web02.fireside.fm Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:21:48 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) CakeWatch - Episodes Tagged with “Politics” https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/tags/politics Mon, 21 Oct 2019 18:45:00 +0200 Steve - @guitarmoog - and Chris - @ottocrat - investigate cakeism: the philosophy of having your cake and eating it, as preached and practised by the British government in its approach to Brexit. Each week, we explore the latest developments as we head towards Brexit and spend time wading through the weeds from the perspective of two long-standing Brussels and UK government insiders. Our aim: to inform you, our listeners, about EU realities and so, hopefully, to equip you to spot lies and to thwart attempts to manipulate you. There may be swearing. We are regularly joined by guests and occasionally by special guest co-hosts. en-gb episodic otto and the moog's Great British CakeWatch Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock Steve - @guitarmoog - and Chris - @ottocrat - investigate cakeism: the philosophy of having your cake and eating it, as preached and practised by the British government in its approach to Brexit. Each week, we explore the latest developments as we head towards Brexit and spend time wading through the weeds from the perspective of two long-standing Brussels and UK government insiders. Our aim: to inform you, our listeners, about EU realities and so, hopefully, to equip you to spot lies and to thwart attempts to manipulate you. There may be swearing. We are regularly joined by guests and occasionally by special guest co-hosts. yes Brexit, UK politics, EU, EU politics, politics, referendum, European Union Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock contact@cakewat.ch Episode 63: Honey Badger https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/63 44f9bd4a-9f1c-415c-9858-60ed6b513673 Mon, 21 Oct 2019 18:45:00 +0200 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock full Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock Laura and Chris discuss the weekend's People's Vote march, the Johnson 'deal', and the view from Brussels, a city further enriched last week by the visit of Remainers Now. They talk about what brings them here. 1:03:48 yes Laura's kitchen table is once again the scene of a cosy chat about our favourite things: Brexit, Boris Johnson, his so-called new deal, and the wholesale attack on citizens' rights. For light relief we join four Remainers Now standing in the rain outside the European Commission's headquarters and hear from them why they've made the journey to Brussels and what they want to achieve here. This podcast was brought to you by a large gin and tonic. Jamie Susskind, author of Future Politics (https://www.jamiesusskind.com) On The House podcast with guest Alastair Campbell (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-moment-of-truth-with-guest-alastair-campbell/id1474010876?i=1000453971430) Special Guest: Laura Shields. Brexit, politics, UK politics, Europe, EU Laura's kitchen table is once again the scene of a cosy chat about our favourite things: Brexit, Boris Johnson, his so-called new deal, and the wholesale attack on citizens' rights. For light relief we join four Remainers Now standing in the rain outside the European Commission's headquarters and hear from them why they've made the journey to Brussels and what they want to achieve here. This podcast was brought to you by a large gin and tonic.

Jamie Susskind, author of Future Politics

On The House podcast with guest Alastair Campbell

Special Guest: Laura Shields.

]]> Laura's kitchen table is once again the scene of a cosy chat about our favourite things: Brexit, Boris Johnson, his so-called new deal, and the wholesale attack on citizens' rights. For light relief we join four Remainers Now standing in the rain outside the European Commission's headquarters and hear from them why they've made the journey to Brussels and what they want to achieve here. This podcast was brought to you by a large gin and tonic.

Jamie Susskind, author of Future Politics

On The House podcast with guest Alastair Campbell

Special Guest: Laura Shields.

]]> Episode 60: Bettel The Devil You Know https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/60 94b46c72-68e0-4c9f-9bf0-846c95b89a1a Tue, 17 Sep 2019 23:00:00 +0200 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock full Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock Johnson's arrogant, disrespectful brinkmanship; hardening EU antagonism; and ways forward out of (or further into?) this mess. Plus: what happens the morning after an Article 50 revocation? 1:24:17 yes Johnson says he has a deal that might fly but he won't show it to anyone yet, because it's too soon isn't it? [turns head, stares at camera] Is the EU losing patience? Xavier Bettel looks as if he has. What are the implications for Remainers? Plus we have a half-hearted go at a making verbal Jon Worth flowchart (https://jonworth.eu/brexit-what-next/) on the fly - what are the scenarios from here on out? And - we can dream - what happens the morning after revocation? Don't forget the Rally 4 Our Rights (https://www.r4or.co.uk) on 12 October! Brexit, politics, UK politics, Europe, EU, referendum, general election, Labour Party Johnson says he has a deal that might fly but he won't show it to anyone yet, because it's too soon isn't it? [turns head, stares at camera]

Is the EU losing patience? Xavier Bettel looks as if he has. What are the implications for Remainers?

