The Politics Show

On this week's New Statesman podcast, Stephen and Helen are talking about how Sam Gyimah's resignation as the government's Universities Minister is a huge, and surprising, blow for the Prime Minister. In You Ask Us they tackle the thorny issues surrounding the resignation of Labour's Kate Osamor. If you are a  New Statesman  digital subscriber you can get advert free access to this podca...

Stephen and Patrick discuss the likely May vs Corbyn showdown in the mooted Brexit TV debate. Then Helen interviews Rebecca Frecknall and Patsy Ferran, director and star of Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke , currently playing at the Duke of York's theatre in London. If you are a New Statesman digital subscriber you can get advert free access to this podcast by visiting newstatesman.com/nssubsc...

Stephen is joined by Patrick and Anoosh to discuss the impossible parliamentary arithmetic of the Brexit deal, and the UN poverty expert's tough criticism of the government's welfare policies. If you are a New Statesman digital subscriber you can get advert free access to this podcast by visiting newstatesman.com/nssubscribers . If you haven't signed up yet, visit newstatesman.com/subscribe to pur...

Helen and Stephen discuss the chances of a Brexit deal passing through parliament, and take a look at what Jeremy Corbyn has been up to recently. If you are a New Statesman digital subscriber you can get advert free access to this podcast by visiting newstatesman.com/nssubscribers . If you haven't signed up yet, visit newstatesman.com/subscribe to purchase your subscription. Send us your questions...

Helen and Stephen discuss the results of the US midterm elections, rumours of a cooling in the relationship between Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, and what might have happened in British politics if the 2017 general election had never happened. If you are a New Statesman digital subscriber you can get early, ad free access to this podcast by visiting newstatesman.com/nssubscribers . If you have...

Helen and Stephen discuss the ongoing fallout from the Budget, a new play about women's football, and answer a pressing question: was Waitrose right to get rid of their magazine editor after an ill-judged joke about vegans? If you are a New Statesman digital subscriber you can get early, ad free access to this podcast by visiting newstatesman.com/nssubscribers . If you haven't signed up yet, visit...

Helen and Stephen are joined by Sir Howard Davies, chairman of RBS and former deputy governor of the Bank of England, to dissect this year's budget. What has Philip Hammond kept up his sleeve for Brexit? Is austerity really 'coming to an end'? And what's the deal with the tax cut for higher earners? All these questions, and many others, answered.  Contact us on Twitter @ns_podcasts , @helenle...

Helen and Stephen discuss the ongoing trials and tribulations of Tory Brexiteers. Then, they're joined by Labour MP and Shadow Treasury Minister Jonathan Reynolds to discuss the upcoming budget. Finally, Jonn Elledge pops in to answer a listener question: is  Doctor Who  best when it is just trying to be a children's programme? If you are a New Statesman digital subscriber you can get ea...

Helen and Stephen attempt to bring some calm rationality to the discussion of Brexit and "the backstop" — whatever that turns out to be. Then Helen talks to the American author Rebecca Solnit about reporting on Trump and her new book  Call Them by Their True Names .  Finally, a listener question: what's going on with universal credit? If you are a New Statesman digital subscriber you can...

Helen and Stephen have been on a podcast school trip to David Hare's new play I'm Not Running , and they have some thoughts about how accurately it portrays contemporary Labour politics. Then Emily Sargent from the Wellcome Collection joins to discuss buildings, council estates and housing design. If you are a New Statesman digital subscriber you can get early, ad free access to this podcast by vi...

Helen, Stephen and Anoosh digest the happenings at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, discuss Boris Johnson's Telegraph column and the new left media, and answer a listener question: can we still enjoy the work of Kanye West? 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 newslet...

Stephen and Anoosh are straight off the train from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, and they discuss why the mood felt more upbeat in previous years and how Labour are handling Brexit. Plus: a listener question — why do people care more about Jeremy Corbyn's euroscepticism than Theresa May's? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @helenlewis ,&n...

