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 ShowWar in Ukraine: can the UK act “decisively” against Russia?
As Russia invades Ukraine, Boris Johnson has come under fire from allies and critics alike for his feeble attempt to clamp down on Russian wealth in the UK. In…
- The Politics Show
Does BBC comedy have a left-wing bias? Andy Zaltzman on political satire, offensive jokes and cauliflower Trump
The New Statesman’s Britain editor Anoosh Chakelian interviews the satirist and broadcaster Andy Zaltzman, the host of Radio 4’s The News Quiz and the podcast…
- The Politics Show
Farewell to a legend: Tears, cheers and kirs
Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea host a special episode to say goodbye to Stephen Bush. Kir royales are sunk and Stephen takes an audio trip down memory lane…
- The Politics Show
Could these be Boris Johnson’s last weeks in office? With Gavin Barwell
As Theresa May’s final chief of staff, Gavin Barwell knows what it’s like to see a party oust its leader first-hand. He speaks to political correspondent…
- The Politics Show
Inside Boris Johnson's fight to survive partygate
As parliament enters recess, against all the odds Boris Johnson has clung onto his premiership. Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss the PM's…
- The Politics Show
Will Boris Johnson’s new No 10 operation save him?
Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss the latest events in the crisis surrounding Boris Johnson, including the appointment of the MP Steve…
- The Politics Show
Andrew Marr on Why Boris Johnson is Beyond Saving
The New Statesman’s incoming political editor Andrew Marr makes his New Statesman podcast debut to discuss his cover story on Boris Johnson’s moment of peril…
- The Politics Show
Can Boris Johnson survive the cost of living crisis?
With a trickle of letters to the 1922 Committee chairman and Labour pivoting to take the Conservative Party to task for low economic growth and an incoming tax…
- The Politics Show
SPECIAL: Sue Gray’s report into Downing Street lockdown parties is published
A special episode of the New Statesman podcast recorded immediately after Boris Johnson’s announcement on the published Sue Gray report. A heavily censored…
- The Politics Show
Why Christian Wakeford crossed the floor
Ailbhe interviews the Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who dramatically defected from the Tories to Labour at the height of partygate. They talk about why he…
- The Politics Show
What does the police inquiry into “partygate” mean for Boris Johnson?
As Westminster waits for Sue Gray’s report on Downing Street’s lockdown-breaking parties, the Metropolitan police has announced that it will begin an…
- The Politics Show
Could the Scottish Conservatives split from the Tory party?
The New Statesman’s Scotland editor Chris Deerin joins Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush to discuss the growing rift between the Scottish Conservatives and the…
- The Politics Show
Alleged blackmail: the dark side of Boris Johnson’s survival
The senior Conservative MP William Wragg has accused government ministers of intimidating and attempting to blackmail colleagues who they suspect oppose the…
- The Politics Show
SPECIAL: Will Boris Johnson “in the name of God, go”?
A special episode of the NS podcast recorded immediately after a dramatic Prime Minister’s Questions. Boris Johnson is facing an escalating leadership crisis…
- The Politics Show
How bad can the polls get for Boris Johnson?
The New Statesman’s polling expert Ben Walker joins Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush to talk about the latest polls in the aftermath of the No 10…
- The Politics Show
Will Boris Johnson’s non-apology save him?
Boris Johnson has been caught red-handed and forced to admit that he attended a party in the Downing Street garden in May 2020, however he claimed that he…
- The Politics Show
Prime Ministerial, from the New Statesman | Margaret Thatcher
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they…
- The Politics Show
Will Boris Johnson survive 2022?
Boris Johnson’s approval rating plummeted at the end of 2021 following a string of Christmas parties at No 10, sleaze scandals and senior resignations – and…
- The Politics Show
Prime Ministerial, from the New Statesman | John Major
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they…
- The Politics Show
Prime Ministerial, from the New Statesman | Tony Blair
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they…
- The Politics Show
Prime Ministerial, from the New Statesman | Gordon Brown
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they…
- The Politics Show
Prime Ministerial, from the New Statesman | David Cameron
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they…
- The Politics Show
Prime Ministerial, from the New Statesman | Theresa May
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. Each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they…
- The Politics Show
Liberal Democrats win North Shropshire: is the party over for Boris Johnson?
