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 ShowOne year of devastation in the Middle East
On the 7th October Sharone Lifschitz's parents were taken as hostages by Hamas. One year later her father, along with almost 100 other hostages, have not…
- The Politics Show
Could conspiracy trump democracy in America?
In a 2022 poll, a majority of Americans said they believe their government was corrupt and rigged, and more than a quarter believed it might soon be necessary…
- The Politics Show
"Intensity, fury, passion": Starmer's conference speech
"A very dark speech, very serious, very closely argued, but there was passion there, but the passion was anger" - Andrew Marr reacts after Keir Starmer's…
- The Politics Show
Can Rachel Reeves turn the page on Labour's pessimism?
We're coming to you from Liverpool where Rachel Reeves has just delivered her keynote speech at this year's Labour Party Conference. There were lots of smiles…
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Giveaways and Sue Gray's pay, do they matter?
Labour Party Conference is just around the corner and the party needs to tell a story about the bigger picture for their time in government, but could this get…
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Ed Davey thinks he could be leader of the opposition
Conference season is underway and Ed Davey sat down with the New Statesman's Rachel Cunliffe to set out his party's ambitions to become the party of…
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Led By Donkeys: "Liz Truss was fair game"
Will Dunn meets the political pranksters who sent Liz Truss fleeing in rage. **Follow on your podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they're released**…
- The Politics Show
Why is US politics "so mad"?
Freddie Hayward rejoins the podcast in his new role as US correspondent to answer listener questions on the weird world of US politics. **Hit 'follow' on your…
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Has Rachel Reeves made a “huge mistake”?
“She’s done an awful lot of damage to morale,” says Andrew Marr. Hit “Follow” in your podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they publish Chancellor Rachel…
The Politics ShowLosing Gaza
“We cannot know what sort of human beings will emerge from this.” Following Hamas’s deadly attack on 7 October 2023, Israel’s military response has been…
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Is Jeremy Corbyn trolling Keir Starmer?
The former Labour leader’s new coalition could be “a real force” in Parliament, says Andrew Marr. **Hit ‘Follow’ in your podcast app to get every episode as…
- The Politics Show
Grenfell prosecutions are now “essential” - Andrew Marr
The Grenfell report is damning. Will there finally be justice for Grenfell? -- After seven long years the Grenfell Inquiry has published its damning verdict…
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Can Oasis bring back Cool Britannia?
Noel and Liam Gallagher have managed the impossible. They've apparently buried the hatchet and announced that Oasis is coming back in 2025. Is this the return…
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"Things will get worse": is austerity back?
On Tuesday morning Keir Starmer addressed the nation and warned that Labour’s first Budget “is going to be painful”, suggesting that tax rises are on the way…
- The Politics Show
Should Labour push harder on immigration?
A listener asks: will Keir Starmer and the Labour government attempt to change the conversation around immigration, or continue with a more hawkish stance in…
- The Politics Show
Tories "scent blood" over Labour union deals
Labour have agreed pay deals with NHS staff, public service workers and now train drivers - but they've handed the conservatives an effective attack line. Are…
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Elon Musk is The Joker of politics
And should Starmer be trying to befriend Elon Musk? Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by senior editor George Eaton to answer this week's listener…
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Can Keir Starmer unite a divided nation?
The unrest and violence which gripped the country last week after the killing of three young girls seems to have halted for the time being. A brief sigh of…
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Are Gen Z the loneliest generation in human history?
The number of children who say they feel lonely at school more than doubled between 2012 and 2018, and Britons aged 16-29 are more than twice as likely to…
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What's the most likely replacement for the House of Lords?
If the Labour party in the next 5 years decide to get rid of the House of Lords, what is the most likely option for a replacement? Should there be upper and…
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Thousands join anti-racism protests, is this a turning point?
After over a week of violence and unrest, it was feared last night that the riots would gather even more momentum, targeting immigration offices and centres…
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Former Chief Prosecutor: "We've forgotten about those three little girls"
This weekend, far-right riots and violence have continued to spread across the country after the killing of three young girls in Southport last week. Hundreds…
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What happens practically when a MP has the whip suspended?
Should Starmer be more open to challenge from his party? Did the Blair government carefully chose to ignore housing issues because they thought doing anything…
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How disinformation turned Southport's tragedy into violence
Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor to discuss the horrific events in Southport, violence on the streets…
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How to fix Britain's social housing crisis
Britain faces a severe housing crisis. But while high interest rates, mortgages, and sky high prices in the private rental market dominate headlines, Britain's…
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Should funding for GB News be considered a political donation?
What do parliamentary private secretaries, aka 'bag carriers', really do? How will Ben Houchen fare as a mayor in opposition? How much will Labour commit to…
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Starmer suspends seven MPs, what precedent does this set?
Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour party has been described countless times over the past 4 years as ‘ruthless’, and this week we saw this in action for…
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Andrew Marr: Kamala Harris is "empowered and freed"
In a surprise social media post this weekend, Joe Biden stood down from his re-election campaign and endorsed VP Kamala Harris. Significant support has mounted…
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How long is Starmer's "honeymoon" period?
The new PM has been in office a couple of weeks, but you've already asked how long he's got. In our weekly "You Ask Us" episode, Hannah Barnes and Rachel…
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Will Labour's "Great British Energy" deliver?
Clean energy by 2023? We're "pretty far off". Ed Miliband today made his first parliamentary speech as the new Energy Secretary, hailing the Labour…
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King's speech reveals Starmer's uncommon ambition
"It's been a long time since we've had a government with this level of ambition" - George Eaton Black Rod has been summoned and the weighty wooden doors swung…
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Andrew Marr: What if the Trump assassination attempt had succeeded?
