Podcasts
The Centre for Brexit Studies monthly podcasts aims to communicate the many issues surrounding Brexit, the future of the UK and current British politics.
Each month a new episode is released, featuring academics from the Centre for Brexit Studies, industry experts and political commentators.
We hope you enjoy listening!
February 2021
In this episode, we’re discussing nationalism and what could eventually lead to the break-up of the UK. From Brexit to the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the differences between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have never been so clear, with the ‘United’ Kingdom feeling increasingly divided.
With the support for a second Scottish independence referendum increasing, questions surround the future of the Union, and if Wales and Northern Ireland could eventually also decide to go their own way.
We’re also discussing nationalism in depth, and what impact the Brexit vote has had on this in the past five years, as well as the link between patriotism and nationalism, the differences between national and regional identities and if the relationship between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could ever be fixed.
In this episode, we are joined by Dr Steven McCabe, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Brexit Studies and Dr Karlo Basta, Lecturer at the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh and Co-Director of the Centre on Constitutional Change.
January 2021
In this episode, we’re discussing the Brexit deal, that was secured between the UK and EU last month. We’re analysing and discussing what changes have happened so far, what’s running smoothly and what isn’t, as well as a look forward to what we could expect from the rest of the year.
In this episode, we are joined by Professor Alex de Ruyter, Director at the Centre for Brexit Studies, and Professor Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s College London and Director of the UK in a Changing Europe initiative.
The experts discussed the deal that was secured between the UK and EU in late 2020, as well as what we can expect from the rest of the year, if businesses are being provided with the support that they need, as well as if we can expect a US-UK trade deal from the Biden administration.
December 2020
In this episode, we’re looking back at what has been quite the year for Brexit, the Johnson Government and UK politics.
This year, our lives were taken over by Covid-19, and with the pandemic brought restrictions, lockdowns and of course, tiers. Boris Johnson’s government were scrutinised because of their endless U-turns, bullying claims, and who could forget Dominic Cummings eye testing trip to a castle.
Brexit managed to stay fairly low-key since our EU exit back in January, but the closer we have approached the end of the transition period on December 31st, the more trade deals and our future relationship with the European Union took over the news. Last week, we were expecting a final decision on the ongoing deal or no deal saga, with deadlines then moved to Sunday, two days ago. However, talks are, at the moment, continuing and we wait in anticipation of what happens next.
In this episode, we are joined by Centre for Brexit Studies Director Professor Alex de Ruyter and Researcher David Hearne, to discuss the past year, and what we can expect from the Brexit process, trading relationships and more in 2021.
November 2020
In this episode, we’re discussing the recent U.S Election and President-elect Joe Biden.
The U.S. Election earlier this month was full of twists and turns, and it is still far from over. Former Vice-President Joe Biden was performing well in the polls throughout compared to current President Donald Trump, but as we saw with Hilary Clinton in 2016, the polls can often be wrong. However, the polls did point in the right direction, with Biden winning 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232.
But victory for Biden isn’t the end of this saga. In the days after the election, the Trump campaign requested recounts, filed lawsuits and amplified the suspicions of upset supporters. Despite falling short of victory, many Trump supporters say they are not ready to move on, with about 70% of Republican voters not believing that Joe Biden won a "free and fair" election, according to a Politico and Morning Consult poll.
So what happens next, and does Trump really have a case? What could we expect from a Joe Biden presidency, what could his relationship look like with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, what impact could he have on Brexit, and is this really the end of ‘Trumpism’?
In this episode, we’re joined by two leading experts to discuss; Professor Alex de Ruyter, Director at the Centre for Brexit Studies and Dr Anne Richardson Oakes, Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for American Legal Studies at Birmingham City University.
October 2020
In this episode, we’re discussing our latest research into devolution and Brexit.
The Centre for Brexit Studies have recently undertaken a large research project into Brexit and Devolution, looking into the reasons behind why people voted the way they did in the EU Referendum, as well as exploring attitudes to devolution and whether bodies such as local councils and the West Midlands Combined Authority have enough power.
