Chopper's Politics

Neil Parish, the MP who resigned after it was revealed he had watched porn in the Commons, joins Christopher Hope to give his final interview before handing in his badge at Westminster. The former Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honiton expresses his wish to apologise to the witnesses directly, argues that the complaint procedure does not allow for MPs who want to admit wrongdoing, and hints at a...

In this emergency local elections special, Christopher Hope is joined by pollster Martin Baxter from Electoral Calculus and the Telegraph's Political Editor Ben Riley-Smith to chew the fat as the results keep coming in. What impact would these results have if they were mirrored in a general election, have they helped or hindered party leaders, and should politicos keep a keen eye on another potent...

NB: This podcast was recorded and released on Wednesday 4th May 2022, before polls opened for local elections. Join Christopher Hope for this pre-local elections special of Chopper's Politics. Chris chews the fact with our Whitehall correspondent Tony Diver in the lobby room about how it might go for all the major parties, and whether more eyes should be on Stormont on polling day. Plus Chris talk...

In this bumper bank holiday episode of Chopper's Politics, Christopher Hope is joined by the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Caroline Nokes MP, in the Red Lion pub, to talk about a tough week to be a woman in Westminster. She shares her personal experience of being on the receiving end of questionable sexist behavior, argues that whips need to be better at seeing the talents of their...

Mark Harper, former Chief Whip, joins Christopher Hope in the Red Lion pub on the week he told the Commons he no longer thinks the Prime Minister is "worthy of the great office he holds". The MP for the Forest of Dean nails his colours to the mast and says Boris Johnson is likely to face a vote of no confidence from his own MPs within the next three months, and that he's not sure the PM truly...

Robert Jenrick, former Housing Secretary, joins Christopher Hope as Easter in the Jenrick household will have a few more guests this year. The MP for Newark has a Ukrainian family staying with his own, thought to be the first MP to take in refugees under the new Home Office scheme.  He tells Chris that red tape has "tested the patience" of those trying to be hosts, and he insis...

Christopher Hope is taking a well deserved break this week, so as a special treat to Chopper's Politics listeners we're bringing you a panel discussion from a recent Telegraph event. And for the first Telegraph event for some time, Chopper thought he'd tackle quite a meaty topic, and so the subject of the day was How Will History Judge Boris Johnson? To answer that question he was joined by a...

The Education Secretary joins Christopher Hope in the Red Lion following the release of his white paper. Nadhim Zahawi stresses why he thinks teachers should focus on teaching young minds how to think, not what to think, why schools should maybe have stayed open for everyone during the pandemic, and how he's applying his experience from the vaccine rollout to his new role.  Plus, the Telegrap...

Vika arrived in the UK on Monday this week, carrying all of her belongings in a single suitcase. She's a Ukrainian currently staying with environment minister Victoria Prentis MP, and they both joined Christopher Hope in the Red Lion pub in Westminster to talk about Vika's journey out of Ukraine in blacked out trains, and how she's looking forward to getting back to Kyiv to rebuild her country. Fi...

Christopher Hope is joined by The Telegraph's Gordon Rayner and Juliet Samuel to discuss the ins and outs of the Spring Statement.  What are the big 5 takeaways from announcements, will it come close to helping households during a cost of living crisis, and what does it mean for Chancellor Rishi Sunak politically? All discussed within. Read more from Gordon Rayner: https://www.telegraph.co.uk...

Tony Danker joins Christopher Hope in the Red Lion for a lookahead to this week's Spring Statement. The Director General of the CBI warns that taxes or borrowing may have to rise again unless ministers use Brexit to turbocharge growth, and insists he wasn't offended by last year's infamous "Peppa Pig" speech by the PM.   Also on the podcast, Ipsos' Kelly Beaver with some exclusive p...

Christopher Hope escapes the Red Lion to join Conservative Party Co-Chair Oliver Dowden for a tea and salt beef sandwich in his constituency. The former Culture Secretary claims that he wants to see 'genuine diversity' in the new Tory candidates list - and why he doesn't see that goal as 'woke'. Plus he'll put his foot down on raising taxes, and takes Chris on a trip to his childhood home. Also on...

Jacob Rees-Mogg joins Christopher Hope in the Red Lion for a wide-ranging interview over a coffee. The Minister for Brexit Opportunities sets out the pros and cons for fracking amidst a looming energy crisis and sanctions on Russian oil, and claims that Partygate and “woke stuff” are fading out of view in light of world events. Plus, an exciting announcement for Royal Yacht watchers.  Also on...

