A petition calling for women-only tube carriages has surpassed 12,000 signatures. It comes amid increased reports of sexual offences on public transport, both in London and beyond.

Supporters claim that giving women the option to travel separately from men will make them safer, and send a message that harassment is unacceptable. Critics argue that this is a backwards step, amounting to segregation. Some say it unfairly stigmatises men.

We hear from the woman leading the campaign, and explore the history of single-sex train carriages in the UK. Does the data show that sexual harassment on trains is on the rise, or are the figures a symptom of increased reporting? What do we know about other public safety campaigns attempting to tackle sexual harassment and violence over the years - and do they point us towards better solutions?

Presenter: Adam Fleming Production team: Ellie House, Natasha Fernandes, Tom Gillett, and Bob Howard Studio manager: Andrew Mills Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

The comedian Lenny Henry in a new book has backed calls for the UK to pay more than £18 trillion in compensation for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. It's a figure that some people think is absurdly high. It comes from a report written by an economic consultancy called The Brattle Group. They tried to quantify the impact of slavery on black people in North and South America, and the Caribbean. Adam Fleming speaks to one of the co-authors, Mary Olsen.

Sir Lenny Henry has called for the UK government to pay £18tn in slavery reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, and argued that every black Briton also deserves compensation. The comedian, co-author of a new book titled The Big Payback, says the payments would help repair damage caused in parts of the Americas, especially the Caribbean, and argues slavery has contributed to modern day racism and poorer outcomes for black people in the UK. Opponents have argued it's unfair to hold modern Britons responsible for past wrongs and called the £18tn figure absurd and divisive - we find out where that figure came from, and what calculations went into it. Many in this debate point out that, although Britain profited from slavery, it also abolished it - we look at the reasons behind that shift and what it meant for slaves and slave owners. Plus, reparations used to be all about wars - how else have they been applied throughout history?

Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Mike Wendling, Natasha Fernandes Editor: Richard Vadon Production coordinator: Janet Staples Studio engineer: Andrew Mills

When an art exhibition featuring stickers made to look like graffiti opened in Canterbury Cathedral, there was a surprisingly loud reaction from right-wing activists in the US - even JD Vance, the American vice-president, chimed in. Many on the political right see cathedrals, churches, and monuments in Europe as a grand cultural heritage which they feel they have to defend. And many of Donald Trump's supporters believe that Britain is under attack from multiculturalism, and that the UK is a country in decline because of its alleged failure to uphold Western values. The BBC's Mike Wendling, who’s written books investigating the US far-right, explains to Adam Fleming how the concept of the "decline of the West" has crossed the Atlantic.

An art exhibition in Canterbury Cathedral has enraged traditionalists who believe that it doesn’t fit with the holy site’s beauty or the church’s mission. The works consist of a set of temporary vinyl stickers with questions like “Why did you create hate when love is by far more powerful?” and “Does our struggle mean anything?” The questions for God were devised after artist Alex Vellis and curator Jacquiline Creswell consulted a series of marginalised groups. The organisers say the stickers were tested to make sure they did not damage the cathedral’s ancient walls. But they have faced criticism on artistic grounds and questions about the appropriateness of the art and the values behind it. Among the outraged were Vice President JD Vance, who called the stickers “ugly”, and Elon Musk, who called it an affront to western civilisation They in turn were faced with supporters of the exhibition who argued it reflected the church’s mission and spread a message of inclusiveness and tolerance. Art has always been intrinsically tied to religion and the Anglican Church, so how far back does this culture war battle really go – and why did political leaders in America jump into the controversy? Presenter: Adam Fleming Production team: Natasha Fernandes, Ellie House, Mike Wendling Studio manager: Andy Mills Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Richard Vadon

Are middle aged white men angry and if so why and how does that affect our politics? Professor of political science at the University of Manchester, Rob Ford, speaks to Adam Fleming about what is driving this anger from financial insecurity to broader social and cultural attitudes. He covers everything from the motte-and-bailey fallacy to measuring how tolerant someone is based on whether they’d be happy if a family member brought someone with a different political belief home.

Football pundit and former Manchester United star Gary Neville posted a video that he pitched as a call to national unity. But was greeted by a wave of online vitriol for one line in which he blamed “angry middle-aged white men” for creating political division. Many middle-aged white men took to social media – to deny they are angry, to describe their anger as justified, or to call Neville’s comments the out-of-touch ramblings of a “champagne socialist”. But the footballer has his supporters too, with some saying he put his finger on a specific group that has been pulling at the fault lines of British politics by hoisting flags and protesting against immigration. What do polling and history tell us about the political divides within our society – and when it comes to our political divisions, who’s really to blame? Presenter: Adam Fleming Production team: Emma Close, Natasha Fernandes, Mike Wendling Studio manager: Andy Mills Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Richard Vadon

Patriotism is a concept that’s been used throughout history. From rallying the troops in wartime to acting as the “glue” that brought revolutionaries together in 18th Century France; the idea of loving one’s civilisation and supporting its values, dates all the way back to Ancient Greece. Georgios Varouxakis, professor of the history of political thought at Queen Mary University of London, runs Adam Fleming through a potted history of patriotism and how it’s evolved over time.

It seems like everyone wants to be a patriot this week, from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to people hoisting flags up British lampposts. But what does patriotism really mean?

