Podcast appearances and mentions of ailbhe rea

Labour grandee concerned at his party's further cuts to welfare spending. Plus: celebrations in Newcastle, live metal detecting and plant music. On the papers: Jon Williams, I. Stephanie Boyce and Ailbhe Rea.

By the time this episode comes out, the new Labour government will have been in charge of the country for one hundred days. So what do we know about how they'll run the economy? Can they rescue our threadbare public services while promising a tight grip on government spending? And will their focus on growth deliver real change for those who need it most? Ayeisha Thomas-Smith is joined by Aditya Chakrabortty, senior economic commentator at the Guardian, and Ailbhe Rea, associate editor at Bloomberg UK, for the first episode in a new series of the New Economics podcast. ....... Music: Gathering by Poddington Bear (available: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Encouraging/Gathering/), used under Creative Commons licence: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. Produced by Katrina Gaffney, Margaret Welsh and James Rush. The New Economics Podcast is brought to you by the New Economics Foundation. Find out more about becoming a NEF supporter at: neweconomics.org/donate/build-a-better-future New Economics Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales. Charity No. 1055254

The IfG team is up in Liverpool for Labour's first party conference since winning the general election - and the party's first in government since 2009.    So, what's the mood? Has Keir Starmer managed to shift the narrative away from freebies and falling-outs? Does the annual party get together tell us anything about how government is working? And what should we be looking out for as the Conservatives prepare to meet in Birmingham?   The Sunday Times' Gabriel Pogrund, Bloomberg's Ailbhe Rea and UK in a Changing Europe's Anand Menon join Cath Haddon and Alex Thomas for a special live recording of Inside Briefing.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A replay of our profile of the leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer - now Prime Minister. Adam is joined by Ailbhe Rea, associate editor at Bloomberg UK, and Tom Baldwin, author of Keir Starmer: The Biography, to chronicle Keir Starmer's early life and political career. They discuss his family life, his legal career and how he rose to become leader of the Labour Party including behind-the-scenes details from those who know and work with him.This episode is part of a series where Newscast profiles each of the leaders of major political parties.

This bonus episode of Newscast is a profile of the leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer. Adam is joined by Ailbhe Rea, associate editor at Bloomberg UK, and Tom Baldwin, author of Keir Starmer: The Biography, to chronicle Keir Starmer's early life and political career. They discuss his family life, his legal career and how he rose to become leader of the Labour Party including behind-the-scenes details from those who know and work with him. This episode is part of a series where Newscast profiles each of the leaders of major political parties. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Sam McLaren. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Campaign analysis from Ailbhe Rea, Associate Editor Bloomberg UK and Freya McClemens, Northern Editor, The Irish Times

Early results from England's elections paint a gloomy picture for the Tories. We dissect the numbers and hear from polling guru John Curtice of Strathclyde University and government minister Andrew Griffith. Plus, UK government reporters Ailbhe Rea and Joe Mayes on what it all means for the upcoming general election and Rishi Sunak's job security. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Yuan Potts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ailbhe Rea, Associate Editor at Bloomberg, on the passing of Rishi Sunak's controversial Rwanda asylum bill after a late night sitting in the House of Lords.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Labour's Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, Bloomberg's Ailbhe Rea, Conservative MP Craig Whittaker and former Conservative comms director Giles Kenningham.

Do older people get a hard time?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Labour's Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, Bloomberg's Ailbhe Rea, Conservative MP Craig Whittaker and former Conservative comms director Giles Kenningham.

