Phil begins this episode with his thoughts on the rather shocking news that the UK government has pulled back from the already limited inquiries into the ‘grooming and rape gang scandal’. What’s going on?Then Paul French returns to the podcast to share his hugely impressive knowledge of the Far East - through the story of Hong Kong. The rise and fall of British rule there is of great interest to Phil too, as it connects to his upcoming new book on war and empire. It’s all very topical - because a lot of the story is about China and its view of itself as a great but humiliated nation now recovering former status. Given the huge tariff wars that have broken out this week, Paul has plenty to say about the good and the bad of modern day China and its rulers - and where this crisis might be headed.Paul’s excellent book on Wallis Simpson in China is available here, in our own online bookshop - along with thousands of others. https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/her-lotus-year-china-the-roaring-twenties-and-the-making-of-wallis-simpson-paul-french/7624169?aid=12054&ean=9781783968183Phil’s new book, 1945 The Reckoning, is published on April 24 2025 in the UK, India, Australia and New Zealand. There’s more info here...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can pre-order the book now on Amazon UK - and it will be available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#For anyone in Australia, you can purchase the book here...https://www.amazon.com.au/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/1399714503/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Aj6KiOnX8mB9IxbXa3MSftEn8ltcHpwdCwI_Y1Z9x_6wh1ZDhht_FEQApFtINIK18K6LpvzplQqjfqGwtGCX75E5idzD4XzxO4v5_7lTzseE1lilWhbmDGqQQNh41MCEhUEj3m2d_NqvbpQTzmbwiIy0x7yEhwDJnEK40Qp1ShuiNkayBHilBGbMJ2uS42z_EYICj2G1ukW0iEL0xwjyXCclJ4VwBeo2JkpEpY-vrgUNjbiZJ2WGQHUJe618JbwEOamp0n7LAcY0-C9Jd2K2kMVhcn0qj38FrKQ9kyxmsqk.KcgY2jzaJzHaHZX53DPc4FD3ClSuNzEEmTH0X6-HiG0&qid=1744266867&sr=8-1***We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work***Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongersThe Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/mongerspodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigTHE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiDbLiwypTLqMaKnNfxcTAYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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