Up next in 10
Pubs dying, Brits lying, teenagers thriving | LBC's best callers of the week
0 views
Jul 20, 2025
Watch back some of LBC's best callers from the past week. 00:00 - Henry Riley needs a lie down after caller Jonathan compares LBC to North Korea. 05:36 - Ben Kentish sees the funny side of caller Jim's attempts to claim that Scotland invented football 09:45 - Caller Chantal tells Ali Miraj why 'great British pubs' are dying 13:45 - Shelagh Fogarty is extremely impressed with 17-year-old Anusha and her view on the voting age being lowered 17:18 - Caller Lyn cannot believe the nerve of James Hanson for suggesting pensions shouldn't be rising as much as they are Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.co.uk/btnc/thenewlbcapp #shelaghfogarty #benkentish #alimiraj #jameshanson #henryriley #pubs #keirstarmer #labour #football #pensions #LBC LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK. Join in the conversation and listen at https://www.lbc.co.uk/ Sign up to LBC’s weekly newsletter here: https://l-bc.co/signup
View Video Transcript
0:00
Yeah, good evening, Henry
0:01
Always lovely to hear from you. What do you think about this move by Keir Starmer
0:04
Is he stronger as a result? No, definitely not. Look, I want to tie together a few things
0:10
You know, the last time I talked with you, we had a bit of a ding-dong. Yes, let's not do that again
0:16
No, no, we won't. But at the end, I said, Starmer was saying to Donald Trump
0:20
give me some crumbs, daddy. And then what did the chief secretary of NATO call Trump
0:24
Daddy. Called him, daddy, yeah. You're a soothsayer. Yes, look, this country is collapsing
0:29
Yesterday, when I was trying to get to bed, I was thinking about buying a Mercedes on my credit card
0:34
and I was listening to a podcast about Keir Stahmer by the lady I like to call Princess Diana Rabbit
0:40
Yeah? Yes. Okay. Right. She has been treated very badly by him, and she is one of the pure-hearted people like the Jeremy Corbyn
0:48
who would have made this country so much better. So Keir Stahmer has alienated the hard left of his party
0:54
The Brexit voting, Union Jack wearing right wing of this country can't stand him
0:59
And this is the part that you might not like to do with me, that only the people who seem to love him
1:05
are the people in the media like you folk. That's not true. No, and this is not having a great..
1:11
Can I tell you who put Keir Starmer in his job, Jonathan
1:15
It was Labour Party members elected him as leader, and then the country, because of the system we operate in
1:20
I know it wasn't a massive percentage, but nonetheless, he got elected by the public, Jonathan
1:25
I woke up this morning, and having taken nine flights this year
1:30
six of them business class, my credit card company are saying I'm going to have to default
1:35
So I walked up very stressed and I was listening to the radio. Sorry, no, no, no, you can't just... What did you say
1:40
You've taken nine business flights this year? No. Eight of the nine
1:44
No, I took nine flights and I wasn't being silly. I only took six of them as being business class
1:49
and now I'm struggling financially. Why did you say there was business class then
1:54
Because I thought my business was going to do very well, but it's doing terribly
1:58
But according to the Wookiee media commentators, like, and I won't mention any names
2:02
but James O'Brien this morning was saying, businesses are feeling so buoyed under Keir Starmer
2:08
We all love him so much. I might have made the last part up. James is not here to defend himself
2:13
I know. You love Keir. Like, you think he's a... I don't love Keir
2:18
Where on earth are you getting this from? You know, nobody in this country
2:23
whether on the left-hand side or the right-hand side, Nobody like him because he's just..
2:27
I cannot quickly say... He's just won a landslide majority, Jonathan. See, you're liking him again
2:32
Can I quickly say... No, I'm not. I'm pointing out a fact, but go on, yeah. I was listening today when I was feeling so depressed
2:38
because I can't buy the Mercedes. Now, I was listening to... You keep talking about Mercedes business class flights
2:44
I mean, if... I mean, I'm not a financial advisor, Jonathan, but you might want to be slightly careful
2:48
about splashing out on a Mercedes. You know what I ate this evening
2:53
I ate a Chinese meal for two because I was so stressed. But listen, on the Stama point..
