Oh God, What Now?

As we sadly file away that ‘Keep Keir And Carry On’ headline in the bottom drawer… Keir Starmer steps down and our panel look at what the Starmer era really means. Are we now in a world where petty politics will always trump service to country? Why was this decent, vaguely boring man so loathed in the country? Does this public bloodletting help or hinder Labour’s existential battle against Reform? And why can’t Britain hang on to its Prime Ministers? We’re joined by Chris Grey, the don of Brexit bloggers to discuss it all. 

This is a special two-part split edition, enabling us to get you the Farewell to Keir Starmer portion of the pod as fast as possible. Be here tomorrow as our panel “celebrate” ten years of the Brexit Referendum that pitched Britain into a psychodrama it still can’t escape. 

• Read Chris Grey’s blog Brexit and Brexitism

• Pre-order Jonn’s new book 31 Inventions That Made Our World through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.

• Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk. 

• Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow. 

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Ros Taylor with Jonn Elledge and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Our fast reaction to Burnham’s victory in Makefield with the don of political commentators Steve Richards of Rock & Roll Politics talking to Andrew Harrison… Andy Burnham is heading back to Westminster after his landslide victory and despite dire warnings of a Reform surge, it wasn’t even close. After an early-morning celebratory pint, is he now on a fast track for the keys to No. 10? Should Keir Starmer fight or throw in the towel? Is Burnham’s coronation now inevitable? How big a blow was it all for Farage, Reform and the even-further-right Restore? Above all, what happens next?

• Hear Steve on Rock & Roll Politics. 

• Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow.

• Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk. 

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Andrew Harrison with Steve Richards. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Surprise, surprise! The arson attacks on properties linked to Keir Starmer turn out to have been instigated by a Russian “diplomat” with a background in information warfare. Who’d have thought it? Has Vladimir Putin’s shadow war finally crossed the line?

Plus: Wes Streeting wants to scrap the ban on new fossil fuel production. The Greens are looking less green. The Lib Dems appear indifferent. And don’t get us started on Reform’s Richard Tice… So, is Ed Miliband the last true defender of net zero left standing? Special guest Sam Bright of Desmog talks us through the battle over clean energy. And in the Extra Bit, our panellists reveal their moments of meaningless happiness as an antidote to the doom and gloom. 

• Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow.

• Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.

• Read Sam’s Substack and latest DeSmog articles

ESCAPE ROUTES

• Rachel has been listening to Steven Mangan and his sister Anita on the BBC’s Siblings Unpicked podcast

• James has been playing a remake of the retro video game Final Fantasy VII  

• Sam has been dipping into England vs. New Zealand in the second test (between investigations) 

• Matt has been binging Shrinking, the Apple TV’s hit from the makers of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+. 

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Matt Green with Rachel Cunliffe, James Ball and Sam Bright. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Labour surprises everyone with a ban on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X for the under-16. Critics say the “Australia Plus” regime is riddled with contradictions. Will it work, is it fair or is it just Starmer trying to look tough ahead of the Makerfield by-election? Andrew Harrison puts Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on the spot and then our panel dig into the detail. Plus, the defence row and the resignations of John Healey and ex-Armed Forces Minister Al Carns continue to rock Labour. Could they derail Andy Burnham’s plans to get back into Westminster?

 • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk. 

ESCAPE ROUTES

• Hannah went to the Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends exhibition at the Young V&A 

• Marie just finished Joseph Roth’s classic The Radetzky March  

• Jonn has been reading the first in Patt Barker’s acclaimed Regeneration trilogy  

• Seth took a pit stop at the iconic Literary and Philosophical Society during a trip to Newcastle

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Seth Thévoz with Marie le Conte, Hannah Fearn and Jonn Elledge. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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What’s more revolting? The racist pogrom against innocent families in Belfast? Or the way the far-right is again using a violent attack to claim that every immigrant – legal or illegal – is a threat to the country? Our panel looks at how indulging the “legitimate concerns” mindset leads to kids being burned out of their homes.

Plus we answer your questions in our new monthly-ish But Your Emails special. And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people: do progressive protestors need to up their banner game?

• Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk. 

ESCAPE ROUTES

• Jason has been reading A.I. by Belgian comedian Lieven Schiere 

• Seth saw Churchill’s Urinal starring friend of the pod Rosie Holt at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington. You’ve missed it, but it’s on in Edinburgh in August.   

• Zöe enjoyed Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester.

• Andrew has been listening to Inferno by Boards Of Canada

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Andrew Harrison with Zöe Grünewald, Seth Thévoz and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

www.podmasters.co.uk 
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