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"I'll handle a sea bass however I like" | Anoosh & Will's weekly round-up
Martin Lewis ambushed Kemi Badenoch, Your Party think bureaucracy will stop nuclear war, and the Sea Bass handling committee have released exciting new…
The Politics ShowThe end of the Starmer project?
Does the Greens' decisive victory in Gorton & Denton spell the end of Keir Starmer's Labour? After the worst possible outcome for Labour in the Gorton & Denton…
The Politics ShowHistoric win for the Greens
Hannah Spencer, a plumber and Green Party councillor, is now the MP for Gorton and Denton. The party takes the seat from right under Labour, following weeks of…
The Politics ShowPuberty blockers, blocked
Should some children be given drugs to stop them going through puberty? That’s the question the NHS, the government and an independent research and ethics…
The Politics ShowAndrew, Epstein and the crumbling crown
Last Thursday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has since been released under investigation. The police…
The Politics ShowA three horse race in Gorton and Denton
On Thursday, a by-election in a Southern Manchester constituency, Gorton and Denton, is shaping up to be a seismic litmus test for British politics. After the…
The Politics ShowWhat if Russia wins?
It has been four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has settled into a grinding and uncertain stalemate. Despite proving remarkably…
The Politics ShowLabour Together’s attack on press freedom
Why has Keir Starmer ordered an investigation into Labour Together? What the hell is going on with our local elections? And what are we meant to make of Reform…
The Politics ShowRutger Bregman “This Trump phenomenon really is fascism”
This week we launched another, that’s right ANOTHER, podcast. The Exchange is the New Statesman’s long-form interviews show, featuring some big names you know…
The Politics ShowAndrew arrested
The King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has been arrested. The alleged offence: misconduct in public office. The arrest came after claims Andrew…
The Politics ShowIs Bridget Phillipson really the most dangerous woman in Britain?
From “Nazi” to “Marxist” Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has faced intense criticism from all sides. But how exactly is she trying to reform the…
The Politics ShowHas Starmer killed Welsh Labour?
Eluned Morgan, the first minister of Wales speaks to Megan Kenyon about her relationship with Keir Starmer, Welsh Labour’s prospects in the upcoming Senedd…
The Politics ShowShould we ban social media for under-16s?
Will Keir Starmer ban kids from social media? Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2DHAQOeEg-Z-4trARDXHRA?sub_confirmation=1 The PM has…
The Politics ShowThe Labour Party's "unpopularity contest"
Labour’s unpopularity contest, the joys of figure skating and bonkers advice from RFK Jr's nutrition chatbot. Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn explore the most…
The Politics Show£100k salary, feeling poor – is tax killing ambition?
A listener paying 67% in tax asks if Labour are destroying UK productivity. From the new and improved New Statesman podcast studio, Anoosh and Rachel answer…
The Politics ShowExclusive investigation: England's maternity scandal
55 babies died at the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust between 2019 and 2023 that may have survived with better care. The New Statesman's…
The Politics ShowIs the Labour party having an ideological crisis?
Morgan McSweeney – Keir Starmer’s closest aide and confidante – has left the Number 10 operation. Our editor-in-chief Tom McTague asks, is it the beginning of…
The Politics ShowKeir Starmer is safe - but for how long?
For days and weeks Westminster has been quivering with anticipation at the prospect of yet another prime ministerial resignation and leadership election. But…
The Politics ShowStarmer's top two aides quit
Less than 24 hours after Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigned, Tim Allan, director of communications, has quit. Is this a rutheless clearout by…
The Politics ShowElon Musk asked to attend Epstein's "wildest party"
Elon Musk’s Epstein lies, Draco Malfoy as a Chinese mascot and two Reform MPs “accidentally” voting to scrap the two child benefit cap. Anoosh Chakelian and…
The Politics ShowWhat did Starmer already know about Mandelson and Epstein?
The Labour government is fighting for its life as the Peter Mandelson scandal continues to unfold. Yesterday, Keir Starmer apologised for believing Mandelson's…
The Politics ShowLabour MPs are turning on Starmer over Mandelson
Keir Starmer has been grilled in the Commons on his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, despite knowing his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein…
The Politics ShowWill Mandelson be Starmer's downfall?
Keir Starmer knew about Peter Mandelson's friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein – but still appointed him US ambassador. After a bruising Prime…
The Politics ShowMandelson’s leaks to Epstein “a disgrace”
On Friday, the US Justice Department released millions of pages of the Epstein files. Dan Neidle, journalist and tax lawyer, used his investigative skills to…
The Politics ShowRevealed: Jeffrey Epstein's direct line to Downing St
Peter Mandelson has resigned from the Labour Party following further revelations about his friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The access Epstein…
The Politics ShowDid China hack the British government?
If Chinese hackers accessed the government's private messages, maybe they could share the missing 5,000 text messages the Covid inquiry was looking for. Will…
The Politics ShowStudent loans: Should graduates sue the government?
Britain faces a looming student loan crisis. What can graduates do? Last week's episode on student loans prompted a flurry of questions. How did it get this…
The Politics ShowCan Plaid Cymru defeat Reform again?
Last October, a Senedd by-election took place in Caerphilly, South Wales. As long as the seat had existed, for over 100 years, it had belonged to Labour. But…
The Politics ShowDo leasehold reforms go far enough?
