Daily Politics from the New Statesman

To mark Rare Disease Day, this special Spotlight episode explores why  rare diseases - affecting an estimated one in 17 people in the UK – still face years of diagnostic delays and limited treatment options.Host Sarah Darwood speaks to CEO of LifeArc Dr Sam Barrell and Terry Pirovalakis, whose son Michael has been diagnosed with the rare neurological disorder SPG50. Their discussion looks at the reality of the “diagnostic odyssey”; gaps in data, investment and regulatory pathways; and the financial and structural challenges that limit progress in rare conditions.They also explore the growing role of parents as advocates and innovators, the case for a national rare disease champion, and why a more joined-up approach across government, regulators, industry and charities is essential to delivering faster diagnoses and access to life-changing therapies.This New Statesman podcast episode has been fully funded by LifeArc.Find out more about LifeArc’s Taskforce Report and recommendations.

Martin Lewis ambushed Kemi Badenoch, Your Party think bureaucracy will stop nuclear war, and the Sea Bass handling committee have released exciting new guidance.Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn round up the week's political news you might have missed.READ:Abandon all hope at the Your Party hustings

Does the Greens' decisive victory in Gorton & Denton spell the end of Keir Starmer's Labour?After the worst possible outcome for Labour in the Gorton & Denton by-election, Ailbhe Rea joins Tom McTague on Daily Politics from the New Statesman.They discuss what this means for Keir Starmer, for the Labour party - and for the future of politics in Britain.READ: Inside the Greens' seismic Gorton and Denton win

Hannah Spencer, a plumber and Green Party councillor, is now the MP for Gorton and Denton.The party takes the seat from right under Labour, following weeks of what was seen to be a three way race with Reform.Megan Kenyon is joined by Ben Walker.

Should some children be given drugs to stop them going through puberty?That’s the question the NHS, the government and an independent research and ethics committee have been trying to answer.The “Pathways” trial, backed by the NHS and led by a team from King’s College London, aims to test the effectiveness and safety of puberty blockers for children experiencing gender dysphoria.At the end of 2025, the trial was approved to go ahead. Health Secretary Wes Streeting reassured parliamentary colleagues it “could not have received more oversight and scrutiny”. But now the agency in charge of medicine regulation has U-turned. The study is now paused because of ethical and safety concerns. All of which, Hannah Barnes reports today on the New Statesman website, they knew about when they first approved it.So how did the study get approved in the first place? And what does this tell us about the systems we trust to ensure medical research is safe and ethical?Also: Baroness Amos has released the interim findings from her review into England's maternity care, and says the system is "not working". Oli Dugmore is joined by Hannah Barnes to discuss.READ MOREInside the decision to pause the puberty blockers trialEngland's maternity system "not working" for anyone, report says

Last Thursday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has since been released under investigation. The police have searched Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge.The former Prince’s relationship to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is triggering a reckoning for not just Andrew, but the monarchy itself.Oli Dugmore is joined by Will Lloyd to discuss. 

On Thursday, a by-election in a Southern Manchester constituency, Gorton and Denton, is shaping up to be a seismic litmus test for British politics.After the previous MP, Labour’s Andrew Gwynne, stepped down in January, an opening for a new MP has set in motion a battle between Labour and their insurgent challengers, Reform and the Green Party.Oli Dugmore is joined by our senior data journalist Ben Walker to discuss.

It has been four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has settled into a grinding and uncertain stalemate.Despite proving remarkably resilient, Ukraine, and the rest of the world, must face the question: What if Russia wins?Katie Stallard explores this urgent question with German political scientist, Professor Carlo Masala.

Why has Keir Starmer ordered an investigation into Labour Together? What the hell is going on with our local elections? And what are we meant to make of Reform UK’s new “shadow cabinet”?You asked, we’ll answer. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe for the listener questions episode of Daily Politics from the New Statesman.📚 READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/02/dismay-as-no-10-works-with-brendan-cox-after-misconduct-claims