Rishi Sunak's bill calling Rwanda a safe place to send migrants is set to become law after the House of Lords passed it last night. Bloomberg's Ailbhe Rea discusses what happens next, and what the policy might actually deliver after years of wrangling. Plus, checks on the EU food goods coming into Britain are set to be imposed next week. We ask Britain's Exports Minister Lord Malcolm Offord says he's not concerned, his focus is on 'light touch' regulation to boost trade. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Yuan Potts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we look at the suspension of a Tory MP after claims he made a late night call to ask for money to pay off "bad people".Mark Menzies "strongly" disputes the claims, but has had the whip removed amid allegations that he misused party funds and abused his position. Adam and Chris discuss with Newsnight political editor Nick Watt and Bloomberg associate editor Ailbhe Rea.Plus, Josh Widdicombe tells Adam and Chris all about his experiences trying to become a local news reporter, for the second series of TV show Hold the Front Page. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Gemma Roper. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Britain's biggest supplier of water is in trouble.  The parent company of Thames Water is at risk of running out of money, having been forced to deal with a seemingly endless series of leaks and sewage spills while struggling to adapt to global warming and its effect on London's future. So how did it get into this big of a mess, and is there a way out? Bloomberg reporter Jess Shankelman joins this week's In the City with Allegra Stratton and Ailbhe Rea to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar stunned the political world with his resignation - we discuss what his departure means for the future of Ireland with former Irish ambassador to the United States, Daniel Mulhall.Plus, Keir Starmer's commitment to diversity is under question the Labour Party's adviser on race Doreen Lawrence reportedly said he failed to listen to her. Martin Forde KC, who was tasked by Starmer with investigating previous allegations of racism within Labour joins us with his perspective. Hosted by Ailbhe Rea and Caroline Hepker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second woman to become prime minister, Theresa May, has announced she will be leaving parliament at the next election. Although the former PM was known for Brexit, she also was a champion of getting more women involved in public life. It's a task that seems ever harder in the age of social media and abuse. We discuss the realities of being a woman in Westminster with Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP and Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent Central. Hosted by Ailbhe Rea and Stephen Carroll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

George Galloway has won a seat in parliament in the Rochdale by-election, with a campaign calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza. Bloomberg's associate editor Ailbhe Rea explains if this result is headache for Keir Starmer or the sign of more woes to come for his Labour Party. Galloway's pitch to disaffected muslim voters was only possible due to Starmer's complete overhaul of the party in his relatively short time as leader. But how much do we know about what actually drives the man? The author of Keir Starmer's new biography Tom Baldwin joins us for an extended discussion of Keir's background and what he might do with real power. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Lizzy Burden.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg's associate editor Ailbhe Rea joins us with more on the Rochdale by-election. The speaker's decision during the Gaza ceasefire debate brought issues of intimidation and violence against politicians to the fore. Alice Perry former chair of Labour's National Executive Committee discusses some of the most serious incidents and Su Moore, CEO of the Jo Cox Foundation reinforces the increasingly tense political environment. Hosted by James Woolcock and Caroline Hepker See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One year on from Liz Truss' chaotic premiership, host Ailbhe Rea takes on what remains a controversial topic: the role free-market think tanks really play in our politics. Ailbhe interviews the co-founder of one of these free-market think tanks, the ASI's Madsen Pirie, and hears his candid account of how they wield influence across Westminster. Then we dive inside the funding of these think tanks, with the man who beats the drum against so-called dark money in politics, investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan.And we reveal how close the IEA really was — and still is — to Liz Truss and her whole tax-cutting project, with the help of “Nina,” an anonymous IEA member of staff who witnessed it all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As MPs return to parliament after the summer break, host Ailbhe Rea and an array of expert guests provide an essential briefing on everything that's coming up in British politics over the next few months.The Spectator's political editor Katy Balls takes Ailbhe through Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's "not-a-reset" leadership reset, and explains No. 10's thinking around reshuffles, the King's Speech, the party conferences ... and its plan to go "in the gutter" for a fresh wave of attacks on Labour leader Keir Starmer.Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank gives provides a debrief on the U.K.'s economic situation and looks ahead to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's autumn statement, while the Times' Scottish political editor Kieran Andrews has everything you need to know about the upcoming Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.BBC Northern Ireland's Jayne McCormack ponders whether Stormont might finally get up and running again this autumn, while POLITICO's very own Eleni Courea has all the gossip on a Labour reshuffle — and explores Rishi Sunak's hopes for the G20 summit in India.Finally, POLITICO'S Annabelle Dickson lifts the lid on what might yet prove to be the biggest political event of the year — the final Supreme Court judgement on Sunak's controversial plan to deport undocumented migrants to Rwanda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has political correctness come to bury comedy, or to save it? Patrick Maguire speaks to David Stubbs, who believes 'wokeness' has been good rather than bad, and takes a tour through the changing face of British comedy.Plus: Columnists Laura Freeman and Ailbhe Rea discuss why Labour is spending so much time talking about class, the decline of the chat show, and how to stage a heist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Westminster Insider will be back next Friday! Hosts Aggie Chambre and Ailbhe Rea chat about what to expect from season 11 of the weekly podcast from POLITICO. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second half of a two-part profile, hosts Ailbhe Rea and Aggie Chambre take a closer look at the man hoping to become Britain's next prime minister.This week they take listeners through Starmer's political career so far, from entering parliament as a political novice in 2015, through the difficult days of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, to his own successful leadership bid and beyond.They hear from Starmer's closest political advisers: Ben Nunn, his former head of communications; Chris Ward, formerly his deputy chief of staff; and key ally Jenny Chapman, who casts new light on the infamous pledges Starmer made — and subsequently broke — during the 2020 Labour leadership contest.They also hear from Corbyn's head of policy, Andrew Fisher, for a very different take on Starmer's rise to power. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting explains what angers the Labour leader around the shadow Cabinet table. And the podcast travels to Starmer's current neighbourhood in north London, visiting both his favorite pub and an infamous kitchen table. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first part of a major profile of Labour leader Keir Starmer, podcast hosts Ailbhe Rea and Aggie Chambre take a deeper look at the man hoping to become Britain's next prime minister.Starting their journey from the kitchen of the house in Surrey where Starmer grew up, they follow his path through childhood and university toward a stellar legal career, speaking to those who've known him along the way.Andrew Cooper, a schoolfriend who would go on to be an adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron, reveals the early antics — and politics — of the young Starmer, while John Murray, a university pal, lifts the lid on their laddish student life.The pair then follow Starmer's journey up the career ladder as a lawyer, a barrister and eventually director pf public prosecutions (DPP). Ken Macdonald, a crossbench peer and Starmer's predecessor as DPP, recalls Starmer's approach at the Bar — and his real thoughts on law and order.Denis Bradley, former vice-chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, explains the tricky role Starmer took on as human rights adviser in Northern Ireland following the Good Friday Agreement — and how this role eventually led Starmer to abandon a successful legal career for the murky world of Westminster.The Times' Tom Witherow evaluates Starmer's record as DPP, while Scarlett MccGwire, a legendary Labour aide who has worked with four party leaders, reveals how Starmer finally began to make inroads into the world of politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

