Politics Unpacked

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 Nickie Aitken explains why she's standing down after five years, how much Liz Truss added to her mortgage, and what it's like being the MP for MPs. Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Tom McTagu...

After discovering the voice of the self-service checkouts at Tesco sounds like Rishi Sunak, Matt is joined by comedians Jon Culshaw, Debra Stephenson and Rory Bremner for their best political impressions, and to rate listener's attempts.  Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether protests should be banned outside MPs offices , are faux flowers naff, and why the North is...

Matt is joined by columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris to weigh up the Commons speaker's chances of survival as MPs continue to call for him to go. They also discuss Matthew's  recent visit to Ukraine , where he met young people terrified about being called to the front lines. Plus: Fraud is already the most common crime in England and Wales, and new technology is making it hard to spot...

Keir Starmer focuses on the Post Office Horizon scandal ahead of the Commons vote on Gaza. But have the listeners come up with better questions for the prime minister? Matt Chorley, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit pause and unpack all the action from Westminster. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss who would want to run a public body, what NFU boss Minette Batters really thinks...

As a new biography of Keir Starmer tells us more about the Labour leader's childhood, Matt takes a look at the importance of a backstory - does finding out more about a politician's past make a difference to how we view them now? Then comedian Joe Lycett wades into the sewage scandal for his new TV documentary, and says he’d do a better job than Rishi Sunak if he was drunk. Plus:  A tast...

Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to talk about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics. Conservative MP Dehenna Davison tells Matt why starting life in Westminster in her mid-20s was a steep learning curve, how suffering with chronic migraines affected her work and why she admires Liz Truss.  Plus:...

In the wake of the by-elections in Kingswood and Wellingborough, Patrick asks whether a Labour general election victory is nailed on, if Rishi Sunak can turn things around, and how serious a threat Reform UK poses to the Tories. He speaks to Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party James Daly, Labour frontbencher Liz Kendall, Reform Party Leader Richard Tice, and polling expert Professor Sir John...

It's a year since Nicola Sturgeon's surprise resignation as First Minister rocked Scottish politics and her successor Humza Yousaf has had a difficult time filling her shoes. Joined by former First Minister Alex Salmond and the SNP's former leader in Westminster Ian Blackford, Patrick asks if Yousaf has managed to escape Sturgeon's shadow.  Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed discu...

As Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer take a break from Prime Minister's Questions during recess, Patrick asks what their weekly joust teaches us, and whether it ever truly changes the political weather. He speaks to Tom Peck from The Times and Times Radio's Jane Garvey to both deride and defend PMQs, and two former party leaders about how to make an impact from the Chamber. Plus: Columnists Robert Cram...

There's a new divide in British politics: young men are becoming more right-wing, just as young women turn left. Patrick asks what's causing this growing political gender gap, the impact it could have on the general election and how MPs should respond to it.  Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Danny Finkelstein and...

Patick Maguire is back looking after the podcast this week as Matt is away for half term. Today he looks at Keir Starmer's relationship with Joe Biden to ask whether it is wise for the leader of the opposition to put all of his eggs in a Democrat basket. Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss if Rishi Sunak should be worried about the crumbling rural wall , w hether state schoo...

With constituents asking their MP to deal with everything from arguments about hedges to parking tickets, are politicians are struggling to focus on the other part of their job - passing better laws? Matt speaks to Charles Walker and a range of other MPs about the rising levels of casework. Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss President Biden's memory issues , Labour's climate...

On Throwback Thursdays Matt speaks to the politicians of the past to find out lessons for the present. Estelle Morris was Education Secretary under Tony Blair but resigned in 2002 because she felt she wasn't up to the job. The former teacher describes swapping the classroom for the Commons, why it was bittersweet being elected for the first time during Labour's general election defeat in 1992...

Rishi Sunak attacks Keir Starmer for flip-flopping, but turns the proceedings sour with a scripted jibe about trans rights.   Matt is joined by Caroline Wheeler, Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the angry exchanges from PMQs. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Hadley Freeman discuss Joe Biden's latest blunders, mindfulness in schools, and what Kemi Badenoch has in commons w...

New polling for Times Radio shows that voters aren't enthusiastic about either Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer. We hear from ordinary voters from across England to find out why. Matt is joined by Tom Lubbock from JL Partners to discuss the findings. Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Danny Finkelstein and Polly Mackenzie&nb...

Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to talk about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics. Former Conservative minister Steve Brine tells Matt that the threats and abuse MPs face is getting worse, what happened when Labour mocked the Tories with a bus after the 2001 election, and why he thinks Liz Truss sh...

Can lipstick, packed lunches and pants tell us about the health of the economy? Matt is joined by The Times' Science Editor Tom Whipple to test the theories and judge whether the times we're living in are good or bad.  Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether the Tories latest  attack ad  comparing Keir Starmer to JFK is a success, whether  private schoo...

A wave of upheaval is happening across Europe, with hard right or Eurosceptic parties gaining traction in countries from France, to Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Matt climbs aboard Chorley Airways to find out how the political landscape is changing. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Bell discuss leadership lessons from Tony Blair, why being an MP is becoming increasingly dangerous...

Keir Starmer has met a supermarket worker called Phil who is struggling with his mortgage. Rishi Sunak says Phil will pay more in taxes under Labour. But where is Phil? Matt is joined by Times Policy Editor Oliver Wright and Red Box Editor Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges at PMQs. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and James Kirkup discuss Nicola Sturgeon in front of the Covid inquiry, wh...

As Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and countless others argue over what is and isn't real conservatism, we ask what the different tribes stand for, and is that the same as what voters want?  Matt speaks to two former ministers from different Tory traditions, Sir John Hayes and Dominic Grieve, plus pollster Scarlett Maguire, and Reform leader Richard Tice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

Matt sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to talk about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from their time in politics. Harriet Harman has been an MP for four decades and held key roles in the Labour Party and in government. A long-time campaigner for women, she tells Matt why she's embarrassed Labour is still yet to elect a fem...

In America the Democrats are attempting to reclaim the word 'Freedom' from Republicans in the debate over abortion rights. So how do you use language to seize the political narrative from your opponents? Matt speaks to US political scientist Rachel Bitecofer, Keir Starmer’s former Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Ward, and Craig Oliver, former head of communications for David Cameron. Plus: C...

Is tactical voting about to go mainstream? Matt speaks to the organiser of an US-style primary who wants to give voters the chance to choose one candidate to stand against the Conservatives in their area. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss the details of the  plot  to oust Rishi Sunak led by his former adviser, whether it matters that  rich people are getting s...

After former cabinet minister Simon Clarke calls on Rishi Sunak to resign, Keir Starmer gets away with swearing about Tory in-fighting and Rishi Sunak calls him a "human weathervane". Matt pauses and unpacks the action from Prime Minister's Questions with Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit, and reads out some texts from Conservative MPs. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the...

From climate change to war to global poverty, the world seems like it's in a fragile state. Danish political scientist and climate contrarian Bjørn Lomborg argues things aren't as bad as they seem - he sits down with Matt to explain why. Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelsteon discuss t...