The Story

Today, MPs will vote on whether to hold an investigation to look into the Prime Minister's alleged misleading of the Commons during the Partygate saga. Last week, Johnson and - unexpectedly - Chancellor Rishi Sunak were both fined for violating their own lockdown rules. Boris Johnson's critics say this makes him a 'lawmaker lawbreaker'. So how serious is this for the PM's future? This podcast was...

Doctors knew in 1973 that the epilepsy drug sodium valproate posed a risk to unborn children – and ordered that warnings be removed from packets. Almost 50 years and 20,000 disabled babies later, it is still being prescribed to pregnant women. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at:  thetime...

In an audacious hostile takeover bid, Elon Musk is holding Twitter to ransom. Either they let him run the whole company, or he'll pull the plug, selling off his stake and sinking their share price. So, what next for Twitter? And why does the world’s richest man want to buy it? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and ge...

Whether you like it or not, these days everyone seems to be enlisted in the culture wars. But why does the debate seem so angry and intolerant? Can we find some answers in novels written 150 years ago? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at:  thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guest: James M...

Since the first case in Ukraine was reported to The Times, many more have emerged. But why is this particular weapon so hard to talk about? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at:  thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . This episode contains reference to sexual violence and rape. Guests : - Cath...

Just before the pandemic, the government promised a 'dementia moonshot' to blast us towards a dementia cure. What happened to it? Today: former prime minister David Cameron and Sunday Times science editor Ben Spencer on Britain’s fastest growing disease, dementia. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month f...

The Russian military has suffered an unexpected battering, but Putin shows no sign of backing down. What can history teach us about what might happen next? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at:  thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guest: Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor, The Times. Host: Manv...

In the second of this two-part podcast, we find out what effect Mouayed Bashir's death has had on his family in Newport, South Wales - as the inquest into his death is delayed - and look at how the police interact with the black community in England and Wales.   This is the second of a two-part podcast examining the death of a black man following contact with police. This podcast wa...

On the 17th February last year, in Newport, the family of Mouayed Bashir called 999. According to his parents he'd been suffering a mental health episode that morning. Nearly three hours later the 29-year-old had died after being restrained by police officers in his bedroom. So what happened? This is part one of a two part podcast examining the death of a black man following contact with poli...

Rule No 1 in space is 'don't rock the boat' - and certainly don't talk about politics. But Putin’s bombs are visible from the International Space Station, and a war of words over Ukraine may have put joint efforts in space in real jeopardy. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at:  thetimes.c...

Over two episodes, Matthew Syed takes listeners inside GCHQ’s headquarters in Cheltenham. Today, he hears from some of the staff who share how their different backgrounds help contribute to the organisation’s work. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:...

Over two episodes, Matthew Syed takes listeners inside GCHQ’s headquarters in Cheltenham. Today, he speaks to the Director, Sir Jeremy Fleming, on a wide range of topics, from the threats facing the UK, misinformation, the Online Harms Bill, and how working in security and intelligence has changed over the course of his 30-year career.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of...

This week the government said it would ban so-called conversion therapy for gay or bisexual people in England and Wales, but not for transgender people. The policy followed two U-turns in the space of an evening. It's a sensitive and controversial issue which was the subject of a special investigation on this podcast last August, by the journalist Emily Sargent. So today we're revisiting the first...

In April 1982, Captain Christopher Craig set sail with his crew on the frigate HMS Alacrity to the Falkland Islands after Argentina had invaded the British overseas territory. Four decades on, Chris and his son Duncan - then a six-year-old schoolboy in Bournemouth - reflect on that war. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe to...

Since firing 800 of its employees with no warning, P&O Ferries has faced mounting pressure from the government and calls for CEO Peter Hebblethwaite to resign. How did this happen? And what's on the horizon for the embattled company? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/stor...

It's been billed as the future of the internet. But what exactly is 'The Metaverse'? One Sunday Times journalist takes a journey into the the virtual-reality world. It may be for over-13s, but she found harassment, racism and talk of porn make it scary even for adults. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one mo...

Nearly four million refugees have fled the war in Ukraine since it began a month ago. It's the biggest movement of people since records began. We hear stories from the Polish border, as this wave of humanity crosses through. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get 3 months' subscription for just one pound at: theti...

Hospitals bombed. Thousands of civilians killed. If war crimes have been committed in Ukraine, as many suspect, have the events of the past month exposed the laws of war as toothless? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get 3 months' subscription for just one pound at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guest: Prof...

Every week thousands of fans criss-cross the country to support their football team, but among them are those who others wish would stay at home. A Times investigation has looked into the new generation of football hooligans. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtime...

When President Zelensky put a call out for fighters to join the defence of Ukraine against the Russian assault, an estimated 20,000 answered - including Shane Matthew, a former member of the British Army. As we mark a month since the start of the war in Ukraine, what is life like for those who have gone to fight? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The...

We're feeling the pinch as the cost of everyday items increases. Why is this happening? And what might the Chancellor say in his Spring Statement to alleviate the financial pressure? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes .  Guests: - Ashley Armstrong, Retai...

Covid cases are surging in the UK, and more people over 70 are testing positive than at any time in the pandemic. What’s going on? We speak to one of the key members of SAGE, the government’s expert advisory committee. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes .&nbs...

A number of Western nations have imposed sanctions on Russia, its leadership and some of Putin's alleged allies. But are they working? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guest: Oliver Wright, Policy Editor, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch. For informatio...

A Times undercover investigation has revealed a catalogue of problems at the DVLA that have led to drivers waiting for months for their licence renewals. What lies behind the crisis at this important government agency? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Gue...

This week, in a further sign that the Russian military could be in trouble, it was revealed that the Kremlin asked China for military aid. But will Beijing want to wade into this war? And have Vladimir Putin's actions frustrated Xi Jiping? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/st...