The New Statesman Podcast

The Caerphilly by-election proves Reform can be beaten. But is Keir Starmer the man to do it?Last week voters in Caerphilly confounded pundits by electing their first Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd (MS). Reform UK had expected to be the party to overturn Labour's 100 year dominance in the Welsh seat - but they were wrong.The loss was a disaster for Labour, but came with a glimmer of hope: Reform UK can be beaten.Now the party needs to ask whether their current leader, Keir Starmer, is the man to do it.Back in Westminster, Lucy Powell has been elected deputy leader of the Labour Party - and she's not the winner Keir Starmer had hoped for.In this episode, Harry Clarke-Eziddio and George Eaton join Anoosh Chakelian to analyse what the Caerphilly loss and the new deputy leader mean for the future of the Labour Party.LISTEN NEXT: The death of Welsh LabourLISTEN AD-FREE:

With only her second novel The Inheritance of Loss, Kiran Desai won the 2006 Booker Prize, the leading literary prize in the global Anglosphere, becoming - at the time - the youngest person ever to do so. She was thirty-five. Then: silence. 19 years of it, before another novel emerged - this year. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. It, too, has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Will Desai win it again?LISTEN AD-FREE:

Is Welsh Labour dead?Plaid Cymru won a historic victory in the by-election, trouncing Labour who had been dominant for over 100 years.The "middle child" as Plaid's new MS describes them, also beat Reform, who pollsters expected to win the seat.In this episode, Harry Clarke-Ezzidio reports from Caerphilly to analyse the results of the election. He speaks to Rhun ap Iorwerth, Huw Irranca-Davies, Llyr Powell, and Dan Evans.LISTEN AD-FREE:

After 14 attempts, Lindsay Whittle has won the Caerphilly seat in South Wales for Plaid Cymru. Reform came in second with over a third of the vote, and Labour trailed in third with 11%. A devastating loss for the party.Harry Clarke-Ezzidio is joined by Ben Walker in Caerphilly Leisure Centre.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Andrew Marr says he thought Labour would fix everything, but: "I was wrong".--Andrew Marr is stepping down as political editor of the New Statesman. In this, his last regular podcast appearance (he'll be back, don't worry!) he reflects on the last three years in politics - and where we're heading next.He admits committing "the journalistic sin" of optimism when Keir Starmer was elected, and addresses criticism he's faced from media colleagues on both the left and right of the political divide. He explains why he believes the Labour party is failing the country.Speaking to Tom McTague, Marr also looks to the future and explores the likelihood of a Nigel Farage-led Reform government, the rise of Zack Polanski's Green Party and whether a coalition could be on the cards for the next election.READ: I thought Labour would fix everything. I was wrong.https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/10/i-thought-labour-would-fix-everything-i-was-wrongLISTEN AD-FREE:

Donald Trump's planned summit with Vladimir Putin is cancelled. Here's why.--Less than a week after Donald Trump offered to meet Vladimir Putin in Budapest, the proposed summit has already fallen apart.Officially, "there's no need" for the two presidents to meet, since their respective foreign ministers are conducting conversations.But what's really behind the cancellation?And what on earth is Donald Trump up to in Venezuela? Seven extra-judicial attacks on civilian boats, dozens dead without trial, and now massing troops and weaponry in the Caribbean. Is this really about "narco-terrorism", or is something more sinister afoot?Katie Stallard and Freddie Hayward discuss Trump's foreign policy on the New Statesman podcast.LISTEN AD-FREE:

James Schneider, the former director of strategic communications for Jeremy Corbyn, was involved in the founding of Your Party earlier this year. He has since stepped back from the project.In this episode he joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss the growing gap on the left of UK politics and who could fill it.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Andrew had already stepped down as a working royal, after that disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019, but he's now gone a step further and agreed to relinquish the “title or the honours which have been conferred upon” him.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Will Lloyd and Rachel Cunliffe to discuss what these latest decisions, announced on the eve of the publication of Virginia Roberts Guiffre's posthumous memoir, mean for the Royal Family.LISTEN AD-FREE:

A century on from the her birth, Tanjil Rashid sits down with the Iron Lady's official biographer, Charles Moore.LISTEN AD-FREE:

For over 30 years, John Gray has written for the New Statesman on everything from Artificial Intelligence to Friedrich Nietzsche. He joins deputy editor Will Lloyd to discuss the state of the nation.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Andrew Marr joins Rachel Cunliffe to discuss his column in this week's magazine, Tax the old.They also discuss the latest developments in the China spy case.LISTEN AD-FREE:

"All I've done all my life is deals. The greatest deals just sort of happen…” President Trump announced at a celebratory peace-deal signing attended by dozens of nations in Sharm el-Sheikh earlier this week.But who were the powers behind Trump? Behind this deal?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Freddie Hayward who has written this week's cover story The Emperor: How Trump and his British Courtiers secured the Gaza dealLISTEN AD-FREE:

Did Keir Starmer's government quash an espionage case to curry favour with China?--There's fury in Westminster over the case of two alleged China spies which collapsed last month. Kemi Badenoch has accused the Labour government of deliberately quashing the prosecution to appease China, blaming National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell. The government denies this, and Keir Starmer has said Powell has his "full support". So what really happened? And why does China matter so much to the UK government?Oli Dugmore is joined by George Eaton and Katie Stallard.LISTEN AD-FREE:

All 20 remaining, living hostages have returned to Israel after 2 years in captivity, following the October the 7th Hamas attacks. The remains of the 28 deceased hostages are yet to be returned.Meanwhile, Israel is expected to release 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza today.To discuss this historic day in the Middle East and how it came to be, Oli Dugmore is joined by Katie Stallard and Freddie Hayward. Later in the episode Ethan Croft and Rachel Cunliffe look at the question of the UK's involvement in this peace process.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Is Labour reading from the Reform handbook? And what is the government doing to address rising child poverty?Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to answer listener questions.Got a question? Ask us here!LISTEN AD-FREE:

Almost 10 years ago the Calais 'Jungle' was demolished by the French authorities, structures were burned to the ground and the migrants were forced to flee, once again.Small-boats crossings are on the rise, and for those waiting for their chance, a new 'Jungle' has become home.Oli Dugmore is joined by Miles Ellingham and Jack Jeffrey who reported this week's cover story The truth about the small-boats crisis from northern France.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Andrew Marr joins Tom McTague to discuss the ascension of Shabana Mahmood, and the Blairites haunting Keir Starmer's government.LISTEN AD-FREE:

You might have missed it, many people did, but this week the Conservatives met for their annual party conference in Manchester.Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Ethan Croft, who's just stepped out of the conference hall listening to Badenoch's speech, and later in the episode by Will Dunn - who's been watching the whole affair on GB News.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Is the Green Party Britain's only viable left wing party? Amid other proposals, their conference voted to abolish landlords at the weekend.Meanwhile Labour is tweaking the surveying process for house buying, and the Tories say they'll cut benefits to subsidise first time buyers.Oli Dugmore is joined by Luke O'Reilly and Megan Kenyon.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Two years ago, on October the 7th, 2023, Hamas militants committed a series of atrocities in southern Israel. 1,195 people were killed in the attacks. 251 people were taken hostage by Hamas, 47 remain in captivity. Some alive, some dead. Since then, war has ravaged the Gaza Strip and, in the form of escalating settler violence, spread to the West Bank. Israel has inflicted famine on Gazans. Over 60,000 Palestinians have been reportedly killed in the conflict, a third of them children.And this war has rippled far beyond Palestine, Israel and the Middle East, affecting communities and politics around the world. In Britain, protesters have filled the streets, and questions are asked about why our government has supported Israel with weaponry and intelligence used in the Gaza strip. Last Friday, on Yom Kippur, the Jewish calendar's most holy day, two worshippers were stabbed to death outside a synagogue in Manchester.Tanjil Rashid is joined by Rachel Cunliffe.Read: Under bombardment in Gaza City; What it's like to be Jewish in Britain now; The world has abandoned the hostages; How Israel warped the WestLISTEN AD-FREE:

And what do Labour really want from digital ID cards?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to answer listener questions.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Yesterday morning, on Yom Kippur - the holiest day in the Jewish calendar - worshippers were attacked outside a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester.Two Jewish men were killed, three remain in hospital and the attacker, now known as Jihad Al-Shamie - a British citizen of Syrian descent - was shot dead at the scene by police.It was soon declared a terrorist incident. In close proximity to the October 7th anniversary, Jewish communities across the country have been shaken.Oli Dugmore is joined down the line by Ethan Croft.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Keir Starmer is polling as the UK's most unpopular Prime Minister in history. But days after his conference speech, some are asking whether a Starmer comeback is on the cards. What would that look like? Are they delusional? Tom McTague is joined by Andrew Marr.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Donald Trump says he has a plan to end the war in Gaza and bring eternal peace to the Middle East.Will Lloyd is joined by Katie Stallard to discuss how Trump is pursuing diplomacy in his second term.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Keir Starmer is on a mission to reclaim British patriotism.The prime minister has just finished his conference speech in Liverpool, addressing a hall full of delegates waving flags from England, Scotland and Wales.In some ways this was an attempt to celebrate Britain, its values, and its triumphs. In other very clear ways it was an attempted attack on Nigel Farage.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, Megan Kenyon and Ethan Croft.LISTEN AD-FREE:

The chancellor used her speech to define the Labour party in opposition to Reform and the Conservatives, and Shabana Mahmood the home secretary aimed to redefine patriotism in her speech, in hopes of clawing back voters lost to Farage's party.Meanwhile, Andy Burnham has been making headlines on the fringes.LISTEN AD-FREE:

The prime minister has described the opposition to Reform UK as “the fight of our times”, but a new poll has also found that Starmer has become the most unpopular PM on record. Meanwhile the spectre of Andy Burnham's leadership bid will not rest. There's a lot for Starmer to prove over the next few days in Liverpool at the Labour Party conference.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton and Ethan Croft.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Since 2021, billionaire Larry Ellison's personal foundation has donated or pledged at least £257m to the Tony Blair Institute. This took the former PM's think tank to a whole new level: it now has over 900 staff and is working across at least 45 countries.But who, exactly, does it work for?Will Lloyd is joined by Peter Geoghegan and May Bulman whose investigation into the TBI was published in The New Statesman this weekLISTEN AD-FREE:

Three years ago, Liz Truss announced her “mini”-Budget. Since then, the phrase “crashed the economy” has been used 238 times in the Commons. It can be found just three times in the records before then.Will Dunn sat down with the former PM for an exclusive interview.He joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss Truss's lasting impact on the economy.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Inside his Manchester kingdom, Labour's prince across the water outlined his radical blueprint to the New Statesman's editor, Tom McTague.Tom McTague joins Will Lloyd to discuss the mayor's vision.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Ed Davey came out swinging at the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth this week, saying "Reform wants Britain to be like Trump's America."He said it was the Lib Dem's moral duty to defeat Nigel Farage, and warned that over in the US, people are "really fearful for democracy."Meanwhile, at the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump was firing on all cylinders: describing climate change as the "greatest con job ever", claiming that Europe is in “serious trouble over migration” and saying that London wants to “go to Sharia law”.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, George Eaton and Freddie Hayward. LISTEN AD-FREE:

This weekend Keir Starmer announced that the UK has formally recognised Palestine as an independent state. The Prime Minister said, "In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution."Benjamin Netanyahu called the decision “absurd” and “a reward for terrorism”. This week at the UN France, Canada, Australia and others have also officially recognised the state.So - what impact will it actually have? Hannah Barnes is joined by Megan Kenyon.Read: Palestine's cycle of despairLISTEN AD-FREE:

Nigel Farage has escalated Reform's approach to the deportation of migrants, announcing that his party would abolish indefinite leave to remain should they take power… and Zarah Sultana drops her legal threats against fellow Your Party founder, Jeremy Corbyn.Hannah Barnes is joined by Megan Kenyon and Ethan Croft.LISTEN AD-FREE:

The abolition of the slave trade and of slavery itself in the 19th Century is generally understood to have been instigated by European and American abolitionists.However, has history overlooked how the enslaved themselves resisted their oppressors? Author and politics tutor at Oxford University, Sudhir Hazareesingh, has explored these stories of resistance in his new book Daring to be Free.Sudhir Hazareesingh discusses his findings with Tanjil Rashid.LISTEN AD-FREE:

The US dollar is about to flood Britain. American firms have pledged £150bn worth of investment in the UK, the government celebrates this as part of a wider plan to deepen economic ties with the US. But is there a bigger cost? As the pound flows back across the Atlantic, are we slowly but surely becoming American?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr and Will Dunn.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer have just finished their joint press conference from Chequers, drawing a close to the US president's state visit. Andrew Marr and Will Dunn will be joining Anoosh tomorrow on the podcast to discuss what these deals mean for Britain as dollars and pounds wash across the Atlantic Ocean - but today we're looking at something else frothy, the meltdown of Your Party.Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Megan Kenyon and Ethan Croft.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Zohran Mamdani has upended New York City politics – and potentially revitalised the American left.Born in Uganda, raised in Manhattan - the socialist mayoral candidate has captivated voters with his viral social media videos and progressive policies. He became the democratic nominee this June, beating political veteran and former governor of New York - Andrew Cuomo - in a tightly fought primary. If he wins in November this would be the highest office an avowed socialist has ever held in US politics. Can he do it? Megan Gibson is joined by New Statesman columnist Ross Barkan who profiled Mamdani for this week's cover story.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Trump is arriving in the UK today for his much anticipated state visit.Rachel Cunliffe and Will Lloyd look at how it might play out in the aftermath of the emergency debate which took place in parliament this afternoon concerning the appointment of Peter Mandelson.LISTEN AD-FREE:

This weekend more than 110,000 people from across the country took part in a far-right protest in central London organised by the activist Tommy Robinson - in his words, to “Unite the Kingdom”. This is thought to be the largest nationalist event in decades. St George's flags flooded the streets, speakers including Katie Hopkins and Elon Musk were projected to the crowds, and an overwhelming anti-muslim narrative shrouded the event.Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Will Lloyd and George Monaghan.Listen: A year undercover on the far rightRead: Murder, she wroteLISTEN AD-FREE:

Are the Greens ‘anarchists'? Has British politics become Americanised? And why was Theresa May prime minister?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to answer listener questions and explain LARPing to Andrew Marr.LISTEN AD-FREE:

In power for nearly a decade, Nicola Sturgeon is Scotland's longest-serving First Minister. She reshaped Scottish politics, leading the SNP through moments of crisis and opportunity, from the 2014 independence referendum to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since stepping down in 2023, Sturgeon has remained a powerful and sometimes polarising figure in public life. She reflects on this in her new memoir, Frankly.She joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss nationalism in Scotland, the shadow of Alex Salmond, and her public row with the author JK Rowling. In her words, “  where does she get the time to obsess about me?”LISTEN AD-FREE:

Earlier this week the prominent right-wing activist, and close Trump-ally, Charlie Kirk was shot during a public appearance in Utah. Graphic videos of the shooting immediately circulated online and his death was soon confirmed by Donald Trump.While many politicians across the spectrum have denounced the killing of Charlie Kirk - Trump has blamed what he calls “radical left political violence” and vowed to go after the organisations he deems responsible. A suspect was named and arrested earlier today.Katie Stallard is joined by Freddie Hayward.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Following the disarray caused by Angela Rayner's resignation and the sacking of Peter Mandelson, Keir Starmer's latest reset is a mess.His newly reshuffled cabinet appears to be largely a response to the very real threat of Nigel Farage. It seems, to his critics, that the Prime Minister is drawn to Reform's magnetic force to the right.But what does this mean for the direction of our country and its governing party?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton.LISTEN AD-FREE:

This week in part of an ongoing battle for the release of the “Epstein files”, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a trove of documents related to the pedophile financier. This comprised his will and personal address book - but generating the most controversy is an alleged "birthday book" given to Epstein in 2003 celebrating his fiftieth birthday. The 238-page book contains messages and photos sent by many of Epstein's friends, including Donald Trump and the UK's ambassador in America - Peter Mandelson.Will Lloyd is joined by Freddie Hayward.LISTEN AD-FREE:

This week the renters' rights bill returns to the House of Commons for its final debate. But in a country where tenants are spending around 40% of their income on rent, amidst an increasingly inflating housing market - does the bill go far enough?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman's business editor Will Dunn, and director of the Renters' Reform Coalition Tom Darling.Read: Landlords are a brake on growthLISTEN AD-FREE:

As Keir Starmer spent the weekend trying to glue his cabinet back together, another was basking in the glow of the NEC spotlights and a governmental crisis.LISTEN AD-FREE:

The Greens have a new leader. Listeners want to know what's in store for the left now.Tom McTague is joined by Andrew Marr, Rachel Cunliffe and Megan Kenyon to answer listener questions on:the future of the Green Party under Zack PolanskiJeremy Corbyn and Your Party's position on trans rightswhether a pro-immigration left party could win working class votesif the Lib Dems have any "serious" policiesLISTEN AD-FREE:

From the battlefields of Algiers to the corridors of Westminster, Britain's uneasy relationship with Europe has been shaped by thinkers, politicians, financiers, and strategists. In his new book, Between the Waves, the New Statesman's editor Tom McTague traces a previously uncovered history spanning eight decades of how Britain came to say “no” to Europe.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Angela Rayner resigned from government, and stood down as deputy Labour leader, following her failure to pay enough tax on a property in Hove. With this Keir Starmer has reshuffled his top cabinet, where are they headed now?Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Andrew Marr, Tom McTague and Megan Kenyon.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Andrew Marr joins the show to discuss Rayner, Immigration and Graham Linehan's arrest.***Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is under fire for underpaying Stamp Duty. The right are gleeful but Keir Starmer is standing by his deputy PM. Is he making the right move?Tom McTague is joined by Andrew Marr, Rachel Cunliffe, Megan Kenyon and George Monaghan.They also discuss how Labour must respond to the anti-immigration protests, and the questions around free speech that have been raised by the arrest (and subsequent release) of Graham Linehan over anti-trans tweets.Host: Tom McTagueGuest: Andrew MarrGuest: Rachel CunliffeGuest: Megan KenyonGuest: George MonaghanCHAPTERS:00:00 Angela Rayner10:15 Immigration26:00 Graham Linehan and free speechLISTEN AD-FREE:

Who gets to belong in Britain?In the past year, the conversation around immigration in Britain - across the political spectrum - has become increasingly vicious. As Tanjil Rashid, the New Statesman's culture editor, writes for this week's cover story - we are no longer in “an age of migration”. We have been propelled into something altogether new, “an age of deportation".Read: The age of deportationLISTEN AD-FREE: