Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
Episodes
'It's been a whirlwind': Zack Polanski on storytelling, Zionism and Zackonomics
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Few people have done more to shape politics in recent months than the Green Party Leader in England and Wales, Zack Polanski. In his Political Thinkin...
From Sky boss to Number 10: Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Griffith on why government sometimes has to say 'no' and why Rupert Murdoch was the "best boss".The Shadow Business Secretary was once the youn...
'We cannot have chaos': Emily Thornberry on the law of war and Labour's struggles
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Foreign Affairs Committee Chair on Iran, Trump's 'asteroid of awfulness' and the 'grief' she felt after being dropped by Starmer.Emily Thornberry ...
'This is Iran's Berlin Wall moment': Omid Djalili, comedian and actor
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The British-Iranian comic on revolutions, Kensington, 9/11 jokes, King Charles and Iran's future.Omid Djalili has become one of the loudest voices in ...
'We're appeasing the tech bros': Beeban Kidron, from film-maker to lawmaker
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What links Bridget Jones to social media regulation?The answer: Baroness Beeban Kidron. In 2004 she directed the Bridget Jones sequal. 20 years later,...
Nigel Farage: 'Broken Britain', national identity and lessons from Trump
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A frank conversation with the leader of Reform UK.Nigel Farage has put his party on a "general election war footing" and says he is preparing for powe...
How to tell England’s story: James Graham, playwright
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
James Graham joined Nick in the political thinking studio in late January, ahead of a this year's TV adaptation of his play Dear England.What did Gare...
From boxing to politics: Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How did the world heavyweight champion end up running a city of 3 million people in wartime?Vitali Klitschko joins Nick from the Ukrainian capital in ...
David Lammy: The old world order isn't coming back
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when US Vice President Vance goes drinking with Angela Rayner & David Lammy?
David Lammy: The old world order isn't coming back
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when US Vice President Vance goes drinking with Angela Rayner & David Lammy?The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary knows Ame...
The union leader who agrees with the Tory leader: Daniel Kebede
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The National Education Union's general secretary on banning social media, strikes and raceDaniel Kebede says he is "completely aligned" with Kemi Bade...
John Swinney: Trump, Independence and Scottish Troops in Ukraine
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What is the Scottish First Minister's secret for getting Donald Trump's attention?Nick is in Edinburgh to sit down with John Swinney, at the start of ...
Jordan Bardella: The 30-year-old populist hoping to be France's next president
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An exclusive interview on immigration, racism, Russia, Farage and Trump.Jordan Bardella is the leader of National Rally in France, and currently leadi...
Kemi Badenoch: Shooting from the hip
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why did the leader of the opposition call the chancellor 'spineless' and 'shameless'?Kemi Badenoch joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to refl...
Shabana Mahmood: Racism, Asylum and Me
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why is the Home Secretary warning against leaving space for "darker forces"?Shabana Mahmood sits down with Nick off the back of announcing sweeping ch...
'I'm preparing for government': Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can Plaid Cymru replace Labour as the party of power in Wales next year? Rhun ap Iorwerth, the party's leader, thinks so. Rhun ap Iorwerth joins Nick ...
'I like it when people underestimate me': Lib Dem leader Ed Davey
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ed Davey warns Starmer against handing Reform UK 'the keys into 10 Downing Street'Producer: Daniel Kraemer Research: Chloe Desave Sound: Ged Sudlow an...
Life after Labour: Zarah Sultana on Palestine, Farage and 'Your Party'
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How a trip to the West Bank in her teens set the Coventry MP on a path into politics.Zarah Sultana joins Nick in the studio a few weeks before the lau...
Gaza, Trump and me: UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Driving through Gaza is like "driving through the ruins of Hiroshima, or Stalingrad, or Dresden"Tom Fletcher has been the United Nations humanitarian ...
Net Zero has become a religion: Claire Coutinho on climate, identity and cooking
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Energy Minister has transformed her party's approach to climate policy.In this extended conversation, Claire Coutinho sets out what changed...