The Conservative Party has lost North Shropshire for the first time in nearly 200 years, to the Liberal Democrats. The shocking defeat follows months of sleaze…
- The Politics Show
Is the Downing Street Christmas party scandal cutting through? | Polling update with Ben Walker
New Statesman data journalist Ben Walker joins Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush in our monthly polling update. They discuss the impact of the No…
- The Politics Show
No 10 Christmas Party: the beginning of the end for Boris Johnson?
Allegra Stratton has resigned as a government adviser after a video that showed her laughing about a Downing Street Christmas party, reportedly held during the…
- The Politics Show
How a chief whip became a rebel, with Mark Harper MP
Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush interview the former Conservative chief whip Mark Harper MP. They discuss his journey from chief whip under David Cameron to…
- The Politics Show
Labour reshuffle: a leaner and meaner shadow cabinet?
Keir Starmer carried out a surprise shake-up of the top ranks of the Labour Party this week. Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss who’s up and…
- The Politics Show
BONUS: Is levelling up really possible | In partnership with Lloyds Bank
In this special episode of the New Statesman podcast in partnership with Lloyds Bank, Britain Editor Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Hannah Essex, co-executive…
- The Politics Show
Labour’s response to the corruption scandal, with Thangam Debbonaire
Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelian interview Thangam Debbonaire, the Labour MP and shadow leader of the House of Commons. They talk about the missteps of Jacob…
- The Politics Show
The catch-22 for migrants crossing the Channel
In what was an avoidable tragedy, at least 27 people have died trying to reach the UK after their boat capsized in the English Channel. Anoosh Chakelian…
- The Politics Show
Does Labour have a future in Scotland?
In the first of our monthly devolution specials, Stephen Bush is joined by the New Statesman's Scotland editor Chris Deerin to examine the Scottish and Welsh…
- The Politics Show
What went down at Cop26?
The UN climate summit ended with the president of Cop26, Alok Sharma, in tears, after the conference united behind a “watered down” agreement in which coal…
- The Politics Show
Why the corruption scandal feels like 1997, with Chris Bryant
The Standards Committee chair Chris Bryant joins Anoosh Chakelian, Stephen Bush and Ailbhe Rea to discuss the ongoing fallout from the Owen Paterson lobbying…
- The Politics Show
Will the row over MPs’ second jobs hurt Boris Johnson?
Geoffrey Cox is the latest MP to come under fire over his extra earnings for legal work outside of his parliamentary duties. It follows the resignation of MP…
- The Politics Show
UK poll update: Owen Paterson prompted Conservative “confidence collapse” – with Ben Walker
Ailbhe Rea is joined by New Statesman data journalist Ben Walker for the first of a monthly look at what’s going on in the opinion polls. They look at the…
- The Politics Show
Owen Paterson: Boris Johnson’s U-turn
The government has performed a spectacular U-turn over the controversial blocking of Conservative MP Owen Paterson’s suspension for breaching lobbying rules…
- The Politics Show
Norway’s heat pump revolution | Climate politics
In the final part of our special series on the politics of climate change, Anoosh Chakelian and Environment and Sustainability Editor Philippa Nuttall speak to…
- The Politics Show
Who were the winners from Rishi Sunak’s Budget?
Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian are joined by special guest former Chief Secretary to the Treasury and New Statesman contributing writer David Gauke to…
- The Politics Show
The Energy Consumer of the Future | Climate Politics
In this special episode of the New Statesman Podcast, in association with Smart Energy GB, Ailbhe Rea and guest co-host Philippa Nuttall discuss how the ways…
- The Politics Show
Can MPs ever be truly safe after Jo Cox and David Amess?
