The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

In 2020, Sinn Féin, a left-wing party born out of Ireland’s nationalist movement, claimed victory. At the time Ireland’s two major parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, went into coalition with each other, preventing Sinn Fein from forming a government. Sinn Fein’s leader, Mary-Lou McDonald proudly claimed that she would be the first female Taoiseach.

Four years later, support for the left-wing has markedly dropped, scandals have surrounded them on both sides of the border, and party political identities have become blurred.

But when Ireland heads to the polls next week, what will be at the forefront of voter's minds? And how will issues of economy, housing, and immigration decide trajectory of the country's future?

Kate Lamble is joined by Eoin O'Malley, Finn McRedmond, Conor Kelly, and Dan O'Brien.

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The author of Orbital says Elon Musk's "individualistic" future is "problematic in all sorts of ways".

Samantha Harvey, winner of the 2024 Booker Prize for fiction speaks to Nicholas Harris in this episode of Culture from the New Statesman.

She discusses how her novel portrays the politics and powers of the world from orbit, and why the de-orbiting of the ISS marks the end of an era of "peaceful co-operation between nations".

📚 READ

Nicholas Harris's write up of this conversation

https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2024/11/samantha-harvey-booker-prize-2024-winner-interview-orbital

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Where you live could drastically impact how long you live.

According to the Office for National Statistics, a person in South Kensington, one of London’s wealthiest areas, can expect to live up to 16 years longer than someone in a more deprived area, like Blackpool.

In this episode, host Sarah Dawood is joined by a panel of guests to discuss the stark health inequalities across the UK.

-      Jennifer Dixon DBE, CEO of The Health Foundation

-      Jonathan Ashworth, CEO of Labour Together, former Shadow Secretary for Health, and former Labour MP

-      Steve Brine, former Conservative MP, former Minister for Public Health and Primary Care, Chair of Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee, and host of Prevention Is The New Cure podcast

The panel discusses the social determinants, or building blocks of health, that shape health outcomes and life expectancy. They discuss the need for a cross-government approach to address these inequalities and highlight the urgency of meaningful, coordinated action to improve public health.

We also hear from Dr. Ronny Cheung, Consultant General Paediatrician at Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Officer for Health Services at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

This episode is sponsored by Health Equals, a coalition of 27 organisations campaigning to ‘Make Health Equal’. Visit www.healthequals.org.uk

Show references: Health at the heart of government https://www.health.org.uk/publications/health-at-the-heart-of-government

Health and social care select committee prevention inquiry https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7205/prevention-in-health-and-social-care/

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health – Child health inequalities and poverty toolkit https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/key-topics/child-health-inequalities-poverty

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And what can Keir Starmer learn from Theresa May's relationship with Trump? (keep hands firmly in pockets)

Read: Andrew Marr's weekly column

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As Starmer contends with a fraught political landscape, he has increasingly turned to figures from the Blair administration: Jonathan Powell, Liz Lloyd, Peter Mandelson, Alan Milburn. What will this means for the factions within the current Labour government?

We are also midway through COP29 which is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. Keir Starmer was only one of two G7 leaders to appear at the conference (where he announced new plans for the UK to cut its emissions by 81% compared to 1990 levels by 2035. How are Labour going to stick to their pledge of going green?

Read: The return of the Blairites

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Last month Russia gained the most Ukrainian territory since March 2022 when the war was in its infancy. At least 10,000 North Korean troops have also joined the fight, which will do little to replace the roughly 1,500 Russian soldiers killed or injured daily. And among all that Donald Trump was re-elected as US President. 

Kate Lamble is joined by Chris York, Wolfgang Munchau, Angela Stent, and Mex Bergmann.

Read: Putin stares down the west by Wolfgang Munchau

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Why are we all becoming increasingly angry? And what did Donald Trump understand about harnessing this emotion to win back the presidency?

Tom Gatti is joined by New Statesman columnist Sarah Manavis and psychoanlyst Josh Cohen.

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Fuel poverty is hitting homeowners, full-time workers, and young people. As energy prices rise and the cost of living crisis deepens, heating our homes is becoming increasingly difficult.

In this episode, host Zoe Grunewald speaks with Jessica Taplin, CEO of British Gas Energy Trust, Martin Lord from Citizens Advice Essex, and Carol Shreve from Citizens Advice North Yorkshire and Law Centre. Together, they discuss the shifting demographics affected by fuel poverty, the importance of community-based support, and the urgent need for policy changes.

We also explore insights from British Gas Energy Trust's roundtable events across the UK, highlighting the collaborative efforts required to tackle this growing issue.

This New Statesman podcast episode is sponsored by British Gas Energy Trust, an independent charitable trust fully funded by British Gas, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

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Nicholas Harris reports from the new Labour seat of Southport, which was rocked by riots three months ago. There he found anger and resentment towards migrants. A listener asks if Reform UK now pose as much of a threat to Labour as they do to the Conservatives.

Plus Rachel Cunliffe joins Hannah Barnes and Nicholas Harris to answer a listener who asks whether Donald Trump's win is good news for new Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch.

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Class? Gender? Economy? What did the Democrats get wrong, what did Trump get right, and how will the UK respond to this?

Hannah Barnes is joined by senior editors George Eaton and Katie Stallard as the dust settles on the US election.

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The US has headed to the polls and we want to ask what’s at stake - what will a Trump or Harris victory mean for America, international diplomacy, even your finances. 

Kate Lamble is joined by senior editor Katie Stallard and New Statesman columnists Jill Filipovic and Sohrab Ahmari.

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What was behind the Washington Post's shock decision not to endorse a presidential candidate? It's owner, Jeff Bezos, has cited reasons of impartiality and a perception of bias. Others have suggested that the decision was financially motivated, made out of fear of losing support and contracts from a Trump government.

Tom Gatti is joined by Alison Phillips, former editor of the Daily Mirror, to discuss the impact of this choice and also what drives the handful of men who have controlled our media throughout history.

