<p>From prisons to speed cameras and welfare to nuclear warning systems, the British government has outsourced a huge number of state operations to private companies – including the housing of asylum seekers.</p><br><p>This week, riots erupted on the streets of Belfast following the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvy. The suspect is an ex asylum seeker. It’s the third summer in a row that the asylum accommodation system has been the focus of violent protests.</p><br><p>Has Britain lost control?</p><br><p>READ: How Britain lost control </p><p>https://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2026/06/how-britain-lost-control</p><br><p><br></p><br><p><strong>LISTEN AD-FREE:</strong></p><p>📱<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2022/06/newapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Download the New Statesman app</a></p><br><p><strong>MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:</strong></p><p>❓ <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/2022/10/you-ask-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ask a question</a> – we answer them every Friday</p><p>⏰ <a href="https://morningcall.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get our daily politics newsletter</a> every morning</p><p>✍️ <a href="http://saturdayread.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enjoy the best of our writing</a> via email every Saturday</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The Politics Show

The New Statesman

The private companies running Britain

JUN 11, 202647 MIN
The Politics Show

The private companies running Britain

JUN 11, 202647 MIN

Description

<p>From prisons to speed cameras and welfare to nuclear warning systems, the British government has outsourced a huge number of state operations to private companies – including the housing of asylum seekers.</p><br><p>This week, riots erupted on the streets of Belfast following the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvy. The suspect is an ex asylum seeker. It’s the third summer in a row that the asylum accommodation system has been the focus of violent protests.</p><br><p>Has Britain lost control?</p><br><p>READ: How Britain lost control </p><p>https://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2026/06/how-britain-lost-control</p><br><p><br></p><br><p><strong>LISTEN AD-FREE:</strong></p><p>📱<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2022/06/newapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Download the New Statesman app</a></p><br><p><strong>MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:</strong></p><p>❓ <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/2022/10/you-ask-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ask a question</a> – we answer them every Friday</p><p>⏰ <a href="https://morningcall.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get our daily politics newsletter</a> every morning</p><p>✍️ <a href="http://saturdayread.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enjoy the best of our writing</a> via email every Saturday</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>