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Helping you make sense of politics – every weekday.
Anoosh Chakelian, Oli Dugmore and the New Statesman team bring you sharp reporting, clear analysis and thoughtful conversations to help you understand what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond.
The New Statesman is Britain’s leading source of news and commentary on politics and culture with a progressive perspective. On Daily Politics, our journalists and expert guests cut through the noise of the headlines to explain the forces shaping our world. From the battles inside the Labour Party to the future of the Conservatives, from the rise of Reform UK to the debates that dominate Parliament, we provide the clarity you need to follow UK politics.
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▶︎ Kemi Badenoch isn't working | Cover Story with Tom McTague
▶︎ Do billionaires really benefit the UK?
▶︎ One year of Labour rule: can things still only get better?
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Hosts:
Anoosh Chakelian
Oli Dugmore
Regular contributors and co-hosts:
Tom McTague, Editor-in-chief
Will Lloyd, Deputy editor
Andrew Marr, Political editor
George Eaton, Senior editor, politics
Hannah Barnes, Associate editor
Rachel Cunliffe, Associate political editor
Will Dunn, Business editor
Megan Gibson, Foreign editor
Katie Stallard, Global affairs editor
Tanjil Rashid, Culture editor
Kate Mossman, Senior writer
Production team:
Senior podcast producer: Catharine Hughes
Video producer: Rob Le Mare
Assistant producer: Biba Kang
Executive producer: Chris Stone
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1392 Episodes
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Donald Trump is grappling with the consequences of staging a military intervention in Iran without a clear plan.Modern conflicts are often driven less by coherent national interest than by the instincts and ambitions of powerful leaders.From the Strait of Hormuz, to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to the tension between China and Taiwan - miscalculation, overconfidence, and the enduring unpredictability of war are reshaping global power.Katie Stallard is joined by Philips O’Brien, American historian and professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Earlier this month, a meningitis outbreak in Canterbury, Kent, led to the tragic death of two young people. So far there have been 29 confirmed or suspected cases in total. It’s thought that a “super-spreader” event at a nightclub is the source of the outbreak.Since then, there has been a mass rollout of vaccines for Meningitis B and preventative antibiotics. Thousands of students and contacts have been treated.Cases now appear to be slowing or stabilising, however, some questions have been raised over the speed of the response from the government. Post-Covid, fear amongst the public of the spread of infectious diseases is heightened. This meningitis outbreak has served as a test, not just of public health response and communication, but of how the public understands risk in a post-pandemic Britain. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by investigations editor, Hannah Barnes. READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2026/03/was-kent-prepared-for-meningitis LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anoosh and Will are back with this week's round up of the politics stories you might have missed.This week:Housing Secretary Steve Reed has the perfect opportunity to "build, baby, build"Misinformation powerhouse InfoWars is officially over - just like the MetaversePete Hegseth seems to encourage the US army to commit war crimesRachel Reeves takes a gamble on building "an army of Burnhams"READ: Anoosh's Thomas Hetherwick interviewWill's sketch on Pete Hegseth - "the boss of tough men in hot places"LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Angela Rayner has called Shabana Mahmood’s immigration plans un-British. Is this the beginning of the dilution of these reforms and even of a leadership campaign?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ailbhe Rea to discuss.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer’s cost of living crisisAt the beginning of this year, Keir Starmer vowed to bring down the cost of living. But as other PMs learned before him, this is often out of the government’s control.The Iran war is threatening to ruin his strategy and Starmer now finds himself in a bind.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by political editor, Ailbhe Rea.READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/03/keir-starmer-is-struggling-to-keep-his-new-years-resolution LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Yesterday, Keir Starmer met Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a new defense partnership.The Ukrainian President said he faced a missile shortage due to the war in Iran and Keir Starmer resolved to remain focused on the fight against Russia. But is the war in Eastern Europe only the first act of a much wider conflict?Oli Dugmore is joined by Will Lloyd, who visited Ukraine last month. Read: https://www.newstatesman.com/international-content/2026/03/the-new-world-war LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Treasury Select Committee has announced an inquiry into Student Loans.It comes after Rachel Reeves announced a freeze on repayment thresholds meaning more graduates will start repaying once they earn just over the living wage.It's an issue that doesn't just affect today's students and graduates but is increasingly becoming a political issue the government cannot ignore.Tom McTague is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to discuss what the inquiry might achieve - and what the student loans issue means for graduates, the economy and Britain's future.