2:57
But again, your finances, John, I mean, that would have not been cheap. Well, but..
3:01
But no, listen, quickly, last thing. Today I was listening to Obama and his wife
3:07
on the podcast. Yes. And, you know, him and his wife were angels, and there was a man who could keep his base on sign
3:13
Tony Blair, apart from the alleged war crimes, could keep his base on sign
3:17
Even someone like, you know, Ed Miliband? Do I know Ed Miliband
3:21
Now, do you know of him? Yeah, I've heard of him. Rory Stewart was interviewing him on the podcast
3:27
with Alistair, don't mention the war, Campbell and Rory Stewart said to Ed Miliband
3:30
Ed, both of us are quite odd looking which I thought was a bit rude but apart from their odd looks
3:36
Rory Stewart and Ed Miliband also have some principles but this Keir Starmer, he is a vacuous man
3:41
and I know you are going to put your walkie-calkie media, North Korea style mumu on
3:46
and say he won a last slide we should all love him I'm sorry, I'm sorry you cannot accuse LBC or broadcasting in the UK
3:55
of being like North Korea. I mean, the amount of times I come on LBC
3:59
and I'm hammered for being anti-Kia Starmer, you can't win. Do you know the only radio presenter
4:07
who bravely stand up against a Kia Starmer? Go on. It is the great Nick Ferrari
4:13
who was introduced to me by my driving instructor in Croydon in 2005
4:17
He died eight years ago. Oh, thank you. A lot of stories
4:22
Yeah. OK, so you're, I don't want to get sort of hashed into it, but you're not a fan of Keir Starmer
4:27
but you are of Labour or not? I voted for all the main parties
4:32
and I genuinely are like people who at least have some principles
4:36
and you could articulate them. But this man, one day he's doing this, that, and even with the asylum policy
4:41
he did the one-in, one-out asylum seeker walkie-corkie. You put one in, you take one out
4:47
you know, it's just pathetic. Carry on. No, nothing. Interesting stuff. Okay. Lastly, Jonathan, how was your day today
4:55
Everything all right? Nothing particular, nothing specific to write home about, apart from my imminent financial collapse
5:03
and the fact that I can't repatriate my business funds. Not that I'm dodging. Last time we spoke, your toilet was broken
5:11
It is, it was, yeah. Now I'm still renting. The cistern is okay, but the seat is still broken and I'm obese
5:18
So it sort of goes from one side to the other. And I'm only renting one three-bedroom house now
5:22
because I'm going to have to file bankruptcy. But apparently Keir Starmer's going to kiss the economy
5:28
and make it all better. We all love him so much. I'm joking. I can't stand the man
5:33
Yeah, I think that was clear. Thank you, Jonathan in Harrow. Keir Starmer's spokesperson today saying
5:38
we should celebrate it. We need to be proud of it. This after a 12-year-old schoolgirl was sent home
5:44
pretty shamefully, and the school have admitted this, for wearing a union flag dress on Diversity Day
5:50
Keir Starmer says we need to be proud of being British. Do we? Are you
5:54
And if you are, and I am, why are you? Jim's in Dundee this afternoon
5:58
Hello, Jim. Hi there, thanks very much. I'm enjoying this comedy hour, I have to say
6:05
What funny Jim I tell you why You know if you were mentioning a country ego right you know Britain would definitely be number one because we call ourselves Great Britain
6:18
Not another country calling us Great Britain. We call ourselves that. Well, we are great, so we might as well say it
6:25
If you look at this country, what you'll find, if you look at its history or even look at it in the present tense, right
6:32
I mean, we're the most deferential people going. We've got a royal family
6:36
We've got lords that, you know, tell us how to live our life, that we never just happen to live in a big house and have it
6:42
because, you know, they had a bigger army a few hundred years ago
6:45
You know, we've been lied to before the general election, you know
6:50
and we're just tipping the forelock again. You know, we're very mean-spirited at the moment
6:55
You know, we've got the... Are we? I don't buy that. I really don't buy that
6:59
Everywhere I look, I see problems, for sure, but I also see kindness and decency and good people helping each other
7:08
I genuinely do. I see it all the time on my road, in my community
7:12
I had a wonderful chat last night with an Afghan cab driver. You see it everywhere
7:17
Yeah, but I'm sure you see it in Australia, in New Zealand, in Canada
7:21
I'm not saying it's unique, but it's a source of pride. You know, we've got the best food in the world
