Politics Unpacked
Episodes
Starmer Gets Ready For Trump
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What can Keir Starmer learn from Emmanuel Macron cosying up to Donald Trump?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Katy Balls and James Mar...
Lessons From The German Election
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A centre-left government kicked out by the electorate, with immigration the dominant issue... Are there lessons from the German election for Keir Star...
Stuff's Got Real
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Starmer is under pressure to increase defence spending ahead of his trip to Washington next week, but where will the money come from and will the publ...
Starmer's "Love Actually" Moment?
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Half of voters think it is in Britain’s interest to stand up to Donald Trump over Ukraine, but would it even make a difference?Hugo Rifkind unp...
President Musk
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump and Elon Musk put their friendship on full display in an hour long interview on Fox News. Will their bromance last? Hugo Rifkind ...
Rachel Reeves' Inflated CV
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After claims she exaggerated her CV, Rachel Reeves' entry in Who's Who is found to be at fault. Will it cut through with the public?Hugo Rifkind unpac...
Trump, The Right & Starmer's Favourite Pub
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo is unpacking the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Jane Mulkerrins.Should we all calm down over Trump's plans for Ukraine? What do the...
Is Keir Starmer Just a Pawn?
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new book by Times and Sunday Times journalists Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund charts Keir Starmer's rise to power, his journey from promising u...
Trump Accused Of Betraying Ukraine
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trump and Putin have agreed to negotiate the end of the war in Ukraine, but where does this leave Kyiv?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day wi...
PMQs: Open Borders & Lefty Lawyers
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer criticises Kemi Badenoch's repetitive questioning, as the Tory leader finds herself on the defensive over immigration law.Hugo Rifki...
Can The UK Avoid A Trade War?
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump's tariffs will have a big impact the UK steel industry, but unlike EU leaders, Starmer isn't going to retaliate - does he have a plan?Hug...
Is Labour The Disrupter - Or The Disrupted?
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After Keir Starmer tells his cabinet they need to be the "disrupters if you don't want to be disrupted", can they live up to the billing - and is this...
Build Baby Build
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With growth forecast to be less than a measly one percent this year, can Keir Starmer build his way out of the bad news?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics...
Are Labour And The Tories Panicking Over Reform?
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Kemi Badenoch sets out a new migration policy and Labour attacks Nigel Farage over his views on the NHS, are the Tories and Labour panicking about ...
PMQs: The Kemi Pivot
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch continues her scattergun approach to questioning Keir Starmer, jumping from the Chagos Islands deal to voice coaches to drilling fo...
The President Who Cried Tariff
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has suspended the hefty tariffs on Mexico and Canada that he threatened after last-minute negotiations with the two US neighbours...is th...
Keir's Not Driving The Train
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new book reveals that Keir Starmer closest advisers have doubted his ability to lead. Does it matter if he acts more like an HR manager than a polit...
Brexit, Boomers & Centrist Dads
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's the fifth anniversary of Brexit - is Ed a remoaner, what's gone wrong for the centrists, and is it time for boomers to open their pockets?Ed Vaiz...
Focus Group: Rabbit In The Headlights
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the first Times Radio focus group of 2025, we find out whether voters who backed Labour at the general election are suffering from buyer's remorse....
PMQs: The Next Lettuce?
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch goes on the offensive over the government's plans for growth, but Keir Starmer thinks she's going to be 'the next lettuce'.Hugo Rifkind ...
Extremism, Protest and Ed Miliband's Photographer
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The government has rejected advice to widen the definition of extremism, but how can it stop attacks from angry "loners" like in Southport?Plus, why i...
Trump Calls Starmer
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After 45 minutes on the phone, and Donald Trump saying Keir Starmer is "a very good person", the transatlantic relationship seems to be on solid groun...
Farage Demands An Apology
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the wake of the sentencing of the Southport killer, Nigel Farage has called for an apology after he was accused of spreading fake news. But is he j...
Matthew Parris: Liberals Should Take On Trump
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo is unpacking the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Manveen Rana.Matthew argues that liberals are going soft on Donald Trump, and it's t...
PMQs: Did Kemi School Keir?
