Most people can name the influential leaders and major battles of the past.

Few can name the most destructive storms, the worst winters, the most devastating droughts.

In my new book, The Earth transformed, I, Peter Francopan, show that across centuries and

continents nature has always played a fundamental role in the writing of history. The Earth transformed an untold

history available in bookstores now.

The new Statesman. Political advertising in the UK has been a largely regulated space, that is, up until about a decade ago.

Historically, political advertising has been banned from broadcast, aside from a small

lotted period of time in the run-up to an election. However, as the times are

changing and technology and advertising formats have evolved, political parties have found

and embraced some legal loopholes.

Our screens are now awash with political adverts, character attacks, and sometimes factually

inaccurate messaging, created and paid for by our government and the opposition parties.

So what does it mean now that our leaders are playing dirty?

What can we expect to see in the lead up to the general election?

And will this have any effect on voters?

Or is it all just Westminster name calling? Hello I'm Rachel Kunliff, Associate Political Editor at the New Statesman

and you're listening to the New Statesman podcast. I'm joined today by

journalist author and most importantly New States Statesman Columnist, John Elage, in the studio, John,

welcome to our studio.

Hello, it's all very fancy down here these days.

I don't know what you people have been doing, but it's got all nice.

We've, uh, we've redecorated since you were last here.

...