The New Statesman podcast | politics, ideas and interviews

“She’s done an awful lot of damage to morale,” says Andrew Marr.Hit “Follow” in your podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they publishChancellor 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 Eatonhttps://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2024/09/rachel-reeves-great-gambleWorkers’ rights or growth: another tough choice for Labour, by Andrew Marrhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/09/workers-rights-or-growth-another-tough-choice-for-labourKamala Harris made Trump look like a loser, by Freddie Haywardhttps://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/youaskusBecome a New Statesman subscriber: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/saveSign up for our daily politics emailReceive a daily dose of politics coverage straight to your inbox every morning in our newsletter, Morning Call. Sign up for free here: https://morningcall.substack.comWatch the New Statesman podcastFind all episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@newstatesman

“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?”

The former Labour leader’s new coalition could be “a real force” in Parliament, says Andrew Marr.**Hit ‘Follow’ in your podcast app to get every episode as soon as it drops**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 Britainhttps://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2024/09/labours-battle-for-britainSubmit a question:We answer listener questions every Friday. Submit your by commenting on this episode on Spotify, or at www.newstatesman.com/youaskusBecome a New Statesman subscriber: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/saveSign up for our daily politics emailReceive a daily dose of politics coverage straight to your inbox every morning in our newsletter, Morning Call. Sign up for free here: https://morningcall.substack.comWatch the New Statesman podcastFind all episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@newstatesman

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-scaleGeorge Eaton: the Grenfell report is damning for David Cameronhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/09/the-grenfell-report-is-damning-for-david-cameronSubmit a question:We answer listener questions every Friday. Submit your by commenting on this episode on Spotify, or at www.newstatesman.com/youaskusBecome a New Statesman subscriber: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/saveSign up for our daily politics emailReceive a daily dose of politics coverage straight to your inbox every morning in our newsletter, Morning Call. Sign up for free here: https://morningcall.substack.comWatch the New Statesman podcastFind all episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@newstatesman

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.Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

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.

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-brokenAsk a question: newstatesman.com/youaskusSubscribe to the New Statesman with a special discount: newstatesman.com/save

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.Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning CallSubmit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us