Contributor(s): Joel Suss, Professor John Hills | In this episode of the LSE's British Politicast we talk to Professor John Hills about his new book, Good Times, Bad Times: The Welfare Myth of Them and Us. With two-thirds of all UK public spending going towards welfare, how the money is spent is an important political debate. The myth that dominates this debate, and to some extent drives policy, divides the British public into two opposing camps – those that pay into it versus those who...

Contributor(s): Mark Blyth, Claire Jones, Joel Suss | In this episode, we focus on austerity and its effects on the economy and the independence of Central Banks during times of financial crisis. The UK coalition government embarked on a programme of spending cuts when it came to power in 2010. Since then many economists and academics have held the view that the intellectual justification for austerity is fallible and it is not a sensible strategy in bad economic times. Mark Blyth, Professor...

Contributor(s): Tim Newburn, Les Back | In the first episode of LSE's British Politicast we take a closer look at the Riots of 2011. A year and half on since the shooting of police suspect Mark Duggan in London's Tottenham sparked nationwide rioting and looting, the unrest of 2011 still proves an emotive topic for the British public. This podcast looks back on the riots, presenting sociological and criminological perspectives on why they happened and what, if anything, can be learned from...