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 Show
Do the exam results matter?
Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss the pandemic affected A Level and GCSE results and why Labour have chosen now to call for Gavin Williamson's sacking…
- The Politics Show
Armando Iannucci and Chris Addison on political campaigning | 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…
- The Politics Show
Could Brexit have been stopped?
Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian discuss David Liddington's three ways Brexit could have been stopped and why none of them were realistic. Then in You Ask Us…
- The Politics Show
Armando Iannucci, Exctinction Rebellion & Dame Louise Casey on Activism | Westminster Reimagined
The legendary writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci joins the New Statesman Podcast to co-host four special episodes. In these shows, Armando…
- The Politics Show
What's the thinking behind Boris Johnson's crime plan?
Ailbhe Rea, Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian discuss Boris Johnson's latest plan to reduce crime and whether the proposals will actually have any impact. Then…
- The Politics Show
Armando Iannucci, Ian Hislop: the accountability crisis in politics | Westminster Reimagined
The legendary writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci joins the New Statesman podcast to co-host four special episodes. In these shows, Armando…
- The Politics Show
Can Boris Johnson really change the Northern Ireland protocol?
Anoosh Chakelian, Stephen Bush and Ailbhe Rea discuss the government's announcment on the Northern Ireland protocol and whether they really will be able to…
- The Politics Show
Why the pingdemic is causing headaches for Boris Johnson
Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss No. 10's tough weekend and why 'Freedom Day' is still causing lots of problems for the government. Then in You Ask Us, they…
- The Politics Show
Will an amnesty work in Northern Ireland?
Stephen Bush, Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelion discuss the government's plans for a prosecution amnesty over the Troubles and why no party in Northern Ireland…
- The Politics Show
Euro 2020 final: culture wars, masculinity & loss
Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss England’s performance in Euro 2020 and what it says about the country feels about itself. Then in You Ask…
- The Politics Show
Why the summer is tough for opposition parties
Anoosh, Stephen and Ailbhe discuss whether Labour will be able to avoid the usual difficult summer for Opposition parties, and how the loosening of covid…
- The Politics Show
Is Andy Burnham Labour's great northern hope?
Anoosh and Stephen discuss the future of the Labour party and how Andy Burnham might fit in to that. Then in You Ask Us, they take your question on who has a…
- The Politics Show
Why Labour feels worried about the Batley and Spen by-election
Anoosh and Ailbhe discuss the upcoming Batley and Spen By- Election and why many in Labour think it's not going well for the party. Then in You Ask Us, they…
- The Politics Show
What Matt Hancock's resignation means for the Conservatives
Anoosh and Ailbhe discuss the fallout from the Matt Hancock affair and the appointment of Sajid Javid as the new Health Secretary. Then in You Ask Us, they…
- The Politics Show
Are Labour spent in Batley and Spen?
Anoosh has been reporting in Batley and Spen ahead of the by-election on 1st July. Here she talks to Stephen Bush and Ailbhe Rea about the mood on the ground…
- The Politics Show
How to lose a by-election
Following the Liberal Democrat by-election victory in the "Blue Wall" seat of Chesham and Amersham, Stephen, Anoosh and Ailbhe dissect the Conservative…
- The Politics Show
Chesham and Amersham: a Lib Dem crack in the "Blue Wall"
Stephen, Anoosh and Ailbhe discuss the Chesham and Amersham by-election. Ailbhe reported from the constituency shortly before the by-election, and here talks…
- The Politics Show
Grenfell: tinderbox Britain
On the fourth anniversary of the Grenfell fire tragedy, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea explore the ongoing scandal of flammable cladding which…
- The Politics Show
Biden, Boris and the NI protocol
As Boris Johnson and Joe Biden meet for their first bilateral summit ahead of the G7, Stephen and Ailbhe discuss the impact the US President could have on the…
- The Politics Show
Rishi and the foreign aid rebels
Ahead of the Speaker's decision on holding a vote over the planned cuts to the UK foreign aid budget, Anoosh, Stephen and Ailbhe discuss the coalition of…
- The Politics Show
Hillsborough, Grenfell, Covid: What is the point of public inquiries?
Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian discuss the acquittal of two former police officers charged with perverting the course of justice by allegedly altering…
- The Politics Show
Cummings's revenge
As Westminster reels from Dominic Cummings' excoriating critique of the government's pandemic response, unleashed with full force during Wednesday's marathon…
- The Politics Show
Dominic Cummings' Covid claims
As Westminster braces for Dominic Cummings' appearance at the Health and Science select committee over the Government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic…
- The Politics Show
Why Keir Starmer should worry about his approval ratings
Keir Starmer's approval ratings dipped this week into dangerous territory - falling below both David Cameron's and Ed Miliband's after the same time in office…
- The Politics Show
Britain unlocks
As lockdown restrictions ease in England, Wales and much of Scotland, the country is grappling with a new variant of Covid-19. On this episode, Anoosh, Stephen…
- The Politics Show
Does Labour really need Tony Blair's 'total change'?
