Matt Forde's Political Party

A friend of mine who works in Whitehall has told me that the army are going to be on the streets this week arresting people who don't listen to this podcast. If that sounds familiar, you'll be aware that this crisis has already been fertile ground for disinformation. Marianna Spring is a BBC specialist reporter covering disinformation and social media. In this fascinating interview, Marianna revea...

Pour yourself a glass of your favourite drink, unwrap a bar of your favourite chocolate and enjoy the fascinating insights of Ben Page, Chief Executive of IpsosMORI and all-round polling guru. He takes us inside the mind of the nation and tells us what the country thinks about the government handling of the crisis, public attitudes to stockpiling, what it is that we most fear and even how many Bri...

As the Labour Leadership election quietly comes to an end, one time leadership hopeful Emily Thornberry reflects on the contest and her role in it. As candid as ever, Emily reveals the challenges some leadership candidates face in being able to obtain data and in her case, incredibly, a ballot paper. Emily also tells Matt what she thinks the party must do next, regardless of who is leader. You can...

As the country deals with coronavirus, we are facing an economic crisis as well as a public health one. So how do we mitigate the worst effects of that and avoid a damaging recession? Torsten Bell is the Chief Executive of the influential Resolution Foundation and they've produced some radical plans to keep the economy afloat. Torsten knows a thing or two about handling a major crisis, he was a me...

In the first episode of the podcast recorded since social distancing measures were recommended by the government, Matt meets Paul Harrison, former Press Secretary at 10 Downing Street under Theresa May and former special adviser to at the Department of Health under Jeremy Hunt. Paul gives his assessment of the government's Comms strategy on coronavirus, the things it should and shouldn't be doing,...

Kim McGuinness If you've been desperate to hear from a leading non-Westminster politician (and even if you haven't), you're in for a massive treat. Kim McGuinness is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria and the first Police and Crime Commissioner to feature on the show. She tells Matt all about the job of the Commissioner, the huge impact they can have, the limits on them and the poli...

In this instant classic, the BBC's Political Editor takes us inside the life of the modern political reporter. This is packed with insight and wisdom about the role of the media in holding politicians to account, the decisions about what to prioritise, the power of pictures and so much more. Enjoy! Follow Rebecca on Twitter here: @bbclaurak Follow Matt on Twitter here: @mattforde You can watch Lau...

Rebecca Long-Bailey outlines her plans for the Labour leadership and gives an insight into her own brand of socialism, the lessons learned from the election defeat and how Labour wins next time. Rebecca also tells us what it's like to live with Angela Rayner and who's a better flatmate. The pair also discuss the biggest issue facing the country: the best dish to order from a Chinese takeaway. Foll...

Rory Palmer was, until very recently, the Labour MEP for the East Midlands. He became one of the defining images of the last day of the UK's EU membership as the scarves he had to make the occasion were worn in the chamber. Rory gives a brilliant insight into the UK's departure from the EU from the inside - giving us the political and personal reality of the job and how the final days felt. He als...

Gregg Hurwitz is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of the Orphan X series as well as writing for DC and Marvel on comics like Batman: The Dark Knight and Wolverine. He also offers a fascinating psychological angle on politics, and helps Democrat candidates across America to understand how to reach out not just to Trump voters but to the different wings of their own movement. T...

Deborah Mattinson returns to discuss her fascinating research on the election and the story underneath the result. This is a pure dose of political reality, so sit in your favourite chair, pour yourself a glass of your favourite drink and emerge an hour later as an expert on what just happened. Follow Deborah on Twitter here: @debmattinson Read Deborah's election research here: https://britainthin...

Lisa Nandy has shaken up the Labour leadership contest and explains the roots of her politics, why she thinks Labour lost, how Labour can win again and more importantly, why she prefers lager to real ale. Follow Lisa on Twitter here: @lisanandy Follow Matt on Twitter here: @mattforde Sign up to Matt's mailing list for free treats and goodies: http://mattforde.com/mailing-list Get tickets to Matt's...

Robert Colville co-authored the Conservative Manifesto 'Get Brexit Done: Unleash Britain's Potential'. He takes us inside the development of editing it, the two phases of the process and the stages the document had to go through as well as the political direction of the manifesto and campaign. He also reveals the role that chicken katsu curry played in winning the election for the Conservatives. F...