Free Speech Tsar: Arif Ahmed on how to avoid the 'abyss' of political violence
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you protect and police freedom of speech on campus and in society?Arif Ahmed is a Cambridge Philosopher who is now responsible for enforcing ne...
Bridget Phillipson on life as education secretary
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the two candidates to be deputy leader of Labour joins Nick at the end of party's conference in Liverpool.Bridget Phillipson opens up about how...
Preparing Farage for Power: Danny Kruger on defecting to Reform UK
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Danny Kruger had been at the heart of the Conservative Party since it was led by David Cameron, until he decided that party was "over".He is now a Ref...
Lucy Powell: People have lost sense of Labour's values
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy Powell on why and how she was sacked by Keir Starmer, and why she now wants to be his Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. Producer: Daniel Kraemer...
'Build Baby Build': The new housing secretary, Steve Reed
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Reed was given the job of Housing Secretary as the result of crisis, after the resignation of his close friend Angela Rayner.But he has been par...
China, Russia and us: Tony Radakin on four years as Chief of the Defence Staff
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An exclusive exit interview with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on the week he steps down as the UK's military chief.Radakin's time as head of the armed for...
The Friedrich Merz One
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The German Chancellor speaks candidly about Trump's attitude to Europe, war on the continent, and the future relationship BritainProducer: Daniel Krae...
The Josh Babarinde One
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Lib Dem Justice Spokesperson managed to persuade ministers to change domestic abuse law within a year of being elected to parliament. Josh Babarin...
The Keir Starmer Prime Minister One
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After some of the most tumultuous days of his premiership, Keir Starmer sits down with Nick in Downing Street, to reflect on a year in power. In a wid...
Trump's America: The Scott Perry One
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A Republican Congressman outlines the values that lie behind his conservative politics.Scott Perry is the Representative for Pennsylvania's 10th Distr...
The Douglas Alexander One
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Trade Minister explains how a penalty shootout played a role in his government appointment.Douglas Alexander has the same job that he had 20 years...
The Mel Stride One
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Chancellor sets out his vision for a more "thoughtful" politics and faces up to the challenge of winning the argument before the next gener...
The Jacinda Ardern One
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does it feel to be held up as the 'anti-Trump' by progressives across the globe?Jacinda Ardern was prime minister of New Zealand for 6 years and i...
The Tanni Grey-Thompson One
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After 15 years as a member of the House of Lords, Tanni Grey-Thompson reflects on how a career at the top of sport prepared her for the world of polit...
The Eluned Morgan One
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The First Minister of Wales sets a marker to the left of Keir Starmer, setting out her vision of a "Red Welsh Way", drawing inspiration from Gavin and...
The Richard Tice One
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Reform UK’s deputy leader reflects on a year of political success, a privileged upbringing and the cabinet job he’s eyeing upProducer: Daniel Krae...
The Joe Biden One
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, former president Joe Biden sits down with Nick Robinson for an exclusive interview, his first since leaving th...
Bonus: The Rishi Sunak Lessons from Downing Street One - Part 2
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the second, bonus instalment of this exclusive interview with the former prime minister, Rishi Sunak opens up about his time as Chancellor and Prim...
The Rishi Sunak Lessons from Downing Street One
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An exclsuive in-depth interview with the Rishi Sunak. In this first instalment, the former prime minister tells stories from behind the scenes on the ...
The Carla Denyer 2025 One
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales joins Nick for a conversation
The Heidi Alexander One
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Transport Secretary on Corbyn, Ukraine and growing up in SwindonProducer: Lauren Tavriger
The Charlie Taylor One
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales on how he went from being a teacher at a school for kids with beahvioural problems, to being the ...
The Zia Yusuf One
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who is the 38-year-old, Muslim, second-generation immigrant chairman of Reform UK?Zia Yusuf joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to tell his st...
The Chris Philp One
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Home Secretary joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to reflect on mistakes of the last government, humility in opposition and his an...
