Matt Forde's Political Party

George became a national political sensation in 2025 when he became the leader of Warwickshire County Council at the age of 18. The Reform councillor is now 19 and shares his experience of leadership. This is a fascinating insight into Reform as a party, to the realignment on the right and about the impact of defections like Robert Jenrick's.  But it's also about the values that underpin Geor...

Do MPs dread going back to work like the rest of us do? Rising Labour star James Frith talks us through what it's like going back to the office as a politician. He's now PPS to David Lammy, but what exactly does that involve? And where does he buy and sell his old clothes? All this and more in this entertaining start to 2026.  THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 26 January: Special VIP Guest 16 February...

2026 may be the year that Anas Sarwar finally leads Labour back into power at Holyrood.  In this revealing and hilarious interview from 2021, he outlines what Labour needs to do to win. Since then Labour have won a landslide at Westminster... can he replicate that? THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 26 January: Special VIP Guest 16 February: David Miliband 9 March: Zack Polanski 30 March: Lisa Nandy ht...

This is class.  Ryan is the Director of Policy and Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.  What are the problems we'll face in the future? What are the answers? And what's Tony Blair like as a boss? THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 26 January: Special VIP Guest 16 February: David Miliband 9 March: Zack Polanski 30 March: Lisa Nandy https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-p...

Keynes. Woolf. Hitchens.   The New Statesman has an illustrious history and editor Tom McTague is the latest custodian of that grand tradition. But how does a centre-left magazine pitch itself in the ferocious world of social media and hot takes? What's its relationship with the Labour Party? How does it handle disagreements on the Left? And, more importantly, what does Labour need to do to w...

It's the biscuit man! Gordon is a viral sensation thanks to his novel way of explaining the national debt using Custard Creams and Bourbons.  This is an entertaining analysis of how to use social media and the wider political pressures that Labour face.  As a member of the Labour Growth Group, Gordon tells us what the group actually does and how we get deliver growth in the economy.&nbsp...

This. Is. Phenomenal.  Nick Clegg has been one of the most powerful people in the UK and in Silicon Valley.  He takes us inside the crazy world of Meta and the tech bros.  What is Mark Zuckerberg really like?  Should we fear AI?  Does he still speak to David Cameron? All this and more are contained within!  THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 26 January: Special VIP Guest 16 Feb...

Peray is the Labour leader of Haringay Council. They are leading the way when it comes to building council homes. But why? This is a fascinating, entertaining insight into leadership in local government, including how to manage disagreement and where to go for the best kebabs. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 8 December: Nick Clegg 26 January: Special VIP Guest 16 February: David Miliband 9 March: Zack Po...

Izzy is a political historian and host of the excellent 'Leading Labour' podcast that you can listen to here: https://leadinglabour.podbean.com/ It's a series analysing every Labour leader from Attlee to Corbyn. So which Labour leader from history is Keir Starmer most like? And which one can he learn from the most? THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 8 December: Nick Clegg 26 January: Special VIP Guest 16 Fe...

The Matt Forde Focus Group (BBC RADIO 4) is returning! Sign up to my mailing list for exclusive access to free tickets for the Christmas Special recording of The Matt Forde Focus Group on Wednesday 17 December at 7:15pm. Tickets will be released on Wednesday 19 November.    https://www.mattforde.com/focus-group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marie is one of Labour's rising stars of the 2024 intake and was recently awarded 'Parliamentarian of the Year' by The Spectator.  It's easy to see why. She is a formidable campaigner and has had to overcome various barriers in her life in order to succeed. An immense talent, Marie could easily have ended up in law or broadcasting, but politics was too strong a pull. Although there is one par...

This is PHENOMENAL. Jack was First Minister of Scotland 2001-2007. It was a tumultuous global time and he found himself at the centre of it at the Gleneagles summit. His stories about George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin are incredible. But there's loads more in this. Jack became the leader of a local authority at just 29. He'd joined the SNP at 16, but became a Labour member at 19. It would change t...

