When Labour won Westminster Council from the Conservatives in 2022, they made history. Now in power for the first time ever, the Labour council leadership is faced with the challenge and opportunity of running one of the UK’s richest councils – inheriting what council leader Adam Hug calls “mediocre” and “wasteful” Conservative policies. In this revealing interview, Anoosh Chakelian and Harry Lambert go behind the scenes of local government to ask the Westminster Council leader how he hopes to a...
Jul 31, 2023•28 min
The Conservative Private Members Committee, informally known as the 1922 Committee (or the ’22), is the Tory confessional, its trade union and backbenchers’ common room. If that makes it sound chaotic (and it sometimes is) it is also the assassination bureau that felled Margaret Thatcher , and, more recently, three prime ministers in four years: Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Will it come for Rishi Sunak before the next election? In this week’s richly detailed and highly enterta...
Jul 29, 2023•27 min
Anoosh Chakelian and Freddie Hayward answer your questions. After a routing in 2015, the Liberal Democrats have languished as a minor player in the Commons while the SNP have enjoyed the advantages of being the third largest party in parliament. Their positions could reverse at the next election. Our listener asks how politics would change if the Lib Dems became the third largest party. Liz Truss’ premiership proved disastrous for the Conservatives – but did it scar Labour too?...
Jul 28, 2023•16 min
Keir Starmer has faced criticism for appearing to water down some key environmental policies, particularly in light of Labour's narrow defeat in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election. But is that criticism fair? Anoosh Chakelian and Freddie Hayward discuss how perceived opposition to the Net Zero agenda and schemes like London's Ulez have impacted the green policies of both Labour and the Conservatives, and how this is being viewed by voters. Submit a question: https://www.newstatesman.com/...
Jul 27, 2023•11 min
Shadowy forces, deep state actors in the pay of nefarious oligarchs... or an important part of the political ecosystem? Rachel Cunliffe meets senior figures from three think tanks from across the political spectrum to find out how think tanks work, how they are funded, and the role they play in creating public policy. Guests: Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) Carys Roberts, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Matthew Lawrence, found...
Jul 24, 2023•30 min
When Saudi cinemas reopened in 2018, for the first time in 35 years, they screened the Marvel movie Black Panther. Many saw parallels between the kingdom and the fictional world of Wakanda, as crown prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled ambitious plans for modernisation and an economy that would diversify away from oil, investing in futuristic projects such as Neom, a half-trillion-dollar city. Saudi Arabia has since sought to position itself as a global investment powerhouse, focusing on tourism,...
Jul 22, 2023•36 min
In a terrible night of results for Rishi Sunak in rural England, Labour faltered in outer London. Rachel Cunliffe, Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth and Ben Walker analyse the results of the by-elections in Somerton and Frome, Selby and Ainsty, and Boris Johnson’s old seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. Submit a question: https://www.newstatesman.com/YouAskUs Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...
Jul 21, 2023•25 min
Keir Starmer says he’ll keep the two-child cap on benefits. Is this a knee-jerk reaction to public opinion, or an attempt at “fiscal discipline”? The New Statesman Podcast team answer your questions. The Labour leader has risked the anger of his own MPs by apparently reneging on a previous commitment to reverse limits on child benefit introduced by George Osborne under austerity. Angela Rayner has called the cap “barbaric”, and Starmer himself has previously said Labour would reverse it. S...
Jul 20, 2023•26 min
Stephen Flynn, Westminster leader of the SNP, speaks to Zoë Grünewald at the New Statesman's Politics Live conference. They discuss the SNP’s ambitions for Scottish independence in the light of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation, arrest and subsequent release, and how a Labour government under Keir Starmer might relate to the SNP over issues including Brexit in remain-voting Scotland. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the New Statesman's Politics Live conference on 27th June 20...
Jul 17, 2023•23 min
Since 2018, prime minister Pedro Sánchez has led a surprisingly durable and impactful Spanish government, implementing progressive policies such as improved rights for abortion, transgender people and migrants. His coalition government has repositioned Spain as a European “pivot” state, a bridge between north and south, east and west. Its economy is predicted to grow faster than that of Germany, France and Italy. But will any of this be enough to keep Sanchez in power after the 23 July general e...
