Keir Starmer has been grilled in the Commons on his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, despite knowing his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein continued after the financier’s conviction in 2008. Starmer pledged to release the vetting documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment, but argued that some details would need to be redacted on national security grounds. This angered backbench MPs who, along with former deputy leader Angela Rayner, forced the PM into another humiliating c...
Feb 05, 2026•19 min
Keir Starmer knew about Peter Mandelson's friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein – but still appointed him US ambassador. After a bruising Prime Minister's Questions for Keir Starmer, Ailbhe Rea joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss whether the Mandelson affair could be the downfall of the Prime Minister – or his closest aide, Morgan McSweeney, who championed Mandelson. Ailbhe shares her exclusive reporting on the process which led to Mandelson's appointment, and the impact this scandal will...
Feb 04, 2026•25 min
On Friday, the US Justice Department released millions of pages of the Epstein files. Dan Neidle, journalist and tax lawyer, used his investigative skills to uncover some of the most controversial details. In particular, damning emails suggesting ex-Labour business secretary Peter Mandelson shared highly sensitive UK government tax plans with Jeffrey Epstein. Dan joins Oli Dugmore to discuss. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we ans...
Feb 03, 2026•36 min
Peter Mandelson has resigned from the Labour Party following further revelations about his friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The access Epstein had to the British government marks a serious breach and existential questions for the Labour Party. Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe. 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 ou...
Feb 02, 2026•26 min
If Chinese hackers accessed the government's private messages, maybe they could share the missing 5,000 text messages the Covid inquiry was looking for. Will Dunn and Anoosh Chakelian discuss their stories of the week, including: Border breach of the week: China accused of hacking Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss aides. Lee Anderson can't find the right constituency to campaign in. Do the Fabians secretly run the world? (spoiler: no.) Planning objection of the week: Greens and Reform uni...
Jan 31, 2026•27 min
Britain faces a looming student loan crisis. What can graduates do? Last week's episode on student loans prompted a flurry of questions. How did it get this bad? Should students sue over mis-sold loans? Rachel Cunliffe and Anoosh Chakelian answer your questions. Also in this episode: Labour's internal factions explained What does Nigel Farage really believe? Local government changes: what's really going on Mentioned in this episode: Meet the Blue Labour bros, by Morgan Jones LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 D...
Jan 30, 2026•28 min
Last October, a Senedd by-election took place in Caerphilly, South Wales. As long as the seat had existed, for over 100 years, it had belonged to Labour. But that night, Welsh Labour fell to third place. Reform galloped into second. And after fighting in 18 elections since the 1980s, Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle took first place with almost 50 per cent of the vote. Is this a stark demonstration of how politics in Wales is changing? Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth joins Megan Kenyon. LISTEN ...
Jan 29, 2026•29 min
Millions of leaseholders in England and Wales will get their ground rents capped at £250 per year as part of Labour’s long-promised overhaul of a hated system. Reforms also include proposals to ban the sale of new leasehold flats, in a bid to give people greater control over their homes. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Will Dunn. 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 mo...
Jan 28, 2026•27 min
The Home Secretary’s known for her blue Labour roots, a tough stance on immigration and has just proposed what she calls the “biggest ever” policing reforms for centuries. Tom McTague joins Oli Dugmore. 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....
Jan 27, 2026•29 min
Yesterday, Keir Starmer’s camp blocked Andy Burnham’s plans to return to parliament. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ailbhe Rea to discuss how this has landed inside the party. But first, another defection in the one way pipeline from Conservative to Reform. 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...
Jan 26, 2026•32 min
In a tumultuous week in geopolitics, Donald Trump delivered a bizarre speech in Davos. Will Dunn finds the moments of (unintentional) humour amidst the chaos. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Will to for a rundown of this mad week. 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/privac...
Jan 24, 2026•26 min
Robert Jenrick's defection prompted a lot of listener questions. So we'll try to answer them! Last week Robert Jenrick dramatically defected to Reform after being booted out of the Conservatives by a furious Kemi Badenoch. The Tory leader claimed that she had "irrefutable evidence" that Jenrick had been planning to defect in "the most damaging way possible". So she sacked him from the government and removed the Conservative whip. This prompted a lot of listeners to write in to Daily Politics wit...
Jan 23, 2026•29 min
Andrew Gwynne, the MP for Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester, has resigned. This opens up the path for another Andrew, King of the North and Labour leadership hopeful, Andy Burnham, to return to Westminster. Ailbhe Rea joins Anoosh Chakelian. 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. S...
Jan 22, 2026•27 min
With Donald Trump threatening tariffs on the UK and eviscerating Keir Starmer on Truth Social, does the PM have no choice but run back into the arms of the EU? Many Labour MPs think yes. Tom McTague joins Rachel Cunliffe. 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 m...
Jan 21, 2026•25 min
Cast your mind back to 2010… Apple launched the ipad, a volcano erupted in Iceland and David Cameron and Nick Clegg passed a bill that would screw over a generation of young people. This was, of course, the decision to triple university tuition fees in England to £9,000 per year Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to discuss how this has radicalised graduates. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get ...
