Who gets to belong in Britain? In the past year, the conversation around immigration in Britain - across the political spectrum - has become increasingly vicious. As Tanjil Rashid, the New Statesman’s culture editor, writes for this week’s cover story - we are no longer in “an age of migration”. We have been propelled into something altogether new, “an age of deportation". Read: The age of deportation LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question...
Sep 03, 2025•47 min
How your snatched iPhone feeds a global criminal supply chain. Britain’s exports have declined in many areas over the past few years, but there is one category in which trade is booming. The UK has become a leading exporter of stolen goods. From iPhones snatched by gangs on the streets of London to luxury cars stolen to order, criminal organisations are shipping vast amounts of items all around the world via Britain’s ports. And the authorities cannot keep up. Tom Sasse is public policy editor a...
Sep 02, 2025•29 min
Who's in, who's out - and why? * Keir Starmer has reshuffled the treasury team and some key parliamentary staff, creating a new "Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister" role and restructuring the government's communication department. The changes indicate a renewed focus for the government, putting economic issues front-and-centre of operations ahead of the upcoming budget. The moves also suggest a change of direction in some areas, with leading proponents of the disastrous Winter Fuel Allowance ...
Sep 01, 2025•18 min
The experimental novelist on finding God, being "a misfit" and her return to writing. -- Nicola Barker is "has broken the mould so many times it's almost beyond repair". She's a post-punk literary anarchist who writes from the peripheries of the UK. Her experiments with narrative form have won her many plaudits, including the Goldsmith's Prize for literary fiction, which the New Statesman partners with. Barker joins Tanjil Rashid on the New Statesman culture podcast to discuss her latest novel, ...
Aug 30, 2025•38 min
“Do you think the English flag has been so easily co-opted by by the far right because there is no English government that is proudly flying the flag and building a better narrative around English national pride?” Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Harry Clarke-Ezzidio and George Eaton to answer listener quesitons. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning ✍️ Enjoy th...
Aug 29, 2025•16 min
It was foreseen for months, as Israel cut off all aid, but this month the UN declared that more than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine. By the end of September, more than 640 000 people will face Catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Leading to preventable deaths on a devastating scale. For Humza Yousaf, the former First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader, the horrors facing the people of Gaza for the past two years are deeply personal. His wife Nadia has relatives in Gaza -...
Aug 28, 2025•40 min
Last October, the government published the Employment Rights Bill, a slate of reforms set to change workers' rights in the UK - from banning “fire and rehire” tactics, to ending exploitative zero-hours contracts, to giving workers employment protection from day one. The bill has passed through the Commons and is currently on its third reading in the House of Lords - the first changes are expected to be enacted in 2026. But what does this bill really mean for workers, businesses, and the economy?...
Aug 27, 2025•25 min
Ahead of this autumn’s budget there has been a reshuffle in Rachel Reeves’ treasury team. What’s at play? And what might it tell us about the trajectory of Britain’s finances? Will Dunn, the New Statesman's business editor, is joined by George Eaton. Read: Torsten Bell rises as Rachel Reeves reshuffles her team ; Rachel Reeves will never get serious on tax Download the app LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Frida...
Aug 26, 2025•26 min
Students across the UK have reported a dramatic rise in misogyny in their schools. The government has described this as being on an "epidemic scale". This is often connected to social media content targeted at young men and boys, but is there more to it? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by journalist James Bloodworth, author of Lost Boys: A Personal Journey Through the Manosphere, to discuss. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer th...
Aug 23, 2025•25 min
Due to Britain’s falling birth rates and the government’s desire for lower immigration levels, does the government have any plan to financially encourage and support couples to have children? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and George Eaton to answer listener questions. Download the app LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning ✍️ Enjoy the best of o...
