Episodios

  • Decision time for Christian leaders
    Apr 28 2025

    The Three Old Hacks discuss the challenges facing Christian leadership. As the Papal Conclave works its way through multiple rounds of voting to select a new Pope and the Church of England chooses a new Archbishop of Canterbury, they caution against trying to make a fast buck by betting on either.

    On the papal contest, political analyst Nigel Dudley offers: "It's invariably an outsider." On the Church of England selection, "I think it could be a woman," says David Smith, Economics editor of the Sunday Times, "because, of the figures in the Church of England, the bishops and the Church of England in the UK, I think some of the most impressive figures are women," although he acknowledges this might not go down to well with the Church worldwide. The circle-squaring task of reconciling the values of the Church in England and the wider Church will be the biggest headache for whoever gets the job.

    As a historian of the Indian sub-continent, Mihir Bose is particularly concerned with the heightened tensions in Kashmir after the attacks that left 26 civilians dead last week. "India is threatening to cut the water sharing system they have with Pakistan, an agreement that goes back to the 50s, and Pakistan sees it as an act of war," he says, while Nigel suggests: "If Pakistan is finding itself isolated and in a corner, it may be more likely to threaten nuclear war than at any stage in the past."

    Turning to less depressing and apocalyptic matters, the Three Old Hacks go on to discuss the Observer newspaper's transition and future prospects and the significance for multicultural Britain of chicken tikka masala being served at the Oval.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    50 m
  • Who will win the battle for the hearts and minds of those on the right? Nigel Farage or Kemi Badenoch?
    Apr 4 2025

    The Three Old Hacks look at the relationship between Nigel Farage and the Conservative Party. We are seeing a reshaping of the right in British politics, says Mihir. Nigel Farage is out to destroy the Conservative Party in his mission to become prime minister.

    He is making a tactical shift towards the centre, says David Smith, to take over the Conservatives' ground. While Tory Party members may be drifting towards Reform, that "is not easy for Tory MPs to contemplate", says David Smith. He thinks the Tories have repeated the mistake they made when they elected William Hague in 1997, in electing a leader who is too young to lead the party (he was then 26). Kemi Badenoch is 44, but is "not", says David, "a very good parliamentary performer."

    Mihir is prepared to put money on Farage becoming prime minister one day, but Nigel Dudley thinks the Tory Party will survive its current difficulties and will not be ousted by Reform as the rightful home of right-leaning voters.

    Turning to consider Rachel Reeves' performance as Chancellor and the measures she outlined in the Spring Budget, "it has been many decades since we have had an economist in the job of Chancellor," says David, "and she definitely is an economist," whatever her political enemies may say to the contrary. Whether or not she will survive as Chancellor has more to do with the number of enemies she has made in such a short time than it does with her abilities as an economist - pensioners who have lost their winter fuel payments, parents of children in private education, farmers, and now disabled people."She expected to be swept along on a tide of goodwill," says David, but that has not been the case.

    Is the Labour government's lack of popularity down to the mismatch in expectations between what they can afford and what people want from an incoming Labour government? Is it down to their lack of preparedness when they took office.

    The Three Old Hacks compare and contrast with governments past and consider the Trump effect on the UK's relations with Europe.

    Former Sports editor of BBC News Mihir Bose, political analyst Nigel Dudley and Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith, aka the Three Old Hacks, bring their decades of experience to bear on the most pressing political developments.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    51 m
  • Should we take Trump seriously?
    Feb 25 2025

    Supporters of Donald Trump such as Piers Morgan and Nigel Farage tend to brush off his more outrageous statements, saying we shouldn't take his outpourings too literally.

    Shouldn't we? In a week in which he has declared that President Zelensky of Ukraine is a 'dictator' and tariffs on Mexico and Canada "will go forward", the Three Old Hacks, aka Sports editor of BBC News Mihir Bose, political analyst Nigel Dudley and Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith, discuss how seriously we should take the President of the United States.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    50 m
  • “Brexit has become the n-word of economics”
    Feb 4 2025

    As The Three Old Hacks gather for their latest episode, they dive into the state of UK politics and economic growth. David Smith offers a measured analysis of Britain’s growth prospects, suggesting that while some improvement is expected, it may fall short of historical averages. Mihir Bose expresses concern about the rising cost of living and its impact on British dining culture, while Nigel Dudley defends his wine collection and shares insights on changing restaurant habits. The conversation weaves through Brexit’s curious absence from political discourse, despite declining public support.

