Reasons Revisited

In its first King's Speech, the Labour government said that "greater devolution of decision making is at the heart of a modern dynamic economy and is a key driver of economic growth."

Historically, why has the UK been so insistent on hoarding power centrally? And what's the potential in Westminster giving away power?

With Tony Travers (LSE), Sarah Longlands (IPPR North) and Neil McInroy (The Centre for Local Economic Strategies)

Ed has departed for government, and Geoff is left as custodian of the archive. As the Labour government makes its first raft of announcements and appointments, we delve into our back catalogue to find the ideas which might have influenced them. 

In this episode, we look at Rachel Reeves' announcement of the National Wealth Fund. What are public wealth funds? What different forms can they take? What are the potential benefits to our country?

We revisit our episode Investment for the People from October 2022. First, we get the beginner's guide from UCL Associate Professor Josh Ryan-Collins. Then we hear from Professor Karin Thorburn about Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, which (due to specific historical circumstances) is very different to the one proposed for the UK, but illustrates how a public wealth fund could transform the way we finance Government spending. 

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The day is upon us. Maybe. In the words of the late Teddy Kennedy (uncle of Robert F. Junior, and real-life inspiration for Kendall Roy):

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

Thank you for keeping us cheerful.

Email our sporadically monitored inbox: [email protected]

Full text of Ted Kennedy's 1980 Democratic National Concession address: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tedkennedy1980dnc.htm

From Highland Park, Illinois, we're joined by our cicada correspondent, who's keeping watch for the first dual emergence in 221 years. Plus, we find out more about this phenomenon with entomologist Professor Dave Bilton.

Bigger than the beetles - more about Dave: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/david-bilton

Emerge in the Chatteroo inbox: [email protected]