Jul 15, 2023•22 min
The Conservatives are on track to lose the next election. Who would lead them in opposition? Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth and Zoë Grünewald answer a listener question on the senior Conservatives who currently look most likely to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader. They also address whether Keir Starmer will survive as leader of the Labour party until the next election, if unhappy Labour MPs will stick with him – and what the risks to his leadership might be. Read Zoë’s interview with David...
Jul 14, 2023•19 min
Keir Starmer has finished announcing Labour’s five missions. Are they enough to get Labour into government? Vocational education, social mobility, and breaking the “class ceiling” – Labour’s final "mission" was designed to represent the party’s core values. Keir Starmer's mission-based approach is supposed to give us an insight into how a Labour government might lead the country. Anoosh Chakelian, host of the New Statesman podcast, Zoë Grünewald, political reporter for the New Statesman, a...
Jul 13, 2023•16 min
In this wide-ranging interview with Rachel Wearmouth, Keir Starmer discusses the “really damaged economy” Labour will inherit if they win the next election – and attacks Rishi Sunak for being “out of touch” with ordinary people. Speaking in front of a live audience at the New Statesman politics live conference on 27 June 2023, Starmer said a Labour government would have to “go at pace” to rebuild public services, but refused to commit to recommended public sector pay rises. He also addressed cla...
Jul 10, 2023•28 min
Anoosh, Freddie and Zoë answer your questions in You Ask Us. Keir Starmer has said that voter reform is not a priority for the Labour party. But in the event of a hung parliament at the next election, he may look to the Liberal Democrats – who have long campaigned for proportional representation – for support. Could this sway his hand to change the electoral system? A new survey revealed Andy Burnham is the second most popular politician in the country. The Manchester Mayor has run for the Labou...
Jul 07, 2023•16 min
The UK is experiencing higher inflation than any other G7 country. Ed Conway, Economics editor for Sky News, joins Anoosh, Freddie and Zoë on the New Statesman podcast to explain why Britain appears caught in a "contagious" cycle of economic pain - and why Rishi Sunak and the Bank of England appear unable to break it. Read Ed Conway's cover story for this week's New Statesman magazine, "Broke Britannia", here: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2023/07/broke-britannia-uk-inflation Sig...
Jul 06, 2023•28 min
Following Yevgeny Prigozhin's short-lived mutiny in Russia, the New Statesman 's China and Global Affairs Editor Katie Stallard speaks to the historian Vladislav Zubok about what the failed rebellion means for the future of Vladimir Putin's regime. Zubok is professor of international history at the London School of Economics and the author of multiple books including Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union . They discuss why Prigozhin decided to act when he did, what the cri...
Jul 03, 2023•27 min
In this bonus episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, meets Phil Whitaker , the New Statesman ’s medical editor and a working GP, at his surgery in Somerset, to have a conversation chaired by Anoosh Chakelian. They clash over Streeting’s plans for GPs and how best to take pressure off hospitals, and discuss what the yardsticks for success will be for a Labour government and the existential threat to the health service posed by the Torie...
Jul 01, 2023•59 min
In this week’s You Ask Us, our polling expert Ben Walker joins the podcast to answer some of your queries. With so many senior MPs standing down at the next election, might there still be a “Portillo moment” when a high-profile Conservative loses their seat, and who will it be? The team also answer consider which party is better placed to win over rural voters, Labour or the Lib Dems? Submit your question for You Ask Us at newstatesman.com/youaskus ...
Jun 30, 2023•25 min
Following Nicola Sturgeon’s evidence session at the Covid inquiry in London, the New Statesman ’s Scotland editor, Chris Deerin, joins Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss what she had to say. They chat about how much the prospect of a no-deal Brexit affected pandemic planning in Scotland, what the relationship between Holyrood and Westminster was like at the time, and how the former first minister tried to land political blows on the UK government during her testimony. Then, t...
Jun 29, 2023•26 min
Have the newspapers decided who they are going to back at the next general election and if they have will it actually have any impact? The New Statesman’s media correspondent, Will Turvill, joins Rachel Cunliffe to discuss his research into the main papers’ editorials to understand what they might say at the next election and why it still matters. They talk about how endorsements can set the broadcast media agenda, if papers follow readers or lead them – and why Murdoch w...
