The Bylines Network Podcast

Poorly. It's been 10 years since the Leave EU Referendum. Our three hosts sit down and discuss the different perspectives had on that eventful day, whether it's been successful, and what the future looks like. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/p...

After a week of high tension and intense debate across the UK following the prosecution of the murderer of Henry Nowak, Bylines Network talks to prominent Sikh MP Tan Dhesi. In a revealing and powerful interview, Dhesi expresses his deepest sympathies for the Nowak family’s loss, and discusses faith, values, justice and why the actions of one person must not be exploited by extreme right-wing forc...

Part 4 of 4 this week as we round off the look at the National/Local Elections in Great Britain. We are joined once again by Martin Roche from Bylines Scotland and Charles Smith from Bylines Cymru to talk about the winners, the big losers, and the happenings of the elections, and what this could all mean for Keir Starmer's Premiership. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfun...

Now, in part 3 of our series, we now look to the elections in Wales. Here, we speak to Dr Charles Smith, co-Editor in Chief of Bylines Cymru, about recent events in Wales ad what they could mean for Reform, the Greens, Plaid Cymru, and whether it'll spell the end of 20 years of Labour rule. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only...

In our 4 part miniseries, focusing on the upcoming elections look now to Scotland. We are joined by Martin Roche of Bylines Scotland, to give much more of an insight of the state of Scottish politics. How will the SNP do? Will Reform replace the Conservatives in Scotland? What does success look like for the Scottish Greens? And will what's happening to Labour in England affect Scottish Labour?...

2026, nearly 2 years on from the General Election that saw them get a massive majority in Westminster, Labour look like they will lose a catastrophic amount of councillors and councils. With the rise of both Reform and the Greens, with elections in Manchester and London, as well as other places around the country, our hosts ask, is every really looking that bad for Labour and what does this mean f...

In the midst of all th global news going on, there's an important piece of legislation making its way through parliament right now. The Representation of the People Act extends the vote to include 16 & 17 year olds, as well as automnatic voter registration, controls party donations, and adds more voter ID to the accepted forms that we alredy have to deal with. This could be a bill that sha...

It's been 4 years since the illegal, full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. However, since the election of Trump in 2024, there has been a push for peace from Ukraine's previously biggest contributor of weapons. To say the path to peace hasn't been smooth is an understatement. Our hosts talk to Tetiana Toma, a Ukrainian writer for Kent & Surrey Bylines, about what the situation...

This time on Bylies Network Reports, Mark Cunliffe and Anna Damski speak to Paul Koberstein about his recent book, co-authored with Jessica Applegate (found here: https://orbooks.com/catalog/canopy-of-titans/), which is about his research into rainforest carbon capture. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatev...

Brand new year, brand new series of Bylines Reports. This time, Ronnie Barbour from the Bylines Scotland Podcast interviews Phil White of Patriotic Millionaires. Here, Mr White talks about the strategy the organisation will be implimenting this year, making their message known throughout the country. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Do...

New Year, New Headlines!! It didn't take too long for the President to make headlines as US Forces kidnap Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro. Which then caused a domino effect of headlines all through out January. Join Jules and Chris as they talk about Venezuela, Trumps coverting Greenland, and the incidents surrounding ICE's actions in the US. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a cr...

Happy New Year Everyone. Let's celebrate and ring in 2026 by celebrating Kent & Surrey's 5 year anniversary. Join our hosts as they interview the editorial team and several contributors about the running & reporting of the publication and a look to the future in the next 5 years. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate...

Often, negativenews makes theheadlines and it makes people sadand depressed about the stateof the world. But there has been some good news from the last 12 months. Our hosts go through storiesthat caught their eye, togive you a positive roud up of the year. Happy New Year eveyone, from all of us at the Bylines Network. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the...

George Monbiot is a journalist and environmental political activist. He writes regualrlly for publications such as the Guardian and even joined us for a talk at the Byline Festival 2025. Here, our managing director, Ben Dickenson, and Byline Scotland Editor, Patricia S. Paton, sit down to talk to him about food safety, the environment and the current state of UK Politics. If you wish to contribute...

At the end of November, Rachel Reeves unvieled a new Autumn Budget. Our hosts, Julian and Chris, go through the major measures in it to tell you the good, the bad, and the apathetic. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠ The By...

Dominic Grieve is a former Conservative MP for Beaconsfield and current Co-President of the European Movement. In this episode, Peter and Michelle of West England Bylines interview Mr Grieve, asking about a wide range of issues, both domestic and foreign, from recent news stories, such as the failed procesution of alleged Chinese Spies, to, of course, Brexit. If you wish to contribute to our cause...

September marked end of recess and the start of Labour's Phase 2, marked by a cabinet reshuffle, and several unforeseen controversies, involving his deputy prime minister and his American ambassador. Is this a genuine phase 2 to mark the next stage in Labour's premiership or a distraction? In other major news, the Green Party had a leadership election where a new face was elected, that bei...

Now onto the largest of the publications, today we celebrate the 5th Birthday of Central Bylines, who report from the entirety of the Midlands. Julian talks with the former editor of East Midlands Bylines, Simon Ferrigino, as well as member of the current editorial board, Judy Copage and Mark Cunliffe to talk about the last 5 years of reporting, where the publication currently stands, and what the...

Marcus Ryder MBE is a huge figure in the factual news world, spending 25 years in networks around the world, 8 of them acting as a senior executive at the BBC. He's currently the CEO of the Film & TV Charity and chair of RADA. His new book, in collaboration with Sir Lenny Henry, The Big Payback talks about Reparations to address the legacy of slavery. He sits down with Ben Dickenson and Anna S...

Immigration and small boats have been in the news for a number of years now, with many Right-Wing parties created to address this so-called issue. However, Chris and Julian feel like there's always a perspective that goes unconsidered, the perspective of the people seeking asylum themselves and those who work with them. This month, Chris and Julian sit down with Charlotte Khan from Care4Calais...

Another birthday to celebrate. This time we look to the south as our smallest publication in Sussex Bylines. We ask the Editor-in-Chief, Ginny Smith, as well as James Joughin and Pea Channon, both members of SBL core editorial team, to talk about what the last 5 years have been like. On top of that, we're joined by 2 of Sussex's contributors, Ross McNally and Rudi Banfield, who talk about...

July signalled Labour's first year in power, so what better time than now for our hosts to look back at the last 12 months of policy making and give their opinions on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. We list bills we like the look of, actions that have been taken, such as the railways going back into public ownership, and why, despite all the good, it's been a mixed bag of a first year for...

Continuing out 5 years on series, we come to the third oldest of the publications, and the stomping grounds of one of our hosts, West England Bylines. Our hosts interview the 3 Editors-in-Chief, Peter Burke, Claire Jones, and Michelle Cook, as well as Jon Hill, the former Editor, to ask how the last 5 years has gone, what goes into running a publication with such a varied area, andwhere they'd...

An extra special episode in our Bylines Reports series, bringing you a passionate and insightful debate recorded live at the Byline Festival 2025, in front of an excited audience of 200 people. Join host Ben Dickenson (Bylines Network’s managing director), and an expert panel including: •⁠ ⁠Outspoken former UK diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall. •⁠ ⁠High-profile campaigner Stephen Kinsella, founder of H...

For Pride month, we ask what life is like for transgender people in the UK right now. On this special episode, Julian sits down with Zoe Perry from the Forrest of Dean and Natacha Kennedy, two trans writers from the Bylines Network, to discuss the impact of the recent hotly contested Supreme Court decision. The court ruled that protections from sex based discrimination in the Equality Act referred...