7:27
I didn't say that. Who said that? No one says we have the best food. No, you never say that, but you hear that all the time
7:32
You hear it all the time. We've got the best standards of food, we've got the best army
7:38
you know, all these things that we keep going on about. I would say it's like self-flagellation all the time
7:43
You know, we just love ourselves so much. I haven't said that, and I agree
7:48
I don't think this is about comparison. I don't think to be proud of being British
7:52
you have to say we're better than the French, and we're a lot better than the Germans, and my goodness, look at the Americans
7:57
It's not a comparison. It's just saying this country that we live in, that we share
8:03
do you know what? There's a lot to be good about it and celebrate. That's it for me
8:07
Yeah, can I just correct you on one thing? Yeah, go on. I have to tell you this. The modern game of football, as we know
8:13
I have to tell you this, was actually invented by Scotland. Well, that's contested, my friend
8:18
The game of throw-ins, right? Passing the ball, right? Crossbars, right? These things are invented in Scotland
8:27
You played a different form of football, and yet you take the credit for it
8:31
You say you invented it. Jim, I said Britain invented it. Britain invented it
8:36
Scotland is part of Britain. Scotland invented the modern game of football
8:40
We're the same country. We're the same country. No, we're not. We play football against each other
8:45
Yes, because we have different nations within the same country, but we are all under the same flag
8:50
We all come under the union flag, don't we? No, no, no. We do. It's a fact
8:55
We're not going to agree, right? We've got this perpetual inequality that we keep, you know, promoting all the time
9:00
We keep promoting it. You know, we've got a situation now where we've got, you know
9:04
you might as well get a politician to go to a mother who's nine months pregnant
9:08
and say, and it's her third child and go, we don't want you
9:13
You know, this is the country we live in now. I don't, I just don't recognise it, Jim
9:18
There's problems, there's division. Of course there is. We were talking about it on the show just last night
9:22
but I still think and I will die on this hill and you might want to call in and disagree with me
9:27
that this country is mostly full of good people looking out for themselves and their family
9:32
and their community and each other. I stand by that and I will die on that hill because that's what I see
9:37
Not enough, could do with a bit more of it but that's still the majority, that's still what happens
9:42
day in, day out in this country. Basically Ali, I'm sorry to interrupt
9:46
a lot of the sort of romanticisation that's happening on memory lane right now. Yes
9:50
but I think that we're not sort of facing the fact that pubs are just not very welcoming
9:56
for many demographics out there. Go on, tell me. So I think they are dying off
10:02
And I come from Manchester, South Asian background, you know, Muslim background, I'm not religious
10:07
so alcohol doesn't offend me at base, but it's also not like integral to the way that I socialize
10:11
Absolutely, same for me. Yeah, in that sense. Yeah, and I have a great time going to a destination pubs
10:16
like you were describing Testons earlier. Right, and I think those pubs will stay because they offer something great
10:22
Yes, yes. Now, what we are finding, though, is that young people
10:26
I'm 36, but I work with young people, so I feel like I have a millennial perspective
10:30
but with a bit of input from Gen Z. Yes, yes. And what I think is that why would anyone
10:38
with the cost of living relative to wages, especially for that generation
10:42
want to spend their spare cash, if they have spare cash, go into the kind of dingy pub where the carpets are brown
10:51
because of the years and years and years of residue of smoke and ash
10:55
And you go in, and because you've never been in before, there is sort of an uninviting atmosphere or look
11:00
but that gets turned to your weight. Do you think, this is really interesting, Chantal
11:05
do you think tastes are then changing? So it's less inviting, people don't want that dingy atmosphere
11:10
and they certainly don't want to pay with money that they're struggling with to go to a dingy atmosphere
11:15
Absolutely. I mean, I say I don't drink, but I've been to many bars and, you know
11:20
wine bars like you've mentioned before. Yes. I think that the alcohol itself doesn't make it uninviting to me, right
11:27
Same with me. Living in Manchester, you see the pubs that die