    The trio then tackles the worrying decline in faith in mainstream political parties, with David highlighting the troubling shift away from centrist politics. They share their perspectives on recent political developments in both the UK and US, with particular attention to the challenges facing the Tory party and Labour. The conversation takes on a sombre tone as they discuss how the political system is increasingly perceived as being run by elites, disconnected from ordinary voters.

    Former Sports editor of BBC News Mihir Bose, political analyst Nigel Dudley and Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith share their decades of experience in this engaging discussion of current affairs.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    39 m
  • Will 2024 go down as the year when the world changed?
    Dec 20 2024

    As the Three Old Hacks get ready to tuck into the turkey and mince pies they consider how we will rate 2024. Mihir Bose thinks this has been the worst of times with Trump back in the White House, right-wing parties gaining power in Europe and the flood of non-European migrants creating an existentialist crisis. David Smith disagrees with his old friend arguing that proportional representation means the right may not win power and Europe has in the past coped with migration from former colonies. Nigel Dudley, wearing his Hampshire cricket hat, thinks the Keir Starmer government should not be written off because of its bad start in the first innings. There is always a second innings and recalls how Mrs Thatcher turned things round in the second innings.

    The three discuss the crisis in the Church of England. They are unanimous in their condemnation of the Church but disagree on whether the Church should be disestablished.

    Nigel Dudley, a bon viveur of food, takes issue with Kemi Badenock’s comment that she is not a fan of lunch breaks and sandwiches. David Smith recalls sitting next to the former Governor, Eddie George, at a lunch where the Governor did not eat explaining that this was because he was going to speak. Mihir Bose narrates how he recently spoke at a cricket lunch after enjoying an excellent roast lamb.

    Former Sports editor of BBC News Mihir Bose, political analyst Nigel Dudley and Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith, aka the Three Old Hacks conclude their podcast with each of them making a choice of a song to bring us Christmas cheer.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    48 m
  • Does Labour no longer have skilful politicians?
    Dec 6 2024

    As the Prime Minister Keir Starmer tries to recover from the worst start by a new government in recent times, the Three Old Hacks discuss why the government needs a re-launch a mere six months after coming to office with a huge majority. “Does it mean” asks Mihir Bose that “Labour no longer has leaders with political nous”. What happened to the party of Clement Attlee and Tony Blair?

    Nigel Dudley recalls how Tories under Thatcher in 1979 also had a rocky start and David Smith explains points about Rachel Reeves’s CV and controversial budget that were missed by the media. With the sale of the Observer, the oldest Sunday paper, to the Tortoise group, they also discuss whether the unique British phenomenon of Daily and Sunday papers may be changing and we are moving to seven day papers.

    Former Sports editor of BBC News Mihir Bose discusses why the Keir Starmer government is showing such political ineptitude with political analyst Nigel Dudley and Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith, aka the Three Old Hacks.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    48 m
  • What will Trump's second term in office look like?
    Nov 8 2024

    The Three Old Hacks consider what we might expect from a second Trump presidency.

    "Will it mean a more isolationist America?" asks MIhir Bose. What will it mean for Ukraine?

    Has he made political discourse coarser, or are the off-colour remarks he makes no worse than the kind of thing President Lyndon B Johnson used to say?

    Should we ignore the rhetoric of Trump's speeches, as Piers Morgan suggests, and just look at what he does in the White House rather than what he says?

    Former Sports editor of BBC News Mihir Bose discusses the election of Donald Trump as US President for a second term with political analyst Nigel Dudley and Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith, aka the Three Old Hacks.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    44 m
  • 40 years since the Brighton bomb
    Oct 17 2024

    The Three Old Hacks have known each other for 40 years, having met when they were all working for Financial Weekly magazine in 1984, which is also the year David Smith went on to join The Times. He recalls how Nigel Lawson set the standard as a tax reforming Chancellor with his autumn Budget that year, while Nigel Dudley remembers his lucky escape when he decided to go back to his hotel rather than having a nightcap at the bar of the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the Conservative Party Conference, thus missing the IRA's attempt to assassinate the Prime Minister and her Cabinet.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

    Más Menos
    51 m
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