Politics Unpacked

Undecided voters in Scotland who previously backed the SNP give their verdict in the Times Radio Focus Group. Humza Yousaf is 'unremarkable', but which party leader is a snake? Matt is joined by James Johnson of JL Partners to discuss the panel's views on the Scottish government, independence and party leaders on both sides of the border. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matt Charlton discuss pla...

While Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash over the cost of living, Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman pause and unpack the exchanges - and do a passable impression of Rainbow's Zippy and George. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss police numbers , divorce and the Royals , and losing your job because you keep swearing . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt talks to American academic and author Noam Chomsky about the conflict in Ukraine, the end of the world - and who won the 2017 general election. Plus: Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman discuss Danny's prediction about Oliver Dowden coming true, why ministers aren't as good as they used to be, and whether celebrity endorsements help win elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Keir Starmer keeps talking about his record as Director of Public Prosecutions, arguing it shows he was tough on crime - but the Conservatives think it proves he's actually 'Sir Softie'. Matt finds out what a DPP does, and looks at Starmer's successes and his failures in the job.  Plus columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on  Diane Abbott sparking a new anti-semitism row in the L...

Which party's supporters can take a joke, and which have a sense of humour failure? Matt looks at the league table of humourlessness with Private Eye editor Ian Hislop and comedians Geoff Norcott and Tiff Stevenson. Plus columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss Dominic Raab's resignation , the 'Oasis album' made by AI , and journalist Tom McTague explains the political power of 'Deano'....

Nick Gibb is one of Britain's longest-serving ministers, in office (almost) continuously since the Conservatives came to power in 2010. Matt quizzes him about subjects including strikes, Ofsted, mobile phones in classrooms and appearing in an episode of the Simpsons. Plus columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Paris discuss whether Rishi Sunak has caved in to his backbenchers , what happens if the Po...

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer trade personal attacks over crime at Prime Minister's Questions , as Sunak dubs Starmer 'Sir Softy'. Matt is joined by Tim Shipman, Lucy Fisher and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the action. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss disruptive protests , how to live well , Michael Gove's cigarette shed, and what's the first cassette tape they ever bou...

Matt is joined by Daniel Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman to discuss whether Rishi Sunak's wealth is a problem after it was revealed he's being investigated by the ethics watchdog , and whether Peter Mandelson was right to tell us there's a 50-50 chance of a hung parliament. Plus: As the government announces plans to get machetes and 'zombie knives' off the streets , Matt takes a look at the wid...

In the 1980 presidential election, Ronald Reagan asked "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" With the economy likely to define the next general election here in the UK, Matt looks at who will win the voters' trust with former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson, Paul Johnson from the IFS, YouGov's Lukas Paleckis, and former Treasury adviser Poppy Trowbridge. Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylve...

With Have I Got News For You one of the last satirical comedy shows still standing, Patrick Maguire asks why satire on our screens seems to be dying a slow death. He speaks to John O'Farrell, former writer on Spitting Image and HIGNFY, Matt Forde, co-writer of Spitting Image the Musical, and TV critic Siobhan Synnot. Plus columnists India Knight and James Marriott on the  nurses' strikes , wh...

When it comes to holding a general election, timing is everything. With Rishi Sunak reportedly hoping to pull off a surprise win late in 2024, Patrick Maguire is joined by historian Phil Tinline and former advisers Ayesha Hazarika and Giles Kenningham to discuss when to go early, and when to go late. Plus columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed on  Liz Truss' speech to a US think-tank , why...

Is Humza Yousaf done before he even gets started? Patrick Maguire looks at the SNP leader's chances after two weeks in office and a series of revelations about the party's finances. He speaks to Times columnist Alex Massie - who thinks it's all over - and the journalist Ruth Wishart, who thinks he can recover. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the junior doctors' leader go...

Patrick Maguire discusses political advertising - does going negative deliver, or do we all suffer when the parties get down in the gutter? He speaks to Steve Parker, former Head of Strategy at M&C Saatchi, author Ali Goldsworthy and campaigner Peter Tatchell. Plus columnists Henry Zeffman and Oliver Kamm discuss  Keir Starmer's aggressive new approach , whether the Conservatives can&nbsp...

