This discussion was recorded at the Cambridge Literary Festival in November 2023. Anoosh Chakelian was joined by Isabel Hardman, assistant editor at the Spectator and author of Fighting for Life, and Phil Whitaker, GP and medical editor at the New Statesman. They came together to ask, can we fix the NHS? Watch and listen more from the Cambridge Literary Festival: https://www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com/clf-player-watch-listen/ Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Give something priceless: Give the New Statesman and get 20% off our gift subscriptions using code XMAS20 at the checkout. newstatesman.com/gift-subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week it seems that the government have been doing anything and everything to tackle the high migration numbers, that means cracking down on both illegal and legal routes to entering the UK. First new visa requirements were announced, stating that applicants would need to earn £38,700 to be eligible (higher than the average UK salary) and that this would also apply to UK citizens who intended to bring a foreign partner to the country on a spousal visa. Not long after this Home Secretary James Cleverly announced those changes, he signed a treaty with Rwanda and the government published its emergency legislation to try and see off legal challenges to its deportation scheme. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Give something priceless: Give the New Statesman and get 20% off our gift subscriptions using code XMAS20 at the checkout. newstatesman.com/gift-subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson appeared "diminished" at the Covid inquiry - and still couldn't quite apologise properly. Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor for the New Statesman, was in the room as the former prime minister gave evidence. She joins Anoosh Chakelian and Freddie Hayward to analyse two "blockbuster" days, figure out if we've learned anything new, and look ahead to next week when Rishi Sunak will appear to account for his actions during the pandemic. Read Rachel's report from the inquiry: "The Tories are lucky to be rid of Boris Johnson" https://www.newstatesman.com/quickfire/2023/12/the-tories-are-lucky-to-be-rid-of-boris-johnson Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Give something priceless: Give the New Statesman and get 20% off our gift subscriptions using code XMAS20 at the checkout. newstatesman.com/gift-subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is democracy slipping away from us? How protected are we by our constitution? And do governments have the power to swiftly change this? In June, in front of a live audience, Armando and Anoosh were joined by Simon Woolley, founder and director of Operation Black Vote and Principal of Homerton College, Cambridge, and Graham Smith, CEO of the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic. This episode was recorded shortly after the first data regarding voter ID impact in elections, and also after the arrest of Graham Smith at a pre-arranged Coronation protest. Listen to all previous episodes of Westminster Reimagined here: https://podfollow.com/westminster-reimagined-with-armando-iannucci-the-new-statesman Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Housing in the UK has become increasingly unaffordable during the last two decades, buying a home is an unattainable prospect for many in the country, and the challenges facing renters are now reaching a tipping point. And the rentier economy is not only freezing out housing tenants. Small, and sometimes large, businesses are also being priced out of these spaces, which is having a significant effect on the UK's cultural landscape. Anoosh Chakelian, Britain editor at the New Statesman, is joined by Will Dunn, business editor, and Ellen Peirson-Hagger, assistant culture editor, to discuss the economics of the current housing market as well as the cultural and societal effects which are being felt up and down the country. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Give something priceless: Give the New Statesman and get 20% off our gift subscriptions using code XMAS20 at the checkout. newstatesman.com/gift-subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Marr joins the team in the studio this week to answer listener questions. John writes in to ask which often used misleading expressions in political journalism might warrant the use of a 'broadcaster swear jar'. Meanwhile, Xia asks the podcast team which policies they're most optimistic about that might be put in place by a Starmer government. In this episode we also hear from Freddie Hayward, politics correspondent, and Zoë Grunëwald, politics and policy correspondent. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Give something priceless: Give the New Statesman and get 20% off our gift subscriptions using code XMAS20 at the checkout. newstatesman.com/gift-subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Marr, political editor at the New Statesman, speaks to Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, about why the newly published figures on net migration for 2022 have sent shockwaves through the Conservative party. The focus, he says, has shifted from illegal migration - 'stop the boats' - to legal migration, because of these figures. Last week the Office for National Statistics revealed that net migration to the UK reached a record high of 745,000 in 2022. This figure relates to people given permission to enter the country, mainly to work or study.  Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Give something priceless: Give the New Statesman and get 20% off our gift subscriptions using code XMAS20 at the checkout. newstatesman.com/gift-subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, nearly a million people aged 50-64 have left the workforce. Other major economies have seen their employment rates bounce back after the pandemic, and the Financial Times have reported that the UK is the only developed economy where inactivity kept rising after the initial pandemic shock.   In this episode, sponsored by Phoenix Insights, Becky Slack from the New Statesman Spotlight team is joined by Alison McGovern, shadow minister for employment, Neil Carberry of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, and Claire Hawkins, director of corporate affairs and investor relations at the Phoenix Group. They discuss why so many older people are leaving the workforce, what government and employers can do to support older workers better, and the economic impact of doing so. Find out more about Phoenix Insights https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insights/ Hear more of our Spotlight podcasts on their own feed https://podfollow.com/spotlight-on-policy-from-the-new-statesman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host our fourth series of Westminster Reimagined. In this episode, which was recorded in the summer of 2023, Armando and Anoosh visit a group of sixth form students who will be voting for the first time in the upcoming general election. They want to know what how politics is taught in schools, how the students view the UK political party system, and whether the issues that matter to the students are represented by politicians today. Listen to all previous episodes of Westminster Reimagined here: https://podfollow.com/westminster-reimagined-with-armando-iannucci-the-new-statesman Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did the Great Depression’s spectres of fascism, bombing and mass unemployment force politicians to think the unthinkable, and pave the way to post-war Britain? How was Thatcher’s road to victory made possible by a decade of nightmares: of hyperinflation, military coups and communist dictatorship? And why, since the Crash in 2008, have new political threats and divisions forced us to change course once again? Freddie Hayward, political correspondent at the New Statesman, is joined in the studio by author and documentary maker Phil Tinline to discuss his book The Death of Consensus: 100 Years of British Political Nightmares. Read this week's cover story: https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2023/11/jfk-assassination-60-years-myth-martyr-saviour Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The economy will play a central part of next year's election. Do you know if people are better off than in 2010?" - one listener writes in to ask. The podcast team discuss how this can be measured, and how parties might frame this in the run up to the election. Another listener writes in to ask about the constant churn in the ministerial system. Anoosh Chakelian is joined in the studio by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Hunt would like this Autumn Statement to be seen as what the government is branding “the biggest tax cut in British history”, but what are the actual costs and implications of the yesterday's budget? Anoosh Chakelian is joined in the studio by Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The writer, satirist and broadcaster Armando Iannucci returns to the New Statesman Podcast to co-host our fourth series of Westminster Reimagined. Across this season he is joined by co-host Anoosh Chakelian, Britain editor at the New Statesman, to explores parts of British public life he believes to be broken, and is joined by guests from inside and outside Westminster to work out how to fix them. In this first episode of the season our hosts are joined by Alex von Tunzelmann, historian, screenwriter and author, and Ivan Rogers, former permanent representative of the UK to the European Union. In their careers they've both reflected on how Britain is seen on the international stage and the way its role in the world has been changing, and Armando and Anoosh want to know - is Britain really great, anymore? Listen to all previous episodes of Westminster Reimagined here: https://podfollow.com/westminster-reimagined-with-armando-iannucci-the-new-statesman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah – all of whom operate out of Beirut’s southern suburbs – have coordinated their positions in various ways for years in pursuit of what they see as the greater good. John Jenkins, former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iraq, Syria and Burma, speaks to senior editor Katie Stallard about Iran's interest in the Israel-Hamas conflict and how this will play out across the region. Subscribers get ad-free access to all our podcasts via the New Statesman app. Download it in the iOS app store or the Google Play store. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week: https://newstatesman.com/podcastoffer Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"At the Home Office you have immigration figures, as health secretary there are NHS waiting lists. Is David Cameron likely to improve his reputation because it’s harder to fail as foreign secretary?" - one listener asks. Anoosh Chakelian is joined in the studio by associate political editor Rachel Cunliffe and political correspondent Freddie Hayward to answer listeners questions surrounding David Cameron's appointment as foreign secretary. Subscribers get ad-free access to all our podcasts via the New Statesman app. Download it in the iOS app store or the Google Play store. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week: https://newstatesman.com/podcastoffer Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government's Rwanda plan has been put on hold, yet again, after being ruled illegal earlier this week by the Supreme Court. And someone who would have a lot to say about this is the former Home Secretary Suella Braverman who was fired on Monday. Braverman has since published a blistering letter to the Prime Minister attacking his failure to deliver on any of his key promises. Meanwhile, Labour is seeing losses and resignations after 56 MPs defied Keir Starmer to vote for ceasefire in Gaza. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by associate political editor, Rachel Cunliffe, and political correspondent, Freddie Hayward, to discuss this very busy week in politics. Subscribers get ad-free access to all our podcasts via the New Statesman app. Download it in the iOS app store or the Google Play store. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week: https://newstatesman.com/podcastoffer Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suella Braverman is out of government... and a shock appointment rocks Westminster. Anoosh Chakelian and Freddie Hayward record an emergency episode of the New Statesman podcast to discuss the breaking news of Rishi Sunak's dramatic reshuffle following a weekend of protests which the now former Home Secretary had previously branded "hate marches". This episode was recorded at 10.30am on 13 November 2023, while news of the reshuffle continued to break. For the latest updates and analysis visit https://www.newstatesman.com, or follow our new WhatsApp channel here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c Subscribers get ad-free access to all our podcasts via the New Statesman app. Download it in the iOS app store or the Google Play store. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week: https://newstatesman.com/podcastoffer Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They no longer have a stranglehold on Oxbridge and would lose tax breaks under Labour. So what is elite education really selling? At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool in October, the Independent Schools Council hosted a forlorn drinks reception: not one of the more than 40 MPs showed up. ‘We are not the enemy,’ one private school headmaster complained to a sympathetic Daily Mail. But if Labour does win the next general election, it has committed to removing tax breaks on business rates and 20% VAT on private school fees – raising £1.6bn to be invested in state schools. On top of this, Starmer’s cabinet (as it stands) would be the most state-educated in history – with only 13% having attended private school (against Rishi Sunak’s 63%). Can elite education survive – and cling on to its charitable status? In this week’s audio long read – the last in this series – the New Statesman’s features editor Melissa Denes attends three school open days to understand how these winds of change might affect them. She also follows the money, calculating that – allowing for tax breaks - the average taxpayer subsidises an Eton schoolboy at a far higher rate than a state school one. As the gaps in spending between the two sectors grow, and society strives to become more fair, will an expensive education evolve into a luxury service rather than a charitable concern? Written and read by Melissa Denes. This article originally appeared in the 10-16 November edition of the New Statesman; you can read the text version here. If you enjoyed listening to this article, you might also enjoy The decline of the British university by Adrian Pabst. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Subscribers get ad-free access to all our podcasts via the New Statesman app. Download it in the iOS app store or the Google Play store. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week: https://newstatesman.com/podcastoffer Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid much pomp and circumstance, this week King Charles III delivered the first King's Speech in over 70 years. In this episode of the podcast Anoosh Chakelian is joined by deputy political editor Rachel Wearmouth, and political correspondent Freddie Hayward, to discuss what Charles announced in his speech, and perhaps more notably - what went unmentioned. Subscribers get ad-free access to all our podcasts via the New Statesman app. Download it in the iOS app store or the Google Play store. Download the app: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US Subscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week: https://newstatesman.com/podcastoffer Sign up to our daily politics email: https://morningcall.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.