The New Statesman Podcast: Election Watch daily throughout the UK general election

Nigel Farage and Richard Tice have been playing good cop bad cop today in Merthyr Tydfil, not launching Reform UK's manifesto, but the party's "contract". The pitch contains some dramatic pledges and mathematical gymnastics.Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor.Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning CallSubmit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

On today's episode of listener questions: How many of them 2019 manifesto commitments have been met?; Who will be the biggest name to lose their seat?; If Jeremy Corbyn wins as an independent, assuming he'd like to continue to sit with old allies, could he sit on the government benches?; Is there a reason why D-Day is a bigger deal than eg Boris stealing a journalist's phone and hiding in a fridge?; What is the best response when a candidate that you do not want to win knocks on your door?Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by senior editor George Eaton.Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

In the words of ABBA, and Keir Starmer, Money Money Money - the Labour leader announced this morning in Manchester that wealth creation was the ‘number one priority’ for the party.Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and senior editor George Eaton to analyse the final manifesto's of the week from Labour and Plaid Cymru, and to review the odds on the latest Tory gaff.Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

Grant Shapps has said that Labour could be on course for a “supermajority”, perhaps a more accurate way of viewing it is that the Conservatives are on course for a "superdefeat". But if the Tory vote crashes the votes aren't necessarily going to Labour, so how will they be split?Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by senior data journalist Ben Walker to review the polls and also analyse the Green manifesto launch.Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

It's Tory manifesto Tuesday and the party is leading with pledges to make homes more affordable for first time buyers as well as a fresh new batch of tax cuts. But where is the money coming from to afford this? When the Conservatives say "welfare reform", what exactly do they mean? Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political editor Andrew Marr. Together they also discuss the rise of the far right in Europe and what this might mean for a Labour-led Britain. Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

It's manifesto week! It's week three of the election campaign and parties are set to deliver their manifestos in the coming days. This was kicked off today with the launch of the Lib Dem manifesto. So what have they pledged? Do the numbers add up? And does it really matter if they don't?The team also discuss what's been happening politically over the weekend, including Friday's seven headed debate, the continuation of Sunak's D Day-gate, and Macron's decision to call a snap election.Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor; Chris Deerin, Scotland editor; and Will Dunn, business editor.Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

Freddie, Ben and podcast newcomer Finn McRedmond answer listener questions.By deserting the D-day commemorations, Rishi Sunak has dealt his own campaign a massive blow and handed Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage explosive attack lines.In this special election edition of You Ask Us, the team answer your questions about the threat to the Conservatives from Reform UK and the impact of TV debates. Also polling expert Ben Walker reveals the shocking impact tactical voting could have on the Liberal Democrats election hopes.See the latest polls on the New Statesman's State of the Nation: https://sotn.newstatesman.com/Read: Rishi Sunak's D-Day departure was far worse than a gaffehttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/rishi-sunaks-d-day-departure-was-far-worse-than-a-gaffeThe Conservative party may not survive this electionhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/conservative-party-may-not-survive-election-nigel-farage

The most powerful person on the left of British politics is not Keir Starmer. So who is it?This week the New Statesman published the 2024 Left Power List, which ranks the 50 most influential people in British politics. George Eaton edited the list and joins Hannah Barnes and Freddie Hayward on the New Statesman podcast to discuss who's up, who's down, and what their influence means for the general election.Hannah, Freddie and George also discuss the latest events from the general election campaigns including Vaughan Gethin's confidence vote, more questionable Tory donations and Ed Davey's moving campaign video.See the Left Power List in full here: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/06/new-statesman-left-power-list-2024

Starmer and Sunak went head to head for the first time last night in their TV debate. Did we learn anything new? Not particularly. But the story dominating the headlines today is Sunak's claim that people would pay around £2,000 more in tax if Labour wins the election. He said that figure had been calculated by "independent Treasury officials". Starmer called this "garbage".So who's telling the truth?Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by political correspondent Freddie Hayward, and senior data journalist Ben Walker, who also takes us on a deep dive of the polls.Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us