Read more from Alison Phillips on the New Statesman here

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David Gauke reveals his pick for the Tory leadership “not without reservations”. 

As Labour deliver “hard decisions” in their first budget in 14 years, a listener asks if Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are reliving Nick Clegg’s 2011.

David Gauke, who served with Nick Clegg in government, gives his take.

He joins Rachel Cunliffe and Hannah Barnes on our weekly listener questions episode, in which they also discuss the Conservative leadership election and David Gauke reveals who he, reluctantly, voted for.

📚 READ

Why Tory centrists are hopeless at leadership elections

https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/10/why-tory-centrists-are-hopeless-leadership-elections

Would Kemi Badenoch be worth the risk for the Conservatives?

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/10/would-kemi-badenoch-be-worth-the-risk-for-conservatives

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The first Labour budget in 14 years is "refreshing" but risky, say the IFS.

Rachel Reeves has delivered her maiden budget in the House of Commons. As expected, thanks to leaks and pre-briefing over the preceding week or so, the Chancellor is raising employers' National Insurance, changing capital gains and inheritance tax, and increasing stamp duty.

Andrew Marr and George Eaton join Hannah Barnes on the New Statesman podcast to analyse the politics of the Labour budget. They are also joined by Ben Zaranko from the IFS to review the economics.

📚 READ

Labour has laid a trap for the Tories

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2024/10/how-labour-aims-to-trap-the-tories

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One week from the US Presidential Elections, the race remains tight. There’s been renewed focus on Trump’s political rallies. 

At Madison Square Garden in New York Trump spoke to tens of thousands about the enemy from within, others who appeared likened Kamala Harris to a prostitute with pimp handlers, called her the antichrist and described Puerto Rico an island of garbage.

The rally drew comparisons to a fascist event held in the same arena on the eve of the Second World War in 1939. Are these comparisons accurate, and if so, what does this mean for the future of the Republican party and American conservatism?

Kate Lamble is joined by New Statesman writers Freddie Hayward, Sarah Churchwell, and Sohrab Ahmari.

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A new film from Steve McQueen is about to hit cinema screens: Blitz. Set during the devastating German bombing raids of 1940 to 1941, it follows Saiorse Ronan as east end mum Rita, and her son George, played by Elliot Heffernan, as they travel across London searching for each other.

In some ways, it’s a new look at history, Rita’s son is mixed race – and issues of race, class, and gender are present throughout McQueen’s film.

But Blitz also takes its place in a long tradition: almost 80 years on from the end of the Second World War, Britain’s role in both world wars still dominates British culture and retains a central place in our national psyche, and our politics. Why is this?

Tom Gatti is joined by journalist and academic Gary Younge and historian David Edgerton.

Read Gary's piece: The myths of Blitz spirit

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Andrew Marr, Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe hear from a focus group of voters in a marginal Kent constituency, to get their views on Labour's first three months in government. They reveal why they're struggling to trust "posh" Keir Starmer, whether they regret their vote, and which public figure they would love to see in parliament.

This focus group was arranged by Public First.

📚 READ

The 100 days that shook Labour

https://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2024/10/andrew-marr-100-days-that-shook-labour-keir-starmer

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Ben Zaranko, senior research economist from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, takes us through the numbers ahead of next week's budget, and the New Statesman's political editor Andrew Marr takes us through the politics.

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We’re just two weeks from the 2024 US Presidential election. Donald Trump is up against Kamala Harris. Polls are vanishingly close. They suggest Harris has a 53% chance of moving into the Oval office. But after years of incorrect predictions, can they be trusted?

In this episode of Insight, Kate Lamble speaks with Scott Keeter from Pew Research centre as well as the New Statesman's data journalist Ben Walker about what can be gleaned from the polls, and if they are more trustworthy than the past two election cycles. Later on in the programme we hear from the New Statesman's Megan Gibson and Katie Stallard about what, or rather who, doomed Harris from the start.

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Donald Trump has reshaped American politics. But who shaped him? A new film has some answers.

The Apprentice, written by Gabriel Sherman and directed by Ali Abasi, charts the rise of a young Trump (Sebastian Stan) under the caustic tutelage of bulldog lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). 

Megan Gibson interviews writer Gabriel Sherman to discuss the creative challenges of putting Trump on screen, and Tom Gatti speaks to New Statesman film critic David Sexton to explore whether star Sebastian Stan is right that “the first three-dimensional portrayal” of Trump has done the presidential candidate a favour.

This is the first episode of a new weekly series, Culture from the New Statesman, hosted by Tom Gatti. 

We would love your feedback on our new episodes, and on the New Statesman podcast in general. Please email your comments to podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk

📚 READ 

The Apprentice: a grotesque, compelling Trump satire

https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2024/10/the-apprentice-review-grotesque-compelling-donald-trump-satire

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With "normal" James Cleverly out of the Tory leadership race, a listener asks if a Badenoch or Jenrick leadership would split the Conservative party in two.

Andrew Marr, Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe answer listener questions in our weekly episode, You Ask Us - published every Friday.

Also in this episode: do journalists talk about Westminster gossip too much? Our own gossipy journalists give their answer!

📚 READ

Would Kemi Badenoch be worth the risk for the Conservatives?

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/10/would-kemi-badenoch-be-worth-the-risk-for-conservatives

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The health secretary Wes Streeting has suggested this week that weight loss injections should be used to get Britain back to work. Is this a good idea? And what does it miss from the root of the problem?

Hannah Barnes is joined by political editor Andrew Marr and business editor Will Dunn.

Read: Wes Streeting can’t solve unemployment with weight-loss drugs

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This is a deeply personal, deeply divisive issue; and today a private members bill to permit assisted dying in the UK is being presented to the House of Commons. 

Politicians will have a free vote on the issue later this year. The New Statesman this week asks whether the UK and its care system is ready for such a law. 

