The New Statesman Podcast

By The New Statesman

News & Politics

What's The New Statesman Podcast about?

Unrivalled analysis of the latest in UK politics, with Anoosh Chakelian, Andrew Marr and the New Statesman politics team.
New episodes Monday and Thursday.
Send us a question on anything related to UK politics, in Westminster and beyond at newstatesman.com/youaskus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Is British democracy under ...

12.04.2023

Is democracy slipping away from us? How protected are we by our constitution? And do governments have the power to swiftly change this? In June, in front of a live audience, Armando and Anoosh were joined by Simon Woolley, founder ...

The New Statesman Podcast episodes:

12.04.2023 Is British democracy under threat? With Armando Iannucci \| Westminster Reimagined Is democracy slipping away from us? How protected are we by our constitution? And do governments have the power to swiftly change this? In June, in front of a live audience, Armando and Anoosh were joined by Simon Woolley, founder ...
12.02.2023 The housing crash is just beginning Housing in the UK has become increasingly unaffordable during the last two decades, buying a home is an unattainable prospect for many in the country, and the challenges facing renters are now reaching a tipping point. And the rentier economy ...
12.01.2023 The most misleading phrases in political journalism \| You Ask Us Andrew Marr joins the team in the studio this week to answer listener questions. John writes in to ask which often used misleading expressions in political journalism might warrant the use of a 'broadcaster swear jar'. Meanwhile, Xia asks the ...
11.30.2023 Tories shaken by record high migration Andrew Marr, political editor at the New Statesman, speaks to Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, about why the newly published figures on net migration for 2022 have sent shockwaves through the Conservative party. The focus, he says, has shifted from illegal ...
11.29.2023 Can older workers fix the economy? With Phoenix Group \| Sponsored Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, nearly a million people aged 50-64 have left the workforce. Other major economies have seen their employment rates bounce back after the pandemic, and the Financial Times have reported that the UK ...
11.27.2023 How do Gen Z want to vote? With Armando Iannucci \| Westminster Reimagined The writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host our fourth series of Westminster Reimagined. In this episode, which was recorded in the summer of 2023, Armando and Anoosh visit a group of sixth ...
11.25.2023 100 years of British political nightmares How did the Great Depression’s spectres of fascism, bombing and mass unemployment force politicians to think the unthinkable, and pave the way to post-war Britain? How was Thatcher’s road to victory made possible by a decade of nightmares: of hyperinflation, ...
11.24.2023 Are we poorer than we were in 2010? \| You Ask Us "The economy will play a central part of next year's election. Do you know if people are better off than in 2010?" - one listener writes in to ask. The podcast team discuss how this can be measured, and how ...
11.23.2023 Autumn Statement: "A whacking great return to austerity" Jeremy Hunt would like this Autumn Statement to be seen as what the government is branding “the biggest tax cut in British history”, but what are the actual costs and implications of the yesterday's budget? Anoosh Chakelian is joined in ...
11.20.2023 Is Britain really great? With Armando Iannucci \| Westminster Reimagined The writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host our fourth series of Westminster Reimagined. Across this season he is joined by co-host Anoosh Chakelian, Britain editor at the New Statesman, to explores parts ...
11.18.2023 Iran's interest in Israel, with former ambassador John Jenkins Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah – all of whom operate out of Beirut’s southern suburbs – have coordinated their positions in various ways for years in pursuit of what they see as the greater good. John Jenkins, former British ambassador to ...
11.17.2023 You Ask Us: How is a foreign secretary's success judged? Will Labour reform the Lords? "At the Home Office you have immigration figures, as health secretary there are NHS waiting lists. Is David Cameron likely to improve his reputation because it’s harder to fail as foreign secretary?" - one listener asks. Anoosh Chakelian is joined ...
11.16.2023 Rwanda, resignations, and a rancorous letter The government's Rwanda plan has been put on hold, yet again, after being ruled illegal earlier this week by the Supreme Court. And someone who would have a lot to say about this is the former Home Secretary Suella Braverman ...
11.13.2023 Reshuffle special: (Lord) Cameron returns Suella Braverman is out of government... and a shock appointment rocks Westminster. Anoosh Chakelian and Freddie Hayward record an emergency episode of the New Statesman podcast to discuss the breaking news of Rishi Sunak's dramatic reshuffle following a weekend of ...
11.11.2023 The great private school con \| Audio Long Reads They no longer have a stranglehold on Oxbridge and would lose tax breaks under Labour. So what is elite education really selling? At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool in October, the Independent Schools Council hosted a forlorn drinks reception: ...
