Does it matter who our MPs are?
Analysis6 Mars 2023

Does it matter who our MPs are?

Classic theories of representative democracy argue that it’s the representation of ideas not our personal characteristics - such as age, gender, race or class - that should matter. But current debates about the diversity of our politicians suggest many of us are interested in who our MPs are and that they represent us.

We have more women and more ethnic minority MPs than ever before, we have had three women Prime Ministers and our first Prime Minister with an Asian heritage and yet attention has been drawn to the fact that the majority of the current cabinet, unlike the British population, attended private schools. Some have never worked outside of politics. Does this matter? Is personal background and history the most critical factor leading to good political representation? Do the backgrounds of our politicians influence voters’ choices at the ballot box? And how do political parties react?

Presenter: Rosie Campbell Producer: Vicki Broadbent Editor: Clare Fordham

Avsnitt(389)

We know how to stop knife crime, so why don’t we do it?

We know how to stop knife crime, so why don’t we do it?

In the last five years in the UK, more than 100 children have died from knife wounds. But violence isn't inevitable and evidence shows that we need more mentoring, therapy, family support and police i...

29 Maj 202327min

Lessons from the vaccine task force

Lessons from the vaccine task force

In May 2020 a group of experts came together, at speed, to form the UK’s Vaccine Task Force. Born in the teeth of a crisis, its efforts were responsible for allowing Britain to be among the first cou...

3 Apr 202329min

Can the Met police change?

Can the Met police change?

How difficult is it for a police force to change? A review of the Metropolitan police by Baroness Louise Casey says racism, misogyny, and homophobia are at the heart of the force. The Met's commission...

27 Mars 202329min

Is Britain exceptional?

Is Britain exceptional?

Is Britain Exceptional? Historian, author and Sunday Telegraph columnist Zoe Strimpel believes so, and sifts through the layers of Britain’s culture, politics and religious history to find the roots f...

20 Mars 202328min

King Charles' Challenge

King Charles' Challenge

The Queen’s funeral appeared a resounding reassertion of our enduring commitment to monarchy, but was it a tribute to her rather than the institution? As the coronation approaches, polls suggest suppo...

13 Mars 202328min

The death of globalisation?

The death of globalisation?

Professor Ian Goldin explores globalisation, and asks how far the world is fragmenting politically and economically, and what the consequences of that could be. Since around 1990, with the end of the ...

27 Feb 202327min

From Brother to Other

From Brother to Other

It’s a year since Russia launched its war in Ukraine; a year that has brought failure, humiliation, defeat and heavy losses on the battlefield, and international isolation. The conflict has impacted t...

20 Feb 202329min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

motiv
p3-krim
spar
flashback-forever
svenska-fall
rss-viva-fotboll
rss-krimstad
aftonbladet-daily
aftonbladet-krim
rss-sanning-konsekvens
rss-vad-fan-hande
olyckan-inifran
dagens-eko
fordomspodden
rss-aftonbladet-krim
svd-ledarredaktionen
rss-frandfors-horna
blenda-2
rss-klubbland-en-podd-mest-om-frolunda
rss-krimreportrarna