Politics Unpacked
Episodes
Why the election means Brexit could be off
13 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley welcomes columnists Rachel Sylvester and Phillip Collins as well as political reporter Henry Zeffman.The panel discuss, why the Tories ne...
Post Election Special
09 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As Britain wakes up to another shock result, a sleep deprived Matt Chorley welcomes The Times Deputy Editor, Emma Tucker, Times columnist, Alice Thoms...
Special: The Red Box Election Debate
06 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As Britain prepares to go to the polls, Matt Chorley chairs a Red Box debate. On the panel: Katie Perrior, former director of communications at Number...
Edinburgh Special
01 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley heads to Edinburgh for a Scottish Red Box special.On a whirlwind tour of the capital he gauges public opinion on the major parties and se...
Behind the scenes on a campaign
30 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Katie Perrior, former May director of communications, Matt Zarb-Cousin, former Corbyn spokesmanand James McGrory, former Nic...
Is Theresa May any good?
25 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As general election campaigning restarts following the terror attack in Manchester, Matt Chorley is joined by Tim Shipman and Sam Coates. They reflect...
Manchester terror
23 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
After the terror attack in Manchester, Matt Chorley delivers a short monologue in place of the the regular podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Robots, social care and a bookmaker's read of the campaign
18 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley welcomes Lucy Fisher, Alice Thomson and Matthew Shaddick from Ladbrokes as the manifestos break cover. On the agenda: why politicians are...
Special: in search of the Lib Dem fight back
17 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley escapes the Westminster bubble to visit Yeovil to discover if the Lib Dem fightback is realistic. Listen in as he travels around the loc...
The Mays' relationship, lessons from Macron and a pollster's view of immigration
09 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by former Number 10 director of communications, Katie Perrior, Ipsos Mori research director, Kully Kaur-Ballagan and columnists...
Why hiding from the public works and how UKIP could turn the north Tory blue
04 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Lucy Fisher, Danny Finkelstein and Oliver Kamm. On the agenda: Why campaigns should be disciplined and hide candidates away ...
Special Debate: the battle to become West Midlands mayor
02 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley escapes the Westminster bubble to present a special debate between the leading candidates to become West Midlands mayor. Andy Street (Con...
Lessons in a landslide: Tony Blair
28 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lessons in a landslide: 20 years after New LabourA Red Box podcast series of interviews with all of the key players in the 1997 campaign, and their fe...
Lessons in a landslide: Alastair Campbell
28 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lessons in a landslide: 20 years after New LabourA Red Box podcast series of interviews with all of the key players in the 1997 campaign, and their fe...
Lessons in a landslide: Peter Mandelson
28 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lessons in a landslide: 20 years after New LabourA Red Box podcast series of interviews with all of the key players in the 1997 campaign, and their fe...
Lessons in a landslide: Anji Hunter
28 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lessons in a landslide: 20 years after New LabourA Red Box podcast series of interviews with all of the key players in the 1997 campaign, and their fe...
Lessons in a landslide: The Times 1997 team
28 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lessons in a landslide: 20 years after New LabourA Red Box podcast series of interviews with all of the key players in the 1997 campaign, and their fe...
Lessons in a landslide: Margaret McDonagh
28 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lessons in a landslide: 20 years after New LabourA Red Box podcast series of interviews with all of the key players in the 1997 campaign, and their fe...
Trailer: Lessons in a landslide - a six part series
27 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley previews an exclusive series detailing Labour's historic landslide victory in 1997. The series features interviews with all the key playe...
Can we now trust the polls? Is the Scottish political landscape about to shift again?
25 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week Matt Chorley is joined by Jenni Russell, Anthony Wells and Hamish Macdonell.On the agenda: hear how pollsters have changed their methodology...
Snap Election Special from Parliament
18 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As Theresa May stuns Westminster by calling a snap election Lucy Fisher sits in for Matt Chorley and is joined by Sam Coates and Henry Zeffman to disc...
Politics and Comedy Special 4: The MP's Joke Writers
12 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In the final Red Box Politics and Comedy Special Matt Chorley is joined by a Ayesha Hazarika, James McGrory and Daniel Finkelstein to discuss what it'...
Politics and Comedy Special 3 Al Murray
11 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded in a busy Portcullis House, Matt Chorley sits down with comedian Al Murray to discuss how he invented the pub landlord character, what it was...
