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 ShowIs Labour finally on the front foot in the energy crisis?
The Labour leader Keir Starmer has announced that the party wants to tackle the energy bills crisis by freezing the energy price cap, to be chiefly funded by a…
- The Politics Show
As crisis looms, where are Britain’s leaders?
Against the backdrop of a predicted massive increase in energy bills and the coming recession, the Tory leadership contest grinds grimly on. There is a…
- The Politics Show
Is Labour too divided to win?
After more factional strife within Labour, the academic and former Downing Street staffer Patrick Diamond speaks to Anoosh Chakelian about his new book…
- The Politics Show
SPONSORED: How can we ensure our pension funds make a difference?
This podcast is sponsored by Rio AI As the world faces a climate emergency, what power do ordinary people have to try and shape the way big companies behave…
- The Politics Show
How workers‘ pay tripped up Liz Truss and Keir Starmer
The Bank of England has raised interest rates by 0.5 per cent to 1.75 per cent, the highest increase in 27 years, and predicts that the UK will enter a deep…
- The Politics Show
Sunak, Truss and Starmer’s visions for the economy
With the Conservative leadership hopefuls offering competing promises of tax cuts, the New Statesman podcast looks at whether either has anything to say about…
- The Politics Show
From the Forde report to strikes, is Labour still divided?
Two years after it was commissioned, the Forde report into infighting in the Labour Party during the years of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership has finally been…
- The Politics Show
Are conspiracy theories getting worse, with Jonn Elledge
After Boris Johnson talked of a "deep state" undermining his ability to govern, have we entered an era of conspiracy theories? Jonn Elledge, one of the authors…
- The Politics Show
Who will be Britain’s next prime minister? With Andrew Marr
With Penny Mordaunt having been eliminated from the contest on Wednesday 20 July, either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss will become Britain’s next prime minister…
- The Politics Show
Who’s winning the Tory leadership race?
This evening one of the remaining five candidates to be the next prime minister will be eliminated in a vote of MPs. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel…
- The Politics Show
BONUS: Rory Stewart on what it’s like to run for prime minister
Rory Stewart, the former international development secretary and Conservative leadership candidate, speaks to Rachel Cunliffe about the lessons he learned from…
- The Politics Show
Will Penny Mordaunt be the next Tory leader?
Nadhim Zahawi, Jeremy Hunt and Suella Braverman have been eliminated from the Conservative leadership election, with Penny Mordaunt climbing to second place…
- The Politics Show
Tory leadership election: who's running?
At the time of recording, 11 Conservative MPs had launched official bids to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister. Anoosh Chakelian, Freddie Hayward and Ben…
- The Politics Show
Boris Johnson has (not quite) resigned. What now?
After a dramatic twenty-four hours in which over fifty ministers and advisors resigned from government, Boris Johnson has finally admitted defeat and announced…
- The Politics Show
Emergency podcast: The last days of Boris Johnson?
After a torrid 24 hours in Westminster for Boris Johnson, in which Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid both resigned, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Harry Lambert, Ben…
- The Politics Show
Keir Starmer: Labour is “starting from scratch”
This special episode was recorded live at the New Statesman’s Politics Live event. Keir Starmer speaks to Rachel Wearmouth, currently the senior political…
- The Politics Show
What is behind Nicola Sturgeon’s IndyRef2 gambit?
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister and leader of the SNP, has announced that she wants to hold a second independence referendum on 19 October 2023. The…
- The Politics Show
Will a summer of discontent hurt the Tories or Labour more?
As the official measure of inflation in the UK hits 9.1 per cent, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman business team, Will Dunn and Emma Haslett, to…
- The Politics Show
By-election special: Is Boris Johnson doomed by the double defeat?
In a major blow to Boris Johnson, the Conservatives have lost the seats of Tiverton and Honiton and Wakefield to the Liberal Democrats and Labour respectively…
- The Politics Show
Will the Tories lose the true-blue constituency of Tiverton and Honiton?
