Best Walks Around Britain Podcasts (2025)

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Do we have too many leftist parties? 19:39

Play Pause

24m ago19:39

19:39

Is Build Baby Build doomed? Is Katie Lam running for leader? Where is Priti Patel? Can the UK really support 5 large leftist parties? Luke O’Reilly joins Anoosh Chakelian to answer listener questions. Ask us a question LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get o…

1
David Lammy's plan to stop Farage | Exclusive interview 22:30

1d ago22:30

22:30

The Deputy PM believes that Labour can beat the threat of the populist right, Nigel Farage and Reform. Lammy says that Labour can achieve this by tackling the cost of living crisis, uniting the centre and left of British politics and putting security first. Oli Dugmore sat down with David Lammy to discuss his plan. Read: Nigel Farage can be stopped…

1
England's most deprived areas revealed 23:53

2d ago23:53

23:53

Which are the most deprived neighbourhoods in England and how might this map onto voter intent? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by senior data journalist Ben Walker, to discuss what we can learn from the English Indices of Deprivation. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Fr…

1
Abolish the rotten monarchy 46:40

3d ago46:40

46:40

Another bad week for Prince Andrew. You could say the man hasn’t had a good week since 2011. Although, actually, he does live in a 30-bedroom mansion in Windsor and enjoyed a million quid a year from his mum. In this week's cover story Will Lloyd makes the case for abolishing the monarchy, and that the Windsors have always been more involved with B…

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Can Labour afford to raise taxes? 24:50

4d ago24:50

24:50

With the Autumn budget looming, the government has some tough decisions to make. Rachel Reeves has to find a predicted £30bn in extra revenue to meet her self-imposed fiscal rules. But as part of its manifesto pledges, Labour promised not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT. And after a crushing defeat in Wales last week, what can the go…

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Should Labour sack Starmer to beat Reform? 25:58

5d ago25:58

25:58

The Caerphilly by-election proves Reform can be beaten. But is Keir Starmer the man to do it? Last week voters in Caerphilly confounded pundits by electing their first Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd (MS). Reform UK had expected to be the party to overturn Labour's 100 year dominance in the Welsh seat - but they were wrong. The loss was a disaster…

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Two decades later, Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai returns 45:45

7d ago45:45

45:45

With only her second novel The Inheritance of Loss, Kiran Desai won the 2006 Booker Prize, the leading literary prize in the global Anglosphere, becoming - at the time - the youngest person ever to do so. She was thirty-five. Then: silence. 19 years of it, before another novel emerged - this year. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. It, too, has bee…

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The death of Welsh Labour 29:15

8d ago29:15

29:15

Is Welsh Labour dead? Plaid Cymru won a historic victory in the by-election, trouncing Labour who had been dominant for over 100 years. The "middle child" as Plaid's new MS describes them, also beat Reform, who pollsters expected to win the seat. In this episode, Harry Clarke-Ezzidio reports from Caerphilly to analyse the results of the election. H…

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Labour loses Caerphilly for first time in over 100 years 16:37

8d ago16:37

16:37

After 14 attempts, Lindsay Whittle has won the Caerphilly seat in South Wales for Plaid Cymru. Reform came in second with over a third of the vote, and Labour trailed in third with 11%. A devastating loss for the party. Harry Clarke-Ezzidio is joined by Ben Walker in Caerphilly Leisure Centre. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the New Statesman app MORE FR…

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Andrew Marr: Keir Starmer is failing Britain 45:34

9d ago45:34

45:34

Andrew Marr says he thought Labour would fix everything, but: "I was wrong". -- Andrew Marr is stepping down as political editor of the New Statesman. In this, his last regular podcast appearance (he'll be back, don't worry!) he reflects on the last three years in politics - and where we're heading next. He admits committing "the journalistic sin" …

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Why the Trump-Putin summit fell apart 31:58

10d ago31:58

31:58

Donald Trump's planned summit with Vladimir Putin is cancelled. Here's why. -- Less than a week after Donald Trump offered to meet Vladimir Putin in Budapest, the proposed summit has already fallen apart. Officially, "there's no need" for the two presidents to meet, since their respective foreign ministers are conducting conversations. But what's r…

