Starmer activates legacy mode while Farage activates Substack
6/16/202633 min
This week, Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media for under-16s. It’s a punchy policy announcement. And it’s a clear sign that he has activated legacy mode. Today, we ask: what will his legacy really look like? And why are prime ministers obsessed about their legacy?
On the week of the announcement, Nigel Farage has dialled up his divisive rhetoric with a brand new Substack page. His numbers on the platform are already towering over Starmer’s. We’ll discuss the prime minister's inability to engage in and win arguments with fringe political leaders, giving breathing room to extremist ideas in the UK - and ask: why the hell are politicians all on Substack anyway?
Find the best clips from the podcast and more from Helen and Cleo on the show's Instagram page here.
This podcast is part of The Independent Podcast Network and is produced in association with Next Chapter Studios
Executive Producers: Olivia Foster and Carrie Rose
Producer: Sam Durham
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsCleo Watson· Host0:00
Hello, and welcome to In the Room. Before we get into it, we'd love it if you followed us on Instagram, where you can get all the best bits of the show. Our handle there is @intheroom.pod.
Helen MacNamara· Host0:11
You can also watch us on YouTube. Our channel is called In the Room Politics. And if you've got a burning question or you want to send us some fan mail, you can email us at intheroom@independent.co.uk. We've had a lot of fun answering emails. In fact, I think we're probably spending far too much time doing that this week, so thank you.
Cleo Watson· Host0:27
Yeah, a lot of honest comments- [laughs] ... is what I'd say.
Helen MacNamara· Host0:30
[laughs] We're all here for the feedback.
Cleo Watson· Host0:31
Well, today we'll be discussing how Keir Starmer would like to be remembered and how he'll probably actually be remembered.
Helen MacNamara· Host0:41
So clearly on last week's pod, we said that Keir Starmer definitely wasn't in legacy mode, 'cause he was making quite junior minister-ish announcements. And then a week's a long time in politics, uh, so he has definitely pressed the bold button and is in full fat legacy, as we have seen from his announcing quite quickly that there should be a ban on social media for under 16s.
Cleo Watson· Host1:02
Yeah, and, uh, by the way, it's worth looking at some of the clips that the BBC did yesterday. They went to some schools and spoke to some children, and, um, they're quite deadpan, I would say, in their interview technique, these kids. Yeah, we looked at screen time. What was your screen time over the weekend?
Izzy Obeng1:16
Nine hours.
Cleo Watson· Host1:17
Nine hours. So suddenly you're gonna have a lot more time to fill. And what will you do?
Izzy Obeng1:22
Stare at a wall.
Cleo Watson· Host1:24
So we didn't get to cover this 'cause it happened after our record, but John Healey, the Defense Secretary,