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 ShowRussia's new Time of Troubles – with Vladislav Zubok
Following Yevgeny Prigozhin's short-lived mutiny in Russia, the New Statesman's China and Global Affairs Editor Katie Stallard speaks to the historian…
- The Politics Show
Can Wes Streeting save the NHS?
In this bonus episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, meets Phil Whitaker, the New Statesman’s medical editor and a…
- The Politics Show
You Ask Us: Will there be another “Portillo moment” – and could rural England vote Labour?
In this week’s You Ask Us, our polling expert Ben Walker joins the podcast to answer some of your queries. With so many senior MPs standing down at the next…
- The Politics Show
Nicola Sturgeon’s encore – and Humza Yousaf’s new(-ish) plan for independence
Following Nicola Sturgeon’s evidence session at the Covid inquiry in London, the New Statesman’s Scotland editor, Chris Deerin, joins Anoosh Chakelian and…
- The Politics Show
Why do newspaper endorsements still matter?
Have the newspapers decided who they are going to back at the next general election and if they have will it actually have any impact? The New Statesman’s…
- The Politics Show
You Ask Us: What next for Boris Johnson – and Angela Rayner
In today’s special You Ask Us episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward to answer listeners’…
- The Politics Show
Rishi Sunak’s inflation pledge backfires
As the Bank of England raises interest rates again after worse than expected inflation figures, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr, Rachel Wearmouth and…
The Politics ShowHow trailblazers are using smart meters to make the switch to net zero | Sponsored
In this special podcast from the Spotlight team in partnership with Smart Energy GB we're looking at how smart meters can help bring down energy bills. From…
- The Politics Show
Is Keir Starmer a radical or conservative? With his former aide Claire Ainsley
As Labour starts to set out its policy agenda for the next election, Anoosh Chakelian speaks to one of the people who helped shape it. Claire Ainsley worked in…
- The Politics Show
You Ask Us: Could Sadiq Khan lose, and is Britain the new Poland?
In our weekly You Ask Us episode, Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward answer your questions. This week, they tackle whether Labour’s…
- The Politics Show
Boris Johnson: the verdict
As a long-awaited investigation finds Boris Johnson knowingly misled parliament – and disrespected its processes – Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth and…
- The Politics Show
SPOTLIGHT: Can redesigning cities boost economic growth and happiness?
A bonus podcast from our Spotlight team: Placemaking – the process of creating quality places that people want to live, work, play and learn in – can…
- The Politics Show
Boris Johnson resigns and Nicola Sturgeon is arrested
After Nicola Sturgeon's arrest and Boris Johnson flounced out of the Commons over his honours list and the Privileges Committee investigation into whether he…
- The Politics Show
Why is Caroline Lucas standing down?
In this week’s You Ask Us, Anoosh Chakelian, Freddie Hayward and Rachel Wearmouth answer listeners’ questions on Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, standing down…
- The Politics Show
The real Rachel Reeves
As Rachel Reeves returns from her visit to the US – where she was accompanied in Washington DC and New York by the NS editor-in-chief, Jason Cowley – we ask…
- The Politics Show
What’s gone wrong with British policing?
As more allegations of misconduct within the Metropolitan Police reach the courts, Anoosh Chakelian speaks to a former officer about what’s going wrong with…
- The Politics Show
Is greed driving inflation?
Our business editor Will Dunn joins Anoosh Chakelian and Freddie Hayward to discuss his New Statesman cover feature on the age of greedflation. Some companies…
- The Politics Show
Is there a future for moderates in the Conservative Party?
With the Conservative Party showing open divisions, its right emboldened to hold separate conferences, and many Tory MPs already announcing their plans to…
- The Politics Show
Does unionism have a future in Northern Ireland?
After the local elections in Northern Ireland, Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward are joined by the Belfast Telegraph reporter Sam McBride to discuss how the…
- The Politics Show
Is Westminster broken?
Harry Lambert, New Statesman contributing writer, joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss what could work better in political journalism, the way Westminster and…
- The Politics Show
Who holds the power on the left?
