Is Labour too close to the City – with Lionel Shriver & Robert Hardman

Is Labour too close to the City – with Lionel Shriver & Robert Hardman

February 26, 2026 · 35 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Labour's relationship with the banking industry and various cultural topics.

Britain’s banks have a hold over Rachel Reeves, declares Michael Simmons in the Spectator’s cover piece this week. Almost two decades on from the 2008 financial crash, the UK has failed to reform the system and – as ordinary people face a cost-of-living crisis – Labour is in hock to big business. Is the Chancellor too close to the City? For this week’s  Edition , host Lara Prendergast is joined by economics editor Michael Simmons, columnist Lionel Shriver, and columnist from the  Daily Mail  Robert Hardman. As well as Labour’s relationship with the banking industry, they discuss: the hit BBC show  Industry ; how the Royals have frozen out (former Prince) Andrew – and whether removing him from the line of succession is ‘performative’ or not; Lionel’s new book on immigration  A Better Life ; why young Brits increasingly want to be more Australian; and finally, what’s so good about a moustache? Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Catch up with Industry S4 now on BBC iPlayer. Watch the season finale on Monday 2nd March on BBC One. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find…

People in this episode

Host: Lara Prendergast

Guests: Michael Simmons, Lionel Shriver, Robert Hardman

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Labour, BBC, Daily Mail

Books & works: A Better Life

Places: UK

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