POLITICO's Ailbhe Rea takes us inside the art of the political interview.In a rare conversation on the other side of the microphone, Today programme presenter and ex-BBC political editor Nick Robinson opens up about what's going through his mind in the middle of a high-profile grilling, politicians lying, persuading them to come on the Today programme, and what happened behind the scenes when he notoriously told Boris Johnson to “stop talking.”Rob Burley, who has plotted political interviews with the greats including Andrew Neil, Andrew Marr, Jeremy Paxman, Emily Maitlis and now Beth Rigby at Sky News, takes us through how they game-plan a big interview, the great interviews of political history — and what Paxo was thinking when he asked Michael Howard the same question 12 times.Former Westminster Hour doyenne Carolyn Quinn reveals the complex human relationships between interviewers and politicians, while former Tory comms staffer Laura-Emily Dunn reveals what's happening on the politician side. Andrea Leadsom and Rachel Sylvester each — separately — recall Leadsom's car crash “motherhood” interview during the 2016 Tory leadership campaign, which, of course, prompted her to drop out of the race and left Theresa May as Prime Minister. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special anniversary episode 25 years on from the agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland, host Ailbhe Rea heads home to Belfast to retell the gripping story of how a historic compromise was reached.Former British PM Tony Blair and former Irish premier Bertie Ahern explain why — and how — they decided to pursue a peace deal when they both came to power in 1997, and recall key moments of drama from inside the negotiating room.David Kerr, right-hand man to the late David Trimble — the UUP leader who would go on to win the Nobel Peace prize for his role in the talks — describes the splits and crises within unionism at the time, while chief SDLP negotiator Mark Durkan, later to become deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, explains how his boss John Hume's thinking infused the entire peace process.Mitchel McLaughlin, spokesperson for Sinn Féin during the negotiations, describes the challenge his party's leadership faced in trying to take the entire republican movement with them. Jonathan Powell, chief of staff to Blair, explains what it was like to face Sinn Fein across the negotiating table. And Monica McWilliams, co-founder of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, shares her memories of those tense final days and hours inside Castle Buildings.Ailbhe also meets Cathy McCann and Betty Speers, two victims of an IRA bomb in 1990 — Cathy was severely injured and Betty's brother was killed — as they reflect on what the Good Friday Agreement means to them. And Ailbhe ends the episode with Sara Canning, the partner of the late journalist Lyra McKee, who was killed by dissident republicans on the 21st anniversary of the agreement, four years ago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Conservative MP Dame Andrea Leadsom, Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, Host of POLITICO's Westminster Insider podcast Ailbhe Rea and former Labour adviser and author Tom Hamilton.