Aug 22, 2025•21 min
The Mayor of Manchester is the most popular choice to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Keir Starmer is now less popular than Donald Trump. Despite the Labour Party's historic election win just over one year ago, popularity ratings for leading Labour figures have plummeted. Economic woes, crunching u-turns, unrest over Gaza and asylum hotel protests have left leading Labour figures looking to their next leadership battle. George Eaton reports that Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting have both ...
Aug 21, 2025•21 min
Following last year’s riots, in the wake of the Southport murders, Elon Musk predicted civil war in the UK was “inevitable”. So far, however, no civil war… Over the last century, people in British politics at times of turmoil have raised the prospect of civil war, repeatedly, in ways not unlike today. What did they fear, and why? And what might we learn from the fact that - each time - those fears remained unfounded? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by author and journalist Phil Tinline. Download the ...
Aug 20, 2025•33 min
Yesterday, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington, flanked by seven European leaders, in order to meet with Donald Trump and push forward talks to end the war in Ukraine. This came just three days after Trump’s carefully choreographed meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Could this be the beginning of the end for the drawn out conflict? And can Trump be trusted? Megan Gibson is joined by Katie Stallard. Download the app Host: Megan Gibson Guest: Katie Stallard Producer: C...
Aug 19, 2025•27 min
In 1978, the broadcaster and journalist Jonathan Dimbleby, and photojournalist Don McCullin, published The Palestinians - a book that sought to tell the human story behind one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. This year, in the wake of the ongoing and constantly escalating war, the book will be republished with a new foreword. In this episode Dimbleby joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss the current phase of the conflict and its effect on UK politics. Read: Palestine’s cycle of despair Hos...
Aug 18, 2025•35 min
There’s one thing you need this summer. A good book. Will Lloyd is joined by culture editor Tanjil Rashid, and staff writer Finn McRedmond to discuss the New Statesman's ultimate beach reads for 2025 and beyond. Download the app Host: Will Lloyd Guests: Tanjil Rashid, Finn McRedmond Producer: Catharine Hughes Video producer: Rob Le Mare Executive producer: Chris Stone LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ G...
Aug 16, 2025•39 min
Will Starmer face a vote of no confidence? What does Reform UK mean by scrap Net Zero? Should the Democrats distance themselves from the Clintons? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton and Will Lloyd to answer listener questions. Download the app Ask a question Host: Anoosh Chakelian Guest: George Eaton Guest: Will Lloyd Producer: Catharine Hughes Video producer: Rob Le Mare Executive producer: Chris Stone LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask ...
Aug 15, 2025•28 min
On Thursday morning, data was released showing that UK economic growth has slowed to 0.3%. Also, JD Vance has been holidaying in the UK, recently meeting with a who’s who of right-wing populists - from Robert Jenrick, to Nigel Farage, to, somewhat bizarrely, enjoying a BBQ with ex-Apprentice contestant and social media star, Thomas Skinner. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton and Will Lloyd. Read: The Cotswolds plot against JD Vance - Finn McRedmond LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Sta...
Aug 14, 2025•25 min
On Saturday, in Westminster, police arrested more than 500 people under the Terrorism Act. That’s more in a single day than have ever been charged with terrorist-related activity in a whole year. Many of those arrested were pensioners. Their crime: holding cardboard signs which read “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” One of those 532 people arrested on Saturday was Sir Jonathon Porritt, a long-time activist and campaigner on green and social justice issues, former environmental adv...
Aug 13, 2025•22 min
US President Donald Trump will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday for a high stakes summit to discuss the war in Ukraine. Trump has been upping the ante with his rhetoric around Putin in recent months. On July 14, the US president set Putin a 50 day deadline to agree a ceasefire with Ukraine. On July 28th, he reduced it to 10-12 days. As that deadline was reached last Friday, Trump announced plans for this summit. So, why is this happening now, and what will be on the...
