Politics Unpacked

Becoming leader when nobody cares

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As Labour picks its leader, Matt Chorley talks to William Hague about taking charge when "people are utterly uninterested in what you think and do". H...

Labour. Remember them?

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the opposition prepares for a new leader, Matt Chorley asks Janice Turner and Daniel Finkelstein how to make a first impression. PLUS Gabriel Pogru...

Greatest political movies ever

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley asks Kevin Maher, The Times chief film critic, to separate the ballot box blockbusters from the low-turnout turkeys. PLUS: Esther Webber ...

Communicating a crisis

24 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley speaks to Alastair Campbell and James Johnson about mixed media messages, plus Rachel Sylvester on politics turned upside down. Hosted on...

Introducing Stories of our times; Has the government done enough?

23 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today an edition of our new daily podcast - Stories of our times. Our new free daily news podcast takes you to the heart of the stories that matter, w...

Reasons to be cheerful

20 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After a grim week, Matt Chorley, Esther Webber and Daniel Finkelstein discuss how to cope at home, and glimmers of hope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

Eurovision of misery

17 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Holed up at home, Matt Chorley speaks to Times colleagues across Europe and the world to see what quarantine is like, including filling forms, dodging...

How to build a budget

10 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

From the scorecard and Commons speech to the red box and wardrobe malfunctions, Matt Chorley speaks to George Osborne, Ed Balls, Norman Lamont and Pop...

How is Biden back from the dead?

05 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Two weeks after Joe Biden was written off, he is now the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Matt Chorley asks Henry Zeffman, The Times Washing...

Is everything getting worse?

03 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by ex-No10 adviser Will Tanner, who has new research on tears in our social fabric. Plus: columnist Rachel Sylvester on a warni...

What do you see?

25 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by ex-spad Jason Stein, who lifts the lid on the shadowy Whitehall unit which polices propriety, Matthew Parris explains why th...

Who should Trump fear?

18 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the Democrats struggle to find a candidate, Matt Chorley asks The Times' US team David Charter, Henry Zeffman and Ben Hoyle who has momentum, who c...

Big fish in a small reshuffle

11 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by James Starkie, a former special adviser to Priti Patel, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove, who explains what is like inside gove...

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a Dom

04 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How powerful is the PM’s adviser? Matt Chorley is joined by Steven Swinford, The Times deputy political editor, to assess the waning influence of Do...

Back to the future

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman revisit their predictions made on the morning after the Leave vote in June 2016, and reflect on what came next. Hosted on...

Could Johnson turn out to be good?

28 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley asks Iain Martin why he now thinks Downing Street might know what it is doing, Lucy Fisher explains why the Huawei decision is so controv...

Armando Iannucci

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley asks the comedy genius about bringing back The Thick of It, sneaking into the US State Department, and his new space tourism series Avenu...

York state of mind

21 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Rachel Sylvester who wonders if the Lords really will move to York, Hugo Rifkind warns Labour hating Tories is no vote winne...

War! Royals! Britney!

14 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Lucy Fisher, The Times defence editor, on how President Trump avoided World War Three; David Aaronovitch wonders why everyon...

Drama out of a Cobra crisis

09 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley speaks to actor Robert Carlyle about playing the prime minister in new Sky One drama Cobra, and its creator Ben Richards explains that a ...

Inside the government machine

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Lord O'Donnell, the former cabinet secretary, David Gauke, the former cabinet minister, and Polly Mackenzie, the former No10...

2020 Vision

31 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley asks Francis Elliott, Times political editor, Steven Swinford, deputy political editor, and Lucy Fisher, defence editor, what the new yea...

This. Is. Not. Normal.

24 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How did Matt Chorley end up embarking on a political stand-up tour? The tables are turned as he is interviewed by Alex Jacques about satire, reading a...

2019 Quiz of the Year: Part two

20 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Forget the election, this is the big political battle of the year. Part two of the Red Box podcast 2019 Quiz of the Year.Will Patrick Kidd&n...

2019 Quiz of the Year: Part one

17 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As another bizarre year in politics comes to an end, Matt Chorley poses the questions to see who has been paying most attention.The MP team has Tom Tu...