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch accuses Keir Starmer of "educational vandalism" over his plans for schools. Who came out on top, and do some in Labour think she's got a...
Did Farage Have A Point About Southport?
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer denied a 'cover-up' after his government was accused of withholding information about the Southport killer, did he get it wrong?Hugo Rifk...
Trump! Part Deux
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump returns as U.S. president after one of the most extraordinary election comebacks in modern history, but what will Trump part two look lik...
Ed Davey: No More Mr Nice Guy?
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has positioned himself as pro-Europe and anti-Trump. Can he appeal to the urban voters that Labour may lose as they pick their...
Trump Takes The Credit
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As a fragile ceasefire is agreed between Israel and Hamas, is this a peek into Donald Trump's new world order?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the...
PMQs: Economic Vandals and Fantasists
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch questions Keir Starmer about the state of the economy and his support for Chancellor Rachel Reeves.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from ...
Is Rachel Reeves Really In Trouble?
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The chancellor shrugs off calls to resign after Keir Starmer is pressed about her future. Is there really any chance of her losing her job, and should...
Can Labour Be 'Ruthless' Over Spending?
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Reeves is looking for ways to grow the economy in the long-term, but may still have to cut spending - how will the party react?Hugo Rifkind unp...
The Chancellor Goes To China
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Reeves is in China for trade talks, despite the UK's economic woes. When should politicians give in to pressure and cancel a foreign trip?Ed Va...
Has Reeves Done A Truss?
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The pound is falling in value and government borrowing costs are rising - are the economic walls closing in on Rachel Reeves?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the ...
PMQs: A Leader Not A Lawyer
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
PMQs Unpacked is back for the new year and today Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch clash over whether there should be a national inquiry into child sexua...
Should Starmer Investigate Grooming Gangs?
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Calls for a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal are being led by the Conservatives, Reform UK and Elon Musk, but would it delay the actio...
Starmer Hits Back At Musk
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Without naming him directly, Keir Starmer has denounced Elon Musk for spreading falsehoods about the child sex abuse scandal. Has the PM changed his s...
Is Musk Flirting With Fascism?
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elon Musk has continued his attacks on the UK government, but why is he inserting himself into European politics? Does he want to be a global statesma...
Gang Smashing & Queue Jumping
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The government has begun 2025 by targeting people-smuggling gangs after channel crossings rose by a quarter last year. Plus, as Starmer is b...
Making the Honours List
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The 2025 New Years Honours list has being released, with Former England football manager Gareth Southgate and actor Stephen Fry amongst those to be kn...
Are Badenoch's Attacks On Farage Backfiring?
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The membership row between Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage rumbles on, but is anyone winning? And what do members of Reform UK get for their money?Davi...
Slumps, Scandals And Christmas Sweaters
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The economy hasn't grown since Labour came to power, can the government continue blaming the Tories?Plus, christmas jumpers and showbiz PR scanda...
Can Mandelson Charm Donald Trump?
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Mandelson is set to become Britain’s next ambassador to Washington, but does he have a plan to win over Donald Trump - and Elon Musk?Ed Vaizey...
Can Kemi Look Like A PM In Waiting?
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A new YouGov polls shows the public doesn't see Kemi Badenoch as a PM in waiting - is their verdict a suprise?Plus, is Matthew Parris the British equi...
PMQs: One-Trick Phony
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's the last PMQs of 2024, and Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch trade blows over the government's decision to restrict winter fuel payments.But some of...
Why Is Starmer Polling So Badly?
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Starmer's approval rating is the lowest of any Prime Minister after five months in Number 10 - is he a victim of circumstance, or of the fickle nature...
Naming Spies
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should MPs use parliamentary privilege to reveal the identity of an alleged Chinese spy? Is anti-bullying training 'woke'? And is the government's com...
Streeting Goes For Miliband
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer faces a cabinet split as Wes Streeting criticises Ed Miliband's decision to oppose military action against Assad in Syria when he was the...
Kemi's War on Sandwiches
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch gives an interview in which she claims sandwiches aren't 'real food' - and says she identifies with a murderous Game of Thrones characte...
PMQs: Tip Of The Iceberg
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch attacks Keir Starmer for his views on immigration when he was a lawyer - but can a letter be the tip of the iceberg? And does the prime ...
