In our new stand-alone news section, Sebastian gets very excited about JD Vance's speech to the Munich Security Conference. Hilary worries about the number of people claiming sickness benefit in the UK.

SDP member Dickie Fletcher discusses free speech issues; self censorship, State overreach and how this reduces our resilience.

In Culture Club, we appreciate brass bands, and audio books including JD Vance's Hillbilly Elegy.

Get in touch:

https://sdp.org.uk/

hilary.salt@sdp.org.uk

sebastian.moore@sdp.org.uk

Recommendations:

https://www.blackdykeband.co.uk/

Brassed Off (1996)

JD Vance ; Hillbilly ElegyDiarmaid MacCulloch: A History of Christianity

Hilary dissects the scandal involving Labour MPs' messages on a WhatsApp group. Sebastian explains the difference between asylum seeker and refugee. Ron Brown joins the hosts to argue for more choice in adult care. And in Bring Me Solutions, there are pirates, uncontacted tribes, and Cillian Murphy.

Check out the SDP website or get in touch:
www.sdp.org.uk
hilary.salt@sdp.org.uk
sebastian.moore@sdp.org.uk

Recommendations:
Pirates of Penzance (English National Opera)
Small Things Like These (2024)
The Mission (2023)

Sebastian shares the potentially good news about the latest Large Language Model. Hilary has mixed feelings about the Government's infrastructure announcements. In Bring Me Solutions, Alex Moore joins the hosts to reflect on his experience as a small-business owner. And in Culture Book, it's time for Hygge.

In a change up to the order, Joan Kennedy joins the podcast to explain how she is trying to improve public discourse about politics through her group Politics in Pubs. In Culture Club, Burns night and Incredible Edible are the topics of discussion. For the stories that caught their eye this week, Hilary looks at the impact working from home is having on the economy and Sebastian explains what quangos are.

Sebastian explains the details of the proposed ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Hilary asks whether Labour's devolution attempts will lead to more democracy. Vanessa Pupavac joins the hosts to suggest how the power of the state might once more return to the people. In Culture Club, there's gardening and Saints.

Hilary gives an explainer on the increase in Gilt yields and what that means for the economy. Sebastian looks at the influence Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are having on politics both sides of the pond. In Bring Me Solutions, Craig Houston gives his ideas for a Scotland that is stuck talking about independence. And in Culture Club, there's the death of a dictator and a plane crash.

Check out the SDP website or get in touch:

www.sdp.org.uk

hilary.salt@sdp.org.uk

sebastian.moore@sdp.org.uk

craig.houston@sdp.org.uk

Recommendations: The Death of Stalin (2017) dir: Armando Iannucci Lockerbie: A Search For Truth (2025)

Hilary tries to figure out why Donald Trump might want to buy Greenland. Sebastian looks at Scotland's new low carbon ferries. In Bring Me Solutions, SDP Councillor Wayne Dixon suggests that sports clubs are a great way of bringing the community together. And in Culture Club, the hosts discuss human agency.