Politics Unpacked
Episodes
Reshuffle Kerfuffle
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the wake of Labour’s reshuffle, Matt Chorley is joined by Pollster John Curtice, Professor of Politics Roger Awan Scully and Labour List’s Sien...
How to be an astronaut
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley straps in to a centrifuge to experience the G-force of going into space, and speak to two real life astronauts Clayton Andrew and Chris H...
Disunited Kingdom Election Special
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of local elections Matt Chorley is joined by Hannah Al-Othman who is News Reporter for the Sunday Times based in Manchester,Scottish Political E...
Times Radio Focus Group - May 2021
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Two days out from the local elections, Matt Chorley is joined by former Number 10 pollster James Johnson to convene the Times Radio focus group, this ...
"When Political Stunts Go Wrong"
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As campaigning for the local elections hots up, Matt Chorley looks at some of the most iconic political stunts, from the the Mirror Chicken to Dave th...
"Bin Laden's Death - Ten Years on"
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of the US mission to capture al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, which resulted in his death. Matt Chorley speaks...
PMQs Unpacked 28-4-21
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnists Alice Thomson and Rosamund Urwin pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Redbox Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action at Pr...
Why Isn't Wikipedia Seedier?
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks to Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales for the 20th anniversary of the site, and asks him why he isn't a tech billionaire. PLUSTime...
The Art of Protests
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do protests make a difference? Luke Jones is joined by General Secretary of CND Kate Hudson, organiser of the Women's March Dr Sholu Moss-Shogbamimu, ...
How happy are you?
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After 10 years of the Office for National Statistics measuring the nation's life satisfaction, Matt Chorley asks the happiness tsar Lord Layard what t...
PMQs Unpacked 21-4-21
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Redbox Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action at Pr...
Photographing Black Panthers
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As two films focus on the 1960s political group, Matt Chorley speaks to the Black Panthers' photographer Stephen Shames about how the organisation was...
Politics of food
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
20 years since Robin Cook's "chicken tikka masala" speech, Matt Chorley is joined by food historians Dr Rachel Rich from Leeds Beckett University and ...
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Merkel
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is standing down later this year, and her party, the Christian Democratic Union, are choosing her successor. Matt Chor...
PMQs Unpacked 14-4-21
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action to explain what's going on at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUSColumnists Al...
How To Hold An Inquiry
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An inquiry into the government's handling of Coronavirus seems inevitable; Matt Chorley is joined by the chair of the inquiry into Bloody Sunday Lord ...
“Order order, order at the bar”
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The pubs are back open in England and Matt Chorley is live from the Ship Tavern in London, where he speaks to landlords from across the country includ...
Duncan's Burn Book
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones speaks to Sir Alan Duncan on his new memoir In The Thick Of It about life as an MP and foreign minister. Plus our columnists India Knight a...
It's all about the data
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley and he speaks to the UK's National Statistician Professor Sir Ian Diamond on why data is key. Plus Robert Crampton...
What have Mayors ever done for us?
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones speaks t Lord Heseltine and Akash Paun from the Institute Government on the power of mayors and devolution.Plus Danny Finklestein and David...
Prison Break
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones speaks to; Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Prison Reform, former prisoner Andrew Morris and the national chairman o...
Year of Keir - Focus Group
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the final instalment of Prime Ministers Week, Matt Chorley looks to the future, and convenes the Times Radio focus group to find out swing voters i...
How To Win At PMQs
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With Parliament in recess, Matt Chorley looks at what it takes to win PMQs with former Ed Miliband advisor Ayesha Hazarika, Theresa May's former press...
How Yes Minister Ruined The Country
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Jonathan Lynn, co-creator Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, to talk about the legacy of the hit comedy series, and how he...
How To Build A Prime Minister
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week marks 300 years since Britain got its first Prime Minister. In the first instalment of a special Prime Ministers' week, Matt Chorley is join...
The Only Way Is Ethics
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley tackles the philosophical questions behind pub passports and longer lockdowns, with AC Grayling, Baroness Deech and Alberto Giubilini.PLU...
PMQs Unpacked 24-3-21
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the ...
Focus Group: A year of lockdowns
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To mark a year of lockdown, Matt Chorley and former Number 10 pollster James Johnson convene the Times Radio focus group to see how people's attitudes...
Ten Years of Syrian Conflict with Anthony Loyd
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks to the Times' veteran war reporter Anthony Lloyd about Syria, Shamima Begum and what essential packing for life in a war-zone.&nbs...
BONUS: Past Imperfect - Ed Balls
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus edition we are bringing you an episode from another Times podcast - Past Imperfect.Ed Balls is a broadcaster, former Labour Poli...
And the winner is ...
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley hosts the Parliamentary Book Awards, revealing the winners of the best books by, and about, politicians. Stephen Lotinga, from the Publis...
