Shows / The Politics Show
The Politics Show
Helping you make sense of politics – every week.
Anoosh Chakelian and the New Statesman team bring you sharp reporting, clear analysis and thoughtful conversations to help you understand what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond.
The New Statesman is Britain’s leading source of news and commentary on politics and culture with a progressive perspective. On The Politics Show, our journalists and expert guests cut through the noise of the headlines to explain the forces shaping our world…
Episodes
The Politics ShowWho's going to win the "£2,000" debate?
Starmer and Sunak went head to head for the first time last night in their TV debate. Did we learn anything new? Not particularly. But the story dominating the…
The Politics ShowAndrew Marr: “Reform means game over for the Conservatives”
Nigel Farage is back ... what does this mean for the Conservatives and the future of the right in Britain? The team also discuss the Lib Dems pledge for social…
The Politics ShowWhy Starmer needs to embrace nuclear weapons now
Labour have launched their defence plans, leading with their 'triple lock' which focuses on nuclear submarines and a constant at sea deterrent for the UK. Does…
The Politics ShowHas Rishi Sunak made a big mistake?
Could the Conservatives become the third party? Is Ed Davey being too frivolous? Has Rishi Sunak made a huge mistake? And why do we still talk about older…
The Politics ShowIs Labour purging the left of the party?
One week down, five to go. The Diane Abbott row continues to be a tricky thorn in Keir Starmer's side, and in the past 24 hours there have been more reports…
The Politics ShowLabour's grand mishandling of the Diane Abbott row
Today Labour announced some bold plans for the NHS, stating that they would clear the Tory backlog in their first time. However this has been completely…
The Politics ShowAndrew Marr: "The Conservatives have fallen apart"
For the next six weeks we’re bringing you new episodes every weekday, with updates on the party campaigns, reaction from around the UK and the best polling…
The Politics ShowPolitical ads are embracing legal loopholes and playing dirty
Political advertising in the UK has been a largely regulated space, that us up until about a decade ago. Historically, political advertising has been banned…
The Politics ShowWill Farage get a job with Trump? Why can't the water companies go bankrupt?
On Monday we published an investigation by business editor Will Dunn into England's water and sewage crisis. Will joins Hannah Barnes, associate editor, and…
The Politics ShowRishi Sunak has already given up
After a day of increasing speculation, Rishi Sunak called the next general election which will take place on the 4th of July. Sadly, for him, he was almost…
The Politics Show"Heat or eat": how to help millions in fuel poverty | sponsored
Fuel poverty is on the rise with millions of households in England having to choose whether to “heat or eat”. Last year, the Government estimated almost 9…
- The Politics Show
The Great Stink: how England came to swim in sewage
The sea is no longer safe to swim in, tomatoes are growing on beaches from seeds in undigested human faeces, and rivers are awash with pig’s blood. When did…
- The Politics Show
Are there any Tory MPs Labour wouldn't welcome?
It's a defection listener questions special. We’ve had lots of questions come in this week about defection, prompted by the surprise and somewhat contentious…
- The Politics Show
Will Starmer stick to his pledges?
This morning Keir Starmer has laid out six key pledges for a Labour government, should they win power this election year. So what is the Labour leader…
- The Politics Show
Hilary Cass: "Do I regret doing it? Absolutely not"
Just over a month ago Dr Hilary Cass published her landmark review of gender identity services for children and young people. In her last UK media interview…
- The Politics Show
Who would want Rishi Sunak's job now?
Are any Tories desperate enough to take over as Prime Minister? In our listener questions episode, You Ask Us, Rachel Cunliffe, George Eaton and Freddie…
- The Politics Show
Defeat and defection: Tories are down bad
The longer the Conservatives hang on, the worse it gets. Last week Rishi Sunak lost 474 councillors, the constituency of Blackpool south, and Andy Street’s…
The Politics ShowHow can life sciences investment make the UK healthier? | Sponsored
The UK is on course for a huge rise in preventable illness. The Health Foundation charity predicts that by 2040, one in five adults will be living with a…
- The Politics Show
What do we really know about ‘Starmerism’?