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Your Party and the UK's left crisis 53:11

11d ago53:11

53:11

James Schneider, the former director of strategic communications for Jeremy Corbyn, was involved in the founding of Your Party earlier this year. He has since stepped back from the project. In this episode he joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss the growing gap on the left of UK politics and who could fill it. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the New Statesm…

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Andrew, duke no more 26:21

12d ago26:21

26:21

Andrew had already stepped down as a working royal, after that disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019, but he’s now gone a step further and agreed to relinquish the “title or the honours which have been conferred upon” him. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Will Lloyd and Rachel Cunliffe to discuss what these latest decisions, announced on the eve of t…

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100 years of Thatcher, with Charles Moore 45:15

14d ago45:15

45:15

A century on from the her birth, Tanjil Rashid sits down with the Iron Lady's official biographer, Charles Moore. 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 JOIN…

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Is liberalism dead? with John Gray 1:21:08

15d ago1:21:08

1:21:08

For over 30 years, John Gray has written for the New Statesman on everything from Artificial Intelligence to Friedrich Nietzsche. He joins deputy editor Will Lloyd to discuss the state of the nation. 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 n…

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Unlock the triple lock 26:54

16d ago26:54

26:54

Andrew Marr joins Rachel Cunliffe to discuss his column in this week's magazine, Tax the old. They also discuss the latest developments in the China spy case. 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…

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Emperor Trump and his British courtiers 20:44

17d ago20:44

20:44

"All I've done all my life is deals. The greatest deals just sort of happen…” President Trump announced at a celebratory peace-deal signing attended by dozens of nations in Sharm el-Sheikh earlier this week. But who were the powers behind Trump? Behind this deal? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Freddie Hayward who has written this week’s cover story …

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The UK needs a China reset 32:01

18d ago32:01

32:01

Did Keir Starmer's government quash an espionage case to curry favour with China? -- There's fury in Westminster over the case of two alleged China spies which collapsed last month. Kemi Badenoch has accused the Labour government of deliberately quashing the prosecution to appease China, blaming National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell. The govern…

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Trump wins peace in the Middle East 33:37

19d ago33:37

33:37

All 20 remaining, living hostages have returned to Israel after 2 years in captivity, following the October the 7th Hamas attacks. The remains of the 28 deceased hostages are yet to be returned. Meanwhile, Israel is expected to release 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza today. To discuss this historic day in the Middle East and…

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Is Labour just mild-mannered Faragism? 25:53

21d ago25:53

25:53

Is Labour reading from the Reform handbook? And what is the government doing to address rising child poverty? Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to answer listener questions. Got a question? Ask us here! LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get our daily …

1
On the ground in the new Calais Jungle 33:00

22d ago33:00

33:00

Almost 10 years ago the Calais 'Jungle' was demolished by the French authorities, structures were burned to the ground and the migrants were forced to flee, once again. Small-boats crossings are on the rise, and for those waiting for their chance, a new 'Jungle' has become home. Oli Dugmore is joined by Miles Ellingham and Jack Jeffrey who reported…

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Labour's deja vu problem 30:15

23d ago30:15

30:15

Andrew Marr joins Tom McTague to discuss the ascension of Shabana Mahmood, and the Blairites haunting Keir Starmer's government. 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 ever…

1
Tory conference through the eyes of the NS ... and GB News 26:32

24d ago26:32

26:32

You might have missed it, many people did, but this week the Conservatives met for their annual party conference in Manchester. Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Ethan Croft, who's just stepped out of the conference hall listening to Badenoch's speech, and later in the episode by Will Dunn - who's been watching the whole affair on GB News. LISTEN AD-FRE…

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Abolish landlords? 40:57

25d ago40:57

40:57

1
October 7th changed the West forever 58:20

26d ago58:20

58:20

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Are we talking about Reform too much? 21:31

28d ago21:31

21:31

And what do Labour really want from digital ID cards? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to answer listener questions. 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 eve…

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Dispatch from the Manchester synagogue attack 27:05

29d ago27:05

27:05

Yesterday morning, on Yom Kippur - the holiest day in the Jewish calendar - worshippers were attacked outside a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester. Two Jewish men were killed, three remain in hospital and the attacker, now known as Jihad Al-Shamie - a British citizen of Syrian descent - was shot dead at the scene by police. It was soon declared a t…