Plus we have a half-hearted go at a making verbal Jon Worth flowchart on the fly - what are the scenarios from here on out? And - we can dream - what happens the morning after revocation?

Don't forget the Rally 4 Our Rights on 12 October!

]]> Johnson says he has a deal that might fly but he won't show it to anyone yet, because it's too soon isn't it? [turns head, stares at camera]

Is the EU losing patience? Xavier Bettel looks as if he has. What are the implications for Remainers?

Plus we have a half-hearted go at a making verbal Jon Worth flowchart on the fly - what are the scenarios from here on out? And - we can dream - what happens the morning after revocation?

Don't forget the Rally 4 Our Rights on 12 October!

]]> Episode 55: In Medias Res https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/55 edbfe6f9-6e93-46a0-a12b-5a2f6a254c2c Wed, 12 Jun 2019 16:00:00 +0200 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock full Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock Classics klaxon! The Brexit news is too depressing so Chris and fellow nerd Katie Low escape to Greece and Rome to hunt out lessons from history. 1:19:39 yes Ancient historian Katie Low joins Chris to talk about why ancient history has so much to teach us about modern Brexit. Will Brexit be the UK's Sicilian Expedition? (Yes.) Is Boris Johnson the modern Alcibiades? (Sort of.) Is Jacob Rees Mogg a modern Cicero? (No.) Is Jeremy Corbyn the modern Julius Caesar? (No but Seumas Milne might be.) With a side order of griping at British educational elitism. <a href="http://ottocr.at/guest-post-late-republican-rome-and-the-uk-today-a-few-thoughts/">Katie's guest post on Chris' blog</a> <a href="https://youtu.be/7zs41CkIjRw">Timothy Snyder's speech for Europe Day 2019 - "we are more than our myths"</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23thucydidesklaxon&amp;src=typd">#ThucydidesKlaxon</a> Special Guest: Katie Low. Brexit, politics, UK politics, Europe, history, ancient history Ancient historian Katie Low joins Chris to talk about why ancient history has so much to teach us about modern Brexit. Will Brexit be the UK's Sicilian Expedition? (Yes.) Is Boris Johnson the modern Alcibiades? (Sort of.) Is Jacob Rees Mogg a modern Cicero? (No.) Is Jeremy Corbyn the modern Julius Caesar? (No but Seumas Milne might be.) With a side order of griping at British educational elitism.

Katie's guest post on Chris' blog

Timothy Snyder's speech for Europe Day 2019 - "we are more than our myths"

#ThucydidesKlaxon

Special Guest: Katie Low.

]]> Ancient historian Katie Low joins Chris to talk about why ancient history has so much to teach us about modern Brexit. Will Brexit be the UK's Sicilian Expedition? (Yes.) Is Boris Johnson the modern Alcibiades? (Sort of.) Is Jacob Rees Mogg a modern Cicero? (No.) Is Jeremy Corbyn the modern Julius Caesar? (No but Seumas Milne might be.) With a side order of griping at British educational elitism.

Katie's guest post on Chris' blog

Timothy Snyder's speech for Europe Day 2019 - "we are more than our myths"

#ThucydidesKlaxon

Special Guest: Katie Low.

]]> Episode 52: Happy Europe Day 2.0 https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/52 27e3d88f-02b0-461c-bbee-d5818f672c14 Sat, 11 May 2019 00:00:00 +0200 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock full Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock Happy Europe Day 2019! Chris and Steve discuss party politics, party loyalties, and voting in the European election. 1:15:45 yes Now the parties have published their manifestos, how should Remainers plan to use their votes in the European election on 23 May? We talk about the tribal nature of party politics and why good people stay loyal to bad parties. Intro music this week by Ludwig van Beethoven arranged &amp; performed by Mr Steve Bullock. Brexit, politics, UK politics, Europe, EU, European Parliament, Peoples Vote, referendum Now the parties have published their manifestos, how should Remainers plan to use their votes in the European election on 23 May? We talk about the tribal nature of party politics and why good people stay loyal to bad parties.

Intro music this week by Ludwig van Beethoven arranged & performed by Mr Steve Bullock.

