Vintage Politics

Keir Starmer is preparing to leave Downing Street — and Andy Burnham is waiting in the wings. James Lyons, Starmer's former Director of Strategic Communications, joins me to unpack what went wrong, what happens next, and whether Labour is about to open a very different political vintage. And in a Vintage Politics first, we'll be tasting our guest's own vintage wine in person — alongsid...

From advising some of the biggest names in British politics to finding freedom in comedy, this week on the last Vintage Politics of the series I’m joined by Baroness Hazarika, broadcaster, comedian, former political adviser and now member of the House of Lords. Over a series of remarkable wines (and the first rosé of the series) we talk about the pressures of family expectation, navigating Westmin...

In this penultimate episode of Vintage Politics series one I’m joined by Lord Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong, who oversaw the historic 1997 handover. We look back at that pivotal moment and ask how relations between Hong Kong, China and the West have shifted and, in his view, deteriorated in the years since. We also explore why the University of Oxford seems to produce so many British prim...

A true heavyweight of political journalism joins Vintage Politics. This week, John Pienaar brings decades of reporting from the front line of politics to the podcast — with candid insights on Boris Johnson, Brexit and why it remains “lying in the bloodstream of our politics”, US presidential elections, and the legendary political all-nighters that sometimes ended with a champagne breakfast. It’s a...

Decca Aitkenhead, Chief Interviewer of The Sunday Times, joins Vintage Politics for a lively, free-flowing conversation over a glass or two. She shares her love of Sauvignon Blanc and is introduced to an aged white from Alsace—an experience she expresses as just “weird.” In a wide ranging career she has interviewed major political players from Hillary Clinton to Nigel Farage, getting to know the c...

Guto Harri, The Savoy, ambition and fine wine collide in this week’s Vintage Politics. The former Downing Street Director of Communications, journalist and strategist spills all over a carefully chosen glass or two or three. Guto revisits his years alongside Boris Johnson with a sharper edge. Behind the theatre and bravado, he paints a picture of a man he tried to pull back from the brink of Brexi...

This week on Vintage Politics, we’re joined by Jo Coburn a broadcaster whose career has taken her far beyond the Westminster studio. From reporting on a Prime Ministerial Afghanistan visit to travelling with the political press pack during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Jo Coburn has witnessed global politics up close as well as at home. Alongside reflections on decades of political change, she also s...

This week’s guest is better known for his satirical sketches and Trigger Happy TV than his love of politics. That insight would be wrong! Dom Joly is a lover of both wine and politics, which makes him the perfect guest on the show. From his self-confessed love of champagne and Lebanese wines to stories that feel almost too surreal to be true — including accidentally breaking David Mellor’s glasses...

In the very first episode of Vintage Politics, broadcaster Jon Sopel—best known for The News Agents and his time as the BBC’s North America Editor—looks back on a career spent at the heart of global power. From covering the chaos of Trump-era Washington, including his own headline-making clash with the former president, to reporting across Europe, Jon shares what it’s really like to navigate polit...

In this episode of Vintage Politics, veteran broadcaster Nick Robinson reflects on a career spent covering the people and moments that shape modern history—including his encounters with former US President George W. Bush. With decades of experience at the heart of British political journalism, Nick offers a sharp and thoughtful perspective on power, leadership, and the evolving relationship betwee...

Missiles in the sky, stories from the frontline—and a glass of Bekaa Valley red. Anna Foster on reporting, resilience, and wine. In this episode of Vintage Politics, broadcaster Anna Foster reflects on her time reporting from Lebanon—where the reality of conflict was never far away, and nights could be lit by missiles streaking across the sky. Amid the intensity of frontline journalism, Anna share...

Vintage Politics — Coming 26th March. Uncorking the stories behind the headlines. Join Abbie Bennington and guests as political storytelling meets exceptional wine. Each week, leading journalists and political insiders revisit the defining moments of their careers — paired with wines from the same vintage. Featuring Jon Sopel, Nick Robinson, Guto Harri, Dom Joly, Anna Foster, Jo Coburn, John Piena...