1
Is a Starmer comeback on the cards? 32:17

1M ago32:17

32:17

Keir Starmer is polling as the UK’s most unpopular Prime Minister in history. But days after his conference speech, some are asking whether a Starmer comeback is on the cards. What would that look like? Are they delusional? Tom McTague is joined by Andrew Marr. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a que…

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Is anyone taking Trump's peace plans seriously? 28:39

1M ago28:39

28:39

Donald Trump says he has a plan to end the war in Gaza and bring eternal peace to the Middle East. Will Lloyd is joined by Katie Stallard to discuss how Trump is pursuing diplomacy in his second term. 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 …

1
Keir Starmer loves Britain the most 21:39

1M ago21:39

21:39

Keir Starmer is on a mission to reclaim British patriotism. The prime minister has just finished his conference speech in Liverpool, addressing a hall full of delegates waving flags from England, Scotland and Wales. In some ways this was an attempt to celebrate Britain, its values, and its triumphs. In other very clear ways it was an attempted atta…

1
The spectre of Farage looms over Labour conference 23:55

1M ago23:55

23:55

The chancellor used her speech to define the Labour party in opposition to Reform and the Conservatives, and Shabana Mahmood the home secretary aimed to redefine patriotism in her speech, in hopes of clawing back voters lost to Farage's party. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham has been making headlines on the fringes. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the New States…

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Starmer has a lot to prove at Labour conference 25:27

1M ago25:27

25:27

The prime minister has described the opposition to Reform UK as “the fight of our times”, but a new poll has also found that Starmer has become the most unpopular PM on record. Meanwhile the spectre of Andy Burnham's leadership bid will not rest. There's a lot for Starmer to prove over the next few days in Liverpool at the Labour Party conference. …

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Who does the Tony Blair Institute really work for? 43:05

1M ago43:05

43:05

Since 2021, billionaire Larry Ellison’s personal foundation has donated or pledged at least £257m to the Tony Blair Institute. This took the former PM’s think tank to a whole new level: it now has over 900 staff and is working across at least 45 countries. But who, exactly, does it work for? Will Lloyd is joined by Peter Geoghegan and May Bulman wh…

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Liz Truss is still, in some sense, running the country 27:11

1M ago27:11

27:11

Three years ago, Liz Truss announced her “mini”-Budget. Since then, the phrase “crashed the economy” has been used 238 times in the Commons. It can be found just three times in the records before then. Will Dunn sat down with the former PM for an exclusive interview. He joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss Truss's lasting impact on the economy. LISTEN…

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Andy Burnham has a plan for Britain 1:08:58

1M ago1:08:58

1:08:58

Inside his Manchester kingdom, Labour’s prince across the water outlined his radical blueprint to the New Statesman's editor, Tom McTague. Tom McTague joins Will Lloyd to discuss the mayor's vision. 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 ne…

1
Ed Davey attacks Trump, Trump attacks world 31:29

1M ago31:29

31:29

Ed Davey came out swinging at the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth this week, saying "Reform wants Britain to be like Trump’s America." He said it was the Lib Dem’s moral duty to defeat Nigel Farage, and warned that over in the US, people are "really fearful for democracy." Meanwhile, at the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump was firing on all…

1
Britain recognises Palestinian statehood 20:52

1M ago20:52

20:52

This weekend Keir Starmer announced that the UK has formally recognised Palestine as an independent state. The Prime Minister said, "In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution." Benjamin Netanyahu called the decision “absurd” and “a reward for terrorism”. This w…

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Reform's deportations & Your Party's implosion 17:34

1M ago17:34

17:34

Nigel Farage has escalated Reform’s approach to the deportation of migrants, announcing that his party would abolish indefinite leave to remain should they take power … and Zarah Sultana drops her legal threats against fellow Your Party founder, Jeremy Corbyn. Hannah Barnes is joined by Megan Kenyon and Ethan Croft. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the Ne…

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Has history overlooked the enslaved who fought for freedom? | Sudhir Hazareesingh interview 33:15