11.09.2023 You Ask Us: why can't Tory MPs behave themselves? In the week the Tory peer Michelle Mone has finally admitted involvement in a PPE firm awarded £200m in "VIP" Covid contracts, we discuss the numerous allegations against politicians and ask why Parliament is beset with bad behaviour - and ...
11.08.2023 Rishi Sunak's "watered down" Kings Speech pledges Amid much pomp and circumstance, this week King Charles III delivered the first King's Speech in over 70 years. In this episode of the podcast Anoosh Chakelian is joined by deputy political editor Rachel Wearmouth, and political correspondent Freddie Hayward, ...
11.04.2023 How Rishi Sunak became the first Silicon Valley prime minister \| Audio Long Read On 2 November 2023, Rishi Sunak closed his global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park by interviewing the richest man on Earth, Elon Musk. The mood was deferential (the PM towards the tech billionaire). Was Sunak eyeing up a post-politics ...
11.03.2023 You Ask Us: Why won't the government call for a ceasefire? "Looking at the polling for a ceasefire in Gaza, it seems like foreign policy is the area where Westminster is most out of touch with public opinion. Why is this?" - one listener asks. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by business ...
11.02.2023 The Covid Inquiry: Inside a toxic government Module two of the Covid inquiry - decision-making and political governance - was set to be the most controversial section, looking into the workings of central government. And from the use of the term “f***pigs” to Boris Johnson’s query about ...
11.01.2023 Sponsored: solving lung cancer inequality, with MSD Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide – but it doesn't affect everyone equally. Data shows wide regional variation of lung cancer diagnoses, as well as huge differentials linked to socio-economic factors and class. In this episode ...
10.31.2023 Andrew Marr: War, conspiracies and the "cloud of unknowing" We’re bringing you something new on the podcast today – a pilot of a new show we’re working on from our political editor, Andrew Marr. Before we make this a regular feature on the New Statesman podcast, we’d really value ...
10.28.2023 Israel, Hamas and the unravelling of the West \| Audio Long Read What might be the long term impact of the Israel-Hamas war on global alliances? In this week’s audio long read, the New Statesman’s contributing writer John Gray reflects on three weeks of bloodshed, beginning with the massacres of 7 October, ...
10.27.2023 One year of Rishi Sunak: what has he achieved? This Wednesday marked one year of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister. Following Liz Truss's short, yet chaotic, premiership - has Rishi Sunak managed to stabilise the economy and the Conservative Party? Where does he stand on his 5 pledges? And ...
10.26.2023 Will Labour unity break over Israel-Hamas? Nine days after saying on LBC that “Israel has that right” to cut of water and power off to Gaza, Keir Starmer explained that this wasn't what he meant. This has caused quite a lot of damage, with 23 Labour ...
10.23.2023 The Israel war is a "global terror risk" "We're in a very dangerous and unstable situation" Bruce Hoffman has been observing and studying global terrorism for over 50 years. In this episode he speaks to the New Statesman's Katie Stallard about how the war between Israel and Hamas ...
10.20.2023 Two for two: Labour's by-election clean sweep Earlier today, Labour won by-elections in Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth - two seats which were previously safe Tory heartlands. Labour leader Keir Starmer has described this result as a "game changer". So how did this pan out, and what does it ...
10.19.2023 Humza Yousaf is preparing the SNP for heavy losses Chris Deerin reports from the SNP conference, where even "statesmanlike" Humza Yousaf couldn't outshine a guest appearance from his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon. Chris joins Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss the mood of the conference, which was heavy on ...
10.18.2023 Sponsored: why web browsers are key to cyber security, with Google ChromeOS Cyber-crime is predicted to cost the global economy $8tn this year, in part due to increased remote working - borne out by a spike in malware attacks at the start of the pandemic. But should responsibility for security lie solely ...
10.16.2023 War in Israel and Palestine: could it spread? As Israel prepares a ground attack on Gaza, Katie Stallard is joined by Alona Ferber and Professor Lina Khatib to explore the wider geo-political situation in the Middle East - including mounting violence on Israel's west bank and the looming ...
10.14.2023 Has your AI therapist got your back? \| Audio Long Read In May this year, an American woman sought the help of a chatbot on an eating disorders website. The bot, named Tessa and running on an evolving, generative AI, advised her to start counting calories. Perhaps she should get some ...
10.13.2023 You Ask Us: Is Sunak a tech bro? Is Paddington a centrist? On this week's You Ask Us we're getting to the heart of British politics and asking, is Paddington a centrist? But before we get there the team answers a listener's question on Rishi Sunak's ambitions for the UK and AI. ...
10.11.2023 Sponsored: Tackling the digital divide through partnership, with Virgin Media O2 Business 20 million people in the UK lack the basic digital skills required to download apps, apply for jobs online, or use the internet with confidence. This results in a £5.5bn loss of earnings to UK employees, and is a serious ...