Politics and Comedy Special 2: Andy Zaltzman, Tiff Stevenson and Hugo Rifkind
10 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Andy Zaltzman, Tiff Stevenson and Hugo Rifkind to debate whether the current times are too serious for comedy. Also discusse...
Politics and Comedy Special: Rory Bremner
10 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In the first of a four-part series focusing on politics and comedy, Matt Chorley sits down with Rory Bremner to discuss his thirty year career, the la...
May in Vogue, Lib Dems in clover and Trump still in power
05 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
On the agenda: how Trump's survival will hinge on tax cuts, deficit spending and domestic deregulation, how the new liberal backlash against the popul...
War with Spain, morals vs trade and confusing policy announcements
04 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
For the podcast Matt Chorley is joined by Catherine Philp, Sam Coates and Oliver Kamm. This week, the panel tries to make sense of Michael Howard's Gi...
The Bluffer's Guide to Brexit
28 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Oliver Wright and Henry Zeffman, plus Jill Rutter from the Institute for Government to answer your questions and tell you ho...
As political storm begins was Nicola Sturgeon shrewd or boxed in?
14 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Iain Martin and Emma Tucker in London, Lindsay McIntosh in Edinburgh and Bruno Waterfield in Brussels. They discuss Nicola S...
Budget Special from Parliament
08 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded from parliament Matt Chorley welcomes Senior Political Correspondent, Lucy Fisher, Labour MP Wes Streeting, Times columnist and Tory peer Mat...
Can May cope with the coming storm?
07 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Sam Coates, Anne Ashworth and Jenni Russell to discuss the maelstrom of upcoming events for May's government, the need to te...
RedBox Debate: How important is the special relationship?
28 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In a live special, Matt Chorley is joined by Phillip Collins of The Times, Sarah Baxter from The Sunday Times and Sohrab Ahmari from the Wall Street J...
By-election Special
24 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Lucy Fisher and Henry Zeffman to reflect on the by-election results in Copeland and Stoke on Trent.They discuss: How big an ...
Why do politicians make claims which can so easily be disproved?
21 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by former advisor to Tony Blair turned stand up, Matt Forde, Times columnist Rachel Sylvester and former minister David Willett...
Secrets of the Spin Doctors: Part Two
16 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of this spin doctor special, we hear how to deal with leadership crisis of all shapes and sizes.Matt Chorley is joined by:Jo Tanner...
Secrets of the Spin Doctors: Part One
14 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by three former spin doctors for a two part special on the reality behind the images they helped to create. On the Panel:Jo Tan...
Brexit is distracting from key domestic issues
07 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Michael Savage, Phillip Collins and Melanie Phillips. They discuss how Brexit is obscuring vital domestic issues, examine Jo...
Politics and the markets
02 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode Matt Chorley is joined by fund manager Paul O'Connor to examine the increasingly potent effect of political events on the mark...
Are politicians more transparent on television?
31 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by the legendary documentary maker Michael Cockerell, who lifts the lid on decades spent trying to get a politician to answer a...
Parliament: demolish or sell-off?
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded from the depths of Westminster, host Matt Chorley is joined by senior political correspondent Lucy Fisher and political reporter (and Brexit ...
Donald Trump's first 100 days
19 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley talks to Rhys Blakely - Washington bureau chief for The Times - about Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. Discover more at www.theti...
What does Theresa May's speech mean for Brexit?
17 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Rachel Sylvester, deputy political editor Sam Coates, and Suella Fernandes MP to discuss Theresa May's speec...
Special: Sir Anthony Seldon
13 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by historian and biographer Sir Anthony Seldon about how Theresa May can make a success of being prime minister and whether the...
Do May, Corbyn and Trump know what they're doing?
10 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Do our political leaders know what they're doing?The question of competency is the topic up for discussion on the first Red Box podcast of the new yea...
Special: a review of 2016 from Westminster
27 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by the Political Editor of The Sunday Times, Tim Shipman, at Westminster as the pair discuss the topsy-turvy political waters o...
Christmas Quiz of the Year - part 2
23 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley hosts a reflective Christmas Quiz which pits reporters, columnists and MPs against each other in a light-hearted (but heated) battle to s...
Christmas Quiz of the Year - part 1
20 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley hosts a reflective Christmas Quiz which pits reporters, columnists and MPs against each other in a light-hearted (but heated) battle to s...
The Whip Round - Mark Tami
16 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the Red Box podcast presents a special series of interviews with Parliamentary whips - both past and present - to discuss the inside workin...
