The Politics Show

The 90's is often heralded as the era of Blur, Oasis, Pulp - but this decade belongs as much to boybands as it does to Britpop. But what was behind these manufactured groups? What does this era reveal about Britain's relationship with class and masculinity? And will Robbie Williams' legacy be a CGI monkey? Tom Gatti is joined by senior commissioning editor at the New Statesman, Anna Leskiewicz and...

Would it be politically safe to go back on their promise not to raise income tax if the increase only affected high earners?, a listener writes in to ask. Hannah Barnes is joined by political editor Andrew Marr and associate political editor Rachel Cunliffe, and in the first half of the programme we hear from senior data journalist Ben Walker about whether there has been a swell in youth support f...

Can Elon Musk reshape British democracy? The X-owning billionaire has waded into one of the darkest scandals in recent British history: the horrific rape and abuse of thousands of girls across the UK by so-called “grooming gangs”.  Musk’s inflammatory posts on his social media platform, X, have prompted statements from Keir Starmer, questions from Kemi Badenoch in PMQs, and extensive coverage...

Donald Trump is talking about the 'Gulf of America' but in reality the US is no where near as powerful as it once was. Kate Lamble is joined by this week's cover writer Robert D. Kaplan, as well as George Magnus and Jonny Ball. 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...

Tom Gatti is joined by BAFTA award winning writer, director, and actor, Mackenzie Crook to discuss his acting career from The Office to Detectorists, as well as Crook's new book 'If Nick Drake Came to My House'. This conversation was recorded at the recent winter edition of the Cambridge Literary Festival. To find out more about the festival, or to watch an extend version of this discussion, pleas...

Submit a question for us to answer on a future podcast: www.newstatesman.com/youaskus Get our free daily politics newsletter, Morning Call: morningcall.substack.com Subscribe to the New Statesman. Get your first five weeks for just £5 at www.newstatesman.com/feb25 LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get o...

Trump round 2, instability in Europe, and power struggles in the Middle East. Hannah Barnes is joined by Katie Stallard and Wolfgang Münchau to take a look at the world in 2025. 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 e...

Biggest gaffe? Dampest squib? Best political trolling? Hannah Barnes is joined by Andrew Marr and Freddie Hayward to go through the highs and the lows of UK politics in 2024. 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 ever...

It's the last listener questions episode of 2024! Hannah Barnes is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and George Eaton to discuss Elon Musk's support and intentions for Reform UK. The team also consider how Children Not In School register could help increase children's safety and wellbeing, especially considering up to 300,000 children may have been missing from education entirely in 2023. - The podcast wi...

The team discuss two big political stories of the week; WASPI women and Prince Andrew's friendship with the alleged Chinese spy. And the New Statesman's policy correspondent Harry Clarke-Ezzidio sits down with Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Submit a question for a future episode:  You Ask Us LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW...

This conversation was recorded at the Cambridge Literary Festival. To watch an extended version or to find out more about Cambridge Literary Festival please head to cambridgeliteraryfestival.com - The New Statesman’s business editor Will Dunn sat down with Torsten Bell, Labour MP for Swansea West, and former chief executive of the Resolution Foundation - a think tank which aims to improve the stan...

First conceived in 1956 by Michael Bond, the marmalade-loving immigrant from Peru has become an iconic British cultural figure – treasured for his chaotic nature, impeccable manners, and proximity to royalty. So, how did Paddington become the spokesbear for Britain, crossing political divides in the country, and one of the most commercially successful characters in the world? Tom Gatti is joined b...

The team answer listener questions on the appointment of Heidi Alexander to transport secretary and whether the UK's mainstream centrist politics are at risk from the far-right. Hannah Barnes is joined by Andrew Marr and 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 newsletter e...

Will his history as a human rights lawyer play a part? Will Shamima Begum be able to return? And why have all Syrian asylum claims been suspended? Hannah Barnes is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton to discuss Britain's reaction to the collapse of the Syrian regime and also Britain's trade talks with the EU. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask...

On Sunday Morning the sound of gunfire filled the air in Damascus. The noise, not of fighting, but celebrations. President Bashar al-Assad and his family had fled to Russia. A family which ruled for more than 50 years, brought down by a rebel offensive which had begun less than two weeks earlier.  Kate Lamble is joined by Rajan Menon, Marcel Dirsus, and John Jenkins to discuss...

Is the Church experiencing an existential crisis? And what is the role of Christianity in modern Britain?   Tom Gatti is joined by Pippa Bailey, David Sexton, and Madeleine Davies.   Read: Conclave: this papal power struggle is high entertainment   Read: The race for Lambeth Palace   Read: The rise of cultural Christianity   LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman ap...

Hannah Barnes is joined by Will Dunn and Katie Stallard to answer your economics questions AND try to make sense of some big world events 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 every morning ✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast...

Former Labour strategist and architect of the Labour missions, Peter Hyman, joins the New Statesman podcast to discuss Keir Starmer’s “plan for change” speech on Thursday.   Hyman discusses the difficulties Labour will face in implementing their missions and is scathing about Whitehall, saying resistance from staffers is stifling innovation:   “Three permanent secretaries I've heard in t...

Labour’s white paper on how further devolution might work is due to be released in the next few weeks. It has been reported that the government is considering a reorganisation of local councils including abolishing some councils and replacing them with larger unitary authorities However, there have been suggestions Labour’s plans to bring power to the people, could actually make it more distant th...

Artificial intelligence is fast becoming a part of life. The UK strives to become a global AI superpower. But do we have the talent, skills and regulatory framework to deliver on that? The  New Statesman  were media partners in a fascinating discussion hosted by 3M with technology and business leaders to explore how Britain can accelerate AI-driven innovation. Chair: Jane Wakefield Panel...

Banquet Records, in Kingston South-West London, are probably the most influential record store in the UK right now at helping an artist or a band secure a number one. How did they do it? Tom Gatti is joined by Hannah Barnes to discuss the kingmakers of the UK album charts, and also as December is upon us, how to get a Christmas number one. Read: Kingmakers of the album charts Read: Forty years ago...

Wes Streeting is "a man in a hurry". In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience at the Labour party conference, the health secretary discusses his actions in government so far and his plans for NHS reform. Wes Streeting spoke to Hannah White, director of the Institute for Government, for this episode which is sponsored by the Institute for Government. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New...

They're terrified of the whips - and of their tiny majorities. From a “fresher’s fair” with free sweets to the struggles of finding a place to live, joining parliament is a lot like starting at University - but with the fate of the country in your hands. Andrew Marr and Rachel Cunliffe have been speaking to the new intake of MPs and join Hannah Barnes to answer a listener question on what life is...

MPs are about to vote on arguably the biggest social change since abortion. ***If you enjoyed this, listen to our previous episode, "Is the UK ready for Assisted Dying?"*** Listen here: https://pod.fo/e/274d9c -- Kim Leadbeater’s private members bill proposing to legalise assisted dying faces a free vote on Friday November 29. In a free vote, MPs are not whipped by their party to vote in a particu...

Last week, the US and the UK gave permission for long-range missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces against military facilities inside Russia for the first time. In response, Putin announced Russia had fired a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.  Meanwhile the rhetoric from the Russian government and the western media has escalated, but what does this me...