]]> Now the parties have published their manifestos, how should Remainers plan to use their votes in the European election on 23 May? We talk about the tribal nature of party politics and why good people stay loyal to bad parties.

Intro music this week by Ludwig van Beethoven arranged & performed by Mr Steve Bullock.

]]> Episode 51: Pattern Recognition https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/51 f28c844d-2d8e-46ee-a590-c1c0bee7af98 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 07:00:00 +0200 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock full Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock With elections rapidly approaching, Peter Wilding aka @eurorealist joins us to share his insights into the Conservative Party's civil war and why he has quit the Tories to stand as a Change UK candidate. 1:21:14 yes Steve is off sick this week with a tummy bug so Chris is flying solo as host with guest Peter Wilding, aka @eurorealist, long-time Tory party insider, former head of the British Influence think tank, inventor of the dread word Brexit, and now a European Parliament candidate for Change UK. As we work our way through various beverages, we discuss the state of the Tory party and British politics, contemplate what might happen between now and the end of the Brexit Hextension, and whether Change UK really stands any chance of, well, changing the UK. Peter's book, What Next? (http://influencegroup.org.uk/whatnext/) Special Guest: Peter Wilding. Brexit, politics, UK politics, Europe, EU, European Parliament, Peoples Vote, referendum, Conservative Party, Tories, Change UK, European elections Steve is off sick this week with a tummy bug so Chris is flying solo as host with guest Peter Wilding, aka @eurorealist, long-time Tory party insider, former head of the British Influence think tank, inventor of the dread word Brexit, and now a European Parliament candidate for Change UK. As we work our way through various beverages, we discuss the state of the Tory party and British politics, contemplate what might happen between now and the end of the Brexit Hextension, and whether Change UK really stands any chance of, well, changing the UK.

Peter's book, What Next?

Special Guest: Peter Wilding.

]]> Steve is off sick this week with a tummy bug so Chris is flying solo as host with guest Peter Wilding, aka @eurorealist, long-time Tory party insider, former head of the British Influence think tank, inventor of the dread word Brexit, and now a European Parliament candidate for Change UK. As we work our way through various beverages, we discuss the state of the Tory party and British politics, contemplate what might happen between now and the end of the Brexit Hextension, and whether Change UK really stands any chance of, well, changing the UK.

Peter's book, What Next?

Special Guest: Peter Wilding.

]]> Episode 50: Useful Idiots https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/50 c0cf7af6-8431-47cb-9539-d4e94def4447 Wed, 24 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0200 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock full Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock Chris and Steve celebrate their half century by carrying on last week's grumpy conversation about how Remainers should approach the European elections and why Lord Buckethead is not big and not clever. 1:13:33 yes We D'hondt tell you how to vote in the European elections, but we hope our prolix chat about infighting and outfighting and tactics and principles and manifestos and candidates and choices and dilemmas has given you a helping, er, hondt. <a href="https://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2019/04/24/how-not-to-be-a-useful-idiot">Steve's article for politics.co.uk</a> EU, Brexit, politics, UK politics, EU politics, European Union, European Parliament, European elections We D'hondt tell you how to vote in the European elections, but we hope our prolix chat about infighting and outfighting and tactics and principles and manifestos and candidates and choices and dilemmas has given you a helping, er, hondt.

Steve's article for politics.co.uk

]]> We D'hondt tell you how to vote in the European elections, but we hope our prolix chat about infighting and outfighting and tactics and principles and manifestos and candidates and choices and dilemmas has given you a helping, er, hondt.

Steve's article for politics.co.uk

]]> Episode 36: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Brexit https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/36 feadcd77-7981-4cfb-bf71-82eaa108bb96 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 22:00:00 +0100 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock full Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock Steve and Chris spend their last episode of the year (we hope!) picking over the previous week's debacle at the European Council and wondering at the UK's apparently irrepressible capacity for self-delusion. 1:27:12 yes Theresa May's shocker at the European Council, and why it happened. Plus: Tony Blair, huh, what he isn't good for. And some home truths on what the Article 50 ruling means and what it doesn't mean. Finally, a few cracking Lies of the Week, and an absolute zinger as Tweet of the Year. <a href="https://twitter.com/ottocrat/status/1074610710464946178">Chris' tweet about the Economist's Bagehot column</a> <a href="https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2018/12/13/full-speech-sir-ivan-rogers-on-brexit/">Ivan Rogers' speech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/piris_jc/status/1074932615768092672">JC Piris' tweet of the century</a> Brexit, politics, UK politics, EU, Europe, European Council, Peoples Vote, referendum Theresa May's shocker at the European Council, and why it happened. Plus: Tony Blair, huh, what he isn't good for. And some home truths on what the Article 50 ruling means and what it doesn't mean. Finally, a few cracking Lies of the Week, and an absolute zinger as Tweet of the Year.

