Toxic England: Far Right Clash With Police On St Georges Day

Rishi Sunak finally ‘got Rwanda done’ after a long and dramatic night as his Safety of Rwanda Bill ping-ponged between the Common and the Lords. Our guest, the Green MP Caroline Lucas, tells Coco what it was like to be in Westminster that night and criticises Rishi Sunak for holding a drinks party while the Bill - which she describes as “a piece of performative cruelty” - was still being debated in the Lords. She also discusses her new book Another England. As far right thugs clad in England flags clash with police in central London on St George’s Day, she argues that it’s time for the left to step up and redefine what it means to be English.
Nish and Coco provide an indispensable guide to next week’s local elections, talking about why they’re important and analysing what they might mean for Tory and Labour prospects at a general election. They also discuss whether the new rules on voter ID are an attempt by the Conservative Party to suppress the vote.
For our hero and villain of the week, Nish is appalled by Rishi Sunak’s attack on the sick and disabled, while Coco has been enjoying The Menstrual Cramps! Coco imagines what would happen if Nish and Rishi Sunak met at notorious Berlin club Berghain, plus fancy taking a swig from a Sunak penis mug?
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Guest:
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavillion
CHAPTERS:
0:00 An update from Nish
1:14 Pre-titles
2:07 Nish and Rishi go clubbing in Berlin
5:25 Guest: Caroline Lucas
12:19 Clip: Baroness Bennett
16:19 Ad break
17:12 Clip: St Georges Day clashes
30:14 Ad: Pod Save America
30:50 Local election preview
42:10 Ad break
42:13 Nish's villain of the week: Rishi Sunak
46:57 Sunak penis mugs
49:00 Coco's hero of the week: The Menstrual Cramps
52:02 Mailbag
Useful links:
www.electoralcommission.org.u...
www.bethknight.com/
crooked.com/podcast-series/po...
www.bethknight.com/
Video credits:
parliamentlive.tv
Sky TV
The Met police
Photo credits:
Associated Press
Stefan Hoederath
X/@PaulFulford
X/@OwenJones84
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#nishkumar #cocokahn #carolinelucas #greenparty #greens #rishisunak #localelections #rwanda #thegreatescape #themenstrualcramps

[@lafamillecarrington]

Such a shame that we are losing such a sensible and eloquent member of parliament.

[@qynoi42]

As a disabled American, the villain of the week piece hit hard. No, people aren't faking it. In fact, it's a group that all of us join eventually. So pretending disabled people aren't real is both cruel and a detriment to society as a whole. It places the burden of supporting a disabled person onto their friends and family. And that's assuming they have a friend or family member who can support them long term. Rishi is basically saying if you're too disabled to work you might as well die. I truly hope for UK citizens more money and cares are not stripped away further.

[@jim-es8qk]

We have an NHS here.

[@Joey-kd8lj]

I think whilst there is some understanding of mental health issues in the UK, it doesn't really recognise that mental illness can be chronic and get in the way of what people want to do.

[@kesart8378]

​@@jim-es8qk With respect, whilst concision is usually desirable, your post requires expansion for the sake of those unfamiliar with mental health care provisions under the NHS. Cheers

[@lawrencetchen]

Going backwards from ranked choice to first-past-the-post and adding voter ID is awful news, Torries copying the voter suppression tactics of Republicans here in the US. Our heart goes out to you all and wishing you good organizing and turnout to win and revert these changes 🙏

[@SliceOfDog]

On the topic of lefties taking back English pride - YES YES YES! I used to be a very typical leftie and roll my eyes at houses flying the English flag and get really squirmy and uncomfortable with overt demonstrations of pride in both England and Britain. But over time I realised that pride in your own history and culture is incredibly important, and it makes me angry how we've allowed our history and identity to be hijacked by right wing extremists and thugs. There is plenty to be proud of about English history and identity. The variety of our local cultures. Our history of counter-culture movements, being the birthplace of punk, being home to the Suffragettes. I work in Nottingham, and the most famous resident from our great county is a bandit who stole from the rich and gave to the poor! England has a wonderful history of rebels and rule breakers, an incredible array of genre-defying artists and status-quo shattering scientists. There is so much to be proud of, and I'm overjoyed to hear others on the left being vocal about how we need to take our culture and our identity back from the thugs who use it to decorate their racism in.