The Centre’s research brings together evidence on the nature of the Brexit vote, and the potential impact from governance arrangements, on selected areas within the West Midlands and Scotland, with the highest and lowest votes for Brexit. The findings from the research provide critical insights into why individuals in certain localities voted in such dramatically different ways.
In this episode, we’re joined by two of the people behind the research, Professor Alex de Ruyter, Director at the Centre for Brexit Studies and Professor Geoff Whittam, Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University.
September 2020
In this episode, we’re discussing this year’s Centre for Brexit Studies Annual Conference with four of our contributors to this year’s event.
The Conference, titled ‘Global Birmingham – Beyond Brexit’ is taking place online on Zoom as a virtual experience on Wednesday 23rd September, from 9am to 5pm. The free event will discuss the West Midlands in a post-Brexit landscape, bringing together a wide range of guest speakers and industry experts with insightful talks and panel debates.
Focusing on the West Midlands beyond Brexit, the event will look at topics such as the Commonwealth Games, HS2, Manufacturing and the future of the region in a post-Brexit landscape. Confirmed speakers and panel members for the online conference include Sir Vince Cable, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King's College London and Director of UK in a Changing Europe and Fiona Allan, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Birmingham Hippodrome and President of UK Theatre. They will be joined alongside 23 esteemed panel members.
In this episode, we’re joined by Centre for Brexit Studies Director Professor Alex de Ruyter, as well as Professor Calvin Jones, panel member on our Sport and Regeneration post-Brexit - The Commonwealth Games panel, Vicky Pryce, panel member on our HS2 – On the right track panel, and Ian Henry, panel member on our Manufacturing – The Impact on the Region panel. The experts discuss their panel topics, as well as what they’re most looking forward to at the online event.
August 2020
In this episode, our topic is our Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This time last year, we recorded our podcast around a newly elected PM, where we questioned what could happen in his first year in the job, what we could expect from him in terms of the Brexit process, and if there would be a General Election.
A year on, we’re looking back at the past year, what we’ve made of his approach to the role so far, how he has handled Brexit negotiations and how he has coped with the one thing we definitely didn’t predict last year – a pandemic.
In this episode, we’re joined by BBC Political Reporter Kathryn Stanczyszyn and Centre for Brexit Studies Director Professor Alex de Ruyter.
July 2020
In this month’s podcast, our topic is the Commonwealth Games, which will be taking place in the West Midlands in 2022.
Last year, the Government announced that the event will cost £778 million and with over 1 million tickets expected to be sold, the city can no doubt expect huge numbers of tourism in the area, helping to boost the local economy.
But what else can the region expect to get out of the games? How has the ongoing Covid-19 crisis impacted the upcoming event? Could a no-deal Brexit have an effect? And how successful have other Commonwealth Games locations been with putting their cities firmly on the map and becoming real tourist destinations?
In this episode, we’re joined by four leading experts to discuss the Games, and what they will mean for our region; Paul Faulkner, Chief Executive at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, David Grevemberg, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Professor John Harris from Glasgow School for Business and Society and Dr Nicholas Wise, Reader in International Urban Change at Liverpool John Moores University.
June 2020
How can we combat Covid-19’s and Brexit’s impact on regions across the UK? What regions have been hit the hardest, both economically and socially, during the Coronavirus crisis? How can villages, towns and cities come together to combat the issues that Covid-19 has brought, as well as a potential no-deal Brexit? And what is next for the areas that need help the most?
In this episode, we are joined by two leading industry experts Centre for Brexit Studies Director Professor Alex de Ruyter and Researcher David Hearne to discuss Regional Resilience, what boosts local economies, how tourism can help bring regions back to life, and what we can expect post-Covid and if there is a no deal Brexit.
May 2020
What impact could COVID-19 have on the UK’s economy? With the latest statistics showing that the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the UK soared to 2.1 million in April, how safe are people’s jobs? Is the Government’s furlough scheme going to work? What will be the impact on gig-economy workers, and are we heading towards the worst recession on record?
In this episode, we are joined by two leading industry experts Centre for Brexit Studies Director Professor Alex de Ruyter and Professor David Bailey, Visiting Professor at the Centre for Brexit Studies, as well as Senior Fellow at the UK in a Changing Europe and Professor of Business Economics at Birmingham Business School.
