Politics Unpacked
Episodes
"Best of Frenemies"
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Sky News Deputy Political Editor Sam Coates to relive the drama of five years ago this week, when Boris Johnson pulled out o...
PMQs Unpacked 30-6-21
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minist...
Times Radio Focus Group: One Year Of Politics
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley and former Number 10 Pollster James Johnson review the year in politics through the eyes of the Times Radio focus group to mark the stati...
Sajid Javid's in-tray
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley asks what's next for Hancock, Sajid Javid and the Department of Health. He speaks to The Times' Political Editor Steven Swinford, former ...
Dying Well
26 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks to Tanni Grey Thompson, Clair Fisher and Nancy Hey about how end of life care can be made better.PLUSThe Sunday Times Josh Glancy ...
The Man Who Invented The Red Wall
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt speaks to pollster and analyst James Kanagasooriam who coined the term Red-Wall in 2019 to describe areas in the North whose constituents tended ...
PMQs Unpacked 23-6-21
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action at Prime Minister's Questions to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johns...
E-scooters, future or fad
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
E-scooters, they're being trialled in over 30 areas in the UK, some say they're the future of green urban travel, whilst others say they're a disrupti...
Secrets of The Lobby
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks to Times Radio's own Carole Walker about her new book 'Lobby Life' and speaks to Theresa May's Press Secretary Paul Harrison as we...
One less blue brick in the wall
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks about the symbolic and surprising result of the Chesham and Amersham by-election where the Liberal Democrats took it from the...
Let's chat about history
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
History teaches us a lot. It allows us to understand how people and societies behave, understand how wars erupted and how pivotal moments in history h...
PMQs Unpacked 16-6-21
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action at Prime Minister's Questions to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johns...
How Do You Jab The World?
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After the G7 pledged 1 billion jabs for the developing world, Matt Chorley speaks to a panel of experts including Jane Halton, Lily Caprani, Mary...
Times Radio Focus Group - June 2021
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This month the Times Radio focus group is chaired by legendary US pollster Frank Luntz, who speaks to swing voters about lockdown, taking the knee, Jo...
A funny thing happened at the G7
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is in Cornwall for the G7.He speaks to Esther Webber from Politico and Tom McTague from the Atlantic.And with remembrances of G...
Boris vs Biden
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks to Patrick Maguire, the Red Box Editor, who broke the story that US diplomats had issued an extraordinary rebuke to Boris Johnson'...
PMQs Unpacked 09-6-21
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman pause the action at Prime Minister's Qu...
The Special Relationship with Matthew Barzun
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley speaks to Barack Obama's Ambassador to the UK Matthew Barzun about his book, The Power of Giving Power Away, his time in London and what ...
Why Bristol ?
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One year since the toppling of the Colston statue, Matt Chorley tours the city with a long history of protests, and speaks to the mayor Marvin Rees.PL...
The pressure of Long-Covid
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones is sitting in for Matt Chorley and talks about long-covid after the ONS reveals around one million people in the UK have reported experienc...
The Law of the Future
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones is sitting in for Matt Chorley and hears about how the pandemic has made the courtroom virtual and what lies in store for the future o...
Disunited Kingdom 02-06-21
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones is once again sitting in for Matt Chorley and as the race to the 21st June is hotting up, hears about the situation in intensive care to fi...
Tricks of the trade
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones is in for Matt Chorley again and hears about the life and times of another 'Pre-Pandemic Professor', this time it's Professor of Immunology...
"You have no authority here, Luke Jones"
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley and speaks to Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Kent Dominic Abrams and Former Chief Constable f...
Chariots of Fire
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Tokyo Olympics is to go ahead in July, Matt Chorley speaks to current and former Olympic and paralympic athletes Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Tom...
"It's Hard Being Green"
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is the Green Party having a resurgence? Matt Chorley speaks to pollster Chris Curtis and Times Radio Political Correspondent Charlotte Ivers about how...
PMQs Unpacked 26-5-21
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnist Robert Crampton and John Stevens from the Daily Mail pick over the day's news. Then Matt Chorley and Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pa...
Remembering George Floyd
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On the first anniversary of George Floyd's death, Matt Chorley speaks to his school friend Jonathan Veal about his memories of Floyd and reflections o...
When The Crowd Say Bo' Select Committee
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of Dominic Cummings' appearance at the Science and Technology Select Committee on Wednesday, Matt Chorley speaks finds out what select committee...
Interview With MI5
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In his first interview since taking over the domestic spy agency, MI5's Director General Ken McCallum speaks to Matt Chorley, along with the head of c...
What Red Wall voters want
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley finds out what Red Wall voters really think with YouGov pollster Patrick English and the re-elected Conservative Tees Valley mayor Ben Ho...
PMQs Unpacked 19-5-21
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Times columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman pause the action at Prime Minister's Qu...
Kevin McCloud On The Politics Of Housing
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does home ownership mean about your politics? As parliament debate the housing element of the Queen's Speech, Matt Chorley speaks to property roy...
Crime and Punishment
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As parliament debates the bills related to crime in the Queen's Speech, Matt Chorley speaks to Shadow Domestic Violence Minister Jess Philips, Former ...
The Art of Reshuffles
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After Labour's reshuffle earlier this week, Matt Chorley speaks to the people who've conducted them and the people who've been on the receiving end of...
The future of Scottish politics
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the Scottish parliament is sworn in, Matt Chorley looks at the history of Holyrood and speaks to one of the new MSPs, Liberal Democrat's Alex ...
Disunited Kingdom - Post-Election Special
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by journalists from the four corners of the UK Parliamentary Correspondent at Yorkshire Live Alexandra Rogers Chief Reporter at...
The Queens Speech
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley and Times Radio's Chief Political Commentator Tom Newton Dunn analyse the announcements made in the Queen's Speech, and Matt speaks to th...
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...