[@billberndtson]

I simply can't understand why people in the UK and US (where I'm from) stand by leaders whose policies are clearly villainous. Can people not distinguish between good and evil anymore?

[@KristineMaitland]

Anymore? Oh please (says the Canadian). The global populace is imploding.

[@DennisMoore664]

Sorry but I have to take issue with that "anymore" part of your comment (but I'm still giving it a thumbs up as I appreciate the spirit of it). Plenty of people all around the world have always preferred the morally repugnant candidate at least in part because there have always been plenty of morally repugnant people all around the world. Villainous leaders affirm and give license to their own villainy. What I can't understand is how we are as successful a species as we are but that we're so divided between being kind and loving to each other and being awful to and hating the other.

[@VentureHolly]

My theory is that we as humans all have these “reactionary impulses” in our brains that are further compounded by lack of education.

[@Kaltagstar96]

The Tories complaining about things that they've basically caused over the past nearly 15 years is like me setting a house on fire and then complaining about all the fire engines around, Nish's rant on Rishi was fucking phenomenal, too.

[@ericajohnson3504]

I was a teenager in the 70's and felt that there was no defined Englishness. The only people out there celebrating were the National Front Yobs. In 50 years nothing has changed. It sad beyond depressing.😮

[@AndrewMcColl]

To follow up on Lucas' comments about electoral reform, here in NZ we use MMP (two ticks, one for electorate and one 'popular vote' tick for party) for our general elections. Currently, the Greens are the third biggest party by number of seats. While most of their seats came from the party vote, they did win three electorates at the last election. Reform does work, and does get you a more politically diverse parliament. Which is likely exactly why more entrenched members are so against it.

[@jamesgrover2005]

Ok Nish.. So you went to Berlin and didn't pop by to see us in the Netherlands?!. its officially over between us now 🙎🏻‍♂️ I'll be giving all my attention to Coco in the future.

[@clairebeyond]

The sad thing is that reducing meat and dairy production and consumption is an easier and far less costly way to cut emissions. And consumers are generally receptive to the message for health and environmental reasons. Yet the vested interests of Big Ag and Big Food stand in the way.

[@andrewminton669]

I was really saddened to hear that our Trans brothers and sisters have been hurt by knock on effects of the Cass Review. Maybe when the pod revisits this topic it would be great to platform someone from the Trans community, it sometimes feels like they are talked about a lot but not always made part of the conversation.

[@GrumpleSenior]

Or possibly they’ve been balding the long run as maybe the Cass report will force doctors to actually do their jobs using evidence instead of ideology.

[@andrewminton669]

@@GrumpleSenior I definitely hope that in the long run people get the evidence based help they need, but from the comments sent in by other listeners it sounds like there's some issues with getting there from where we are now.

[@chrisbfreelance]

Shut up, you don't care about evidence.

[@robertpetre9378]

Caroline Lucas is absolutely correct where I live in Brighton. It’s absolutely extortionate and for what I’m paying a month I’m not getting that much in return and I’m constantly having to get the flat repaired because the landlord hasn’t even bothered to make sure the roof is in proper order so whenever it rains I get mould.

[@petermarshall2667]

Amazing show as always and I just have to say I love how much you two make each other laugh in the beginning of each episode!

[@Vio818]

Thank you

[@Grimith]

I *felt* Nish's "what" at 49:53 .

[@albertbrammer9263]

With PR you would never get such stupidity as the Rwanda bill.

[@alundavies1016]

That happened a long time ago. The reason that people are afraid to wave the St George Cross is that it has been waved too many times by right-wingers, football hooligans and people just trying to stir up anger.

