Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
Episodes
The Tony Danker One
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the director general of the Confederation of British Industry, Tony Danker. They discuss what it was like to grow up in a Jewis...
The Sharon Graham One
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The leader of the Unite union gives a frank and engaging interview to Nick Robinson. She defends the new wave of strikes by ambulance workers, sets ou...
The Liz Truss's Big Gamble One
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A bonus episode, as Nick tells the extraordinary inside story of how Liz Truss gambled her premiership on a dramatic challenge to decades of orthodoxy...
The Bridget Phillipson One
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Labour's shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, about her mum standing up to the people that burgled their house, her ...
The Clare Moriarty One
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the chief executive of Citizens Advice, Clare Moriarty, about her and her family's long history with the civil service, how she...
The Carla Denyer One
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the Green Party's co-leader, Carla Denyer, about discovering grassroots campaigns at sixth form, declaring Europe's first clima...
The Gillian Keegan One
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the new education secretary, Gillian Keegan, about leaving school at 16 to work in a car factory, the time Derek Hatton bought ...
The Angela Rayner Deputy Leader One
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, about how her own experience of poverty has shaped her views on the cost of living crisi...
The Rishi Sunak PM One - From the Archives
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson revisits his interview with the new prime minister, Rishi Sunak, from late 2019. The then-chief secretary to the treasury discussed work...
The David Frost One
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Conservative peer David Frost, the former chief Brexit negotiator, about Boris Johnson's potential return as Prime Minister, th...
The Lisa Nandy Levelling Up One
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Lisa Nandy, the shadow levelling up secretary, about preparing for government, the political lessons she's learned from footbal...
The Paul Johnson One
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, about attacks from the left and right on so-called economic ort...
The Kit Malthouse One
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the new education secretary, Kit Malthouse, about growing up in Liverpool, battling Labour students at university and his prior...
The Jeremy Corbyn One
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn about how he became a socialist, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and whether he'll be allowed ...
The Christopher Steele One
17 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Christopher Steele, the author of the 'Trump-Russia dossier'. They discuss his time as an intelligence officer in the Soviet Un...
The Christopher Steele One
17 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Christopher Steele, the author of the the 'Trump-Russia dossier'. They discuss his time as an intelligence officer in the Sovie...
10/09/2022
09 Sep 2022
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 Liz Truss One - Revisited
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson revisits his interview with the new prime minister, Liz Truss, from July 2018. The then-chief secretary to the treasury discusses her tr...
The Rishi Sunak One - Revisited
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson revisits his interview with Rishi Sunak from November 2019. The then-chief secretary to the treasury discusses working in his mother’s...
The Liz Truss Foreign Secretary One - Revisited
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson revisits his interview with Liz Truss from December 2021. The foreign secretary discusses facing down Russia on the global stage, the wa...
The Johnson Succession One
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With Boris Johnson having resigned as Conservative leader, Nick Robinson takes a look through the Political Thinking archives, to see what has shaped ...
The David Lammy Shadow Foreign Secretary One
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, about loneliness, belonging and Britain's place in the world
The Martin Lewis One
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the journalist and founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, about his love of numbers, the cost of living crisis and his a...
The Naomi Long One
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Naomi Long, the leader of the Alliance Party and Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, about growing up during the Troubles, the...
The Yvette Cooper One
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, about immigration policy, being a working mum in politics and Labour's chances of win...
The Sara Khan One
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to the government's social cohesion adviser, Dame Sarah Khan, about her efforts to counter extremism and the upcoming review of th...
The Mick Lynch One
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson speaks to Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the RMT, about his union's planned strike action this summer
The Nimco Ali One
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson speaks to Nimco Ali, the government's adviser on violence against women and girls about her campaigning on female genital mutilation, ca...
The Nadine Dorries One
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson speaks to the Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries MP about her efforts to clean up social media, her upbringing in Liverpool, and being a ...
The Jacob Rees-Mogg Leadership Crisis One
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg about the Prime Minister's survival, cake, dead cats and banned words
The Steve Baker One
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Conservative MP Steve Baker about the PM, the pandemic and parachutes
The Gary Neville One
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson talks to Gary Neville about his footballing career, the state of English football and his own political ambitions
The Wes Streeting One
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Health Secretary on bouncing back after illness, living with Covid and his connection to Christine Keeler
The 2022 New Year Special One
01 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Robinson reviews the highlights of Political Thinking in 2021 including interviews with leading politicians and public figures
The Ed Balls Christmas Special One
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The former Cabinet Minister on his passion for cooking, dancing, documentary-making and his previous career in politics.