Well this is about way more than politics... Bethany is one of the stars of the Politico Playbook morning email. It's the must-read morning briefing which mixes top-level political analysis with plenty of juicy gossip. We talk about gossip, why it's important and how to get it... but we also talk about health and the importance of patients really pushing for themselves. Bethany has had a number of...

Harriet is a rare thing: a new Conservative MP who won her seat at the last election. In Scotland.  She's already been made a whip. So how come she's rising so fast and what's it like entering the Commons when your party has suffered a historic defeat? And how has living in rural communities shaped her particular brand of conservatism?   THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 8 December: Nick Clegg 26...

This is a powerful lesson in campaigning, pragmatism and processing grief.  Rosamund's daughter Ella died in 2013 at the age of nine. She is still the only person ever in the UK to have air pollution registered as a cause of death.  Since then, Rosamund has been a relentless campaigner for improving air quality. She has helped change policy here in the UK and has a legion of internationa...

Amy has led an extraordinary life and she's still only in her 30s. While the SNP MP for East Dunbartonshire she suffered a brain hemorrhage. As she recovered, she had to battle the arcane rules of the House of Commons in order to speak and vote on behalf of her constituents.  Having narrowly beaten Jo Swinson in 2019, Amy then lost the seat in 2024. So what's life like outside of politics? An...

Bridget is one of the biggest stars of the Labour government. As well as being Education Secretary, she is standing to be Labour's Deputy Leader. It's the first major test of members' opinion since Labour came into office.  She's led a fascinating life. Growing up in poverty, but making it to Oxford via Byker Grove.  So what drives her, what changes is she making to our schools and who d...

Star of GB News (and many other places), Tom outlines his libertarianism as well as giving an engaging analysis about the problems facing the Tories, Reform and the government.   Tom is one of the most prominent broadcasters on the right and he's only 29. So why did he get involved so young and what's the secret of his success?   This is a fascinating analysis of the problems we face as...

Tom Tugendhat Returns. Again! Friend of the show Tom Tugendhat returns to give us the perspective from the Tory backbenches. Why are so many Tories defecting to Reform? How worried is he about the Tommy Robinson march? Is he still addicted to Haribo? T HE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 6 October: Bridget Philipson https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/     SEE Matt's...

Lindsay Hoyle - REPLAY The charismatic Speaker of the House was on cracking form back in 2022. He shows how you can make the Commons function more effectively without sacrificing its unique atmosphere. One episode with Lindsay really isn't enough, you'll be left wanting so many more stories from him. His tale about taking Nancy Pelosi to Coronation Street is one of the best you'll ever hear. Grab...

Mark Pougatch One of our most gifted sports broadcasters is also a massive politics nerd. Mark's usually seen anchoring ITV's coverage of England games.  But should we keep politics out of sport? Is that even possible? In this hugely entertaining and insightful interview Mark indulges his twin passions: politics and sport and explains what they can learn from each other. This is gre...

Kirsty Wark - LIVE Newsnight star. Late Show legend. Celebrity Masterchef contestant... Kirsty Wark is a gifted broadcaster and is at her charismatic and hilarious best in front of a live Edinburgh audience.  She shares stories from her phenomenal career and gives her take on the state of British and Scottish politics, as well as her experience with Gregg Wallace. This is a corker. ...

Sadiq Khan - LIVE The Mayor of London is on top form in this special episode recorded at the Edinburgh Festival.  What's his analysis of Labour's first year in power? Will Sadiq and Trump meet during the State Visit? If so, where in London will Sadiq take him..? SEE  Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows January 28  Bir...

Joanna Cherry - LIVE This is a corker.  Joanna Cherry doesn't hold back on what it was like to be inside the SNP, but outside the Sturgeon clique.  Following the publication of the former First Minister's memoir, Joanna gives a comprehensive analysis of the failings of the last few years.  This is absolutely compelling from the very first second. Oh, and it also includes some qualit...

Ian Murray - LIVE This is an absolute hoot. For years Ian Murray was the only Labour MP in Scotland. Now he's in the Cabinet as Secretary of State.  He takes us inside Labour's first year and tells some cracking stories along the way including meeting Donald Trump off his plane when he recently visited Turnberry. It's a classic.  COME AND SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE:...