Ex-service members, ex-offenders, and people who had been turfed out of childrens homes when they had reached a certain age were over represented among the fellow squatters that I met when I was squatting. Later I went on to work as a receptionist in a Shelter housing advice cenre and then as a local authority housing adviser. I was struck by how unique the stories of people needing help were. It really can happen almost anybody. How many paychecks is the average person away from defaulting on their rent/mortgage. How many people living hand to mouth are without good support networks? Work as a roofer, break your leg, cant work, get evicted, no family / good friends - boom homeless. Come out as gay - religious parents throw you out - homeless. Fleeing contolling abusive partner who has isolated you from your friends - homeless. There are do many different ways to become homeless.

Matthew shouldn't be an advisor to an MP. He should be an MP.

As a young adult, living alone, I was scared of homeless men. I had been verbally harrased, called racist names and threatened by them. Yet, I never perceived them as a nuisance community who need to be criminalised. I wished that my local government would do more to give them sheltered accommodation and support to move on from drugs and for their mental health problems. I knew a solution like that would bring them off the streets, and (selfish or not) make the streets safer for me. Suella Braverman is the level of incompetent that makes a person turn evil, to utter that the solution to homelessness is criminalising tents.

Finally some Gilbert and Sullivan banter I had all but given up on this podcast.

I've hated Thatcher since 79 but Braverman is actually worse!

Really good to have Matt speaking on this latest government tripe.

Matthew is a beautiful man, inside and out. So well spoken and thoughtful, he should be the MP and it's bizarre he's the assistant. Easy on the eyes, too!

Well said, Ed and Eva! My X-soldier husband has often said, "Do you want to thank the troops and show them respect? BRING THEM HOME!" (and don't let them be homeless) It is not disrespectful of people who gave their lives to want to stop all war. I guarantee all those honoured dead would much rather there had been no war to kill them.

They don't call the Tories the nasty party for nothing!

There weren't too many tents in my city until there was a period where 2 rough sleepers died on a cold night... Then after that you saw tents crop up, I suspect because the police started allowing them. Tents can and do save lives, so for a member of our government to try take them away for political capital is utterly unhinged.

The King in his speech dutifully read out the term 'illegal crossings' without an editorial nod to compassion or humanity. Sorry, homeless, if Braverman's tenure is legitimized by the King's lips, I scarcely think the 100-MP indentured PM who signed off on the speech will take the necessary step of sacking her loathsome arse.

Cruella Braverman quickly made the position about foreign people. She is allowed to do this by Sunak. Take that for the truth.

Matthew's testimony is so powerful. Let's hope Starmer can sort out things out, we did it during covid, so its doable. Thanks Matthew. ps Just donated a tenner to Shelter

I spent a week rough sleeping in March one year. One of those nights I had nothing but the clothes on my back and it was the most miserable night of my life. The next day I was shaking uncontrollably from the cold and the tea I got my hands on was like fire in my body. The bench I slept on had basically just sucked the warmth of my body out and it took me a full day to recover. I was lucky because it was only a week for me and the tent I was able to use for the rest of that week may have saved my life. Of course, the actual solution to homelessness is to build housing and provide any healthcare people need in order to become self sufficient. The idea we can't do this just because of cost sums up perfectly why I reject liberalism and capitalism from the very core of my soul.

I hate to bring it up, but I've found one benefit of Brexit. It's brought out the very worst of British society, of which the likes of Braverman are mere loathsome examples). So it's up to Brits to decide who/what they wish to be after seeing themselves in the mirror.

Exactly why the RNLI have refused government control. And good for them.

I GOT THE G&S REFERENCE!!! My time is now!

Ed, I think your sadly wrong there are swaths of people in england who have no empathy for these folk ‘getting something for nothing’! It’s resented!

Could I request that you put time stamps either in the video description or in a pinned comment? This would allow us to skip to the particular sections we want to listen to, thanks

If they believe it is a lifestyle choice, set the ones who believe that a challenge. Remove access to their wealth and tell them they are now homeless for 1month. Go get a house with no income, no way to claim benefits and see how long they last? Its appalling. They are so detached from reality at this point they need to be shown what an average life is like as well as the worst situations.

This is great for my Criminology PhD so thanks so much!! My thesis involves the street homeless in North Wales’ experiences with the criminal justice system

I am the very model of an Ed Campbell reference fan, I get all of his jokes, I feel smug, accomplished, clever, and, I hope he reads this comment, and I hope he sings the meter and, I am the very model of an Ed Campbell reference fan. Hope this answers your G&S HMS question Ed!