The Whip Round - Mark Harper
15 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the Red Box podcast presents a special series of interviews with Parliamentary whips - both past and present - to discuss the inside workin...
The Whip Round - Ann Taylor
14 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the Red Box podcast presents a special series of interviews with Parliamentary whips - both past and present - to discuss the inside workin...
Whip special - Alistair Carmichael
13 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the Red Box podcast presents a special series of interviews with Parliamentary whips - both past and present - to discuss the inside workin...
The Whip Round - Anne Milton
12 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the Red Box podcast presents a special series of interviews with Parliamentary whips - both past and present - to discuss the inside workin...
Live special with Ed Balls and Philip Webster - part 2
09 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley hosts this special event recorded in front of 300 Times readers at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster, featuring former MP and dancer Ed ...
Live special with Ed Balls and Philip Webster - part 1
06 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley hosts this special event recorded in front of 300 Times readers at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster, featuring former MP and dancer Ed ...
There is life in the Lib Dems yet
02 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley chats to Lib Dem leader Tim Farron following Zac Goldsmith's defeat to the Lib Dems' Sarah Olney in the Richmond Park by-electionFind out...
Are there votes in defence?
29 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined this week by Times columnist Hugo Rifkind, Times Defence Editor Deborah Haynes and the paper's Deputy Political Editor Sam Coat...
Autumn Statement Special
23 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley hosts this Autumn Statement special direct from the heart of Westminster with Labour MP Rachel Reeves, Times senior political corresponde...
Theresa May's drift and muddle
22 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist and former host of the podcast, Tim Montgomerie, as well as the property editor of The Times, Anne Ashworth ...
Matt Chorley speaks to Ruth Davidson
14 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley chats to the leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, the Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament, and the Mem...
US Election Special
09 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
On the day the world awoke to the news that Donald Trump has been elected President of the United States of America, Matt Chorley hosts this special r...
Live special: Boris after Brexit
08 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley hosts a special live event which focuses on foreign policy after the Brexit vote. Sign up to the morning email briefing at www.thetimes.c...
Special: Richmond by-election
03 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley gets out-and-about in Richmond to assess the public's mood ahead of the Richmond by-election, featuring interviews with Nick Clegg and ca...
MPs need to get a grip
01 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Deputy Political Editor of The Times, Sam Coates, former Tory spin doctor, Paul Stephenson, and one of the contenders to bec...
Is Trumpization here to stay?
25 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Ann Treneman, Lucy Fisher and Hannah McGrath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump has breached the cloak of civility
18 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists Rachel Sylvester and Hugo Rifkind, plus Times politics reporter Henry Zeffman. The panel discuss Philip Ham...
Does the presidential debate reveal depths of misogyny?
11 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by columnist Jenni Russell, Times policy editor Oliver Wright and Times Deputy Editor, Emma Tucker.Find out more: www.thetimes....
Conservative conference: it's all about May
04 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley hosts the Red Box podcast from the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham with Times columnist Matthew Parris, Political Editor of T...
Jess Phillips explains all at Red Box fringe debate
29 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Labour MP Jess Phillips used an appearance at The Times' Red Box fringe at Labour conference to explain why she has reneged on her threat to quit the ...
Labour conference: coming to terms with Corbyn
27 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley hosts the Red Box podcast from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool with author and journalist Rachel Shabi, former special advisor t...
What is the point of the Liberal Democrats?
20 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley relocates to the Liberal Democrats autumn conference in Brighton to talk about the Party's future. The air is full of optimism. Hosted on...
Nick Clegg and Ed Balls
13 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley joins Nick Clegg to reflect on his time as Deputy Prime Minister; plus, the Red Box editor also chats to Ed Balls as the former Member of...
Can the Labour Party be saved?
06 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Tory MP James Cleverly, Labour MP Emma Reynolds and SNP MP Stewart McDonald to debate the future of the Labour Party, Theres...
Live Red Box - Britain After Brexit Part 2
01 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Host Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists Matthew Parris, Patrick Kidd and Alice Thomson to answer questions from the audience on life since the...
Live Red Box - Britain After Brexit
31 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded live at a Times+ members event in London.Host Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists Matthew Parris, Patrick Kidd and Alice Thomson to di...
How will Theresa May run the country?
23 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Host Matt Chorley is joined by Times policy editor Oli Wright who thinks Labour are turning into Ukip, political reporter Henry Zeffman who has been k...
