Boris Johnson has been caught red-handed and forced to admit that he attended a party in the Downing Street garden in May 2020, however he claimed that he believed it was a “work event”. Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea, discuss his chances of survival and the awkward questions this culture of insouciance raises for his potential successors . Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks if Labour is right to speak positively about Tony Blair and the New&n...
Jan 13, 2022•38 min
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms. This final episode examines Margaret Thatcher’s premiership. The first woman to be prime minister and one of the Conservative Party’s most successful election winners, she was a divisive figure in British politics, and her legacy remains so. Thatcher won three general elections before being deposed...
Jan 11, 2022•48 min
Boris Johnson’s approval rating plummeted at the end of 2021 following a string of Christmas parties at No 10, sleaze scandals and senior resignations – and his troubles continue into 2022. Anoosh Chakelian and Stephen Bush discuss whether the Prime Minister can survive as energy bills soar , taxes rise in April and pressure mounts on an overwhelmed and underfunded NHS . Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks what’s behind the Gree...
Jan 07, 2022•33 min
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms. This episode examines John Major’s premiership. Major inherited a majority government in 1990 after Margaret Thatcher was driven out of office. Against the odds, he won the 1992 election. But, in the wake of economic upheaval following Black Wednesday and a Conservative civil war, as well as the ch...
Jan 04, 2022•50 min
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms. This episode focuses on Tony Blair. As one of the architects of New Labour, he returned the party to power after 18 years. Blair went on to win three elections, but will be remembered for his decision to lead Britain to war in Iraq and his battle with his chancellor and successor Gordon Brown. ...
Dec 31, 2021•58 min
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms. This episode focuses on Gordon Brown. When the former chancellor of the exchequer took office, he emphasised his breach with his predecessor Tony Blair. Despite a promising start, his popularity ratings crumbled when the country was plunged into financial crisis. Brown left office three years into ...
Dec 28, 2021•47 min
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms. This episode focuses on David Cameron. A special adviser during the Major government, he eventually succeeded his old boss, Michael Howard, as party leader and took the Conservatives back into government, albeit in a coalition. After winning a majority in 2015, he lost the Brexit referendum that fo...
Dec 24, 2021•49 min
Welcome to Prime Ministerial. Each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms. Episode one focuses on Theresa May. May took office in the aftermath of the vote to leave the EU, she promised to unite the country – but her premiership ended in humiliation after just three years in the wake of losing her majority and failing to get a withdrawal agreement through parliament. ...
Dec 21, 2021•52 min
The Conservative Party has lost North Shropshire for the first time in nearly 200 years, to the Liberal Democrats. The shocking defeat follows months of sleaze and Christmas party scandals, and with new Plan B Covid restrictions, confidence in Boris Johnson’s leadership has collapsed. Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss the mood on the ground in North Shropshire and the story behind this anti-Conservative vote. In You Ask Us, a listener wonders what th...
Dec 17, 2021•33 min
New Statesman data journalist Ben Walker joins Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush in our monthly polling update. They discuss the impact of the No 10 Christmas party revelations, the public’s appetite for Covid restrictions, how inflation could influence the way people vote, and what might happen in the North Shropshire by-election on 16 December. Then in You Ask Ben: Ben answers listeners' questions on the reliability of snap polling and the desire for Scottish independen...
Dec 14, 2021•29 min
Allegra Stratton has resigned as a government adviser after a video that showed her laughing about a Downing Street Christmas party, reportedly held during the peak of lockdown in December last year, was leaked to the media. The government continues to deny that the party took place. Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss whether the scandal spells the beginning of the end for Boris Johnson and the extraordinary timing of new C...
Dec 09, 2021•33 min
Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush interview the former Conservative chief whip Mark Harper MP. They discuss his journey from chief whip under David Cameron to becoming a high-profile Tory rebel under Boris Johnson, his 2019 leadership campaign and why Keir Starmer’s new top team reminds him of Ed Miliband. If you have a question for You Ask Us, email [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 07, 2021•23 min
Keir Starmer carried out a surprise shake-up of the top ranks of the Labour Party this week. Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss who’s up and who’s down, and what the reshuffle signals for the party . Then, in You Ask Us a listener questions why Boris Johnson continues to be regarded as an electoral asset by Conservative MPs given Rishi Sunak’s popularity. If you have a question for You Ask Us, email [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See...
Dec 03, 2021•24 min
In this special episode of the New Statesman podcast in partnership with Lloyds Bank, Britain Editor Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Hannah Essex, co-executive director of the British Chambers of Commerce and Mark Burton, Head of Regions, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking to talk levelling up. They discuss the government’s levelling up agenda, why there is such regional inequality in the UK and what can be done to rebalance the economy. For more information on how Lloyds Bank can support...
Dec 01, 2021•24 min
Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelian interview Thangam Debbonaire, the Labour MP and shadow leader of the House of Commons. They talk about the missteps of Jacob Rees-Mogg, whether MPs should have second jobs , and Labour's prospects of winning a general election. If you have a question for You Ask Us, email [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 30, 2021•26 min
In what was an avoidable tragedy, at least 27 people have died trying to reach the UK after their boat capsized in the English Channel. Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss the political context that allowed this to happen, and its implications for the government. Then, in You Ask Us, a listener wonders whether the Northern Ireland shadow secretary Louise Haigh made a gaffe by saying Labour would remain neutral in a poll on Irish unification. If you have a question...
Nov 26, 2021•33 min
In the first of our monthly devolution specials, Stephen Bush is joined by the New Statesman 's Scotland editor Chris Deerin to examine the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. They discuss the interview in Holyrood magazine with Jack McConnell, the last Labour member to serve as first minister of Scotland, and answer a listener’s question on why Plaid Cymru hasn't been to replicate in Wales the SNP's success in Scotland. If you have a question for You Ask Us...
