Episodes
-
US investment already owns much of the British high street. Are "ignorant" politicians "selling the UK down the river"?
As Donald Trump announces new tariffs on trading partners around the world, Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe are joined by Angus Hanton, author of Vassal State, to explore how the UK economy is, in many ways, "in thrall" to the US.
They also discuss Trump's shock declaration of intent to "take over" the Gaza Strip. Later in the show they're joined by George Eaton to analyse Keir Starmer's great EU reset - and discuss whether the Prime Minister can please both Europe and the United States (spoiler: he can't).
Ask a question for us to answer in a future episode: www.newstatesman.com/youaskus
Get more politics coverage every day direct to your email inbox by signing up for our daily politics newsletter: morningcall.substack.com
Save money on a New Statesman subscription to get full access to all our reporting and analysis from just £5 for your first 5 weeks: www.newstatesman.com/feb25
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Andrew Marr is joined by the authors of Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer, Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire.
But while this is ostensibly the story of Starmer's Labour, who really runs the party behind the scenes?
Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call
Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Missing episodes?
-
For some with epilepsy, valproate is the only medication which can control their seizures. But for decades women say they were not made aware of the risk this drug posed for their unborn children.
Today we know around 11% of the children born to women who take valproate during pregnancy have major congenital disorders. 30-40% experience other conditions including delays in early development, poor language skills, and lower intellectual abilities. There’s also an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder.
Restrictions on how the drug should be used have since been tightened. But this week on Insight we hear from neurologists who believe the system might have overcorrected as a result of this tragedy, causing more harm than good.
Kate Lamble is joined by Janet Williams, Hannah Barnes, and Dr Dominic Heaney.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
In 1989, following the shock resignation of the chancellor, Nigel Lawson, Margaret Thatcher sat down with veteran broadcaster, friend, and former Labour MP Brian Walden for a 45 minute interview. It was a disastrous encounter for Thatcher, that ultimately spelled the beginning of the end of her 10 years in power – a year later she resigned.
The story behind this is told by Rob Burley in his book Why is this Lying Bastard Lying to Me? Searching for the Truth on Political TV – which has now been adapted into a two part dramatisation, Brian and Maggie, starring Steve Coogan and Harriet Walter. The show raises bigger questions, too: why does the political interview matter? And how do you solve the riddle of Margaret Thatcher on screen?
Tom Gatti is joined by TV producer and editor Rob Burley, and the New Statesman’s TV critic - Rachel Cooke.
Read: Rachel Cooke's review
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Last week marked the end of the sanctioned 6 month whip removal of 7 Labour MPs who voted against the two-child benefit cap in July.
Andrew Marr is joined by one of them, John Mcdonnell MP for Hayes and Harlington to ask - what next?
Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call
Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Rachel Reeves' latest growth speech has failed to convince one curious listener.
George Eaton and Rachel Cunliffe join Hannah Barnes for a special listener questions episode. They tackle your questions on Labour's latest intervention on growth, which George describes as an "attempt" at a vibe shift.
They also discuss whether Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have a charisma problem, as well as one listener who asks if the media should be giving the Liberal Democrats more attention.
Ask a question for us to answer in a future episode: www.newstatesman.com/youaskus
Get more politics coverage every day direct to your email inbox by signing up for our daily politics newsletter: morningcall.substack.com
Save money on a New Statesman subscription to get full access to all our reporting and analysis from just £5 for your first 5 weeks: www.newstatesman.com/jan25
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Last year Scunthorpe’s two blast furnaces Queen Anne and Queen Bess became the last remaining primary steelmaking facility in the UK. However there were reports that those facilities were soon to be mothballed - 2,500 jobs lost before Christmas.
Despite those reports, smoke is still rising from the Scunthorpe Steelworks and talks about its future are continuing between Jingye - the Chinese company which owns the plant - and the government.
But what is the government's plan for the future of British steel? How reliant are we on offshore production? And how did Scunthorpe come to own the latest poltical football?
Kate Lamble is joined by Megan Kenyon and Sam Alvis, as well as Ben Houchen, Nic Dakin, Tony Gosling, Andrea Jenkyns and Martin Foster.
Read: The cost of net zero in the town that steel built
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
In 1966, to the chagrin of his fans and the folk music community, Bob Dylan went electric. The five years leading up to this moment is the focus of A Complete Unknown, the new Bob Dylan biopic from James Mangold.
This indignation came at a time where folk was the language of protest, from the civil rights movement to the Vietnam war, but when did folk get left behind? What was Dylan’s lasting effect on the protest song?
Tom Gatti is joined by Kate Mossman, senior writer at the New Statesman, and Dorian Lynskey, writer and author of 33 Revolutions Per Minute: A History of Protest Songs.
You can read more from Kate and Dorian on newstatesman.com.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Freddie Hayward joins from Washington DC to answer listener questions on the new Trump administration.
Following his inauguration on Monday January 20, Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders to implement new policy or reverse work done by the Biden administration.
