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Is Keir Starmer’s vision enough? With Ed Miliband
Anoosh Chakelian and Freddie Hayward are joined by Ed Miliband, the shadow climate change and net zero secretary and former Labour leader, to discuss Keir Starmer’s speech from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
They discuss the pledge to create a publicly owned “Great British energy” company to cut bills and the conference slogan “A fairer, greener future”; how the economic turmoil will affect their ability to deliver these promises; and whether Miliband would advise a note of caution to the optimistic party faithful.
Then the New Statesman polling expert, Ben Walker, joins the podcast to discuss a recent YouGov poll that shows Labour leading the Tories by 17 points and whether the plunging pound has damaged public confidence in Liz Truss’s government.
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Makerfield: What are the polls saying?
25:54|On Thursday, Makerfield goes to the polls in the most consequential by-election in a generation.Can Andy Burnham finally gain the parliamentary seat he needs to enter the Labour leadership race? Will Robert Kenyon and Reform stop Burnham’s charge to Downing Street and further cement their status as Labour’s inevitable successors?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by senior data journalist Ben Walker to discuss.
The Makerfield candidates’ normal person contest | Will and Anoosh
43:13|The Makerfield by-election candidates battle it out to be the most “normal”, the travails of journalists from the US to the NS and more crossover between the worlds of AI and politics.Will Dunn and Anoosh Chakelian round up the stories of the week
Wes Streeting: Keir Starmer doesn't take responsibility
29:57|After the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, Wes Streeting joins the Politics Show to reflect on why Keir Starmer is losing support from his loyal ministers.Streeting resigned his own post as Health Secretary in May, and has said he would run in a future race to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister.Also in this episode, Tom McTague and Ethan Croft discuss the resignations and what they mean – for the UK's ability to defend itself, and for the future of the government.The interview excerpt featured here is taken from an hour-long conversation with Wes Streeting which will publish next week.READ: John Healey's resignation heralds the end for Keir Starmer, by Andrew Marr
The private companies running Britain
47:09|From prisons to speed cameras and welfare to nuclear warning systems, the British government has outsourced a huge number of state operations to private companies – including the housing of asylum seekers.This week, riots erupted on the streets of Belfast following the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvy. The suspect is an ex asylum seeker. It’s the third summer in a row that the asylum accommodation system has been the focus of violent protests.Has Britain lost control?READ: How Britain lost control https://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2026/06/how-britain-lost-control
Makerfield locals have their say
19:20|Ahead of the by-election in Makerfield on June 18th, polling expert Scarlett Maguire spoke to voters in the constituency for the New Statesman. This episode is made up of clips from these Makerfield locals.Scarlett spoke to two groups, some who said they would be voting Reform, some who said they would be voting Labour.They shared their concerns about the current state of the UK and its politics, and their opinions on the two main parties and candidates battling it out in Makerfield.
What would “Burnhamism” actually look like?
39:16|Andy Burnham’s tucked-in t-shirt, a bonkers “festival of AI optimism” and which MP would make the best James Bond.Will Dunn is joined by editor Tom McTague to discuss the stories of the week.
What does Makerfield make of Andy Burnham?
56:37|The spectre of the Makerfield by-election on June 18th is hanging over British politics.If Andy Burnham wins, he’s in prime position to challenge Keir Starmer’s leadership. However, a Burnham victory in Makerfield is far from certain. Reform and their candidate Robert Kenyon are mounting a serious challenge.Tom McTague is joined by polling expert Scarlett Maguire and our political editor Ailbhe Rea to discuss.READhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/06/in-makerfield-voters-on-both-sides-are-united-by-despairhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/06/andy-burnhams-door-knock-to-downing-street
Why UK politics has failed for 20 years
26:41|While Westminster looks inward, the world is moving fast. Keir Starmer's government needs to focus on the urgent changes affecting all of our lives.Tom McTague joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss his latest essay for the New Statesman, and answer listeners questions. This week, listeners ask: "Why have British politicians been so useless for the past 20 years?" and "is it finally time for voting reform?"
Tony Blair has kicked the Labour Party into action
34:11|This week there’s only one subject to discuss – and that’s Tony Blair – who has written a blistering 5,000 word essay criticising everyone from Keir Starmer to Andy Burnham, Ed Miliband and Wes Streeting.Tom McTague is joined by political editor Ailbhe Rea to discuss this “right wing” intervention.