Another bit has fallen off Labour’s car as its MPs flee Westminster and bid a hasty retreat to their constituencies.This time, Labour has been accused of breaking another manifesto promise by pulling a major one eighty on workers rights. Oli Dugmore is joined by Ailbhe Rea.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
It’s Black Friday and consumers are hunting for bargains. However, are Brits spending more and more money on goods that are getting worse and worse?Will Dunn joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss his theory of "crapflation".Will also spent time this week in an enormous pile of trash, dumped by organised criminals in a field in Oxfordshire.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
While many on the left were calling for a wealth tax, yesterday the Chancellor delivered a smorgasbord of stealth taxes.How will this platter of sneaky revenue streams boost the government’s finances? And what does it mean in the longterm, economically, for the country?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman's business editor, Will Dunn, and political editor, Ailbhe Rea.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
Tax in Britain will rise to an all-time high following Rachel Reeves’ budget.The Chancellor has unveiled her latest budget. She’s promised to remove the two-child benefit cap, freeze income tax brackets and introduce a new mansion tax.Labour deny they are breaking their manifesto pledge to avoid raising income tax, while critics claim the freeze is doing just that.The Office for Budget Responsibility, who disastrously published their assessment before the Chancellor had made her statement to the House of Commons, say the budget will amount to a tax bill of £28 billion by 2029 – a record high.Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and George Eaton to discuss what the budget means for Britain, the Chancellor, and Keir Starmer’s government.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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 Chancellor has admitted that the economy feels stuck. But will tomorrow’s budget, which promises to “grip the cost of living” and looks likely to freeze income tax thresholds, actually do anything to help? Oli Dugmore is joined by the New Statesman's editor Tom McTague and political editor Ailbhe Rea. SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
This summer, MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana announced the launch of the provisionally named ‘Your Party’. The new party was created to fill a gap on the left-wing of British politics that many believe Keir Starmer and his Labour government are ignoring. However, the launch process has not been smooth.Our political correspondent Megan Kenyon has been following all the updates from Your Party, and secured this exclusive interview with Jeremy Corbyn.They discuss whether Corbyn will lead the new party, why it’s been such a struggle to launch, and whether he will collaborate with the Green Party's leader Zack Polanski.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
For so long a fixture of public debate in the US, the software company Palantir is now increasingly being talked about here in Britain.In September the UK government announced a £1.5bn investment by Palantir in the military. It already has contracts with the police and the NHS. So, should we be worried?Tanjil Rashid is joined by journalist James Vincent.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
Whilst Your Party and the Green Party attempt to occupy the space on the left of British politics that they feel Labour has abandoned, our listener asks, what about the British communist parties?Oli Dugmore is joined by Tom McTague to discuss this, along with other listener questions on political briefings to the press and whether Labour can make a comeback.READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/the-sketch/2025/11/britains-young-communists-are-ready-for-revolutionSAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
Shabana Mahmood was back in the Commons today outlining her controversial immigration plans.Meanwhile, Clive Lewis said he’d give up his seat for Andy Burnham and a Labour MP defects to the Greens.In the second half of the podcast, Calum Weir from Labour Together tells us what really matters to Britain. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and Ailbhe Rea.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
Meet the money men with Britain's future in their hands.*Next week Rachel Reeves will deliver her budget and, for all the talk of fiscal rules, headroom and tax rises, there is a higher power she must contend with. When the Chancellor goes for meetings in the City, she is rarely introduced to the people whose job it is to press the button on buying or selling several hundred million pounds’ worth of gilts. It is to these people that we have been speaking in the run-up to the Budget. You would not guess that they wield political power, but for them politics is not personal. They approach it with blunt, professional interest, seeing opportunity in chaos. And if Reeves thinks she can rely on their support, she’s wrong: the bond vigilantes.Read: Meet the bond market vigilanteshttps://www.newstatesman.com/business/economics/2025/11/meet-the-bond-market-vigilantesSAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has set out her plans for the biggest shake up of asylum laws in 40 years. It divided the Labour party, impressed some Conservatives and even earned the home sec an invite to join Reform.But what will it mean in the long term for Britain, and for the families affected?Oli Dugmore is joined by Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe. SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, has unveiled a series of changes to the migration and asylum system. The plans, which have been trailed over the weekend, have been met with scorn from within the Labour party.“This approach isn’t just morally wrong” the MP Richard Burgeon tweeted earlier today, “it’s politically disastrous.”Oli Dugmore is joined by Ethan Croft.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