Royal aide resigns over comments to black charity founder, Cross Question & why are prisons running out of cells? Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Conservative MP Dame Andrea Leadsom, Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, Host of POLITICO's Westminster Insider podcast Ailbhe Rea and former Labour adviser and author Tom Hamilton.

As U.K. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveils huge spending cuts and tax hikes in his Autumn Statement, host Ailbhe Rea looks back at the economic program still haunting the current debate: the austerity of the early 2010s. David Gauke, one of former Chancellor George Osborne's must trusted lieutenants, opens up about how the big decisions were taken and reflects on how he'd do things differently if he had his time again. Torsten Bell, head of the Resolution Foundation think tank and formerly head of policy for Labour leader Ed Miliband, considers the effects of the spending cuts and the differences between the Labour and the Conservative positions, while Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, talks about what he thinks his party got wrong. Carys Roberts, executive director at the IPPR think tank, discusses the way the public debate played out, while Professor Michael Marmot considers the impact of austerity on life expectancy and health inequalities across the U.K. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

POLITICO's Ailbhe Rea meets the ultimate Westminster Insider, Laura Kuenssberg, until recently the BBC's political editor and the new host of the BBC's flagship Sunday politics show.In a rare interview, Kuenssberg discusses her early career, life covering the tumult of the past seven years in British politics, and how she managed to survive the relentless pace at the coalface. She discusses the sisterhood in Westminster, how it feels to be at the center of heated rows about bias and impartiality, and reveals what she really thought of British comedian Joe Lycett's controversial appearance on her debut show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With days to go until Boris Johnson's replacement is announced, host Ailbhe Rea considers whether the Conservatives are now on their way out of office — or whether this is just one more clever shape-shift from the most successful political party in the world. She meets Johnson's cheerleaders and his critics, grassroots members and expert advisers, to discuss how Boris Johnson changed the Tory Party — and what on earth it will do when he's gone.Ailbhe asks Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary and an early Boris believer, about what makes Boris Johnson a winner. David Gauke, the former justice secretary, and ex-minister Margot James recall being ousted from the party during the Brexit wars of 2019, and unpick how the party has changed. Rachel Wolf, the co-author of the Conservative manifesto from 2019, explains how Boris Johnson consciously went after new voters, while pollster James Johnson discusses the huge challenges ahead. At hustings in Norwich, grassroots Conservative members share their thoughts on where the party goes next. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Kentish sits in and is joined on Cross Question by broadcaster Denise Headley, Politico and the New Statesman's Ailbhe Rea, commentator Benedict Spence & author Ella Whelan.

As Boris Johnson prepares for his final session of Prime Minister's Questions, Ailbhe Rea takes a look inside the weekly showdown at the heart of British politics.Former PM David Cameron explains what it's really like to stand at the despatch box for a noisy session of PMQs, and reveals how he prepared and strategized for the toughest event of his week.Ayesha Hazarika, a former adviser to Ed Miliband, lifts the lid on the different pressures faced by a leader of the opposition, while Theo Bertram, a former adviser to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in No. 10, considers why these sessions matter beyond the cut-and-thrust of Westminster.Finally, Quentin Letts, the Times's sketchwriter extraordinaire, recalls great moments of PMQs from years gone by and pays tribute to a British institution where the human drama of British politics is best explored, and where leaders rise and fall. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the jaw-dropping downfall of Boris Johnson plays out on Twitter feeds across Westminster and far beyond, Jack Blanchard looks at how the social media platform has revolutionized the way we watch, write about and conduct British politics.Co-host Ailbhe Rea, Twitter executive Nick Pickles and freelance journalist Marie Le Conte discuss how Twitter has become the main platform through which political junkies now view major events such as the end of a prime minister's premiership, and how it offers the whole world a window into the once-closed world of Westminster.Labour MP Jess Phillips and Tory Michael Fabricant discuss how Twitter has boosted their profiles, and how it offers opportunities to connect with voters which simply did not exist 15 years ago. And Jeremy Corbyn's former strategic comms chief, James Schneider, explains how the platform can be harnessed to affect real political change. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Co-host Ailbhe Rea sits down with the Labour Party's charismatic former deputy leader Tom Watson to discuss his life in politics and much beyond.Watson recalls his central role at the heart of the Blair/Brown battles of the 2000s, and the showdown with Rupert Murdoch which saw him propelled into the limelight — and trailed by private investigators — in the 2010s. He opens up about his chaotic years as Jeremy Corbyn's deputy, on his life beyond politics as chairman of UK Music — he spent last weekend at Glastonbury festival — and the dramatic change in lifestyle which has seen him shed eight stone in weight. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New host Ailbhe Rea explores the quirks and the controversies of the pack of journalists who inhabit Westminster, known universally as 'the lobby.'We take a trip down memory lane with the legendary Andrew Marr, former political editor of the BBC, and tour the 'Burma Road,' the historic corridor in the House of Commons where political reporters have their offices.We hear Alan Rusbridger, the former editor-in-chief of the Guardian, air his concerns about the way the lobby goes about its work, and then we head to the famous Red Lion pub for a debrief from the Sun's political editor, Harry Cole.Aletha Adu, political correspondent at the Daily Mirror, talks about the lobby's notorious diversity problem, while Ali Donnelly, the former deputy official spokesperson for Theresa May, describes the view from the other side — and what it's like to suffer a daily grilling from Britain's top political hacks.Finally, Ailbhe and a more familiar voice, POLITICO's own Jack Blanchard, reflect on the pros and cons of this intriguing but imperfect system. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

