The New Statesman Podcast

By The New Statesman

News & Politics

What's The New Statesman Podcast about?

Twice a week the New Statesman politics team - Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea - discuss the latest in UK politics. From Boris Johnson's latest battle with backbenchers to the machinery behind the Labour Party's opposition attack lines, this is the debrief you need to understand what's really happening in Westminster and beyond.
New episodes Tuesday and Friday. Send your questions at youaskus.co.uk.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Will a summer of disconten...

06.27.2022

As the official measure of inflation in the UK hits 9.1 per cent, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman business team, Will Dunn and Emma Haslett, to discuss why inflation is hitting the country so badly. How much ...

The New Statesman Podcast episodes:

06.27.2022 Will a summer of discontent hurt the Tories or Labour more? As the official measure of inflation in the UK hits 9.1 per cent, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman business team, Will Dunn and Emma Haslett, to discuss why inflation is hitting the country so badly. How much ...
06.24.2022 By-election special: Is Boris Johnson doomed by the double defeat? In a major blow to Boris Johnson, the Conservatives have lost the seats of Tiverton and Honiton and Wakefield to the Liberal Democrats and Labour respectively, by double-digit margins. In the wake of the results, Oliver Dowden, the co-chairman of ...
06.20.2022 Will the Tories lose the true-blue constituency of Tiverton and Honiton? With just a few days until the Tiverton and Honiton by-election on 23 June, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman’s business editor and Devonian Will Dunn, who has returned from a reporting trip to the south-west constituency. They ...
06.16.2022 Will Red Wall voters ditch Boris Johnson at the Wakefield by-election? The by-election in Wakefield on June 23 will be a crucial test of whether Labour can win the Red Wall back from the Conservatives. The election was triggered by the resignation of the Conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan after he ...
06.13.2022 Will the Green surge lead to a Labour government? The New Statesman podcast takes a special look at the Green Party, following their success in the local elections. Why did they do so well in May? And how can they build on this to become a major player in ...
06.09.2022 Is Boris Johnson a zombie prime minister? Prime Minister Boris Johnson is attempting yet another relaunch of his government just days after 148 MPs told him they don’t have confidence in his leadership. Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Cunliffe and Harry Lambert discuss the rebels' next move, what this ...
06.07.2022 Is Boris Johnson a dead man walking? With Andrew Marr Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won a vote of confidence from Conservative MPs. But 148 members voted against him, leaving a split party. In this special episode of the New Statesman Podcast, recorded at the Tate Britain just down the ...
06.06.2022 Boris Johnson faces a vote of no confidence. What happens next? On the day that Boris Johnson faces a vote of no confidence in his leadership, Rachel Cunliffe speaks to Harry Lambert, senior political correspondent, and Ben Walker, the New Statesman’s polling expert, about how we got here. They talk about ...
06.01.2022 Could Boris Johnson survive a vote of confidence? The campaign to remove Boris Johnson as Prime Minister is building. The steady trickle of letters from Conservative MPs declaring they have no confidence in him and criticism from high-profile dissenters has sparked speculation that there could be a vote ...
05.31.2022 Does Keir Starmer have enough policies? With the former Labour adviser Marc Stears Fresh from Sydney, Professor Marc Stears, a former Labour speechwriter and author of its 2015 manifesto, tells Anoosh Chakelian what Labour can learn, and where Keir Starmer is going wrong. Stears reflects on how Anthony Albanese, the new Labor prime ...
05.26.2022 The Sue Gray report: how bad is it really for Boris Johnson? Sue Gray’s long-awaited report has been published at last. It contains lurid details of excessive drinking and partying at Downing Street during lockdown, as well as a “lack of respect and poor treatment” towards cleaners and security guards. But what ...
05.24.2022 Why the Tories risk losing suburban voters, with Jeremy Hunt Jeremy Hunt tells Anoosh Chakelian how he regrets the "silent killer" of social-care cuts made when he was in the cabinet, calls for the "penny to drop" for the current health secretary Sajid Javid on properly funding social care, and ...
05.20.2022 Will inflation bring down the Tory government? UK inflation has reached its highest rate in 40 years, jumping from 7 per cent in March to 9 per cent in the year to April. With inflation hitting the poorest hardest, pressure is growing on the government to reverse ...
05.17.2022 Why is Boris Johnson waging a culture war? With Rory Stewart and Kim Leadbeater While polling revealed exclusively by the New Statesman suggests that voters aren’t divided on so-called culture war issues, the Johnson administration is putting them at the centre of its political project. To understand why the Prime Minister seems intent on ...
05.13.2022 If Keir Starmer resigns, who replaces him? With Andrew Marr Having cast himself as “Mr Rules” in opposition to Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer's reputation hangs in the balance amid allegations of breaking Covid restrictions. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the NS's political editor, Andrew Marr, to discuss Starmer’s future, the ...