The Katharine Birbalsingh One
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Chair of the Social Mobility Commission on why she ‘came out’ as a conservative, the purpose of education and the perils of smartphones
The Liz Truss Foreign Secretary One
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Foreign Secretary on the ‘network of liberty’, those Mrs Thatcher-styled photoshoots and being too busy to hold Christmas parties
The Chris Bryant One
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Chair of the Commons Standards Committee on upholding the rules, being gay and why he could never have been 007
The Keir Starmer Opposition Leader One
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Labour leader on his family, the migrant boats crisis and why Boris Johnson makes him angry
The Nick Carter One
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Chief of the Defence Staff discusses the lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan, and being kicked out of his school's cadet force for playing gol...
The Rachel Reeves One
24 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Chancellor on learning from Labour’s defeats, playing aggressive chess and that ‘boring snoring’ Tweet
The Sajid Javid Health Secretary One
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Health Secretary on the reshuffle, health inequalities after the pandemic and a missing pair of scissors
The Jeffrey Donaldson One
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The DUP leader on his fear of further unrest in Northern Ireland, what he learned from Boris Johnson and the Mountains of Mourne
The Tom Tugendhat Afghanistan One
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Foreign Affairs Select Committee Chair on shame, Afghanistan and Global Britain
The Oliver Dowden One
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Culture Secretary on culture wars, suburban values, football heritage and treading the boards
The Alok Sharma One
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The COP26 President on the ‘decisive decade’ to tackle climate change, why Swampy runs Britain’s boardrooms and being Mr Boring
The Gordon Brown One
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The former Prime Minister on tips for chairing the G7, footballers taking the knee and ‘not being silent’ on Scotland’s future
The Ed Miliband Reunion One
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Business Secretary and former Labour leader on thinking ‘big’, standing against his brother and emergency-charging his electric car
The Christina McAnea One
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Unison General Secretary on Red Clydeside, the art of negotiation and words of advice for Labour
The Kate Forbes One
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Scottish Finance Secretary on growing up in India, her faith and how another independence referendum will be fought
The Rachel de Souza One
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Children’s Commissioner on tackling failing schools, online safety and knowing your Aristotle
The Len McCluskey Election Special One
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Unite General Secretary on Labour’s electoral woes, Starmer’s ‘failure’ and the politics of football
The Jonathan Reynolds One
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary on Labour’s ‘vast’ challenge, having an autistic child and why he would like to run Sunderland FC
The Justin Welby One
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Archbishop of Canterbury on being involved in politics, how leaders today are more moral than their predecessors, the need for reconciliation, and...
The Alistair Carmichael One
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The longest-serving LibDem MP on the benefits of island life, why beef farming in Shetland shouldn’t be stopped by fears over global warming, workin...
The Jeane Freeman One
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Scotland’s Health Secretary on her journey from communism via Labour to the SNP; why she says Alex Salmond is not fit to hold office; and what went ...
The Nadhim Zahawi One
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The vaccines minister on fleeing Iraq, losing and making money, the role of entrepreneurs in vaccine development, and Shakespeare.
The Kwasi Kwarteng One
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The new Business Secretary on whether he’s changed his mind on Thatcherite economics, his ‘Sunday’ name, views of Empire, and the quality of Nic...
The Michelle O'Neill One
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister and Sinn Fein leader discusses the likely impact of Joe Biden, her Irish Republican childhood and fighting ...
The Mark Sedwill One
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The former Cabinet Secretary on handling crises, the end of the Trump era and speaking frankly to Boris
The Kate Bingham One
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The former head of the Vaccine Taskforce on finding a vaccine, getting caught in the political crossfire and whether the UK can be ‘world-beating’
The Jake Berry One
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Conservative MP on a year of heartbreak, his friendship with the PM and his ambitions for the North
The Kate Green One
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Education Secretary on her despair at Jeremy Corbyn, abolishing Eton and reforming the honours system.
The Steve Rotheram One
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Liverpool Metro Mayor discusses his city’s image, Hillsborough, class politics, and why he did he a deal with Boris Johnson but won’t shake hi...
The Kemi Badenoch One
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Equalities Minister on redefining Black History Month, racial inequality and her love for Mrs Thatcher
The Siân Berry One
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Green Party co-leader on her childhood love of wildlife, taking on 4x4s and whether the Greens can change politics
The Simon Coveney One
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Irish Foreign Minister on his Anglo-Irish roots, the prospects for a Brexit deal and taking his centenarian grandmother to Lords
The George Eustice One
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Environment Secretary on the spirit of Poldark, answering questions for David Cameron and the price of fish fingers.
