Matt Forde's Political Party

Mhari Aurora Mhari is a revelation in political broadcasting and in this fascinating chat with Matt she considers some of the big questions facing modern media: What can the 'mainstream media' learn from Joe Rogan? How should they cover Donald Trump? How do you deal with angry taxi drivers? It's all in here! THE POLITICAL PARTY IS BACK ON STAGE! 10 March:  Alastair Campbell 31 March:  An...

What a return!   The Chancellor is exceptional form as she discusses Trump, tariffs, the threat of Reform and the inside story of when her hair turned ginger.    This interview has it all. The realities of life in government plus invaluable advice for creating the perfect Yorkshire Pudding.    Oh and a brilliant story about Gordon Brown's tribute to John Prescott...  ...

Dr Sharon Lockyer The live comedy industry is worth around £1bn annually to the UK economy, yet it doesn't get included in government conversations about the arts. As a result, it doesn't receive the financial support that other arts forms routinely get. To understand why, and to explain the wider impact of live comedy on society, Matt is joined by Dr Sharon Lockyer from Brunel University.  C...

This very special episode is brought to you in paid partnership with Cancer Research UK. At the end of last year, myself, Richard Herring and Mark Steel sat down to have a frank, raw, funny and open conversation about something that has affected us all - cancer. We were later joined by Dr Sam Godfrey, the Science Engagement Lead at Cancer Research UK, who gave us invaluable insight...

Ava Santina-Evans Ava is the star of PoliticsJOE, an online platform which covers politics in a different way to other media.  It's hugely successful and in this entertaining and insightful interview, Ava explains the decisions behind that popularity.  This takes in everything: from Labour and trade union issues, to the appeal of Trump, and the appeal of Reform to younger voters.  A...

Gavin Esler What can Trump's opponents learn from him? How should the BBC respond to Elon Musk? What should Change UK have done differently? All these questions and more are discussed with a true broadcasting titan.  This is quality from start to finish.  THE POLITICAL PARTY IS BACK ON STAGE! 10 February:  Rachel Reeves 10 March:  Alastair Campbell 31 March:  Anthony Scara...

Sam Carling Sam is one of the brightest and most prominent members of the 2024 intake... and he's only 22.  How has Sam become an MP so early in his life, what politicised him and what does the future hold? Remember where you were when you first heard from Sam, he's a man going places.  THE POLITICAL PARTY IS BACK ON STAGE! 10 February:  Rachel Reeves 10 March:  Alastair Campbe...

Tonia Antoniazzi   England are due to play Afghanistan at cricket next month.    The decision to honour the fixture has caused uproar. Under the Taliban, women are banned from playing sport.    Tonia is leading the campaign to get England to pull out of the fixture.    If you want to help, find her on social media: @ToniaAntoniazzi   Plus  we discuss ot...

Replay: Christmas Special with Jess Phillips and Sarah Wollaston  Keep the dream alive with this classic from 2018.  Jess Phillips and Sarah Wollaston are on phenomenal festive form in this Christmas cracker of an episode.  THE POLITICAL PARTY IS BACK ON STAGE! Get tickets for all shows here:  https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SEE  Matt a...

Replay: Christmas Special with Ed Balls and Alastair Campbell.  The year is 2016. Ed Balls has just done Strictly.  Alastair Campbell is yet to launch his podcast.  This is the barmy Christmas Special we all need. THE POLITICAL PARTY IS BACK ON STAGE! Get tickets for all shows here:  https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SEE  Matt at on tour...

Alex Burghart Politics. History. Food. What more do you want for Christmas? Alex Burghart is the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and fills in for Kemi Badenoch at PMQs. More importantly, he has a deep fat fryer and he's keen to experiment. This is the indulgent Christmas special we all needed.  FOLLOW  Alex on X: @alexburghart THE POLITICAL PARTY IS BACK ON STAGE! Get tickets...

Natalie Fleet Natalie has only been an MP since July but has already established herself as one of the most impressive members of the new intake. She has had to overcome a lot to become an MP and talks passionately about how hard it is to succeed if you're working class in modern Britain. This is gripping from start to finish.  FOLLOW  Natalie on X: @NatalieFleetMP SEE  Matt at on t...

David Yelland This is a gripping inside account of editing The Sun when tabloids were still dominant. David tried to take the paper in a different direction. But did Rupert Murdoch approve? Plus, does Elon Musk's use of X have its roots in tabloid culture and influence? FOLLOW  David on X: @davidyelland SEE  Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his extra dates at The Bloomsbury Th...

Policy! Football! Pies! It's the interview with everything. After years in opposition, Alison is now an Employment Minister and is keen to get on and change things. She explains the changes she's making to Jobcentres and the difference they'll make. Plus... will Alison become the latest politician to start a podcast? FOLLOW  Alison on X: @Alison_McGovern ORDER  a Homebaked pie:  htt...

This is inspirational.    David was the Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan for 7 years.   Then he suffered a spinal stroke. Incredibly he wasn't allowed to defend his seat in the general election.    This is the remarkable story of how he recovered, why he was blocked and how he's remained so positive.      FOLLOW  David on X: @david_duguid   SEE...

Salma Shah is back!   The Tory strategist gives her entertaining assessment of Kemi Badenoch and how the Tories are doing.   This is such a great chat in which I have my centre-left prejudices thoroughly checked.    Talking about the Opposition has never been more fun.     FOLLOW  Salma on X: @Ommasalma   SEE Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his e...

Seth Harris - US Election Special Well, it happened.  This is a comprehensive and entertaining analysis of why and how Trump won the election with friend of the show, Seth Harris. Seth served in Obama's Cabinet and worked closely with both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.  If you're looking for answers, you'll find them here.  FOLLOW  Seth on X: @MrSethHarris SEE  Matt at on t...

Darren Jones - Budget Special This is a cracker. A full Budget briefing from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury which includes some excellent breakfast chat. SEE  Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his extra dates at The Bloomsbury Theatre:  https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows 2024 6 November: Exeter, Phoenix 8 November: Tunbridge Wells, Trinity Theatre 14 November: Basin...

One of our most gifted political writers reflects on the death of Alex Salmond and the current state of Scottish politics.   This is engrossing from the very first second.    SUBSCRIBE  to the Ponsonby and Massie podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ponsonby-and-massie-podcast/id1749779794   SEE Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his extra dates at T...

Sir Graham Brady What's it like telling a Prime Minister their time is up? Sir Graham chaired the 1922 Committee throughout the tenure of five Conservative Prime Ministers.  In this entertaining interview he tells us what those private moments with them were like and how each of them used their power differently. This is the thrilling inside account of the most tumultuous political time in li...

Thangam Debbonaire Thangam is one of the brightest stars of the Labour movement. As Shadow Culture Secretary she was all set to command the brief in government.  But things didn't go to plan. On 4 July, Thangam lost Bristol Central to the Green Party.  A classically trained cellist. Thangam has a range of life experience.  She's one of the most charismatic and engaging politicians i...

Pam Duncan-Glancy     Pam is the Shadow Education and Skills Secretary in Scotland.    She's only been an MSP for four years but has already made a huge impact.    Her life story is fascinating, as is her route into politics. As the first permanent wheelchair user in Holyrood, she has to overcome daily challenges in order to do her job.    Pam is an optimist...

Iain McNicol     This. Is. Class.     Iain was General Secretary of the Labour Party from 2011 to 2018.     He tells us what it was like having to run the party during the most tumultuous time in its history.    You'll be hanging on his every word.       SEE  Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his 2 extra dates at...

Siobhan Baillie   What's it like to lose your seat after one term, when your political career was really starting to flourish?   Siobhan was the MP for Stroud and had worked hard to do the job properly. But that experience was cut short in July.    As well as opening up about the emotional impact of losing the seat, Siobhan has clear ideas about what improvements she'd mak...

Emma Revell   What does a Thatcherite think tank do when the Tories are out of office? Emma Revell from the Centre for Policy Studies briefs us on what's next for one of Britain's most influential organisations.  Plus... why being a Lib Dem first is becoming a right of passage... SEE  Matt at on tour until March 2025:  https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows 2024 31 July - 25 Augu...