'You walk around the country and you know something's off' - After a bruising passage of the government's heavily altered welfare reform bill, for the sake of just a few billion pounds, many are left wondering where does the government and the country go now? In this episode, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by colleagues Tom McTague, Will Dunn and Megan Kenyon to discuss the urgent yet seemingly intractable systemic changes now needed to the State and tax system. READ Just raise tax - Will Dunn LISTE...
Jul 02, 2025•34 min
With some calling for the Director-General of the BBC to resign, Somerset police launching a criminal investigation and the US Deputy Secretary of State revoking visas, the political fireworks at this year's Glastonbury were even more sensational than the pyramid stage's. But what was it like on the ground? In this edition of the New Statesman culture podcast, Kate Mossman is joined by colleagues Finn McRedmond, Will Lloyd and Nick Harris to discuss it all. Also in the show, Will has strong view...
Jul 01, 2025•34 min
With yet another U-turn from the government, the fate of the welfare bill is left in the hands of the backbenchers. In this episode, Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Editor-in-Chief Tom McTague and business editor Will Dunn to discuss the potential consequences of defeat in Tuesday night's vote, Rachel Reeves‘ precarious position and how we got here in the first place. READ A humbling week for Keir Starmer - Andrew Marr Your next Listen: “Sack Rachel Reeves” demand Labour MPs over welfare reforms Si...
Jun 30, 2025•34 min
Was Margaret Thatcher really some 'evil dictator' who's legacy still looms large over Britain? Or was she something else entirely? Broadcaster and author Iain Dale talks to Rachel Cunliffe about his new book, Margaret Thatcher , and why he wanted to dispel some of the myths and mistruths about the Iron Lady. READ Inside the false economy of Rachel Reeves’ welfare cuts - Anoosh Chakelian YOUR NEXT LISTEN “Sack Rachel Reeves” demand Labour MPs over welfare reforms SIGN UP: For a dose of political ...
Jun 29, 2025•33 min
Too many people in the UK are stuck anxiously waiting up to a year for a dementia diagnosis — and even longer in more deprived areas. In this episode, we explore why early and accurate diagnosis matters, and what must change to fix the system. Host Sarah Dawood is joined by Samantha Benham-Hermetz, Executive Director at Alzheimer’s Research UK; Chris Bane, Alzheimer’s Research UK supporter; and Professor Vanessa Raymont, Consultant Psychiatrist and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford...
Jun 28, 2025•24 min
Our listeners ask: How long will the government continue to support Israel after its actions in Gaza? Also in the show, one listener asks why longstanding issues like council tax reform are perennially ignored, another whether there could ever be a true 'red tory' faction in the Conservative party. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Tom McTague and Rachel Cunliffe. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us Hosted on Acast...
Jun 27, 2025•26 min
Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton to discuss the the growing rebellion among Labour MPs over the government's welfare reform bill, and how many government figures may go in the fallout. READ: Keir Starmer faces war on all fronts - Andrew Marr Labour is locked in a vicious blame game - George Eaton SIGN UP: For a dose of political analysis every morning, sign up for our newsletter morningcall.substack.com JOIN US: Subscribe to the New Statesman to get all our reporting fr...
Jun 26, 2025•17 min
“The proliferation toothpaste does not go back in the tube” - Ankit Panda - YOUR NEXT LISTEN: Trump's Ceasefire: From bunker bombs to F bombs - With events in Iran bringing the question of nuclear weapons back to the forefront of international news, where does the world go next? In this episode senior editor Katie Stallard speaks to Ankit Panda, author of The New Nuclear Age: At the Precipice of Armageddon, about the growing nuclear instability sweeping the globe and what, if anything, can be do...
Jun 25, 2025•32 min
Publicly at least, most American Presidents have "held their tongue" over their disputes with Israel - Trump is a "different kettle of fish." - YOUR NEXT LISTEN: Iran War: "Our economy will be smashed" - The Trump-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran has gotten off to a shaky start. Both sides have accused the other of violating the agreement, with Israel incurring the expletive-laden wrath of the US president in the process. So what happens now? In this episode Anoosh Chakelian is joined ...
