Strong Message Here, Strong Message Here, The Island of Strangers and the Manacled Gimp of Brussels

Strong Message Here

Strong Message Here

The Island of Strangers and the Manacled Gimp of Brussels

May 22, 2025

35 minutes

Available for over a year

Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.

This week, we're looking at inflammatory language. From Immigration to EU deals, we've heard talk of of 'betrayal' 'surrender' 'invasion' and of course 'an island of strangers'. When is this hyperbole appropriate and when is it egregious? And, can we ever forgive Boris Johnson for the mental image of the Prime Minister as the 'orange ball-chewing manacled gimp of Brussels'?

Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.

Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at [email protected]

Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King

Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls

Executive Producer - Pete Strauss

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4.

An EcoAudio Certified Production.