With just a few days until the Tiverton and Honiton by-election on 23 June, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman’s business editor and Devonian Will…
- The Politics Show
Will Red Wall voters ditch Boris Johnson at the Wakefield by-election?
The by-election in Wakefield on June 23 will be a crucial test of whether Labour can win the Red Wall back from the Conservatives. The election was triggered…
- The Politics Show
Will the Green surge lead to a Labour government?
The New Statesman podcast takes a special look at the Green Party, following their success in the local elections. Why did they do so well in May? And how can…
- The Politics Show
Is Boris Johnson a zombie prime minister?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is attempting yet another relaunch of his government just days after 148 MPs told him they don’t have confidence in his…
- The Politics Show
Is Boris Johnson a dead man walking? With Andrew Marr
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won a vote of confidence from Conservative MPs. But 148 members voted against him, leaving a split party. In this special…
- The Politics Show
Boris Johnson faces a vote of no confidence. What happens next?
On the day that Boris Johnson faces a vote of no confidence in his leadership, Rachel Cunliffe speaks to Harry Lambert, senior political correspondent, and Ben…
- The Politics Show
Could Boris Johnson survive a vote of confidence?
The campaign to remove Boris Johnson as Prime Minister is building. The steady trickle of letters from Conservative MPs declaring they have no confidence in…
- The Politics Show
Does Keir Starmer have enough policies? With the former Labour adviser Marc Stears
Fresh from Sydney, Professor Marc Stears, a former Labour speechwriter and author of its 2015 manifesto, tells Anoosh Chakelian what Labour can learn, and…
- The Politics Show
The Sue Gray report: how bad is it really for Boris Johnson?
Sue Gray’s long-awaited report has been published at last. It contains lurid details of excessive drinking and partying at Downing Street during lockdown, as…
- The Politics Show
Why the Tories risk losing suburban voters, with Jeremy Hunt
Jeremy Hunt tells Anoosh Chakelian how he regrets the "silent killer" of social-care cuts made when he was in the cabinet, calls for the "penny to drop" for…
- The Politics Show
Will inflation bring down the Tory government?
UK inflation has reached its highest rate in 40 years, jumping from 7 per cent in March to 9 per cent in the year to April. With inflation hitting the poorest…
- The Politics Show
Why is Boris Johnson waging a culture war? With Rory Stewart and Kim Leadbeater
While polling revealed exclusively by the New Statesman suggests that voters aren’t divided on so-called culture war issues, the Johnson administration is…
- The Politics Show
If Keir Starmer resigns, who replaces him? With Andrew Marr
Having cast himself as “Mr Rules” in opposition to Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer's reputation hangs in the balance amid allegations of breaking Covid…
- The Politics Show
Is politics just a game to today's leaders? | Westminster Reimagined
The renowned satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows Iannucci…
- The Politics Show
Will the Red Wall or Beergate seal Keir Starmer’s fate?
Voters in many areas deserted the Conservatives in last week's local elections, yet this was not a comprehensive victory for Labour. Anoosh Chakelian is joined…
- The Politics Show
Local elections: What would be a good night for Labour or the Tories?
As voting in the local elections begins, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman’s polling expert Ben Walker to discuss key councils to watch and…
- The Politics Show
Is politics still tribal? | Westminster Reimagined
The renowned satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows Iannucci…
- The Politics Show
Do we get the leaders we deserve? | Live at the Cambridge Literary Festival
Anoosh Chakelian chairs a special episode of the New Statesman Podcast, recorded live at the Cambridge Literary Festival. In recent years, Britain has…
- The Politics Show
Why Westminster sexism is so hard to stamp out
The misogyny that many women working in parliament experience has reared its ugly head once more. Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Harry Lambert discuss the…
- The Politics Show
Armando Iannucci & Dominic Grieve: Is democracy slowly collapsing in Westminster? | Westminster Reimagined
The renowned satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows Iannucci…
- The Politics Show
What evidence would MPs need to bring Boris Johnson down? with Hannah White
With partygate rumbling on and Boris Johnson referred to the House of Commons’ Committee of Priviliges, Anoosh Chakelian speaks to Hannah White, the deputy…
- The Politics Show
Are the Conservatives stuck with Boris Johnson?