Reunited in the studio for the first time in over a year, Anoosh, Stephen and Ailbhe discuss Tony Blair's dramatic Labour Party intervention in which he claims…
- The Politics Show
Election results part 2: Scotland's future
In the second of two episodes looking at the results of the May 6 elections, Stephen, Anoosh and Ailbhe are joined by Chris Deerin to dissect the consequences…
- The Politics Show
Election results part 1: Labour's big reshuffle
As the dust settles on Keir Starmer's mystifying reshuffle of the Labour party following the local elections, Stephen, Anoosh and Ailbhe discuss what it all…
The Politics ShowElection 2021: known unknowns
As the UK heads to the polls on 'Super Thursday', Anoosh, Stephen and Ailbhe discuss the things they are most interested to learn from this wide-ranging vote…
The Politics ShowNicola Sturgeon: 'Boris Johnson is in deep, deep doo-doo' | Scottish Election special
Chris Deerin hosts the fourth and final special Scottish Election episode of the New Statesman podcast, featuring an interview with First Minister Nicola…
- The Politics Show
The Stolen Years
Anoosh, Stephen and Ailbhe are joined by data journalist Ben Van De Merwe to discuss the New Statesman's exclusive research showing how many years of life the…
The Politics ShowScottish Election Special: Balancing the books
Chris Deerin's guest this week is Kate Forbes, SNP Cabinet Secretary for Finance and young star of the independence movement. She responds to the Institute of…
The Politics Show'Bodies pile high': Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings' war of words
Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea address the ongoing public war of words between Boris Johnson and former advisor Dominic Cummings. They discuss…
The Politics ShowBoris Johnson's texts
Can Labour make lasting political capital from Boris Johnson's texts with James Dyson? Stephen Bush and Ailbhe Rea discuss the fallout of leaked texts from the…
The Politics ShowScottish Election Special: the art of independence
Chris Deerin, the New Statesman's Scotland editor, hosts a special edition of the New Statesman podcast. In this episode Chris is joined by Ricky Ross and…
- The Politics Show
Football's place in public discourse
The announcement that 12 European football clubs intend to form a 'super league' occupied the top of the news agenda for most of the day on Monday. Why does…
- The Politics Show
How far will the lobbying scandal go?
The lobbying scandal rumbles on, enveloping senior civil servants as well as MPs - and Labour are determined to make this a story about 'Tory sleaze'. In this…
The Politics ShowScottish Election Special: can anything unsettle the SNP establishment?
The Scottish parliamentary elections are likely to be pivotal for the future of the United Kingdom. So, New Statesman Scotland editor, Chris Deerin, is hosting…
- The Politics Show
Why the David Cameron lobbying scandal isn't going away
Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss what the Greensill lobbying scandal means for British politics, and why the problem isn't going away…
- The Politics Show
365 Days, 12 Months, 1 Keir
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea look at Keir Starmer's first year leading the Labour party and…
- The Politics Show
Commission Impossible
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities' report…
- The Politics Show
Armando Iannucci's Bucket of Wisdom
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea are joined by a very special Guest Stephen: Armando Iannucci. They discuss his…
- The Politics Show
Alba's Black Sheep
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss Alex Salmond launching his new party, Alba, the implications for…
- The Politics Show
Passport to Discrimlico
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss the concerns around the government's ambiguous hints at…
- The Politics Show
Crime and Pinishment
Protests in Bristol against the controversial police, crime, sentencing and courts bill erupted into violence over the weekend. In this episode, Stephen Bush…
- The Politics Show
Money and Power: Sir Vince Cable interview
Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea are joined by former Business Secretary and leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Vince Cable, to discuss his new…
- The Politics Show
Breach of the Police
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss the distressing scenes on Clapham Common as police…
- The Politics Show
Hold the Nurse Strings
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss the launch of Labour's local elections campaign and…
- The Politics Show
The Prince and the PR
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea, somewhat reluctantly, give their takes on the explosive…
- The Politics Show
All Clear For Austere
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea look back at yesterday's budget announcement and what the…
- The Politics Show
Anas Mirabilis?
On today's New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss the election of Anas Sarwar as the leader of Scottish Labour, and…
- The Politics Show
Balancing Tax
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian discuss the anticipated corporation tax changes ahead of Rishi Sunak's…
- The Politics Show
Rules of the Roadmap
Boris Johnson has outlined his four-step plan to bring the UK out of lockdown. The Prime Minister announced pupils will return to schools on 8 March, with…
- The Politics Show
Auntie's Agony
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea are joined by the NS's Special Correspondent, Harry Lambert, to…
- The Politics Show
Big Ban on Campus
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss the latest chapter in the campus free speech saga. Then…
- The Politics Show
Fair For The Cladding Crowd
On today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss housing secretary Robert Jenrick's narrow offer to…
- The Politics Show
Crony War
Rachel Reeves, the shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has made an intervention calling for an end to the government’s “outsourcing obsession”. She’s…
- The Politics Show
Is Keir Starmer up to the job?
As Stephen writes in his latest political column, a concensus is growing among the commentariat that Keir Starmer is not up to the job. But does this…
- The Politics Show
Article Sixteen Vandals
The European Commission has rowed back on their 'hugely inflammatory' attempt to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol, after outcry from the…
- The Politics Show
A Tragic Milestone
Over 100,000 people have now died with Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. In this episode, Stephen, Anoosh and Ailbhe look at the mistakes that were made, how…