The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

Would it be politically safe to go back on their promise not to raise income tax if the increase only affected high earners?, a listener writes in to ask. Hannah Barnes is joined by political editor Andrew Marr and associate political editor Rachel Cunliffe, and in the first half of the programme we hear from senior data journalist Ben Walker about whether there has been a swell in youth support for Reform UK.The team also cast their predictions for the year ahead in UK politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Elon Musk reshape British democracy?The X-owning billionaire has waded into one of the darkest scandals in recent British history: the horrific rape and abuse of thousands of girls across the UK by so-called “grooming gangs”. Musk’s inflammatory posts on his social media platform, X, have prompted statements from Keir Starmer, questions from Kemi Badenoch in PMQs, and extensive coverage across the mainstream media. How should the UK government respond to a foreign billionaire with a platform that amplifies misinformation to hundreds of millions around the world?Andrew Marr joins Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe on Politics from the New Statesman.📚 READ: How does Keir Starmer solve a problem like Elon Musk? - Andrew Marrhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2025/01/how-does-starmer-solve-a-problem-like-elon-musk🙋‍♀️ ASK a question: We answer listener questions every Friday. Submit your by commenting here, or at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus💷 SAVE Become a New Statesman subscriber:Get access to all our reporting at newstatesman.com and receive your copy of our weekly magazine. Podcast listeners can get the first two months for just £2 at https://www.newstatesman.com/save📧 FREE get our daily politics emailhttps://morningcall.substack.com🎧 LISTEN to the New Statesman podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@newstatesman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is talking about the 'Gulf of America' but in reality the US is no where near as powerful as it once was.Kate Lamble is joined by this week's cover writer Robert D. Kaplan, as well as George Magnus and Jonny Ball. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Gatti is joined by BAFTA award winning writer, director, and actor, Mackenzie Crook to discuss his acting career from The Office to Detectorists, as well as Crook's new book 'If Nick Drake Came to My House'.This conversation was recorded at the recent winter edition of the Cambridge Literary Festival. To find out more about the festival, or to watch an extend version of this discussion, please follow the link: cambridgeliteraryfestival.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump round 2, instability in Europe, and power struggles in the Middle East.Hannah Barnes is joined by Katie Stallard and Wolfgang Münchau to take a look at the world in 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Biggest gaffe? Dampest squib? Best political trolling?Hannah Barnes is joined by Andrew Marr and Freddie Hayward to go through the highs and the lows of UK politics in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the last listener questions episode of 2024! Hannah Barnes is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and George Eaton to discuss Elon Musk's support and intentions for Reform UK. The team also consider how Children Not In School register could help increase children's safety and wellbeing, especially considering up to 300,000 children may have been missing from education entirely in 2023.-The podcast will be taking a break over Christmas but we'll be back on Monday to review the year in UK politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team discuss two big political stories of the week; WASPI women and Prince Andrew's friendship with the alleged Chinese spy. And the New Statesman's policy correspondent Harry Clarke-Ezzidio sits down with Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This conversation was recorded at the Cambridge Literary Festival. To watch an extended version or to find out more about Cambridge Literary Festival please head to cambridgeliteraryfestival.com-The New Statesman’s business editor Will Dunn sat down with Torsten Bell, Labour MP for Swansea West, and former chief executive of the Resolution Foundation - a think tank which aims to improve the standard of living of low-to-middle income families. Torsten Bell also worked as Labour’s Director of Policy under Ed Milliband’s leadership. His first book Great Britain?: How We Get Our Future Back, was published earlier this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First conceived in 1956 by Michael Bond, the marmalade-loving immigrant from Peru has become an iconic British cultural figure – treasured for his chaotic nature, impeccable manners, and proximity to royalty.So, how did Paddington become the spokesbear for Britain, crossing political divides in the country, and one of the most commercially successful characters in the world?Tom Gatti is joined by New Statesman contributor Amelia Tait, and Paddington screenwriter Jon Foster.Read: The triumph of Paddington Inc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team answer listener questions on the appointment of Heidi Alexander to transport secretary and whether the UK's mainstream centrist politics are at risk from the far-right.Hannah Barnes is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will his history as a human rights lawyer play a part? Will Shamima Begum be able to return? And why have all Syrian asylum claims been suspended?Hannah Barnes is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton to discuss Britain's reaction to the collapse of the Syrian regime and also Britain's trade talks with the EU. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday Morning the sound of gunfire filled the air in Damascus. The noise, not of fighting, but celebrations. President Bashar al-Assad and his family had fled to Russia. A family which ruled for more than 50 years, brought down by a rebel offensive which had begun less than two weeks earlier. Kate Lamble is joined by Rajan Menon, Marcel Dirsus, and John Jenkins to discuss what's next for Syria, Assad, and the wider region.Read: The fall of Assad represents a revolution in the Middle East, by Rajan Menon; Bashar al-Assad will find no peace in Moscow, by Marcel Dirsus; The Syrian crucible, by John Jenkins Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the Church experiencing an existential crisis? And what is the role of Christianity in modern Britain? Tom Gatti is joined by Pippa Bailey, David Sexton, and Madeleine Davies. Read: Conclave: this papal power struggle is high entertainment Read: The race for Lambeth Palace Read: The rise of cultural Christianity  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hannah Barnes is joined by Will Dunn and Katie Stallard to answer your economics questions AND try to make sense of some big world events this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Labour strategist and architect of the Labour missions, Peter Hyman, joins the New Statesman podcast to discuss Keir Starmer’s “plan for change” speech on Thursday. Hyman discusses the difficulties Labour will face in implementing their missions and is scathing about Whitehall, saying resistance from staffers is stifling innovation: “Three permanent secretaries I've heard in the last month have been resisting having outsiders come in to help,” he says.  “I don't blame civil servants, particularly individual civil servants… What I do blame is the system. At the moment, there is a culture that is not geared towards innovation. It is geared to business as usual… a lot of civil servants are incredibly paranoid about taking any risks because they fear they'll be called in front of a select committee.”Read: Starmer’s pledges leave his government exposed, by Rachel Cunliffe; Keir Starmer must remember his mission, by Peter Hyman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour’s white paper on how further devolution might work is due to be released in the next few weeks. It has been reported that the government is considering a reorganisation of local councils including abolishing some councils and replacing them with larger unitary authoritiesHowever, there have been suggestions Labour’s plans to bring power to the people, could actually make it more distant than ever.Kate Lamble is joined by Matthew Engel, Megan Kenyon and Jack Shaw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Artificial intelligence is fast becoming a part of life.The UK strives to become a global AI superpower.But do we have the talent, skills and regulatory framework to deliver on that?The New Statesman were media partners in a fascinating discussion hosted by 3M with technology and business leaders to explore how Britain can accelerate AI-driven innovation.Chair:Jane WakefieldPanellists:Paul Cardno, Global Digital Innovation Leader, 3MHannah Russell, CEO, British Science AssociationSarah Armstrong, Senior Sales Director - Modern Work and Generative AI, Microsoft EMEAWill Dunn, Business Editor, the New StatesmanThis episode is sponsored by 3M. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Banquet Records, in Kingston South-West London, are probably the most influential record store in the UK right now at helping an artist or a band secure a number one. How did they do it?Tom Gatti is joined by Hannah Barnes to discuss the kingmakers of the UK album charts, and also as December is upon us, how to get a Christmas number one.Read: Kingmakers of the album chartsRead: Forty years ago, Band Aid brought mad excitement to my generation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wes Streeting is "a man in a hurry".In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience at the Labour party conference, the health secretary discusses his actions in government so far and his plans for NHS reform.Wes Streeting spoke to Hannah White, director of the Institute for Government, for this episode which is sponsored by the Institute for Government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.