In this episode we speak to those who've lost loved ones and are left with questions about whether an assisted death would have been better, as well as palliative care experts.

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The NHS is facing the most difficult period in its history. Just days into office, the new government declared the official position of the Department for Health and Social Care is that the NHS is “broken”.

While there’s evidence NHS productivity has been growing at a faster rate than other public sectors over the last decade, major barriers still remain. The latest Office for National Statistics figures show NHS productivity in 2021/2022 was still 6.6% below pre-pandemic levels.

Emerging trends reveal productivity in healthcare is a complex issue with no single solution.

In this episode host Emma Haslett is joined by PwC’s Health Services Sector Leader Julian Hunt, CEO of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sir Jim Mackey and CEO of The King’s Fund Sarah Woolnough.

They discuss the impact of the pandemic, the role of digital solutions and the importance of including staff and patients as new systems are introduced and changes are made.

This New Statesman podcast episode is sponsored by PwC.

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Andrew Marr sits down for an exclusive interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. And later on in the episode the team discuss what we might have missed from Labour's first 100 days in power.

Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call

Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

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Power shifts inside Number 10, a Tory leadership shock twist, and Sturgeon reviews Johnson’s book.

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Keir Starmer has made changes at the top of his Number 10 team. Sue Gray has been ousted as chief of staff and replaced by the Labour campaign supremo Morgan McSweeney. 

George Eaton and Rachel Cunliffe join Hannah Barnes to explore what this means - including what exactly a chief of staff does, and who Morgan McSweeney is.

A shock twist in the Tory leadership race saw James Cleverly defeated leaving Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick as front-runners to replace Rishi Sunak. Was this a disastrous miscalculation by “camp Cleverly”? 

And Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland, reviews Boris Johnson’s memoir, “Unleashed”, calling it “gut-wrenching” and “craven”.

Mentioned in this episode: 

What is “the grid”?

https://pod.fo/e/1e70c5

Nicola Sturgeon video interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58jB3BSeQE4

The two sides of Boris Johnson: Nicola Sturgeon reviews “Unleashed”

https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/book-of-the-day/2024/10/the-two-sides-of-boris-johnson-unleashed-review-nicola-sturgeon

Morgan McSweeney, the permanent insurgent

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2024/10/morgan-mcsweeney-permanent-insurgent

More links

Ask a question: https://newstatesman.com/youaskus

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Right now the Republic National Committee is involved in around 120 legal cases across the US connected to the upcoming 2024 elections. It's predicted that we won't know the results of the election for days after the vote. And when we do it might very well be challenged. This is set to be the most litigious election in US history.

So what does this mean practically? And is the scene being set for more political violence?

Read more from Jill Filipovic

Read more from Katie Stallard

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"If we don't like it, we should demand it changes," one listener writes in.

Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton to answer listener questions, including if Andrew stands by his comments from February that Starmer would be radical, and whether Lebanon has a right to self-defence.

Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call

Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

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And why is democracy a low priority for American voters?

Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Andrew Marr, George Eaton, and Katie Stallard.

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Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

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On the 7th October Sharone Lifschitz's parents were taken as hostages by Hamas. One year later her father, along with almost 100 other hostages, have not returned and the entire region stands at a crossroads.

Tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced by the ensuing conflict as Israel have conducted air strikes, first on Gaza, currently on Lebanon and Yemen.

How did this conflict escalate so drastically? On this episode of the podcast Sharone Lifschitz and Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, join from London, and speaking from Beirut we hear from journalist Hanna Davis and Yalda Hakim, lead world news presenter at Sky News.

This episode was recorded prior to Iran's missile attack on Israel on the 1st October.

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In a 2022 poll, a majority of Americans said they believe their government was corrupt and rigged, and more than a quarter believed it might soon be necessary to take up arms against it.

Conspiracy theories have ripped across America’s political landscape for decades, but in the last 10 years the divide between fact and fiction has become almost indistinguishable at times. So how did we get here?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by journalist and broadcaster Gabriel Gatehouse. 

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"A very dark speech, very serious, very closely argued, but there was passion there, but the passion was anger" - Andrew Marr reacts after Keir Starmer's speech at Labour party conference, the first Labour prime minister to do so in 15 years.

We also hear from David Blunkett, Wes Streeting MP, Baroness Taylor, and Henry Tufnell MP, on the key takeaways from the party's time in Liverpool.

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We're coming to you from Liverpool where Rachel Reeves has just delivered her keynote speech at this year's Labour Party Conference. There were lots of smiles in the Chancellor's speech as well as the commitment to the tough economic decisions that she has to make, but has she managed to turn the page on Labour's rough beginning in government?

Hannah Barnes hears from Andrew Marr, Rachel Cunliffe, and Andy Burnham, and after the break she speaks to the New Statesman's Nicholas Harris about his trip to the very first Reform conference in Birmingham.

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Labour Party Conference is just around the corner and the party needs to tell a story about the bigger picture for their time in government, but could this get lost amongst the smaller stories cropping up around free clothes and the chief of staff's pay?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined in the studio by Andrew Marr, political editor, and George Eaton, senior editor.

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Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

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Conference season is underway and Ed Davey sat down with the New Statesman's Rachel Cunliffe to set out his party's ambitions to become the party of opposition.

We also hear from Wes Streeting and the political battle for NHS reform.

Hannah Barnes is joined in the studio by Andrew Marr, political editor, and Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor.

Ed Davey: “The Conservatives are in our sights”

Wes Streeting: “I don’t want to be the fun police”

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Will Dunn meets the political pranksters who sent Liz Truss fleeing in rage.

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From films detailing Conservative hypocrisy projected on Parliament buildings, to remote-controlled lettuce banners unfurling over the head of the former Prime Minister, Led By Donkeys have been a regular fixture of political activism over the past decade.

Now with a Labour government in place after 14 years of Tory rule, will the group - with their predominantly progressive politics - change their approach?

