The Politics Show

It's listener question time! Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, is joined by Finn McRedmond, junior commissioning editor and writer, to answer questions on Northern Ireland, personal approval ratings, presidential debates, and polling influence. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter:  Morning Call   Submit a question for a future episode:  You Ask Us LISTEN...

Today New Statesman is publishing an election special issue of the magazine which includes our election endorsement as well as in-depth political interviews with Jeremy Corbyn, Nigel Farage, and David Lammy. Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined in the studio by George Eaton, senior editor, and editor-in-chief Jason Cowley. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter:...

Another day, another flurry of betting allegations. More and more parties are now being dragged into the gambling scandal, but should we discern some distinction between the nature of these bets and their repercussions? Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, and Ben Walker, senior data journalist. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsle...

Everything's been going so badly for the prime minister, one can't help but admire the fact that he's carrying on. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor, to discuss the developments in the betting scandal, how Nigel Reform lost the right, and why Labour failed to win over the Murdoch empire. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter:  Morni...

We’re in the penultimate week of campaigning, which may come as a relief to those suffering from election fatigue - maybe no one more so than Rishi Sunak. The prime minister has not had a particularly smooth weekend as the Tory betting scandal continues to rumble on … Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by George Eaton, senior editor, to discuss the latest developments in the gambling scand...

We were bestowed yet another leadership TV special last night, Ed Davey said sorry for tuition fees, Rishi Sunak said sorry for Liz Truss, and Keir Starmer said sorry for Jeremy Corbyn. But one unmissable feature of the night was the grimace on the prime ministers face as the impassioned audience put their questions to him. Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by Freddie Hayward,...

The Tory gambling scandal respawned last night when it was revealed that a met officer working in Rishi Sunak's protection team had been arrested over alleged bets, and also being looked into by the Gambling Commission is Laura Saunders - a Conservative candidate who happens to be married to the director of campaigns in CCHQ. The team also discuss the three polls published last night; while the pr...

"Vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country" - bold letters shout from the first page of the SNP manifesto. But is there still momentum for independence in Scotland? And what else is John Swinney pledging in his fight to retain seats from the hands of Scottish Labour. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Chris Deerin, Scotland editor, and Ben Walker, senior data journalist. Si...

Labour are set to win a majority, if not a supermajority, but in these politically fragmented times will people who vote for the party necessarily stay loyal in their support after July the fifth?   Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr to discuss the changing political tides, Starmer's continued struggle with tax and Corbyn, and the potential return of Bo...

Nigel Farage and Richard Tice have been playing good cop bad cop today in Merthyr Tydfil, not launching Reform UK's manifesto, but the party's "contract". The pitch contains some dramatic pledges and mathematical gymnastics. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter:  Morning Call Submit...

On today's episode of listener questions: How many of them 2019 manifesto commitments have been met?; Who will be the biggest name to lose their seat?; If Jeremy Corbyn wins as an independent, assuming he'd like to continue to sit with old allies, could he sit on the government benches?; Is there a reason why D-Day is a bigger deal than eg Boris stealing a journalist's phone and hiding in a fridge...

In the words of ABBA, and Keir Starmer, Money Money Money - the Labour leader announced this morning in Manchester that wealth creation was the ‘number one priority’ for the party. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and senior editor George Eaton to analyse the final manifesto's of the week from Labour and Plaid Cymru, and to review the odds...

Grant Shapps has said that Labour could be on course for a “supermajority”, perhaps a more accurate way of viewing it is that the Conservatives are on course for a "superdefeat". But if the Tory vote crashes the votes aren't necessarily going to Labour, so how will they be split? Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by senior data journalist Ben Walker to review the polls and also analyse th...

It's Tory manifesto Tuesday and the party is leading with pledges to make homes more affordable for first time buyers as well as a fresh new batch of tax cuts. But where is the money coming from to afford this? When the Conservatives say "welfare reform", what exactly do they mean?   Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr. Together they also discuss the ris...

It's manifesto week! It's week three of the election campaign and parties are set to deliver their manifestos in the coming days. This was kicked off today with the launch of the Lib Dem manifesto. So what have they pledged? Do the numbers add up? And does it really matter if they don't? The team also discuss what's been happening politically over the weekend, including Friday's seven headed debat...

Freddie, Ben and podcast newcomer Finn McRedmond answer listener questions. By deserting the D-day commemorations, Rishi Sunak has dealt his own campaign a massive blow and handed Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage explosive attack lines. In this special election edition of You Ask Us, the team answer your questions about the threat to the Conservatives from Reform UK and the impact of TV debates. Also...

The most powerful person on the left of British politics is not Keir Starmer. So who is it? This week the New Statesman published the 2024 Left Power List, which ranks the 50 most influential people in British politics. George Eaton edited the list and joins Hannah Barnes and Freddie Hayward on the New Statesman podcast to discuss who's up, who's down, and what their influence means for the genera...

Starmer and Sunak went head to head for the first time last night in their TV debate. Did we learn anything new? Not particularly. But the story dominating the headlines today is Sunak's claim that people would pay around £2,000 more in tax if Labour wins the election. He said that figure had been calculated by "independent Treasury officials". Starmer called this "garbage". So who's telling the t...

Nigel Farage is back ... what does this mean for the Conservatives and the future of the right in Britain? The team also discuss the Lib Dems pledge for social care, and why the main two parties refuse to talk about this issue which is affecting a high proportion of the electorate. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr, and political correspondent Freddie Haywa...

Labour have launched their defence plans, leading with their 'triple lock' which focuses on nuclear submarines and a constant at sea deterrent for the UK. Does this departure from Labour's 2016 stance represent a change in the party or a change in the state of global affairs? Meanwhile, today the Conservatives have focused their energy on the Equality Act and its positioning on gender and biologic...

Could the Conservatives become the third party? Is Ed Davey being too frivolous? Has Rishi Sunak made a huge mistake? And why do we still talk about older people like they're the Second World War generation?   Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, answer listener questions and give their campaign highlights thus far.   Sign up to the N...

One week down, five to go. The Diane Abbott row continues to be a tricky thorn in Keir Starmer's side, and in the past 24 hours there have been more reports that candidates and MPs have been barred from standing. Is this a purge on the left of the party? Hannah Barnes, associate editor, and Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, also discuss the launch of the Green Party's campaign, who are...

Today Labour announced some bold plans for the NHS, stating that they would clear the Tory backlog in their first time. However this has been completely overshadowed by the mishandling of Diane Abbott's position in the party. This morning, Abbott, who has served as Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since being elected in 1987, has announced that she has been barred by the party from...

For the next six weeks we’re bringing you new episodes every weekday, with updates on the party campaigns, reaction from around the UK and the best polling analysis with our experts.  Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, to discuss the developments over the busy bank holiday weekend: National Service, Triple...

Political advertising in the UK has been a largely regulated space, that us up until about a decade ago. Historically, political advertising has been banned from broadcast aside from a small allotted period of time in the run up to an election. However, as the times are-a-changin, and technology and advertising formats have evolved, political parties have found and embraced some legal loopholes. O...