11:32
and they are sort of the old gents clubs, right? And then you see the ones that adopt and are thriving
11:37
And usually those are the ones that adopt, like, social programs or some kind of community events that happen there
11:42
But alcohol isn't the main sort of funding agent that happens in those pubs
11:46
Now, this is really interesting. So, Chantal, is your argument, therefore, an advice that if you want to survive and you're a pub landlord
11:55
don't make it primarily about the alcohol? Yeah, you know, interestingly, I'm really holding myself back from saying what Rishi Sunak said about young creative people during COVID
12:06
and said just retrain if you're not finding success in that sector
12:10
now I what I do think is yes there a market out there and it is down to sort of these owners I understand the struggle the cost of living the pinch is for everyone I wish for no one to have less than they have now in the future right And that why there is an onus I think
12:25
to see what's out there and see what's working. In a cosmopolitan city like Manchester
12:30
what I've found is a lot of those spaces, and, you know, to give credit to your last caller
12:36
a lot of those amazing buildings where pubs used to sort of live in
12:40
they've adapted. Galleries are now art galleries, are the main thing that young people go to now
12:45
And a lot of them serve alcohol, so you can still get that if that's what you want, right? But they do things like sort of a craft session with adults
12:52
on an evening. And they do, you know, things like social events
12:56
where they bring in certain food partners and things like that. You have to be entrepreneurial in that way
13:01
I hate using that term. Because, you know, I think it's overused and blasted to sort of young people as an easy way out
13:08
But that is the world we live in now. It's more granular and there are more moving parts
13:12
And we have to, as people, especially business owners, figure out ways to plug that into our role model
13:17
I think it's a brilliant point. And I think a lot of pubs have had to move more into the gastro side
13:23
the serving food side, you know, upmarket type food elements of it
13:28
But I also think the more fundamental point you make, Chantal, is don't make it all about the drink
13:32
Think about other entrepreneurial, innovative ways you can appeal to a demographic that might actually not want to drink
13:38
And certainly even if they do, are not going to be affording to go there that regularly
13:42
because things are so expensive. Chantelle, thank you. Absolutely. We've grown up through an enormous pandemic through COVID
13:51
which brought alongside lots of political struggles. But we also have lived through things like Black Lives Matter
13:57
We've also lived through the rise of social media and TV shows and programmes such as Adolescents
14:02
that we've seen had enormous success across schools, across young people, across parents
14:07
They all are fundamentally political. and young people are more engaged with alternative methods of political engagement
14:15
Yes, maybe we're not immediately going to choose a political party at 16
14:19
Maybe we're not going to party conferences. But our form of engagement is as valid as that
14:27
Most people aren't going to party conferences. Most people aren't joining political parties
14:31
Yeah, exactly. And I think one thing that's interesting and often goes kind of unnoticed by large politics
14:38
is there is a real presence in youth politics through organizations such as the National Youth Agency
14:45
And just last year, in 2024, there was the nationwide Make Your Mark kind of survey
14:52
which is of all young people basically arguing what they think is the most pressing issue
14:59
to students from 11 to 18. And that had 526,000 votes cast
15:05
and that just shows that there is a real uptake of young people trying to get their voices heard
15:11
but there are structural challenges or at least there were structural challenges
15:16
and this this vote at 16 is a turning point in the right direction but it's not the end goal
15:21
it's not enough to give someone a vote you have to hear what they're saying manifestos have to
15:27
change and and respect the fact that there is a new demographic involved in the discourse now
15:32
Well, and even without this change that we're talking about, it's becoming increasingly clear that we are in danger of having very generationally split politics, aren't we
15:44
And I personally think that's dangerous for the country. We need the political story of the country to include everybody
15:54
