New Times,
New Thinking.

Is Keir Starmer up to the job?

The Westminster bubble are unconvinced by Starmer – does this matter for the future of his leadership? 

As Stephen writes in his latest political column, a consensus is growing among the commentariat that Keir Starmer is not up to the job. But does this underestimate the gains he’s made outside of the Westminster bubble?

On this episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss why this matters for the future of Starmer’s leadership.

Then, in You Ask Us, they take your questions on whether Labour needs to embrace flags, veterans and dressing up smartly.

Further reading

Ailbhe writes that the debate over lifting lockdown is starting dangerously early, and Boris Johnson cannot afford to relax the rules prematurely for a third time.

Our Scotland editor Chris Deerin asks if the SNP is about to implode.

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Ben Walker, from the New Statesman‘s data team, on if the numbers say Gordon Brown can save the Union.

If you’re in the mood for more audio from the New Statesman, listen to World Review, a weekly global affairs podcast from our international editor Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin and our US editor Emily Tamkin in Washington, DC.

How to listen to the New Statesman podcast

1. In your browser

You can use the player above to listen in your browser right now. The New Statesman podcast publishes twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays. All episodes are published to newstatesman.com/podcasts on the day of release. Subscribers to the New Statesman can access episodes a day early, in our subscriber edition.

2. In a podcast app

The New Statesman podcast is available on all major podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast, Google Podcasts, and more. Search ‘New Statesman podcast’ in your favourite podcast app, and subscribe or follow to make sure you receive episodes as soon as they publish. While you’re there, please leave a review for the podcast – it helps others find the show, which in turn makes it possible for us to keep making it.

3. On your smart speaker

If you have an Amazon Echo, Google Home or Apple HomePod smart speaker, ask it to “play the latest episode of the New Statesman podcast”. The same command also works with virtual assistants on mobile devices.

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