Politics Unpacked

Matt is joined by Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. Rishi Sunak claims Labour is 'soft on crime, soft on criminals', while Keir Starmer says the prime minister is out of touch and needs 'to get out of Westminster'. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss when you should get the state pension, whether Louise Case...

Matt speaks to Leon co-founder Henry Dimbleby, who has just resigned as the government's 'food tsar'. He explains why he's quit, what's wrong with our supply chains and why it's so difficult to persuade the Government to change Britain's diet. Plus columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman on Boris Johnson's Partygate defence, and whether Nicola Sturgeon's social media warning echoes Tony Bl...

Will the inquiry into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over Partygate finish his political career - or open the door for his return? Matt is joined by Times Political Editor Steve Swinford to bring you the definitive guide to the Committee, the key evidence for the prosecution and defence, and what it all means for Johnson's future. Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss...

David Owen became foreign secretary aged just 38, before going on to break away from Labour as one of the ‘Gang of Four’ and lead the SDP. He talks to Matt about this defining moment in British political history, the legacy of the party today and whether prime ministers suffer from 'hubris syndrome'. Plus columnists India Knight and James Marriott rate MPs on their TikTok skills and discuss politi...

Matt looks at the government's new plan to get seven million adults back into a job. He speaks to Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, who says he's not trying to stop people playing golf, while listeners share their reasons for leaving the employment market. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matt Charlton discuss the death of the midlife crisis, when Britpop turned on Tony Blair, and Jere...

It's Budget day, and we've been on a Jeremy Hunt - talking to people around the country called Jeremy who all look after the finances of a local club, society or association. Matt is joined by Patrick Maguire for PMQs Unpacked, pausing and unpacking the action from the Commons chamber as Keir Starmer accuses Rishi Sunak of stoking a culture war. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Cramp...

Matt is joined by three men whose daughters took their own lives to talk about their campaign for suicide prevention to become part of the school curriculum. Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen are known as the '3 Dads Walking' because they've raised more than £1m for charity through a series of walks in memory of their daughters Sophie, Beth and Emily.   Plus: Brand new columnist pairi...

Ahead of this week's budget Matt jets around the G7 to speak to a raft of international correspondents who lay out the economic problems they're facing, and the policy solutions they're implementing. The Times' Economics Editor Mehreen Khan rounds things off by previewing what's to come in Jeremy Hunt's statement on Wednesday. Plus columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on the resolution of...

From Ron Burgundy to Jeremy Corbyn's 'strong message here', Matt looks at what happens when the TV autocue goes wrong. He speaks to Lauri Plesco, the woman who has operated the teleprompter for almost every US president since Jimmy Carter. Plus columnists Katy Balls and Jimmy McLoughlin discuss Rishi Sunak's day trip to Paris, whether the prime minister is on a roll, and whether lawyers really are...

It's 170 years since Gladstone commissioned the Northcote-Trevelyan review, which gave birth to the impartial civil service. Why has the system survived, and is it now under threat? Matt speaks to former cabinet secretary Lord Butler, who ran Whitehall under Thatcher, Major and Blair, and to the co-creator of 'Yes Minister' Jonathan Lynn, who reveals which modern minister is heir to Jim Hacker. Pl...

Matt is joined by Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and the politics students of Vyners School to pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. Keir Starmer says the government's illegal migration bill won't deter channel crossings, while Rishi Sunak calls Starmer 'just another lefty lawyer'. Plus columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss Gary Lineker, making flashing a criminal...

Ahead of Rishi Sunak's trip to France for the first Anglo-French summit in five years, Matt discusses the state of relations between Paris and London. He's joined by the former ambassador to the UK Sylvie Bermann, and a French teacher gives the prime minister tips for his conversation with Emmanuel Macron. Plus columnists Iain Martin and Dorothy Byrne discuss the government's plan to stop sma...

Sir Jeremy Fleming, the director of the intelligence agency GCHQ, is stepping down after nearly six years in the role. Matt speaks to two of his predecessors, Sir David Omand and Sir Francis Richards, about what it takes to run the UK's intelligence, cyber and security agency. Plus columnists Rachel Sylvester and John Stevens on Boris Johnson putting his dad forward for a knighthood, why Keir...