The morning after

13 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As the full scale of the election result became clear, Red Box assembled a stellar line-up of Times and Sunday Times reporters and columnists to expla...

How to survive election night

10 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley brings you everything you need to know, with Esther Webber’s guide to the key seats to stay up for, TV reviewer Hugo Rifkind on what to...

100 voters in one room

06 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Times invited people from swing seats across England and Wales to talk parties, policies and polls. Matt Chorley speaks to Emma Tucker, Oliver Wri...

Election road trip

03 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley speaks to Times writers Janice Turner, Patrick Kidd and Robert Crampton about what they found during their election road trips, discuss v...

Land’s End to John O’Groats

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley chats to Philip Bowern and Keith Rossiter from the Western Morning News about election prospects in Cornwali and Devon, then Kieran Andre...

Is this the election result?

27 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As YouGov releases its seat-by-seat forecast for the election, Matt Chorley speaks to pollster Chris Curtis about how it works, and what could change....

Your election questions answered

26 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After Red Box listeners sent in questions about the election, Matt Chorley assembles a stellar panel to answer them. Henry Zeffman, The Times’ polit...

Loony tunes

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley meets Alan “Howling Laud” Hope, leader of the Monster Raving Loony Party and veteran of eight general elections, and asks: what’s t...

When election campaigns go wrong

19 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley takes you behind-the-scenes with three people who know what it is really like trying to win the nation's vote.Polly Mackenzie was a polic...

Can we trust the polls?

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley talks to polling guru Sir John Curtice about where the polls went wrong, whether they are right now, and how his election night exit poll...

Prime Minister Corbyn: what then?

12 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley examines what a Labour government would do. He speaks to Andrew Gwynne, the party's election co-ordinator, about what sort of PM Jeremy C...

Not many friends in the North

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley heads to Leeds, where Yorkshire Post political editor Rob Parsons and ITV Political Correspondent Joe Pike warn it will be harder for the...

The Bye Election

05 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

And they're off! MPs are leaving in Westminster, back to their constituencies in search of re-election. But not all of them: dozens of MPs of all...

How could Johnson lose the election?

29 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As the country gears up for some festive political fun, Matt Chorley asks YouGov's Anthony Wells what could go wrong for the Tories, Rachel Sylvester ...

Welcome to Taunton

22 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With Westminster in turmoil Matt Chorley heads back to his hometown to talk shops, Brexit and the long-trailed Lib Dem fightback. Hosted on Acast. See...

Not-so-Super Saturday

19 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined in parliament by Henry Zeffman, Tim Shipman, Esther Webber, Iain Martin, Francis Elliott and Steven Swinford to watch Brexit hi...

Finishing Brexit could be bad for Boris

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley talks to James Johnson, a former No10 pollster, about the Tory election strategy and why voters don’t reward politicians for what they’...

Election shock therapy

08 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by British Election Study authors Jane Green, Geoff Evans and Chris Prosser to explain why half of us are now floating voters a...

On the buses

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley boards the 142 from Manchester to Didsbury with the Manchester Evening News’ Jen Williams to talk buses, Brexit and getting out of the ...

Brexit, Boris and blackface

01 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined at the Tory conference by Daniel Finkelstein, Alice Thomson and Hugo Rifkind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

Live with Liz Truss

30 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley sits down with International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, to discuss brutal political rhetoric, crashing out with no deal and why she's be...

Live with John McDonnell

24 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As Labour conference is cut short for the recall of parliament, Matt Chorley talks to the shadow chancellor about the Supreme Court ruling, the timing...

Stuck in neutral

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is in Brighton for the Labour Party conference, as delegates back Jeremy Corbyn’s policy to not support Remain or Leave in a referendum...

Cameron Interview Part 2: What it's like being PM

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In part two of the exclusive interview, Matt Chorley asks David Cameron about his relationship with the Queen, his dread of PMQs and his biggest gaffe...

Cameron Interview Part 1: What I told May to do

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In part one of a two-part special, Matt Chorley speaks to David Cameron about his Brexit regrets, the mistakes Theresa May made, and whether Boris Joh...

High on their own supply

17 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Esther Webber, who reports from a giddy Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth. Plus YouGov's Chris Curtis on what is really goin...