Jun 24, 2025•20 min
Diplomacy has been "pushed aside" after Donald Trump bombed Iran - leaving Britain "weak". - YOUR NEXT LISTEN: Trump bombs Iran - Donald Trump has hinted in a social media that he would be in favour of regime change in Iran. His government have said otherwise. Elsewhere, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has so far refused to say whether the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites was legal. Does the UK government quietly approve of Trump’s actions? In this episode our associate political editor Rach...
Jun 23, 2025•33 min
“American citizens will die” - Lee Siegel — YOUR NEXT LISTEN: Will Starmer back Trump on Iran? — Donald Trump announced on Sunday that US forces have bombed three nuclear sites in Iran. The attack comes after weeks of speculation about whether the US will follow Israel into war with Iran, after claims that Iran has enriched enough material to fuel nuclear weapons. In this emergency episode, Freddie Hayward speaks to the New Statesman’s columnist Lee Siegel, who explains that “it’s hard to see th...
Jun 22, 2025•27 min
Our listeners ask: Do Labour have a realistic chance of winning the next election, and can Reform become a party for all regions of the UK? Also in the show, another listener asks how much is being done, or ever really has been, over the issue of class in British society and politics? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton and Rachel Cunliffe. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Jun 20, 2025•17 min
Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton, Freddie Hayward and Rachel Cunliffe to discuss the fast moving situation in the Middle East, how the UK Government is wrangling with an unpredictable US President and also unpick the news of a new national inquiry into grooming gangs. SIGN UP: For a dose of political analysis every morning, sign up for our newsletter morningcall.substack.com JOIN US: Subscribe to the New Statesman to get all our reporting from £8.99 a month www.newstatesman.com/pod25 S...
Jun 19, 2025•26 min
Is there a route to de-escalation between Israel and Iran? -- YOUR NEXT LISTEN: As Gaza faces famine, where does the US stand on Isreal? -- On Friday, the 13th of June, Israel launched a surprise attack on multiple targets across Iran. Israel strikes hit missile sites and nuclear facilities, and more recently also targeted Iranian state tv. The two nations have subsequently traded missile attacks over the following days, an escalation to the conflict, which is now the biggest between these two l...
Jun 17, 2025•34 min
Andrew Marr, Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe review Rachel Reeves's latest financial statement. LISTEN NEXT: What Keir Starmer can't say - NS editor Tom McTague on his profile of the Prime Minister https://pod.fo/e/2e40f0 -- Rachel Reeves unveiled her latest spending review this week. Andrew, Anoosh and Rachel unpack the winners and losers, and discuss what the spending review reveals about the government's priorities. READ: Rachel Reeves's economic credibility is on the line https://www.ne...
Jun 13, 2025•18 min
Keir Starmer had tears in his eyes as he spoke of the death of his brother. The Prime Minister was talking with the New Statesman's new editor, Tom McTague, about how his personal life informs how he runs the country. Tom has spent weeks accompanying and interviewing Keir Starmer for an extensive profile published in the latest issue of the New Statesman. In this extended interview, Tom speaks with deputy editor Will Lloyd to discuss what he learned about the man who leads the government. Read t...
Jun 12, 2025•41 min
Jeremy Hunt held an extensive number of briefs in successive Conservative cabinets; culture secretary, health secretary, foreign secretary, and chancellor. He's now back on the back benches after just holding onto his seat, focusing his time on "reading and writing". Last week he published a new book "Can We Be Great Again? - looking at Britain’s global position, and in Hunt’s opinion, why it could be greater. Is this part of his bid for the Tory leadership? And with the rise of Reform would he ...
Jun 09, 2025•32 min
If you live in a new build, or know someone who does, who might already be all too familiar with the fact that Britain has a housing problem. Yes we have a severe shortage of housing, and the government has promised to build 1.5million new homes by the end of parliament - but something which is affecting many people but remains underreported is the terrible quality of the houses being built. Will Dunn is joined by Anoosh Chakelian who has written this week's cover story: Britain’s new-build nigh...
