The Hokey-Cokey Budget
Plus, Immigration Backpedals and Political Burnout
This week’s episode runs the gamut: from house prices in freefall, to Labour’s immigration U-turn, to what the hell is going on in with Labour’s budget (again). We also say a bittersweet goodbye to one U.S. Congressman — and welcome a rare, almost-sincere apology from Marjorie Taylor Greene in our Lipstick on a Gerbil segment.
Pour a pint and let’s get into it.
🏠 1. UK Housing Market Wobbles
New data shows UK house prices down 1.8%, the steepest drop for this time of year in over a decade. But why is it happening?
We discuss:
How Labour’s leak-heavy pre-budget chaos is rattling consumer confidence
Stamp duty, council tax rumours, and interest rate anxiety
Whether this is just a London story — or a warning for the rest of the UK
It’s either a shit sandwich, or a shit sandwich they’re not even going to eat. Either way, the market smells it.
🧾 2. Immigration Reform… or Reform Panic?
Labour has unveiled sweeping immigration changes, including:
Temporary refugee status with 2.5-year reviews
A 20-year path to permanent residency
Faster deportations for failed asylum claims — including families
But within 24 hours, Labour backbenchers revolted, and critics from all sides questioned the policy’s credibility and intent.
We ask:
Is this a strategic pivot to undercut Reform UK?
Will voters believe Labour means it?
Or does it just look like panic from a party still at war with itself?
They’ve got a huge majority, and still… no one’s buying it.
🇺🇸 3. Burnout in the House: Jared Golden Steps Down
Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) announced his retirement, citing growing incivility and toxicity in American politics.
We reflect on:
The real mental health toll of public office
Why more good people are leaving
How algorithmic outrage and polarization are reshaping political discourse
We’re not losing just politicians — we’re losing the ones we actually need to stay.
💄 Lipstick on a Gerbil: Marjorie Taylor Greene Says Sorry… Sort Of
In a surprising CNN interview, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene issued a rare, unscripted apology for her years of toxic rhetoric.
We debate:
Is this a real change — or just a rebrand now that she’s on the receiving end?
Can former provocateurs actually help de-escalate politics?
And does a Southern accent make it sound more sincere?
🧴 1 Coat Across the Board
“It’s a start. But let’s see if she keeps the room tidy for six months.”