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oil prices have spiked following the outbreak of war in Iran, with crude oil jumping to over £75 a barrel.This is having a huge impact around the world, and is set to get worse.Megan Gibson is joined by Rory Johnston, oil market researcher and author of the Commodity Context newsletter, who argues that this scenario could lead to a global depression.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After a massive 17 years reporting on politics for the New Statesman, George Eaton joins Anoosh Chakelian the podcast for a farewell episode.Anoosh and George discuss his highlights from covering the past 17 years in British politics, from the post-crash austerity years, through Labour civil war and ultimately Keir Starmer's Labour election victory in 2024. They reflect on the lessons learned, what's changed... and what's stayed the same. LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hereditary peers scrapped, tech overlord villainy, Tory hypocrisy and camel pageant botox cheating.It’s another weekly round up from Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer apologised for appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Is it enough?After a vote by MPs forced its hand, the government has released the first batch of files relating to Mandelson’s appointment. They revealed that the Prime Minister was told the Labour peer posed a “reputational risk” because of his relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and that his national security adviser raised concerns about the appointment.The so-called “Mandelson files” also exposed a number of facts about the vetting process that were already reported by the New Statesman in February and have angered Labour MPs all over again, and prompted further calls for Keir Starmer’s resignation.Will the Prime Minister go?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe - who has read through every word of the files - do discuss what they contain, what they reveal, and what Keir Starmer must do now.📚 READ Starmer, Mandelson and the missing puzzle pieceLISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1Is the UK going through the “fourth great disruption” to its geopolitical position?In this unprecedented moment, we take a look at how history can shed light on the current conflict, and which politician is best placed to handle the crisis. Editor-in-chief Tom McTague is joined by John Bew, professor of history at King’s College London and former foreign policy adviser to four different British governments, and our political editor Ailbhe Rea. LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Were the strikes on Iran illegal? What's next for the controversial courts bill? Are Labour leaders aware of the existential crisis within their party?On this week's episode of The Exchange, we speak with Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice, David Lammy.To listen more episodes of The Exchange find us on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump is bombing Iran. Oil prices are volatile. Is the world heading for recession?Oil prices peaked after the US and Israel started their war on Iran. Around a fifth of the world's oil supply relies on one tiny shipping lane in the Middle East called the Strait of Hormuz, and shipping firms are refusing to use it for fear of attack.Meanwhile, Britain remains in the grip of inflated prices and shoppers fear the war in Iran will only make things worse. Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn discuss how the Iran war will impact the global and the UK economies, and what – if anything – the Labour government can do about it.READ: Oil prices mean Starmer must raise tax or face recessionLISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Angry about the lack of support for his war in Iran, Donald Trump stated that he didn’t need any help from the UK, despite using British airbases for strikes. In an angry social media rant, he also called Keir Starmer a “loser” and “no Winston Churchill”.Just a day later, the two leaders had a call to discuss military cooperation. Can relations be repaired? And is Westminster telling us the whole story?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by US Correspondent Freddie Hayward.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Despite Dubai’s proximity to Iran, is it safer than Sadiq Khan’s London? Do young people have a different perspective on class? And could the corgi be banned?Will and Anoosh round up their picks of news stories from the week.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Tuesday 10 March, MPs will debate the Courts and Tribunals Bill, in what could be the biggest shakeup of the justice system since the 1970s.To tackle the Crown Court backlog of over 80,000 cases, the government has put forward proposals to radically reform which cases are heard where, including restricting the right to a trial by jury in all but the most serious cases.Sarah Sackman, Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services, speaks to Rachel Cunliffe to discuss the legislation and its potential impact on British justice.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Labour is losing the voters it used to count on, a new study reveals.In the aftermath of the Green Party’s triumph in the Gorton and Denton by-election, and with local elections in London councils and other major cities coming up, Labour is losing the left progressive voters it could once rely on having “nowhere else to go”.Now, the biggest study ever of these voters – shared exclusively with the New Statesman – reveals the true risk to Labour’s future of leaving them behind.This work, done by surveying 10,000 voters and a randomised control trial style approach, has found out who the so-called progressive defectors are, why they’re deserting Labour, and what impact this could have on Labour’s electoral prospects.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Steve Akehurst of Persuasion UK who co-authored this report with 38 Degrees.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Yesterday, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her spring statement - an economic update - to the commons.With the news completely dominated by conflict in the Middle East, you would be forgiven for not noticing. In fact, many have deduced that this was exactly what the government were hoping for.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Will Dunn to discuss.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Yesterday afternoon in the Commons, Keir Starmer took a stance against Trump's attacks on Iran. The US President has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister.Is a rift developing? Should the UK be pivoting away from the US and towards Europe? And should talk of the "special relationship" be banned from the government's parlance?Oli Dugmore is joined by journalist, author, and ex-Foreign Office special adviser Ben Judah to discuss.LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download the New Statesman appMORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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I hope in the bin where they belong.
still shilling for big sugar. full cringe.
this sugar shilling is horrible. I hope this is the last time or subscribers will be off
c. o b. c
Hi NS team, Good news across in South Somerset. Many of the dire roads - and they were dire - were repaired earlier in the year. It felt like a mass program, prior to the local elections. Not that we had them here. i was under the impression this was occurring across the country. On another note, i absolutely agree with your consensus about this government not communicating and telling a story. I wonder if they would employ creative writers and journalists to help them communicate? Best wishes.
how can you spout such rubbish. Netenyahu and Trump are not autocrats, they don't have absolute power and trump has a massive mandate.
"Basket of people who are resentful & they're looking for an outlet..." Surely you're describing Reform? Or if it's true of both, it doesn't justify the imbalance in coverage.
This would be the only reason I would vote for Labour; however, I trust them as much as I trust my crooked freeholder.
keep going Andrew. Whilst this information is indeed, as the previous commenter stated, very scary. it needs to get out there. The public need to know that their news could be fake.
most honest podcast I've ever listened to. also very frightening.
thoroughly enjoyed this podcast how perfectly explained perhaps politicians should be made to listen to as part of their 'training'...
Katy Balls, Barwell. Basically, the only people New Statesman ever have on "representing the other side" are people who basically agree with them on everything bar how high should taxes be. Pathetic really. Is it any wonder they are clueless as to how to defeat the Tories. So inward looking, incurious and ignorant it's actually quite sad.
A brilliant episode, really helped make sense of the discussion and cut through some of the media coverage which doesn't always differentiate between what the report itself says, what the views of the people behind it have been, what the recommendations were, and then how it was presented to the media. Thank you.
Enjoy the podcast but... really wish Stephen could reduce his "like" verbal tick. It's very distracting.
As a local authority social worker: completely agree social care is under resourced, but in my experience, delays in hospital dx are often about poor coordination within the hospital or community health services not being in place- l would be interested in stats of how often it is actually social care holding things up- it's easy to blame the social worker! re increased demand for social care by working age adults: possible reasons are; social inequality and it's impact on mental health, increased recognition of autism, medical advances meaning more people with serious conditions surviving to adulthood. thanks for your podcast- always interesting! clare
https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/blog/antisemitism-no-justification-for-singling-out-labour/
I love that this serious episode goes into panto and then Strictly Come Dancing
Why is Stephen talking from inside a box? Please give him his own microphone.
l ppl
this is the only podcast I listen too religiously. great content, keep it up guys.