Listeners have asked what the US president's actions will mean for Britain.
Freddie joins Rachel Cunliffe and Hannah Barnes to answer your questions.
--
📚 READ: Trump's techno-futurist inaugural address
https://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2025/01/donald-trump-inauguration-techno-futurist-elites
🙋♀️ ASK a question:
We answer listener questions every Friday. Submit your by commenting here, or at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus
📧 FREE get our daily politics email
https://morningcall.substack.com
💷 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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Is Axel Rudakubana a terrorist, or just a very disturbed individual?
Hannah Barnes is joined by Andrew Marr and Jacob Davey of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue to discuss the trial of Alex Rudakabana, who has pled guilty to the murder of three young girls in Southport.
Keir Starmer has responded to the guilty plea and ordered a new public inquiry - but critics say the Prime Minister waited too long to act.
How should the government respond to the threat of self-radicalised attackers, and the changing nature of “terrorism”?
–
📚 READ: Southport and the changing face of terror
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/society/2025/01/southport-and-the-changing-face-of-terror
🙋♀️ ASK a question:
We answer listener questions every Friday. Submit your by commenting here, or at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus
📧 FREE get our daily politics email
https://morningcall.substack.com
💷 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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
This weekend, almost 500 days after the October 7th attack, a ceasefire came into effect between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
But just how fragile is this peace? And what will determine whether it breaks or holds?
Kate Lamble speaks with Sondos Sabra, Yair Wallach and Bruno Maçães.
Follow the links to read more from Sondos, Yair and Bruno.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Birth rates are declining around the world.
Why? And what can - or should - be done?
Tom Gatti meets authors Madeleine Davis and Anastasia Berg, who have both written on the changing attitudes to child-rearing, to explore the reasons behind these changes.
They discuss why financial, social and romantic circumstances are leading fewer people to have children, and what governments and institutions can or should do to address the issue.
Ask a question for a future episode at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus
Get the New Stateman's political analysis in your inbox every weekday by signing up to our newsletter, Morning Call: morningcall.substack.com
Subscribe to the New Statesman for full access to all our reporting and analysis: www.newstatesman.com/jan24
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Keir Starmer is stuck between the UN and Donald Trump.
Under pressure from the International Court, Labour are due to relinquish British ownership of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.
But the islands house a strategic US airbase, and the Prime Minister needs to maintain good relations with the incoming Trump administration.
Andrew Marr, Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe answer a listener's question about whether the government will rethink the Chagos Islands deal.
They also discuss whether the New Statesman should regret backing Labour at the general election, and how the UK will be affected by new moderation rules on Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram.
Ask a question for a future episode at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus
Get the New Stateman's political analysis in your inbox every weekday by signing up to our newsletter, Morning Call: morningcall.substack.com
Subscribe to the New Statesman for full access to all our reporting and analysis: www.newstatesman.com/jan24
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Rachel Reeves is under fire for her management of the country's finances.
With suggestions of an impending income tax raise, some have called for her to resign. Andrew Marr and Will Dunn join Hannah Barnes to explain why the Chancellor won't quit - yet.
Will Dunn also explains how government debt is calculated - and why the economic crash really might not have been (entirely) Liz Truss's fault after all.
The team also discuss Tulip Siddiq's resignation, and whether Labour have a two-tier approach to discipline.
Ask a question for a future episode at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus
Get the New Stateman's political analysis in your inbox every weekday by signing up to our newsletter, Morning Call: morningcall.substack.com
Subscribe to the New Statesman for full access to all our reporting and analysis: www.newstatesman.com/jan24
Articles mentioned in this episode:
How damaging is the Tulip Siddiq affair for Labour?
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/01/the-tulip-siddiq-affair-is-a-blow-labour
Will the bond markets defeat Rachel Reeves?
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2025/01/will-the-bond-markets-defeat-rachel-reeves
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, Elon Musk - what do these men have in common?
Just a few days from Donald Trump’s second inauguration as US President, hearings to confirm the team around him have started in earnest and the incoming 47th president has managed to pull together a coalition of competing interests - different groups with different priorities - all of whom see value in his Presidency.
But can these opposing factions work together, and what happens when they start falling out?
Kate Lamble is joined by Quinn Slobodian, Katie Stallard, and Freddie Hayward.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
The 90's is often heralded as the era of Blur, Oasis, Pulp - but this decade belongs as much to boybands as it does to Britpop. But what was behind these manufactured groups? What does this era reveal about Britain's relationship with class and masculinity? And will Robbie Williams' legacy be a CGI monkey?
Tom Gatti is joined by senior commissioning editor at the New Statesman, Anna Leskiewicz and writer Emma Garland.
Read: Robbie Williams’ anti-redemption arc, by Emma Garland
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
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 Marr
https://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 email
https://morningcall.substack.com
🎧 LISTEN to the New Statesman podcast
https://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.
- Show more