[@ElMaestroGordo]

This is a fascinating discussion between Coco and Caroline Lucas, and I DO think much of what Ms. Lucas said about Englishness is right on point. The great Irish writer Fintan O'Toole also posited that the 2016 Referendum was an outlet as an expression of Englishness in a globalised world when England doesn't have its own Parliament or theatre, for example. Being English is bound up being British. Furthermore, British society is evolving towards being Minority-Majority/majority non-white by the middle of this century (like America) and it is triggering all sorts of reactions, particularly the far-right. They seem desperate to reverse and slow down the trend. In all sorts of ways since the 2008 financial crash, the past decade has been a replay of the 1930s and the lead-up to World War 2. The British Isles has been on a compressed timeline of what happened in Spain between the 1930s Civil War and transition to democracy. If it is to survive, the UK will have to move to be a more modern federal system of co-equal nation states rather than as the last colonies of Westminster. Like Spain did as it moved to democracy, or Germany/Australia/even the United States.

[@stevereber3358]

It is unfair that all Tory MPs who lose their seats are BEING FORCED to move to Rwanda

[@derekspitz9225]

Why would they be?

[@cheggrant01]

Why is there a Rishi Sunak calendar behind Coco? I saw it in the last podcast too. I can't wait to see next month's picture!

[@failedJedi]

UK: extremists have coopted what it means to be English! US: First time? 😅 This is just a reaction to the title, not the content of the video.

[@mollymcdade4031]

I really hope that we can reclaim the idea of being proud (or at least fond) of the country where you were born / grew up without it being lumped in with bigotry and a hatred of ‘outsiders’ (when those ‘outsiders’ have often been a big part of shaping national identity). Nationalism without critical thinking/nuance can be dangerous, but in my opinion it isn’t healthy to actively hate a place that shapes at least part of your identity, both for yourself and also the country as a whole. I think the two concepts of ‘England has done many bad things in its history (especially abroad) and we should reckon with that’ and ‘England as a physical country can be beautiful and culturally is multicultural and full of folk culture and history that we can enjoy and celebrate’ can and should co-exist. Being ashamed and wanting to disown your home country actively stops us from trying to make it a better place.

[@EdwardLindon]

Well, I used to be ashamed, then I was angry, and now I'm just tired and disgusted.

[@dolceanstar]

The irony is that Dag'nham (as was mentioned as being highly nationalistic) along with much of Essex, was the go to place for French refugees for centuries.

[@Joe-ez4no]

Does anybody know where I can find reliable (as far as is possible) polls for East Midlands mayoral election? I know it's a thorny issue, but I'd like to vote Green, but not if it's an (admittedly tiny) factor in in electing Ben Bradley.

[@alundavies1016]

I had a look around and there is not a lot of polling. The bookies are giving it to the Labour candidate 1/8, with the Tories at 4/1, and the bookies usually get it pretty right. That said I can’t see the Green Candidate betting at all? As a Labour supporter I would say vote Labour (declaring an interest there!), either way, be sure to take id, those bastard Tories will happily take your vote away.

[@frantremblay1630]

Ally, though not a member, of the group - WTG, Nish!

[@jnielson1121]

I've been to Burghain - only got in bc my friends were both 6'2" bodybuilders. It was fun - I only saw the bar and the dancefloor. Nice atmosphere.

[@upendasana7857]

How can we get Pod Save the UK mugs please ?

[@amandadeloff4278]

I want a news hat! ❤

[@josh0g]

Nish Kumar Does Berghain: A Fish Out of Water Story

[@Snugggg]

absolutely right Caroline. it is absolutely disgusting that freedom of movement has been taken away from young people by the very people who benefited from it. same can be said for affordable housing, decent pensions, free / affordable education, on and on. galling.

[@andrewmaccallum2367]

2 simple rules for life; No.1 - Never trust a tory No.2 - Never forget rule number 1

[@SI-vb7hd]

I think they have to a degree but one of the big causes lies with the constant push of 'Britishness' which unfortunately has had the effect of pushing 'Englishness' towards the fringes.

