Politics Unpacked

Patrick Maguire and Tim Shipman give the "Unpacked" treatment to a classic PMQs, with Tony Blair and William Hague going head-to-head in July 2000 over membership of the Euro and Labour's record on crime. PLUS: Pollster Robert Hayward picks out his key seats to watch at the upcoming local elections. Local Elections Lowdown (00:40) Classic PMQs Unpacked (14:28) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...

As prominent Jeremy Corbyn allies and hundreds of councillors quit the Labour, Patrick Maguire asks how Keir Starmer pushed them to the fringes and whether the left has an electoral future outside of the party.  Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein answer your questions.  H...

It's the monthly Times Radio Focus Group, and this time we head to the blue wall to find out why former Conservative voters have switched their support to the Liberal Democrats. Pollster James Johnson of J.L. Partners joins Matt to find out how much they really know about Ed Davey, who reminds them of 'cringy car salesman', and which politician is the 'caretaker of the untruths'? Plus: Columnists...

Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire give the "Unpacked" treatment to a classic PMQs, with John Major and Tony Blair going head-to-head in January 1997, challenging each other over the leadership of their respective parties. Plus: Columnists Robert Crompton and Jane Merrick discuss a potential Labour government's nightmare in-tray, whether  school bullies prosper , and why Alan Titchmarsh had his...

Matt's off to the pub... to meet Wetherspoons boss Sir Tim Martin and talk about Brexit, Boris Johnson and whether the lunchtime pint is alive and well. Then Matt hears how Steve Bray, Stop Brexit Man, has been silenced.  Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein discuss how to write a ma...

Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to find out about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics. Conservative MP Robin Walker tells Matt why growing up with an MP in the family didn't prepare him for life in Parliament, why being Brexit minister for Theresa May was such a difficult job, and joining the queue...

Our new exclusive polling shows that both Labour and the Tories have some well-known frontbench spokespeople; the bad news is that some of them don't exist. Matt explores why fake politicians can poll better than real ones. Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether anyone cares if politicians have done drugs , why it's good to rub people the wrong way , and what makes politi...

Matt sits down with US political scientist Lynn Vavreck, author of 'The Message Matters', to find out whether the Clinton-era cliche - 'It's the economy, stupid' - really holds true. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss the Tory mood after a poll for The Times had the party at its lowest level of support since Liz Truss' mini-budget,  banging tables  at the 1922 commi...

It's the last PMQs before MPs head off for an Easter break, and comedian Geoff Norcott joins Matt Chorley, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the action from the Commons chamber. Rishi Sunak hails the latest inflation figures, while Keir Starmer describes the prime minister's Rwanda plan as a "gimmick". Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss why Labour keeps talkin...

With his party behind in the polls and some asking whether he'll survive until the autumn, what options does Rishi Sunak have to turn things around? Matt asks former leader Michael Howard and a panel of expert Tory watchers.   Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein discuss who cou...

Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to find out about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics. This week, Conservative MP William Wragg tells Matt what it's like being a serial backbench troublemaker, how government whips behave like the mafia, and why he compares Boris Johnson to Faust. Plus: Columnists L...

What makes the nation feel good about itself - is it the weather, sporting success or a royal wedding? And what difference does it make to how the nation votes? Matt takes a look back through history and the polls with Elinor Goodman, Steve Richards and pollster Kelly Beaver. Plus: Columnists James Marriott and Miranda Green discuss Rishi Sunak ruling out a May election, whether heft and height ma...

Gordon Brown tried to form a "government of all the talents", giving ministerial jobs to figures from outside politics. Matt speaks to two of the original GOATs, and asks whether Keir Starmer could even keep on David Cameron as foreign secretary. PLUS: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed discuss the government's new  definition of extremism  and whether £5,000 is too much to spend o...

Rishi Sunak struggles to deflect questions about a Tory donor's racist comments, and accuses of Keir Starmer of double standards. But have government communications descended into the kind of 'inept catastrophe' we saw during the Boris Johnson years? Matt Chorley is joined by Tim Shipman, Hugo Rifkind and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges from the Commons chamber. Plus: Columnists Alic...

It's been a decade since the introduction of recall, meaning MPs who break the rules can be kicked out of the Commons. As another recall petition opens in Blackpool South, Matt asks whether it's become too easy to remove them from the job. Plus:  A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein d...

Former Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson has defected to Reform UK , giving the party its first MP. Matt discusses the significance of the move with columnists Trevor Phillips and Libby Purves, and former minister Paul Scully.   Plus: In the latest Exit Interview, outgoing First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford explains why he is standing down and why he had a difficult relationship w...

In the coming months you're going to see a lot more political adverts across TV, radio, and social media. But how much do we know about what really works, and what doesn't? Matt is joined by Mark Lucas, a British ad man who has made films in 80 countries, and David Brookman, professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley. Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott d...

If the polls are right, Rachel Reeves could be the next chancellor. But after a Budget that confirmed money is tight (and stole some of her flagship ideas), what will she be able to do in office? Matt speaks to former advisers to Keir Starmer and Alistair Darling, and Times Radio's Patrick Maguire. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss what the  Budget means for the Tories...

Jeremy Hunt has delivered what is probably his last Budget before the general election, and as well as offering tax cuts he found time to refer to Peter Mandelson's suggestion that Keir Starmer 'shed a few pounds'. Times columnist Patrick Maguire joins Matt to look at the chancellor's offer to the electorate and to consider Labour's response. Plus: PMQs Unpacked seeks Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer...

Politicians often tell journalists "the only poll that counts is the one on election day". Professor Jane Green from the University of Oxford tells Matt why we should trust opinion polls as she takes over as head of the British Polling Council. Plus: Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have been arguing about who stacks the dishwasher, and listen to a taster of the latest episode of How To Win...

Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to find out about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics. Conservative MP Stephen Hammond explains why he wouldn't recommend the job to a friend, why he was kicked out of the party over Brexit, and why he had to help Boris Johnson give him the sack. Plus: Columnists Lib...

What really goes on behind the famous black door after an election, as one government makes way for another? Matt hears about recently-released documents lifting the lid on the transfer of power in 1997, and speaks to some of the people who were there. Plus: Columnists India Knight, James Marriott and Patrick Maguire discuss the return of George Galloway to public life , influencers releasing book...

Three out of 10 Tory voters now say they're leaning toward Reform UK. Is there anything Rishi Sunak can do to bring them back? Pollster James Johnson of J.L. Partners joins Matt for the monthly Times Radio Focus Group. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed discuss whether Rishi Sunak is right about mob rule in the UK, the culture of policing , and whether it's right for theatres to exclud...

Keir Starmer claims the Tories have become the 'political wing of the flat-earth society' for promoting conspiracies; Sunak says Starmer is just sniping from the sidelines. Matt Chorley, Tim Shipman, Ed Vaizey and Lara Spirit pause and unpack all the action from Westminster. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss where protests should be permitted , life lessons for Gen Z...

This week in 1974 Britain went to the polls in an election that saw the Conservatives lose, but Labour fail to drum up enough enthusiasm to win a majority. Matt asks whether the next election could produce a similar result by speaking to Ann Taylor, who fought her first campaign that year, and whose career mirrors the ups and downs of the Labour Party itself. Plus:  A taster of the lates...