The Bench Report
UK politics, straight from the benches.
Parliamentary debates, hearings, bills and briefings, all made into easy-to-digest audio.
Why Listen?
Well, politics is everyone’s business, as my window cleaner reminds me every fortnight. The Bench Report tries to make it less stuffy and more relatable. From PE teacher concerns over playing fields, to holiday-makers' complaints about airport queues, hopefully a topic or two will resonate and spark further interest.
Listener suggestions are vital to our mission - making politics more accessible and accountable. So please get in touch and producer Tom (me) will grab another coffee and start scanning those pages of Hansard.
Think of us as your personal, political consultancy service...but cheaper.
- Stay Informed: Get up-to-date on the latest parliamentary debates and policy decisions, many of which can be overshadowed by the headlines.
- Accessible Politics: We break down complex political jargon into clear, understandable audio summaries.
- Accountability: Understand how your government is working and hold them accountable.
- Targeted Content: Search our episode library for topics that matter to you, personally or professionally. Window cleaners included.
Our Sources:
- No outside chatter. We rely only on the official record of Parliamentary debates: Hansard.parliament.uk
- Reports from Parliamentary Committees that consider and scrutise government work: committees.parliament.uk
- Upcoming Parliamentary bills: bills.parliament.uk
- The comprehensive resources of the House of Commons Library: commonslibrary.parliament.uk
Legal:
- Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0. parliament.uk/site-information/copyright-parliament
Email:
- thebenchreportuk@gmail.com
Extended episodes:
We try to keep episodes short and concise, but if you would like a more detailed analysis of a particular topic, please get in touch!
About Me:
I'm Tom, producer of 'The Bench Report'. Yorkshireman, ex-primary school teacher, now working in the world of education technology. Dad of two, elite village cricketer, knackered footballer. Fascinated by UK and US politics and the world my kids will be taking over.
Episodes
57 episodes
UK Farm Animal Welfare: Cages, Imports, and the Path Forward
This episode explores a UK parliamentary debate on animal welfare in farming. Key themes include ending the use of cages and crates for farmed animals, like enriched cages for hens and farrowing crates for sows. Speakers highlight concerns abou...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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13:19
UK Grocery Fairness: Can the Adjudicator Fix the Food Chain?
Today we explore the role and limitations of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), which oversees fair trading between large UK supermarkets and their direct suppliers. Despite being intended to protect producers and consumers, many argu...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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11:22
Saving Your Local Pub: Community Power & Funding Explained
Discover why local pubs are vital community hubs, providing jobs, supporting local businesses, and boosting social connection. Learn about the financial challenges pubs face, like rising costs and taxes, leading to many closures. This episode e...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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8:30
Stopping Banking Fraud: Understanding Scams and the Fight Against Them in the UK
This episode explores the significant issue of banking fraud in the UK. We'll cover the two main types: unauthorised fraud, where criminals make payments without permission, and authorised push payment (APP) fraud, where vic...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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8:58
The Future of UK Public Libraries: Challenges & Strategies
UK MPs recently debated the future of public libraries, highlighting their vital role as community hubs providing books, digital access, study spaces, and support. Despite facing real-terms cuts since 2010, leading to closures and reduced hours...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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7:37
Local Government: Accountability and Oversight
Our fourth and final episode on local government discovers how local government in England is held accountable. Councils answer to both their local voters and the central government. They are financially independent with their own assets and ab...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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7:14
Local Government: Finances
Understanding local council money in England is complex. Councils primarily get funds from four sources: Council Tax from residents, Business Rates from companies (partially retained locally), Central Government Grants, and...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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8:10
Local Government: Elections and Boundaries
Part 2 of how local government works in England, focusing on elections and the changing structure of councils. We'll explore the First Past the Post electoral system used in wards, how boundaries are set by the LGBCE, and d...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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8:23
Local Government: Structure & Evolution
Part 1 of our series on Local Government explores structure and evolution. Learn about the two-tier system (county and district councils) and the shift towards unitary authorities that handle all local functions. We'll cover the c...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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7:52
Understanding UK Parking Rules: Fines, Private Land, and Devolved Policies
Navigating parking in the UK can be complex due to devolved policy, meaning rules differ across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This episode breaks down key aspects, from council-controlled parking and penalty c...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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33:49
Northumberland & Newcastle School Buildings: Safety, Funding, and Student Futures
This episode explores a parliamentary debate on the state of school buildings in Northumberland and Newcastle. The discussion highlights concerns about crumbling infrastructure, like the closure of Prudhoe community high school due to structura...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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6:59
Understanding Asthma in the UK: Care, Costs, and Calls for Change
This episode explores a UK parliamentary debate on World Asthma Day, highlighting the significant impact of asthma across the nation. We explore key statistics: 7.2 million people live with asthma, and tragically, four people die from...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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6:51
The Future of British Film and Television: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities
This episode explores the state of the British film and high-end television (HETV) industries based on recent analysis. We look at how big international investments drive growth but also the struggles faced by independent UK films trying to tel...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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9:18
Student Mental Health in England: Navigating Support & Duty of Care
This episode explores the growing issue of student mental health in English universities. We look at how many students are affected, what factors contribute to poor mental health, and the debate around whether universities have a legal "duty of...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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10:34
UK Parliament: All-Party Parliamentary Groups
This episode looks at All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs). These are informal, cross-party groups in the UK Parliament, focused on specific topics or countries. Although not official parliamentary bodies, they have faced concerns rega...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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9:22
UK Parliament: How Bills Get Carried Over Between Sessions
This episode explores bill carry-over in the UK Parliament, a procedure that allows public bills to continue their progress from one parliamentary session to the next instead of falling at the end of a session. Initially suggested...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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7:30
UK Parliament: Directly-Elected Mayors in England and Wales
Our topic this episode discusses directly-elected mayors in England and Wales, a system introduced by the Local Government Act 2000. There are three main ways local authorities can be run: mayor and cabinet, leader and cabinet, or the co...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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8:36
UK Parliament: Select Committees - The Evolution of Core Tasks
This episode looks at how the essential jobs, or "core tasks," of UK House of Commons select committees have changed over time. First set in 2002 to make committee work more organised and accountable, these tasks were updated in 2012 to match g...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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6:26
UK Lobbying: Regulation, Scandals, and the Push for Transparency
This episode looks at the world of lobbying in UK politics, exploring its definition, perceived benefits and drawbacks. We discuss the existing regulatory framework, primarily the Transparency of Lobbying Act 2014, which focuses on consultant l...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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9:48
Road Safety and Active Travel to School
Do you worry about the safety of children on their way to school? Are you concerned about the decline in walking and cycling and the impact this has on their health and our environment? A recent debate in the House of Commons addres...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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7:20
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow? The UK Salon Crisis You Need to Know
Is your local salon facing an uncertain future? Parliament's recent debate exposed a critical situation for the UK's hair and beauty industry. Soaring costs and unfair tax policies are squeezing these vital community hubs, threatening jobs and ...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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12:19
Carlisle Floods: Understanding Past Devastation and Future Preparations
Today we explore the critical issue of flood preparedness in Carlisle. This episode highlights the challenges the city faces and ongoing efforts to protect residents and properties from future flooding events, especially with the in...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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10:37
Fixing the Maternal Health Crisis: Black Women Face Shocking Disparities in the UK
While the UK is generally safe for childbirth, persistent and deadly inequalities exist for Black and minority ethnic women. Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth than white women. This critical is...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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10:29
