Politics Unpacked

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Philip Webster and Alice Thomson. Rachel Sylvester: “Ukip has been dismissed as “fruitcakes and loonies”, “gadflies and cranks”.  Nigel Farage’s “barmy army” is cynical and hypocritical, with a streak of nastiness running through it.  But the other parties ignore it at their peril.  Ukip is a symptom of deep social and economic divides.”Philip Webster...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Roger Boyes, Ann Treneman and Matt Ridley. Ukraine gave away its nuclear arsenal 20 years ago. Roger Boyes asks if the country would have fared better in its showdown with Russia if it had kept the bomb. 'Why don't the media take Nigel Farage seriously?' Asks Ann Treneman, after attending UKIP's national spring conference in Torquay. Is he really the most interesting p...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Alice Thomson and Libby Purves. Hugo Rifkind says it's not the fault of the NHS or the Government that a pioneering programme to create a shared database of patient information has been suspended. It's ours. Are we too shrill when it comes to personal data? Alice Thomson suggests that we need to teach girls to be more robust and to realise that A* grades...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Juliet Samuel and Fay Schlesinger. David Aaronovitch looks at the forthcoming Scottish referendum for independence and says 'up until now, the 'Yes' people have been able to fantasise about how easily an independent Scotland will be able to dictate its own separation terms.' But has this fantasy been given a reality check? Juliet Samuel asks if the B...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Oliver Kamm and Roger Boyes. Jenni Russell agrees in the principles of banning smoking in cars where children are present, after MPs voted in the law this week, however, will it end up - in practice - as yet another pointless and unenforceable law? Oliver Kamm states that 'The Swiss vote to curb EU immigration is a depressing indication of the potency of...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Collins, Matthew Parris and Rachel Sylvester. Subscribers to The Times will be familiar with the passionate divide of opinion between Philip Collins and Matthew Parris regarding the qualities of David Cameron's leadership. Philip Collins argues that David Cameron has yet to answer the question of what kind of country he wants to lead - "what would a second-term...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Ian King, David Aaronovitch and Libby Purves. Ian King argues that Labour, led by Ed Miliband, has abandoned any pretence that they will form a constructive working relationship with business or wealth-creators with his pledge to reintroduce the 50p additional rate of income tax. David Aaronovitch says that parties strive to emphasise their differences where there is l...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Alice Thomson and Matthew Parris. Daniel Finkelstein argues the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats must spend much political energy on a divorce agreement, a protocol for the last year of office and the conduct of a General Election. Alice Thomson discusses the role of institutional care from a personal perspective. Matthew Parris sympathises with...

Phil Collins is once again in the hot seat and joined by Peter Brookes, Matthew Parris and Ann Treneman. Peter Brookes talks about forming opinions on a variety of issues using his heart over his head. Is it dangerous to form strong opinions without expert knowledge? Matthew Parris wants a crackdown on the 'anti-Europe' ring-leaders in the Conservative Party. Does there need to be more honesty fro...

Phil Collins is in the hot seat this week and is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Daniel Finkelstein and Hugo Rifkind. Rachel Sylvester assess David Cameron reverting to type on his current stance on welfare, immigration, crime, Europe and pensioners. Nigel Farage recently suggested that Enoch Powell's "basic principle" - that immigration causes tension - is still relevant today. Hugo Rifkind argues th...

Special 2014 edition: Tim Montgomerie is joined by Ann Treneman, Roger Boyes and David Aaronovitch to discuss some potential big talking points in the year ahead. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-readSubscribe to The Times: www.thetimes.co.uk' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Extended special enhanced edition: Tim Montgomerie is joined by cartoonist Peter Brookes, and columnists Jenni Russell and Hugo Rifkind to review the biggest talking points of 2013.Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-readSubscribe to The Times: www.thetimes.co.uk' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Matthew Parris and Ian King to discuss how shaking up the private education system could lead to a more meritocratic society, the cutting of benefits for larger families and the sluggish financial recovery in the Eurozone. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Subscribe to The Times: www.thetimes.co.ukProfilesTim Montgomerie - htt...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Roger Boyes, Libby Purves and Matthew Syed to discuss what lessons can be drawn in governance from Nelson Mandela's political temperament in South Africa, the impact of raising the age of retirement and the morality in medical ethics. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Subscribe to The Times: www.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Daniel Finkelstein and Ann Treneman to discuss the Coalition Government's management of the energy market, Boris Johnson's sentiment that greed is useful, plus the panel debate sensitivity in popular debate. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Subscribe to The Times: www.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Phil Collins, Juliet Samuel and Phil Webster to discuss modernisation in the Conservative Party, how much the Co-op scandal will hurt Labour and the Tomlinson report into the Royal Bank of Scotland. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Subscribe to The Times: www.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The worth of the wealthy, the price of a degree and a new generation in the Shadow Cabinet. Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Jenni Russell and Rachel Sylvester to debate Boris Johnson's claims that the rich are propping up the UK's ailing economy. Also, are too many graduates chasing too few jobs? Plus, the panel discuss a new generation in the Shadow Cabinet. Subscribe in iTunes: itune...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Libby Purves, Philip Collins and David Aaronovitch to discuss the problem of rising house prices in London which are slamming the door on future Dick Whittingtons, plus John Major's recent intervention in politics and the ban of Malala Yousafzai's book in Pakistan. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Subscribe to The Times: www.thetimes.co.uk...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Matthew Parris, Daniel Finkelstein and Rachel Sylvester to discuss 'tribal' segmentation strategy in political campaigning, the relationship between economic growth and the cost of living, plus where should we draw the line when it comes to reporting suspicious pedophiliac activity? Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Subscribe to The Times: w...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Alice Thompson and Hugo Rifkind to discuss the UK's diplomatic relations in regards to agenda equality, digital data surveillance and personal liability in face of potential risk. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Subscribe to The Times: www.store.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Matthew Parris and Ann Treneman to discuss casual mendacity in the Police force, Nick Clegg's call for tighter controls on free schools and the Conservative Party's attitude towards the populist right. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-readSubscribe to The Times: www.store.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Francis Elliott and Jenni Russell to discuss Britain's relationship with China and India, the latest Labour reshuffle and the proliferation of political debate in the UK. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-readSubscribe to The Times: www.store.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Collins, Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson to discuss the standing of each party leader after conference season. Is Cameron trying to do nothing? Is Miliband just un-prime ministerial? And is Nick Clegg even smugger than before? Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-readSubscribe to The Times: www.store.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Hugo Rifkind, David Aaronovitch and Ann Treneman to discuss the new leaders of the church and our online prejudices. Subscribe in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read/id660638948?mt=2Subscribe to The Times: www.store.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the company of Philip Collins, Rachel Sylvester and Danny Finkelstein, Tim Montgomerie introduces this special episode and picks his five key moments from this political season. You can subscribe for free in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-y…id660638948?mt=2RSS feed: feeds.soundcloud.com/users/47147192…comment/tracksSubscribe to The Times for the best in news, sport and comment: store.t...