The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

Britain is in the grip of a housing crisis and politicians from all sides claim to have the solutions. But as prices rise, renters struggle and investors profit - are we seeing housing policy serve the public good?Will Dunn, the New Statesman's business editor, is joined by Susan J. Smith, the new president of the British Academy and honorary professor of social and economic geography at the University of Cambridge.Read: Britain’s new-build nightmare

The team answer listener questions on the practicalities of the online safety act, a Labour-Lib Dem coalition, and the revival of the commonwealth.Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us

Asylum protests. NHS strikes. A faltering economy. Is the Labour government facing a summer of discontent?Last year, riots sparked by the brutal murder of three young girls at a dance class in Southport rocked the UK. Rioters targeted hotels housing asylum seekers, wrongly connecting the murders to Muslim immigration. Now, asylum protests persist.At the same time, the government faces strike action from NHS doctors, a struggling economy and political threats from both left and right.Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Anoosh Chakelian and George Eaton.Read: One year on, tensions still circle Britain’s asylum-seeker hotels; Labour’s summer of discontent

The UK will recognise Palestinian statehood in September unless Israel abides by a ceasefire, commits to a two-state solution and agrees not to annex the West Bank.Yesterday, Keir Starmer marked a clear shift on the UK’s position on the Israel Gaza war. However, this has prompted backlash from all sides. So what is there to gain?Megan Gibson is joined by George Eaton and Megan Kenyon.

Once upon a time Donald Trump loved to talk about conspiracy theories. Now, well, not so much.Why can’t Trump shake the Epstein story - and what could it mean for his presidency?--Last week, Katie Stallard and Freddie Hayward talked about how Donald Trump wanted his supporters to move on and stop talking about Jefrey Epstein, and how that seemed to be driving a wedge between him and the MAGA faithful.Since then, the US president has continued his attempts to distance himself from the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But it’s not working.Freddie and Katie pick up the story and discuss what the Trump's Epstein connection could mean for his presidency.READ: The Epstein conspiracy has exposed Trump as a faux-populist

As Donald Trump visits Scotland, world leaders - including Keir Starmer - flock to pay tribute at the emperor's feet.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2DHAQOeEg-Z-4trARDXHRA?sub_confirmation=1The US President is on a 4-day trip to his golf courses in Scotland. He has met with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Wielding the "bully-boy" threat of trade tariffs, the President is enjoying unprecedented influence. But should European leaders learn from the more combative approaches taken by Canada and France?Megan Gibson joins Tom McTague on the New Statesman podcast.📚 READ: Can Starmer and Trump come to an agreement on Gaza? - Megan Kenyonhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/morning-call/2025/07/can-starmer-and-trump-come-to-an-agreement-on-gaza

Director, writer and producer Peter Kosminsky, who directed of the BBC's adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, has worked in the television industry for 45 years. The BAFTA and Golden Globe winner is one of the most respected voices in the industry.Kosminsky spoke to the New Statesman's Hannah Barnes in a wide ranging discussion about the state of British television, and why he is calling upon the government to stand up for public service broadcasting against the might of the streaming giants.

Our Listeners ask: With Keir Starmer and his government under fire over their approach to Gaza, and the emergence of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's new party, why vote Labour? And with infrastructure and public services in such a terrible state, and the prospect of taxes and bills rising, what are we paying for?Tom McTague is joined by Megan Kenyon, George Eaton and Will Dunn to discuss.READCorbyn and Sultana declare war on Labour from the left - Megan Kenyon

This week - Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has identified immigration, economic insecurity and time spent online as key causes of unrest and rioting in the UK following last year's Southport attacks. Also, Can Rachel Reeves avoid another fiscal crisis?Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton to discuss.READCan Rachel Reeves avoid a new fiscal crisis - George Eaton