Cummings Vs Coalitions

10 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Jason Stein, who was Amber Rudd's spin doctor and reveals the politics of mobile phones and how Dominic Cummings is unwillin...

A hard day’s fight

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley brings you an hour-by-hour account of an extraordinary day in Westminster, from rebels to PMQs, spending to voting, elections to deselect...

“Just somebody do something”

03 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As the political stalemate continues, Matt Chorley talks to Salma Shah, former special adviser to Sajid Javid, and Times columnists Philip Collins and...

Bonjour de Biarritz

27 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley speaks to Charles Bremner, The Times Paris correspondent, about the G7 summit in southern France, how Brexit and Boris Johnson are viewed...

A beginner's guide to the House of Lords - Part Two

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Red Box reporter Esther Webber talks to Baroness Evans, Baroness Smith, Lord Fowler and others about the future of the strangest part of the British c...

A beginner's guide to the House of Lords - Part One

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Esther Webber talks to Baroness Evans, Baroness Smith, Lord Fowler and others about how the strangest part of the British constitution works. Hosted o...

Beyond the fringe #3

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Tiff Stevenson, Konstantin Kisin, Steve Allen and Jena Friedman to discuss free speech, Twitter trolls and being better.&nbs...

Beyond the fringe #2

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Matt Forde and Grace Campbell to discuss leaving Labour, writing worries and playing with Putin's kids. Hosted on Acast. See...

Beyond the fringe #1

01 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Iain Dale, Lolly Jones and Dominic Frisby to discuss tax, talk shows and nipple tassels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

The good, the spad and the ugly

30 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What does a special adviser (spad) do? Where does power lie? How do you tell the boss to change the clothes or their poll ratings are tanking?Matt Cho...

PM Johnson: now what?

23 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley was in the room for the announcement that Boris Johnson will be the new Tory leader, and gets instant reaction from Francis Elliott, The ...

What happens when you become PM?

19 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A visit to the Queen, a speech in Downing Street, then what? In a special documentary Matt Chorley speaks to those who know what it is like to move in...

What Theresa ever did for us

16 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As May leaves No10, Matt Chorley asks Alice Thomson, Daniel Finkelstein and Anne Ashworth if her injustices are still burning.  Hosted on Acast. ...

Running out with Boris Johnson*

11 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After going running with Jeremy Hunt last month, Matt Chorley wants to know how Boris Johnson exercises, his plans for Brexit and his other policies.*...

Only weirdos join parties

09 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by David Aaronovitch and Hugo Rifkind to discuss who are the members pulling the strings in the Labour and Tory parties.Plus Ca...

Who can beat Trump?

02 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this transatlantic special to Mark Independence Day, Matt Chorley is joined on the line from DC by David Charter, The Times US editor, who tries to...

The other leadership contest

25 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Alice Thomson, Eleni Courea and Steven Swinford to debate why Lib Dems need more scrutiny. PLUS how to beat Boris and M...

Dead Ringers

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Theresa May, Lorraine Kelly and many more thanks to impressionists Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephe...

Who is the real Michael Gove?

18 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Owen Bennett, author of Gove biography Man In A Hurry, to discuss the radical in the Tory leadership contest. Rachel Sylvest...

McDonnell, Gove and Clegg

11 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley sits down with John McDonnell to discuss worrying businesses, Rachel Sylvester quizzes Michael Gove on drugs and hate crime and...

Running out with... Jeremy Hunt

09 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley joins the foreign secretary on his morning jog to talk Brexit, why he could do a better job than Theresa May, how Donald Trump is advisin...

Walking out with... Andrea Leadsom

07 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley buys Andrea Leadsom an ice-cream and asks her about quitting the cabinet, running for leader a second time, and who ordered the food for ...

Walking out with... Matt Hancock

04 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined in the rain by the health secretary who discusses Love Island, tanktops and why he would be good at PMQs. Hosted on Acast. See ...

Walking out with... Rory Stewart

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley takes a stroll with the Tory leadership contender, who discusses being the Trumpian anti-Trump, who he would have in his cabinet and bein...

