OffTheCuth

Listen to Dr Fletcher talk about the importance of having a strong opposition in UK politics, how podcasts can challenge and stretch people's understandings of the important issues of the day and how his OppositionCast podcast has grown and developed since lockdown. BIOG: Dr Fletcher is a political historian, academic and writer who co-founded the Centre for Opposition Studies to promote greater u...

Listen to Mrs Harding talk about how her career as a professional musician set her up to break the glass ceiling and become the headmistress of "The happiest boarding school in the UK". BIOG: Vicky is the Head of Repton Prep, a public school in Derbyshire which was crowned the happiest boarding school in 2022. Previous to this she was director of music at Garden House in London and the Dragon Scho...

Listen to Lord Brady talk about what it was like to oversee the arrival and departure of 5 Prime Ministers as well as dealing with dissent between MPs and their leadership. BIOG: Before he was elevated to the Lords, Lord Brady was chairman of the 1922 Committee for 14 years, a high profile job at the centre of the Conservative Party, during which he saw 5 Prime Ministers come and go. He recently w...

Listen to Huw Evans talk about what it was really like to be a special advisor in Downing Street during the Blair years, what the Members of the Blair Cabinet were really like and how this experience set him up to move into business where he delivered real change in the insurance industry. BIOG: Huw served as a special advisor to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair and the Home Secretary, David Blunket...

Listen to Josh Lincoln, CEO of the High Performance Podcast, which has over 10 million listens across all platforms per quarter, give advice to me regarding how to podcast and engage with our guests! The High Performance podcast is hosted by former BT Sport and BBC presenter Jake Humphrey and Professor Damian Hughes and uncovers the secrets of high performance by interviewing those sports people t...

Listen to Simon Copeland talk about mixing with Royal Wedding Dress Designers and give an insiders view of the fashion industry and fashion shows. BIOG: Simon Copeland has been designing elegantly glamorous clothes for a loyal and discerning list of private clients for over 25 years. Specialising in the Couture end of the market, he works closely with his clients to ensure that the pieces he makes...

Listen to Hannah discuss the intersections of disability, chronic illness, sex and trauma as well as the economic impact of VAWG. BIOG: Hannah is an award-nominated freelance feature journalist and creative who travels full-time as a digital nomad. She specialises in covering sex, relationships, health, and travel, with a focus on the intersections of disability, trauma, chronic illness, underrepo...

Interview with Lord Attlee about being the grandson of Clement Attlee, coming back from Iraq to find out there were no weapons of mass destruction, prison reform and the changes being made to the House of Lords by the Labour Government. BIOG: Steeped in politics from a young age due to his Grandfather being the one and only Clement Attlee, Lord Attlee has been a hereditary member of the House of L...

Listen to Michael Fabricant talk about his experiences of corruption & how they shaped his political beliefs before he went into Parliament, what he learned whilst in the Whips Office, his feelings about John Bercow and the future of the Labour party. BIOG: A well-known politician and broadcaster, he was the MP for Mid Staffordshire from 1992 before it was renamed Litchfield in 1997. During hi...

Listen to Elaine talk about the impact of climate change on our rail system, the need of the Govt to truly understand the supply chain and how they can work together to deal with the issue of VAWG on trains. BIOG: As the CEO of the Rail Forum she is responsible engaging with political decision makers on all issues affecting the rail industry and received an OBE in the June 2024 honours list as rec...

In this episode listen to Baroness Randerson talk about the upcoming nationalisation of the railways, how this will mean safety for women on trains needs to therefore be dealt with by the Govt now and new and exciting amendments to legislation that she helped trailblaze to make the railways better for disabled travellers. BIOG: Baroness Randerson was a Member of the House of Lords having previousl...

New Government, new focus needed on special educational needs. Listen to Dhruv talk about how the needs of SEND learners must be addressed through a fully equitable and funded education system that provides them with the support they need to succeed. BIOG: Dhruv is one of the FT's Top 100 BAME Leaders in Technology having created an online and blended learning portal that allows all children, even...

Live at Labour Party Conference, listen to the raw reactions of Ministers, MPs, a Local Council Cabinet Member and an activist new to party conference for the first time!

Listen to a discussion on the origins of two key Kings Speech pledges by the new Labour Government: the removal of the £200 threshold for shoplifting and making violence against a shop worker a specific offence and how this will impact the retail sector.

Listen to Margaret talk about how she has influenced rail policy in Westminster and Cardiff through her work as Government Advisor, transport specialist and Welsh Woman of the Year BIOG: Margaret’s 40-year career has seen her own and operate a container shipping line, port terminals and a road haulage fleet. She has also been Deputy Chair of the Port of Dover, Chair of the Network Rail Supervisory...

Rob Rams, a close associate of ex Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was London Mayor as well as a special adviser at DEFRA, gives his searingly honest opinion about the prospects and strategy of the Conservatives during this election based on his intricate knowledge of the party and what he's finding on the doorsteps.

In this second election special, Tom Harris gives his verdict on the record of the Conservative Government in Westminster, The Labour Party in Wales and Scotland, and his thoughts on the upcoming election.

Listen to insights about the General Election on July 4th from Ian Paisley Jr, including the impact of the return of Nigel Farage to frontline politics, the battlegrounds faced by the DUP in the election as well as the state of play for the main Parliamentary parties ahead of July 4th

In this episode of “Off The Cuth" I talk about how the lessons Vaughan Gething taught me 30 years ago have helped ensure that my work in public affairs has a real impact.

Dean talks about how to improve your own mindset to achieve your goals, the impact a sudden diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease has had on him and the work he has undertaken to help all those suffering with this disease. "Nothing is permanent, how you feel today will change tomorrow and you have more power than you think". BIOG: Dean was one of the leading mindset and performance coaches for the pr...

In this episode, listen to Sir Robert talk about the Buckland Review of Autism Employment and what he feels needs to be done in order to ensure that autistic people have a fulfilling life. BIOG: Sir Robert was the MP for South Swindon from 2010 to 2024. Since entering Parliament, he has been Minister of State for Prisons & Probation, Lord Chancellor, Solicitor General, Secretary of State for J...

Listen to Christie talk about his journey from being an excluded student to an inspirational leader for young people today. BIOG: CEO of N-Gage and winner of the Marcus Rashford Children's Champion Pride of Britain Award

Listen to the Minister open up about her background and the issues that she campaigns on locally in Derby North. BIOG: Amanda served as Government Whip and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability) at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. She was the MP for Derby North from 2019 - 2024 having previously served from 2015 to 2017. Before ente...

Listen to Cllr Alambritis talk about his time as Leader of Merton Council, thoughts about seamless transport in London as well as the values he believes are vital in politics BIOG: As Leader of Merton Council for a record breaking 10 years, he lead the campaign to save St Helier hospital, delivered a special school and created opportunities for Merton Council to be involved with multi-million-poun...

Listen to Supt. Patrick Holdaway talk about the work the police did during Covid 19 as well as what is being done by the NBCC on retail crime. BIOG: Patrick joined Hampshire Constabulary in 1995 and worked in various operational strategic roles. In 2014 he became the first business crime lead for the force and set up the Safer Hampshire Business Partnership as well as several other initiatives to...