The New Statesman's Will Dunn meets Led By Donkeys in this extended interview.

Led By Donkeys: Adventures in Art, Activism and Accountability is published by Thames & Hudson and available now.

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Freddie Hayward rejoins the podcast in his new role as US correspondent to answer listener questions on the weird world of US politics. 

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He speaks to Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe to discuss how Keir Starmer’s commitment to “tough choices” compares with the Kamala Harris campaign, and how US election campaigns use the vast amounts of money they receive in donations.

–

Read more: 

Robert F Kennedy Jr and the end of the party

https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/08/robert-f-kennedy-tulsi-gabbard

Kamala Harris wants to make America nice again

https://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2024/08/cnn-interview-kamala-harris

–

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“She’s done an awful lot of damage to morale,” says Andrew Marr.

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves secured a victory in Parliament for her proposed changes to the Winter Fuel allowance. 

But the move has divided the Labour party, angered voters, and possibly tarnished Keir Starmer’s authority. Is this a sign Rachel Reeves “is not very good at politics”? 

Andrew Marr and George Eaton join Hannah Barnes on this episode of the New Statesman podcast.

They also discuss Keir Starmer’s relationships with the trade unions following his speech at the TUC this week, and Freddie Hayward joins from the US to discuss the response to the Trump/Harris presidential debate.

–

Read more: 

Rachel Reeves’ great gamble, by George Eaton

https://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2024/09/rachel-reeves-great-gamble

Workers’ rights or growth: another tough choice for Labour, by Andrew Marr

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/09/workers-rights-or-growth-another-tough-choice-for-labour

Kamala Harris made Trump look like a loser, by Freddie Hayward

https://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2024/09/kamala-harris-donald-trump-debate-loser

–

Submit a question:

We answer listener questions every Friday. Submit your by commenting on this episode on Spotify, or at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus

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“We cannot know what sort of human beings will emerge from this.”

Following Hamas’s deadly attack on 7 October 2023, Israel’s military response has been described as “inevitable”. Eleven months on, the scope and ferocity of that military response has stunned the world. 

In this episode of the podcast we speak to four of the writers who contributed to the New Statesman essay collection Losing Gaza.

Raja Shehadeh: “Palestinians are not treated as human beings deserving of human rights”

Ghada Karmi: “The physical damage of Israel’s assault is real enough. The mental trauma will be far worse” 

Raja Khalidi: “After the war, world leaders will need a new Marshall Plan for Palestine”

Mezna Qato: “Without our libraries and universities, how will we tell the story of Gaza?”

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The former Labour leader’s new coalition could be “a real force” in Parliament, says Andrew Marr.

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Jeremy Corbyn has formed a new “Independent Alliance” of MPs, united around opposition to the Gaza war. Answering a listener question on this “You Ask Us” episode, Andrew Marr says Corbyn could well attract more Labour MPs to his cause. This would make the Independent Alliance bigger than Reform UK, and could influence policy from the Left.

Andrew Marr joins Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe on this listener questions episode of the podcast. They also discuss Keir Starmer’s plans for UK-EU relations, and whether the Prime Minister will row back on some Brexit agreements. 

–

Read more: 

Andrew Marr on Labour’s battle for Britain

https://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2024/09/labours-battle-for-britain

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The Grenfell report is damning. Will there finally be justice for Grenfell?

--

After seven long years the Grenfell Inquiry has published its damning verdict: the 72 deaths caused by the Grenfell Tower fire were completely avoidable.

The 1500-page report names and shames companies and government bodies who’s choices and actions led to the deaths.

In this episode, Andrew Marr and Rachel Cunliffe join Hannah Barnes to discuss the findings of the inquiry and why justice must finally come for Grenfell.

They also review the Conservative leadership race following the first vote which saw former Home Secretary Priti Patel fall at the first hurdle. Andrew and Rachel report on view within Westminster of the remaining candidates, and why one in particular divides opinion among MPs in the Commons tea rooms.

–

Read more: 

Megan Kenyon on the Grenfell report: failure on an industrial scale https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/09/grenfell-inquiry-failure-on-an-industrial-scale

George Eaton: the Grenfell report is damning for David Cameron

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/09/the-grenfell-report-is-damning-for-david-cameron

Submit a question:

We answer listener questions every Friday. Submit your by commenting on this episode on Spotify, or at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus

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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

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Noel and Liam Gallagher have managed the impossible. They've apparently buried the hatchet and announced that Oasis is coming back in 2025. Is this the return of Cool Britannia?

Rachel Cunliffe, associate editor, is joined by George Eaton, senior editor, to answer listener questions about ex-MP's jobs, SPADs, and the politics of Britpop.

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On Tuesday morning Keir Starmer addressed the nation and warned that Labour’s first Budget “is going to be painful”, suggesting that tax rises are on the way. 

While the prime minister stressed that those with the “broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden”, he warned that he won’t “shy away from making unpopular decisions”, raising the question of whether Labour is bringing back austerity.

Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by George Eaton, senior editor.

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A listener asks: will Keir Starmer and the Labour government attempt to change the conversation around immigration, or continue with a more hawkish stance in an attempt to win over reform voters?

Hannah Barnes and George Eaton discuss in our latest listener questions episode.

They also answer questions on how the electorate might change by the next election and whether voting reform will have an impact in future.

Send us a question:

www.newstatesman.com/youaskus

Read more:

George’s interview with Sadiq Khan: “politicians need to be braver on immigration”

https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2024/08/sadiq-khan-politicians-need-to-be-braver-on-immigration

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Labour have agreed pay deals with NHS staff, public service workers and now train drivers - but they've handed the conservatives an effective attack line.

Are Labour really beholden to "union paymasters"? And can they sustain pay rises while cutting the winter fuel allowance?

Hannah Barnes and George Eaton discuss on the New Statesman podcast.