Jun 06, 2025•29 min
There's a gap on the left and several figures have stepped forward to fill it! Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and George Eaton to discuss Andy Burnham's leadership pitch, Jeremy Corbyn's Gaza inquiry, dysfunction in no 10, and what the hell Robert Jenrick is doing on the internet. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 05, 2025•23 min
If there's one thing that the president loves, it's money. Recently, Trump has turned his attention to crypto - going into business with his sons and also launching $TRUMP and $MELANIA memecoins. But while this is one of Donald Trump’s latest passion projects, it joins a long, long list of business ventures over his lengthy career. A story that in reality involves a long list of failed business ventures, tax evasion, and multiple bankruptcies. So how has Donald Trump manage to fail upwards for m...
Jun 03, 2025•35 min
With Reform being a right-wing populist movement, and splitting Tory voters. Why is there a lack of a strong left-wing populist party?, one listener asks. And another listener, Damon, writes in to ask, Why are fishing rights on the agenda with regards to this latest EU deal? Do you agree that France has a disproportionate influence on the EU? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton and Rachel Cunliffe. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question fo...
May 30, 2025•16 min
Winter fuel cuts? Two child benefit gap? Rachel Reeves' fiscal rules? Angela Rayner? The team discuss what will stay and what will have to go for Labour in the coming weeks and months, and where Nigel Farage is lurking to capitalise on Labour and Tory struggles. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton and Rachel Cunliffe. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
May 29, 2025•18 min
Last week, the Israeli military launched a major new ground assault on Gaza. The aim, according to Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is to force the surrender of Hamas, free the remaining Israeli hostages, and bring the entire territory under Israel’s control. The UK, France and Canada have demanded Israel halt "its military operations" and "immediately allow aid" in. While Trump spoke about his support for Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu during his campaign, in recent weeks his patience see...
May 26, 2025•38 min
The former Labour prime minister speaks to the New Statesman Podcast about how the government can reduce levels of child poverty. Read: Gordon Brown: the moral economist Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 23, 2025•24 min
Starmer has sealed the deal with the EU, U-turned on winter fuel, and made a marked departure on the UK's stance on Israel. This has been a big week for Labour, but how will it wash with the public? Anoosh Chakelian is drawn by the New Statesman's political editor Andrew Marr, senior editor George Eaton, and senior data journalist Ben Walker. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...
May 22, 2025•26 min
Seven per cent of British children attend private school – a tiny minority – and yet they retain a grip on our elite institutions. The latest figures show that 65% of judges, 44% of newspaper columnists and 23% of MPs were independently educated. Fee-paying schools, however, do not merely cater for the privileged few, but hard-working aspirational parents who want the best for their children. They also allow for a quality that is essential in all aspects of raising children: choice. Is this two-...
May 21, 2025•48 min
In our teenage years, music can be everything. But as we age, our relationship with music changes. Alice Vincent was a music journalist for many years, and in this frank conversation tells Kate Mossman how childbirth, PTSD and depression turned her love of music into something darker. In her new book, Hark: How women listen , Alice recounts her quest to rediscover the power of music as an adult, a mother and after mental health battles. In this conversation, Alice and Kate discuss how her quest ...
May 19, 2025•31 min
“Having moved on from Blue Labour, which other policies will Turquoise Labour adopt from the far right?"; “Given that they are a break on everything, should the Treasury department be abolished?”; “What would happen if Labour and the Conservatives got completely wiped out at the general election and the Lib Dems and Greens also had bad polling results and the Reform party suddenly lost its mojo? Could a government function or would King Charles have to step in?” Anoosh Chakelian is joined by And...
May 16, 2025•17 min
This week saw potentially the boldest moment of Keir Starmer’s leadership, as the Government announced its white paper - Restoring Control over the Immigration System. According to the Prime Minister, it marks a a significant overhaul of UK immigration policy. The headlines, however, have been less kind - focussing on the wording of his speech announcing the plans, specifically on the phrase ‘island of strangers’... Some were quick to compare this to Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ spe...
May 15, 2025•32 min
For the first time, the Conclave of cardinals at the Vatican have elected an American pope. Pope Leo XIV has ascended to the papacy following the death of his modernising predecessor, Pope Francis. Katie Stallard is joined by writer Madoc Cairns and the New Statesman’s Finn McRedmond to discuss Francis’s legacy and Leo’s future. Read: Pope Francis's illusions Read: Pope Leo XIV's centrist papacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 14, 2025•32 min
