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 ShowNS#213: Manifestos Special
Welcome to 2017's epic, Manifesto Special edition of the podcast. Helen and Stephen begin with analysis of the Conservative's latest offerings - from the new…
The Politics ShowNS#212: Voters and Evasion
As the campaigns heat up, our hosts delve into the problems with the Progressive Alliance, the trouble with tuition fees, and Helen's history of rodent…
The Politics ShowNS#211: Local Elections Special
In this bonus edition of the podcast, Helen and Stephen review the results of last week’s local elections: what do they prophesy for the parties of the Left…
The Politics ShowNS#210: Stooge and Stable
Helen is away this week, so Stephen is joined by Senior Writer, Anoosh Chakelian, and Citymetric Editor, Jonn Elledge. Together they explore how Theresa May's…
The Politics ShowNS#209: 1997 Election Anniversary Special
20 years on from Labour's general election landslide, Helen and Stephen host a special edition looking back at the party's journey. Lord Spencer Livermore…
The Politics ShowSpecial edition: Deep Dive on mandates and manifestos
Ian Leslie and Stewart Wood return for another episode of the Deep Dive. This time they're plunging into the murky world of election promises with Catherine…
The Politics ShowNS#208: Corbyn and Campaigns
The campaigns are on! Helen and Stephen discuss what are likely to be some of the upcoming election's stand-out themes - from the attacks on Corbyn, to why TV…
The Politics ShowNS#207: Snap Election
Emergency Podcast! Theresa May has called for an election on 8 June. Listen in to learn Helen and Stephen’s first thoughts on what this means for Labour and…
The Politics ShowNS#206: Airlines and Assad
Labour has used the Easter recess to announce a raft of new policies - but will they be popular with the electorate? Helen and Stephen analyse their merits…
The Politics ShowNS#205: Cadbury and Ken
Helen and Stephen discuss what the week's two wars - with Spain and Cadburys - reveal about the political identities behind Brexit. Stephen tells of his…
The Politics ShowSpecial edition: Deep Dive on tackling terrorism
When does an attack become terrorism? In another special edition of the podcast, Ian Leslie and Stewart Wood explore the the rise of lone-actor terror. They…
The Politics ShowNS#204: Carswell and Collapse
Helen and Stephen are joined by Jonn Elledge to lament our exit from the EU, discuss what they feel about the EEA, and decide who they loathe more: Douglas…
The Politics ShowNS#203: Editors and Islamic State
In a podcast recorded before the terrible events of Wednesday afternoon, Helen and Stephen discuss George Osborne's new editorship at the London Evening…
The Politics ShowSpecial edition: Deep Dive with Laura Kuenssberg
Ian Leslie and Stewart Wood are joined by the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg to interrogate the idea of media bias. It’s a phrase that is thrown…
The Politics ShowNS #202: Budgets and Bodies (with Sara Pascoe)
Helen and Stephen reflect on the fallout from last week's Budget, news of a potential second Scottish referendum, and chat bodies with special guest Sara…
The Politics ShowNS#201: The blinkered budget
Helen and Stephen sum up today's Spring budget. What happened to the argument for Grammar schools? Where was the preparation for Brexit? And how did the…
The Politics ShowNS#200: Harman and hate
Helen and Stephen are joined by Anoosh Chakelian to chat UKIP's splits: should we finally be writing the party off? Or is its presence a gateway drug for more…
The Politics ShowNS#199: Milo and Macron
This week, Helen and Stephen discuss the fall of Milo Yiannopoulos. Pauline Bock joins with an update on the French elections and Macron's performance in…
The Politics ShowNS#198: By-elections and a bad week
Helen and Stephen discuss why it has been a bad week for Theresa May, the unravelling of Trump's stated commitment to NATO and other foreign policy fails…
The Politics ShowNS#197: Corbyn and Clive Lewis
This week, Helen and Stephen ask what Labour got out of the Article 50 vote. Was Clive Lewis right to defy the whip and who might succeed Corbyn as party…