Nov 23, 2021•27 min
The UN climate summit ended with the president of Cop26, Alok Sharma, in tears , after the conference united behind a “watered down” agreement in which coal power will be “phased down” rather than “phased out”. Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian discuss what really happened in those final days in Glasgow and where the world goes from here to tackle climate change. They highlight the political challenges for the government and who will bear the brunt of the UK's ...
Nov 19, 2021•23 min
The Standards Committee chair Chris Bryant joins Anoosh Chakelian, Stephen Bush and Ailbhe Rea to discuss the ongoing fallout from the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal. They talk about whether the UK is a corrupt country, how the scandal could affect the reputation of all MPs and why this moment feels similar to the run-up to the 1997 general election. If you have a question for You Ask Us, send an email or a voice note to [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See...
Nov 16, 2021•25 min
Geoffrey Cox is the latest MP to come under fire over his extra earnings for legal work outside of his parliamentary duties. It follows the resignation of MP Owen Paterson after he was found to have breached lobbying rules, as well as criticism over the way the government awarded Covid-related contracts. Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian discuss the ethics of MPs’ side-gigs and why the row is such a headache for Boris Johnson . ...
Nov 12, 2021•24 min
Ailbhe Rea is joined by New Statesman data journalist Ben Walker for the first of a monthly look at what’s going on in the opinion polls . They look at the current state of the parties, what polls can and can’t tell you and why the don’t knows really matter. Then in You Ask Us, they answer a number of listener’s questions including how polling methodologies differ and what it would take to get a hung parliament If you have a question for You Ask Us, email [email protected] Hosted on Ac...
Nov 09, 2021•22 min
The government has performed a spectacular U-turn over the controversial blocking of Conservative MP Owen Paterson’s suspension for breaching lobbying rules. Ailbhe Rea is joined by New Statesman’s deputy online editor Rachel Cunliffe and Tim Durrant from the Institute for Government to discuss the scandal as it unfolds. What is the damage for the government and parliament more generally? This was recorded before Owen Paterson announced his resignation as MP. Then in You Ask Us, to what end does...
Nov 05, 2021•25 min
In the final part of our special series on the politics of climate change, Anoosh Chakelian and Environment and Sustainability Editor Philippa Nuttall speak to former Norwegian energy minister Tony C. Tiller. They discuss Norway’s success in rolling out heat pumps. With around 60% of homes fitted with them, Norway has the most successful roll out in Europe; so what can the UK learn from this success as heat pumps form a major part of the UK’s Heat and Buildings strategy . They ...
Nov 02, 2021•18 min
Stephen Bush and Anoosh Chakelian are joined by special guest former Chief Secretary to the Treasury and New Statesman contributing writer David Gauke to discuss how the Chancellor’s budget went down the morning after. They talk about why the response was muted on Conservative benches , where the chancellor focussed his spending pledges and why, and whether Labour’s response hit the mark. Then in You Ask Us, they answer a listener’s question on why Conservative MPs voted to allow the release of ...
Oct 28, 2021•33 min
In this special episode of the New Statesman Podcast , in association with Smart Energy GB, Ailbhe Rea and guest co-host Philippa Nuttall discuss how the ways we use energy in the future will change, and what we can do to make sure that change benefits everyone including the most vulnerable. They are joined by Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Emergency Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse and Iagan Macneil, from Smart Energy GB, to talk about what changes could make a diffe...
Oct 26, 2021•24 min
A week after the death of the Southend West MP David Amess , Anoosh Chakelian and Stephen Bush discuss how MPs have reflected on the incident , what might make a difference to the security of MPs and why some MPs have been talking about online abuse. Then in You Ask Us, they answer a listener’s question on the New Labour era and whether there are any lessons modern day Labour could learn from it. If you have a question for You Ask Us email [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Oct 22, 2021•26 min
In this special episode of the New Statesman podcast, in association with Smart Energy GB, Anoosh Chakelian and guest co-host Philippa Nuttall discuss how we can improve our homes and workplaces to reduce our dependence on energy They are joined by Adrian Joyce, from the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings and the Renovate Europe campaign and Iagan MacNeil, from Smart Energy GB, to talk about the challenges of upgrading old stock, how to deal with...
Oct 19, 2021•33 min
Multiple crises are putting unprecedented pressure on the economy and state institutions, and look set to last for months. As winter approaches, could this spell disaster for the government? In this episode of the New Statesman Podcast , Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman’s executive editor of politics Tim Ross to discuss the latest negotiations over the Northern Ireland protocol and whether, despite Boris Johnson’s assurances, Britain is on the brink . Then in You Ask...
Oct 15, 2021•28 min
In this special episode of the New Statesman podcast, in association with Smart Energy GB, Stephen Bush and guest co-host Philippa Nuttall discuss how to convince people to change their behaviour to reduce emissions. They are joined by Ruth Mourik, the founder of Research for Benefit organisation Duneworks, and Rob Cheesewright, from Smart Energy GB, to talk about the challenges of getting people on board, which countries are doing it well and why we need to stop talking about carbon. Smart Ener...
Oct 12, 2021•30 min
Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush reflect on Boris Johnson’s conference speech. They discuss whether Tory members love Johnson - but not Johnsonism , the spontaneous applause for the argument capitalism was responsible for the success of the vaccine programme and Johnson’s many omissions . In part two, we have special correspondent at the New Statesman, Sophie McBain, on the show to discuss her long read on rape culture and the crisis in British schools. If you have a question for Yo...
Oct 08, 2021•28 min