The experts the economic implications of COVID-19, what the long-term damage will be, and if the UK will ever truly recover from the impact of the pandemic.
April 2020
What could the UK look like post-Coronavirus? Amongst the sadness and tragedy the crisis will bring, will there also be something to gain from all of this? From workplaces, entertainment and lifestyles, will life ever really be the same again once this has all ended? Is now the time, and the opportunity, for the UK to change, for the better?
In this episode, we are joined by two leading industry experts to discuss COVID-19 and if it is time for change across the UK. Due to us working remotely at this time, we’re joined by the Centre for Brexit Studies Director Professor Alex de Ruyter and Professor Phil Tomlinson, Visiting Professor at the Centre for Brexit Studies and Professor of Industrial Strategy at the University of Bath, on Skype.
The experts discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on the UK so far, and if the Government is doing enough to support industries hit hard by lockdown measures. They discuss if there could be a rise in flexible working after lockdown has been eased, and if ‘gig economy’ and self-employed workers will be demanding more rights and support in the wake of the crisis.
They also discuss the impact the crisis is having on frontline workers, as well as if the entertainment, hospitality, travel and fitness industries could ever recover from the impact of Coronavirus.
March 2020
What impact will COVID-19 have on the UK? From lifestyle changes and work to the economy and mental health, as well as the Brexit process, it's safe to say that Coronavirus requires many of us to adjust.
Many countries within the EU are currently in lockdown, and countries across the world are closing their borders to slow the spread of the virus. This is an incredibly uncertain and worrying time for all of us, with advice changing and being updated daily.
In this episode, we are joined by Centre for Brexit Studies Director Professor Alex de Ruyter and Dr Jacob Salder, Visiting Professor with us at the Centre for Brexit Studies and Lecturer in Enterprise at the Alliance Manchester Business School at University of Manchester.
The experts discuss Boris Johnson's and the Government's role within COVID-19 and if they are doing all they can, as well as the impact of Coronavirus on 'gig economy' workers and the creative industries. They also discuss the impact the virus could have on the Brexit process.
February 2020
What does devolution look like in the UK in a post-Brexit landscape? Now the UK has formally left the EU, can we expect more powers coming back to the UK, and if so, where do they go? Will they be based in London, or be spread across the regions, and countries, in the years to come?
In this episode, we are joined by Professor John Clancy, Visiting Professor at the Centre for Brexit Studies and former leader of Birmingham City Council, and Dr Leslie Budd, Visiting Professor at the Centre for Brexit Studies and Reader in Social Enterprise at the Open University Business School.
The experts discuss the history of devolution, Boris Johnson’s plans to devolve more powers from central government to local government, the impact that metro mayors and combined authorities have had on regions across the UK, if devolution could bring the UK closer together, or further apart, and much more.
January 2020
Brexit raises the possibility of severe disruption to manufacturing supply chains and logistics in the West Midlands, and elsewhere in the UK.
The Centre for Brexit Studies, supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority, undertook a supply chain mapping exercise and Brexit exposure check on the transport manufacturing sector in the later half of 2019, covering Auto, Rail and Aerospace in the Region.
Now, we have the findings of the survey with over 200 firms, including the likes of Jaguar Land Rover, that allows the Centre for Brexit Studies team to understand the dependence that particular firms have on many aspects of the industry that could shift post-EU, as well as the logistic implications for disruption at ports and the Eurotunnel.
So what do the findings show us about the future of Auto, Rail and Aerospace in the Midlands, and across the UK, in a post-Brexit landscape?
In this episode, we are joined by Professor Alex de Ruyter, Director at the Centre for Brexit Studies, Professor David Bailey, Professor of Business Economics at the University of Birmingham as well as Visiting Professor here at Centre for Brexit Studies and Senior Fellow at UK in a Changing Europe and Ian Henry, Owner and Managing Director of AutoAnalysis and Visiting Professor at the Centre for Brexit Studies.
December 2019
It was the third General Election in five years, and with it brought a handful of shocks, surprises and the ultimate Christmas present to Tory voters – another five years of a Conservative government, who have promised to ‘Get Brexit Done’.
