The Politics Show

Over 80 MPs are calling for Keir Starmer’s resignation, reaching the threshold required for a contender to mount a leadership challenge, with ministers - including Jess Philips - resigning from government too.

After a high stakes meeting this morning, several cabinet members voiced their support for the Prime Minister, as he defiantly vowed to “get on with governing”.

Will the Prime Minister survive the week?

READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/05/tracked-the-labour-mps-calling-for-keir-starmer-to-go

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Keir Starmer has pledged to “prove the doubters wrong” as he tries to head off a leadership challenge after the disastrous local election results last week.

Fighting for his political life, the PM announced plans for stronger ties with the EU, powers to nationalise British steel and a scheme to help young people find work. But will it be enough?

Many of his own party don’t seem to think so, with his former Deputy PM Angela Rayner calling for Andy Burnham to come back to Parliament.

Backbench MP Catherine West even threatened to mount a leadership challenge against Starmer, but has now backed down and called on him to go by September.

READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/westminster/2026/05/labour-faces-civil-war-to-replace-starmer

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Results from the local and devolved are coming in. It has been, as many expected, a disappointing result for the Labour Party.

Meanwhile, the insurgent parties, the Green Party to an extent, but especially Reform, have delivered on their promise of snowballing momentum.

Anoosh Chakelian is joined by senior data journalist Ben Walker, political editor Ailbhe Rea and editor-in-chief Tom McTague.

READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/may-2026/2026/05/live-results-map-wales-scotland-and-local-elections

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The UK is gearing up for local and devolved elections on Thursday.

As Keir Starmer looks increasingly isolated as Prime Minister, much is being made of a potentially disastrous few days for the Labour Party. If results go as badly for Labour as some are predicting, this could be the end for the PM.

Meanwhile, the insurgent Reform and Green parties are looking to continue their surging momentum.

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Crowds of young people chant his name but the Green leader is "nervous", says Ailbhe Rea.

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A year ago, Zack Polanksi was relatively unknown. Now, he's leading an "eco-populist" movement that has revitalised the Green Party and looks likely to propel a left-wing surge in the May local elections.

Ailbhe Rea profiled the Green leader for the New Statesman, meeting him shortly after he'd been addressing young activists. She found a "sweet, slightly nervous" man who admits he still has much to learn about running a political party.

Here Ailbhe speaks to Anoosh Chakelian about Zack Polanski's political position, his unusual background, and the lessons he might learn from Jeremy Corbyn.

LISTEN NEXT:

Attacks on Jews are an indictment of Keir Starmer's Britain

READ:

Zack Polanski is still learning

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Parliament boozers, Morgan McSweeney vs Emily Thornberry, and King Charles' stand-up routine.

Will and Anoosh discuss another big week.

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"It makes me furious," says New Statesman editor Tom McTague.

 An attack in Golders Green, London, yet again exposes the rise of antisemitism in Britain. Anoosh Chakelian has been reporting from the borough, where local Jews fear for their safety, volunteer security guards patrol the streets and Jewish children have to pass through heavy security cordons to get to school. She tells editor Tom McTague about what she found.

Meanwhile, the rise of anti-Jewish hate is putting more pressure on a government still mired in the Peter Mandelson scandal. The Prime Minister has become deeply unpopular, the Iran War continues, and local elections loom.

Westminster has concluded Keir Starmer has two options: fight or flight. The New Statesman's political editor, Ailbhe Rea, says the Prime Minister has made a decision and raised his fists. 

READ:

Terror in Golders Green, by Anoosh Chakelian

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/society/2026/04/terror-in-suburbia

We are under attack, by Rachel Cunliffe

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/society/2026/04/we-are-under-attack

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The inevitability of the Peter Mandelson scandal, Jacob Rees-Mogg’s live show, and the rising cost of condoms…

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

READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/04/whos-afraid-of-olly-robbins

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/the-sketch/2026/04/jacob-rees-mogg-relishes-the-limelight

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The Mandelson affair has become less about Peter Mandelson’s alleged wrongdoing, and all about Keir Starmer’s ability to run the country.

This week Olly Robbins, former chief civil servant at the Foreign Office, insisted the Prime Minister pressured him into clearing Peter Mandelson for the US ambassador post.

Yesterday, Starmer was forced to admit his former spin doctor Matthew Doyle, who was suspended from the Labour Party over campaigning for a convicted child sex offender, was also considered for a diplomatic role. 

Labour MPs and even cabinet ministers no longer seem able to defend the Prime Minister.

But the frontrunners to replace Starmer are also, according to reporting by our editor Tom McTague, biding their time.

How long can they wait? How long can the country wait?

Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Tom McTague in the studio.

READ: Keir Starmer is all alone

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2026/04/keir-starmer-is-all-alone

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Does Keir Starmer deserve more credit for keeping us out of a third Gulf war? Is Farage's relationship with Trump hurting Reform's polling? And who are the bright young things in British politics?

Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Tom McTague and Ailbhe Rea to answer your questions.

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