Thanks Matthew - so interesting to listen to you

18:22 lets not assume that people who dont want to participate in the society we currently have must be mentally ill just because it works for you. There are a million perfectly rational reasons to not want to be part of this society.

You are mistaken about Headley Court. Although they did close it, they only closed the building. The service was relocated to a newer facility built in Stanford Hall

Compelling viewing with essential input from someone who doesn't have points to score, a personal agenda to further or a party line to toe, calls and sets it out how it is with a real time forecast of how this ( and everything else has spiralled in to the gutter ) under the current and previous Tory Regimes ....

Bravermans issue with homelessness is simply one of visibility

Unless you work at a bar or a restaurant or brewery or something of that ilk, there should be no alcohol at a place of work.

I swear we learned one of the songs from this opera in in my first year of school aged 5 or 6, and in New Jersey of all places, and the time in music class finally turned good!

Ed is the very model of modern major journalist...

My Great Uncle Tom was gassed to death at Ypres, and it pisses me off no end at anyone who comes near Rememberance with a jingoist attitude. He died, pointlessly, drowning in his own blood as his lungs and skin burned from the chemical gas for a political system that didn't demand his obedience and allegiance but expected it without question or hesitation (he volunteered but so did most of them). He was barely in his early 20's and I have outlived him. And Rememberance is something that was also politicized and used jingoistically in Australia, contaminating the whole thing. I have more respect for the people marching for those dying today than an obelisk that was erected to canonize the dead to paper over the cracks of a failing empire.

Wish I could press that thumbs up button more times !!!!!! So much logic and content

As always a well rounded discussion well done to everyone involved

Matthew and Ava covered so many facets surrounding homelessness and the political choice made to spend more money, to be cruel!!!

Ava looks great today, golden locks of laughter

Surely the person which has a mental health problem is the Home Secretary who cannot balance their thoughts about this issue

Thank you for this ep. Many homeless people are LGBQIA, it really resonated with me it was talked about how an unstable relationship with parents led to fought sleeping. I like many endure abusive homes and lives (from parents, other family members and even partners) as the other option is homelessness. Relying on friends can be difficult as they have their own issues. I was very close to homelessness while at university, a university student isn’t usually someone one thinks of, certainly not I, I had an image of what my uni life would be and parts where amazing but due to recent times and our awful gov, was very difficult outside the expected. I thought making fiends, learning was difficult part but deciding which meal to skip a day as you cannot afford food, many working two jobs along side their degree,

The most comical thing about Dorries demented book is that her hero Boris Johnson was the leader of the conservative party and prime minister of the country when half her allegations took place, and so deeply culpable for any failure to do anything about it.

I really enjoyed the HMS Pinafore reference, thanks Ed!

Shaw wasn't one of Britain's greatest playwrights. He was Irish.

I don’t think I’ve be ever felt as disgusted by a British politician more than I do Suella/Crueller. Some of the comments she makes are just repulsive. At the risk of sounding a bit far right myself, I genuinely don’t think she would of politically survived the comments she’s made if she was white. I genuinely can’t think of a more far right person to ever hold a more prominent cabinet position in British political history. She actually makes my skin crawl 🤢

No problem with what Eva and Ed say in this debate. Always enjoy the mix of daft chat and serious subjects when it's clear research and forethought has taken place before hand. Keep it up guys #Ollie who?

Matthew Torbitt thank you.

I haven't come across a better system of authority than captain and quartermaster on a pirate ship

ffs! which one of them is joe ?!?!?!! im so mad about this

+1 for Ed’s Gilbert and Sullivan joke ❤

Brilliant as ever.

There is an irony with Remembers Day coming up! ‘No Remembrance Day’! With Veteran homelessness for many people to die on the streets.

Massive fan of this pubcast, and have only found it in recent months too! Funny, fair and free... Loved Matt's points on homelessness and the epidemic of mental health amongst it. However, do disagree that government don't have a grip on drug strategy. I work for a drug and alcohol recovery service, who has seen it's biggest influx of funding in over two decades under a Tory government. Dame Carol Blacks 10 year review unlocked my current role in the criminal justice sector, where working more closely with prison drug recovery teams we can attempt to combat not only their substance misuse issues, but reduce reoffending and improve other things such as physical and mental health in the process. We could still do with more funding, and certainty of that funding don't get me wrong - but HMPPS and community drug services certainly know the government have a grip on drug strategy (just a lose grip at that). Keep up the amazing content guys 👍🏻

People like Matthew are perfect ambassadors for drilling home the realities of homelessness. Government need to listen more to real peoples exeriences to help inform genuine long-term solutions. Half of the problem with the likes of Suella is lack of understanding due to privelidge. Empathy should be a basic requirement of any government, but sadly the opposite seems true with the current band of plurocrats.