Lammy Hams It Up Over Syria
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After David Lammy tells the Commons that Assad is the "rat of Damascus", does the foreign secretary have a habit of playing to the gallery?Plus: A fir...
Would You Buy Shares In The Tories?
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With Reform polling well and attracting more Tory defectors - including Suella Braverman's husband - who would you put your money on to dominate the r...
'Don't Bet Against Farage'
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch is Washington, but won't meet Donald Trump - who prefers Nigel Farage anyway. And why does Angela Rayner think Keir Starmer is like a ci...
Starmer's Six Milestones
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer sets out six milestones for voters to judge his premiership, but did his speech reboot his premiership?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the spee...
PMQs: Conviction Politicians, Not Politicians With Convictions
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch asks Keir Starmer why he appointed a "convicted fraudster" to be his transport secretary.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action at prime minist...
Too Many Targets?
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer is planning to set six numerical targets for the government to achieve before the next election, but do targets lead to results? And...
The Sickness Benefits Trap
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo is joined by Fraser Nelson to discuss whether the benefits system is trapping the people it's supposed to help, and unpacks the politics of ...
Starmer Loses His First Cabinet Minister
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh is the first cabinet resignation of the Starmer government, but what don't we know about the story, and how big a set...
Have The Tories Got It Wrong On Immigration?
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As official figures show net migration hit a record 900,000 last year, the Tories have set out a "new approach" on immigration. But is it wise for Kem...
PMQs: Taking The Biscuit
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch says businesses such as biscuit-maker McVities are losing confidence in the UK economy, but will her biscuit puns make Keir Starmer crum...
Have We Reached 'Peak Woke'
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Has the woke movement lost confidence? Will Donald Trump bring Joe Rogan into White House press briefings? And what has Boris Johnson been saying abou...
Petitions, Missions, And Ed Davey's TikTok
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the politics of the day with Sunday Times columnist Hadley Freeman and politics professor and podcast host David Runciman.Th...
Keir Starmer's Education Revolution
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's a big shake-up of the school curriculum on the way, but how radical is the government's thinking - and could they put standards at risk?Ed Vai...
Tim Shipman: Brexit, Boris & Bust-Ups
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman joins Hugo to dig into the final book in his Brexit quartet, 'Out: How Brexit Got Done and The To...
PMQs: Rayner vs... Who?
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With Keir Starmer away, his deputy Angela Rayner takes deputy prime minister's questions from Conservative MP Alex Burghart. Does he impress on his fi...
Where Does Musk Find The Time?
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Has Elon Musk already overstayed his welcome in the court of Donald Trump? Can a government be made up entirely of mavericks? And how does the billion...
Is Reeves Haunted By Her CV?
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Reeves is under pressure to explain her CV, after it emerged that she used a false claim to win her seat as an MP - but does it matter?Hugo Rif...
Criminalising The Culture Wars
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of people, including children, have been questioned by police over non-crime hate speech, but is that involving police in political problems...
Is Europe Delusional About Trump?
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Manveen Rana. Can Europe hold Donald Trump responsible if the US walks away fr...
PMQs: The Magic Money Tree Is Back
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In her second outing at PMQs, Kemi Badenoch attacks Keir Starmer over the government's National Insurance rise - but he says she's resorting to the "m...
Has Pop Culture Shifted Right?
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Has the liberal dominance of the old entertainment industry given way to the dominance of right-wing YouTubers, podcasters, streamers and influencers?...
Why Labour Isn't More Radical
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After Paul Johnson tells us he's changed his mind about the scale of the recent Budget, is the government missing the chance to be more radical?Hugo R...
Harris's Lessons For Labour
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can Keir Starmer learn anything from the Democrats' defeat in the presidential election, or are the UK and the US too different to draw comparisons?Ed...
Trump's Hard Truth For Liberals
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump's victory might be a bitter pull for liberals around the world to swallow, but they can't avoid his overwhelming success at the ballot bo...
PMQs: Badenoch Plays Her Trump Card
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In Kemi Badenoch's first PMQs as Tory leader, she ask whether Keir Starmer will get on with President-elect Trump and protect the "special relationshi...
