This special episode of the New Statesman Podcast marks “A Dream of Britain”, the New Statesman’s latest issue. It is guest edited by Michael Sheen and explores class, culture and identity in Britain today.
Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the writer and academic Gary Younge, the Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller, and the New Statesman editor-in-chief Jason Cowley to discuss why it is so difficult to understand what is meant by “Britishness” today.
They discuss British identity in the absence of a formal dream or foundation story, the reawakening of English and Scottish nationalism, and whether the very concept of a national identity is valuable or meaningful today.
Further reading:
Gary Younge on what it means to be British?
Jeremy Deller on his New Statesman cover: “it was important to be positive.”
Jason’s book, Who are we now? Stories of Modern England.
Michael Sheen explores how we are a nation in search of a story.
As a sense of British nationhood fades, Jason asks what is England?
Tony Blair and Michael Sheen in conversation: “I tried to give Britain a different narrative.”
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 subscriber edition of the New Statesman Podcast is published here every Monday and Thursday. Why not bookmark this page? You can come back for new episodes twice a week.
2. In a podcast app
The public feed of the New Statesman Podcast is available on all major podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast, Google Podcasts, and more. It publishes a day later than this subscriber edition. Search “New Statesman Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.
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”. This will play the latest episode in the public feed. The same command also works with virtual assistants on mobile devices.
Content from our partners
Related
