Daily Politics from the New Statesman

You Ask Us: Why are so many councils going bust?

Since being recently surpassed by India, Britain has the world's sixth largest economy. But, one listener asks, how do we square this position with the reality of our crumbling services? And on the subject of government funding, another listener asks: will Birmingham City Council's financial crisis will make Labour more weary of devolving power to local authorities? Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth, and Freddie Hayward, answer listener questions. Read more from Anoosh on <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-report/2023/08/thurrock-council-bankrupt-community-gambled" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thurrock Council's bankruptcy</a> and the <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/crumbling-britain/2023/06/curious-case-jacob-rees-mogg-disappearing-bus-route " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">West Country's disappearing bus routes</a> Submit a question for You Ask Us: <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/YouAskUs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.newstatesman.com/YouAskUs</a> Download the app:iOS: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525</a>Android: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;gl=US" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;gl=US</a> Subscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week:<a href="https://newstatesman.com/podcastoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://newstatesman.com/podcastoffer</a> Sign up to our daily politics email: <a href="https://morningcall.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://morningcall.substack.com/</a>SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ <a href="www.newstatesman.com/xmaspod25" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2</a> LISTEN AD-FREE:📱<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2022/06/newapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Download the New Statesman app</a> MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/2022/10/you-ask-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ask a question</a> – we answer them every Friday⏰ <a href="https://morningcall.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get our daily politics newsletter</a> every morning✍️ <a href="http://saturdayread.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enjoy the best of our writing</a> via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Helping you make sense of politics – every weekday. Anoosh Chakelian, Oli Dugmore and the New Statesman team bring you sharp reporting, clear analysis and thoughtful conversations to help you understand what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond. The New Statesman is Britain’s leading source of news and commentary on politics and culture with a progressive perspective. On Daily Politics, our journalists and expert guests cut through the noise of the headlines to explain the forces shaping our world. From the battles inside the Labour Party to the future of the Conservatives, from the rise of Reform UK to the debates that dominate Parliament, we provide the clarity you need to follow UK politics. -- START HERE:▶︎ <a href="https://pod.fo/e/300fc1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kemi Badenoch isn't working | Cover Story with Tom McTague</a>▶︎ <a href="https://pod.fo/e/2cce68" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Do billionaires really benefit the UK?</a>▶︎ <a href="https://pod.fo/e/2f536d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">One year of Labour rule: can things still only get better?</a> -- LISTEN AD-FREE:📱<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2022/06/newapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Download and subscribe in the New Statesman app</a> to enjoy all our episodes without the ads. -- MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:❓ <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/2022/10/you-ask-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ask a question</a> - we answer them on the podcast every Friday⏰ <a href="https://morningcall.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get our daily politics newsletter</a> in your inbox every morning✍️ <a href="http://saturdayread.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enjoy the best of our writing</a> via email every Saturday -- JOIN US:⭐️ Treat yourself or someone special to big ideas, bold politics and proper journalism from just £2 this Christmas when you subscribe to the New Statesman. Subscribe today at newstatesman.com/xmaspod25 -- Hosts:Anoosh ChakelianOli Dugmore Regular contributors and co-hosts:Tom McTague, Editor-in-chiefWill Lloyd, Deputy editorAndrew Marr, Political editorGeorge Eaton, Senior editor, politicsHannah Barnes, Associate editorRachel Cunliffe, Associate political editorWill Dunn, Business editorMegan Gibson, Foreign editorKatie Stallard, Global affairs editorTanjil Rashid, Culture editorKate Mossman, Senior writer Production team:Senior podcast producer: Catharine HughesVideo producer: Rob Le MareAssistant producer: Biba KangExecutive producer: Chris Stone Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.