Broken Politicians, Broken Politics

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

BBC Radio 4 LW

Documentaries

Factual

BBC Radio 4 - Broken Politicians, Broken Politics

With personal testimonies from across Parliament we ask, is British politics broken?

With personal testimonies from across the House, journalist Jennifer Nadel asks if politicians’ mental health is at breaking point and what does this mean for British politics?

Are British politicians at breaking point? 

In this new digital age with its high level of public scrutiny, the sheer amount of abuse, disdain and direct threat politicians get is causing their mental health to take a real hit.

And this matters. Broken politicians equal broken politics and that’s bad news for us all.

Few can dispute that in the wake of a near constant stream of scandals, public perceptions of politics and politicians have become increasingly cynical and toxic. 

So what impact is this all having on our politicians and our politics? 

Jennifer Nadel - Co-Founder of Compassion in Politics - hears raw personal testimony from MPs across the House who have reached breaking point and worse, asking what this means for the health of our democracy?

In this Radio 4 investigation into the mental health and wellbeing of politicians, MPs talk candidly about the incessant pressures of the job and the escalating mental health crisis in parliament.

The programme reveals shocking testimony including one former government minister who tells us ‘Politics has left me a broken human being.’ A young MP describes attempting to take his own life, revealing to the BBC that he is not alone.

This programme asks whether the mental health crisis is affecting MPs' ability to govern. Many say it does, and that good people are simply being driven out or away from public life.

In the face of these mounting personal testimonies Radio 4 asks MPs what can be done?

If you have particular experiences or a story related to this programme that you would like to share confidentially with the producer, you can e mail:
Daniel.Tetlow.ext@bbc.co.uk

Producer: Daniel Tetlow
Presenter: Jennifer Nadel
Studio Manager: Rod Farquhar
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Richard Vadon 
The music was composed by Daniel Tetlow and Benjamin Bushakevitz and performed by Ammiel Bushakevitz

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Broken Politicians, Broken Politics

Genres

Formats

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4