The New Statesman | UK politics and culture Are the Tories more back-stabbing than Labour? | Politics with Anoosh Chakelian
Aug 8, 2025
Anoosh Chakelian chats with Rachel Cunliffe, a political analyst and colleague at the New Statesman. They dive into the fierce rivalry between the Conservatives and Labour, highlighting the Tories' internal conflicts. The discussion touches on Keir Starmer's controversial engagement with Donald Trump, exploring foreign policy nuances. They also bring a humorous lens to what politicians do during recess, balancing their public duties with much-needed relaxation. It's a lively mix of serious politics and lighthearted observations!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Conservatives Prioritise Win-ability Over Loyalty
- The Conservatives treat leadership as instrumentally replaceable to win elections.
- That creates a culture of ruthless removal rather than sentimental loyalty.
Labour Members Can Overrule MPs
- Labour's membership can override MPs because contest rules allowed Corbyn to go straight to members.
- That dynamic makes Labour more sentimental and less likely to oust leaders quickly.
Tory Rule Change Gives Leaders More Protection
- The Conservatives raised the MP-letter threshold to trigger leadership contests from 15% to one-third.
- That institutional change gives new Tory leaders a longer 'grace period' before credible removal.
