The New Statesman: politics and culture

“The dream of home ownership is closed off to younger people today” - Steve Reed, Housing SecretarySteve Reed exclusively tells the New Statesman about the seven billion pounds Labour are giving to the six mayoral combined authorities for social and affordable housing.In an interview with Oli Dugmore, Labour’s housing secretary outlines the plan, and discusses young people’s housing woes, abolishing landlords and his history with Morgan McSweeney.Treat yourself or someone special to big ideas, bold politics and proper journalism from just £2 this Christmas when you subscribe to the New Statesman. Subscribe today at newstatesman.com/xmaspod25Ask us a question

Voters in New York City have elected a socialist, Muslim, 34-year old Mayor. Here's what Labour need to learn from Zohran Mamdani's campaign.--Zohran Mamdani calls himself "Donald Trump's worst nightmare". In the UK, senior Labour figures including Wes Streeting have praised the young Democrat Mayor-Elect's campaign. But should Labour be celebrating a win in America's Democrat stronghold, when they can't win their own seat in Wales?George Eaton and Megan Kenyon join Anoosh Chakelian to discuss what the Left in Britain must learn from the Mamdani campaign - and whether, in fact, this spells better news for Zack Polanski's Greens than Keir Starmer's Labour government.

A four-month investigation with Channel 4 News reveals harrowing failings at one of Britain’s most prestigious hospitals.Oli Dugmore speaks to the New Statesman's Investigations Editor, Hannah Barnes.Read: Britain’s next maternity scandal

Is Britain becoming a country of mass violence?On Saturday evening, a Doncaster to London train was forced to stop in Huntingdon after eleven people were injured in a stabbing spree. Anthony Williams, a 32 year-old British national, was charged on Monday with multiple counts of attempted murder.Oli Dugmore is joined by Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe.Read: Knife crime is creeping into Middle England

Today, Nigel Farage set out his updated vision for the UK economy.At a speech and press conference in London, The Reform UK leader talked tax, immigration, welfare, Brexit and his days working in the City.The New Statesman’s Ethan Croft was at the event.Ethan joins Oli Dugmore to discuss.

Is Build Baby Build doomed? Is Katie Lam running for leader? Where is Priti Patel? Can the UK really support 5 large leftist parties?Luke O’Reilly joins Anoosh Chakelian to answer listener questions.Ask us a question

The Deputy PM believes that Labour can beat the threat of the populist right, Nigel Farage and Reform. Lammy says that Labour can achieve this by tackling the cost of living crisis, uniting the centre and left of British politics and putting security first.Oli Dugmore sat down with David Lammy to discuss his plan.Read: Nigel Farage can be stopped

Which are the most deprived neighbourhoods in England and how might this map onto voter intent?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by senior data journalist Ben Walker, to discuss what we can learn from the English Indices of Deprivation.

Another bad week for Prince Andrew. You could say the man hasn’t had a good week since 2011. Although, actually, he does live in a 30-bedroom mansion in Windsor and enjoyed a million quid a year from his mum.In this week's cover story Will Lloyd makes the case for abolishing the monarchy, and that the Windsors have always been more involved with British politics than we know. He speaks to Oli Dugmore in this episode.