The Kim Leadbeater One
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Labour MP sits down with Nick to reflect on how she went from selling beds in her Yorkshire hometown, to being at the forefront of political debat...
The Rachel Reeves Chancellor One
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Chancellor reflects on her first six months in power and what lies behind her determination that she has "what it takes" to "turn things around".P...
The Nick Clegg One
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson speaks to Sir Nick Clegg about life as Mark Zuckerberg's right hand man at Meta and the transition from Westminster to Silicon Valley. H...
The Husam Zomlot One
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK reflects on a childhood in a Gaza refugee camp and how hope is what keeps him going.Update: This episode...
The Daisy Cooper One
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats reflects on her journey from campaigning as a child against nuclear weapons and scratchy jumpers, to being ...
The Mark Rowley One
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner reflects on the decision to rejoin the UK's largest police force when it was in crisis.Sir Mark Rowley sits down ...
The Darren Jones One
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury sits down with Nick to chart his rise to the heart of Starmer's government.How did a Bristol boy, whose parents so...
The Rupert Soames CBI One
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did Churchill's grandson end up at the top of British industry?Rupert Soames - Chair of the Confederation of British Industry - sits down with Nic...
The Kemi Badenoch for Leader One
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What shaped the views and principles that Kemi Badenoch hopes will help her win the race to become next leader of the Conservative Party?Nick Robinson...
The Matt Goodwin One
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The academic and author Matt Goodwin sat down with Nick Robinson in the aftermath of the riots that spread across the UK in the summer, to discuss whe...
The Tzipi Hotovely One
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Israeli Ambassador sits down with Nick Robinson on the week of the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack. They discuss what lies behind her wor...
The John Swinney One
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The First Minister of Scotland sits down with Nick to reflect on his reluctant path to power.Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Wes Streeting Health Secretary One
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Health Secretary sits down with Nick Robinson at the end of the Labour conference in Liverpool.Wes Streeting reflects on how his family role-model...
The Mick Whelan One
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mick Whelan is General Secretary of Aslef, the union representing train drivers. He sits down with Nick on the week that his members voted overwhelmin...
The James Cleverly for Leader One
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why does the former Home Secretary believe he has 'outperformed everyone else on this leadership ticket by a country mile'? How did growing up as a mi...
The Karim Khan International Prosecutor One
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court sits down with Nick Robinson.Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Jonathan Brunert
The Liz Kendall One
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the new Work and Pensions secretary about being at the centre of the Labour government's first row, taking on the scourge of wo...
The Robert Jenrick 2024 One
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Jenrick on what went wrong for the Conservative Party and how to turn it around
The Pat McFadden in Power One
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the man at the heart of the new Downing Street government.Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Caitlin Moran One
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author and columnist talks to Nick Robinson about why, after years of writing about women and girls, she decided to turn her attention to ...
The Victoria Atkins One
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a damning report into maternity services in England, the Health Secretary opens up about her own traumatic childbirth experience in the NHS.Vict...
The Emma Little-Pengelly One
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister talks to Nick Robinson.
The Nigel Farage 2024 One
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nigel Farage tells Nick Robinson that "timing is everything" when it comes to deciding whether to return to frontline politics. Fresh off the plane fr...
The Mariana Mazzucato One
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of the world's most influencial progressive economists outlines her pitch to leaders across the world - and Starmer's Labour Party - to focus on a...
The Emma Runswick One
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association Council talks to Nick Robinson ahead of the latest round of junior doctor strikes. She defends the...
The Shabana Mahmood One
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Justice Secretary and Labour's most senior Muslim MP reflects on Gaza, her faith and campaigning for Rishi Sunak's "geek vote" when they we...
Bonus episode: The Michelle O’Neill One - Revisited
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nick looks back at his 2021 conversation with the new First Minister of Northern Ireland
The Jeremy Hunt Chancellor One
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson sits down with the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the dining room of No11 Downing Street. They discuss living nextdoor to the Sunaks, how muc...