Also in this episode, Hannah and George look at the crisis in prisons, and Labour's plan to house inmates in police cells. Can Keir Starmer and new prisons minister James Timpson hold Britain's overflowing prison estate together?

Read Hannah Barnes interview with Charlie Taylor, Prisons Inspector, here: https://www.newstatesman.com/ns-interview/2024/07/the-prison-system-is-broken

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And should Starmer be trying to befriend Elon Musk?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by senior editor George Eaton to answer this week's listener questions.

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The unrest and violence which gripped the country last week after the killing of three young girls seems to have halted for the time being. A brief sigh of relief. But this doesn’t mean that the anger -  which was unleashed on asylum seekers, police, mosques, and local communities - or what may lie beneath it, has gone away.

The prime minister promised that rioters would feel ‘the full force of the law’. And he has been true to his word. As many as 1,000 people have been arrested so far and almost 550 charged.

But beneath the misinformation around the Southport murders of three little girls, what was the root of the rioters' anger? While some undoubtedly sought to sow division, and others went on opportunistic looting expeditions, there are genuine held concerns over immigration and the gulf between different societies in the UK. The immediate task of restoring law and order is one which perhaps comes easy to Keir Starmer, but now the harder, longer term job: What story will he tell to rebuild and re-unite this divided nation?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by George Eaton, senior editor.

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The number of children who say they feel lonely at school more than doubled between 2012 and 2018, and Britons aged 16-29 are more than twice as likely to report feeling often or always lonely as those aged over 70. 

A report by the think tank Onward found that one in five Britons aged 18-24 have one or no close friends, a proportion that has tripled in the past decade. 

Historically, people’s social networks have tended to shrink with age, but nowadays research shows that young people have fewer friends than older Britons. 

The evidence from the UK and other Western countries suggests that Generation Z – those born after 1997 – isn’t just the loneliest cohort in the country, they may be the loneliest generation in human history.

-

Sarah Dawood, senior associate editor speaks to writer Sophie McBain, who looked into the epidemic of loneliness amongst young people today for her New Statesman feature The lonely land.

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If the Labour party in the next 5 years decide to get rid of the House of Lords, what is the most likely option for a replacement? Should there be upper and lower age limits for politicians? What are the rules for becoming a lobby journalist? Who decides who gets in, and can a journalist be kicked out?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, to answer this week's listener questions.

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After over a week of violence and unrest, it was feared last night that the riots would gather even more momentum, targeting immigration offices and centres across the country. Instead, we saw an outpouring of solidarity and counter-protests took place.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Nick Harris, Staggers' editor.

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This weekend, far-right riots and violence have continued to spread across the country after the killing of three young girls in Southport last week. Hundreds of people have been arrested following violent altercations and the destruction and burning of hotels in Rotherham and Tamworth where asylum seekers were living.

Nazir Afzal was a Chief Crown Prosecutor in 2011 during the August riots that began in London and spread across the whole country. 

He joins Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, on the New Statesman podcast, to discuss how the far-right violence we have experienced in recent days is “reminiscent” of 2011, what has changed since then, and how the deaths of the young girls have been overshadowed by this political agenda.

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Should Starmer be more open to challenge from his party?  Did the Blair government carefully chose to ignore housing issues because they thought doing anything would alienate middle class voters? What events lead to the dissolution of he Whig party and how does it correlate to the Tories now?

This is our weekly listener questions episode, You Ask Us. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined in the studio by associate political editor, Rachel Cunliffe.

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Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor to discuss the horrific events in Southport, violence on the streets, and how Labour plan to fill their financial black hole.

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Britain faces a severe housing crisis. But while high interest rates, mortgages, and sky high prices in the private rental market dominate headlines, Britain's diminishing social housing stock gets less attention. The supply shortages, landlord mismanagement, and unsafe conditions often seen in social housing are all issues that the new Labour government will have to contend with.

Social housing campaigner and author Kwajo Tweneboa joins the New Statesman's policy correspondent, Harry Clarke-Ezzidio.

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What do parliamentary private secretaries, aka 'bag carriers', really do? How will Ben Houchen fare as a mayor in opposition? How much will Labour commit to international development? And should funding for GB News be considered a political donation?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by George Eaton, senior editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, to answer your questions.

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Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour party has been described countless times over the past 4 years as ‘ruthless’, and this week we saw this in action for the first time as prime minister withdrawing the Labour whip from seven MPs who voted with an SNP amendment to scrap the two child cap in certain benefits.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by senior editor George Eaton, and political correspondent Freddie Hayward.

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In a surprise social media post this weekend, Joe Biden stood down from his re-election campaign and endorsed VP Kamala Harris. Significant support has mounted in the past 48 hours for Harris, but how does this change the presidential race?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor at the New Statesman, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr to discuss the developments in the US as well as Labour's imminent challenges this summer as parliament heads for recess.

CORRECTION: Andrew Marr states that Kamala Harris has never been elected. Kamala Harris was elected District Attorney of San Francisco (2004-2011); Attorney General of California (2011-2017); and Senator, CA (2017-2021).

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The new PM has been in office a couple of weeks, but you've already asked how long he's got.

In our weekly "You Ask Us" episode, Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe answer listener questions on how long Keir Starmer has before the Conservatives can form a coherent opposition, how a Labour government will approach China, and the things that have surprised them about the new parliament so far.

Submit a question for the New Statesman team to answer at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus, or if you're listening on Spotify scroll down and leave a reply on the episode page.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

David Muir: Taiwan at the edge of chaos

https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2024/07/taiwan-at-the-edge-of-chaos

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Clean energy by 2023? We're "pretty far off".

Ed Miliband today made his first parliamentary speech as the new Energy Secretary, hailing the Labour government's progress on their energy plans. Central to their goal to reach clean energy by 2023 is their proposal for a new publicly owned energy firm, Great British Energy.