Donald Trump has been greeted like a messiah at the Republican National Convention. But what if that bullet had been an inch to the right? Just over 48 hours…
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Trump shooting: what the Democrats must do now
Trump loyalists are blaming Democrats for inciting the assassination attempt on the former President. How should Dems respond? Republicans and Democrats alike…
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What does Labour's "growth worth having" actually mean?
Labour want to distinguish themselves from Boris Johnson's "levelling up". What are they planning instead? Hannah Barnes, Rachel Cunliffe and Freddie Hayward…
The Politics ShowThe Conservative party's very public nervous breakdown
The Conservative party are scrapping it out to have their visions of the future of the party heard and things are getting messy. Hannah Barnes, associate…
The Politics ShowHow will global affairs define the Starmer era?
Today is the day we see our Labour government on the world stage for the first time. Starmer is in Washington today for the 75th summit of the Nato defence…
The Politics ShowAndrew Marr: "The smell in Whitehall? An invigorating reek of change."
A record number of new MPs are flooding through Westminster, Starmer has been on a tour of the UK, and this morning the metro mayors gathered in Downing…
The Politics ShowWhat can we learn from Labour's first days in power?
Since forming a new government on Friday, Keir Starmer's cabinet has been hard at work across the weekend to prove to the nation that they are a government of…
The Politics ShowElection results: Welcome to Labour Britain
The UK has just voted in its 7th ever Labour prime minister, Keir Starmer. As the results from yesterday’s general election trickled in overnight it became…
The Politics ShowWhat to expect when you're expecting ... a new government
Today the country heads to the polls to decide who will be in government for the next five years. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel…
The Politics ShowThe penultimate day of Tory Rome
In a final poll published before the election things have never looked worse for the Conservatives, Rishi Sunak has expressed fear that he might lose his seat…
The Politics ShowHow many hours a week should a prime minster be working?
Another Reform UK candidate has stepped down to back the Tories as the “vast majority” of her fellow candidates are “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”, the…
The Politics ShowAndrew Marr: To succeed, Starmer must upset a lot of people
In order to succeed in a first term in government, to deliver for working people, Keir Starmer will need to enforce some quietly radical change. And doing so…
The Politics ShowWhat's happening in Northern Ireland? and should polling be banned?
It's listener question time! Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, is joined by Finn McRedmond, junior commissioning editor and writer, to answer questions…
The Politics ShowOn the road with Corbyn, Farage, and Lammy
Today New Statesman is publishing an election special issue of the magazine which includes our election endorsement as well as in-depth political interviews…
The Politics ShowUp all night to Bet Lucky
Another day, another flurry of betting allegations. More and more parties are now being dragged into the gambling scandal, but should we discern some…
The Politics ShowAndrew Marr: "If I were Sunak, I'd be wailing under the table"
Everything's been going so badly for the prime minister, one can't help but admire the fact that he's carrying on. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined…
The Politics ShowIs GamblingGate the new PartyGate?
We’re in the penultimate week of campaigning, which may come as a relief to those suffering from election fatigue - maybe no one more so than Rishi Sunak. The…
The Politics ShowRishi Sunak is campaigning through gritted teeth
We were bestowed yet another leadership TV special last night, Ed Davey said sorry for tuition fees, Rishi Sunak said sorry for Liz Truss, and Keir Starmer…
The Politics ShowStop The Bets!
The Tory gambling scandal respawned last night when it was revealed that a met officer working in Rishi Sunak's protection team had been arrested over alleged…
The Politics ShowIs there still momentum for Scottish independence?
"Vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country" - bold letters shout from the first page of the SNP manifesto. But is there still momentum for…
The Politics ShowAndrew Marr: Labour must prepare for the turning tide
Labour are set to win a majority, if not a supermajority, but in these politically fragmented times will people who vote for the party necessarily stay loyal…
The Politics ShowHow Reform UK found £50billion down the back of the sofa
Nigel Farage and Richard Tice have been playing good cop bad cop today in Merthyr Tydfil, not launching Reform UK's manifesto, but the party's "contract". The…
The Politics ShowWhy is Jeremy Hunt love bombing affluent voters in Surrey?
On today's episode of listener questions: How many of them 2019 manifesto commitments have been met?; Who will be the biggest name to lose their seat?; If…
The Politics ShowMoney Money Money (Keir Starmer's version)
In the words of ABBA, and Keir Starmer, Money Money Money - the Labour leader announced this morning in Manchester that wealth creation was the ‘number one…
The Politics ShowThe Conservatives are headed for a "superdefeat"
Grant Shapps has said that Labour could be on course for a “supermajority”, perhaps a more accurate way of viewing it is that the Conservatives are on course…
The Politics ShowAndrew Marr: Could Tory tax cuts hurt the poorest?
It's Tory manifesto Tuesday and the party is leading with pledges to make homes more affordable for first time buyers as well as a fresh new batch of tax cuts…
The Politics ShowDoes the Lib Dem manifesto add up?
It's manifesto week! It's week three of the election campaign and parties are set to deliver their manifestos in the coming days. This was kicked off today…
The Politics ShowHas Rishi Sunak just destroyed his own campaign?
Freddie, Ben and podcast newcomer Finn McRedmond answer listener questions. By deserting the D-day commemorations, Rishi Sunak has dealt his own campaign a…
The Politics ShowWho really holds power on the left?
The most powerful person on the left of British politics is not Keir Starmer. So who is it? This week the New Statesman published the 2024 Left Power List…