A week after the death of the Southend West MP David Amess, Anoosh Chakelian and Stephen Bush discuss how MPs have reflected on the incident, what might make a…
- The Politics Show
Building Better – how our infrastructure needs to change | Climate Politics
In this special episode of the New Statesman podcast, in association with Smart Energy GB, Anoosh Chakelian and guest co-host Philippa Nuttall discuss how we…
- The Politics Show
Is Boris Johnson facing a crisis at Christmas?
Multiple crises are putting unprecedented pressure on the economy and state institutions, and look set to last for months. As winter approaches, could this…
- The Politics Show
Changing behaviour in a changing climate | Climate Politics
In this special episode of the New Statesman podcast, in association with Smart Energy GB, Stephen Bush and guest co-host Philippa Nuttall discuss how to…
- The Politics Show
Have we hit peak Boris Johnson?
Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush reflect on Boris Johnson’s conference speech. They discuss whether Tory members love Johnson - but not…
- The Politics Show
Is Boris Johnson doing enough to tackle climate change? | Climate Politics
In the first of a special series of episodes in the run up to the global climate conference COP 26, Anoosh Chakelian interviews our guest co-host Philippa…
- The Politics Show
Was Keir Starmer's big speech a success?
Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush give their verdict on Labour leader Keir Starmer’s big conference speech. They discussed the heckling, how it…
- The Politics Show
Labour Party Conference: Was Labour’s message drowned out in Brighton?
Stephen Bush, Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelian host a live recording of the New Statesman podcast at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton. They talk Labour’s…
- The Politics Show
Will the gas crisis lead to Boris Johnson's winter of discontent?
Stephen Bush, Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelian discuss the series of crisis facing the Boris Johnson including gas prices, CO2 shortages and the end of the…
- The Politics Show
The politics of eating meat, with Henry Mance
Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush talk to FT feature writer and author Henry Mance about his new book: How to Love Animals: In a Human-Shaped World…
- The Politics Show
Inside Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle
Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle in which Dominic Raab was demoted to Justice Secretary and Liz Truss…
- The Politics Show
Writing the perfect toilet book, with Jonn Elledge
Stephen Bush interviews writer and journalist Jonn Elledge about his new book, The Compendium of (Not Quite) Everything. They discuss the joy of facts, what…
- The Politics Show
Will Boris Johnson’s social care plan work?
Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss Boris Johnson’s National Insurance rise to fund the NHS and Social Care and why there was no significant rebellion from…
- The Politics Show
Labour's lost future: the 20-year decline of the Labour Party
Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea speak to New Statesman special correspondent Harry Lambert about his cover story on the decline of the Labour party. They talk…
- The Politics Show
Anneliese Dodds and Labour party loyalty
Stephen Bush and Ailbhe Rea discuss their interview with Anneliese Dodds, what she said and didn’t say about her treatment by the party leadership and the…
- The Politics Show
Could you save Labour's bacon?| Interactive political theatre
Stephen Bush interviews Tom Black and Owen Kingston, the writer and director of the interactive political play Crisis What Crisis, which gives the audience the…
- The Politics Show
Misfits and secrets: Why political gossip matters in politics, with Marie Le Conte
Ailbhe Rea speaks to journalist and author Marie Le Conte about the life of a diary columnist, the gossip that keeps westminster running, and how to write a…
- The Politics Show
Pandemics and the politics of printing money: Economic history with Duncan Weldon
Stephen Bush interviews economist, journalist, and author Duncan Weldon on his new book Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through. They talk through the lessons…
- The Politics Show
How bad is the Afghanistan crisis for Boris Johnson?
Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian discuss the Afghanistan crisis and the governments refugee scheme, and why MPs from all sides of the house were giving the…
- The Politics Show
Armando Iannucci, Anna Soubry and Paul Mason on how to disagree | Westminster Reimagined
The legendary writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci joins the New Statesman Podcast to co-host four special episodes. In these shows, Iannucci…