Nish is Back - and Keir’s Off! Plus ‘The Shafted Majority’: Racism and Resistance w/ Taj Ali
Summary
Coco Karim and Nish Kumar discuss Keir Starmer’s resignation as an MP, Andy Burnham’s parliamentary debut, and the upcoming by-election. They are joined by historian Taj Ali to explore his new book on South Asian resistance in Britain, analyzing how historical solidarity informs current anti-racist struggles. The episode also examines the 2024 race riots, the political exploitation of working-class grievances, and the monetization of Islamophobia.
Topics discussed
Intro: Hero Bread and How to Fail podcast
Starmer's resignation and Holborn by-election
Starmer's reputation and potential NATO role
Historical precedents for PMs leaving parliament
Starmer's foreign policy and legacy
Zach Polanski as potential by-election candidate
Andy Burnham's plans for public control
Funding public services and Keir Starmer's tour
Taj Ali on South Asian resistance and 2024 riots
Ecosystem of far-right rhetoric and inequality
Historical solidarity and community building
Personal encounters and changing mindsets
Social media, disinformation, and empire nostalgia
Sponsors: Shopify and Crooked Con
Political blackness and inter-community racism
Anti-racist exhaustion and RADAR initiative
Working class identity and grassroots power
Book release and closing remarks
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