Aug 12, 2025•32 min
Youth membership for the Labour party has collapsed – from 100,000 to just 30,000 under Starmer’s leadership. The relationship between Labour HQ and its members on university campuses has soured over the past year, reaching boiling point following the prime minister’s decision to conditionally recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Hattie Simpson. Read: Inside Labour students’ revolt over Gaza LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the ...
Aug 11, 2025•15 min
Whit Stillman is something of a cult film director. He rose to prominence in 1990 with his debut film Metropolitan , which became the first in the so-called “Doomed. Bourgeois. In love” trilogy: Barcelona came out in 1994 and The Last Days of Disco in 1998. Set among America’s so-called “Preppy” class, the films are comedies of manners in the tradition of Jane Austen, exploring the transitional phase of youth and a certain American identity. The films are now having something of a revival. Still...
Aug 09, 2025•50 min
Is Keir Starmer sucking up to Donald Trump, and what do politicians get up to during parliamentary recess? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and George Eaton to answer listener questions. Download the app LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning ✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Aug 08, 2025•19 min
New polling has found that Keir Starmer is now less popular amongst British voters than Donald Trump. Today, we’re talking about Keir Starmer’s first year in government and the rapid decline in his personal popularity. From a triumphant election victory to sliding approval ratings, where has it gone wrong for the Labour leader? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman's senior data journalist, Ben Walker. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask...
Aug 07, 2025•22 min
Nine years after the Brexit referendum, the dream of 'Singapore-on-Thames' has quietly evaporated. Instead, we’ve got a Labour government embracing high taxes, stronger workers’ rights, even state ownership. What’s behind Labour’s European turn and is Starmer quietly reversing Thatcher’s legacy? Rachel Cunliffe is joined by George Eaton. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get our daily politics newslette...
Aug 06, 2025•17 min
The dormant Democrat party must find a way to revive itself if it is to have any hope of challenging the Maga movement, Donald Trump, and his eventual successor. The party is split on whether Trump is simply an aberration to endure, or whether he represents the death of democracy, justifying a dirtier form of opposition politics. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman's US correspondent Freddie Hayward. Download the app LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW...
Aug 05, 2025•23 min
Parliament is in recess for the next four weeks, a time when Westminster usually goes quiet, but this year there’s one man who’s determined to keep working. Nigel Farage. Today the Reform UK leader delivered his third weekly conference as part of his campaign on “Lawless Britain”, broadening out (slightly) from the party's usual single-issue politics. Of course, much of the emphasis is still heavily on migration. But do these conferences tell us about the current contradictions in British politi...
Aug 04, 2025•22 min
Britain is in the grip of a housing crisis and politicians from all sides claim to have the solutions. But as prices rise, renters struggle and investors profit - are we seeing housing policy serve the public good? Will Dunn, the New Statesman's business editor, is joined by Susan J. Smith, the new president of the British Academy and honorary professor of social and economic geography at the University of Cambridge. Read: Britain’s new-build nightmare LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesm...
Aug 02, 2025•43 min
The team answer listener questions on the practicalities of the online safety act, a Labour-Lib Dem coalition, and the revival of the commonwealth. Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning ✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 01, 2025•22 min
Asylum protests. NHS strikes. A faltering economy. Is the Labour government facing a summer of discontent? Last year, riots sparked by the brutal murder of three young girls at a dance class in Southport rocked the UK. Rioters targeted hotels housing asylum seekers, wrongly connecting the murders to Muslim immigration. Now, asylum protests persist. At the same time, the government faces strike action from NHS doctors, a struggling economy and political threats from both left and right. Rachel Cu...
Jul 31, 2025•25 min
The UK will recognise Palestinian statehood in September unless Israel abides by a ceasefire, commits to a two-state solution and agrees not to annex the West Bank.Yesterday, Keir Starmer marked a clear shift on the UK’s position on the Israel Gaza war. However, this has prompted backlash from all sides. So what is there to gain? Megan Gibson is joined by George Eaton and Megan Kenyon. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer the...
Jul 30, 2025•19 min