[@teddybearington3]

❤❤❤

[@ZaneLike]

"Far Right" LOL

[@virginiathornton]

Baroness Bennett looks like she's wearing an American flag blouse.

[@tamask2172]

"...this issue is never going away..." - just like menstrual cramps, they come back every month with the same energy for decades. a well suited name for the band even in this regard

[@footshotstube]

St edmund for our patron saint , least was english,..And he had a cool dragon

[@AndrewMcColl]

On the top of politicians who look like body parts, NZ's new Prime Minister is often compared to a thumb. Even better, one of his coalition partners looks like a younger, and somehow even more gormless, Arnold J Rimmer.

[@MsPaulathomas]

I will have to research this properly but I don't think there has been a Labour Government that hasn't had a majority in England. If anyone knows different please tell me.

[@mettekristensen5465]

I have menstruel cramps too! Dont make me happy!🥴

[@MalignMusings]

Englishness has not been hijacked by the right. It is an incredibly quiet and modest national sentiment. Anyone shouting about it is being incredibly un-english.

[@bensalt1185]

Not to jibe but it is one of the issues with UK satirists...you are too good at your job to make us all feel disillusioned. That is exactly why smaller noisy types get the votes...they mobilise supporters and get out there. As Caroline Lucas said just vote for who you want and turn up. Its only ever 40-60% of the electorate who show up...imagine if we all did

[@jackdubz4247]

It's baffling, what happens to the English on St George's Day. St Andrew's Day and St David's Day pass by without any problems in Scotland and Wales respectively, but as soon as April 23rd rolls around the English are dressing up as crusaders and smashing up kebab shops and the like. What gives? Why can the Scots and Welsh celebrate/observe their national days without resorting to breaking shizz but the English seemingly can't?

[@Lifelongloser]

The overwhelming majority of English people couldn’t care less about St George’s day. So you’re simply baffled as to why a few thick people use St George’s Day to cause some trouble. I agree. Any Saturday night is much better.

[@easytoassemble54321]

If the "far right" clashed with police, can the frothing media at least show us more than the one single piece of footage they have been using. Something that demonstrates that the clash (singular, because there is only proof of one) was the norm, not the exception? Because, if they weren't, then the gathering should be described as peaceful, no?

[@EdwardLindon]

English nationalism is a mix of racism, faux-imperialism and thuggery. All the performative scepticism in the world will not change that. But if you genuinely want to inform yourself, rather than just to spread disinformation, there are detailed reports in all the major newspapers.

[@GrumpleSenior]

Shhhhh…..we’re all meant to believe that the far right are taking over.

[@jim-es8qk]

Save England? You juzt openly admitted you don't like being labelled as English!

[@MetalThrashingMikey]

Far right ?? or just people want to celebrate being just English ?

[@joetrent4753]

Hmm, violent clashes with the police, how very patriotic of them 🙄. They were far right Tommy Robinson supporters, Politics Joe interviewed several of them.

[@EdwardLindon]

Sure, if you don't know anything about British history at all, you might think that. And if you happened to be inordinately "proud" of being "just English", you might well pretend to think that.

[@joetrent4753]

So people just proud to be English clashed with police and they just happen to be followers of Tommy Robinson and you don’t see that as far right?

[@Explorist719]

I know the difference between the Far Right and people who just want to celebrate being British. For some reason, they project St. George's Day to be political when it is supposed to be a historical and religious celebration. Not all of them are far-right. Like what happened in London, you may say that the police antagonised them, which I'm sure they may have done. But when I watched the videos from the people who recorded the whole thing, Its quite odd that they were on the streets blocking traffic. Couldn't they create a fun ground in London's largest parks? They could have brought horses and people dressed as knights walking around London, face paintings of the English flag for children in London parks and selling English shields or swords. That would be cool. Why was going on the streets and disrupting traffic an option? How St. George's Day is celebrated up north is different from how it is celebrated down south in England from the British people. That's just what I have to say about that. Do you agree?

[@Midland_Wolf_71]

4 minutes and I’m outta here… Laters!

[@teddybearington3]

❤❤❤