Panic For The Disco
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How will nightclubs survive the pandemic? Matt Chorley speaks to CEO of Night Time Industries Association Michael Kill, Chief executive of late night ...
The Vaccine Vote
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With a bumper crop of elections across Britain on May 6, Matt Chorley speaks to Robert Hayward, the polling analyst, Ailsa Irvine from the Electo...
From North Korea to northern England
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks to Jihyun Park who was tortured and persecuted in North Korea before coming to Britain, where she is now standing in the...
BONUS Stories of our times; Failures of State: The inside story of Britain’s battle with coronavirus (Pt 1)
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus edition we are bringing you an episode from another Times podcast - Stories of our times.Last year, a Sunday Times investigation...
Touch of class
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What class are you? As a major study reveals we are becoming more middle class, Matt Chorley speaks to the Britain Thinks' Deborah Mattinson about the...
PMQ's Unpacked 10-3-21
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipm...
Political Clubhouse
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley ventures on to the much-hyped social media app, and joins a room with Conservative MP Esther McVey and Labour's Stephen Doughty to find o...
Dose of turbulence
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley boards a Times Radio Airways flight around the world to see how the vaccine roll-out is faring in America, China, France, Germany, Spain ...
Banning cake with Prue Leith
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Forget the budget, the government wants us to lose the pounds from our waistline. Prue Leith from the Great British Bake-Off tells Matt Chorley whethe...
PMQ's Unpacked + Budget Special
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley and Red Box Reporter Patrick Maguire give their snap analysis of the budget, ahead of PMQ's Unpacked, where Matt is joined by Sunday Time...
What Nicola vs Alex means
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond were once close allies and friends, but then the relationship turned sour, with the battle going all the way to the c...
Unfair welfare?
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
New polling shows the public now thinks benefits are too low. Matt Chorley speaks to a mother on Universal Credit and a former MP who had to rely on b...
Culture war, what is it good for?
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
New polling reveals just 4 per cent of people know what the culture war is. Matt Chorley speaks to an expert panel about what this means for politics....
PMQs Unpacked 24-2-21
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipm...
Coming Out
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Smith tells Matt Chorley about being the first MP to come out as gay, and the first to come out as HIV positive, in the latest episode marking&n...
Political Games
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One year out from the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, Matt Chorley speaks to Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat and the Muslim Council of Britain's Hassan Jo...
Should I stay or should I go
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Red Box reporter, Esther Webber, and Times' columnist Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley is joined by Blair Jenkins who ran Y...
A Clear Plan For Social Care
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced sweeping reforms to the NHS, but social care plans have been delayed again. Luke Jones - sitting ...
(Almost) The Gayest Parliament In The World
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The UK parliament has more LGBT members than ever before, but how did it here? As part of LGBT History Month Luke Jones - sitting in for Matt Chorley ...
Happy Birthday Rishi
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley. On Rishi Sunak's first anniversary as Chancellor Luke is joined by IPSOS Mori's Head of Politics Kieran Pedl...
Women in Science
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Red Box reporter, Esther Webber, and Times' columnist Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley marks International Day of Women and Girl...
PMQs Unpacked 10/2/2021
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Spectator's economics correspondent Kate Andrews and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday...
Johnson 2.0: How to reboot a PM
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you noticed a change in the prime minister? Less prone to starting fights? The over-optimism dialled down? Matt Chorley speaks to Steven Swinford...
February Focus Group
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Former No10 pollster James Johnson chairs a group of swing voters to get their views on Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer and the economy.Plus: Libby Purves...
Policy Ch-ch-changes
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Red Box reporter, Esther Webber, and Times' columnist Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley is joined by Suzanne Heywood on her ...
PMQs Unpacked 03-2-21
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipm...
When should Rishi turn off the taps?
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With a month until the budget, Matt Chorley asks a panel of economic experts if it is time to tighten our belts or splash the cash. Guests includ...
Slavery In A Pandemic
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dame Sara Thornton, the Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner, tells Matt Chorley how lockdown has affected the thousands trapped in servitude in Brit...
"Ambassador, You're Spoiling Us"
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Robert Crampton and Red Box reporter Esther Webber pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley speaks to former British Ambassador to ...
PMQs Unpacked 27-1-21
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipm...
A Child Running From The Nazis
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks to Janine Webber, who was born in the Polish town of Lwów in 1932, and from the age of nine, when the Germans arrived, she s...
Happy Shoppers
26 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch pick over the day's news; then Matt Chorley talks about the newfound popularity of supermark...
"Why Is The Home Office A Nightmare?"
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves pick over the day's news; then Matt Chorley is joined by former Home Secretaries Alan Johnson and J...
How to get a peerage
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Red Box reporter, Esther Webber, and Times' columnist Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley is joined by Lord Norman Fowler to s...
Goodbye Donald: Bonus Episode
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The highs and lows of the Trump presidency as remembered by Times and Sunday Times reporters across America, introduced by Matt Chorley. Hear from Dav...
