Is the government inflaming protests on the left and right?

August 14, 2025

Pod Save the UK

Pod Save the UK

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In This Episode

Three thousand riot police were put on standby after Friday was dubbed “anti-asylum day” by far-right organisers, with 14 protests scheduled nationwide outside of suspected asylum hotels.

Tensions are high but with Keir Starmer constantly boasting about cracking down on “illegal” migrants – is the Government simply fanning the flames of unrest?

The New Statesman’s Britain Editor Anoosh Chakelian has been speaking to locals and asylum seekers at asylum hotels. She joins Nish and Coco to discuss why they’ve become such a lightning rod and what else the Government could be doing.

And Labour Minister Chris Bryant has had an unorthodox path into politics – from growing up in Franco’s Spain to being ordained as an Anglican priest. He answers some tricky questions on the Palestine Action arrests and landlord MPs.

And digging into the mailbag, Nish gets an education on audio porn.

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See us Live in London!

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Chris Bryant – A Life and A Half: The Unexpected Making of a Politician

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/life-and-a-half-9781526680914/

National Youth Theatre Statement

https://www.nyt.org.uk/news/nyt-statement-3-august-2025

Girl On The Net – blog

https://www.girlonthenet.com/blog/age-verification-whats-the-harm/