Chris' tweet about the Economist's Bagehot column
Ivan Rogers' speech
JC Piris' tweet of the century

]]> Theresa May's shocker at the European Council, and why it happened. Plus: Tony Blair, huh, what he isn't good for. And some home truths on what the Article 50 ruling means and what it doesn't mean. Finally, a few cracking Lies of the Week, and an absolute zinger as Tweet of the Year.

Chris' tweet about the Economist's Bagehot column
Ivan Rogers' speech
JC Piris' tweet of the century

]]> Episode 31: Not the Foggiest https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/31 38fc0756-07b2-4b0e-826b-104be18fb8e9 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 07:00:00 +0100 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock full Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock Steve and Chris debate whether the UK has really been a disruptive force in the EU, and ponder what happens now that we have a draft Withdrawal Agreement. 1:11:06 yes Steve is back and vaping hard (sorry for the background noises) while he outlines options for amending the bill to pass the Withdrawal Agreement and Chris listens in increasing bewilderment. We also discuss whether the UK has really been the disruptive force within EU structures that it's been made out to be in some quarters (OK these quarters). Brexit, politics, UK politics, Europe, EU, referendum, Withdrawal Agreement Steve is back and vaping hard (sorry for the background noises) while he outlines options for amending the bill to pass the Withdrawal Agreement and Chris listens in increasing bewilderment. We also discuss whether the UK has really been the disruptive force within EU structures that it's been made out to be in some quarters (OK these quarters).

]]> Steve is back and vaping hard (sorry for the background noises) while he outlines options for amending the bill to pass the Withdrawal Agreement and Chris listens in increasing bewilderment. We also discuss whether the UK has really been the disruptive force within EU structures that it's been made out to be in some quarters (OK these quarters).

]]> Episode 28: Cross Party Parly Party https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/28 6f3b51af-d161-4841-9e2f-9db27b332806 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0200 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock full Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock Steve and Chris are joined by four - FOUR! - Members of the European Parliament to discuss progress towards a Withdrawal Agreement and prospects for a Peoples Vote 1:09:33 no We leave the podcast dungeon and lug our recording equipment to a meeting room in the European Parliament where we chat with not one, not two, not three, but four MEPs about the Brexit endgame! This was a cracking conversation with political heavyweights so do not miss this one Remain nerds! Our guests are, in no particular order: Julie Girling MEP (http://www.juliegirling.com) (EPP/independent - Julie was a Conservative MEP until the party withdrew the whip from her for her stance on Brexit (http://www.juliegirling.com/julie-girling-mep-my-expulsion-from-the-conservative-party/)) Alyn Smith MEP (https://www.alynsmith.eu) (Greens/EFA/SNP) Seb Dance MEP (http://www.sebdance.co.uk) (S&amp;D/Labour) Molly Scott Cato MEP (http://mollymep.org.uk) (Greens/EFA/Green Party) Huge thanks to Molly, Seb, Alyn, and Julie for sparing the time to come and talk to us, we hope you find this as rewarding to listen to as we did to record. Don't forget the People's Vote March (https://www.peoples-vote.uk/march) in London this Saturday, 20 October - do whatever you need to do to be there! And keep writing to your MPs to press for a Peoples Vote and a Final Say (For All!) (https://finalsayforall.eu) because we NEED to Stop Brexit! Also: please be sure to check out the new podcast from our friends at Remainer Now! (https://audioboom.com/channels/4976477) Special Guests: Alyn Smith, Julie Girling, Molly Scott Cato, and Seb Dance. Brexit, politics, UK politics, EU, Europe, European Parliament, Peoples Vote, referendum We leave the podcast dungeon and lug our recording equipment to a meeting room in the European Parliament where we chat with not one, not two, not three, but four MEPs about the Brexit endgame! This was a cracking conversation with political heavyweights so do not miss this one Remain nerds! Our guests are, in no particular order:

Julie Girling MEP (EPP/independent - Julie was a Conservative MEP until the party withdrew the whip from her for her stance on Brexit)
Alyn Smith MEP (Greens/EFA/SNP)
Seb Dance MEP (S&D/Labour)
Molly Scott Cato MEP (Greens/EFA/Green Party)

Huge thanks to Molly, Seb, Alyn, and Julie for sparing the time to come and talk to us, we hope you find this as rewarding to listen to as we did to record.

