Andrew Gwynne, the MP for Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester, has resigned.

This opens up the path for another Andrew, King of the North and Labour leadership hopeful, Andy Burnham, to return to Westminster. 

Ailbhe Rea joins Anoosh Chakelian.

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With Donald Trump threatening tariffs on the UK and eviscerating Keir Starmer on Truth Social, does the PM have no choice but run back into the arms of the EU?

Many Labour MPs think yes.

Tom McTague joins Rachel Cunliffe.

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Cast your mind back to 2010… 

Apple launched the ipad, a volcano erupted in Iceland and David Cameron and Nick Clegg passed a bill that would screw over a generation of young people.

This was, of course, the decision to triple university tuition fees in England to £9,000 per year

Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to discuss how this has radicalised graduates.

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“Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.” 

This is what Donald Trump wrote in a letter to Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre this weekend.

And true to his word, peace is not on the US President’s mind.

Oli Dugmore speaks to the New Statesman's editor Tom McTague about Starmer's options, and in the second half of the episode, senior editor Katie Stallard interviews Rasmus Jarlov, chair of the Danish defence committee.

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Claims from politicians both at home and abroad paint an increasingly decrepit picture of the nation's capital. But just how much crime and chaos is there really in London?

Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Will Dunn to discuss her reporting on the issue, as well as a rundown of the big and brazen ongoings in political Britain this week.

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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/youaskus

Listen next: Why Starmer u-turned on Digital ID

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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.

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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.

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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 Eaton

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/01/why-keir-starmer-has-gone-to-war-with-elon-musk

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"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister” said the former chancellor.

Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and Ailbhe Rea.

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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 Spotify

Follow The New Society on Apple Podcasts

Watch The New Society on YouTube

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