Keir Starmer is all alone

Keir Starmer is all alone

Author: The New Statesman April 23, 2026 Duration: 34:09

The Mandelson affair has become less about Peter Mandelson’s alleged wrongdoing, and all about Keir Starmer’s ability to run the country.


This week Olly Robbins, former chief civil servant at the Foreign Office, insisted the Prime Minister pressured him into clearing Peter Mandelson for the US ambassador post.


Yesterday, Starmer was forced to admit his former spin doctor Matthew Doyle, who was suspended from the Labour Party over campaigning for a convicted child sex offender, was also considered for a diplomatic role. 


Labour MPs and even cabinet ministers no longer seem able to defend the Prime Minister.


But the frontrunners to replace Starmer are also, according to reporting by our editor Tom McTague, biding their time.


How long can they wait? How long can the country wait?


Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Tom McTague in the studio.


READ: Keir Starmer is all alone

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2026/04/keir-starmer-is-all-alone


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.


Each weekday, Daily Politics from the New Statesman cuts through the noise of the 24-hour news cycle to offer something more substantial. Hosted by Anoosh Chakelian and Oli Dugmore, along with the wider New Statesman team, this isn't just a recap of headlines. Instead, it provides sharp reporting and clear analysis from the heart of Westminster, paired with thoughtful conversations that look beyond the capital to the cultural and societal forces shaping the political landscape. You'll hear from the magazine's own journalists and a range of expert guests who help explain not just what is happening, but why it matters. The perspective is inherently progressive, rooted in the New Statesman's long tradition as a leading voice in British political commentary. Tuning into this podcast means getting a deeper, more considered understanding of the day's events, delivered with clarity and insight. It’s designed for anyone who feels that politics is too important to be left to soundbites, offering a reliable and engaging daily digest that makes complex issues accessible without oversimplifying them.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Politics from the New Statesman
Podcast Episodes
What happens when an MP defects? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:47
Robert Jenrick's defection prompted a lot of listener questions. So we'll try to answer them!Last week Robert Jenrick dramatically defected to Reform after being booted out of the Conservatives by a furious Kemi Badenoch…
Is this Andy Burnham’s moment? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:55
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 R…
The UK must crawl back to Europe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:49
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.…
Student loans have screwed over a generation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:12
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 tr…
Trump escalates Greenland threats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:55
“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 pri…
Is London a crime-ridden cesspit? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:18
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 disc…
Should breaking manifesto pledges be illegal? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:13
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…
Jenrick defects to Reform [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
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 defec…
Why Keir Starmer U-turned on digital ID [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:58
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, h…
Keir Starmer: Grok imagery “disgraceful” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:50
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 instructin…