ok I was just cooking and listening when Ed got to the Hancokc is the admiral who doesn't like the sea joke and I think my housemates are worried about my incontrolable laughter

This is like the old issue of black spots on highways, it only get resolved when someone in a political position is affected by it, the point here is this isn’t a solution, it’s another uncomfortable hurdle for the person who finds themselves in the situation. The same as the migrants plight, Braverman along with her sidekick millionaire Jenrick aren’t making strides in reducing the numbers by processing these individuals or letting them do work whilst awaiting the process that has become almost an encouraging reason to come here, they continue to just do the wrong things at every stage. Jenrick and Braverman have set up legal offices in Rwanda in anticipation that they are going to get business from that solution. The top and bottom of this is that they are incompetent at the job they are in and are only interested in what they can get out of it! A Dr knows they can’t cure everyone, but they don’t stop trying to make the problem as comfortable as they can. Lastly it has been proven that this issue is not the most important thing people are worried about or even care about, this is an arrogant bully who has broken more laws and rules than should have been tolerated and should not be in government!

I love G&S. The interview with Matthew Talbot was brilliant. Is he on social media?

Who knew that Ed was the very model of a modern major general

Great guest

Can we all start referring to her by her given name Sue Ellen; by all accounts she hates it

That was fun. And informative. But fun !

On the new series of BBC Drama "Time" they cover a true story of a prisoner been issued a tent coming out of jail. It's Home Sec responsible for this type of Cruella policy. Be rather Kafka-esqueue of Home Sec if this was to happen after this becomes law!

Forget the Joseph Roundtree model. Taxation and fair pay NOT philanthropy!

Top HMS pinafore joke from Ed 👌

Poor Prince Andy has been told to sling his hook.

Re: the Armistice - I do think that it is hilarious that the right wing commentators see it as some national defence that remembrance has to be in a certain way for the old wars whilst ignoring that those in WW2 fought in Palestine (not Israel) and against the persecution of people in light of a bigger more powerful enemy. So I do not understand the logic that being pro_palestine is desecrating the memory of those that fought against tyranny then?!

She is evil and so is Sunak

The point of the ban tents policy its not to solve problems, its to seem tough and to appeal to the only voters that the tories can hold onto for the next election to prevent themselves being wiped out and more importantly the voters who will support to Braverman specifically and give her the lead in the party I think. Its dual purpose for Braverman is to undermine Sunak, who cannot act without imploding his party due to the support she holds. Sunak is stuck in an impossible position where if he does nothing she continues to build support within the further right wing of the party and further move the party to the extreme right, if he acts he risks the premiership before the next election.

Maybe Nadine has become the villain against whom we can unite and change the face of homelessness forever?

LOVE POLITICS HATE NONCES !!!!!

Also, why are you buying into the 'defence' line. Israel's carpet bombing and tank invasion might be argued in various ways, but calling it a 'defense' is just a misunderstanding of the English language. Its an attack, its something some people think is a good idea, but to not call it an attack is just nonsense.

Matt is great.

That George Bernard Shaw quote is a little funny because it does imply that he has enemies that are still well within 'child' range. Just picturing him seething with contempt for some 8-year-old.

Braverman and the Tories are cruel for the sake of being cruel!

G&S Represent!!

You don't get those rights literally any other place. Some large companies you get it. In almost every 'small' (sub 500 staff) company I've worked at, they have the same issues, an HR manager who is the wife of the boss, or a head of HR who is pals with every senior team member all in a little clique who drink together every night, or HR teams whose managers are all known to be invested (financially I mean) in the company and who cannot possibly be independent enough to help. I am searching my mind, and I think there was literally ONE place I've worked where I would have felt comfortable reporting someone to HR. Companies are hierarchies and so there will always be a power dynamic that makes it impossibly hard to report anyone, especially if you (really) need your job. Sorry, its just that your discussion about HR being really bad in politics specifically seems incredibly naive, trust me there are plenty of self-obsessed people in the private sector and small companies are, I suspect, WORSE, not better in terms of HR and reporting anything (let alone the sort of reporting you are talking about).

The people of FAREHAM are responsible for electing SUELLA BRAVERMAN!

love podcast hate nonsense it's the podcast

Aw sorry Ed, I can appreciate why you’d choose to get a body language commentator on a call to add a layer of insight to Cummings’ testimony when you want to make content, but honestly I would value the insights of you guys a lot more than Adrianne’s. I understand that you can’t get someone who was in the Cabinet office at the time to comment on it tho. Good on you for making something to engage with people’s interest in the COVID Inquiry’s recent hearings.

