The Politics Show

From a by-election victory in Wigan, to the resignation of Keir Starmer, to an Avanti West Coast train bound for London, tracked by news helicopters - Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster has been a remarkable spectacle.

Whilst Burnham’s coup has overcome multiple challenges to get to this point, in many ways, the hard part is about to begin.

Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ailbhe Rea and Tom McTague to discuss.

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This morning, Keir Starmer stood outside No 10 Downing Street and announced his resignation as Prime Minister - the sixth to leave office since the EU referendum, which was ten years ago this week. He will remain in office until Labour selects a new leader. 

The Prime Minister’s likely successor Andy Burnham is sworn in as an MP today after his decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election last week. Burnham has already announced his intention to stand as a leadership contender.

How did the Prime Minister come to this momentous decision, and what happens next?

Anoosh Chakelian is joined by political editor Ailbhe Rea and editor-in-chief Tom McTague.

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The importance of branding in British politics, banning social media for under 16s and the Reform councillor who made “the biggest mistake” of his life.

Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn discuss the stories of the week.

READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/06/the-brand-is-back-in-british-politics

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Andy Burnham has won the historic Makerfield by-election, he's soon expected to speak to Starmer or trigger a leadership election.

Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ethan Croft in Wigan.

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The former Health Secretary reveals why he believes Keir Starmer is failing.

When Wes Streeting resigned from cabinet in May, it put an end to months of speculation. The former Health Secretary does want Keir Starmer’s job.

Since then, the Defence Secretary, John Healey, and the Armed Forces minister, Al Carns, have both resigned over the Defence Spending plan.

Keir Starmer’s leadership is looking more and more precarious.

Now Andy Burnham is running in the Makerfield by-election. If he becomes an MP, that could clear a way for him to contest the leadership himself.

In the days leading up to the by-election, Wes Streeting came into the New Statesman studio for an extended interview with our Political Correspondent, Ethan Croft. In the conversation you’re about to hear, Streeting speaks candidly about the reasons he left government, his views on Keir Starmer’s leadership and what he believes Labour needs to do to reverse its ailing fortunes. He’s also surprisingly complimentary about his potential rival in a future leadership contest, Andy Burnham.

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Tomorrow - the fate of the Labour government, and Keir Starmer’s premiership, is in the balance as voters head to the polls in Makerfield for the most consequential by-election in a generation.

If Andy Burnham wins, what are his next steps? How will the following days and weeks play out?

Will Lloyd is joined by Ailbhe Rea to discuss.

READ

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2026/06/makerfield-days-andy-burnham-kenyon-farage-by-election

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On Thursday, Makerfield goes to the polls in the most consequential by-election in a generation.

Can Andy Burnham finally gain the parliamentary seat he needs to enter the Labour leadership race? Will Robert Kenyon and Reform stop Burnham’s charge to Downing Street and further cement their status as Labour’s inevitable successors?

Anoosh Chakelian is joined by senior data journalist Ben Walker to discuss.

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The Makerfield by-election candidates battle it out to be the most “normal”, the travails of journalists from the US to the NS and more crossover between the worlds of AI and politics.

Will Dunn and Anoosh Chakelian round up the stories of the week

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After the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, Wes Streeting joins the Politics Show to reflect on why Keir Starmer is losing support from his loyal ministers.

Streeting resigned his own post as Health Secretary in May, and has said he would run in a future race to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister.

Also in this episode, Tom McTague and Ethan Croft discuss the resignations and what they mean – for the UK's ability to defend itself, and for the future of the government.

The interview excerpt featured here is taken from an hour-long conversation with Wes Streeting which will publish next week.

READ: John Healey's resignation heralds the end for Keir Starmer, by Andrew Marr

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From prisons to speed cameras and welfare to nuclear warning systems, the British government has outsourced a huge number of state operations to private companies – including the housing of asylum seekers.

This week, riots erupted on the streets of Belfast following the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvy. The suspect is an ex asylum seeker. It’s the third summer in a row that the asylum accommodation system has been the focus of violent protests.

Has Britain lost control?

READ: How Britain lost control

https://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2026/06/how-britain-lost-control

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