The Lead Digest: The fracturing of Your Party and re-asserting anti-racist norms
Our round-up by The Lead's team of what we've been reading, listening to, scrolling and watching each week
Here at The Lead, we like to consume just as much as we create, which is why we spend a little time each week rounding up our favourite stories, books, podcasts and films to offer our readers a sample of the work that informs our world.
Zoë strongly recommends this August episode of Origin Story, “Rivers of Blood - How Enoch Powell poisoned Britain,” about the most controversial and explosive political speech in British history, the history of Powell himself, and how he essentially mainstreamed far-right anti-immigration sentiment. Not only was it incredibly well-researched and fascinating, but frightening too. You don’t have to look far to see political history repeating itself.
Padraig liked James O’Malley’s recent Substack article about reasserting anti-racist norms (which it sounds like Starmer might be hinting at with his new progressive sounding speech).
.Ella is very pleased to see David Hillier’s new substack publication What Are You On, which fills a vital gap in sensible (and sometimes not-so-sensible) reporting on drug culture in a post-VICE era. His recent interview with King’s College researcher Caroline Copeland on the gap in the UK’s opioid death figures, was brilliant.
.Ed has been reading Gareth E Rees Unofficial Britain: Journeys Through Unexpected Places, it’s a collection of random stories and tales about the urban places which we pass by each day and make towns and cities what they are.
And finally, do have a read of Zoë in The i about the fracturing of Your Party and what’s next for the Left.
Have something you think we’d like to feature? Drop ella@thelead.uk a line and we will consider for inclusion.