Sustainability correspondent Megan Kenyon joins Hannah Barnes and Rachel Cunliffe on the New Statesman podcast to unpick Labour's energy plans and discuss whether or not GB Energy will actually be able to deliver.

Read more: Britain will never be an energy superpower, by Helen Thompson

https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2024/07/britain-will-never-be-an-energy-superpower

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"It's been a long time since we've had a government with this level of ambition" - George Eaton

Black Rod has been summoned and the weighty wooden doors swung open on a new parliamentary year. At the State Opening of Parliament, Keir Starmer's government unveiled their ambitious legislative agenda through the King's speech, which introduced a bumper 39 bills.

George Eaton and Rachel Cunliffe join Hannah Barnes on the New Statesman podcast to unpick the policy announcements and explore the opportunities and potential pitfalls Labour may face over the coming months.

Read more: The King’s Speech is our first chance to inspect the moral code behind “Starmerism”

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/07/does-the-labour-government-believe-in-anything

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This episode was initiated and funded by Takeda UK Ltd.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects millions worldwide, yet its presence within the criminal justice system is often misunderstood or overlooked. 

In this podcast we navigate the complex landscape where ADHD and the criminal justice system intercept; shedding light on the unique challenges and misconceptions faced by people with ADHD in prisons and the opportunities for improved care and support. 

From late diagnosis to repeated prison sentences, the impact of ADHD can shape outcomes in profound and often unrecognised ways. 

Host Emma Haslett is joined by Dr Tony Lloyd, the CEO of the ADHD Foundation; Sir Robert Buckland, the former Secretary of State for Justice and MP; Daley Jones, trustee at ADHD Liberty; and Sarah Templeton, an ADHD author and therapist, to explore the stories of those living at this intersection.

This podcast was recorded and produced before the 2024 General Election was announced.

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Donald Trump has been greeted like a messiah at the Republican National Convention. But what if that bullet had been an inch to the right?

Just over 48 hours after narrowly escaping death from a gunman’s bullet, Trump has been confirmed as the Republican Party’s candidate for president in the upcoming election. He has named critic-turned-loyalist JD Vance as his running mate. 

Andrew Marr joins Hannah Barnes on the New Statesman podcast to discuss how the attempt on Trump's life has impacted his standing among Republicans - and why political assassinations "never work".

They also discuss the implosion of the Welsh Labour government, and the King's Speech will reveal about the core beliefs of the Labour government.

Read more:

JD Vance - the new face of the Republican party, by Sohrab Ahmari

https://www.newstatesman.com/international-content/2024/07/jd-vance-vice-president-donald-trump-republican-ticket

Will Keir Starmer drop the two-child benefit cap?

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2024/07/will-keir-starmer-scrap-the-two-child-benefit-cap

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Trump loyalists are blaming Democrats for inciting the assassination attempt on the former President. How should Dems respond?

Republicans and Democrats alike have rightly condemned the shocking attack on former US President Donald Trump which left a bystander dead, two more injured and the presumptive Republican candidate bloodied but defiant.

However Trump supporters have been quick to point to Democrats' use of language - describing Trump as a "threat to American democracy", for example - as inciteful of violence.

On this episode, Hannah Barnes is joined by the journalist and lawyer Jill Filipovic, global affairs editor Katie Stallard and author and documentarian Phil Tinline to discuss how Democrats should respond to this accusation - which, as Jill says, is "not just hypocritical, it's like a through-the-looking-glass made up universe".

Read more:

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump, by Katie Stallard

https://www.newstatesman.com/world/americas/north-america/2024/07/attempted-assassination-donald-trump

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Labour want to distinguish themselves from Boris Johnson's "levelling up". What are they planning instead?

Hannah Barnes, Rachel Cunliffe and Freddie Hayward answer listener questions on Labour's growth strategy, and whether the new government's plans will impact individuals' personal finances.

They also discuss the new "rising star" Labour MPs to look out for, and whether polling during election campaigns impacts the final result.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

Labour's next generation: the new MPs to watch

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/labours-next-generation-election-2024-new-labour-mps

George Eaton interviews Torsten Bell

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/politics-interview/2024/06/torsten-bell-social-democrats-need-to-become-insurgents

New Labour MP Yuan Yang on the deep class anxiety in China

https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2024/05/labours-yuan-yang-there-is-deep-class-anxiety-in-china

Yuan Yang: Democracy begins with us

https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2024/07/democracy-begins-with-us-yuan-yang

Labour MP Sarah Sackman on the tensions between her Labour values and her Jewish identity

https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2024/06/sarah-sackman-my-labour-values-my-jewish-identity-tension

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The Conservative party are scrapping it out to have their visions of the future of the party heard and things are getting messy.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent.

Read: Kemi Badenoch is the early front-runner for the Tory leadership

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Today is the day we see our Labour government on the world stage for the first time. Starmer is in Washington today for the 75th summit of the Nato defence alliance. Ahead of the summit Starmer has met with President Joe Biden and praised the UK-US special relationship. Starmer has also told reporters that his plan to raise defence spending to 2.5% was “cast iron” - but has not committed to a timeline.

In an increasingly volatile world, how will global affairs define the Starmer era?

Read: Why foreign affairs will define the Starmer era

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A record number of new MPs are flooding through Westminster, Starmer has been on a tour of the UK, and this morning the metro mayors gathered in Downing Street.

What is the new reality for the UK? Do we need to think seriously about electoral reform? And how is Macron going to get out of his political deadlock?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor; and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent.

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Since forming a new government on Friday, Keir Starmer's cabinet has been hard at work across the weekend to prove to the nation that they are a government of service.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, to discuss surprise appointments, early policy announcements, and the results of France's shock election this weekend.