Carole Walker, sitting in for Matt Chorley, speaks to key figures that drafted the deal including Mark Durkan, assistant to SDLP leader John Hume, and Irish diplomat David Donoghue. Journalist Denis Murray joins the discussion too as he relives what it was like to report on the historic event. Plus Lord Howard and Lord Forsyth discuss Margaret Thatcher's legacy, 10 years after her death. Hosted on...

Matt is joined by James Johnson of JL Partners who leads a panel of undecided voters giving their verdict on the government, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. Find out who their ideal Prime Minister would be and who reminds them of Hugh Grant and Desperate Dan. Plus columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss  the Conservative MP who offered to lobby for gambling investors ,  sewage ,...

Suella Braverman faces losing her seat in a reselection battle with Flick Drummond. Matt speaks to journalist Michael Crick and local councillors Caroline Brook and Roger Bird about who will come out on top. Plus columnists Janice Turner and Robert Crampton on  same-sex spaces , and whether they know their  journalistic jargon . And two Stevenage women take the  Stevenage Woman test...

Matt revisits the last night of the Conservative party conference in 1984 when the IRA bombed the Grand Hotel in Brighton in an attempt to kill Margaret Thatcher.  Author Rory Carroll explains how the attack was carried out and journalist Philip Webster remembers what it was like reporting at the scene. Columnists Danny Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman discuss  Starmer's lack of vision...

Matt shares the five things you need to know about British politics right now by looking at what's happening behind the headline polls with opinion experts Robert Hayward and Tanya Abraham.  Plus columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves on what  Sanna Marin's defeat in Finland  shows about young, liberal, female leaders.  The government's plan to tackle grooming gangs...

From the first camera to take aerial pictures over Everest to documents from the day the paper's offices were bombed during World War Two, the Times archives are home to decades of photography, cuttings and artefacts. Matt takes a look at historic items including a handwritten letter from Winston Churchill and Henry Zeffman's Brexit flowchart. Plus James Marriott and Lara Spirit attempt to list al...

It's 50 years since Value Added Tax was introduced, and it's been a political football ever since. Matt discusses Jaffa Cakes, the pasty tax and the omnishambles budget with experts, campaigners and the former boss of Greggs. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matt Dathan  discuss food fraud ,  when to get a heat pump  and why there are  so many parking apps . Hosted on Acast. S...

It's Deputy Prime Minister's questions with Dominic Raab and Angela Rayner standing in for Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. Matt, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit pause and unpack the exchanges as Rayner compares Raab to a thug, and Raab reminds her she once labelled Tories 'scum'. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss  the damage caused by gambling , being nasty about former par...

As Jeremy Corbyn is barred from standing as a Labour MP, Momentum founder Jon Lansman accuses Keir Starmer of behaving like 'Putin of the Labour Party'. Matt is also joined by veteran MP Dame Margaret Hodge and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire to discuss Corbyn's future, and what's left of the Labour left. Plus columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman on what Humza Yousaf's election mea...

On this day 60 years ago Dr Richard Beeching wielded the axe, closing thousands of miles of railway and thousands of stations. Matt talks to the music mogul Pete Waterman, who lost his job on the railways thanks to the cuts, author Charles Loft, and campaigners who want lines around the country to be reopened. Plus columnists Libby Purves and Tom McTague discuss Keir Starmer comparing himself to a...

Matt Chorley delves into the history of the iconic Red Box, the symbol of power given to every cabinet minister and prime minister. We find out what's in them, hear from the man behind the company that makes them, and what they meant to David Cameron, Ed Balls and George Osborne. Plus: Columnists James Marriott and India Knight discuss  Nicola Sturgeon’s farewell speech , how good is artifici...

Swing voters from across England say they prefer Rishi Sunak to Keir Starmer as prime minister in the latest Times Radio Focus Group. Matt is joined by James Johnson of JL Partners to discuss their views on the party leaders, the Budget, and whether Boris Johnson is a 'liar liar pants on fire'. Plus columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss  Johnson's partygate evidence , Rishi Sunak...