Don't forget the People's Vote March in London this Saturday, 20 October - do whatever you need to do to be there!

And keep writing to your MPs to press for a Peoples Vote and a Final Say (For All!) because we NEED to Stop Brexit!

Also: please be sure to check out the new podcast from our friends at Remainer Now!

Special Guests: Alyn Smith, Julie Girling, Molly Scott Cato, and Seb Dance.

]]> We leave the podcast dungeon and lug our recording equipment to a meeting room in the European Parliament where we chat with not one, not two, not three, but four MEPs about the Brexit endgame! This was a cracking conversation with political heavyweights so do not miss this one Remain nerds! Our guests are, in no particular order:

Julie Girling MEP (EPP/independent - Julie was a Conservative MEP until the party withdrew the whip from her for her stance on Brexit)
Alyn Smith MEP (Greens/EFA/SNP)
Seb Dance MEP (S&D/Labour)
Molly Scott Cato MEP (Greens/EFA/Green Party)

Huge thanks to Molly, Seb, Alyn, and Julie for sparing the time to come and talk to us, we hope you find this as rewarding to listen to as we did to record.

Don't forget the People's Vote March in London this Saturday, 20 October - do whatever you need to do to be there!

And keep writing to your MPs to press for a Peoples Vote and a Final Say (For All!) because we NEED to Stop Brexit!

Also: please be sure to check out the new podcast from our friends at Remainer Now!

Special Guests: Alyn Smith, Julie Girling, Molly Scott Cato, and Seb Dance.

]]> Brexit: What Next? Special Bonus Podcast https://cakewatch.fireside.fm/27a e6b3e661-d1c6-43cd-9b24-07f4e97c3c7a Sun, 14 Oct 2018 10:00:00 +0200 Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock bonus Chris Kendall/Steve Bullock We're bringing you a recording of the 'Brexit: What Next?' Question Time-style event organised by Nottingham European Movement on 28 September. Just look at the panellists! 1:52:50 no Our friends at the Nottingham European Movement asked us if they could use our podcast to share a recording of their 'Brexit: What Next? (https://www.euromovelincs.org.uk/brexit_what_next)' event with our listeners, and we bit their arm off! Enjoy this hour and a half panel discussion with these stone-cold Remain legends: Ken Clarke QC MP, Conservative Chris Leslie MP, Labour Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat Natalie Bennett, Green Party (leader of the Green Party 2012-16, and currently prospective parliamentary candidate for Sheffield) Femi Oluwole, co-founder of Our Future, Our Choice! Eloise Todd, chief executive, Best for Britain Moderated by John Hess, former BBC political editor for the East Midlands (Apologies to Chris for omitting to include him in my spoken intro!) Brexit, politics, UK politics, Europe, EU Our friends at the Nottingham European Movement asked us if they could use our podcast to share a recording of their 'Brexit: What Next?' event with our listeners, and we bit their arm off! Enjoy this hour and a half panel discussion with these stone-cold Remain legends:

Ken Clarke QC MP, Conservative
Chris Leslie MP, Labour
Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat
Natalie Bennett, Green Party (leader of the Green Party 2012-16, and currently prospective parliamentary candidate for Sheffield)
Femi Oluwole, co-founder of Our Future, Our Choice!
Eloise Todd, chief executive, Best for Britain
Moderated by John Hess, former BBC political editor for the East Midlands

(Apologies to Chris for omitting to include him in my spoken intro!)

]]> Our friends at the Nottingham European Movement asked us if they could use our podcast to share a recording of their 'Brexit: What Next?' event with our listeners, and we bit their arm off! Enjoy this hour and a half panel discussion with these stone-cold Remain legends:

Ken Clarke QC MP, Conservative
Chris Leslie MP, Labour
Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat
Natalie Bennett, Green Party (leader of the Green Party 2012-16, and currently prospective parliamentary candidate for Sheffield)
Femi Oluwole, co-founder of Our Future, Our Choice!
Eloise Todd, chief executive, Best for Britain
Moderated by John Hess, former BBC political editor for the East Midlands

(Apologies to Chris for omitting to include him in my spoken intro!)

]]>