Coco Kahn

But despite the negative public sentiment, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has stayed perky. He told a Labour Climate and Environment Forum drinks, it's a bit like Mario Kart government. Things fly at you. You've just got to keep going. And if you think you're going to have an easy day in government, you're not. So nice for him to compare this all to being blue shelled. Yeah.

But despite the negative public sentiment, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has stayed perky. He told a Labour Climate and Environment Forum drinks, it's a bit like Mario Kart government. Things fly at you. You've just got to keep going. And if you think you're going to have an easy day in government, you're not. So nice for him to compare this all to being blue shelled. Yeah.

You know, very, very on brand for Ed Miliband.

You know, very, very on brand for Ed Miliband.

Zoe, thanks so much for joining us. Thank you.

Zoe, thanks so much for joining us. Thank you.

Now, there's no denying that Keir Starmer loves a freebie, whether it's Taylor Swift tickets or a corporate box at the Arsenal game. He's accepted more gifts than any other Labour leader since 1997 combined. But there's no such thing as a free lunch. So they say, so what are big business and millionaires hoping to gain from gifts and donations?

Now, there's no denying that Keir Starmer loves a freebie, whether it's Taylor Swift tickets or a corporate box at the Arsenal game. He's accepted more gifts than any other Labour leader since 1997 combined. But there's no such thing as a free lunch. So they say, so what are big business and millionaires hoping to gain from gifts and donations?

Someone who's been looking into this is Simon Cooper, Financial Times journalist and author of Good Chaps. How How corrupt politicians broke our law and institutions and what we can do about it. Thanks for joining us, Simon.

Someone who's been looking into this is Simon Cooper, Financial Times journalist and author of Good Chaps. How How corrupt politicians broke our law and institutions and what we can do about it. Thanks for joining us, Simon.

So, you know, obviously we talked a lot during those last days of the Conservatives about sleaze. What is the distinction between like sleaze and corruption?

So, you know, obviously we talked a lot during those last days of the Conservatives about sleaze. What is the distinction between like sleaze and corruption?

I mean, Keir Starmer and his ministers have repeatedly said that they're acting according to the rules. I just wonder, can you explain to me what exactly are the rules? Is it just anything goes as long as you declare it?

I mean, Keir Starmer and his ministers have repeatedly said that they're acting according to the rules. I just wonder, can you explain to me what exactly are the rules? Is it just anything goes as long as you declare it?

Flood the zone with shit. Is that the phrase?

Flood the zone with shit. Is that the phrase?

Wow. So it works for media and it also works for our public waterworks. So, you know, get you a policy that can do both. So in your book, you argue that the UK has become more corrupt over the last few decades. I think almost the public are expecting it. So I guess one of the things I'm trying to work out is how corrupt is Britain? You know, marks out of 10.

Wow. So it works for media and it also works for our public waterworks. So, you know, get you a policy that can do both. So in your book, you argue that the UK has become more corrupt over the last few decades. I think almost the public are expecting it. So I guess one of the things I'm trying to work out is how corrupt is Britain? You know, marks out of 10.

One of the things I wanted to ask, just because, you know, what you've outlined there is big money players. And obviously, you know, we started the show talking about the donations, the gifts given to members of the Labour Party, the ministers, you know, Taylor Swift tickets. Generally, those sums would be considered smaller. But are they comparable in terms of the results?

One of the things I wanted to ask, just because, you know, what you've outlined there is big money players. And obviously, you know, we started the show talking about the donations, the gifts given to members of the Labour Party, the ministers, you know, Taylor Swift tickets. Generally, those sums would be considered smaller. But are they comparable in terms of the results?