POLITICO's weekly narrated story, hosted by Ailbhe Rea, lifts the curtain on how Westminster really works, and looks in-depth at political issues which typically only get broad-brush treatment in the wider media. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Westminster Insider is back ... with a twist. In this sneak preview, Jack Blanchard meets the new voice of Westminster Insider, Ailbhe Rea. Together, they give you a teaser of what to expect from the new season of the weekly podcast from POLITICO.Subscribe now — and never miss an episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The renowned satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows Iannucci, explores the parts of British public life that he believes are broken, and he will be joined by guests from inside and outside Westminster to discuss how politics could be better.In this episode, Iannucci and Ailbhe Rea examine voter loyalty and whether tribalism has died in favour of a kind of playlist politics. They are joined by special guests John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde and senior research fellow at the National Centre for Social Research, and Shaun Woodward, a former Labour cabinet minister who defected to the party from the Conservatives in 1999 and is now the chair of the Human Dignity Trust, an international LGBT charity.They discuss whether voters now want a more pick-and-mix politics, how important demographics are to how people will vote and what kind of identity politics really does sway voters.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The misogyny that many women working in parliament experience has reared its ugly head once more. Anoosh Chakelian, Ailbhe Rea and Harry Lambert discuss the latest revelations of sexual misconduct at Westminster and the personal cost for the women who speak out.The team then discuss Labour's prospects for the local elections and whether the cost of living, not partygate, could be the key to victory.Then a special You Ask Us to say goodbye to Ailbhe Rea.If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As MPs debate the fallout from partygate, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political reporter, to discuss why Boris Johnson may still be safe as PM and the opinions of Conservatives about their leader.Then in a special section on Northern Ireland, Ailbhe Rea reports from Belfast on what is becoming a very tense Stormont election.If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Carrie Johnson have all received fixed-penalty notices for attending parties in Downing Street during lockdown, but could the Prime Minister now be safer than he was at the height of partygate?Harry Lambert, Senior Correspondent, joins Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea to discuss the fines, the downfall of Rishi Sunak and why we won't know the real mood among MPs until they return to Westminster.Then in You Ask Us, they answer a listener's question on whether the plan to send migrants to Rwanda is just a distraction?If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The legendary writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman podcast to co-host five more special episodes. In these shows, Iannucci explores parts of British public life he believes to be broken, and is joined by guests from both inside and outside Westminster to discuss how politics could be better.In this episode, Armando and Ailbhe Rea examine the place we make laws: parliament. Is it an old boys' club, designed to exclude normal people from being able to make sense of it?They are joined by special guests Anum Qaisar, the SNP's newest Westminster MP, who won the Airdrie and Shotts by-election in 2021, and Emma Crewe, a professor of anthropology at SOAS who has studied the workings of the House of Commons and House of Lords.They talk about how parliament can be hard to navigate, what's prevented it from evolving into a modern, 21st-century legislature and why it's still a tough place for MPs from non-traditional backgrounds.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Rishi Sunak comes under investigation by the government's standards watchdog, Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelian discuss the fallout from the revelations about the Chancellor and the tax affairs of his wife, Akshata Murty, and why it shows he is still naïve as a politician.Then in You Ask Us, they answer a listener's question about how Labour should respond to the story.If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for our special offer of just £1 a week for 12 weeks. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea are joined by the senior data journalist Ben Walker to mark the launch of State of the Nation, the New Statesman's new data site for understanding Britain in numbers, maps, words and charts.Ben responds to listeners' questions on what's going on in the polls. Do they show an increase for Labour and Keir Starmer's leadership? How much do Conservative MPs care about Boris Johnson's popularity? And how has the cost-of-living crisis affected Rishi Sunak and the government's credibility.Then in You Ask Us, the New Statesman's political reporter Freddie Hayward joins the show to answer a listener's question on what government plans to privatise Channel 4 would mean for its news and politics output.If you have a You Ask Us question for the politics team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.New Statesman Politics Live is our new, flagship live event, bringing together policymakers from across the political spectrum with panels, debates and a special live recording of the New Statesman podcast. Join us on Tuesday 28th June 2022 in London. Standard rate tickets are £99, or £69.99 for New Statesman subscribers. Book your ticket here: https://nsmg.live/event/ns-politics-live/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the EU and UK debate further sanctions on Russia after evidence of massacres by Russian forces in Bucha, north of Kyiv, Ailbhe Rea speaks to the exiled opposition campaigner Vladimir Ashurkov.They discuss how London got its reputation for hosting the world's dirty money, why it took so long for the UK to take the threat posed by Vladimir Putin seriously and how Russia uses corruption to undermine world order.If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.New Statesman Politics Live is our new, flagship live event, bringing together policymakers from across the political spectrum with panels, debates and a special live recording of the New Statesman podcast. Join us on Tuesday 28th June 2022 in London. Standard rate tickets are £99, or £69.99 for New Statesman subscribers. Book your ticket here: https://nsmg.live/event/ns-politics-live/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the fallout from Rishi Sunak's Spring Statement continues, New Statesman Political Editor Andrew Marr joins Ailbhe Rea to discuss why it was received quite so badly and whether it has ruined the Chancellor's hopes of becoming prime minister. Then, as partygate returns to the news, they look at whether it is now too late for the Conservative Party to get rid of Boris Johnson. And in You Ask Us, they answer a listener's question about whether the MP Jamie Wallis coming out as trans will change the way trans rights is discussed in the UK. If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk Podcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for 12 weeks for just £1 a week.New Statesman Politics Live is our new, flagship live event, bringing together policymakers from across the political spectrum with panels, debates and a special live recording of the New Statesman podcast. Join us on Tuesday 28th June 2022 in London. Standard rate tickets are £99, or £69.99 for New Statesman subscribers. Book your ticket here: Politics Live See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss Rishi Sunak's Spring Statement as the Office for Budget Responsibility warns the UK is about to face the biggest rise in the cost of living since records began. They discuss why Sunak still wants to be seen as a low-tax Chancellor, whether any of his measures will make a difference and why he seems so averse to using Universal Credit to help the people worst hit by price rises. Then in You Ask Us they tackle Labour's response and whether the party is nervous about focusing too much on the cost-of-living crisis. If you have a question for You Ask Us email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukPodcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for 12 weeks for just £1 a week. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been reunited with her family in Britain, having been imprisoned for years in Iran on charges of seeking to overthrow the country's government, which she has always denied. Her release along with another dual citizen, Anoosheh Ashoori, came after the payment of a long withheld £450m debt owed by the British government to Iran. Ailbhe Rea and Anoosh Chakelian discuss Richard Ratcliffe's tireless campaign to free his wife, how a deal was finally achieved and why it took so long. Then in You Ask Us a listener asks whether the post-austerity rise in UK borrowing to the highest level since the Second World War is down to the pandemic alone, or other factors.If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters a second week, the New Statesman's polling expert Ben Walker joins Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea to talk about the latest polls.They discuss exclusive polling for the New Statesman published today on Boris Johnson's approval rating since the war began, as well as public attitudes to the UK government's stance on Ukrainian refugees and economic sanctionsagainst Russia. Then in You Ask Us, Ben answers a listener's question on whether we can really know what the Russian people think of the war.If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukPodcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for 12 weeks for just £1 a week. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the UK considers further sanctions on oligarchs linked to Vladimir Putin, Ailbhe Rea speaks to the journalist and author Oliver Bullough about how London became the home for so much Russian money. They talk about the ways in which the huge volumes of money corrupt all parts of public life, the spotlight that the invasion of Ukraine has shone on the problem and whether a meaningful attempt will now be made to tackle it. Oliver's book, Butler to the World: How Britain Became the Servant of Tycoons, Tax Dodgers, Kleptocrats and Criminals, is published in March by Profile. If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for just £1 per week. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.