Matt Forde's Political Party

James Cleverly - REPLAY James Cleverly is back on the Conservative Party Frontbench. Back in 2018 he'd just been made Deputy Chairman of the Tory Party. He's on top form in this riotous hour.   He would go on to be, among other things, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary, before standing for the leadership in 2024.  Hear where it all began... COME AND SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY AT THE...

Ed Miliband - REPLAY Ed Miliband is one of the most powerful politicians in the country. But in 2018 he was in a very different place. Three years after his emotional resignation as leader, he was rebuilding his political career in the middle of the Corbyn era.  This is a fascinating interview from The Political Party back catalogue.  COME AND SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY AT THE EDINBURGH FRI...

Oliver Coppard Oliver has been the Labour Mayor for South Yorkshire since 2022. It's an area at the centre of many of our biggest political discussions.  Health is his big priority, but does he have the powers he needs to create real change and how would he measure it? This is an entertaining, engaging hour with a young politician whose Jewish heritage has meant he's not always had the easies...

Michael Gove - LIVE One of the most transformational and impactful Cabinet ministers of recent years is on top form as he reminisces about his biggest moments.  What was going through his mind at that press conference the morning after the Brexit referendum? How did Boris react when he changed his mind about backing him? How did he end up throwing shapes in an Aberdeen nightclub? Michael also...

Louise Haigh - LIVE Recorded live at the Crossed Wires festival in Sheffield, Louise Haigh reflects on Labour's first year in power. Louise is on top form and has a unique perspective, having served in Cabinet and now sitting on the backbenches.  How did the government get itself in a mess over welfare? Where can Labour improve? Plus why Louise got pepper sprayed...  COME AND SEE THE POL...

Sonia Kumar Sonia has been an MP for almost a year and has used her platform to lead the first ever Parliamentary debate on incontinence.  It's a subject very close to Matt's bladder and Sonia tells him how her career as a physiotherapist led her to raising it as an issue and standing for Parliament in the first place. Plus Sonia explains her position on assisted dying and gives the most comp...

Mims Davies Prepare to be blown away. Mims has had to deal with so many astonishing life events. Not only that, she's handled them with remarkable humour. What made her a Conservative? Why didn't she think party membership was for people like her? How do the Tories stave off the threat from Reform and assert their dominance as the party of the right? Mims shares her incredible life story, with a b...

Nick Thomas-Symonds Nick has just negotiated the UK/EU Trade Deal. So what's in the deal and what impact will it have? And did he have to drink Slovakian red wine to get the deal done? This is a superb behind-the-scenes account of high-level negotiations.  COME AND SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE!   6 July:  Andy Burnham (in Sheffield) https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/crossed...

Kemi Badenoch The Conservative leader is on top form in this personal and funny interview.  Kemi outlines the challenges her party faces in opposing Labour as well as trying to stave off Reform and the resurgent Lib Dems. It's a fascinating hour assessing how the Conservatives move on from their record in government.  We tackle all the big questions. How do the Tories defeat Reform? Why...

Guto Harri Guto has done it all. From covering domestic and international politics for the BBC, to working for Boris Johnson in Number 10. He's got some great stories from his varied career, including the storm surrounding him taking the knee live on GB News.  An optimist, he's drawn to positive characters and despairs at the state of all the major parties.  So what does he think will ha...

Delivery.  It's a popular word in politics, but how to Prime Ministers ensure it happens? Michelle is Researcher in Residence at 10 Downing Street and Lecturer in Government Studies at The Strand Group, King's College. She has written a new book 'The Art of Delivery: The Inside Story of How the Blair Government Transformed Britain’s Public Services'.  This is a wonderful insight into the...

Alan Rhodes A few weeks ago Reform took control of Nottinghamshire County Council on a landslide.  How did this happen and why didn't Nottinghamshire vote Labour instead? Alan Rhodes has been a Labour councillor in Nottinghamshire for nearly 40 years. He understands the shifting politics of the county and the country.  This is a fantastic analysis of what's happening at a local and natio...

Wes Streeting - LIVE The Health Secretary is on cracking form as he defends Labour's progress so far but demonstrates a clear impatience to deliver change as quickly as possible. We discuss all the big questions: What is Labour getting right? Are the government scared of Reform? What  is  that cucumber for? It'll all make sense...   COME AND SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE!   9 Ju...

Local Elections Analysis with John McTernan Why were the local elections so bad for Labour and how do they reverse their fortunes? Is there a ceiling on Nigel Farage's popularity? Does Labour lack confidence? This is a dose of mega political strategy with Tony Blair's former Political Secretary. It's electric.    COME AND SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE!   12 May:  Wes Streeting 9...

Following the unanimous Supreme Court ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law, Julie tells us how and why we got here.  This is a fascinating history not just of women's rights, but of the distinct needs of the lesbian and gay communities.  If you've wondered how this issue became so big and how it's come to dominate so much of our discourse, Julie is here t...

Gregor was elected as the MP for Livingston in Labour's 2024 landslide.  It was a full circle moment for the man who'd been the party's organiser in the 2005 Livingston by-election following the death of Robin Cook.  He went on to work for Blue State Digital, the team who masterminded Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns.  This is a masterclass is the art of campaigning from one of Morga...

Jason Stockwood Brace yourself, you're about to discover one of the most inspiring voices in politics. Jason is Labour's candidate to be the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire. He's a hugely successful businessman from humble beginnings.  But it's the way he talks about life, society and what the country can do, that makes him special.  This is audio Red Bull. Strap in.    COME AND...

Dr Scott Arthur Scott is one the few lucky MPs who topped the ballot for Private Members' Bills.  He wants to bring in a Rare Cancers Bill. But what would the Bill do? What difference would it make to someone diagnosed with a rare cancer?   COME AND SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE!   12 May:  Wes Streeting 9 June:  Kemi Badenoch 14 July:  Michael Gove Plus more to be ann...

Anthony Scaramucci - LIVE The Mooch is back and is on barnstorming form.  He's full-throttle from the start and gives his expert (and hilarious) view on how other world leaders should deal with Trump. Plus an incredible revelation about what the President was trying to watch online in the Oval Office...   COME AND SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE!   12 May:  Wes Streeting 9 June: &...

Claire Ward Claire is the first ever Elected Mayor for the East Midlands. What does running the greatest region in the country involve? How does Claire manage any rivalry or resentment between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire? Why is being a Mayor better than being an MP? And what does this all mean for Nottingham Forest?   SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE ON STAGE!   31 March:  Anthony S...

Eluned Morgan Eluned is the First Minister of Wales and the first female First Minister of Wales.  What challenges does Wales face that other parts of the UK might not? How do leaders create economic growth? And can someone help get Eluned some Oasis tickets?   SEE THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE ON STAGE!   31 March:  Anthony Scaramucci 12 May:  Wes Streeting 9 June:  Kemi...

Everyone's favourite SNP politician tells Matt what Nicola Sturgeon's departure from Holyrood means for the SNP and for Scotland. Stewart also reflects on what the party has to do differently if it wants to gain independence.  This is a funny, thoughtful and reflective conversation about Nicola Sturgeon's legacy and the future of Scotland. And the future of gay bars in Tenerife.  SEE THE...

Alastair Campbell - LIVE   This is an absolute riot.  Alastair Campbell is his vulnerable, doubting, bombastic best in one of the funniest episodes of the show ever recorded.  How would he contain Trump? What is Labour getting wrong? Has he put on weight? This will all make sense once you've listened. Sort of.    THE POLITICAL PARTY IS BACK ON STAGE!   31 March: ...

Simon was Chief Whip under Rishi Sunak and his explosive new book 'Ungovernable' documents the scandalous and tumultuous final term of the Conservative government. So what's his view of his fellow politicians and the system they inhabit?    Is it impossible for any Prime Minister to truly get their way? And what's it like being mistaken for Brian Clough?   THE POLITICAL PARTY IS BAC...

Mike Tapp Mike is one of Labour's hottest rising stars. Elected in July last year, he's already an accomplished media performer.  A former soldier, he is at the vanguard of Labour's patriotic centre.  But why does he wake up so early in the morning? Wine. Dogs. The military.  This podcast has it all.  THE POLITICAL PARTY IS BACK ON STAGE! 10 March:  Alastair Campbell 31 Ma...