Daily Politics from the New Statesman
The New Statesman
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.--START HERE:▶︎ 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?--LISTEN AD-FREE:📱Download and subscribe in the New Statesman app to enjoy all our episodes without the ads.--MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ Ask a question - we answer them on the podcast every Friday⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter in your inbox every morning✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday--Hosts:Anoosh ChakelianOli DugmoreRegular contributors and co-hosts:Tom McTague, Editor-in-chiefWill Lloyd, Deputy editorAndrew Marr, Political editorGeorge Eaton, Senior editor, politicsHannah Barnes, Associate editorRachel Cunliffe, Associate political editorWill Dunn, Business editorMegan Gibson, Foreign editorKatie Stallard, Global affairs editorTanjil Rashid, Culture editorKate Mossman, Senior writerProduction team:Senior podcast producer: Catharine HughesVideo producer: Rob Le MareAssistant producer: Biba KangExecutive producer: Chris Stone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 23, 2026 • 24min
How Covid fear shaped the meningitis response
Hannah Barnes, investigations editor known for health policy reporting and on-the-ground coverage of the Kent meningitis outbreak. She walks through the outbreak timeline and response. She compares public reaction to pandemic-era fear. She examines vaccine policy decisions and calls for renewed campus meningitis education.
Mar 21, 2026 • 47min
"Build the tunnel right through stonehenge" | Anoosh & Will's weekly round-up
They debate the cancelled Stonehenge tunnel and local fights over planning decisions. They cover the end of Infowars and the collapse of Meta’s metaverse bet. Conversation turns to oil and plastic supply risks from Middle East disruption. They critique hawkish US rhetoric about warfare and flag up big political gambles on housing, taxes and regional economic policy.
Mar 20, 2026 • 22min
Is Angela Rayner making her move?
Alva Ray, political editor and analyst who dissects Labour Party strategy, offers crisp commentary on Angela Rayner’s recent interventions. They trace Rayner’s stance on immigration debates and her alignment with backbench critics. They explore timing, internal party reactions, and whether these moves signal a bid to return to frontline politics. Short, sharp political analysis with inside-the-room detail.
Mar 19, 2026 • 26min
Keir Starmer’s cost of living crisis
Alva Ray, political editor and commentator, breaks down how government choices shape the cost-of-living fight. She compares current challenges to past energy shocks and explains Labour’s preference for targeted help over universal subsidies. Discussion covers shifting rhetoric to resilience, the politics of visible support, and how international events can upend domestic plans.
Mar 18, 2026 • 31min
The new world war
Will Lloyd, deputy editor and foreign correspondent who reported from Ukraine, shares on-the-ground observations. He describes civilian life under strikes and the toll on infrastructure. He links drone supplies from Iran to wider regional tensions. He discusses changing warfare: drones, partisan units, online spectacle, and what long-term militarisation could mean for Europe.
Mar 17, 2026 • 39min
Why you'll never repay your student loan
Rachel Cunliffe, political journalist specialising in UK public policy and economics. She breaks down why student loan balances ballooned, how interest and frozen thresholds changed who repays. Short conversations about parliamentary inquiries, party positions and what reforms might actually help current graduates.
13 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 31min
Could surging oil prices cause a global depression?
Rory Johnston, oil market researcher and author of the Commodity Context newsletter, outlines how a big, rapid loss of crude through the Strait of Hormuz could shatter markets. He explains why refined products tighten first and who gets hurt most. He maps timelines for sharp price spikes and explores policy levers, rationing risks and cascading shortages from gas to fertilizer.
Mar 15, 2026 • 19min
Farewell, George!
George Eaton, longtime New Statesman political journalist who covered British politics for 17 years. He reflects on reporting through the post‑crash era, austerity debates and the Labour civil war. Conversation covers memorable interviews, the role of ideas in politics, tradeoffs between growth, redistribution and defence, and how culture shapes political movements.
6 snips
Mar 14, 2026 • 39min
“Won’t someone think of the hereditary peers?” | Will and Anoosh’s weekly round up
A weekly round-up covering the scrapping of hereditary peers and the political bargaining behind the compromise. Discussions on provocative public comments about Iran and later denials. A quirky dive into UK citizenship test trivia and the Jaffa Cake VAT legal oddity. Tech lobbyists' evasive answers to foreign influence questions. Lightweight stories about camel pageant cheating, pet cloning and public figure pet scandals.
Mar 13, 2026 • 23min
Mandelson files: Starmer knew
Rachel Cunliffe, political journalist and New Statesman contributor who read the Mandelson files in full. She walks through the released vetting papers and onboarding documents. She highlights references to Jeffrey Epstein, the contested severance demands, and timing issues around security clearance. She discusses staff warnings, political fallout for Keir Starmer, and what further files might reveal.
