<p><em>Out early for Patreon people…</em></p><p>When a government fails to deliver the basics – like <strong>getting petrol to the pumps</strong> – can it ever win back the confidence it has lost? Is Keir Starmer pulling off the relaunch he needed at the <strong>Labour conference</strong>? We ask special guest <strong>Stephanie Lloyd</strong>, former deputy director of Blairite think tank Progress, if the Party’s centrists have enough to offer beyond “Not Corbyn Any More.” And can <strong>James Bond</strong> still be a fantasy of omnicompetent Britishness in an age when Britain is falling apart?</p><ul><li><em>“The Army and the public quite like it when crises like this happen. The military enjoy being the people who clean up the mess.”</em><strong><em> – Arthur Snell</em></strong></li><li><em>“We are eighteen months into the pandemic, and five years into Brexit. Where was the planning?”</em><strong><em> –&nbsp;Stephanie Lloyd</em></strong></li><li><em>“James Bond allows Britain to see itself as bigger than it really is.” </em><strong><em>–&nbsp;Arthur Snell</em></strong></li></ul><p><em>Presented by Andrew Harrison with Yasmeen Serhan and Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. </em><strong><em>The Bunker is a Podmasters Production</em></strong></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p>They cancel Christmas earlier every year, don’t they? As petrol queues swamp Britain, will the EU lorry drivers we told to get out come back now we need them? (Spoiler: non, nein, όχι). Plus the German election results, Keir Starmer’s big moment at the Labour Conference, and phone hacking is back back back! <strong>Alex Andreou</strong> starts your week. &nbsp;</p><p><br></p><ul><li><em>“HGV drivers are not short of work in Europe. Offering them a visa is far too little, far too late.”</em></li><li><em>“We’re now being told that Brexit means we can solve the problems created by Brexit…”</em></li><li><em>“As Labour voters, we've come too good at punching ourselves in the face.”</em></li><li><em>“So it’s OK in politics to be a lying scumbag, but it’s not OK for people to say it?”&nbsp;</em></li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. </em><strong><em>THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production</em></strong></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

Inside the HGV Driver Shortage, plus Gavin Williamson’s unwieldy rise to Education Secretary, and Texans’ battle over abortion

PLUS: Ros Taylor eats crickets on air!

<p>Schools are back. Will the decision not to vaccinate 12-15 year olds turn classes into superspreader factories – or do we actually want school-age kids to catch COVID and build up immunity? Plus, why the Government won’t provide the catch-up funds that education needs. What the Pen Farthing episode tells us about sentimental Britain. And the shame of Afghanistan is just beginning. <strong>Ros Taylor</strong> starts your week. &nbsp;</p><p><br></p><ul><li><em>“It’s simple – the Government is pursuing </em><strong><em>de facto herd immunity</em></strong><em> by not vaccinating children.”</em></li><li><em>“The problem with education goes beyond our woeful Education Secretary… We have a </em><strong><em>perfect storm</em></strong><em> of public spending”</em></li><li><em>“It’s hard not conclude that some of the British public </em><strong><em>care more about a dog</em></strong><em> than they care about a brown person.”</em></li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. </em><strong><em>THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production</em></strong></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>