05.11.2022 Is politics just a game to today's leaders? \| Westminster Reimagined The renowned satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows Iannucci, explores the parts of British public life that he believes are broken, and he will be joined ...
05.09.2022 Will the Red Wall or Beergate seal Keir Starmer’s fate? Voters in many areas deserted the Conservatives in last week's local elections, yet this was not a comprehensive victory for Labour. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman’s polling expert Ben Walker and political reporter Freddie Hayward to discuss ...
05.05.2022 Local elections: What would be a good night for Labour or the Tories? As voting in the local elections begins, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman’s polling expert Ben Walker to discuss key councils to watch and predict the outcome. They talk about the driving forces behind people’s votes, from partygate ...
05.04.2022 Is politics still tribal? \| Westminster Reimagined The renowned satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows Iannucci, explores the parts of British public life that he believes are broken, and he will be joined ...
05.03.2022 Do we get the leaders we deserve? \| Live at the Cambridge Literary Festival Anoosh Chakelian chairs a special episode of the New Statesman Podcast, recorded live at the Cambridge Literary Festival. In recent years, Britain has witnessed the unlawful prorogation of parliament; debacles in the management of public health, education and immigration; and ...
04.29.2022 Why Westminster sexism is so hard to stamp out The misogyny that many women working in parliament experience has reared its ugly head once more. Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Harry Lambert discuss the latest revelations of sexual misconduct at Westminster and the personal cost for the women who ...
04.27.2022 Armando Iannucci & Dominic Grieve: Is democracy slowly collapsing in Westminster? \| Westminster Reimagined The renowned satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows Iannucci, explores the parts of British public life that he believes are broken, and he will be joined ...
04.26.2022 What evidence would MPs need to bring Boris Johnson down? with Hannah White With partygate rumbling on and Boris Johnson referred to the House of Commons’ Committee of Priviliges, Anoosh Chakelian speaks to Hannah White, the deputy director of the Institute for Government. White is a former civil servant who worked on standards ...
04.21.2022 Are the Conservatives stuck with Boris Johnson? As MPs debate the fallout from partygate, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political reporter, to discuss why Boris Johnson may still be safe as PM and the opinions of Conservatives about their leader. ...
04.20.2022 Armando Iannucci: are politicians obsolete? \| Westminster Reimagined The legendary writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows, Iannucci explores parts of British public life he believes to be broken, and is joined by guests ...
04.19.2022 Will Boris Johnson’s woes affect the elections in Scotland and Wales? A devolution special of the New Statesman Podcast looks ahead to the local elections in Scotland and Wales. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Scotland Editor Chris Deerin to discuss Scotland, including Nicola Sturgeon's face mask slip-up, why the real race ...
04.16.2022 BONUS: Operation Warm Welcome: the hotel that became home to 100 refugees When the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021, the Koofi family were among 8,000 Afghans airlifted to safety in the UK, as part of the government’s Operation Warm Welcome. The New Statesman’s Sophie McBain met them in a ...
04.14.2022 Will partygate fines be the end of Boris Johnson? Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Carrie Johnson have all received fixed-penalty notices for attending parties in Downing Street during lockdown, but could the Prime Minister now be safer than he was at the height of partygate? Harry Lambert, Senior Correspondent, ...
04.13.2022 Armando Iannucci: Is it time to reform parliament's arcane rules and rituals? \| Westminster Reimagined The legendary writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows, Iannucci explores parts of British public life he believes to be broken, and is joined by guests ...
04.12.2022 Why the non-dom scandal shows Rishi Sunak is bad at politics As Rishi Sunak comes under investigation by the government’s standards watchdog, Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelian discuss the fallout from the revelations about the Chancellor and the tax affairs of his wife, Akshata Murty, and why it shows he is ...
04.08.2022 Are voters moving to Labour or to nowhere? Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea are joined by the senior data journalist Ben Walker to mark the launch of State of the Nation, the New Statesman’s new data site for understanding Britain in numbers, maps, words and charts. Ben responds ...
04.05.2022 How Russia abuses Britain’s legal system, with the activist Vladimir Ashurkov As the EU and UK debate further sanctions on Russia after evidence of massacres by Russian forces in Bucha, north of Kyiv, Ailbhe Rea speaks to the exiled opposition campaigner Vladimir Ashurkov. They discuss how London got its reputation for ...
04.01.2022 Has the Spring Statement deflated Rishi Sunak? As the fallout from Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement continues, New Statesman Political Editor Andrew Marr joins Ailbhe Rea to discuss why it was received quite so badly and whether it has ruined the Chancellor’s hopes of becoming prime minister. Then, ...