Lord David Owen, former Foreign Secretary, joins Christopher Hope to discuss why he thinks Ukraine is Vladimir Putin's undoing, how the Russian President's approach has radically changed since he first took power, and his fears about nuclear threats. Also on the podcast: Director of the Ukrainian Institute in London, Olesya Khromeychuk, on why global action against Russia should have bee...

Almost six days on from Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Christopher Hope is joined by those on the ground for a bonus episode of Chopper's Politics. From Kyiv, Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun sets out what she feels her country needs when it comes to help from the West, and fresh from Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv, the Telegraph's own Roland Oliphant tells Chris why he thinks trouble may be ahead for Rus...

A dark day for Europe. Armed forces minister James Heappey joins Christopher Hope in the Red Lion pub to talk about how the government should respond to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.  The MP for Wells warns that decisions made in Western capitals over the next week cannot be viewed as a "quick fix" for such an 'epoch changing' moment, and why the UK will not be committing troops.&nbsp...

Nigel Farage is the latest person under Michael Crick's microscope, as the veteran broadcaster attempts to demystify one of Britain's most complex politicians in his new book. He joins Christopher Hope to discuss the moments that should have ended Mr Farage's political rise; how history will measure the man ("It all depends on the success of Brexit!") and what he thinks the former UKIP leader has...

Labour MP Rosie Duffield joins Christopher Hope at his favourite table at the Red Lion pub for a frank discussion on the realities of being a politician. She opens up on why she doesn't feel supported by her party following a distressing harassment campaign, and tells us whether she's tempted to defect to another altogether.  Also on the podcast: Tory donor and businessman Johnny Leavesley te...

Neil O'Brien, Minister in the Levelling Up department, joins Christopher Hope to dissect a very important document released in Westminster this week - and no, we don't mean that one. The MP for Harborough, Oadby & Wigston claims you can "level up" in Chelsea and assures Chris that it isn't a "North vs South thing".  Also on the podcast, Shadow Secretary for Levelling Up, Lisa Nandy MP, te...

Anthony Mangnall, MP for Totnes and South Devon, joins Christopher Hope in the Red Lion pub to talk about becoming the 12th Tory MP to publicly submit a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson. He explains his reasoning to Chris (before the whips or his family!) about how he feels he can't stand by as "good work" is "overshadowed by the actions of one man", and how he didn't come into politics to...

It's the day all politicos have been waiting for. Well, sort of. Christopher Hope is joined by Telegraph colleagues Camilla Tominey and Gordon Rayner to take you inside what the 12 pages of Gray truly mean. Is it "sorry, not sorry" from Boris? How will ambitious backbench Tories leverage a floundering PM? And what will be the impact of, to quote Harold Macmillan, 'events, dear boy, events', such a...

"He was ambushed by a cake," said Conor Burns MP earlier this week, when asked about Boris Johnson's apparent birthday gathering in 2020: the PM's latest Partygate woe. But on this week's Chopper's Politics the Northern Ireland Minister joins Christopher Hope and makes a stunning revelation - there was no cake at all! He gives an impassioned defence of the PM, and tells listeners why he should sta...

Tory grandee David Davis joins Christopher Hope in the Red Lion pub for the interview everybody wanted. The former Brexit Secretary explains why he used PMQs to call for the PM to stand aside "in the name of God" and laughs heartily at the idea of stepping in as interim leader (that's not a no, though). Plus the Telegraph's Tony Diver on his scoop that caused woe at Number 10 (suitcase of booze, a...

In a Chopper's Politics podcast first, Ian Blackford, the SNP leader of Westminster, joins Christopher Hope as his favourite table in the Red Lion pub. While Britain is distracted by BYOB boozy parties, Ian and Chris get stuck into one of the big political questions of the next few years: will we soon see an Independent Scotland. Plus Ian reveals what it's really like having to work with a Tory go...

Longtime Brexiteer Tory MP, Andrew Bridgen, joins Christopher Hope to exclusively reveal that he's submitted a 'letter of no confidence' in Boris Johnson over what he sees as a moral vacuum in government, and assures Chris that Bridgen Towers held no BYOB parties, thank you very much. Also on the podcast: Conservative MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, Miriam Cates, joins us in the Red Lion pub af...