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The UK has just voted in its 7th ever Labour prime minister, Keir Starmer. As the results from yesterday’s general election trickled in overnight it became clear that this was not so much a story of Labour victory, as it was of Tory defeat. The last 14 years of conservative rule has dismantled both the country and much of the party’s once loyal supporters. ‘The work of change begins immediately’ said Keir Starmer this afternoon upon arrival at Downing Street straight after accepting the King’s invitation to form a new government.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent.

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Today the country heads to the polls to decide who will be in government for the next five years.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and senior data journalist to go through the key timings and processes of the day, what we know so far and what to look out for.

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In a final poll published before the election things have never looked worse for the Conservatives, Rishi Sunak has expressed fear that he might lose his seat, and Boris Johnson has been wheeled out at the 11th hour. How long will it take for the Tories to come back from this and where will they begin?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by the New Statesman’s senior editor George Eaton and David Gauke, former Conservative MP and New Statesman columnist.

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Another Reform UK candidate has stepped down to back the Tories as the “vast majority” of her fellow candidates are “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”, the Conservatives have launched an attack campaign on Keir Starmer, claiming he is work-shy, and the Tory leadership contest may or may not be underway.

Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by Freddie Hayward, political correspondent.

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In order to succeed in a first term in government, to deliver for working people, Keir Starmer will need to enforce some quietly radical change. And doing so will upset quite a lot of people ...

It's the last week of the campaign and Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr, and political correspondent Freddie Hayward.

As well as looking at what's happening on our own shores, the team also discuss the election prospects across the channel with the success of the right yesterday in France, and across the pond with the widespread trepidation around Biden's future in US government.

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Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. It causes more than 800 deaths in the UK each year.

Yet 99.8% of cervical cancer cases are entirely preventable. Regular screening and the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination are helping to reduce the number of deaths. With smart policy and public health interventions NHS England have set 2040 as the target date for total elimination of cervical cancer.

If that goal is to be met the issue of health inequality needs to be addressed; currently screening and vaccination rates vary between different regions, communities and socio-economic groups.

So what needs to be done to share best practice and narrow these inequalities?

In this episode of Spotlight on Policy, host Zoe Grunwald is joined by Emma Cerrone, Business Unit Director for Public Health & Vaccines at MSD; Dr Adeola Olaitan, Honorary Associate Professor at University College London and Honorary Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at UCLH; and Gayathri Kumar, Senior Economist at OHE, the Office for Health Economics.

This episode has been fully funded by MSD who, as sponsors, have reviewed and inputted to the final content. The report referenced by Office for Health Economics throughout this episode was fully funded by MSD. Ultimate editorial control for this episode and the OHE report rests solely with the New Statesman and the Office for Health Economics, respectively. MSD is one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies active in several key areas of global health, including immunisation and oncology.

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It's listener question time! Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, is joined by Finn McRedmond, junior commissioning editor and writer, to answer questions on Northern Ireland, personal approval ratings, presidential debates, and polling influence.

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Today New Statesman is publishing an election special issue of the magazine which includes our election endorsement as well as in-depth political interviews with Jeremy Corbyn, Nigel Farage, and David Lammy.

Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined in the studio by George Eaton, senior editor, and editor-in-chief Jason Cowley.

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Another day, another flurry of betting allegations. More and more parties are now being dragged into the gambling scandal, but should we discern some distinction between the nature of these bets and their repercussions?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, and Ben Walker, senior data journalist.

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Everything's been going so badly for the prime minister, one can't help but admire the fact that he's carrying on.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor, to discuss the developments in the betting scandal, how Nigel Reform lost the right, and why Labour failed to win over the Murdoch empire.

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We’re in the penultimate week of campaigning, which may come as a relief to those suffering from election fatigue - maybe no one more so than Rishi Sunak. The prime minister has not had a particularly smooth weekend as the Tory betting scandal continues to rumble on …

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by George Eaton, senior editor, to discuss the latest developments in the gambling scandal, Labour's positions gender recognition and their plans for the House of Lords.

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We were bestowed yet another leadership TV special last night, Ed Davey said sorry for tuition fees, Rishi Sunak said sorry for Liz Truss, and Keir Starmer said sorry for Jeremy Corbyn. But one unmissable feature of the night was the grimace on the prime ministers face as the impassioned audience put their questions to him.

Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by Freddie Hayward, political correspondent to discuss the TV special and to answer listener questions.

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The Tory gambling scandal respawned last night when it was revealed that a met officer working in Rishi Sunak's protection team had been arrested over alleged bets, and also being looked into by the Gambling Commission is Laura Saunders - a Conservative candidate who happens to be married to the director of campaigns in CCHQ.

The team also discuss the three polls published last night; while the predictions may differ, all roads lead to disaster for the Conservatives.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent.

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"Vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country" - bold letters shout from the first page of the SNP manifesto. But is there still momentum for independence in Scotland? And what else is John Swinney pledging in his fight to retain seats from the hands of Scottish Labour.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Chris Deerin, Scotland editor, and Ben Walker, senior data journalist.

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Labour are set to win a majority, if not a supermajority, but in these politically fragmented times will people who vote for the party necessarily stay loyal in their support after July the fifth?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr to discuss the changing political tides, Starmer's continued struggle with tax and Corbyn, and the potential return of Boris Johnson.

Register to vote: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

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Nigel Farage and Richard Tice have been playing good cop bad cop today in Merthyr Tydfil, not launching Reform UK's manifesto, but the party's "contract". The pitch contains some dramatic pledges and mathematical gymnastics.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor.

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On today's episode of listener questions: How many of them 2019 manifesto commitments have been met?; Who will be the biggest name to lose their seat?; If Jeremy Corbyn wins as an independent, assuming he'd like to continue to sit with old allies, could he sit on the government benches?; Is there a reason why D-Day is a bigger deal than eg Boris stealing a journalist's phone and hiding in a fridge?; What is the best response when a candidate that you do not want to win knocks on your door?

Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by senior editor George Eaton.

