Times Radio

Politics Unpacked

News EN ↓ 1980 episodes

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times. You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at  http://www.thetimes.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author

Times Radio

Category

News

Podcast website

www.thetimes.co.uk

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

Nick Clegg and Ed Balls 13.09.2016

Matt Chorley joins Nick Clegg to reflect on his time as Deputy Prime Minister; plus, the Red Box editor also chats to Ed Balls as the former Member of Parliament prepares for his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can the Labour Party be saved? 06.09.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by Tory MP James Cleverly, Labour MP Emma Reynolds and SNP MP Stewart McDonald to debate the future of the Labour Party, Theresa May's impossible job and whether the SNP have peaked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live Red Box - Britain After Brexit Part 2 01.09.2016

Host Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists Matthew Parris, Patrick Kidd and Alice Thomson to answer questions from the audience on life since the Brexit vote. Recorded live at a Times+ members event in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live Red Box - Britain After Brexit 31.08.2016

Recorded live at a Times+ members event in London. Host Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists Matthew Parris, Patrick Kidd and Alice Thomson to discuss life since the Brexit vote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will Theresa May run the country? 23.08.2016

Host Matt Chorley is joined by Times policy editor Oli Wright who thinks Labour are turning into Ukip, political reporter Henry Zeffman who has been keeping score on Labour's turf wars and Jill Rutter on 'freakery' in Number 10. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Witnessing the arc of disappointment 19.07.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by The Times' Deputy Political Editor Sam Coates, political adviser, strategist and commentator John McTernan and Times' Head of News Fay Schlesinger. The Red Box podcast is taking a short break and will return 23rd August. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dawn of May 12.07.2016

Three weeks ago the polls told us Britain would stay in the EU. David Cameron was the Prime Minister. Boris Johnson and George Osborne were frontrunners to replace him. Michael Gove was spoken of as a Deputy Prime Minister. Nigel Farage was Ukip leader. Jeremy Corbyn had a full cabinet. Stephen Crabb was a committed family man. And Andrea Leadsom was the Minister of State for energy who was told t...

Leaving is the new black 05.07.2016

Host Matthew Chorley is joined by Times columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Jenni Russell plus Professor of Politics and Red Box regular Matthew Goodwin. The panel discuss the choppy waters of post-Brexit Britain and the uncertain future facing Labour, Ukip and the Conservative Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a mess 28.06.2016

To pick up the figurative pieces post-EU referendum, Matt Chorley chairs an emotional and heated discussion on what comes next after Britain voted to leave the EU.Featuring Times columnists Tim Montgomerie, Phil Collins and Deputy Editor Emma Tucker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain votes to leave 24.06.2016

Red Box Editor Matt Chorley discusses the fall out of the ‪#‎EUReferendum‬ results with the Sunday Times' Political Editor, Tim Shipman. Note - this recording was live streamed for The Times and The Sunday Times Facebook feed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Finishing Line Approaches 21.06.2016

With the respective EU Referendum campaigns nearing the finishing line, host Matt Chorley reflects on the highlights and lowlights of what has been a long, rigorous period of fiery debate. With The Times' Sketch Writer Patrick Kidd, Political Reporter Georgie Keate and diarist Grant Tucker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour leadership rumblings 14.06.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by Senior Political Correspondent at The Times, Lucy Fisher, who contemplates the future of Labour's leadership. Columnist Tim Montgomerie also joins the panel to discuss political scoring following the tragic events in Orlando, plus Times reporter Lucy Bannerman talks about when interviews go wrong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Frank discussions": Amber Rudd on Andrea Leadsom 10.06.2016

Amber Rudd, the pro-Remain energy secretary, on her relationship with junior energy minister Andrea Leadsom, who back Brexit. Recorded during the Red Box podcast on May 31. Listen to the full episode: https://soundcloud.com/times-comment/eu-referendum-the-debate-heats-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Place Your Bets 06.06.2016

As the EU referendum draws nearer, host Matt Chorley delves deeper into the analysis of the latest polls, betting odds and social media strategies. Panel: Michael Savage - Times' Chief Political Correspondent Claire Emes - IpsosMoriMatthew Shaddick - Ladbrokes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Hilton interview 31.05.2016

Matt Chorley talks to the former director of strategy for David Cameron, Steve Hilton, about his relationship with the Prime Minister, the practicalities of Governance, his stance on the EU referendum and his current business in California. www.thetimes.co.uk/redbox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EU Referendum - the debate heats up 24.05.2016

EU Referendum special: In the blue corner, representing Vote Remain, host Matt Chorley is joined by Conservative MP and Energy Secretary Amber Rudd. And in the red corner, Parliamentary spokesperson for Ukip, Suzanne Evans, speaks out for Vote Leave. Deputy Political Editor at The Times, Sam Coates, also joins proceedings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Bennett shows why strong leadership matters 17.05.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by The Times' Head of News Fay Schlesinger, Anthony Wells from YouGov and Chief Political Correspondent for The Times, Michael Savage. Fay Schlesinger:A drive to weed out and punish Universities that deliver poor-quality teaching is a step forward as higher education becomes bigger and more expensive. But let’s not allow the system to become homogenised. Everyone remembers t...

Westminster Special: Ask The Experts 10.05.2016

In a Westminster special, Matt Chorley is joined by Stewart McDonald MP, former Labour Party advisor Ayesha Hazarika and political sketch-writer and diarist for The Times, Patrick Kidd. The panel answer questions from the public about working and living in Westminster. Plus additional contributions from Deputy Politics Editor Sam Coates and Business writer Callum Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

London mayoral race is a soup of consensus 03.05.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by Times Deputy Editor Emma Tucker, Chief Leader writer Giles Whittell and columnist Phil Collins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Junior doctors' strike - a more balanced approach is needed 26.04.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by columnist David Aaronovitch, Business reporter Callum Jones and Red Box writer Hannah McGrath. David Aaronovitch:The BMA say the strike is the government's fault and the government says it's the BMA's. As in the bad old days the sides - an particularly the doctors - have become polarised beyond the reach of reason. From having been a question of how to staff hospitals pro...

The EU Referendum debate needs to appeal to the public 18.04.2016

Host Matt Chorley is joined by ex-Blair spin doctor John McTernan, former Home Office advisor Fiona Hill and Red Box columnist Matt Smith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have we missed the point on the Panama Papers? 12.04.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Jenni Russell who thinks we've missed the point on the Panama Papers, deputy political editor Sam Coates who warns we don't understand how Westminster works and Times political editor Francis Elliott who explains why Number 10 is banking on Jeremy Corbyn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special: a denial of Spin Doctors 29.03.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by a "denial" of Spin Doctors. Ayesha Hazarika - who had the unenviable task of trying to make Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman sound funny. Katie Perrior - whose PR magic helped get Boris Johnson into City Hall. Sean Kemp - who knows more about Nick Clegg and the inner workings of the Lib Dems than is healthy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does George Osborne lack emotional intelligence? 22.03.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by columnist Rachel Sylvester on the fall out from Iain Duncan Smith's resignation, politics professor Matthew Goodwin on the EU referendum and columnist Hugo Rifkind on the boat on everyone's lips, 'Boaty McBoatface'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Donald Trump be blocked? 15.03.2016

Matt Chorley is joined by Senior Political Correspondent Lucy Fisher, European Football Writer (and fellow Times podcast presenter) Gabriele Marcotti, plus Property Editor and Assistant Editor of The Times Anne Ashworth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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