Millions of leaseholders in England and Wales will get their ground rents capped at £250 per year as part of Labour’s long-promised overhaul of a hated system…
The Politics ShowShabana Mahmood's new police force
The Home Secretary’s known for her blue Labour roots, a tough stance on immigration and has just proposed what she calls the “biggest ever” policing reforms…
The Politics ShowBurnham blocked, Braverman defects
Yesterday, Keir Starmer’s camp blocked Andy Burnham’s plans to return to parliament. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ailbhe Rea to discuss how this has landed…
The Politics ShowTrump’s stand-up routine in Davos
In a tumultuous week in geopolitics, Donald Trump delivered a bizarre speech in Davos. Will Dunn finds the moments of (unintentional) humour amidst the chaos…
The Politics ShowWhat happens when an MP defects?
Robert Jenrick's defection prompted a lot of listener questions. So we'll try to answer them! Last week Robert Jenrick dramatically defected to Reform after…
The Politics ShowIs this Andy Burnham’s moment?
Andrew Gwynne, the MP for Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester, has resigned. This opens up the path for another Andrew, King of the North and Labour…
The Politics ShowThe UK must crawl back to Europe
With Donald Trump threatening tariffs on the UK and eviscerating Keir Starmer on Truth Social, does the PM have no choice but run back into the arms of the EU?…
The Politics ShowStudent loans have screwed over a generation
Cast your mind back to 2010… Apple launched the ipad, a volcano erupted in Iceland and David Cameron and Nick Clegg passed a bill that would screw over a…
The Politics ShowTrump escalates Greenland threats
“Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of…
The Politics ShowIs London a crime-ridden cesspit?
Claims from politicians both at home and abroad paint an increasingly decrepit picture of the nation's capital. But just how much crime and chaos is there…
The Politics ShowShould breaking manifesto pledges be illegal?
A frustrated listener calls for consequences over broken Labour promises. Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe answer listener questions about UK politics. In…
The Politics ShowJenrick defects to Reform
Robert Jenrick has become the latest Tory to defect to Reform. This morning he was fired by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, after she discovered his plan…
The Politics ShowWhy Keir Starmer U-turned on digital ID
How many U-turns before you admit you don’t know where you’re going? As little as four months ago, Keir Starmer said: "You will not be able to work in the UK…
The Politics ShowKeir Starmer: Grok imagery “disgraceful”
Keir Starmer is challenging Elon Musk and x.com over AI generated non-consensual intimate images. A proliferation of these images, generated by x.com’s AI…
The Politics ShowNadhim Zahawi defects from the Tories to Reform
"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister” said the former chancellor. Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and Ailbhe Rea. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download…
The Politics ShowAn interview with Salman Rushdie
We’re launching our new culture and society podcast here at the New Statesman: The New Society. Tanjil Rashid, the New Statesman's culture editor, discusses…
The Politics ShowBlue Labour is splitting the party
Labour is splitting. Earlier this week we reported that the government is now THIRD in the opinion polls behind Reform and the Tories. Now, as they barrel…
The Politics ShowAre we ready for a “Brexit reset”?
Keir Starmer is planning on developing a “closer relationship” with the single market. The PM wants to realign with the EU in three key areas to help the free…
The Politics ShowIt's official: Labour are in third place
Christmas polling has revealed that the Tories have edged past Labour into second place in the polls. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK are still sitting pretty in the…
The Politics ShowRussia suggested the US “swap” Venezuela for Ukraine
In 2019, according to a deposition, Russia signalled that they could ease off their support for Venezuela if Washington were to ease its own position in…
The Politics ShowTrump kidnaps Maduro, and Starmer says… nothing?
Emily Thornberry MP joins us to discuss the US's actions in Venezuela, the legality, and the international response. In the second half of the podcast, the…
The Politics ShowA look ahead to politics in 2026
It’s New Year’s celebrations, part 2! Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ben Walker to discuss the political climate of 2026. From the 10 year anniversary of Brexit…
The Politics ShowThe May elections will define UK politics in 2026
Happy New Year from the New Statesman podcast! What will 2026 have in store? Will Labour flop in the May elections? Will the Greens make gains? And will Reform…
The Politics ShowThe biggest stories of 2025
As 2025 draws to a close Anoosh Chakelian joined by the New Statesman's associate political editor Rachel Cunliffe, and editor in chief Tom McTague to discuss…
The Politics ShowMerry Quizmas!
How did Trump's tariffs affect the price of Labubus? Which bear was voiced by Volodymyr Zelensky? And what, crucially, did Katy Perry describe California girls…
The Politics ShowThe greatest aviation disaster that didn't happen
Months before 9/11, a passenger seized control of a Boeing 747 and nearly crashed it into the Sahara. Everyone survived - including a curious ensemble of…
The Politics ShowPredictions for the year ahead
Is the New Statesman too soft on Wes Streeting? Are the Lib Dems an unserious party? Plus our journalists make their predictions for what will happen in 2026…
The Politics ShowMisogyny is a "national emergency"
After being pushed back not once, not twice, but three times, the government's long-awaited strategy to halve violence against women and girls has been…
The Politics ShowJimmy Lai’s Hong Kong show trial
Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s most famous media tycoon and a British citizen, could be sentenced to life in prison. What does his case say about the political climate…
The Politics ShowCan Andy Burnham be the next Prime Minister?
Speculation surrounding a leadership challenge to Keir Starmer is rife. Andy Burnham, Manchester Mayor, is in the mix as a challenger. But can he find the…
The Politics ShowAre Jews safe?
The "evil" mass shooting at Bondi Beach was the latest in a rising number of antisemitic attacks. 16 people died in the attack in Sydney, Australia. They were…
The Politics ShowIs Britain complicit in genocide?
Journalist Peter Oborne claims both Labour and Conservatives have fallen short on their response to Israel's war in Gaza. -- Peter Oborne is a journalist…