The result was a massive blow to the centrist and left wing parties, with the Conservatives winning with a majority of 365 seats, their biggest majority since the 1980s. The SNP also enjoyed success, winning 48 seats across Scotland. Lagging behind though, we had Labour with 203 seats and the Lib Dems with 11 seats.
Labour’s losses were not the only shock of the night though, Lib Dem’s leader Jo Swinson lost her seat, Jeremy Corbyn is to step down as Labour leader, which now means an upcoming leader battle, and every single MP who left the Tories and Labour to stand as an Independent or join the Lib Dems, all lost their seats.
So what do the results mean for the UK? What is next for the Labour Party? When will we actually leave the EU and what can we expect from British politics in 2020?
In this episode, we are joined by Centre for Brexit Studies Director Professor Alex de Ruyter and Researcher David Hearne.
November 2019
Each political party are currently campaigning across the UK, on everything from equal pay and the NHS to immigration and of course, Brexit, in preparation for December’s General Election, where voters are heading to the polls on the 12 December.
However, the approach of the festive season hasn’t impacted the Election campaigns at all, with digs and accusations being anything but merry and bright. But what can we expect from the last few weeks of campaigning? The Conservative Party are currently doing well in the polls, but if the 2017 election, where the Tories failed to get a majority, taught us anything, it’s that anything can change.
In this episode, we are joined by Dr Katy Hayward, Reader in Sociology at Queen’s University Belfast and Senior Fellow at the UK in a Changing Europe initiative, and Dr Steven McCabe, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Brexit Studies.
October 2019
What impact could Brexit have on the Irish Border and the Good Friday Agreement? What has been the DUP’s role in the Brexit process? What does Boris Johnson’s new Brexit deal mean for Northern Ireland? And what impact could Brexit have on the people of Northern Ireland and their economy, jobs and future?
We recently launched our new book, in conjunction with Bite-Sized Books, titled ‘Brexit and Northern Ireland: Bordering on Confusion?’ at two events, the first being in London, and the second taking place in Belfast. At these events, we sat down with Dr Graham Gudgin and Dr Leslie Budd to discuss Brexit’s impact on Northern Ireland.
September 2019
Brexit has caused a spike in hate crime both online and offline. What is it about the Referendum which has caused hate crime across religions, cultures and more, and what can we expect once the UK has left the EU?
In this episode, we are joined by Dr Steven McCabe, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Brexit Studies and Graham Eardley, Chairman of UKIP Walsall and National Spokesman for UKIP, to discuss hate crime, the Tory's ongoing Islamophobia and Labour's Anti-Semitic issues, how Brexit has had an impact and what the future has in store.
August 2019
In our latest podcast episode, we are joined by Kathryn Stanczyszyn, BBC Politics Reporter and Peter Madeley, Politics Editor at the Express and Star, to discuss Boris Johnson’s new role of Prime Minister, and what this means for the Brexit process.
Two weeks into his role, the UK waits in anticipation of BoJo’s next move and if he really will be able to deliver Brexit. Topics discussed in the episode include Boris’s past, future and the road to him becoming PM, as well as his stance on Brexit that makes him different to Theresa May, what he could be remembered for during his premiership, and a possible General Election on the horizon.
We also discuss Boris’s role of a Journalist and if this has helped him get to where he is today, how news has changed since June 2016 and what the reaction has been to Boris as PM in the West Midlands.
July 2019
In our latest podcast episode, we are joined by Malcolm Harbour CBE, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands from 1999 to 2014 and Mike Leonard, CEO at Building Alliance and Visiting Professor in Manufacturing and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University, to discuss the possible impact that Brexit will have on the Construction industry.
June 2019
In our latest podcast episode, we are joined by Dr Rebecca Semmens-Wheeler, Lecturer in Psychology, and Kim Moore, Senior Lecturer in the School of Nursing, to discuss the impact that Brexit, and the current state of British politics, is having on the public's mental health and how we can cope with the country's uncertainty on our health and well-being.
May 2019
In our latest podcast episode, we are joined by Dr Jacob Salder, Research Fellow in the Centre for Enterprise, Innovation and Growth at Birmingham City University, and David Hearne, Researcher at Centre for Brexit Studies to discuss the West Midlands growth and development, and how Brexit will impact the region.