Matt Hancock in a non-COVID world still would have had an affair and lied about it.

It wasn't Connery, it was Pierce Brosnan who was the voice of the murderous house in the Simpsons I feel you can always find a level to engage on

Eyes wide shut parliament 😅

Oh well that's a poor start.....just when Ed was growing on me he went and borrowed a jumper from daddy Alistair lol

Full ed HMS pinafore when?

I liked that joke Ed

You can definitely die of trench foot if you didn't have it dealt with just like most things but I think that was a little distracting to the main point lol

I know there are more things to hate, Suella Braverman for one. But I absolutely hate the screeching at the start!! I listen on my earphones and I've actively not clicked on an ep so that I don't risk the screeching in my ears. Rest of it, all good!

Did Rishi have to ask King Charles for permission to form a government?

😢😢😢😢

king Cnut

Ava stop reading comments! Hope this finds you well. Its all constructive criticism. Everyone appreciates your work, humour and opinions on politics joe. Thanks.

Proper tongue twister that, did anyone else think he said "homosexuals" repulsive comments or was that just me.....

Matthew Torbitt is a liar and a historical revisionist. At 30:37, Matt recalls the Simpsons episode Treehouse of Horror XII: "House of Whacks", and states that the voice of the house AI is that of Sean Connery, when the house was in fact, voiced by Pierce Brosnan. I demand an immediate correction by the PoliticsJOE team.

If Hitler was 10 Nazi, how high a number is Suella and by association Sunak now?

42:36 ASMR

Paragraph 139 of the international court of justice advisory opinion on the legality of the wall dated 2004 makes it clear that Israel does not have the right of self defence under article 51 of the UN charter in relation to attacks that emanate from within g occupied territory that it controls. Gaza is occupied territory. “The Court recalls that Annex I to the report of the Secretary-General states, however, that, according to Israel: "the construction of the Barrier is consistent with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, its inherent right to self-defence and Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001)". Article 51 of the Charter, the Court notes, recognizes the existence of an inherent right of self-defence in the case of armed attack by one State against another State. However, Israel does not claim that the attacks against it are imputable to a foreign State. The Court also notes that Israel exercises control in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and that, as Israel itself states, the threat which it regards as justifying the construction of the wall originates within, and not outside, that territory. The situation is thus different from that contemplated by Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001), and therefore Israel could not in any event invoke those resolutions in support of its claim to be exercising a right of self-defence. Consequently, the Court concludes that Article 51 of the Charter has no relevance in this case. The Court considers further whether Israel could rely on a state of necessity which would preclude the wrongfulness of the construction of the wall. In this regard, citing its decision in the case concerning the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary/Slovakia), it observes that the state of necessity is a ground recognized by customary international law that "can only be invoked under certain strictly defined conditions which must be cumulatively satisfied" (L.C.J. Reports 1997, p. 40, para. 51), one of those conditions being that the act at issue be the only way for the State to guard an essential interest against a grave and imminent peril. In the light of the material before it, the Court is not convinced that the construction of the wall along the route chosen was the only means to safeguard the interests of Israel against the peril which it has invoked as justification for that construction. While Israel has the right, and indeed the duty to respond to the numerous and deadly acts of violence directed against its civilian population, in order to protect the life of its citizens, the measures taken are bound to remain in conformity with applicable international law. Israel cannot rely on a right of self-defence or on a state of necessity in order to preclude the wrongfulness of the construction of the wall. The Court accordingly finds that the construction of the wall, and its associated régime, are contrary to international law.”

I’m looking forward to the obligatory “Israel has the right to defend itself speech” after last weeks debacle

Are you homeless if you live in HMO with 8 people? You can't get mortgage as you self employed 😢 No living room, just small bedroom 😢

I'm a homeless intervention officer and there is some truth in what she says. However I don't see how getting rid of tents would solve in the long term

I imagine that I’m fairly politically aligned with these presenters but they are shockingly poor at doing this. I hope they’re just having an off day. 😬

How many of homeless people are actually feeding substance abuse habits ?

Is it just me... or has the journalist curled her hair...I would (phwoar)!!! Satire isn't dead. See.

some choice to stay on the street as you are not allowed alcohols and drugs in hostels, and they are addicted. Some do not engage with the outreach team or contact certain help that was provided, some choice crime and bad choices that makes them loss there property's ,some have non molestation orders out at them due to beating up there partners. Some decline temporarily accommodation as it is too far away

More interested in herself than the substance of the podcast. Great disapointment.