The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms.

This final episode examines Margaret Thatcher’s premiership. The first woman to be prime minister and one of the Conservative Party’s most successful election winners, she was a divisive figure in British politics, and her legacy remains so. Thatcher won three general elections before being deposed by her MPs and replaced by her chancellor John Major, but she leaves a long shadow over the party today.

Stephen and Jonn speak to the historian Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, and Thatcher’s former aide, the MP John Whittingdale.

Produced by Adrian Bradley and May Robson, with thanks to Caroline Crampton and Nick Hilton.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Prime Ministerial. In each episode Jonn Elledge and Stephen Bush will look at the legacy of the previous six prime ministers and ask whether they achieved success on their own terms.

This episode examines John Major’s premiership. Major inherited a majority government in 1990 after Margaret Thatcher was driven out of office. Against the odds, he won the 1992 election. But, in the wake of economic upheaval following Black Wednesday and a Conservative civil war, as well as the challenge from a resurgent Labour Party, the party suffered a huge defeat.

Stephen and Jonn speak to the satirist and former Spitting Image writer John O’Farrell and Jonathan Hill, a former adviser to John Major.

Produced by Adrian Bradley and May Robson, with thanks to Caroline Crampton and Nick Hilton.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson’s approval rating plummeted at the end of 2021 following a string of Christmas parties at No 10, sleaze scandals and senior resignations – and his troubles continue into 2022.

Anoosh Chakelian and Stephen Bush discuss whether the Prime Minister can survive as energy bills soar, taxes rise in April and pressure mounts on an overwhelmed and underfunded NHS.

Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks what’s behind the Greens’ surge, after they managed to gain more council seats in by-elections this year than any other party, and how successful will they be in the next general election?

If you have a question for You Ask Us, send an email or a voice note to [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weekend, almost 500 days after the October 7th attack, a ceasefire came into effect between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

But just how fragile is this peace? And what will determine whether it breaks or holds?

Kate Lamble speaks with Sondos Sabra, Yair Wallach and Bruno Maçães.

Follow the links to read more from Sondos, Yair and Bruno.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special episode of the New Statesman podcast recorded immediately after Boris Johnson’s announcement on the published Sue Gray report.

A heavily censored version of Sue Gray’s report has finally been published, as 12 of the 16 alleged gatherings at Downing Street are currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.

Anoosh Chakelian and Stephen Bush discuss the hostility of MPs on all sides to Johnson’s statement in the House of Commons, and what the report’s findings mean for the Prime Minister’s hopes of survival.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.