Affan Burki | From Battlefield to Ballot Box

In this episode of Cut The Sh*t, Lewis Kross sits down with Affan Burki — former British Army Captain, consultant working with NATO, and Chairman of the Green Party in Burnley — for a wide-ranging and deeply human conversation about power, responsibility, and the systems shaping modern life.

What begins as a discussion about parenting, education, and curiosity in children quickly expands into a broader examination of literacy, identity, and how personal belief systems are formed. Affan and Lewis explore the role of teachers, the importance of reading in adulthood, and what happens when large sections of society are quietly left behind by systems that no longer serve them.

From there, the conversation moves into the uncomfortable realities of modern politics: accountability in leadership, the consequences of decisions like Brexit, wealth inequality, and the growing disconnect between those in positions of power and the people living with the outcomes of their choices. They unpack the relationship between poverty and crime, question whether democracy is functioning as intended, and examine the dangers of populism when anger is misdirected.

The episode also tackles free speech, cultural identity, and the impact of technology on public discourse — asking whether we are more connected than ever, yet less capable of genuine understanding. Drawing on Affan’s military background, political experience, and personal reflections, the discussion challenges simplistic narratives around crime, drugs, and punishment, advocating instead for humane approaches to decriminalisation, rehabilitation, and prison reform.

At its core, this is a conversation about responsibility — personal, political, and collective. It’s about recognising where systems are broken, questioning inherited assumptions, and deciding whether we’re willing to do the harder work of building something better.

This episode doesn’t offer easy answers — but it does ask better questions.