The New Statesman

I have to say my memory of Peter Mandelson's voice was when I was political editor of the BBC

and I'd have done something on the 10 o'clock news which might not have been terribly

attractive to Tony Blair's government and I'd get back to my office the first thing that

would happen is my phone would go I'd pick pick it up, Andrew, it's Peter here.

I just wanted to say, I'm so, so sorry for you.

And I said, what do you mean, Peter?

I'm so sorry for your career, it was going so well.

I'm afraid that foolish, hurtful, silly thing that you said about Tony on the news has done you no good

whatever. And I'm afraid, I'm very sorry to say, I like you, Andrew, but I'm afraid I'm having

drinks with the Director General Lord Bert shortly.

Wow.

This week, Labour has been in power exactly one year. What have they achieved? I'm Anusha Kellyan and this is the New Statesman podcast. Exactly one year ago tomorrow, Friday, we at the New Statesman were standing in a packed room waiting expectantly to hear the results of general election. Like many of you, we were nervous, hopeful and ultimately relieved when the Count

returned a landslide victory for Labour. Now, one year on, Kirstarmer's government has just

faced a crushing, not defeat, but really a defeat in the Commons over their landmark

welfare bill. Rachel Reeves shed actual tears in the Commons during PMQs, and reform continues

to gather momentum on the right.

So, one year on, where are we? And where is the Labour government now? I'm joined by Andrew Maher,

Rachel Cunliff and Tom McTake. Hello, everyone. I tell a bit of a lie in the intro. I actually

wasn't standing in a packed room. I was up all night for a different reason with my newborn

baby. So my reflections of Labour's first year in power are going to be slightly different

from yours, but I will try and chip in. I was in the room and they played, things can only

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