Matt Forde's Political Party

Scottish Labour's Finance Spokesperson gives us a brilliant insight into the latest issues in Scottish politics. Jackie responds to the latest figures on Scotland's spending, revenue and deficit - and what it means in the political context of independence. She also shares her experiences as a member of the Committee on the Scottish Government's Handling of Harassment Claims and their frustration a...

Six weeks ago the Education Select Committee published a report on calculated grades. That report raised serious concerns about disadvantaged pupils having their grades downgraded. The committee's chair, Robert Halfon, takes us through their findings and expresses his frustration with a system which they knew was clearly flawed. Matt and Robert also discuss other areas of the committee's work, Rob...

Bill Browder tells the story behind the Magnitsky Act that he successfully lobbied governments around the world to introduce. Sergei Magnitsky was Bill's lawyer and was tortured and murdered by the Russian authorities. Bill explains how he went from running the largest foreign portfolio investment fund in Russia to having the company taken over by criminals, getting deported, being found guilty of...

Get ready for the best briefing on the Russia Report you'll hear. Tom is back to explain the findings of the report and the context behind it. An expert on Russia and its relationship with the UK, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee gives his top-level insight into the issues around our handling of Russian interference and why the Russian government behaves the way it does. Pre-order...

In the second of two Lib Dem Leadership Specials, Ed Davey delivers his leadership pitch and reflects on his time in government. He gives an impassioned critique of the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, especially on care home deaths. Ed also underlines his own liberal philosophy and how it would apply to future public health challenges. Follow Ed on Twitter here: @EdwardJDavey Fo...

In the first of two Lib Dem Leadership Specials featuring each candidate, Layla Moran explains how the party can move on from the shock of the last few years and force itself into the national conversation. How do the Lib Dems win back the trust of their former voters? Where does the party position itself in a post-Corbyn world? What do Lib Dem members want the party to do? What's it like running...

Barack Obama's former Deputy Labor Secretary takes us inside the administration with brilliant insights about both Barack Obama and Joe Biden - their personalities and their leadership styles. Seth explains what being on a transition team for in incoming President actually involves and shares some great stories about his time on both the Bill Clinton and Barack Obama transition teams. Looking ahea...

The importance of free speech - and the limits of it - have again been the subject of contentious debate. Ruth Smeeth is the new Chief Executive of the Index on Censorship, an organisation which champions freedom of expression. Her timely appointment follows her 4 years as the Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North. Ruth reflects on her experience as a Jewish woman in Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party and...

If you want to feel better about the world, you've come to the right place. The energetic Shadow Justice Secretary (and Shadow Lord Chancellor) talks movingly about the power of identity and tribes. In the middle of this distressing and emotional time, David Lammy helps us make sense of it with an inspiring generosity of spirit and sharp political advice. It's a classic. Follow David on Twitter he...

The SNP's Home Affairs Spokeperson is also a QC and was central to bringing the case against the government to the Supreme Court, which ruled the Prime Minister had unlawfully prorogued Parliament. Joanna shares the story behind the case as well as discussing the need for internal debate in political parties and what the future prospectus for an independent Scotland should be and how it should be...

Our foremost political playwright and screenwriter joins Matt for a brilliant discussion about creating theatre and film out of politics. Do his shows reflect his own politics? Does he try to be balanced? Why, in This House, choose to write a play about a minority government and the challenges it faced? It's also a discussion about the role of James' background on his art and why growing up in a N...

George W Bush's former speechwriter delivers a devastating assessment of Donald Trump's Presidency and electoral prospects. Expanding on the themes of his new book 'Trumpocalypse', David analyses the effect of Trump on the Republican party and the democratic structures of the United States. Credited with creating the phrase "axis of evil", David explains the reasoning behind those specific words a...

The First Minister of Wales shares his personal experience of leading a country through a crisis, covering the practical, personal and political elements of the crisis as well as of what comes after. The FM also ponders the differing political forces within the UK, particularly of what makes the experience of Labour in Wales so different to that of Labour in Scotland. This is a packed hour of top-...

One of the biggest stars of the Thatcher and Major years takes us back in time to a political arena with very different values. This is an enthralling experience mixing the personal and the political. Prepare to live history through someone who was so prominent and who documented the time in such detail. Follow Edwina on Twitter here: @Edwina_Currie Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde Buy Edwina's...

Prepare for a top-level briefing on geopolitics from the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Tom Tugendhat explains what the real threat from Huawei's involvement in our 5G network is, how the UK should seek to influence China (and other powerful nations) and shares his experience of serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a corker. Follow Tom on Twitter here: @TomTugendhat Follow Matt on...

Vernon Coaker is a Labour Party legend. He was the MP for the marginal seat of Gedling from 1997-2019 and held it when safer seats nearby fell. So how did he defy political gravity for so long? This is a brilliant insight into a particular brand of Labour politics, told by one of its most charismatic standard bearers. Follow Vernon on Twitter here: @Vernon_Coaker Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde...

Rosie Duffield won Canterbury in 2017 and became its first ever Labour MP. She repeated the feat and increased her majority in 2019. So how did she manage to get a seat that had never voted Labour to vote Labour twice and increase a majority at a time when Labour's vote was collapsing? In this hugely optimistic interview, Rosie shares her insights into those two amazing results as well as her work...

The former Health Secretary turned Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee shares his insights from both sides of the fence. He tells Matt why accountability is best done in the open and how he uses his position to make constructive suggestions - like the importance of getting contact tracing delivered as soon as possible. He also shares some fascinating insights on dealing with the Iranian...

One of the most influential political scientists of the modern era shares his work on 'superforecasting' - the art and science of prediction. Philip explains what makes some people able to better predict the future, how you can you change your thinking to improve your predictions, why we don't always answer the question we're being asked and what questions we should be asking. Fascinating from sta...

Once again, a major crisis has added implications for the people of Ireland. Against the backdrop not just of Brexit, but a resurrected Assembly in the north and coalition negotiations after an election in the Republic, how differently is the crisis being handled in different parts of the island? What are the implications of the changing political situations either side of the border and what are...

After another damaging episode in the Labour Party's relationship with the Jewish community, Matt is joined by Mike Katz, Chair of the Jewish Labour Movement. He gives his reaction to the leaked Labour Party report which circulated on social media earlier this week and charts the changing relationship between Labour and the Jewish community. Does the election of Keir Starmer offer some hope that L...

Brace yourself for a top-level briefing from one of The Scottish Government's most senior public health experts. This is a brilliant explanation of how and why different governments react differently to the crisis, what role demographics play in the spread of the virus and what messages work best with the public. It's a comprehensive public health briefing delivered in a characteristically human w...

Following a stunning result in the Labour Deputy Leadership campaign, Rosena returns to share her experiences of going back to the front line of the NHS as an A&E doctor. Recorded just before Boris Johnson came out of intensive care, Rosena explains what being in ICU involves if you're a patient. Having been elevated to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Rosena also refle...

Cancel your plans for the next hour, you've got a date with The Mooch. Donald Trump's fast-talking and deep thinking former Director of Communications delivers a comprehensive assessment of the President's profound mishandling of the crisis. Mixing personal insight of Trump's character and an analysis of the political risks to the President, Anthony Scaramucci proves himself to be one of the best...

One of Scotland's finest political columnists analyses the political implications Alex Salmond's trial and verdict. What are the ramifications for Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP and the cause of Scottish independence? One of Salmond's allies, Kenny Macaskill has promised a "reckoning" but who for and when? Euan takes us inside the rival camps of the SNP and a gathering storm delayed by the...