The Politics Show

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters a second week, the  New Statesman ’s polling expert  Ben Walker  joins Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea to talk about the latest polls. They discuss  exclusive polling  for the  New Statesman  published today on Boris Johnson’s approval rating since the war began, as well as public attitudes to the UK government’s stance...

As the UK considers further sanctions on oligarchs linked to Vladimir Putin, Ailbhe Rea speaks to the journalist and author Oliver Bullough about how London became the home for so much Russian money.   They talk about the ways in which the huge volumes of money corrupt all parts of public life, the spotlight that the invasion of Ukraine has shone on the problem and whether a meaningful attemp...

As Russia invades Ukraine, Boris Johnson has  come under fire  from allies and critics alike for his  feeble attempt  to clamp down on Russian wealth in the UK. In an address to the nation this morning (24 February), the Prime Minister vowed that Britain “cannot and will not just look away” ahead of the announcement of further sanctions against Russia later today.   Anoosh...

The  New Statesman ’s Britain editor Anoosh Chakelian interviews the satirist and broadcaster Andy Zaltzman, the host of Radio 4’s  The News Quiz  and the podcast  The Bugle .  Ahead of his  Satirist for Hire  tour, they talk about the history of political comedy, whether there are some topics too serious to joke about, and if you can really have political balanc...

Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea host a special episode to say goodbye to Stephen Bush.     Kir royales are sunk and Stephen takes an audio trip down memory lane, featuring a rendition of “American Pie”, this time about Scottish Labour, as well as his teenage  Harry Potter  fanfiction and his honest opinion on “Devil with the Devil”.     Then in You Ask Us, f...

As Theresa May’s final chief of staff, Gavin Barwell knows what it’s like to see a party oust its leader first-hand. He speaks to political correspondent Ailbhe Rea about what it takes to get rid of a leader, where Boris Jonson is going wrong, and whether the Conservatives still feels like his party.   Then in a special We ask Stephen, Ailbhe asks the  New Statesman 's politica...

As parliament enters recess, against all the odds Boris Johnson has  clung onto his premiership . Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss the PM's various survival strategies, the ongoing police investigation into parties held in Downing Street and the political calculations of  leadership contenders .    Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks what is Jacob Rees-Mogg...

Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss the latest events in the crisis surrounding Boris Johnson, including the appointment of the MP Steve Barclay and the former GB News presenter Guto Harri to key Downing Street jobs. They explain why the resignation of Munira Mirza from the No 10 Policy Unit was so important and whether the appointments are simply rearranging the deckchairs...

The  New Statesman’s  incoming political editor Andrew Marr makes his New Statesman podcast debut to discuss his cover story on Boris Johnson’s moment of peril with Anoosh Chakelian, Britain editor.   They talk about what’s gone wrong for Johnson, whether the current crisis is terminal and who could be the next Prime Minister.   If you have a question for You Ask Us, email&nbsp...

With a trickle of letters to the 1922 Committee chairman and Labour pivoting to take the Conservative Party to task for low economic growth and an incoming tax rise, could Boris Johnson soon  face a vote of no confidence after all? Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush discuss the Prime Minister’s fate and the  catastrophic impact  of the forthcoming energy price cap rise.&n...

A special episode of the  New Statesman  podcast recorded immediately after Boris Johnson’s announcement on the published Sue Gray report.   A heavily censored version of Sue Gray’s report has finally been published, as 12 of the 16 alleged gatherings at Downing Street are currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.   Anoosh Chakelian and Stephen Bush discuss the h...

Ailbhe interviews the Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who dramatically defected from the Tories to Labour at the height of partygate.    They talk about why he did it, what the reaction has been from friends as well as new colleagues, and how the whips threaten new MPs.    If you have a question for You Ask Us, email  podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Downlo...

As Westminster waits for Sue Gray’s report on Downing Street’s lockdown-breaking parties, the Metropolitan police has announced that it will begin an investigation into the alleged incidents.    Stephen Bush, Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelian discuss Boris Johnson’s  confident performance  at Prime Minister’s Questions and why the investigation matters.   Then in You Ask Us,...

The New Statesman’s Scotland editor Chris Deerin joins Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush to discuss the growing rift between the Scottish Conservatives and the national party in Westminster. They talk about how the Scottish Tories have become alienated from the party, whether it could harm them in the local elections in May, and whether they could eventually form a breakaway party. Then in You Ask Us, t...

The senior Conservative MP William Wragg has accused government ministers of intimidating and attempting to blackmail colleagues who they suspect oppose the Prime Minister, adding that the incidents should be reported to the police.   While Christian Wakeford’s defection appears to have  united Conservative MPs  to help Boris Johnson survive another week, the PM is not in the clear...

A special episode of the NS podcast recorded immediately after a dramatic Prime Minister’s Questions.   Boris Johnson is facing an  escalating leadership crisis  over allegations that a string of parties were held across Whitehall during lockdown. Christian Wakeford, the MP for Bury South,  defected to Labour  just minutes before PMQs, while in an equally dramatic moment D...

The  New Statesman’s  polling expert Ben Walker joins Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Bush to talk about the latest polls in the aftermath of the No 10 party revelations.   They discuss whether this could do long-term damage to the Conservative Party, how soft the labour lead is and why Ben was wrong on North Shropshire.   Then in You Ask Us they answer a listener’s qu...

Boris Johnson has been  caught red-handed  and forced to admit that he attended a party in the Downing Street garden in May 2020, however he claimed that he believed it was a “work event”. Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea, discuss his  chances of survival  and the awkward questions this culture of insouciance raises for his  potential successors .   Then...

Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms.   This final episode examines Margaret Thatcher’s premiership. The first woman to be prime minister and one of the Conservative Party’s most successful election winners, she was a divisive figure in Br...

Boris Johnson’s approval rating plummeted at the end of 2021 following a string of Christmas parties at No 10, sleaze scandals and senior resignations – and  his troubles continue  into 2022.      Anoosh Chakelian and Stephen Bush discuss whether the Prime Minister can survive as  energy bills soar , taxes rise in April and pressure mounts on an overwhelmed and&n...

Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms.   This episode examines John Major’s premiership. Major inherited a majority government in 1990 after Margaret Thatcher was driven out of office. Against the odds, he won the 1992 election. But, in the...

Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms.   This episode focuses on Tony Blair. As one of the architects of New Labour, he returned the party to power after 18 years. Blair went on to win three elections, but will be remembered for his decisio...

Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms.   This episode focuses on Gordon Brown. When the former chancellor of the exchequer took office, he emphasised his breach with his predecessor Tony Blair. Despite a promising start, his popularity rati...

Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms.   This episode focuses on David Cameron. A special adviser during the Major government, he eventually succeeded his old boss, Michael Howard, as party leader and took the Conservatives back into govern...

Welcome to Prime Ministerial. Each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms.   Episode one focuses on Theresa May. May took office in the aftermath of the vote to leave the EU, she promised to unite the country – but her premiership ended in humiliation after just three years in t...