The Politics ShowNS#196: Triggers and Troubled borders
This week, Helen and Stephen ask whether or not Labour was right to whip its members for the second reading of Article 50. Anoosh joins to review Ken Clarke's…
The Politics ShowNS#195: Emergency Podcast
In this podcast special, Helen and Stephen respond to Donald Trump's immigration ban. They unpick the many ways in which the policy is alarming and ask how can…
The Politics ShowNS#194: Deals and Donald
This week, Helen and Stephen list the scary things we have already learnt about Donald Trump's administration. Julia Rampen's back-bencher-of-the-week is David…
The Politics ShowNS#193: Theresa and Trump
This week, Stephen and Anoosh explore what Theresa May has said about Brexit, what that means for a second Scottish referendum and what might be Labour’s best…
The Politics ShowNS#192: Leaks and Lucas
This week, Helen and Stephen discuss Jeremy Corbyn's relaunch. Will it work and what is the wider outlook for left wing populism? Our Staggers editor, Julia…
The Politics ShowNS#191: Movies and McCluskey
Welcome to 2017! This week, Helen and Stephen talk about foreign aid, their predictions for the year ahead and Len McCluskey's game-plan at Unite. Amelia Tait…
The Politics ShowNS#190: Our Favourite Things of 2016
Helen and Stephen review things which didn't suck in 2016. Papers Please, One Night Stand and Her Story get shout-outs in the section on video games. Helen…
The Politics ShowNS#189: New Statesman and Talking Politics Part 2
It's a crossover episode! Helen and Stephen are joined by David Runciman and Helen Thompson of the Talking Politics podcast for the second part of a discussion…
The Politics ShowNS#188: France, faith and fighting talk
This week, Helen and Stephen discuss French politics: who are the viable candidates for president and what would a Marine Le Pen victory mean for Europe? Also…
The Politics ShowNS#187: Porn, PMQs and patriarchy
This week, Helen and Stephen discuss Emily Thornberry's performance at PMQs and the Tory response to female authority. George joins with a report from the…
The Politics ShowNS#186: Sexting, schools and scripts
This week, Helen and Stephen discuss sex education, Jeremy Hunt's moves to stop sexting and how technology is changing childhood. George joins with the latest…
The Politics ShowNS#185: Autumn Statement special
This week, Helen and Stephen are joined by Staggers Editor, Julia Rampen, to discuss the winners and losers in this year's Autumn Statement. How much jam…
The Politics ShowNS#184: Post-election special
This week, Helen and Stephen are joined by NS contributing editor, Laurie Penny. Together they consider the fallout from last week's US election, and explore…
The Politics ShowNS#183: Trump
After a long night, Helen and Stephen reflect on the result of America’s 2016 election: how were the polls so wrong? Would Bernie have done better? And what…
The Politics ShowNS#182: Pre-election special
In a special election preview, Helen speaks to Jonn Elledge, who is currently touring the USA. Taking in the view from New England to Ohio they discuss which…
The Politics ShowNS#181: Momentum, members and McCluskey
This week, Helen and Stephen discuss Momentum and what its different factions might want the organisation to become. Anoosh joins with the latest from the…
The Politics ShowNS#180: Resignation, runways and Dr Strange
This week, Helen and Stephen discuss the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow: is it right that collective cabinet responsibility has been suspended?…
The Politics ShowNS#179: Brexit, Benn and by-elections
This week, Helen and Stephen review the list of candidates for the select committee chair announcements, Helen worries that the language around Brexit is…
The Politics ShowNS#178: YouTube, yearning & the yacht
This week, Stephen and Helen discuss the symbolism of the royal yacht, the American election and their yearnings for a more straight-talking Brexit debate…
The Politics ShowNS#177: Tory Special
Stephen joins fresh from Birmingham to discuss the highs and lows of Tory conference - from Theresa May’s speech to Andrea Leadsom’s comments on naan-bread…
The Politics ShowNS#176: Younge, guns and identity politics