And for people not to think, well, I'm young, therefore, or I'm old, therefore, because we're all related to one another
16:00
you know we don't live lives in little silos yeah exactly and i mean i think one thing that
16:07
um i mean a lot of backlash has come to this bill especially from the conservative party
16:12
and i'd like to just mention wasn't wasn't it disraeli that said that we should be aware of
16:18
two nations forming and he may have been talking about class but in this respect we're talking
16:23
about age and we have one collective goal of strengthening our economy ensuring our
16:29
our national services are fitting and adequate to us all. And also ensuring that our democracy is inherited
16:37
by a generation of people enthusiastic about ensuring the governance of our country is strong
16:43
And yeah, sorry, Tennant. No, no, so you're far away. It's great to hear such enthusiasm from you
16:49
Are you, when do you next, when do you turn 18, if I can ask
16:54
I turn 18 on Tuesday next week, so very soon. Well, happy birthday for when it comes
16:58
So you'll have some local elections, presumably, after that, following year? Yeah
17:05
Excited to vote? Yes, definitely. I was one of the 16-year-olds that registered to vote quite soon after my birthday
17:13
So, yeah, it's been a long time coming, I guess. Enjoy it when you can
17:17
Who do you think you are? You haven't got a clue. £12,000 a year
17:23
That's what my husband's got. I should have retired at 60. They shoved another seven years on my retirement date
17:30
Yes, we own our own house. We don't go out. We don't go on holiday. I mean, what do you want me to do
17:35
Euthanise him? No, of course I do. Of course. Come on, Lynne
17:39
Come on, Lynne. No, no, you listen to me. Stop the boats and stop foreign aid
17:44
Problem solved. Well, it's not problem solved, is it? Because it's £15.5 billion a year being added to the national debt
17:52
because of the triple lock, even if we stop the boats. Oh, because of pensioners
17:55
Yes, because of pensioners. No, you're wrong. And also, Lynne, you say you should have retired at 60
18:01
I mean, that's ridiculous that you were ever able to retire at 60. 67 is a far fairer retirement age for both men and women
18:08
and frankly, it probably needs to rise further. Well, I think you're absolutely disgusting
18:13
I really do. Why? I mean, you know, stop the foreign aid. Stop it straight away
18:17
Lynne. And the millions we're spending every day on the boats that the pensioners have got to pay, we own our own house
18:24
If one of us needs care they take that all of it Lynne why should a working person person who is not getting an above inflation increase in their standard of living each year subsidise through their taxes an above inflation increase
18:39
in your standard of living? What makes you so special? What makes us so special? You're unbelievable. Why should working people subsidise the boat
18:48
people that have never put in a penny into the system? That's more realistic
18:54
But Lyn, I'm not even saying we should cut the state pension. I'm not saying we should keep the state pension where it is
19:00
I'm saying we should increase the state pension every year, but just not buy as much
19:04
The triple lock is a guarantee that pensioners will get an above inflation increase in their standard of living each year
19:10
or at the very least, an inflationary increase in their standard of living each year
19:15
I'm just saying don't increase it by that much because we can't afford it anymore. Is there anything so wrong about that
19:20
Yes, there is a lot wrong. Start looking at other areas to cut down
19:25
and stop taking these people every single day. Don't take it out on the pensioners
19:30
I mean, a pensioner should be on £20,000 a year. No, it's £12,000 a year
19:34
£20,000 a year? Yes, absolutely. But you haven't paid in £20,000 a year
19:39
over the course of your lifetime in taxes. I've paid in since I was 16
19:43
I'm now 63. Yeah, but not that much. Yeah, but how much am I going to get
19:47
on my state pension? 10 years? 15 years, maybe? Well, why should you get more out of the state? Because most pensioners, you hear this argument
19:56
that, well, I've paid in all my life, so therefore I'm entitled to it. That doesn't apply to most
20:00
pensioners. Most pensioners end up being net beneficiaries in the welfare state. And that's
20:05
because, and this is a good thing, we're all living longer. And so a lot of pensioners living into their 80s, 90s, so they're spending 30 years plus on the state pension. That's a good thing
20:13