Witnessing the arc of disappointment
19 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by The Times' Deputy Political Editor Sam Coates, political adviser, strategist and commentator John McTernan and Times' Head o...
The dawn of May
12 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Three weeks ago the polls told us Britain would stay in the EU. David Cameron was the Prime Minister. Boris Johnson and George Osborne were frontrunne...
Leaving is the new black
05 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Host Matthew Chorley is joined by Times columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Jenni Russell plus Professor of Politics and Red Box regular Matthew Goodwin...
What a mess
28 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
To pick up the figurative pieces post-EU referendum, Matt Chorley chairs an emotional and heated discussion on what comes next after Britain voted to ...
Britain votes to leave
24 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Red Box Editor Matt Chorley discusses the fall out of the #EUReferendum results with the Sunday Times' Political Editor, Tim Shipman.Note - t...
The Finishing Line Approaches
21 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
With the respective EU Referendum campaigns nearing the finishing line, host Matt Chorley reflects on the highlights and lowlights of what has been a ...
Labour leadership rumblings
14 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Senior Political Correspondent at The Times, Lucy Fisher, who contemplates the future of Labour's leadership. Columnist Tim ...
"Frank discussions": Amber Rudd on Andrea Leadsom
10 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Amber Rudd, the pro-Remain energy secretary, on her relationship with junior energy minister Andrea Leadsom, who back Brexit.Recorded during the Red B...
Place Your Bets
06 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
As the EU referendum draws nearer, host Matt Chorley delves deeper into the analysis of the latest polls, betting odds and social media strategies. Pa...
Steve Hilton interview
31 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley talks to the former director of strategy for David Cameron, Steve Hilton, about his relationship with the Prime Minister, the practicalit...
EU Referendum - the debate heats up
24 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
EU Referendum special: In the blue corner, representing Vote Remain, host Matt Chorley is joined by Conservative MP and Energy Secretary Amber Rudd.An...
Natalie Bennett shows why strong leadership matters
17 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by The Times' Head of News Fay Schlesinger, Anthony Wells from YouGov and Chief Political Correspondent for The Times, Michael ...
Westminster Special: Ask The Experts
10 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In a Westminster special, Matt Chorley is joined by Stewart McDonald MP, former Labour Party advisor Ayesha Hazarika and political sketch-writer and d...
London mayoral race is a soup of consensus
03 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Times Deputy Editor Emma Tucker, Chief Leader writer Giles Whittell and columnist Phil Collins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Junior doctors' strike - a more balanced approach is needed
26 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by columnist David Aaronovitch, Business reporter Callum Jones and Red Box writer Hannah McGrath.David Aaronovitch:The BMA say ...
The EU Referendum debate needs to appeal to the public
18 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Host Matt Chorley is joined by ex-Blair spin doctor John McTernan, former Home Office advisor Fiona Hill and Red Box columnist Matt Smith. Hosted on A...
Have we missed the point on the Panama Papers?
12 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Jenni Russell who thinks we've missed the point on the Panama Papers, deputy political editor Sam Coates who...
Special: a denial of Spin Doctors
29 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by a "denial" of Spin Doctors. Ayesha Hazarika - who had the unenviable task of trying to make Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman s...
Does George Osborne lack emotional intelligence?
22 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by columnist Rachel Sylvester on the fall out from Iain Duncan Smith's resignation, politics professor Matthew Goodwin on the E...
Can Donald Trump be blocked?
15 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Senior Political Correspondent Lucy Fisher, European Football Writer (and fellow Times podcast presenter) Gabriele Marcotti,...
Migrant Crisis: does Turkey hold all the cards?
08 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Deputy Editor of The Times, Emma Tucker, who examines the latest attempt to deal with the migrant crisis, columnist Daniel F...
Do playground antics demean politics?
01 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley is joined by Political sketch-writer and diarist Patrick Kidd, columnist Jenni Russell and Assistant Editor of The Spectator, Isabel Hard...
EU Special: to leave or remain?
23 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Debating the UK's position in the EU: Matt Chorley is joined by Brussels Correspondent Bruno Waterfield, Columnist Melanie Phillips and the Times' Chi...
Can George Osborne count himself lucky?
16 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Philip Aldrick:Global markets have been in meltdown but one man who may be smiling is the chancellor. Government borrowing costs have fallen to an all...
Will the Trident debate dictate Jeremy Corbyn's future?
09 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The Opinion podcast is now the Red Box Podcast from The Times. Columnist Robert Crampton, Media Editor Elizabeth Rigby and Deputy Political Editor Sam...