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You Ask Us: why can't Tory MPs behave themselves?
In the week the Tory peer Michelle Mone has finally admitted involvement in a PPE firm awarded £200m in "VIP" Covid contracts, we discuss the numerous allegations against politicians and ask why Parliament is beset with bad behaviour - and how it's affecting the Tories' reputation.
And then we let you in behind the scenes of the New Statesman newsroom, to talk about how journalists source, fact check and verify their reporting - with a debut from our features editor Melissa Denes.
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Should breaking manifesto pledges be illegal?
28:13|A frustrated listener calls for consequences over broken Labour promises. Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe answer listener questions about UK politics. In the mailbag this week:Should parliament impose legislation to force governments to honour manifesto pledges?Is it time to reform council tax?The Scottish independence referendum settled the question for "a generation". But what counts as a generation?How would politics be different if the House of Commons was a different physical shape?Send in your questions at newstatesman.com/youaskusListen next: Why Starmer u-turned on Digital ID
Jenrick defects to Reform
29:32|Robert Jenrick has become the latest Tory to defect to Reform. This morning he was fired by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, after she discovered his plan.The announcement followed former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defecting to Reform earlier this week.Tories broke Britain, say Tories.What does it mean? How did it happen?Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and Ethan Croft.
Why Keir Starmer U-turned on digital ID
28:58|How many U-turns before you admit you don’t know where you’re going?As little as four months ago, Keir Starmer said: "You will not be able to work in the UK if you don't have a digital ID, it's as simple as that." Now, he’s done yet another 180. Oli Dugmore is joined by Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea.
Keir Starmer: Grok imagery “disgraceful”
33:50|Keir Starmer is challenging Elon Musk and x.com over AI generated non-consensual intimate images.A proliferation of these images, generated by x.com’s AI chatbot Grok, has flooded the platform. Users have been instructing Grok to create these images of high profile figures and even of children.The British government have announced they will introduce legislation to prevent these images. This debate has raised issues of free speech, big tech, power and transatlantic relations.Oli Dugmore unpacks it all with Tom McTague and Ailbhe Rea.📚 READ: Why Keir Starmer has gone to war with Elon Musk - George Eatonhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/01/why-keir-starmer-has-gone-to-war-with-elon-musk
Nadhim Zahawi defects from the Tories to Reform
14:30|"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister” said the former chancellor.Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and Ailbhe Rea.
An interview with Salman Rushdie
30:55|We’re launching our new culture and society podcast here at the New Statesman: The New Society.Tanjil Rashid, the New Statesman's culture editor, discusses his interview with Salman Rushdie, Rushdie's latest work as a reflection of his life, and also what listeners can expect to hear on future episodes of this new podcast.You can find the full interview via the links below.Follow The New Society on SpotifyFollow The New Society on Apple PodcastsWatch The New Society on YouTube
Blue Labour is splitting the party
32:17|Labour is splitting.Earlier this week we reported that the government is now THIRD in the opinion polls behind Reform and the Tories.Now, as they barrel inexorably towards testing local elections in May, rifts are emerging within the Labour party. This week, Preet Kaur Gill – a personal private secretary to Home Secretary Shabhana Mahmood – announced in the Telegraph, of all places, that she (Preet Kaur Gill) is “Blue Labour”.The intervention sparked fierce debate among MPs, with divisions down ideological lines.Can the party hold it together?Oli Dugmore is joined by Ethan Croft, who has been speaking to Labour MPs this week, and Megan Kenyon. LISTEN NEXT: It's official – Labour are in third place
Are we ready for a “Brexit reset”?
32:29|Keir Starmer is planning on developing a “closer relationship” with the single market.The PM wants to realign with the EU in three key areas to help the free flow of trade: food and farm exports, electricity and emissions trading.But what will this mean for Britain, and how is it going down in Westminster?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by associate political editor, Rachel Cunliffe.
It's official: Labour are in third place
21:09|Christmas polling has revealed that the Tories have edged past Labour into second place in the polls.Nigel Farage’s Reform UK are still sitting pretty in the top spot, with Zack Polanski’s insurgent Greens chasing Labour’s tail.With elections in May incoming, this is the last thing Labour need.