Politics Unpacked

Matt and Tim Shipman are back to pause and unpack the exchanges at the first PMQs of 2023, which sees Keir Starmer accuse Rishi Sunak of going from 'clapping nurses to sacking them' and MPs condemning comments by Andrew Bridgen. Plus columnists Robert Crampton and Manveen Rana discuss whether we're getting used to strikes, if it's OK to wear slippers to work, and a new technology that can create a...

After Ken Clarke told us better-off patients may have to start paying for GP appointments, Matt looks at the case for reforming general practice and hears about other healthcare systems around the world. Plus columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on exclusive polling for the programme showing that just eight per cent of people would be "delighted" by a Conservative victory, and why p...

Matt's back, and he's joined by political big beast Ken Clarke to discuss a career spanning more than 50 years in the Commons and some of the biggest jobs in government. The former health secretary thinks the well-off may have to start paying to see a GP. Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss whether the Duke of Sussex should be removed from the line of succession, and whether Labou...

How can the smaller political parties win in 2023 when the electoral system is stacked against them and they are struggling for the public's attention? Patrick Maguire sitting in for Matt talks to YouGov's Tanya Abraham, The Times' Political Reporter Geri Scott and the Green Party Deputy Leader Zack Polanski, before taking a look at the electoral map around the UK. Plus: Columnists Melanie Reid an...

The Liberal Democrats are stuck at a distant third in the opinion polls, with a leader many people still haven't heard of. Do a series of by-election wins mean they could once again be a serious electoral force? Patrick Maguire sitting in for Matt, is joined by the Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper, YouGov's Tanya Abraham and journalist Nick Tyrone. He also speaks to historian and author John Cam...

Patrick Maguire in for Matt Chorley talks to the architect of New Labour, the former cabinet minister Lord Mandelson. They discuss Keir Starmer "sorting out the extremists" within the party, the challenge still facing him to get Labour into power and the need to avoid political gimmicks. Plus columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton ask what's the point of politicians making new year relaunch...

Are the Conservatives heading for a period out of office, or can they confound expectations before the next General Election? Sitting in for Matt, Patrick Maguire speaks to Tory-watchers Henry Hill, Salma Shah and pollster Patrick English. They're joined by former cabinet minister David Davis, who thinks Sunak is in with a chance but says "God help us" if Boris Johnson returns. Plus: Finkelvitch i...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week In this episode, Harriet Harman, Ed Miliband, Jeremy Corbyn and...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week In this episode, Margaret Beckett, William Hague, Iain Duncan-S...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week In this episode, Robert Carr, Michael Foot, Neil Kinnock and Jo...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week In this episode, Herbert Morrison, Arthur Greenwood, Hugh Gaits...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week In this episode,  George Lansbury, James Maxton, Hast...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week. In this episode Sir Edward Carson, William Adamson, Sir Donald...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week In this episode, Sir William Harcourt, John Spencer, George Rob...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week In this episode its Spencer Cavendish, Sir Stafford Northcote,...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week. On this episode you'll hear about Granville Leveson-Gower,&nbs...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast. In this episode you'll hear about John Spencer, Lord George Bentinck, Ch...

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies has gone through every Leader of the Opposition and as a festive treat you'll be able to listen to each episode on the podcast this week. In the first episode it's Charles James Fox, George Ponsonby,...

Matt Chorley is joined by a live audience for Politics Without the Boring Quiz, a test of how much the teams can remember from the most exciting, exhausting, febrile and funny political year since the last one. The politicians: Angela Rayner and Dehenna Davison Times Radio: Mariella Frostrup and Hugo Rifkind The Times: Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Matt is Chorls Dickens, telling the story of Eber-Rishi Scrooge as he is visited by the spirit of his former business partner Jacob Rees-Marley, and the ghosts of prime ministers past, present and future. Will Scrooge learn from his mistakes, and plan a new year relaunch? Plus the latest installment of the Times Radio Columnists Festive Focus Group, led by former Number 10 pollster James Johnson,...

In the final Disunited Kingdom of 2022, Matt Chorley puts some of our favourite journalists from around the UK to the test with a quiz of the fun local stories they have submitted throughout the year. Plus the latest installment of the Times Radio Columnists Festive Focus Group, led by former Number 10 pollster James Johnson. The group nominates their biggest winners and losers of the year. H...

Prue Leith is already a successful chef, author, dame and queen of the Bake Off tent, but she has her sights on another title: a peerage. She speaks to Matt Chorley about why she'd like to join the House of Lords, why Finland is so good at teaching children about food, and her upcoming one-woman show. Plus the second installment of the Times Radio Columnists Festive Focus Group, led by former...

Plenty of former MPs, advisers and political journalists have tried their hand at writing fiction, and they often turn to the drama and skulduggery of Westminster for inspiration. So what makes a good political novel? Matt Chorley speaks to Conservative peer and House of Cards author Michael Dobbs, who says if he wrote a sequel he would introduce new, younger characters. Plus the first instal...

Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire analyse the dramatic scenes at Westminster 50 years ago, when a protest by MPs against rising unemployment caused uproar and led to the Commons being suspended. The events of the day are recreated by actor and impressionist Kieran Hodgson, before Matt speaks to a minister in Edward Heath’s government about his memories of the time.  Plus Times columnist Melani...

The Times Radio focus group meets for the last time this year. Matt Chorley is joined by James Johnson from J.L. Partners to see what floating voters make of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, and whether they've heard of Jeremy Hunt. Plus columnists Manveen Rana and James Marriott discuss how much they'd be willing to pay to hear Boris Johnson give a speech, whether farmers will vote Conservative, and...