Becoming Burnham: Thatcher, Hillsborough, and the Anger that Shaped Him | Part 1
20 August 2026
428. Rory vs. Alastair: Are we spending too much on defence?
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Podcast
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15 July 2025
Is Starmer falling into Trump's defence spending trap? What's the bigger threat to the European democracies: Putin or populism? Why has a Labour-affiliated union suspended Angela Rayner, a trade unionist Deputy PM?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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Speaking to a friend today who works for a company supplying equipment to BAE in Sheffield. Taking a crane (today, 15th), arrived at site and couldn’t fit the crane through the gates. Had to cut them off, which he did for them as incompetent security had no idea what to do. Was then told he couldn’t see the crane in place (despite having all necessary pads to spread weight etc)… so left. Will have cost BAE about £30K. A site manager said its fine, they’ll get it back Monday… only the crane will be on its way up to Scotland for 16 weeks then. Friend said everyone on site he spoke with seems completely incapable of answering any questions or assisting to remove blockers or help get the work on site done. Crane required for moving in equipment into the favtory over the coming days…
Is this the incompetency we’re paying for with increased funding? Nato innovation fund going for smaller companies seems the smarter option.