The Anneliese Dodds One
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Shadow Chancellor on her Presbyterian roots, being a student protestor and whether she’s prepared to say ‘no’
The Douglas Ross One
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The new Scottish Conservative leader on football refereeing, his unusual knowledge of cattle and whether he can stop a second independence referendum
The Layla Moran One
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The LibDem leadership contender discusses the meaning of liberalism, the threat of fat-shaming, and the common humanity of being stardust but not nece...
The Thérèse Coffey One
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Work and Pensions Secretary on her Liverpudlian roots, applying science to politics, dealing with the rise in unemployment and her passion for kar...
The Nicklaus Thomas-Symonds One
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Labour's shadow home secretary on his village with seven MPs, the collective spirit of the Welsh valleys, what Michael Foot told him as a teenager, an...
The Mark Regev One
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Israel's former ambassador to the UK on arguing his country's case, why he doesn't like being called 'silver-tongued', why he changed his name, and hi...
The Neil Ferguson One
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The leading epidemiologist on how science and politics can best work together, being forced to resign from a government committee, and his media nickn...
The Robert Buckland One
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Justice Secretary on loneliness in politics, kneeling, how courts respond to covid, and why there is no such thing as 'normal' - plus he demonstra...
The Maro Itoje One
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The leading England rugby player on racism, Black Lives Matter, statues, finding middle ground, the diversity of Harrow School, and being impressed by...
The Arlene Foster One
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Northern Ireland's First Minister on what happened to her family during the Troubles, her discussions with Boris Johnson over Brexit, and what she's m...
The Jonathan Sumption One
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The former Supreme Court justice on why lockdown is 'despotic', being a libertarian, not being a politician, what Lord Hutton's inquiry got wrong and ...
The Jeremy Hunt covid one
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy Hunt talks about making mistakes, learning from Asia, his dispute with the junior doctors, and the trials of family life
The Mark Drakeford One
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wales's First Minister on tackling the virus, working with Boris & digging the allotment
The Richard Horton One
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The editor of the Lancet discusses problems in the relationship between science and politics, why he thinks the lockdown must go on, and whether he is...
The new Keir Starmer one
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Labour's new leader Keir Starmer talks about his background, upbringing, legal career and core values (in an interview recorded in 2018)
The Rosena Allin-Khan One
13 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Labour deputy leadership candidate and doctor on being prepared for coronavirus, why she chose politics and that Love Actually video
The Rebecca Long-Bailey One
06 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Labour leadership candidate on her Mancunian roots, why she didn't go into politics straight away and raising her eyebrows
The Ian Murray One
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Labour deputy leadership candidate on uniting Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, saving Hearts FC and why Labour has to recover in Scotland if it is eve...
The Inside Story of Election 19 One
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A bonus episode, with Anne McElvoy's behind-the-scenes documentary about the 2019 election
The What Does Boris Johnson Really Think One
07 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pragmatist, libertarian or cakeist? Heathite or Trumpesque? Nick explores what drives the political views of Boris Johnson.
The Nigel Farage Brexit Day One
31 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The leading Brexit campaigner on the lessons he learnt as a City trader, what he thought of the 1975 referendum, and how he changed the 2019 election
The Andy Street One
30 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Mayor of the West Midlands on his passion for HS2, why he nearly became a social worker and encouraging mavericks
The Nicky Morgan One
23 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Culture Secretary on why she went from Remainer rebel to Boris loyalist, her decision to quit frontline politics and the uncertain future of the B...
The Lisa Nandy One
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Labour leadership candidate on her Liberal Grandfather, Marxist Dad, reviving towns and a love of Britney
The Ben Wallace One
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Defence Secretary on getting the MoD's house in order, how he discovered a ticking bomb and why Boris Johnson is a 'left-wing Tory'
The Prime Ministerial Debate One
07 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A special edition with audio of Boris Johnson v Jeremy Corbyn, plus Nick's reflections after the debate
The General Election One with Bartley and Hancock
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Green Party Co-Leader Jonathan Bartley reveals why an encounter with David Cameron led him into politics, while Health Secretary Matt Hancock discusse...
The General Election One with Gwynne and Curtice
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Labour's campaign coordinator Andrew Gwynne discusses mental health, Waspi women and darts commentary, while John Curtice talks about exit polls and h...
The General Election One with Price and Cherry
21 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Plaid Cymru's Adam Price and the SNP's Joanna Cherry on their personal journeys into politics and their ambitions for an independent Wales and Scotlan...
The General Election One with Tice and Ummuna
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Chukka Ummuna and Richard Tice on big political risks, loyalty and election high stakes.
The Lindsay Hoyle One
07 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The new Speaker on how he'll be different from his predecessor, his Lancastrian roots and the roll call of his 'political' pets
The Laura Pidcock One
31 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Labour's shadow employment rights spokesperson discusses class politics, friends and enemies, and the commentariat