The New Statesman: politics and culture Are politicians LARPing? | Listener questions
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Sep 14, 2025 The hosts tackle provocative listener questions about the political landscape. They explore whether the Greens are ‘anarchists’ and discuss the Americanization of British politics. Insights into Theresa May's puzzling rise to the premiership reveal how chaos shaped her journey. The conversation dives into the chaos surrounding Brexit and its implications for electoral stability. Plus, they critique the tendency of British politicians to 'LARP' their roles, emphasizing the need to refocus on domestic issues rather than reflexively adopting American narratives.
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May As A Political Fix
- Theresa May was kept at the Home Office because she was perceived as a hardline, politically useful figure on immigration.
- David Cameron likely valued her role to appease the party's right despite policy failures.
How The 'Tens Of Thousands' Pledge Began
- The 2010 Conservative manifesto mentioned 'tens of thousands' but immigration wasn't central then.
- Rachel Cunliffe shows the pledge arose partly from missteps and shifting political salience by 2015.
Botched 2016 Tory Leadership
- The 2016 Tory leadership was a chaotic sequence where Michael Gove undermined Boris Johnson, reshaping the race.
- Andrea Leadsom's remarks about motherhood helped clear the path for Theresa May to become PM.