The Politics Show

Helen is joined by the New Statesman's US editor Nicky Woolf to discuss the child detention scandal on America's borders and the "blue wave" of left wing candidates winning primaries. Then, they answer a provocative listener question: what's annoying you most at the moment? (Spoiler, it's a lot, and some of it is Brexit-related.) Subscribe to the New Statesman's new World Cup podcast,  Politi...

Stephen is joined by LabourList editor Sienna Rodgers (as Helen is on holiday) to pick over Theresa May's mythical "Brexit dividend" for the NHS, and to discuss what's going on with Labour's NEC elections. Finally, they answer a pressing question: why is Jeremy Corbyn pushing for a free vote on Heathrow expansion? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @s...

Helen and Stephen discuss the Brexit votes in the Commons this week and how a Lords amendment on the EU Withdrawal Bill will work. Then, they analyse Paul Dacre's departure as editor of the Daily Mail and what it will mean for the paper. Finally, they answer a listener question: why hasn't the press picked up more on claims of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party? Subscribe to the New Statesman'...

Stephen and Anoosh discuss Labour's shift on Brexit, reflect on the year since the 2017 general election, and look at how austerity is affecting people around the country. Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @anoosh_c  or  join us on Facebook for a live Q&A . Become a paying newstatesman.com subscriber and get the podcast in time for your...

Helen and Stephen discuss the Yes vote in the Irish referendum on repealing the eighth amendment, and then go head to head on whether referendums are a good way of making political decisions. Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @helenlewis  or  join us on Facebook for a live Q&A . LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FRO...

Helen and Stephen are joined by Tom Hamilton to discuss the prospect of an early election and the history of PMQs, and then they answer a listener question: is the media in trouble, or better than ever? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @helenlewis  or  join us on Facebook for a live Q&A . Get a copy of Punch and Judy Politics by Ayesha...

Can you tell your customs partnership from your max-fac? Helen and Stephen untangle the latest Brexit wrangling, and then discuss Stephen's recent trip to Israel and the moving of the US embassy to Jerusalem. Finally, they answer a listener question: what would the London mayoral race have looked like if Tessa Jowell had won the Labour nomination? Send us your questions for future episod...

Helen is joined by Sienna Rodgers, editor of LabourList, to discuss the local election results — was it a good night or a bad night for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party? Then the American playwright Rajiv Joseph joins to tell us about his new play, Describe the Night , which covers almost a hundred years of Russian political history. Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @...

Helen and Stephen discuss the politics of the new home secretary Sajid Javid, yet more Brexiteer nonsense about the customs union, and whether it's possible for a Conservative to be progressive. Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @helenlewis ,  @stephenkb  or  join us on Facebook for a live Q&A . LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the...

Helen and Stephen discuss the Brexiteers' magical thinking on the customs union, Len McCluskey's forthright intervention on anti-Semitism in the Labour party in this week's  New Statesman  magazine, and the new statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square. Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @helenlewis ,  @stephenkb  or&nb...

Helen and Stephen discuss the immigration controversy now surrounding the handling of the Windrush generation and analyse what Theresa May's "hostile environment" policy could mean for her politically. Then contributing editor Mehdi Hasan joins from Washington DC to talk about Donald Trump's extraordinary run of outrageous scandals. Finally, they tackle a listener question: how did the Lib De...

Helen and Stephen discuss the conflict in Syria and the tests for any possible UK intervention. Then they take a close look at the return of crime as a political issue in Britain. Finally, they answer a listener question: are the conditions for a successful new centrist party unique to France? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter  @ns_podcasts ,  @helenlewis ,...

Helen is back! She and Stephen discuss anti-Semitism in the Labour party, and then answer a listener question: should there be a new centrist party and should David Miliband lead it? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter @ns_podcasts , @helenlewis , @stephenkb or  join us on Facebook for a live Q&A . Further reading: Stephen's column about Labour and anti-Semitism. LISTEN...

Stephen and Anoosh discuss the ongoing story of Cambridge Analytica and the allegations of Vote Leave's overspending during the EU referendum. Then they answer a listener question about whether there is any truth in the accusation that Labour's anti-Semitism row is a smear. Finally, they look at an example of a dodgy election leaflet from Havering. Send us your questions for future episodes via Tw...

Stephen is away this week, so Anoosh is at the helm. First, she is joined by Citymetric editor and known Brexit loather Jonn Elledge to discuss the transition deal and why fish were thrown into the Thames at Westminster. Then, she interviews Francisco Cantú, a former border guard on the US-Mexico border and the author of  The Line Becomes a River.  Finally, George Eaton answers one...

Stephen and Anoosh discuss the unfolding story of the Russian spy attack in Salisbury, and wonder whether Jeremy Corbyn's previous foreign policy statements will cut through to voters. Then they analyse Philip Hammond's Spring Statement and the Conservatives' contradictory position on the economy. Finally, they answer a listener question: is Vince Cable right to say that the Brexit vote was driven...

Stephen and Anoosh discuss Theresa Mays housing speech and the politics of homeowning vs renting. Then, they talk about the polling around awareness of Momentum, and whether it's a good attack line for the Tories (spoiler: no). Finally, they answer a listener question: is there any possibility of a second referendum on EU membership? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter&nbsp...

Stephen and Anoosh discuss Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit speech and Labour's new position on the customs union. Then, they talk about the #LabourToo report on harassment in the party and give a brief guide to the left-wing blogosphere (can you tell your Canary from your Skwawkbox?). Finally, they answer a listener question: why do Brexiteers care so much about trade deals? Send us your questions for...

Stephen and Anoosh discuss the story of Jeremy Corbyn's alleged meeting with a Czech spy in the 1980s and why it has received so much coverage. Then, they analyse the Labour leader's response, including his pledges to crack down on the right wing press and tax exile media moguls. Finally, they answer a listener question: why does Boris Johnson think he is the person to unite Leavers and Remai...

Stephen and Anoosh discuss Boris Johnson's disingenuous Brexit intervention. Then they talk about a recent trip to see the Labour MP Laura Pidcock in Durham, and the art of a good political interview. Finally, they (try to) answer a very good listener question: what actually is the government's plan for the Northern Irish border after Brexit? Send us your questions for future episod...

Stephen and Anoosh discuss Theresa May's inept speech about the suffragettes. Then they answer a popular listener question: can the Conservatives can win a majority by maximising the white vote? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter @ns_podcasts , @anoosh_c or @stephenkb .  LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we a...

Helen and Stephen discuss the controversy surrounding Labour and the Haringey Development Vehicle (no wait, come back, it's really interesting). Then they answer a listener question: how does the Conservative no confidence process work? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter @ns_podcasts , @helenlewis or @stephenkb .  LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM...

Helen and Stephen discuss Boris Johnson's terrible intervention on the NHS before getting very angry about the sleazy all-male fundraiser exposed by the FT this week. Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter @ns_podcasts , @helenlewis or @stephenkb .  Further reading: The FT exclusive about the Presidents Club fundraiser. Helen's piece about the Freemasons. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Do...

What do Mary Stuart, Elizabeth Tudor, and the future leaders of both the Conservative and Labour parties have in common? They are all the subject of this bumper discussion between Helen and Stephen about women, power and political succession. Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter @ns_podcasts , @helenlewis or @stephenkb .  LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MOR...

Helen and Stephen dissect Theresa May's reshuffle and wonder what on earth the PM was thinking, getting rid of Justine Greening. Then Helen interviews the playwright David Eldridge about his upcoming play Beginning and theatre's problems with diversity and access. Finally, they tackle a big and serious question: how do we fix the NHS crisis? Send us your questions for future episodes via Twitter @...