Downstream: The Middle Class Will Collapse Unless We Tax the Rich w/ Gary Stevenson

Downstream: The Middle Class Will Collapse Unless We Tax the Rich w/ Gary Stevenson

Author: Novara Media July 13, 2026 Duration: 1:36:38

The idea of a wealth tax has never been more popular in Britain, and while many have campaigned for it, none have done more to boost the demand than one man: Gary Stevenson.

The former city trader first joined us on Downstream four years ago. A lot has changed since then. This week, after a bruising round of media including attacks from Piers Morgan and the Guardian, Gary sat down to give his side of the story to Novara Media’s Aaron Bastani.

What are the fair critiques of a wealth tax, and how does Gary engage with them? What would he say to Andy Burnham? What does he think needs to be done to keep out Farage and Reform? And do the recent spate of attacks in the media show that Gary’s actually winning the argument?


Tune in to Novara Media for a distinct and probing take on the world as it is, and as it could be. This independent podcast offers a necessary space for the conversations often sidelined elsewhere, weaving together sharp analysis of current affairs with deeper explorations of culture, philosophy and power. Each episode naturally delves into the interconnected crises shaping our time-be it the fraying edges of our economic system, the urgent fight for climate justice, or the enduring struggles against structural inequality. The discussions are built on a foundation of radical thought and a commitment to imagining alternatives, moving beyond the day's headlines to examine the root causes and potential futures. Hosted by the team at Novara Media, the audio format brings a direct, engaging and often challenging perspective, featuring interviews, panel debates and solo commentaries that refuse simplistic answers. It’s for anyone who finds mainstream narratives insufficient and is looking for a podcast that treats politics, society and culture as the complex, urgent and deeply human matters they truly are.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 50

Novara Media
Podcast Episodes
Burnham Vows To Tackle Youth Unemployment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:35
Andy Burnham has said he is “on a mission” to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs), but has stopped short of pledging a concrete target. Plus: The number of millionaires in B…
Downstream: Who Profits From Genocide? w/ Andrew Feinstein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:41
A new consensus has emerged in Westminster, seemingly overnight: we need more defence spending, and we need it now. But the Ministry of Defence has a record for waste that would put Tony Soprano to shame. £13 billion dow…
Downstream: You Will Rent Forever. Here’s Why. w/ Peter Apps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:00
We live in times of crisis. But perhaps none of the crises affect so many people in the here and now, as the housing crisis. Solving it could provide the skeleton key to unlocking so many of society’s problems. Despite t…
ACFM Microdose: Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:46
The Meditations of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius are perhaps the best-selling self-help book of all time. Rooted in the rational philosophy of the Stoics, the 12 books offer a stream of personal musings on everything fro…
Do Your Own Research: The True Cost of AI Girlfriends w/ James Muldoon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:25
AI boyfriends and girlfriends are all the rage – for some. For others, they just inspire rage. So what’s the truth about these seductive machines? Do they open up our erotic potential, or are they just an absurd fantasy?…
Downstream: Who Really Won the War on Drugs? w/ Kojo Koram [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:40
Last year, Zack Polanski’s Green Party suggested changes could be made to Britain’s prohibitionist approach to drugs – and felt the full force of the mainstream media’s indignation. But all over the world, the War on Dru…