Politics Unpacked

Having spent months resisting calls for a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, Keir Starmer changes his mind. How can he navigate the difficult politics of another prime ministerial U-turn?  Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Jane Mulkerrins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel attacked Iran's nuclear programme overnight - is there anything the West can do to influence the situation? Or are Britain and the US reduced to the role of bystanders?  Ed Vaizey unpacks the news and politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Emily Sheffield. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chancellor’s been defending the Spending Review, and she’s determined not to lose hope despite gloomy GDP figures. But can she escape a summer of speculation about tax rises to come? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Spending Review day, and MPs were treated to a noisy PMQs after Kemi Badenoch promised to make it less like a courtroom and more like a pantomime. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons with The Times' Chief Political Commentator Patrick Maguire and the comedian Gráinne Maguire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the government says the Spending Review is settled, ministers are still facing questions about the U-turn on the winter fuel allowance. Should the chancellor just admit she got it wrong? Plus: Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Mariott  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage says he wants to reopen a steelworks in South Wales and even open new coal mines. Is he winning the battle for Labour's post-industrial heartlands? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Janice Turner and Sebastian Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s friendship imploded in dramatic fashion overnight - as simmering tension between the two escalated into all-out war across their social media platforms. Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Michael Binyon  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the government's biggest u-turn so far - but will Rachel Reeves' new winter fuel payments policy succeed? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After five years and something like 150 episodes, Tim Shipman is leaving the Sunday Times and the podcast. What has he learned from unpacking all those exchanges at PMQs? He hands over to Times chief political commentator Patrick Maguire, and with Hugo they unpack the exchanges between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch - as the PM refuses to be drawn on plans to end the two child benefit cap. Hosted...

Keir Starmer has promised to make Britain "battle ready" as he unveiled plans to improve the military - but will taxpayers be prepared to pay for higher defence spending? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Libby Purves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour and Reform of 'fantasy economics', the day after Keir Starmer made the same charge about Nigel Farage. Is it doing any of them any good? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer has hit back at Nigel Farage - making a speech warning that Farage's "fantasy" economics will lead to a Liz Truss-style economic meltdown. So would Reform UK's policies crash the economy?  Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Zoe Strimpel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After police chiefs publicly raised their concerns about budget cuts making it harder to keep us all safe, Rachel Reeves is under renewed pressure over government spending.   Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage has branded Keir Starmer as “one of the most unpatriotic prime ministers in our history" - is there a lack of patriotism on the left?  Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Labour inches along its huge benefits u-turn, Nigel Farage says he would restore winter fuel payment and end the two child benefit cap. Is Reform becoming a big state, big benefits party now? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Carol Lewis and Patrick Kidd.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Vaizey is joined by Jane Merrick and Albie Amankona to discuss a week of big challenges for the government - from the EU reset to the U-turn on winter fuel to finally signing off the Chagos deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mouths were agape when Donald Trump confronted South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa with false claims of white genocide. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer said more pensioners would get the winter fuel payment at PMQs. But had Kemi Badenoch even noticed the U-turn? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action in the Commons with The Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator Tim Shipman and the SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tories have fallen to fourth place in the latest Times/YouGov poll - behind the Liberal Democrats for the first time in six years. Plus, Keir Starmer might've landed his EU reset deal, but Boris Johnson has labelled him the 'orange-ball chewing gimp of Brussels'. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Janice Turner and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Keir Starmer's deal with the European Union will allow closer co-operation on security, food standards and travel - but will all that come at the expense of the British fishing industry? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Jane Mulkerrins.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As European leaders meet in Tirana, is Keir Starmer inching Britain closer to Europe - and is that progress? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Gaby Hinsliff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Prime Minister adopts increasingly tough rhetoric on immigration, can his opponents on the left offer a populist alternative? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch dismisses Keir Starmer's “tiny tariff deal” with Donald Trump, while Keir Starmer called the Tories a “dead party walking.” Hugo Rifkind unpacks all the action from the Commons with Tim Shipman and the comedian Ria Lina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer is under fire for saying the UK could become an "island of strangers" unless new curbs on migration bring the numbers down - but are comparisons with Enoch Powell and 'Rivers of Blood' misplaced? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer claims soaring immigration has done 'incalculable' damage to the UK and risks creating an 'island of strangers'. But can he deliver on his promise to drive the numbers down? Will Rachel Reeves hold the line on welfare cuts, and will the Tories send for Boris Johnson? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Jane Mulkerrins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...