The Northern Ireland Minister and self-styled Brexit hardman Steve Baker sits down with Matt and Times Political Editor Steve Swinford for a frank discussion about the severe depression and anxiety he has suffered since the EU referendum. He also discusses Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal, being the admin on every Whatsapp group in Westminster, and says it's fanciful to think Boris Johnson could return t...

In 2021 Frank Field, now Lord Field, was told he had weeks to live. 18 months on he tells Matt he's published his memoirs and is 'just happily waiting for the end'. He talks about his faith, his clashes with Gordon Brown, his relationship with Margaret Thatcher and his advice to Jeremy Corbyn. Plus: Columnists India Knight and Jimmy McLoughlin discuss doing government business on Whatsapp, politic...

Matt is joined by Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. Keir Starmer claims that the average family in Britain will be poorer than in Poland by 2030, and Rishi Sunak says the Labour leader should stop making unfunded spending commitments. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss Matt Hancock's Whatsapp messages, docking child...

Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch have been the cleverest duo on the podcast for nearly three years. Today Matt and Danny say goodbye to David, who is leaving The Times, with an hour long special in which they discuss the Brexit deal, trust in politicians and listener questions for the 'Cerberus of Columnists'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Betty Boothroyd, the first female speaker of the House of Commons, has died aged 93. Matt is joined by current speaker Sir Lindsey Hoyle to reflect on her no-nonsense style, humour and charm. And Nigeria decides: After Africa's most populous country went to the polls over the weekend to choose a new president, we hear how the election is unfolding and what's at stake. Plus columnists Rachel Sylves...

Matt hosted this year's Parliamentary Book Awards, where he sat down with winner and children's TV legend Floella Benjamin. Columnists Manveen Rana and Katy Balls discuss the surprising number of people who want to be Tory MPs, the public's continued support for Ukraine, and Therese Coffey's suggestion that we eat more turnips. Plus: Matt heads to Turnips restaurant in London's Borough Market to f...

The Times Radio focus group returns, this time with a group who voted Conservative in 2019 but say they currently plan to back Labour. Matt is joined by James Johnson from J.L Partners to discuss his findings, which aren't all good news for Keir Starmer - one voter calls him a 'wooden turncoat'. Plus columnists James Marriott and Jane Merrick on the government's plan to reduce the backlog for asyl...

Matt is joined by Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. Rishi Sunak says he'll keep fighting until he gets a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland, while Keir Starmer asks if he'll let MPs vote on his plan. Plus columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss whether Digital ID cards are inevitable, why there's a tomato shortage, and Rober...

After SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes faces questions about her views on gay marriage, Matt discusses the role of faith in politics with columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch, while former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron says she should be honest about her religious beliefs. Plus: Over the last six months, employees at 60 British businesses have been taking part in an experiment - can...

Baroness Ashton was the first - and last - Briton to lead European foreign policy, with an in-tray including Iran's nuclear programme, natural disasters and talks in Ukraine during the 2014 pro-democracy protests. She tells Matt what it was like to sit across the table from Putin, and whether she became a lightning rod for critics of the EU at home. Plus columnists Rachel Sylvester and Camilla Lon...

Twenty years on from the march against the Iraq War, Patrick Maguire is joined by historian Phil Tinline to ask whether protests ever actually work. They hear from some of the people who have organised the UK's biggest recent marches, including the ban on fox hunting, tuition fees and Brexit, to reflect on how effective their protests really were.  Plus the New Statesman's Rachel Cunliffe and...

Patrick Maguire get's the latest polling on Nicola Sturgeon’s possible successor with Dr Emily Gray from Ipsos and explores the wider implication of her resignation on the UK political landscape. Expert analysis comes from former deputy leader for the SNP Jim Sillars, Scottish Political Editor Kieran Andrews and Katy Balls from The Spectator.   Plus columnists Manveen Rana and James Marr...