But it's simply not true that most pensioners are getting out what they've paid in for
20:17
I mean, young people at the moment, right, when they start work, they have to pay into a smart pension, right
20:24
That only started when I was in my 40s. If I was told at 16, you need to provide for yourself, I would have done
20:32
But now I'm 63. It's too late. I haven't got the money to put into that pension to get a decent amount out
20:38
I think make sure they start preparing now, the young people, but not the people that have paid in all these years
20:46
and probably will get 10,000, 15,000, and if you need to go in a home, we'll have your house
20:52
They'll take the lots. It's not fair. It's old people demonising it
20:56
Oh, they use the welfare state, they use the NHS, blah, blah, blah. You know, let them freeze to death over the winter
21:02
It's not fair. I think an important point to make, Lynn, because you mentioned the point about small boats
21:08
and the cost of migrants and all of that. Millions. Yeah, but it's nothing compared to what we spend on pensions
21:13
It is a drop in the ocean. Do you know how much we spend on the state pension each year
21:19
Oh, go on then. Over £150 billion. And how much do we spend on small boats every single day
21:26
Bearing in mind there's about 500 to 700 coming in every day
21:30
Hotels, free NHS, free glasses, free dental. I can tell you, it's not £150 billion a year
21:35
It's nowhere close. I think it is. It's really not. You're entitled to your own opinion, Lynn
21:42
You're not entitled to your own facts. Oh, really? No! The facts are the facts
21:47
You can have an opinion. You can't quote false facts. I mean, I don't normally listen to the radio this time in the morning
21:56
How old are you? I'm 32. 32. You haven't got a clue
22:00
32 years old. You probably earn good money, which I don't blame you for
22:05
You know, you do a good show, you earn good money, but you can't
22:08
You've got to give old people a good amount to live on. So I should subsidise you getting an above inflation increase in your standard of living each year
22:18
when working age people like me don't get that? Yeah, you will
22:23
Because people your age are paying into smart pensions and private pensions
22:26
When I was young, that didn't exist. You were always told that you would pay from the day you started work
22:33
from the cradle to the grave and all that, which is total rubbish. It doesn't work. We can see that
22:38
But you can't start taking money away from people now. You know, prepare the young people
22:43
that are up and coming now to look after themselves in their old age, but not demonising old people
22:49
like as if, oh, you know, waste of space, euthanise them, get rid of them, you know
22:53
No, but Lynne, I'm not trying to demonise old people. I'm really not
22:56
The problem is, I think this is part of the reason that politicians are terrified of having this conversation
23:01
because every time they do, Pensioners claim that they are, you know, being victimised somehow
23:08
Well, I'm sorry, they're not. Pensioners have done relatively well out of this government over the past 15 years
23:16
Well, I mean, it's just, I mean, 12,000 a year, you haven't got the earning capacity
23:23
If you tell somebody at 16 that's starting an apprenticeship or a job
23:27
you need to look after yourself, they've got the time to save up. People my age haven't
23:32
My husband's retired. I mean, you know, I still work part-time. I'm of ill health, but I still go out, I still work, you know, and do our thing
23:42
We don't live on the loss of money. We're careful with our money. But start it off now with the young people
23:48
Start it off now. I've got some figures for you, by the way, Lynne, on the cost of asylum seekers
23:55
This is figures from The Guardian. Apparently, accommodation for asylum seekers is expected to cost around £15 billion
24:00
which I would agree with you is too much, but that is a tenth of what we spend on the state pension each year
24:06
Yeah, but it's a start, isn't it? And £15 billion is the rate at which the state pensions bill
24:10
is forecast to increase by, by 2030, according to the OBR, each year
24:18
And what about the money that David Hammey's flinging all around the world
24:22
to countries that have nothing to do with us? Oh, I'm with you on the Chagos Islands
24:26
I think it's ridiculous to spend money giving away British sovereign territory
24:30
I'm with you on that. I mean, is it Syria, 97 million
24:35
Surely that's a start. Well, come on, 97 million is a drop in the ocean, Lynn
#Campaigns & Elections
#news
#Politics
#Public Policy