Keir Starmer is the man poised to be the next leader of the UK. But he is also a man of whom many - including those in his own party - have asked: what does he…
- The Politics Show
Election Special: "by and large, the country has moved against the government"
It has been a terrible night for the Conservatives who have lost councillors, constituencies, and new Mayoral positions to Labour. Keir Starmer has called this…
- The Politics Show
John Swinney - the next leader of Scotland?
One week ago, Humza Yousaf, first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party, terminated the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens…
- The Politics Show
The Rwanda bill will create a legacy of suffering - an interview with a former asylum seeker
In 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced that for the first time since records had begun, 100 million people were displaced by war…
- The Politics Show
What are the chances of a Conservative-Reform UK coalition?
A listener writes in to ask, "Is there any risk of a Conservative - Reform coalition?" "Why do journalists not ask “how are you going to pay for it” when it…
- The Politics Show
Can Labour get Britain's trains back on track?
Train travel in the UK has become an increasingly painful experience in the past few years. Prices continue to rise at an astonishing rate, meanwhile delays…
The Politics ShowCan Britain quit smoking for good? | Sponsored
MPs have voted to back Rishi Sunak's progressive smoking ban. Can it work? The Tobacco & Vapes Bill includes new legislation to increase the smoking age by one…
- The Politics Show
Boarding school boys rule Britain, at what cost?
In March, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, published his memoir - A Very Private School. This recounted, in devastating detail, the abuse, both mental…
- The Politics Show
How Iran and Israel are dividing British politics
This episode was recorded on the 18th of April, prior to Israel's missile strikes on Iran. Tensions in the Middle East have heightened further after Iran…
- The Politics Show
Does Liz Truss believe what she's saying?
This week Liz Truss has embarked on the press tour of a lifetime with her new book, Ten Years to Save the West: Lessons from the only conservative in the room…
- The Politics Show
Decaying Britain: how severe is the NHS dental crisis?
People up and down the country have been struggling to get NHS dental appointments for the past few years, forcing some to pay inflated prices for private…
- The Politics Show
The Angela Rayner investigation: scandal or smear campaign?
Angela Rayner, the Labour deputy leader, is being accused of being a ‘tax avoider’. While these attacks are coming predominantly from the right, they’ve been…
- The Politics Show
How will the gender care report affect politics?
We’ve been digging around in our virtual mailbag and have brought a couple of your questions to discuss. One listener asks: What are the political implications…
- The Politics Show
Is Britain addicted to monarchy?
The British royal family was in crisis even before Queen Elizabeth II died, and the new King and princess of wales both became ill with cancer. In this modern…
- The Politics Show
Why do politicians push culture wars? And should landlord MPs vote on renting laws?
It's listener questions time! Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe answer a listener who asks why senior politicians flock to address culture wars issues…
- The Politics Show
Sh*tstorm: who's to blame for England's water crisis?
England’s waterways are overflowing with sewage. In a recent report it has been found that a record amount of sewage is being discharged into rivers and seas…
The Politics ShowReshaping the gig economy: union representation and worker protections | Sponsored
Flexible work has existed for decades. Think about local hairdressers, personal trainers, or tutors working for themselves – or even the jazz musicians in the…
- The Politics Show
Alison McGovern: "people want respect and dignity"
Today on the podcast we're bringing you a conversation from the New Statesman's Path to Power conference which looked inside the Labour Party machine as it…
- The Politics Show
How would a general election shift if all UK residents, not just citizens, could vote?
This is an episode we like to call “You Ask Us”. Our first question from James who says: "How would the results of a general election change if all British…
- The Politics Show
"Turning up to a gun fight with a wooden spoon": should the UK be tougher on China?
Earlier this week the UK government accused China of stealing 40 million UK registered voters’ names and addresses. The breach occurred in 2021 and 2022, in…
- The Politics Show
The UK's social care system is failing all of us
Each one of us in the UK is likely to be or become a carer at some point in our lives. Women have a 50:50 chance of caring by the time they are 46 and men by…
- The Politics Show
Is Vaughan Gething’s victory politically significant?