Helen and Stephen are joined by author and editor-at-large for the Guardian, Gary Younge, to discuss the findings of his new book: Another Day in the Death of…
The Politics ShowNS#175: Conference Special
Helen and Stephen fight through colds to bring you their first thoughts on Jeremy Corbyn's conference performance. How has the party responded to his…
The Politics ShowNS#174: New Times Special
In this New Statesman podcast special we expand on our New Times issue which identifies the political, economic and philosophical shifts shaping our society…
The Politics ShowNS #173: Mandates, minorities and the Moreno scale
This week, Helen and Stephen review Labour’s pre-conference predicament: will Corbyn be elected with a bigger mandate than last time? They also explore why…
The Politics ShowNS#172: Swing votes, schools and Snowden
Helen is back and set to discuss grammar schools, electoral pacts and why Stephen is particularly upset about boundary change. George joins with the reaction…
The Politics ShowNS#171: Affection, factions and fandom
Anoosh once again joins to co-host this week’s podcast. Shadow cabinet elections and Brexit strategy are both up for debate as Parliament returns from recess…
The Politics ShowNS#170: Protections, Polls and Harry Potter
Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian co-host this week’s podcast. Together they discuss the latest YouGov Polls, the feasibility of a Progressive Alliance and the…
The Politics ShowNS#169: Traingate, gaffes and Ghostbusters
This week, Helen and Stephen tackle Traingate and Lunaticgate. George Eaton comes down-the-line from the valleys with the latest on the Owen Smith campaign…
The Politics ShowNS#168: Happy Holidays
Helen and Stephen are both away this week. But in their absence we've delved into the podcast archive to bring you a highlight from the 2015 Labour leadership…
The Politics ShowNS#167: Mayoral Special
In the week's second podcast, Helen and Stephen talk Labour politics in relation to Scotland, sexism and mayoral selections. Did anti-Westminster sentiment…
The Politics ShowNS#166: High noon in the High Court
It's another emergency podcast! Helen and Stephen discuss the High Court's decision to overturn the ban on new Labour members voting in the leadership…
The Politics ShowNS#165: Policies, predictions and house prices
This week, Helen is joined by Anoosh and Julia to play “Whose policy is it anyway?” and predict how new members will vote in the Labour leadership contest…
The Politics ShowNS#164: Summer, splits and social mobility
This week, Helen and Stephen explore Jeremy Corbyn’s appeal among different parts of the Labour membership, discuss Sarah Champion's return to the…
The Politics ShowNS#163: Supporters, Smith and Social media
This week, Helen and Stephen discuss the thousands of newly registered Labour supporters, Corbyn’s flair for campaigning and what they feel about Owen Smith…
The Politics ShowNS#162: Reshuffle Special
Emergency Politics Podcast! Stephen Bush is joined by NS deputy web-editor, Anoosh Chakelian, and Staggers editor, Julia Rampen, to discuss Theresa May's new…
The Politics ShowNS#161: Corbyn, coups and constitution
In the latest podcast to tackle the week's fast-moving events, Helen and Stephen discuss the coup against Corbyn and how his response contrasts to the actions…
The Politics ShowNS#160: Leadership Special
🚨 It's an emergency politics update! 🚨 Theresa May is the new Conservative Party leader, and our new PM from Wednesday. We discuss this tumultuous day in…
The Politics ShowNS#159: Inquiry, incumbents and infights
This week, Helen and Stephen explore whether Labour should split and what kind of party might be left if they did. They also discuss the prospects of the Tory…
The Politics ShowNS#158: Resignation, risk and leadership race
In this week’s podcast special, Helen and Stephen discuss Westminster’s latest raft of party contests: who is in the running to replace Nigel Farage? Have the…
The Politics ShowNS#157: Michael, May & mayhem
In this second podcast of the week, Helen and Stephen examine the latest in leadership battles: from the chances of Michael Gove and Theresa May, to the…