As the New Statesman publishes the Left Power List – the 50 most powerful people on the British left – George Eaton, senior editor, joins Anoosh Chakelian…
- The Politics Show
SPOTLIGHT: How Smart Meters help small businesses
With rising energy prices, Small businesses are keen to take more control over their bills. Smart meters can help companies understand in detail how they are…
- The Politics Show
BONUS: Have the Conservatives already lost the next election? With Andrew Marr and David Gauke
In a bonus episode of the New Statesman Podcast, we bring you a discussion between Andrew Marr and David Gauke after the local elections earlier this month, in…
- The Politics Show
The art of the political interview – with Rob Burley
Why is this lying bastard lying to me? That’s the question Jeremy Paxman famously asked when trying to pin down slippery politicians, and it’s the title of Rob…
- The Politics Show
Is Labour heading for a majority after all?
Now all the local ballots have been counted, Anoosh is joined by Freddie Hayward, Rachel Wearmouth and Ben Walker to work out who did well, who did badly, and…
- The Politics Show
Is it time to abolish the monarchy - Recorded live at the Cambridge literary Festival
In this special edition of the New Statesman Podcast we bring you the New Statesman debate, recorded live at the Cambridge Literary Festival, on the motion…
- The Politics Show
A bad night for the Conservatives at the local elections
As the first results from the English local elections come in, Rachel Wearmouth, Freddie Hayward and Ben Walker look at what they mean for the main parties…
- The Politics Show
Are the Tories failing children?
What’s it like to be a child today? Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Cunliffe and Zoë Grünewald discuss the New Statesman's recent interview with Rachel de Souza, the…
- The Politics Show
The writer at the centre of the Diane Abbott row
Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary and ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has been suspended as a Labour MP after she claimed Jewish people cannot be victims…
- The Politics Show
Is Rishi Sunak reviving the Tories? Live at the Cambridge Literary Festival
In a special episode of the New Statesman Podcast recorded live at the Cambridge Literary Festival, Anoosh Chakelian, Freddie Hayward and Ben Walker discuss…
- The Politics Show
From election fever in England to SNP turmoil in Scotland
The local elections in England are on 4 May, with more than 8,000 council seats across the country up for grabs. It is the first major electoral test for Rishi…
- The Politics Show
Can we restore faith in parliament? With Hannah White
With the public's view of government and parliament at new lows after the pandemic, what can be done to increase belief in politics? Dr Hannah White, director…
- The Politics Show
Joe Biden’s visit exposes the UK’s Brexit impasse
The US president, Joe Biden, arrived in Belfast on a week-long visit to the island of Ireland marking the 25th anniversary Good Friday Agreement. Northern…
- The Politics Show
Spotlight: How Smart Meters can help with the energy crisis
The energy market is complicated. Consumers are understandably confused by the range of tariffs and suppliers – and even by where energy comes from. In 2021…
- The Politics Show
The New Statesman political editors’ reunion: covering Westminster from Thatcher to Sunak
In this special podcast, nine political editors and writers come together to discuss working at the New Statesman, covering everything from the rise and fall…
- The Politics Show
Is the Good Friday Agreement under threat? With Jonathan Powell
It’s a quarter of a century since a peace deal introduced cross-community power-sharing to Northern Ireland. One of the architects of the deal was Tony Blair’s…
- The Politics Show
Dover delays, the Brexit taboo and Stevenage Woman
The Easter exodus from the UK has begun but holidaymakers hoping for a quick getaway were stranded by lengthy delays at the Port of Dover. Suella Braverman…
- The Politics Show
Are social conservatives the future of British politics?
As the Tories increasingly use social issues and culture wars to appeal to voters, we talk about the key MPs behind this trend, analyse how socially…
- The Politics Show
Tough on crime? Britain’s new political battleground
Petty crime is emerging as a central battleground of the next election. The Prime Minister has announced headline-grabbing plans to ban laughing gas (nitrous…
- The Politics Show
How Brexit remade the Conservative Party, with Tim Bale
Has winning the Brexit vote made the Conservative Party ungovernable? That’s the question political scientist Tim Bale is tackling in his new book The…
- The Politics Show
What Humza Yousaf means for the SNP, Scottish independence and Labour
Humza Yousaf is the new leader of the SNP after beating his closest rival, Kate Forbes, by 52 per cent to 48 per cent in the final round of the party’s…
- The Politics Show
Is the era of Boris and Brexit over?
