Politics Unpacked

Should MPs use parliamentary privilege to reveal the identity of an alleged Chinese spy? Is anti-bullying training 'woke'? And is the government's communications grid finally working? Lara Spirit unpacks the politics of the day, and all the other news, with Patrick Maguire and Hadley Freeman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer faces a cabinet split as Wes Streeting criticises Ed Miliband's decision to oppose military action against Assad in Syria when he was the party's leader in 2013, but was Ed really to blame?  Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and and the I newspaper's Jane Merrick Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch gives an interview in which she claims sandwiches aren't 'real food' - and says she identifies with a murderous Game of Thrones character. Hugo Rifkind is joined by Matthew Syed and Jenni Russell to unpack the politics of the day, including the Tory leader's lunch habits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch attacks Keir Starmer for his views on immigration when he was a lawyer - but can a letter be the tip of the iceberg? And does the prime minister eventually get the better of the leader of the opposition? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the angry exchanges from the Commons with the help of Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman and comedian Ria Lina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

After David Lammy tells the Commons that Assad is the "rat of Damascus ", does the foreign secretary have a habit of playing to the gallery? Plus: A first hand account from the court room during the Gisèle Pelicot rape trial. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Janice Turner.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Reform polling well and attracting more Tory defectors - including Suella Braverman's husband - who would you put your money on to dominate the right of politics by the next election? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Hadley Freeman and Patrick Maguire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch is Washington, but won't meet Donald Trump - who prefers Nigel Farage anyway. And why does Angela Rayner think Keir Starmer is like a civil servant? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Trevor Phillips and Gaby Hinsliff.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer sets out six milestones for voters to judge his premiership, but did his speech reboot his premiership? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the speech and the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch asks Keir Starmer why he appointed a "convicted fraudster" to be his transport secretary. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action at prime minister's questions with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Alex Kealy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer is planning to set six numerical targets for the government to achieve before the next election, but do targets lead to results? And should the Louise Haigh accept thousands of pounds in severance pay? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugo is joined by Fraser Nelson to discuss whether the benefits system is trapping the people it's supposed to help, and unpacks the politics of the day - including Starmer's 'relaunch' - with Patrick Maguire and Emma Duncan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh is the first cabinet resignation of the Starmer government, but what don't we know about the story, and how big a set back is it for the PM?  Patrick Maguire unpacks the politics of the day with Tom McTague and Rachel Sylvester. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As official figures show net migration hit a record 900,000 last year, the Tories have set out a "new approach" on immigration. But is it wise for Kemi Badenoch to start making policy so far away from the next election? Lara Spirit unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch says businesses such as biscuit-maker McVities are losing confidence in the UK economy, but will her biscuit puns make Keir Starmer crumble or will he bite back? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Alistair Barrie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has the woke movement lost confidence? Will Donald Trump bring Joe Rogan into White House press briefings? And what has Boris Johnson been saying about the obesity crisis? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the politics of the day with Sunday Times columnist Hadley Freeman and politics professor and podcast host David Runciman. They discuss the merits (or otherwise) of a petition calling for a general election, reports that Keir Starmer will add more targets to the government’s five “missions”, and Ed Davey's Gen Z speak on social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...

There's a big shake-up of the school curriculum on the way, but how radical is the government's thinking - and could they put standards at risk? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Rachel Sylvester and Robin Brant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman joins Hugo to dig into the final book in his Brexit quartet, 'Out: How Brexit Got Done and The Tories Were Undone'. How important was Dominic Cummings in the rise and fall of Boris Johnson, and what did Dilyn the dog do to his leg? What did Liz Truss's advisers really think about her fitness to lead the nation? And why couldn't Rishi Sunak cope...

With Keir Starmer away, his deputy Angela Rayner takes deputy prime minister's questions from Conservative MP Alex Burghart. Does he impress on his first outing at the despatch box? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Grainne Maguire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Elon Musk already overstayed his welcome in the court of Donald Trump? Can a government be made up entirely of mavericks? And how does the billionaire find the time? Pus: Should we be following the advice of Rishi Sunak's father-in-law and denounce the weekend?  Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Juliet Samuel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

Rachel Reeves is under pressure to explain her CV, after it emerged that she used a false claim to win her seat as an MP - but does it matter? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Iain Martin and Lara Spirit, including the row over assisted dying and whether Sue Gray will get a peerage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of people, including children, have been questioned by police over non-crime hate speech, but is that involving police in political problems?  Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Timandra Harkness and Tim Montgomerie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Manveen Rana. Can Europe hold Donald Trump responsible if the US walks away from its role as the world's policeman, or are politicians this side of the Atlantic to blame? You can read Matthew's column here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In her second outing at PMQs, Kemi Badenoch attacks Keir Starmer over the government's National Insurance rise - but he says she's resorting to the "magic money tree". Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Ria Lina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has the liberal dominance of the old entertainment industry given way to the dominance of right-wing YouTubers, podcasters, streamers and influencers? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott. You can read James' column here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.