Politics Unpacked

On the 21st of February 1972, President Nixon landed in China - Matt Chorley asks how that visit changed US/ China relations in the following 50 years. PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Bishop of Exeter about levelling up the south west and talks about politics in the area with Patrick English from YouGov and the University of Exeter's Dr Hannah Bunting. Plus Alice Thomson and Sir Michael Barber discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As veteran MPs quit the Commons, a new Yougov poll for Times Radio reveals 1 in 5 want to be an MP. Matt Chorley speaks to those leaving and those looking to arrive in the Commons about what life is like on the green-benches. PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott discuss the latest scandal to hit the Royal Family and new curriculum guidelines for schools.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Matt Chorley speaks to journalists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to get the news from the four corners of the UK. This week: How do attitudes towards immigration differ in each country? PLUS: James Forsyth and Rosamund Urwin discuss what the government can do about the cost of living crisis and Britain's baby shortage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

Live from Glasgow, Matt Chorley speaks to Polling guru Sir John Curtice to take the temperature of Scottish politics before Ross Greer from the Scottish Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole Hamilton debate the role of the smaller parties. PLUS Helen Stewart and Kenny Farquharson discuss the days news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar about problems for the party and whether they can regain Labour's lost love. PLUS Melanie Reid and Alex Massie discuss Boris Johnson's leadership and Valentine's Day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Tony Blair, Donald Trump, Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson. Well...sort of. Five lookalikes explain what it's like impersonating British politicians. PLUS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss British Foreign policy towards Europe in the face of the Ukraine crisis, and whether Scotland could introduce women-only train carriages. Hosted on Acast. See aca...

With all the job changes in Downing Street, Matt Chorley speaks to Jack Brown, the former Historian in residence at 10 Downing Street and author of "Number 10 and hears from former advisers and permanent secretaries on why where you sit in No 10 really matters. Plus the Times' James Marriott and Carol Lewis talk about being envious and Labour's stance on defence. Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Matt Chorley and Chief Political Commentator of the Sunday Times Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. PLUS Alibert: Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss heshuffle, teachers and farmers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Times’ Crime and Security Editor Fiona Hamilton, Regional London Director of the IOPC, Sal Naseem, and he speaks to two former Met heads Dr Victor Olisa and Shabnam Chaudri. And Finkelvitch, Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on when jokes have gone too far and University Challenge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite raising taxes Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak think they're Thatcherites, but some of their MPs think they're socialists. We speak to the people who knew the Iron Lady best to find out what Thatcherism is... Plus Rachel Cunliffe and Rachel Sylvester discuss the day's news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, he's learning about each Leader of the Opposition with Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies. Each month you'll find a collection of episodes on the podcast. This month it's Charles James Fox, George Ponsonby, George Tierney and Henry Pet...

What is the press gallery? Hundreds of journalists across different media organisations are now able to report from the Houses of Parliament. We take you back to 1738 where journalists had to fight to be able to report on what went on in the House of Commons with News UK archivist Nick Mays, former Political Editor of the Times, Philip Webster and Times Radio's Carole Walker. Plus columnists chat...

Matt Chorley speaks to Veteran Political Journalist Michael Crick about his incredibly detailed biography of Brexit's Nigel Farage "One Party After Another". PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott on the cost of living crisis and Botox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Chief Political Commentator of the Sunday Times Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. PLUS ALIBERT: Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss the Office of the Prime Minister and men behaving badly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After explosive scenes in the House of Commons, Matt Chorley unpacks what happened with the Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire. PLUS FINKELVITCH: Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch talk about the relationship between politicians and police and Jimmy Savile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to an unofficial focus group of women called Sue Gray to find out what they think about the report and Boris Johnson. Plus Opinium pollster Chris Curtis goes through what the public think. COLUMNISTS Rachel Sylvester and Susie Boniface talk about levelling up and Boris Johnson's chances in the next general election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt dives into the real spiking threat in nightclubs with chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee Dame Diana Johnson, St John's Ambulance, nightclub operator Peter Marks and student organisations trying to tackle this at their universities. PLUS FORMEL: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid talk tax, Johnson's plea to MPs and political location hotspots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

Matt Chorley speaks to the former Editor of the Jewish Chronicle about Holocaust Memorial Day and the threat of anti-Semitism in the UK today.  PLUS James Marriott and Martha Gill discuss reasons to be positive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and The Sunday Times' Tim Shipman pause the action and ring the bell in yet another Prime Minister's Questions dominated by Partygate and the prospect of Sue Gray's report.  PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the top stories of the day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Liz Truss continues negotiations to fix the Northern Ireland protocol, Matt Chorley speaks to political analysts and MPs on both sides of the Assembly to ask whether the island of Ireland is on the path to reunification. PLUS Danny Finklestein and David Aaronovitch react to the Police announcing that they will investigate Downing Street parties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

Matt Chorley speaks to Times Diplomatic Correspondent Catherine Philp, Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox, former UK Ambassador to Ukraine Leigh Turner and others to find out what's happening in Ukraine and what it means for the UK and the rest of the world. PLUS Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss the latest from Westminster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone is talking about letters of no confidence this week so Matt looks through letters which have shaped politics down the years, from campaigns to get prime ministers to change their policies, to Harold Wilson's letter to Daniel Finkelstein about watching the muppets. Daniel Finklestein, Dr Kit Kowol and Professor Richard Toye speak what we can learn from political letters. PLUS FORMEL: James...

What makes a politician defect and change political sides? Matt talks to four politicians who decided to jump and how they kept it a secret including; Alan Howarth, Douglas Carswell, Anna Soubry and Dr Phillip Lee. PLUS KNIGHT AT THE MARRIOTT... India Knight and James Marriott discuss taking responsibility and why rule breakers get ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

As Boris Johnson claims 'he was not told' the Downing Street party would breach lockdown regulations, Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire pause the action between the exchanges at the dispatch box to explain what's going on. PLUS  Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss Boris Johnson's leadership woes and swimming in the Serpentine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.