1M ago33:15

33:15

The abolition of the slave trade and of slavery itself in the 19th Century is generally understood to have been instigated by European and American abolitionists. However, has history overlooked how the enslaved themselves resisted their oppressors? Author and politics tutor at Oxford University, Sudhir Hazareesingh, has explored these stories of r…

1
The US has bought Britain 31:46

1M ago31:46

31:46

The US dollar is about to flood Britain. American firms have pledged £150bn worth of investment in the UK, the government celebrates this as part of a wider plan to deepen economic ties with the US. But is there a bigger cost? As the pound flows back across the Atlantic, are we slowly but surely becoming American? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andr…

1
Your Party meltdown 26:54

1M ago26:54

26:54

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer have just finished their joint press conference from Chequers, drawing a close to the US president’s state visit. Andrew Marr and Will Dunn will be joining Anoosh tomorrow on the podcast to discuss what these deals mean for Britain as dollars and pounds wash across the Atlantic Ocean - but today we’re looking at someth…

1
Can Zohran Mamdani save the American left? 46:03

2M ago46:03

46:03

Zohran Mamdani has upended New York City politics – and potentially revitalised the American left. Born in Uganda, raised in Manhattan - the socialist mayoral candidate has captivated voters with his viral social media videos and progressive policies. He became the democratic nominee this June, beating political veteran and former governor of New Y…

1
Trump, Starmer and Mandelson don't walk into a banquet 37:57

2M ago37:57

37:57

Trump is arriving in the UK today for his much anticipated state visit. Rachel Cunliffe and Will Lloyd look at how it might play out in the aftermath of the emergency debate which took place in parliament this afternoon concerning the appointment of Peter Mandelson. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask …

1
Tommy Robinson's protests & Danny Kruger's defection 32:26

2M ago32:26

32:26

This weekend more than 110,000 people from across the country took part in a far-right protest in central London organised by the activist Tommy Robinson - in his words, to “Unite the Kingdom”. This is thought to be the largest nationalist event in decades. St George’s flags flooded the streets, speakers including Katie Hopkins and Elon Musk were p…

1
Are politicians LARPing? | Listener questions 16:23

2M ago16:23

16:23

Are the Greens ‘anarchists’? Has British politics become Americanised? And why was Theresa May prime minister? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to answer listener questions and explain LARPing to Andrew Marr. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Ge…

1
Where does JK Rowling get the time to obsess about me? | Nicola Sturgeon interview 58:57

2M ago58:57

58:57

In power for nearly a decade, Nicola Sturgeon is Scotland’s longest-serving First Minister. She reshaped Scottish politics, leading the SNP through moments of crisis and opportunity, from the 2014 independence referendum to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since stepping down in 2023, Sturgeon has remained a powerful and sometimes polarising figure in public…

1
Political violence becomes mainstream in the US 24:11

2M ago24:11

24:11

Earlier this week the prominent right-wing activist, and close Trump-ally, Charlie Kirk was shot during a public appearance in Utah. Graphic videos of the shooting immediately circulated online and his death was soon confirmed by Donald Trump. While many politicians across the spectrum have denounced the killing of Charlie Kirk - Trump has blamed w…

1
Starmer's mess 19:26

2M ago19:26

19:26

Following the disarray caused by Angela Rayner’s resignation and the sacking of Peter Mandelson, Keir Starmer’s latest reset is a mess. His newly reshuffled cabinet appears to be largely a response to the very real threat of Nigel Farage. It seems, to his critics, that the Prime Minister is drawn to Reform’s magnetic force to the right. But what do…

1
Mandelson and the friends he keeps 19:12

2M ago19:12

19:12

This week in part of an ongoing battle for the release of the “Epstein files”, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a trove of documents related to the pedophile financier. This comprised his will and personal address book - but generating the most controversy is an alleged "birthday book" given to Epstein in 2003 celebrating his fif…

1
In Britain's broken housing market, does the Renters' Rights Bill go far enough? 32:23

2M ago32:23

32:23

This week the renters’ rights bill returns to the House of Commons for its final debate. But in a country where tenants are spending around 40% of their income on rent, amidst an increasingly inflating housing market - does the bill go far enough? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman's business editor Will Dunn, and director of the Rente…