Has Starmer U-Turned on Fees?
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 2020 Keir Starmer promised to abolish university tuition fees - so will his government suffer from the decision to increase them in ...
Like British Politics, But Bigger
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have been making their closing pitches in front of large crowds in the US, but are the differences between British and ...
PTSD From Truss's Mini-Budget
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Were the markets hostile to the budget or are our jitters a hangover from Liz Truss? Should we bring back food rationing? Can you hold a grudge for as...
The Real Problem With The USA
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As Biden makes another blunder, is the US president making the campaign impossible for Kamala Harris? And are both parties failing to diagnose the rea...
Reeves' Budget & Sunak's Swan Song
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Labour's first budget in nearly fifteen years will also be the biggest tax-raising budget in history. Hugo unpacks it all with Times Radio's Political...
Is Kemi Too Outrageous?
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do politicians have to be outrageous to get attention? Why is the nation's birth rate plummeting? Plus, a lesson in how to carve turnip lanterns. ...
A Joke Too Far For Trump
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Will racist language used at Trump's latest rally help or hinder his bid for the White House? Are we really living in unprecedentedly bad times? ...
Musk's Talks With Putin
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After the Wall Street Journal reports on secret conversations between Elon Musk and Russia's president, just how much influence does the world's riche...
Starmer's Squabble In Samoa
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As Commonwealth leaders press the case for slavery reparations, has the summit in Somoa gone wrong for the prime minister? And how serious are Donald ...
PMQs: The Battle Of The Gingers
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With Keir Starmer away, it's Angela Rayner v Oliver Dowden at deputy prime minister's questions - or the "battle of the gingers".Lara Spirit pauses an...
Can Ministers Make Prison Work?
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Will the government's sentencing review stop the prison overcrowding crisis? Are entrepreneurs scared to start their own business? And were there any ...
Trump, Badenoch & McDonald's
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has been serving (briefly) at a McDonald's, while Kemi Badenoch worked at one during her A-levels - does having the fast-food restaurant ...
Badenoch Broke The Clap-O-Meter
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch took part in their first televised hustings, and if the clap-o-meter is anything to go by, Badenoch won the debate - ...
Taylor Swift, Slick Jenrick
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is the government still being dogged by stories about Taylor Swift tickets, is Robert Jenrick's conversion from centrist to right-winger cred...
PMQs: Political Point Scoring?
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rishi Sunak focuses on the threat from China as the foreign secretary heads to Beijing. But is it, as Keir Starmer says, just "political point scoring...
Will Labour Break Its Tax Promise?
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If the chancellor increases employer national insurance contributions, will she have broken Labour's manifesto promise? And could weight-loss jabs hel...
Was The Transport Secretary Thrown Under The Bus?
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As cabinet ministers come close to jeopardising the government's investment summit, is Labour still in campaign mode? Hugo Rifkind unpacks t...
Where's Sue Gray?
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The prime minister's been at the first meeting of the new Council of the Nations and Regions, but why is his new "envoy to the nations and regions", S...
The Tory Identity Crisis
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With James Cleverly out of the Conservative leadership contest and Boris Johnson teasing a possible return to frontline politics, does that party know...
PMQs: It's Like She's Voldemort
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
PMQs is back, with Keir Starmer facing questions about freebies and the budget - but why is everyone afraid to say Sue Gray's name? Hugo Rifkind ...
Crackdown On Cronyism?
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ministers are drawing up plans for political parties to have to publicly justify why they are appointing peers to the House of Lords. Will it hel...
Gray Matter
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How and why was Sue Gray ousted from Downing Street, and what does it tell us about Keir Starmer's government?Times columnists Patrick Maguire and Had...
Boris Johnson, Chagos and 'Cash For Croissants'
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Patrick Maguire is unpacking the politics of the day with Rachel Sylvester and Timandra Harkness. They discuss Boris Johnson's new...
Starmer's Freebie-Geebies
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer's decision to repay some of the hospitality and gifts he received since entering No. 10 has reignited the discussion about freebies ...
Tory Leadership: Who Has The Momentum?
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The four Conservative leadership hopefuls have been speaking to the party's conference in Birmingham, but who is pulling ahead in this contest? Hugo R...