The Parris Agreement

28 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Matthew Parris, who explains why rescuing a dog helped him become a Tory MP 40 years ago, discusses how coming out cost...

Walking out with Sam Coates

23 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley goes for a walk in the park with Sam Coates, as he prepares to quit as deputy political editor after two decades on The Times. They discu...

Who will choose the next PM?

21 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by James Kirkup, former No10 director of communications Katie Perrior and YouGov's Chris Curtis to discuss the people, the proc...

Could a sex strike solve Brexit?

14 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Janice Turner on sexual political protest, Rachel Sylvester on Tory divisions on climate change and Francis Elliott on the rise of the Brexit Party.Al...

How to avoid May's mistakes

07 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Alex Dawson, a former Home Office adviser to Theresa May who became her political director in No 10, who describes how a sho...

Why parliament needs cats

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley sits down with Chorley MP and deputy speaker, Lindsay Hoyle to discuss how to control a rowdy commons, being in the speakers chair d...

Will you be up all night?

30 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

All political nerds will be gripped by the local election results this week, but what should we expect, where should we watch, and why should we care?...

The case for Boris Johnson

23 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by Jo Tanner, a former adviser to Boris Johnson, who wonders if her old boss can ever get serious. Times columnist Matthew Parr...

Has Ian Hislop got views for you

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Rounding off a week of special episodes, Matt Chorley speaks to Ian Hislop, star of Have I Got News For You and editor of Private Eye, about Brexit, b...

Inside the Brussels horror show

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley travels to the Brussels summit as EU leaders give Britain an extra six months until Brexit. We hear from Oliver Wright, Bruno W...

Are the Tories finished?

09 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After a report shows young people turning their backs on the Tory party, Matt Chorley asks if a change of leader will be enough to reverse the trend?I...

Current status: grim and worsening

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley presents from parliament to assess how bad things have become on a human level. MP's Chris Bryant, George Freeman, Philippa Whitford...

No charm, all offensive

07 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley begins a week of daily Red Box podcasts with a special episode recorded at Podcast Live.   Sam Coates explains why every f...

Could you have done Brexit better?

02 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley asks how a different prime minister might have negotiated the last three years more successfully.Chris Wilkins, Theresa May's former spee...

Brexit Tamed Live Part Three: What Next?

29 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In the final part of the Brexit Tamed specials, Matt Chorley invites Katie Perrior, Lucy Fisher, Sathnam Sanghera and Hugo Rifkind to speculate whethe...

Brexit Tamed Live Part Two: The History

28 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley introduces part two of a special episode recorded at the Emmanuel centre in London. Phillip Collins moderates a debate with Sarah Ba...

Brexit Tamed Live Part One: The Interviews

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley introduces a special episode recorded at the Emmanuel centre in London. First Quentin Letts speaks to Chukka Umunna then in a r...

Bercow: annoying but right?

19 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

PLUS Free speech in the internet age and beating cancer.Matt Chorley is joined by Alice Thomson, Hugo Rifkind and Lindsay McIntosh Hosted on Acast. Se...

Inside The Times office

14 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley gives up on asking politicians what might happen with Brexit and ventures into The Times office on the roof of parliament to ask the poli...

Who blew up Brexit?

12 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is in parliament with politicians and pundits, asking how Geoffrey Cox became so key to Theresa May's deal, and what the hell happens now...

It's a man's world (and shouldn't be)

05 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley hosts a special episode ahead of International Women's DayCampaigner Caroline Criado Perez has already secured victory in getting a woman...

From their own correspondent

26 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley is joined by three London-based foreign reporters, including Dutch correspondent Tim de Wit, Cristina Marconi from Italy and Katrin Priby...

Walking out with Ian Austin

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley takes another stroll, this time with the former Labour MP on why he quit, looking his dad in the eye, and his fears for his old party. Ho...

Soubry: Unplugged

20 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Outrageous, outspoken and out of the Tory party, Anna Soubry speaks to Matt Chorley about why she quit, who tried to persuade her to stay and what hap...

Labour splits: what now?

19 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Chorley speaks to two MPs who quit the party, plus Ayesha Hazarika on the threat to Labour and Ash Sarkar on how Corbyn should respond. Hosted on...