03.29.2022 What is “Britishness” – and does it still matter? With Gary Younge, Jeremy Deller and Jason Cowley This special episode of the New Statesman Podcast marks “A Dream of Britain”, the New Statesman’s latest issue. It is guest edited by Michael Sheen and explores class, culture and identity in Britain today. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the ...
03.24.2022 Rishi Sunak's Spring Statement shows he's still a high-tax Chancellor Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement as the Office for Budget Responsibility warns the UK is about to face the biggest rise in the cost of living since records began. They discuss why Sunak still wants ...
03.23.2022 Bonus episode: Michael Sheen on class, culture and Britishness Ahead of his guest-edited issue of the New Statesman, the actor and campaigner Michael Sheen speaks to Anoosh Chakelian for a special episode of the New Statesman podcast. Titled "A Dream of Britain", the magazine explores what British identity means ...
03.22.2022 P&O Ferries uses "slave labour on the high seas", says Karl Turner MP P&O; Ferries caused outrage last week (17 March) when it sacked 800 crew members to replace them with “cheap agency workers from eastern Europe” overnight. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, Karl Turner, ...
03.18.2022 Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's long fight for freedom Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been reunited with her family in Britain, having been imprisoned for years in Iran on charges of seeking to overthrow the country’s government, which she has always denied. Her release along with another dual citizen, Anoosheh Ashoori, ...
03.15.2022 Priti Patel is "pulling up the drawbridge" for Ukrainian refugees, says Alf Dubs As the government scrabbles its policy together for Ukrainian refugees, the Labour peer and refugee campaigner Alf Dubs tells Anoosh Chakelian that the response has been a "disgrace". He discusses how the government finds itself on the wrong side of ...
03.10.2022 Sanctions and refugees: are UK ministers failing in their duties? The owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich, and leading industrialist Oleg Deripaska are among the seven wealthy and influential Russian oligarchs who have been sanctioned by the UK over Russia’s war in Ukraine. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the ...
03.08.2022 Are the UK’s Russia sanctions tough enough? With Bill Browder As parliament rushes through the Economic Crime Bill in an attempt to toughen sanctions on Russian oligarchs, investor and anti-corruption campaigner Bill Browder talks to Anoosh Chakelian about the impact of sanctions on Russia. He opens up about whether the ...
03.03.2022 Has the war changed Boris Johnson’s reputation? As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters a second week, the New Statesman’s polling expert Ben Walker joins Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea to talk about the latest polls. They discuss exclusive polling for the New Statesman published today on Boris ...
03.01.2022 How to end London’s addiction to Russian money, with Oliver Bullough As the UK considers further sanctions on oligarchs linked to Vladimir Putin, Ailbhe Rea speaks to the journalist and author Oliver Bullough about how London became the home for so much Russian money. They talk about the ways in which ...
02.24.2022 War in Ukraine: can the UK act “decisively” against Russia? As Russia invades Ukraine, Boris Johnson has come under fire from allies and critics alike for his feeble attempt to clamp down on Russian wealth in the UK. In an address to the nation this morning (24 February), the Prime ...
02.22.2022 Does BBC comedy have a left-wing bias? Andy Zaltzman on political satire, offensive jokes and cauliflower Trump The New Statesman’s Britain editor Anoosh Chakelian interviews the satirist and broadcaster Andy Zaltzman, the host of Radio 4’s The News Quiz and the podcast The Bugle. Ahead of his Satirist for Hire tour, they talk about the history of ...
02.18.2022 Farewell to a legend: Tears, cheers and kirs Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea host a special episode to say goodbye to Stephen Bush. Kir royales are sunk and Stephen takes an audio trip down memory lane, featuring a rendition of “American Pie”, this time about Scottish Labour, as ...
02.15.2022 Could these be Boris Johnson’s last weeks in office? With Gavin Barwell As Theresa May’s final chief of staff, Gavin Barwell knows what it’s like to see a party oust its leader first-hand. He speaks to political correspondent Ailbhe Rea about what it takes to get rid of a leader, where Boris ...
02.11.2022 Inside Boris Johnson's fight to survive partygate As parliament enters recess, against all the odds Boris Johnson has clung onto his premiership. Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss the PM's various survival strategies, the ongoing police investigation into parties held in Downing Street and the ...
02.07.2022 Will Boris Johnson’s new No 10 operation save him? Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss the latest events in the crisis surrounding Boris Johnson, including the appointment of the MP Steve Barclay and the former GB News presenter Guto Harri to key Downing Street jobs. They explain ...
02.04.2022 Andrew Marr on Why Boris Johnson is Beyond Saving The New Statesman’s incoming political editor Andrew Marr makes his New Statesman podcast debut to discuss his cover story on Boris Johnson’s moment of peril with Anoosh Chakelian, Britain editor. They talk about what’s gone wrong for Johnson, whether the ...

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