Ex defence secretary slams Starmer's strategy Podcast Episode · Politics from the New Statesman · 18 April · 28min

An x-rated episode of @willdunn.bsky.social and my weekend round-up on the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social Pod. Saucy stuff! (Plus a long-term view of social security spending ofc)

A certain idea of Ed Miliband How did Labour’s former leader become the most powerful man in government?

Beautiful writing from @willoyd.bsky.social:
“Miliband’s story is really about the exhilaration of ideas: where they come from, why some of us fall in love with them, and what propels those ideas from the fringes of the debate to the fulcrum of an era.”
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

But look how happy he is

“Another chapter in the farce that is HS2” | Will and Anoosh’s weekly round up | Daily Politics from the New Statesman

In case you missed it at the weekend! @willdunn.bsky.social and my @newstatesman1913.bsky.social pod weekly round-up of the politics stories you may have missed - from Orwellian trains to Chatham House chemsex:

A certain idea of Ed Miliband How did Labour’s former leader become the most powerful man in government?

Favourite detail in this profile by @willoyd.bsky.social: Ed Miliband has a poster on his wall of... RFK. The second Kennedy brother. Delightful.

The NS Profile: Ralph Miliband Ralph Miliband, father of the Labour leadership rivals David and Ed, is remembered as a great teache

Reading @willoyd.bsky.social’s excellent profile of Ed Miliband, which rightly stresses the influence on him of his father, reminded me of this piece about Miliband père that I wrote for the NS in 2010, during that year’s Labour leadership campaign www.newstatesman.com/uncategorize...

A certain idea of Ed Miliband How did Labour’s former leader become the most powerful man in government?

"When it came to climate policy, Miliband was in power without office under the Tory governments Gove served. All of them were enthusiastic Milibandites, too."

Love this profile of Ed Miliband by @willoyd.bsky.social:

Is Ed Miliband the most powerful person in government? | Daily Politics from the New Statesman

New @newstatesman1913.bsky.social pod episode! @willoyd.bsky.social chats to me about his profile of Ed Miliband, and the rise of Milibandism:

A certain idea of Ed Miliband How did Labour’s former leader become the most powerful man in government?

Really good profile by Will Lloyd on Ed Miliband.

I have a feeling that, when histories of British politics between 2010-2030 their will be the stories of two, maybe three, contrasting politicians, none of whom became PM but who defined the era: Miliband, Farage and Gove.

My take on SNL UK is that they should have had the triggernometry lads in the mix but in fairly minor and supporting roles

The World This Weekend - Are we in a global conflict? - BBC Sounds James Naughtie examines the interconnected nature of the Iran and Ukraine wars

Excellent. #BBC’s James Naughtie asks, are we in a global war? What are links between+effects of #Ukraine/#Russia #US/#Iran/#Israel wars? Could route to de-escalation lie through #China as @nathalietocci.bsky.social suggests? With Huw Strachan, Flora Alexander, @willoyd.bsky.social Evelyn Farkas.

The new world war Why the battle for Iran and Ukraine is coming for us all

This week’s @newstatesman1913.bsky.social cover is a report from Ukraine, and whether or not we are living through the start of a new world war

www.newstatesman.com/internationa...

The new world war Why the battle for Iran and Ukraine is coming for us all

This is one of the best descriptions of the Ukrainian drone war, and its significance for all of us, that I have read
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...

Thomas Heatherwick and architecture's culture war Britain’s most divisive designer on Labour’s lack of "cultural confidence", housebuilding, and what makes a beautiful building.

My interview with Thomas Heatherwick on wanting to design Labour's new towns, the housing need for "boxes" - plus the revelation that no, he hasn't bought a "Stop Thomas Heatherwick" tshirt:

Thanks Matt, I really recommend the book mentioned at the top of the piece, it helps explain what is going on over there in people’s minds in a way that tv/youtube/shorter written things can’t

The new world war Why the battle for Iran and Ukraine is coming for us all

“My best friend wouldn’t share half a loaf of bread with me.”

Fascinating and beautifully written on-the-ground dispatch from Ukraine, the every-war, by @willoyd.bsky.social:

The new world war Why the battle for Iran and Ukraine is coming for us all

A superbly written article by @willoyd.bsky.social of @newstatesman1913.bsky.social. As a veteran of an earlier (and simpler?) war, it brought back a lot of old feelings. Shame, too. Fair warning, if the headline doesn't make it obvious: it's a dark topic.
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...

Polanski prepares to hard launch "Zackonomics" He will set out his vision in his first major economic address since becoming Green Party leader

Polanski prepares to hard launch “Zackonomics”

He will set out his vision in his first major economic address since becoming Green Party leader

By @meganekenyon.bsky.social

Keir Starmer is struggling to keep his New Year's resolution The Iran war is devastating his cost of living strategy

Keir Starmer is struggling to keep his New Year's resolution. The Iran war is devastating his cost of living strategy.

The Politics Column, with Ailbhe Rea

Is this the end for Reform's boy-king? George Finch, Britain's youngest council leader and an outspoken critic of modern Britain, faces a vote of no confidence

Great interview - and insight into Politics by Wetherspoon:

www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Farewell, George! | Daily Politics from the New Statesman

Farewell, @georgeeaton.bsky.social! A bonus episode with my now former colleague who I first chatted to on the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social podcast 12 years ago!

Fascinating anecdote from A.N. Wilson today in the Mail. 20 years ago the brother of the editor of the newspaper he worked for became a foreign ambassador. Then the late Queen & Prince Philip came to visit the country & left behind a pile of expenses for their official trip. HT @willoyd.bsky.social

Some personal news: after 17 wonderful years at the New Statesman I’ve decided it’s time for something new.

Grateful to brilliant colleagues past and present. Here’s my farewell column from this week’s magazine. www.newstatesman.com/comment/2026...

The end of the House of Windsor | Royals | The New Statesman YouTube video by The New Statesman

Saw this earlier and now can't recall who reposted it, but this is **very** interesting re Andrew M-W.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXc9...

After 17 years at the New Statesman, I leave with a renewed faith in the power of ideas March 2009, the month I joined the New Statesman as a 22-year-old, was a different political time: a Labour chancellor raised taxes on the rich, the

Beautiful goodbye column from my ol' coll' @georgeeaton.bsky.social who is leaving after 17 years - the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social will never be the same without him!

The end of the House of Windsor | Royals | The New Statesman YouTube video by The New Statesman

Scathing exposè of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's moral unfitness to be trade envoy by @willoyd.bsky.social. It's possibly worse than you think.

youtu.be/cXc9Yb5OPU4?...

This week’s @newstatesman1913.bsky.social cover

great piece that makes me almost nostalgic for years of hanging around on (non-royal) doorsteps in the rain with journalism's most world weary people, snappers

On the hunt for Prince Andrew Outside Sandringham, the British press had scented blood

“They’re all sycophant, sycophant, sycophant on air, and then off air, ‘twat, twat, twat’.”

Brilliant piece by @emilylawford.bsky.social on the royal media circus:

Andrew arrested: the beginning of the end? | New Statesman YouTube video by The New Statesman

Discussing the Prince Andrew arrest - he denies everything! - and Prince William’s mental health crisis with Oli on the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social pod.

Our monarchy and our politics are both trending towards the dustbin at speed. Apologies for the many many bad jokes.

youtu.be/z826JA8zvr0?...