"If he feels talking about his favourite novel is politically disadvantageous, that's a sad state of affairs" - David Szalay on Keir Starmer's reading habits.--David Szalay is the winner of the 2025 Booker Prize for Fiction.He disputes claims that his novel, Flesh, is a tale of modern masculinity as reviewers have claimed. Though it certainly explores the male expression of emotion. In Flesh, Szalay's protagonist, István, navigates sexual grooming, violence and prison before rising to the ranks of the super-rich - narrating his story in economical, tightly packed sentences.Nicholas Harris met Szalay in London shortly after his win. They discuss the role of the novel, Szalay's "post-brexit" identity as a "European author", and why the Prime Minister should be reading more.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
We share our strategy advice for the Labour rebels allegedly trying to oust Keir Starmer.Ailbhe Rea and Luke O'Reilly join Rachel Cunliffe to answer listener questions. In this episode:What's the best strategy for Labour rebels hoping to dethrone Starmer?How much power does a party chair wield?Can any politicians affect positive change?SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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 weeks of preparing to break their manifesto pledge, Starmer and Reeves have ditched their plans to raise income tax. They’re scared it would have angered their MPs and voters, amid a dire performance in the polls.How will Reeves plug the £30 billion gap in public finances if she doesn’t raise income tax?Oli Dugmore is joined by Ailbhe Rea and Will Dunn to discuss.READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/morning-call/2025/11/whats-behind-labours-income-tax-u-turnSAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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 BBC is still reeling from the dramatic resignation announcement of its director general Tim Davie on Sunday.Rachel Cunliffe gets Lewis Goodall’s insider perspective, drawing on his time working on BBC’s Newsnight programme.Lewis also shares his thoughts on the leadership threats surrounding Keir Starmer.READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2025/11/trumps-attack-can-rescue-the-bbcSAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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 hit its lowest-ever poll rating last week, coming fourth at just 17 per cent. Westminster is full of chatter about a leadership coup at the hands of Wes Streeting. And Labour MPs and government aides alike are dismayed by Keir Starmer’s leadership and the state of No 10. Has the Prime Minister reached the point of no return?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by our new political editor Ailbhe Rea to discuss her cover story.Read: Does Keir Starmer realise how much trouble he’s in?SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
It's now "impossible" to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees. Can COP30 achieve anything material at all?--Keir Starmer has been in Brazil ahead of COP30 - the world’s largest annual climate meeting - where world leaders were told it’s now “virtually impossible” to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. That’s according to the UN’s chief meteorologist.Brazil wants money to protect the rainforests, but Starmer doesn’t want to give it.Meanwhile China, India and the US – three of the biggest emitters – can’t be bothered to turn up.So what, exactly, is the point of these climate talks?Oli Dugmore meets Rachel Kyte, the UK's climate envoy, and Christiana Figueres, the diplomat who led the Paris Agreement, to ask if there's any hope at all for global climate plans.--Hear Christiana Figueres grill Ed Miliband on the Outrage and Optimism podcast: https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/episodes/inside-cop-ed-miliband-on-multilateralism-leadership-and-the-uks-climate-dilemma?hsLang=enSAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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 evening, BBC director general Tim Davie resigned, as first reported in the New Statesman by our new political editor Ailbhe Rea, along with his head of news, Deborah Turness.In the end, it came down to a Panorama documentary accused of featuring a misleadingly edited speech by Donald Trump.But, having weathered years of BBC scandals, could Davie’s departure be described as death by a thousand cuts?Oli Dugmore is joined by Hannah Barnes to discuss.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
Has Labour let down Millennials? Are tax hikes on the horizon? And what would happen to the commonwealth if Britain dumped our King? Rachel Cunliffe joins Anoosh Chakelian to answer listener questions.Treat yourself or someone special to big ideas, bold politics and proper journalism from just £2 this Christmas when you subscribe to the New Statesman. Subscribe today at newstatesman.com/xmaspod25Ask us a questionSAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN 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.
Daniel Bevan
I hope in the bin where they belong.
Adam Itinerant
still shilling for big sugar. full cringe.
Adam Itinerant
this sugar shilling is horrible. I hope this is the last time or subscribers will be off
Gavin Eaton
c. o b. c
lee ramos
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.