Jun 26, 2023•17 min
In today’s special You Ask Us episode of the New Statesman Podcast , Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward to answer listeners’ questions: They discuss what role Angela Rayner might have in a Starmer government and whether she’s being sidelined. Then they tackle a question on whether Boris Johnson could return to politics through the House of Lords. If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskus . Subscribe to Morning Call Ho...
Jun 23, 2023•14 min
As the Bank of England raises interest rates again after worse than expected inflation figures, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr, Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward to discuss what it all means for voters, the government and the opposition. They discuss why the Conservatives seem unable to come up with a plan to deal with the approaching mortgage crisis, whether Labour’s proposals go far enough and what difference a future Labour government might make to the state of the economy. You ...
Jun 22, 2023•18 min
In this special podcast from the Spotlight team in partnership with Smart Energy GB we're looking at how smart meters can help bring down energy bills. From July ofgem, the regulator, will be reducing the price cap on energy. But household bills in Britain are expected to stay high. The government has an aim for all homes to be offered a smart meter by 2025. If you don't have a smart meter installed in your home, it can be harder to understand your energy use and to control spending. Host Becky ...
Jun 21, 2023•21 min
As Labour starts to set out its policy agenda for the next election, Anoosh Chakelian speaks to one of the people who helped shape it. Claire Ainsley worked in Starmer’s policy team from 2020 to 2022 – before that she was at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and is now a director at the Progressive Policy Institute. They discuss how radical or conservative Starmer needs to be to win the election, what lessons can be learned from other centre-left successes around the world, and how to build a broa...
Jun 19, 2023•23 min
In our weekly You Ask Us episode, Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward answer your questions. This week, they tackle whether Labour’s comparison of the UK economy with Poland and Romania can be considered xenophobic and if London is as Labour as Sadiq Khan thinks. If you have a question for You Ask Us go to newstatesman.com/youaskus, or leave a comment on YouTube. Subscribe to Morning Call Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 16, 2023•17 min
As a long-awaited investigation finds Boris Johnson knowingly misled parliament – and disrespected its processes – Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward discuss what the report means for Johnson and his party. They go through what the report found, how Boris Johnson reacted and whether this is ultimately good or bad politically for Rishi Sunak. Our new standalone You Ask Us episode will be published on Friday – if you want to submit a question go to newstatesman.com/youask...
Jun 15, 2023•17 min
A bonus podcast from our Spotlight team: Placemaking – the process of creating quality places that people want to live, work, play and learn in – can contribute significantly to the UK’s productivity. It revitalises public spaces, and can lead to a range of societal and economic benefits, including increased levels of employment, better health and wellbeing, and improved access to culture, skills and education. In this special episode sponsored by PwC, we speak with a panel of expert gues...
Jun 13, 2023•34 min
After Nicola Sturgeon's arrest and Boris Johnson flounced out of the Commons over his honours list and the Privileges Committee investigation into whether he misled parliament, the New Statesman Podcast team discuss what all the drama means for the UK. Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth and Ben Walker consider the difficulties Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf and the SNP are now facing. They then move on to why Boris Johnson resigned as an MP, along with two allies, what i...
Jun 12, 2023•26 min
In this week’s You Ask Us, Anoosh Chakelian, Freddie Hayward and Rachel Wearmouth answer listeners’ questions on Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, standing down and why Jamie Driscoll, mayor of the North of Tyne, was blocked from running for the newly created North East mayoralty. If you have a question for You Ask Us you can submit it on the New Statesman website Subscribe to Morning Call Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 09, 2023•10 min
As Rachel Reeves returns from her visit to the US – where she was accompanied in Washington DC and New York by the NS editor-in-chief, Jason Cowley – we ask what a Labour government will mean for the economy, and what drives the shadow chancellor both personally and politically. Jason joins Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward to discuss his cover story, “The Reeves doctrine: Labour’s plan for power”. They talk about what Reeves believes, why her party is still...
Jun 08, 2023•17 min