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In the words of ABBA, and Keir Starmer, Money Money Money - the Labour leader announced this morning in Manchester that wealth creation was the ‘number one priority’ for the party.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and senior editor George Eaton to analyse the final manifesto's of the week from Labour and Plaid Cymru, and to review the odds on the latest Tory gaff.

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Grant Shapps has said that Labour could be on course for a “supermajority”, perhaps a more accurate way of viewing it is that the Conservatives are on course for a "superdefeat". But if the Tory vote crashes the votes aren't necessarily going to Labour, so how will they be split?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by senior data journalist Ben Walker to review the polls and also analyse the Green manifesto launch.

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It's Tory manifesto Tuesday and the party is leading with pledges to make homes more affordable for first time buyers as well as a fresh new batch of tax cuts. But where is the money coming from to afford this? When the Conservatives say "welfare reform", what exactly do they mean?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr. Together they also discuss the rise of the far right in Europe and what this might mean for a Labour-led Britain.

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It's manifesto week! It's week three of the election campaign and parties are set to deliver their manifestos in the coming days. This was kicked off today with the launch of the Lib Dem manifesto. So what have they pledged? Do the numbers add up? And does it really matter if they don't?

The team also discuss what's been happening politically over the weekend, including Friday's seven headed debate, the continuation of Sunak's D Day-gate, and Macron's decision to call a snap election.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor; Chris Deerin, Scotland editor; and Will Dunn, business editor.

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Freddie, Ben and podcast newcomer Finn McRedmond answer listener questions.

By deserting the D-day commemorations, Rishi Sunak has dealt his own campaign a massive blow and handed Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage explosive attack lines.

In this special election edition of You Ask Us, the team answer your questions about the threat to the Conservatives from Reform UK and the impact of TV debates. Also polling expert Ben Walker reveals the shocking impact tactical voting could have on the Liberal Democrats election hopes.

See the latest polls on the New Statesman's State of the Nation: https://sotn.newstatesman.com/

Read:

Rishi Sunak's D-Day departure was far worse than a gaffe

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/rishi-sunaks-d-day-departure-was-far-worse-than-a-gaffe

The Conservative party may not survive this election

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/conservative-party-may-not-survive-election-nigel-farage

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The most powerful person on the left of British politics is notKeir Starmer. So who is it?

This week the New Statesman published the 2024 Left Power List, which ranks the 50 most influential people in British politics. George Eaton edited the list and joins Hannah Barnes and Freddie Hayward on the New Statesman podcast to discuss who's up, who's down, and what their influence means for the general election.

Hannah, Freddie and George also discuss the latest events from the general election campaigns including Vaughan Gethin's confidence vote, more questionable Tory donations and Ed Davey's moving campaign video.

See the Left Power List in full here: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/06/new-statesman-left-power-list-2024

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Starmer and Sunak went head to head for the first time last night in their TV debate. Did we learn anything new? Not particularly. But the story dominating the headlines today is Sunak's claim that people would pay around £2,000 more in tax if Labour wins the election. He said that figure had been calculated by "independent Treasury officials". Starmer called this "garbage".

So who's telling the truth?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political correspondent Freddie Hayward, and senior data journalist Ben Walker, who also takes us on a deep dive of the polls.

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Nigel Farage is back ... what does this mean for the Conservatives and the future of the right in Britain?

The team also discuss the Lib Dems pledge for social care, and why the main two parties refuse to talk about this issue which is affecting a high proportion of the electorate.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr, and political correspondent Freddie Hayward.

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Labour have launched their defence plans, leading with their 'triple lock' which focuses on nuclear submarines and a constant at sea deterrent for the UK. Does this departure from Labour's 2016 stance represent a change in the party or a change in the state of global affairs?

Meanwhile, today the Conservatives have focused their energy on the Equality Act and its positioning on gender and biological sex.

Hannah Barnes, associate editor at the New Statesman, is joined by Freddie Hayward, political correspondent.

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Could the Conservatives become the third party? Is Ed Davey being too frivolous? Has Rishi Sunak made a huge mistake? And why do we still talk about older people like they're the Second World War generation?

Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, answer listener questions and give their campaign highlights thus far.

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One week down, five to go.

The Diane Abbott row continues to be a tricky thorn in Keir Starmer's side, and in the past 24 hours there have been more reports that candidates and MPs have been barred from standing. Is this a purge on the left of the party?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, and Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, also discuss the launch of the Green Party's campaign, who are hoping to win four seats, and today's announcements on VAT and the economy.

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Today Labour announced some bold plans for the NHS, stating that they would clear the Tory backlog in their first time. However this has been completely overshadowed by the mishandling of Diane Abbott's position in the party.

This morning, Abbott, who has served as Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since being elected in 1987, has announced that she has been barred by the party from standing in the next general election. By lunchtime Starmer was saying that no decision had been taken to block her from standing for Labour. So what's going on and will this botched stage handling backfire for Labour?

Hannah Barnes, associate editor at the New Statesman, is joined by Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, and Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor.

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For the next six weeks we’re bringing you new episodes every weekday, with updates on the party campaigns, reaction from around the UK and the best polling analysis with our experts. 

Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, to discuss the developments over the busy bank holiday weekend: National Service, Triple Lock Plus, 'Sleepy Keir', and the unravelling of the Conservative party.

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Political advertising in the UK has been a largely regulated space, that us up until about a decade ago.

Historically, political advertising has been banned from broadcast aside from a small allotted period of time in the run up to an election. However, as the times are-a-changin, and technology and advertising formats have evolved, political parties have found and embraced some legal loopholes. Our screens are now awash with political adverts, character attacks, and sometimes factually inaccurate messaging - created and paid for by our government and the opposition.

So what does it mean now that our leaders are playing dirty? What can we expect to see in the lead up to the general election? And will this have any effect on voters, or is it just Westminster name-calling?

Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by Jonn Elledge, journalist, author and New Statesman columnist.

This episode was recorded prior to the calling of the general election last week.

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