The Blair and Hague One
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Tony Blair and Lord William Hague sit down with Nick Robinson to discuss their vision for a new "national purpose". They reflect on facing each ot...
The Humza Yousaf One
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The First Minister of Scotland sits down with Nick Robinson in Glasgow to reflect on his first ten months in power and how his family is dealing with ...
The Ben Wallace 2023 One
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The former Defence Secretary opens up about the impact of high-pressure government jobs on family relations and tells the behind-the-scenes story of t...
The Kishwer Falkner One
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson sits down with the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to discuss multiculturalism, transgender rights and challenging th...
The Michael Gove 2023 One
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson sits down with the Levelling Up Secretary for an in-depth conversation about what lies behind his drive for reform, having first joined ...
The Pat McFadden One
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Labour's campaign chief talks to Nick Robinson about how to deal with divisions with in the party, communities and families on events in the middle ea...
The Michelle Donelan One
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology talks to Nick Robinson about the UK's AI summit and how the world can balance protection...
The Radek Sikorski One
21 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Poland's former foreign minister talks to Nick Robinson about his journey from rebelling against communist rule as a child, living in exile in the UK,...
The Nick Gibb One
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Schools Minister tells Nick Robinson how his single-minded curriculum reform has kept him in his job for 10 of the last 13 years, and how his sexu...
The Roger Hallam One
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, now behind the scenes in Just Stop Oil, challenges Nick Robinson to emotionally engage with the reality of cli...
The Keir Starmer 2023 One
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Leader of the Opposition sets out his vision for getting Labour back into governmentProducer: Daniel Kraemer
The Ed Davey Party Leader One
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Liberal Democrat leader talks to Nick Robinson about caring for his disabled son, the value of coalitions in politics and why the prime minister's...
The Theresa May One
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to former prime minister Theresa May about why she wants to call out abuses of power, what went wrong after Brexit and growing up ...
The Paul Nowak One
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the boss of the TUC ahead of hosting his first Congress in his hometown of Liverpool, what it was like working with ministers d...
The Anas Sarwar One
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson has a conversation with, not an interrogation of, the people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs.
The George Freeman One
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Science minister talks to Nick Robinson about how his troubled childhood instilled conservative values from a young age and the challenge of deali...
The Lord Finkelstein One
17 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lord Daniel Finkelstein talks to Nick Robinson about what it is like preparing Conservative leaders for PMQs and how having two refugee parents shaped...
The Louise Casey One
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Baroness Louise Casey has become one of the most influencial non-politicians in the UK. She tells Nick Robinson why it all started with a passion for ...
The Peter Kyle One
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does a politician with the reading age of an 8-year-old operate as a Shadow Cabinet member?
The Feargal Sharkey One
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The former Undertones frontman tells Nick how his youth in Derry during the Troubles led him to becoming one of the most prominent environmental campa...
The Stephen Flynn One
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The SNP's Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, on what he will demand in the event of a hung Parliament, and how living with a disability shaped his pol...
The Penny Mordaunt One
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Penny Mordaunt reveals the secret to holding that sword throughout the Coronation, whether she’s planning another tilt at the Conservative leadershi...
The Suella Braverman One
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the week the government introduced tough, controversial new rules on stopping illegal immigrants entering the UK, Nick Robinson talks to the home s...
The Lee Anderson One
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the Conservative Party's deputy chairman, Lee Anderson, about following his father's lead in becoming a miner, how he went from...
The Kwajo Tweneboa One
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa about his own experience of poor social housing and his father's death, how he harnessed ...
The Steve Reed One
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the shadow justice secretary, Steve Reed, about why the collapse of a factory that employed most of his family led to him joini...
The Iain Anderson One
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the influential lobbyist and new chair of Stonewall, Iain Anderson, about how the case of Isla Bryson has brought gender politi...
The Mary Bousted One
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, Mary Bousted, about how her headteacher father inspired a passion ...