Month: February 2012

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Start the Week - Conservatism: Peter Hitchens, Margot James, Douglas Murray and Thomas Frank

On Start the Week Andrew Marr looks at the state of conservatism. Thomas Frank chronicles the rebirth of right-wing populism in the United States, with the resurgent Tea Party. It's a movement driven by ideology with a vision of utopian capitalism. At home right-wing commentators bemoan the lack of ideology at the heart of the government. Peter Hitchens argues for a political philosophy that stresses a sense of place and history, and decries the Tory Party's shift to the 'centre ground'. The neoconservative Douglas Murray goes further in asserting that military might is vital to defend freedom and justice. But the new MP Margot James follows her party's model of caring capitalism, and its move away from its reputation as the unelectable "Nasty Party".

Producer: Katy Hickman.

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More or Less: Behind the Stats - More alive than dead?

Tim Harford investigates one of the most popular questions from More or Less listeners: ?Are there more people alive today than have ever lived?? It is a zombie statistic that every time it is laid to rest it rises again. He also looks at whether science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke was right when he suggested that behind every living person are 30 ghosts. He also investigates the strange story of Michelle Obama?s shopping trip to a lingerie store in New York. Can she really have spent $50,000 on underwear? This programme was originally broadcast on the BBC World Service.