During a grumpy four-hour hearing with the Commons Privileges Committee, Boris Johnson appeared to lack the deft political touches that got him into No 10. The…
- The Politics Show
Childcare gets top billing in the Budget, but will it work?
After Jeremy Hunt announced an extension of free childcare provision to children older than nine months in the Budget this week, some parents groups are…
- The Politics Show
What’s behind the Budget? With Andrew Marr
Jeremy Hunt presented his first Budget on Wednesday (15 March) as forecasts said that Britain faces a record fall in living standards over the next two years…
- The Politics Show
What’s behind the Tories’ new voter ID laws?
The local elections in May will be the first time that voters in England must show a form of photo ID to cast their vote. The government has said we need these…
- The Politics Show
Why are women voters moving to the left?
Women have turned away from the Conservative Party over the past few decades, who since 2010 have been more likely to vote for Labour. The Conservatives’…
- The Politics Show
BONUS: Britain’s childcare crisis, with Stella Creasy
Childcare in the UK is among the most expensive among the countries of the OECD. The lack of affordable and accessible childcare is costing the nation £27bn a…
- The Politics Show
Could childcare win Labour the next election?
A new report from economics think tank the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) reveals the UK is losing 1 per cent of GDP through a lack of suitable childcare…
- The Politics Show
What the Brexit deal means for Rishi Sunak – and Keir Starmer
Rishi Sunak has agreed a deal with the EU on the Northern Ireland protocol. He has hailed this as a “new chapter” in relations, but will he reap the rewards?…
- The Politics Show
Inside Westminster’s warped workplace
Anoosh Chakelian and Zoë Grünewald are joined by two parliamentary researchers to delve into the working conditions, power imbalances and abuses that take…
- The Politics Show
Kate Forbes: How faith can make you political "roadkill", with Tim Farron
For a hot moment Kate Forbes was favourite to replace Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister. But revealing her socially conservative…
- The Politics Show
SPOTLIGHT: The autonomous future is nearly here - with Wejo
Widespread use of autonomous cars is on the horizon. Self-driving vehicles are already out on our roads. And autonomy will change our relationship with our…
- The Politics Show
Will being tough on crime decide the next election?
With the criminal justice system under immense strain, from huge case backlogs to crumbling court buildings and staff shortages, Labour has seized the…
- The Politics Show
Nicola Sturgeon resigns – what next for Scottish politics?
After surprising the country by announcing her resignation as First Minister and SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon leaves a vacuum in UK politics. The New…
- The Politics Show
An intensive care doctor’s remedy for the NHS, with Jim Down
Ahead of the publication of his new book, Life in the Balance: A Doctor’s Stories of Intensive Care, Dr Jim Down speaks to Anoosh Chakelian about the struggles…
- The Politics Show
Will Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle restore his authority?
Rishi Sunak is struggling to restore order over a divided and unruly Conservative party. His latest attempt, this week, takes the form of a cabinet reshuffle…
- The Politics Show
Can we stop the government criminalising protest? With Jodie Beck of Liberty
Last week the government faced multiple defeats in the House of Lords on its wide-ranging Public Order Bill, which have peers warned would have a chilling…
- The Politics Show
Rishi Sunak’s first 100 days, with Andrew Marr
Rishi Sunak is marking 100 days in office just after Britain was hit by the biggest day of industrial action in a decade and the IMF predicted that the UK will…
- The Politics Show
Are the Lib Dems winning here?
After a series of by-election victories, could the Lib Dem election machine be powering the party back to its late 90s levels of popularity? Anoosh Chakelian…
- The Politics Show
The return of Tory sleaze
Rishi Sunak promised to draw a line under the scandalous Boris Johnson era when he became Prime Minister, but Tory sleaze seems here to stay. He is facing…