10.10.2023 Keir Starmer: "half fabulous, half ready to fight" Arriving on stage to an attack of glitter from a protester, Labour leader Keir Starmer quickly recovered to deliver his speech. Amongst many mentions of fighting, he promised that as Prime Minister, he will fight "for you". Anoosh Chakelian is ...
10.09.2023 Rachel Reeves: 7 standing ovations but no big new policies Darren Jones, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, joins the podcast to take us behind the scenes of the Shadow Cabinet's announcements at this year's Labour Party conference, including Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves ' speech which received 7 standing ovations ...
10.07.2023 How Britain became a dangerous place to have a baby What are the roots of today’s maternity crisis? Recent research by the Care Quality Commission has found a “concerning decline” in England, with over half of maternity wards rated substandard. Donna Ockenden’s review of Shrewsbury and Telford maternity trust found ...
10.06.2023 Labour takes Rutherglen: the end of SNP domination? In what has been described by Keir Starmer as a 'seismic result', Labour has taken the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat with more than twice the votes received by the SNP candidate. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ben Walker, the ...
10.05.2023 Is Suella Braverman the future of the Conservative Party? Rishi Sunak wrapped up this year's Conservative Party conference with an hour long speech in which he finally announced the long-rumoured cancellation of HS2 Manchester. He also proposed a life-ban on smoking and a replacement for A-levels, as well as ...
10.03.2023 Sponsored: How thriving cities can unlock productivity, with PwC Economic growth in the UK is stagnating. Can a radical reshaping of private and public sector roles in core cities help unlock productivity and prosperity in Britain? The latest in our Spotlight on Policy series welcomes the Mayor of Bristol, ...
10.02.2023 Soft-launching the end of HS2 We're bringing you this episode from Manchester where this year's Conservative Party conference is taking place. Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by political correspondent Freddie Hayward, and deputy political editor Rachel Wearmouth to discuss the speculation around the ...
09.30.2023 A year inside GB News: "what the hell have we done?" For today’s Audio Long Read we’re bringing you one from our archives, which is suddenly extremely prescient. This week GB News is in the spotlight once again, this time for broadcasting misogynist comments made by Laurence Fox about a female ...
09.29.2023 You Ask Us: What was behind Suella Braverman's speech on immigration? The Home Secretary made a speech this week in Washington to a right-wing US think tank called the American Enterprise Institute. She made a number eye-catching statements, including “a misguided dogma of multiculturalism” has proven “toxic” for Europe, and the ...
09.28.2023 Who really controls Britain's right wing? The Conservatives have been in power for more than 13 years under five different prime ministers. We have experienced Cameroon austerity, Mayite statism, Johnsonite populism, and Trussite libertarianism. But who now wields the greatest influence among the Tories and on ...
09.25.2023 IQ fetishism, in Silicon Valley and beyond Where does the concept of IQ fetishism originate? And why has it resurfaced in contemporary discussions, particularly within the tech-right movement? Join historian Quinn Slobodian as he discusses how IQ-based hierarchies have influenced societal perceptions and policies and the potential ...
09.23.2023 The philosopher and the crypto king: Sam Bankman-Fried and the effective altruism delusion \| Audio Long Read At the time of writing, the crypto billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried is due to stand trial on 3 October 2023. He stands accused of fraud and money-laundering on an epic scale through his currency exchange FTX. Did he gamble with other ...
09.22.2023 You Ask Us: How might a Labour government manage a Trump government? With both the UK and US elections coming into view, the team consider what's happening with Labour's foreign policy agenda and how the relationship between a Labour government and a Trump government could play out. And another question from a ...
09.21.2023 Rishi Sunak and his environmental straw men This Wednesday Rishi Sunak gave a speech rolling back on the government’s Net Zero pledges, pushing back the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035, scrapping plans to force landlords to upgrade the ...
09.18.2023 Trussonomics isn't dead Liz Truss thought she had two years to save the economy, but her mini-budget caused it all to blow up in less than two months. We're now a year on from her chaotic 49 day premiership, but there are groups ...
09.16.2023 How Chile (almost) democratised Big Tech \| Audio Long Read Fifty years after Salvador Allende was ousted, might his greatest legacy be his battle with the emerging tech giants? On 1 August 1973, a seemingly mundane diplomatic summit took place in Lima, Peru. But there was nothing mundane about its ...
09.15.2023 You Ask Us: Why are so many councils going bust? Since being recently surpassed by India, Britain has the world's sixth largest economy. But, one listener asks, how do we square this position with the reality of our crumbling services? And on the subject of government funding, another listener asks: ...

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