Jan 20, 2026•32 min
“Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.” This is what Donald Trump wrote in a letter to Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre this weekend. And true to his word, peace is not on the US President’s mind. Oli Dugmore speaks to the New Statesman's editor Tom McTague about Starmer's options, and in the second half of the episode, senior editor Katie Stallard interviews Rasmus Ja...
Jan 19, 2026•46 min
Claims from politicians both at home and abroad paint an increasingly decrepit picture of the nation's capital. But just how much crime and chaos is there really in London? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Will Dunn to discuss her reporting on the issue, as well as a rundown of the big and brazen ongoings in political Britain this week. 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 ev...
Jan 17, 2026•36 min
A frustrated listener calls for consequences over broken Labour promises. Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe answer listener questions about UK politics. In the mailbag this week: Should parliament impose legislation to force governments to honour manifesto pledges? Is it time to reform council tax? The Scottish independence referendum settled the question for "a generation". But what counts as a generation? How would politics be different if the House of Commons was a different physical shape...
Jan 16, 2026•28 min
Robert Jenrick has become the latest Tory to defect to Reform. This morning he was fired by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, after she discovered his plan. The announcement followed former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defecting to Reform earlier this week. Tories broke Britain, say Tories. What does it mean? How did it happen? Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and Ethan Croft. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them ev...
Jan 15, 2026•30 min
How many U-turns before you admit you don’t know where you’re going? As little as four months ago, Keir Starmer said: "You will not be able to work in the UK if you don't have a digital ID, it's as simple as that." Now, he’s done yet another 180. Oli Dugmore is joined by Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea. 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 o...
Jan 14, 2026•29 min
Keir Starmer is challenging Elon Musk and x.com over AI generated non-consensual intimate images. A proliferation of these images, generated by x.com’s AI chatbot Grok, has flooded the platform. Users have been instructing Grok to create these images of high profile figures and even of children. The British government have announced they will introduce legislation to prevent these images. This debate has raised issues of free speech, big tech, power and transatlantic relations. Oli Dugmore unpac...
Jan 13, 2026•34 min
"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister” said the former chancellor. Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and Ailbhe Rea. 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....
Jan 12, 2026•15 min
We’re launching our new culture and society podcast here at the New Statesman: The New Society. Tanjil Rashid, the New Statesman's culture editor, discusses his interview with Salman Rushdie, Rushdie's latest work as a reflection of his life, and also what listeners can expect to hear on future episodes of this new podcast. You can find the full interview via the links below. Follow The New Society on Spotify Follow The New Society on Apple Podcasts Watch The New Society on YouTube LISTEN AD-FRE...
Jan 10, 2026•31 min
Labour is splitting. Earlier this week we reported that the government is now THIRD in the opinion polls behind Reform and the Tories. Now, as they barrel inexorably towards testing local elections in May, rifts are emerging within the Labour party. This week, Preet Kaur Gill – a personal private secretary to Home Secretary Shabhana Mahmood – announced in the Telegraph, of all places, that she (Preet Kaur Gill) is “Blue Labour”. The intervention sparked fierce debate among MPs, with divisions do...
Jan 09, 2026•32 min
Keir Starmer is planning on developing a “closer relationship” with the single market. The PM wants to realign with the EU in three key areas to help the free flow of trade: food and farm exports, electricity and emissions trading. But what will this mean for Britain, and how is it going down in Westminster? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by associate political editor, Rachel Cunliffe. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them ev...
Jan 08, 2026•32 min
Christmas polling has revealed that the Tories have edged past Labour into second place in the polls. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK are still sitting pretty in the top spot, with Zack Polanski’s insurgent Greens chasing Labour’s tail. With elections in May incoming, this is the last thing Labour need. 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 w...
Jan 07, 2026•21 min
In 2019, according to a deposition, Russia signalled that they could ease off their support for Venezuela if Washington were to ease its own position in Ukraine. The testimony was delivered by Fiona Hill, a former senior director on the US’s national security council during the first Trump administration. Fiona Hill joins Megan Gibson to discuss that Russian proposal, as well as the US’s strike on Venezuela – and what this means for the global order. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman...
Jan 06, 2026•42 min
Emily Thornberry MP joins us to discuss the US's actions in Venezuela, the legality, and the international response. In the second half of the podcast, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee reflects on Starmer's moves to a closer relationship with the EU. 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 Hoste...
Jan 05, 2026•37 min
It’s New Year’s celebrations, part 2! Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ben Walker to discuss the political climate of 2026. From the 10 year anniversary of Brexit and the UK’s relationship with the US, to our ageing population and SEND Reforms, here’s what to expect from next year. If you missed part one of our “Look ahead”, where we discussed the May elections and what’s in store for our political parties, you can find that in the previous episode on your feed. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New ...
Jan 03, 2026•53 min
Happy New Year from the New Statesman podcast! What will 2026 have in store? Will Labour flop in the May elections? Will the Greens make gains? And will Reform overtake the ailing Conservatives? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ben Walker to make their political predictions. 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 Sa...
Jan 01, 2026•47 min