This is an episode we like to call “You Ask Us”. Our first question from Adam in Cardiff who says: "Does it matter who was elected in the Welsh Labour…
- The Politics Show
Labour's economic plans: 'Bidenomics' without the money?
Stability, investment, and reform - these are the three pillars for growth set out by Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Mais Lecture to business and…
- The Politics Show
Why are female politicians still taken less seriously?
Why are women still taken less seriously than men? Alona Ferber, senior editor at the New Statesman, is joined by Mary Ann Seighart, journalist, former…
- The Politics Show
How does the whip system work? + Are Tory voters dying out?
Ben Walker shares exclusive analysis on the impact of a dying electorate. In our weekly listener questions episode, Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Freddie…
- The Politics Show
Rishi Sunak has lost control
The Tory racism row exposed the Prime Minister's weakness. It's been another "torrid" week for the Conservatives, with a row over alleged racist comments made…
- The Politics Show
Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram's "rallying cry for a more equal Britain"
At the beginning of February Anoosh Chakelian, Britain editor at the New Statesman, travelled to Liverpool to interview two regional mayors: Andy Burnham the…
- The Politics Show
Is Starmer showing his "true colours"?
It's listener question time! Neil from Cambridge asks: "Rishi Sunak and other Conservatives keep telling us that Labour will take us 'back to square one'…
- The Politics Show
Spring Statement: let's talk about growth!
Yesterday, Jeremy Hunt delivered the spring statement, the last before the next general election and his fourth budget since becoming Chancellor in October…
- The Politics Show
Leaseholds are a big feudal con
Over 5 million people in the UK live in a leasehold; a property ownership agreement which entitles people to the space inside the property but not necessarily…
- The Politics Show
George Galloway's back, back again
After a dramatic and chaotic campaigning period for the Rochdale by-election, the controversial politician George Galloway will be returning to Westminster -…
- The Politics Show
Tory islamophobia: “Reform UK is driving them demented” – with Andrew Marr
From Lee Anderson’s rant against Sadiq Khan on GB News, to Liz Truss’s appearance with Steve Bannon, this week has been nothing short of a conspiratorial…
The Politics ShowWhere do we get the money to fix the world's biggest problems? | Sponsored
The world is currently facing multiple crises, from geopolitical conflicts to pandemics and climate change. But amidst this turbulence, international aid…
- The Politics Show
Chumocracy is tearing Britain apart
From opaque contract awards, to cosy relationships between politicians and business elites, the idea of a ‘chumocracy’ has long been making headlines and…
- The Politics Show
Have the Tories given up on the culture wars?
"I've heard speculation that the Tories' election strategy is not really about "culture war and wedge issues" or evoking fear of Labour spending plans. It's…
- The Politics Show
Out of Order! Chaos in parliament over ceasefire vote
Almost five months on from the beginning of the conflict, Labour appears to have shifted its position - calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in…
The Politics ShowHow to tackle the UK's plastic pollution problem | Sponsored
The UK is one of the biggest plastic polluters in the world. According to Greenpeace we produce more plastic waste per person than almost any other country…
- The Politics Show
Why do local councils keep collapsing?
More councils have gone bust in 2023 than in the 30 years before 2018, with eight effectively declaring bankruptcy since that year: Northamptonshire, Croydon…
- The Politics Show
Swing Time: Wellingborough and Kingswood turn red
The results of yesterday’s by-elections are in, Kingswood and Wellingborough - both previously Conservative seats - have turned red in a historic loss for the…
- The Politics Show
Labour’s Rochdale unravelling, with Andrew Marr
This week Labour has suspended not one, but two parliamentary candidates for reported comments made over Israel. The party has been on a mission to purge…
The Politics ShowFake romance: the UK’s leading "catfishing" fraud specialist
How did one detective take on an international network of romance fraudsters? This episode was written Stuart McGurk and read by Will Dunn. The commissioning…
- The Politics Show
Your polling questions answered, with Ben Walker
Our polling expert answers listener questions. Many of you have written in with questions for Ben Walker, the New Statesman's polling data analyst. In this…