Summary

The UK is having an election! In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, Jonathan and Jackie discuss the British election system and how it works from a non-party political perspective. They provide an overview of the parties involved, the role of the monarch, the campaign season, election day, and the counting and results process. They also touch on the concept of party manifestos and the importance of constituency-level vote counting. The conversation explores various British political TV shows and their relevance to the British political system. The hosts discuss shows like Yes Minister, The Thick of It, House of Cards, and more. They also mention books that provide a crash course in British politics. The conversation concludes with recommendations for viewers who want to learn more about British politics or enjoy political dramas.

Links

• Non-sugar Sweetener

Books:

• UK Explained
• The British Polity
• Yes Minister History
• The Shortest History of England
• How Britain Really Works

British TV Shows Discussed:

• Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister
• The Thick of It
• House of Cards
• A Very British Coup
• The Politician’s Husband 
• The Diplomat
• A Very English Scandal
• Stonehouse
• Anatomy of a Scandal
• The Amazing Mrs Pritchard
• Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
• The Gathering Storm

Relevant Clips to Watch:

• Michael Portillo Loses the Count
• Election 2019 BBC Coverage
• Politics Unboringed by Jay Foreman
• Yes Minister Funniest Moments
• The Definitive Malcolm Tucker Rant Anthology | The Thick Of It - BBC

Keywords

British election system, parties, monarch, campaign season, election day, party manifestos, constituency-level vote counting, British politics, TV shows, Yes Minister, The Thick of It, House of Cards, political dramas

Takeaways

• The British election system operates on five-year terms, with the Prime Minister having the power to call a