Lucy Powell is co-ordinating the review into Labour's general election defeat for LabourTogether - a group which seeks to unite the different factions within the Labour Party. Lucy discusses the parameters and nature of the review, as well as her personal experience of the election. She also reflects on the things that Labour MPs who didn't support Jeremy Corbyn got wrong... Contribute to the Labo...

Matt ends the year with a raucous Christmas show featuring the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and possible Deputy Leadership candidate (at the time of recording) Rosena Allin-Khan. Expect plenty of chat about the future of the Labour Party as well as more important subjects like Nando's, aftershave and tactical contact with moped gangs. Follow Sadiq on Twitter: @SadiqKhan Follow Rosena on Twitter: @Dr...

It's Polling Day and Matt shares some of brilliant campaign stories from listeners - highlights involve Mr Blobby, Ian Botham and an enormous joint of Roast Beef. Enjoy! Email the show: politicalpartypodcast@gmail.comSign up to Matt's mailing list for free treats and goodies: http://mattforde.com/mailing-listGet tickets to Matt's 'Brexit Pursued by a Bear' which starts at the Salford Lowry on Tues...

Craig Oliver is uniquely placed to answer some of the biggest questions posed by this election campaign. He was Director of Communications at Number 10 the last time the Conservatives won a majority and before that he was editor of the BBC News at Ten and BBC News at Six. Is the BBC biased? Does it matter if the Tory campaign has crossed the line of decency? What's the best way to deal with storie...

Paddy Ashdown's former Press Secretary gives Matt a frank analysis of the Lib Dem campaign so far and gives her assessment of the political realities facing the party and the country. If you're in despair about modern politics, you are not alone. WARNING: Also contains Pussy Galore... Follow Miranda on Twitter here: @greenmiranda Follow Matt on Twitter here: @mattforde Email your funny campaign st...

At the start of the final week of the campaign, Tony Blair shares his insights not just on this election but on the three he won. Would he do TV debates now? Is Boris Johnson right to hide from Andrew Neil? What does this election mean for Brexit? Plus the big question: what did he really say to Noel Gallagher when he saw him recently? Follow Tony on Twitter here: @InstituteGC Follow Matt on Twitt...

The co-leader of the Green Party joins Matt for a brilliant chat about the opportunities and risks for the Greens at this election as well as a great conversation about how they influence the powerful and the public in general. Are they being squeezed by Jeremy Corbyn? How do they differ in their approach to Extinction Rebellion? How can you find out about what information the police have on you?...

Len McCluskey is the General Secretary of Unite and one of the most influential figures in the Labour movement. This interview is a fascinating insight into every major issue facing the Labour Party in this election. Yes it's longer than usual but it's worth it. Email your funny campaign stories to politicalpartypodcast@gmail.com Sign up to Matt's mailing list for free treats and goodies: http://m...

Former special adviser Anita Boateng explains the different pressures facing the Conservatives in this campaign compared to Labour and the differences in perception of the parties and leaders. She also takes us behind-the-scenes of Jeremy Hunt's leadership campaign and tells us what it's really like to work on Question Time. Oh and why food is the enemy of the statesman! Follow Anita on Twitter: @...

The leader of the SDLP talks to Matt about the changing nature of Northern Ireland's politics, the impact Brexit may have at this election, the SDLP's distinct identity in Northern Ireland the importance of pragmatism in politics. Follow Colum on Twitter: @columeastwood Email your funny campaign stories to politicalpartypodcast@gmail.com Sign up to Matt's mailing list for free treats and goodies:...

The ever-cheerful Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats joins Matt to discuss the opportunities for the party across the UK and in Scotland, this relationship with Jo Swinson and making the progressive case for the Union. Plus Willie explains why he was papped dressed as Harry Potter in an alleyway. Follow Willie on Twitter: @Willie_Rennie Email your funny campaign stories to politicalpartypodc...

Alan Duncan has been one of the leading voices in the Conservative Party since his election in 1992 and was described as 'The Conservatives' Peter Mandelson'. In this raucous interview, Alan showcases his brilliant impressions of other politicians, reflects on his political career and the future direction of the country and shares an outrageous story about David Cameron. Follow Alan on Twitter: @A...