At the Labour Party conference there was lots of talk of 'progressive patriotism' - a definition of the term that emphasises Britain's tolerance and multiculturalism. Others invoke patriotism when seeking a return to the past. Others reject the word entirely because of its links to nationalism.

We find out why Keir Starmer and the Labour Party are trying to formulate 'progressive patriotism', examine the history of the concept going back to the ancient Greeks, and ask what polling tells us about how patriotic British people feel.

Presenter: Adam Fleming Production team: Lucy Proctor, Natasha Fernandes, Mike Wendling, Tom Gillet Studio manager: Andy Mills Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Bridget Harney

When people come to the UK seeking asylum they’re supposed to be placed in homes all over the country while their claims are processed – not hotels. Jonathan Darling, professor of human geography at Durham University, tells Adam Fleming where this policy of dispersal came from, how it’s evolved, and why it’s broken down.

Anger has flared outside hotels used to house asylum seekers. Protestors say they are worried about illegal migration, cost to the taxpayer and a lack of consultation, but one issue seems to spark even more concern - the safety of women and children. Opponents have accused protestors of racism and whipping up hate.

Is there any evidence that asylum seekers are more likely to commit sexual offences? We trace the clamour for more data to answer that question.

Police have been given new guidance on disclosing the ethnicity and nationality of suspects in criminal cases - especially high profile ones. What might be the effect?

And why are so many asylum seekers currently housed in hotels anyway? We hear how the system is supposed to work and how it’s evolved.

Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Natasha Fernandes, Emma Close and Tom Gillett Editor: Penny Murphy Production coordinator: Janet Staples Studio engineer: Annie Gardiner

At first it was about creating an image that people could aspire to. Then, in the 2000s, brands started promoting their products based on values. Now marketers have entered the ‘dark mode shift’ where the only aim is to ‘ruthlessly’ make money. So says Eugene Healey, brand strategy consultant. He talks to Adam Fleming about the thought process behind branding and how it has evolved over time.

A jeans advert featuring the American actress Sydney Sweeney talking about her good genes provoked fierce reaction - and then came the backlash to the backlash.

Some people say the advert promotes a eugenicist ideal of blonde hair and blue eyes. Others say it's a sign that the days of diversity in the advertising industry are over. Is 'woke' dead? And what does the controversy tell us about how brands use culture to get our attention?

Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Lucy Proctor, Natasha Fernandes, Mike Wendling Editor: Penny Murphy Production coordinator: Janet Staples Studio engineer: Annie Gardiner

Cheating, ghosting and catfishing are all rife in modern dating and it’s often assumed that men are the ones behaving badly, with women the victims. But the evidence on which of the sexes deserves the most red flags is more complex than we might assume. Adam Fleming speaks to Dr Jenny van Hooff, reader in sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University, about what studies have shown.

An app offering women dating safety tools and advice has suspended some of its services following a hack, sparking a debate between the sexes about fairness and respect in dating.

Tea, which lets women do background checks on potential male dates, is only available in the USA, but the incident has prompted discussion about similar online groups available in the UK, like 'Are We Dating The Same Guy' on Facebook. Some users say online spaces where they can flag concerns about infidelity or potential abuse are vital for women's wellbeing and safety, but some men feel they are being treated unfairly and that the groups are spreading lies.

We spill the tea on the Tea app, look at the laws around what users can and can't say on these groups, and ask whether men really are less trustworthy than women when it comes to dating. Plus, online dating has changed the way we meet potential partners - how has the industry evolved?

Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Lucy Proctor, Nik Sindle, Natasha Fernandes Editor: Penny Murphy Studio Manager: Hal Haines

In 2023, a big piece of research was published examining the way different ethnic groups experienced racism in the UK. Racism and Ethnic Inequality in a Time of Crisis analysed the responses to one the largest surveys of ethnic minorities ever conducted in Britain. Dr Dharmi Kapadia is a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Manchester and worked on the project. She told Adam about what the study found.

The debate around a hierarchy of racism was reignited this week when Labour MP Diane Abbott appeared on a BBC Radio 4 podcast and discussed previous comments she'd made about racism.

She maintained there is a difference between racism based on skin colour and other kinds of racism. This sparked conversation around the different types of racism and prejudice faced by Black people, Jewish people, and Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller people. We look at the statistics and discuss the history of the anti-racism movement.

Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Lucy Proctor, Nik Sindle, Simon Maybin, Natasha Fernandes Editor: Penny Murphy Studio Manager: Hal Haines

It’s always been difficult to get a book published. But is it especially difficult now if you’re man who writes fiction? That’s the claim being made by some who say female authors are squeezing their male counterparts off the bookshelves. So who decides which books get published? Amelia Fairney spent 30 years in the publishing business. She talks Adam through the process.

Just a few years ago the gender gap in book publishing was seen as an issue to address, with many publishing houses focussed on boosting women authors. Has it all gone too far? Are men, especially straight, white men, now being locked out of telling their stories? And what might that mean for society?

Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Nik Sindle, Lucy Proctor, Tim Gillet Editor: Richard Vadon

A new law to bolster workers' rights by making it an employer's job to prevent staff being harassed by customers and clients, as well as fellow colleagues, has been criticised by some as an attack on free speech. Opponents worry that harmless banter - in pubs, for example - might need to be monitored as a result of this new legislation. That's denied by the government. The word ‘banter’ has seen a resurgence in the last few decades. Tony Thorne, a lexicologist and language consultant at King’s College London, tells Adam when the banter began.