health and wealth of the country. The question is whether this trend is a recent development or a post-Cold War shift, and how political incentives, married with fragmented modern ideologies, contribute to a culture that struggles to implement any kind of constructive plan. They also look at Keir Starmer’s leadership style, questioning whether his approach actually reflects strategic calculation, or whether he is so focused on populism that his reign has become a simple lack of coherent thinking. With this week’s guest, it’s only natural to touch on ecclesiastical politics as well. Does the Church of England have similar dynamics to the civil service bureaucracy, where risk aversion, procedural expansion, and “barnacle-like” administrative growth can undermine core missions? What would it really take to rebuild a political culture that genuinely values the judgment of future generations as much as the approval of today’s voters? For the full, free episode go to: https://www.outpoststudios.net/s/the-critic-show And don’t forget to subscribe at www.outpoststudios.net This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.outpoststudios.net/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • April 27 · 22 min

    The Reparations Game

    This week on The Critic Show, Chris Bayliss and Henry Hill are joined by the Anglican priest, historian and ethicist Nigel Biggar. They discuss the debate around the Church of England’s push towards reparations, and how initiatives like Project Spire and the historical link to Queen Anne’s Bounty have played a role in where we have ended up today. Many of the assumptions behind reparations, such as Britain’s wealth being built on slavery, are historically dubious. Crucially, if we started handing out reparations now, would the calls for them ever end? While forgiveness is at the heart of Christian values, is there really a moral case for reparations in the 21st century? For the full, uncensored version, go to: https://www.outpoststudios.net/s/the-critic-show And don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.outpoststudios.net/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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