Helen is joined by Anoosh Chakelian to discuss the shaming of Donald Trump by Stormy Daniels, plus why Labour Party conference gives her serious deja vu. Then Jonn Elledge reports back from Lib Dem conference, and hands out some TV recommendations too. Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts , @helenlewis ,  @anoosh_c , @jonnelledge , or  join us on Face...

Helen and Stephen itemise the worst ministers and shadow ministers in politics at the moment and explain why these people are failing so badly at their briefs. Then, Helen talks to John Ridding, CEO of the Financial Times and chairman of the Room to Read charity, about literacy and activism. Finally, they answer a popular listener question: where are they going on holiday and why? Send us your que...

Helen and Stephen are joined by New Statesman editor Jason Cowley to discuss his recent interview with the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell. Then, Helen talks to the feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez about the anti-Brexit Women For A People's Vote campaign. Finally, they tackle a listener question: what's going on with Labour's NEC elections? Send us your questions for future episodes via...

Helen and Stephen discuss the coming autumn crunch over Brexit and how the parliamentary votes over the deal will go. Then, Helen talks to director Jude Christian about her upcoming production othellomacbeth and the ways in which we politicise Shakespeare. Finally, they tackle a listener question: should Vince Cable resign? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts...

Helen and Stephen discuss jerk rice and cultural appropriation, interview Emily Andrews from the Institute for Government about the state of Britain's public services, and look at the evidence for a possible Labour Party split. Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @stephenkb , @helenlewis or  join us on Facebook for a live Q&A . Further reading...

Helen and Stephen discuss the row over Jeremy Corbyn's attendance at a 2014 wreath-laying event in Tunis and what it tells us about the current internal state of the Labour Party. Then, for this week's "anything but Brexit section", they are joined by schools expert Laura McInerney ( @miss_mcinerney ) to talk about the UK's teacher shortage and why excluded pupils tend to be overlooked by policyma...

Helen and Stephen discuss Boris Johnson's Telegraph column about the burqa, talk to Frances Crook of the Howard League about prisons and penal reform, and answer a listener question: how radical is Jeremy Corbyn's programme for government? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @stephenkb , @helenlewis or  join us on Facebook for a live Q&A . LIS...

Helen and Stephen discuss the ongoing row over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, as well as the internal politics of the party's NEC elections and the possible deselection ballots against pro-Brexit MPs Kate Hoey and Frank Field. They also answer a popular listener question: will and should there be a “people's vote” on the exit deal Theresa May eventually strikes with the EU? Further reading: —...

Helen and Stephen look back at the parliamentary year – taking in discussions of new parties, luxury communism and climate change. Then Helen interviews the author Laurence Scott about his new book Picnic Comma Lightning . And you ask them: should parliament cancel recess to work on Brexit?  LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we...

Helen and Stephen discuss the news that the Vote Leave campaign has been found to have broken electoral law and explore whether Theresa May can face a no confidence vote while Parliament is on summer recess. They they're joined by Helen Thompson, Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge University and a regular on the Talking Politics podcast, to discuss how Brexit is affecting other leaders ar...

Helen and Stephen discuss the ongoing resignations and battles in the Tory party over Brexit, and then Stephen is joined by NS political correspondent Patrick Maguire to test out some Labour Party counterfactuals (warning: includes Liz Kendall content). Subscribe to the New Statesman's World Cup podcast,  Political Football , now — find it at  newstatesman.com/podcast  or in your po...

Helen and Stephen react to the resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson (and who knows who else by the time you listen to this), and analyse what the upheaval in the Cabinet means for Theresa May's tenure as prime minister and the chances of a Brexit deal with the EU27. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Frid...

Helen talks to former White House aide Ben Rhodes, who was an advisor to Barack Obama, about Trump, US foreign policy, and the collapse of the Iran deal. Then, she and Stephen answer a listener question: is there now a stronger chance of a no-deal Brexit? The World as It is: Inside the Obama White House by Ben Rhodes is out now from Bodley Head. Subscribe to the New Statesman's World Cup podcast,&...