April 2019
Professor David Bailey from Aston University and Graham Eardley, Chairman of UKIP Walsall, debate the impact that Brexit could have on manufacturing and the automotive industry in the UK.
March 2019
The Centre for Brexit Studies Annual Conference returns on March 29! In our latest podcast, we chat with five of the guest speakers taking to the stage at the event, including Professor Alex de Ruyter, Beverley Nielsen, David 'Sideman' Whitely, Dr Leslie Budd and John Clancy, who share what they will be discussing at the Conference.
The second Annual Conference, taking place at The RSA, will also see the likes of Sir Vince Cable, Sir Bernard Jenkin, Professor Vernon Bogdanor take to the stage, as well as panel debates including Vicky Pryce, John Mills, Raymond Snoddy, Professor David Bailey, Dr Elizabeth Norton, Tom Leeson, Ian Henry, John Mair, Liz Gerard, Joshua Hockley-Still, John Clancy and Yasmeen Zaman as well as Centre for Brexit Studies Director Professor Alex de Ruyter and the Centre’s academics.
The event is FREE to attend. Find out more and register for your ticket here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/centre-for-b…ts-56168956862
October 2018
We have now moved into the critical phase of Brexit negotiations, but as yet there is still relatively little clear guidance on what leaving the EU could mean for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
SME expert Dr Jacob Salder, discusses what Brexit could mean for these businesses and how to prepare.
September 2018
Centre Researcher David Hearne and Visiting Professor Lesley Budd share their thoughts on borders, customs arrangements and Northern Ireland.
Technical note from David Hearne: AFAIK engines and all assemblies are shipped from Hams Hall direct to Oxford. Subcomponents, however, do come from Germany.
August 2018
Brexit means Brexit for the UK, we have voted for a border away from the EU, but what if you're a small overseas territory that's technically part of Britain and you don't want this?
Dr Arantza Gomez-Arana discusses the history of 'The Rock', her latest research and why the people there really don't want a hard border.
July 2018
Professor John Clancy, the former leader of Birmingham City Council, current councillor for Quinton Ward and visiting professor with the Centre for Brexit Studies, discusses his in depth analysis of the 2017 accounts from the EU Commission with the Director for the Centre for Brexit Studies, Professor Alex de Ruyter.
June 2018
Visiting Professor Stephen Bridges and Communications Officer Jessica Guy discuss America, Trump, the 'special relationship', trade deals and Brexit.
May 2018
Visiting Professor Stephen Bridges and Communications Officer Jessica Guy discuss America, Trump, the 'special relationship', trade deals and Brexit.
April 2018
As Brexit continues to dominate UK headlines with feelings of uncertainty amongst businesses regarding their workforce post-Brexit, the Centre for Brexit Studies discusses HR and Employment Law and what changes we can expect to see.
Featuring Honorary Associate, Sukhwinder Salh and Communications Officer, Jessica Guy.
March 2018
As manufacturing finds itself amidst a fourth industrial revolution driven by data and information based services, we ask enterprise information management giants, OpenText for their views on what Brexit adds to the challenge.
Featuring OpenText's Industry Strategist for Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Thomas Leeson, Centre for Brexit Studies Director, Professor Alex de Ruyter and Communications Officer, Jessica Guy.
February 2018
The next in our series of podcasts from the Centre for Brexit Studies looks back on the most recent round of Roadshows, focusing on how the findings compare from last year's events and what the key issues are for voters from these constituencies.
Featuring Centre Director Professor: Alex de Ruyter, Researcher: David Hearne and Communications Officer: Jessica Guy.
January 2018
One Year Anniversary Special – Our Top Ten Brexit Facts
One year on from the opening of the Centre for Brexit Studies we look back on our findings and what we've learned so far. Featuring Centre Director Professor Alex de Ruyter, Research Assistant David Hearne and Communications Officer Jessica Guy.
December 2017
The first Centre for Brexit Studies podcast with Centre Director Alex de Ruyter and Communications Officer Jessica Guy, discusses the recent findings from the first Brexit Roadshow which took place during November and December 2017.