How did we get here? Explaining the news

G7 Summit: What actually happens behind the scenes?

Listen on

Episode notes

The G7, also known as the Group of Seven, is an international organisation made up of the world's seven largest advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The member country holding the G7 presidency, currently the UK, is responsible for organising and hosting the year's annual summit. This year the event will take place in the Cornish seaside resort of Carbis Bay between the 11th and 13th of June for what will be the 47th summit. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hosting the event but, how does the host government make one a success? And, do we even need these international jamborees? Andy Bell speaks with former veteran and senior adviser to Gordon Brown, now Lord Stewart Wood. Lord Wood talks us through what actually happens on these big occasions behind closed doors. He says that politicians get really excited and people actually have to do the hard work for the summit to be successful. But "on the whole, it's an amazingly positive moment unless something goes wrong." He also adds that in hosting the summit you need to have what it's called a 'deliverable' - an output which is and will be remembered. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts, and analysts.