As MPs debate the fallout from partygate, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political reporter, to discuss why…
- The Politics Show
Armando Iannucci: are politicians obsolete? | Westminster Reimagined
The legendary writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows…
- The Politics Show
Will Boris Johnson’s woes affect the elections in Scotland and Wales?
A devolution special of the New Statesman Podcast looks ahead to the local elections in Scotland and Wales. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Scotland Editor Chris…
- The Politics Show
BONUS: Operation Warm Welcome: the hotel that became home to 100 refugees
When the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021, the Koofi family were among 8,000 Afghans airlifted to safety in the UK, as part of the government’s…
- The Politics Show
Will partygate fines be the end of Boris Johnson?
Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Carrie Johnson have all received fixed-penalty notices for attending parties in Downing Street during lockdown, but could the…
- The Politics Show
Armando Iannucci: Is it time to reform parliament's arcane rules and rituals? | Westminster Reimagined
The legendary writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows…
- The Politics Show
Why the non-dom scandal shows Rishi Sunak is bad at politics
As Rishi Sunak comes under investigation by the government’s standards watchdog, Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelian discuss the fallout from the revelations about…
- The Politics Show
Are voters moving to Labour or to nowhere?
Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea are joined by the senior data journalist Ben Walker to mark the launch of State of the Nation, the New Statesman’s new data…
- The Politics Show
How Russia abuses Britain’s legal system, with the activist Vladimir Ashurkov
As the EU and UK debate further sanctions on Russia after evidence of massacres by Russian forces in Bucha, north of Kyiv, Ailbhe Rea speaks to the exiled…
- The Politics Show
Has the Spring Statement deflated Rishi Sunak?
As the fallout from Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement continues, New Statesman Political Editor Andrew Marr joins Ailbhe Rea to discuss why it was received quite…
- The Politics Show
What is “Britishness” – and does it still matter? With Gary Younge, Jeremy Deller and Jason Cowley
This special episode of the New Statesman Podcast marks “A Dream of Britain”, the New Statesman’s latest issue. It is guest edited by Michael Sheen and…
- The Politics Show
Rishi Sunak's Spring Statement shows he's still a high-tax Chancellor
Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement as the Office for Budget Responsibility warns the UK is about to face the biggest rise…
- The Politics Show
Bonus episode: Michael Sheen on class, culture and Britishness
Ahead of his guest-edited issue of the New Statesman, the actor and campaigner Michael Sheen speaks to Anoosh Chakelian for a special episode of the New…
- The Politics Show
P&O Ferries uses "slave labour on the high seas", says Karl Turner MP
P&O Ferries caused outrage last week (17 March) when it sacked 800 crew members to replace them with “cheap agency workers from eastern Europe” overnight…
- The Politics Show
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's long fight for freedom
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been reunited with her family in Britain, having been imprisoned for years in Iran on charges of seeking to overthrow the…
- The Politics Show
Priti Patel is "pulling up the drawbridge" for Ukrainian refugees, says Alf Dubs
As the government scrabbles its policy together for Ukrainian refugees, the Labour peer and refugee campaigner Alf Dubs tells Anoosh Chakelian that the…
- The Politics Show
Sanctions and refugees: are UK ministers failing in their duties?
The owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich, and leading industrialist Oleg Deripaska are among the seven wealthy and influential Russian oligarchs…
- The Politics Show
Are the UK’s Russia sanctions tough enough? With Bill Browder
As parliament rushes through the Economic Crime Bill in an attempt to toughen sanctions on Russian oligarchs, investor and anti-corruption campaigner Bill…
- The Politics Show
Has the war changed Boris Johnson’s reputation?
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters a second week, the New Statesman’s polling expert Ben Walker joins Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea to talk about the…
- The Politics Show
How to end London’s addiction to Russian money, with Oliver Bullough
As the UK considers further sanctions on oligarchs linked to Vladimir Putin, Ailbhe Rea speaks to the journalist and author Oliver Bullough about how London…