The Politics Show

Martin Lewis's direct line to the government, Burnham's parking fine crackdown, and do the British public prefer picky bits or holly bobs?

Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn round up the stories of the week.

READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2026/10/martin-lewis-i-get-criticised-that-im-a-sticking-plaster

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/the-sketch/2026/10/in-space-no-one-can-hear-britain-scream
LISTEN AD-FREE:
📱Download the New Statesman app

MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:
❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday
⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning
✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea. It is a decision that has split the Labour Party.

It may only be the beginning - the far more controversial decision on the Rosebank gas field is still to come.

Anoosh Chakelian is joined today by Megan Kenyon to discuss.
LISTEN AD-FREE:
📱Download the New Statesman app

MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:
❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday
⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning
✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 3 November, Americans will head to the polls for the midterm elections.

We will be publishing one episode a week for the next three weeks, every Wednesday, taking in the lead up and results.

In this first episode, we ask: Where are the key battlegrounds these elections will be fought?

US correspondent Freddie Hayward is joined by the NS’s senior data journalist, Ben Walker, political scientist Lisa Bryant and New York Times White House reporter Shawn McCreesh.
LISTEN AD-FREE:
📱Download the New Statesman app

MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:
❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday
⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning
✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform UK is in crisis, amid a cascade of scandals

The party’s poll rating has fallen from mid-thirties highs to the low twenties, with a recent poll showing them slipping to third place.

This has come amid the “Burnham bounce” - Labour’s improved polling triggered by the change in Prime Minister.

Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Megan Kenyon to discuss.
LISTEN AD-FREE:
📱Download the New Statesman app

MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:
❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday
⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning
✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform falls behind Labour and the Tories for the first time since the general election, how animals shape our voting patterns and 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn round up the stories of the week.

READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/bursting-the-bubble/2026/10/our-mania-for-animals-warps-politics-priorities-and-personal-lives

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/the-sketch/2026/10/tiktoks-irreverent-slop-was-made-for-nigel-farage

https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2026/10/in-praise-of-winnie-the-poohs-idleness
LISTEN AD-FREE:
📱Download the New Statesman app

MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:
❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday
⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning
✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.