The Politics Show

The number of children who say they feel lonely at school more than doubled between 2012 and 2018, and Britons aged 16-29 are more than twice as likely to report feeling often or always lonely as those aged over 70.  A report by the think tank Onward found that one in five Britons aged 18-24 have one or no close friends, a proportion that has tripled in the past decade.  Historically, pe...

If the Labour party in the next 5 years decide to get rid of the House of Lords, what is the most likely option for a replacement? Should there be upper and lower age limits for politicians? What are the rules for becoming a lobby journalist? Who decides who gets in, and can a journalist be kicked out? Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, to an...

After over a week of violence and unrest, it was feared last night that the riots would gather even more momentum, targeting immigration offices and centres across the country. Instead, we saw an outpouring of solidarity and counter-protests took place. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Nick Harris, Staggers' editor. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 D...

This weekend, far-right riots and violence have continued to spread across the country after the killing of three young girls in Southport last week. Hundreds of people have been arrested following violent altercations and the destruction and burning of hotels in Rotherham and Tamworth where asylum seekers were living. Nazir Afzal was a Chief Crown Prosecutor in 2011 during the August riots that b...

Should Starmer be more open to challenge from his party?  Did the Blair government carefully chose to ignore housing issues because they thought doing anything would alienate middle class voters? What events lead to the dissolution of he Whig party and how does it correlate to the Tories now? This is our weekly listener questions episode, You Ask Us. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined...

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor to discuss the horrific events in Southport, violence on the streets, and how Labour plan to fill their financial black hole. 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 ✍️ Enj...

Britain faces a severe housing crisis. But while high interest rates, mortgages, and sky high prices in the private rental market dominate headlines, Britain's diminishing social housing stock gets less attention. The supply shortages, landlord mismanagement, and unsafe conditions often seen in social housing are all issues that the new Labour government will have to contend with. Social housing c...

What do parliamentary private secretaries, aka 'bag carriers', really do? How will Ben Houchen fare as a mayor in opposition? How much will Labour commit to international development? And should funding for GB News be considered a political donation? Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by George Eaton, senior editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, to answer your questions. Si...

Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour party has been described countless times over the past 4 years as ‘ruthless’, and this week we saw this in action for the first time as prime minister withdrawing the Labour whip from seven MPs who voted with an SNP amendment to scrap the two child cap in certain benefits. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by senior editor George Eaton, and politica...

In a surprise social media post this weekend, Joe Biden stood down from his re-election campaign and endorsed VP Kamala Harris. Significant support has mounted in the past 48 hours for Harris, but how does this change the presidential race? Hannah Barnes, associate editor at the New Statesman, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr to discuss the developments in the US as well as Labour's immin...

The new PM has been in office a couple of weeks, but you've already asked how long he's got. In our weekly "You Ask Us" episode, Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe answer listener questions on how long Keir Starmer has before the Conservatives can form a coherent opposition, how a Labour government will approach China, and the things that have surprised them about the new parliament so far. Submit...

Clean energy by 2023? We're "pretty far off". Ed Miliband today made his first parliamentary speech as the new Energy Secretary, hailing the Labour government's progress on their energy plans. Central to their goal to reach clean energy by 2023 is their proposal for a new publicly owned energy firm, Great British Energy. Sustainability correspondent Megan Kenyon joins Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunl...

"It's been a long time since we've had a government with this level of ambition" - George Eaton Black Rod has been summoned and the weighty wooden doors swung open on a new parliamentary year. At the State Opening of Parliament, Keir Starmer's government unveiled their ambitious legislative agenda through the King's speech, which introduced a bumper 39 bills. George Eaton and Rachel Cunliffe join...

Donald Trump has been greeted like a messiah at the Republican National Convention. But what if that bullet had been an inch to the right? Just over 48 hours after narrowly escaping death from a gunman’s bullet, Trump has been confirmed as the Republican Party’s candidate for president in the upcoming election. He has named critic-turned-loyalist JD Vance as his running mate.  Andrew Marr joi...

Trump loyalists are blaming Democrats for inciting the assassination attempt on the former President. How should Dems respond? Republicans and Democrats alike have rightly condemned the shocking attack on former US President Donald Trump which left a bystander dead, two more injured and the presumptive Republican candidate bloodied but defiant. However Trump supporters have been quick to point to...

Labour want to distinguish themselves from Boris Johnson's "levelling up". What are they planning instead? Hannah Barnes, Rachel Cunliffe and Freddie Hayward answer listener questions on Labour's growth strategy, and whether the new government's plans will impact individuals' personal finances. They also discuss the new "rising star" Labour MPs to look out for, and whether polling during election...

The Conservative party are scrapping it out to have their visions of the future of the party heard and things are getting messy. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent. Read:  Kemi Badenoch is the early front-runner for the Tory leadership Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter:&...

Today is the day we see our Labour government on the world stage for the first time. Starmer is in Washington today for the 75th summit of the Nato defence alliance. Ahead of the summit Starmer has met with President Joe Biden and praised the UK-US special relationship. Starmer has also told reporters that his plan to raise defence spending to 2.5% was “cast iron” - but has not committed to a time...

A record number of new MPs are flooding through Westminster, Starmer has been on a tour of the UK, and this morning the metro mayors gathered in Downing Street. What is the new reality for the UK? Do we need to think seriously about electoral reform? And how is Macron going to get out of his political deadlock? Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor; and Freddi...

Since forming a new government on Friday, Keir Starmer's cabinet has been hard at work across the weekend to prove to the nation that they are a government of service. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, to discuss surprise appointments, early policy announcements, and the results of France's shock...

The UK has just voted in its 7th ever Labour prime minister, Keir Starmer. As the results from yesterday’s general election trickled in overnight it became clear that this was not so much a story of Labour victory, as it was of Tory defeat. The last 14 years of conservative rule has dismantled both the country and much of the party’s once loyal supporters. ‘The work of change begins immediate...

Today the country heads to the polls to decide who will be in government for the next five years. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and senior data journalist to go through the key timings and processes of the day, what we know so far and what to look out for. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter:  Morning Call &nbsp...

In a final poll published before the election things have never looked worse for the Conservatives, Rishi Sunak has expressed fear that he might lose his seat, and Boris Johnson has been wheeled out at the 11th hour. How long will it take for the Tories to come back from this and where will they begin?   Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by the New Statesman’s senior editor George Ea...

Another Reform UK candidate has stepped down to back the Tories as the “vast majority” of her fellow candidates are “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”, the Conservatives have launched an attack campaign on Keir Starmer, claiming he is work-shy, and the Tory leadership contest may or may not be underway. Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by Freddie Hayward, political correspond...

In order to succeed in a first term in government, to deliver for working people, Keir Starmer will need to enforce some quietly radical change. And doing so will upset quite a lot of people ... It's the last week of the campaign and Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr, and political correspondent Freddie Hayward. As well as looking at what's happening on our...