PMQs Unpacked 20-1-21
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipm...
"What Do Prime Ministers Do All Day?"
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch pick over the day's news; then Matt Chorley talks us through a day in the life of a Prime Mi...
What can Labour learn from Biden?
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester pick over the day's news; then Matt Chorley is joined by Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nan...
Education, Education, Education
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Red Box reporter, Esther Webber, and Times' columnist Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley is joined by Professor Robert Winsto...
PMQ's Unpacked 13-1-21
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipm...
Times Radio Focus Group - January 2021
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch pick over the day's news, and then Matt Chorley and former Number 10 pollster James Johnson ...
What's the Big Idea?
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves pick over the day's news; then Matt Chorley is joined by former Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell to ...
American Carnage
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Red Box reporter, Esther Webber, and Times' columnist Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley is joined by the Times Washington Co...
Who Is Richard Leonard?
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist and Red Box regular Alice Thomson and John Kampfner pick over the day's news. The Matt Chorley speaks to Scottish Labour Leader Richar...
Vaccination Nations
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists David Aaronovitch and Daniel Finkelstein pick over the days news; then Matt Chorley boards Times Radio airways to find out how the va...
Do you speak politicalese?
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the day's news; then Matt Chorley speaks to Yougov's head of data Matt Smith , partner...
Times Radio's Quiz Of The Year
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley pits Times Radio against The Times against MPs for the title of 2020 Quiz Champions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...
Disunited Kingdom: Festive Special
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Times Radio Columnists Focus Group talk about what they make of the current crop of party leaders and we convene the Disunited Kingdom panel to ta...
Vaccinderella
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Times columnists Festive Focus Group discusses whether the pandemic would have been better handled by someone else, and what they'd get Keir Starm...
Sketching 2020
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do you find the funny in a pandemic? Matt Chorley is joined by the Times cartoonist Peter Brookes and political sketch-writer Quentin Letts t...
Why Scunthorpe turned blue
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Robert Crampton and Red Box reporter Esther Webber pick over the days news; then Matt Chorley speaks to pollster James Johnson who has...
PMQs Unpacked 16-12-2020
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box regular John Kampfner pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley and Red Box's Patrick Maguire p...
How do you solve a problem like Nicola?
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists David Aaronovitch and Sebastian Payne pick over the day's news; then Matt Chorley is joined by Scottish Conservative Party Leader Dou...
Because They're Worth It
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves pick over the news; then Matt Chorley speaks to Opinium's Chris Curtis, Professor Vernon Bogdanor, ...
Chasing MPs with Michael Crick
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Robert Crampton and Red Box reporter Esther Webber pick over the days news; then Matt Chorley talks to veteran broadcaster Michael Cri...
PMQs Unpacked 09-12-2020
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box regular John Kampfner pick over the day's news; then Matt Chorley is joined by Sunday Times Political Editor...
Making The Casey
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists David Arronovitch and Daniel Finkelstein pick over the day's news; then Matt Chorley is joined by Baroness Louise Casey, a former gov...
The Joy of By-Elections
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the day's news; then Matt speaks to Professor Tim Bale, Welsh Lib Dem Leader Jane Dodds, Ti...
Land Down Under
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Red Box's own Esther Webber and Times' Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; then Times Radio Airways flies all the way to Australia (virtually of...
PMQs Unpacked 02-12-2020
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
John Kampfner and Tom McTague look over the days news; then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman paused the action to explain th...
Abstain On His Conscience
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch to discuss the day's news; Matt takes a look at Keir Starmer'...
Tackling HIV Stigma with Philip Normal
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Times Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves pick over the day's news, then Matt is joined by the first openly HIV+ Mayor Philip Normal to talk ...
He Who Wields The Knife
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Columnist Robert Crampton and Times Red Box's own Esther Webber pick over the day's news with Matt Chorley; then former Conservative Deputy Prime Mini...
"All Hail the Chief... Secretary to the Treasury"
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by columnists Alice Thomson and John Kampfner, then former Chief Secretaries to the Treasury David Gauke and Liam Byrne explain...
The Future of Cash
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch to discuss the day's news; then Head of Money at consumer gro...
Tiers at Christmas
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks to Times Columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester, then its all aboard Times Radio's very own "train track and trace..." as Ma...
Robot Wars with David Lidington
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As Boris Johnson committs billions to the UK defence budget, the biggest investment since the Cold War, Matt Chorley talks national security with Davi...
PMQs Unpacked 18-11-2020
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On Wednesday's Matt discusses the days big news stories with Times columnists Alice Thompson and John Kampfner. Plus Tim Shipman stops by to help Matt...
Does Germany Do It Better?
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's Tuesday which means Finkelvitch time, as Times columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch join Matt Chorley to discuss the democratic tr...