Politics Unpacked
Episodes
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...
Who Is Listening To Liz Truss?
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How is Liz Truss's fight to save western civilisation going? Why is Jonathan Gullis finding it hard to get back into teaching? And is Boris Johnson ri...
Who Is Winning The Tory Leadership Contest
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How badly have Kemi Badenoch’s maternity pay comments damaged her campaign? And does Keir Starmer have a woman problem?Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the...
Will Boris Overshadow Tory Conference?
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ed Vaizey is unpacking the politics of the day with Miranda Green and Carolyn Quinn.If the government can swallow being nice to Trump, why not Elon Mu...
Why Can't Starmer Shake The Donors Story?
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After another day of stories about Keir Starmer taking big donations - all within the rules - why is the prime minister struggling to move on?Hugo Rif...
Is Streeting Talking Down The NHS?
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wes Streeting says the NHS is letting people down, but should he be spending so much time talking the health service down?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the pol...
Is Angela Rayner Being Frozen Out?
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the politics of the Labour Party conference with James Marriott and Libby Purves.Is being deputy prime minister a proper job...
Focus Group: Has The Gifts Row Cut Through?
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's the Times Radio Focus Group, where Hugo steps outside the Westminster bubble to hear the opinions of ordinary voters. This month, we find ou...
Is English Identity Under Threat?
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ed Vaizey is unpacking the politics of the day with Timandra Harkness and Matthew Bell. Is Robert Jenrick right about English identity, could Nig...
Perks, Or Part Of The Job?
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are Keir Starmer's freebies a legitimate part of his job? With Hugo away, Matthew Parris and Manveen Rana join Lara Spirit to unpack the politics...
Is Working From Home Working?
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton join Hugo Rifkind to discuss the divisive Scottish independence referendum, 10 years on. Plus:...
Has Britain Lost Its Regional Identity?
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo Rifkind is back to unpack the politics of the day, and all the other news, with the brightest minds from the Times and the Sunday Times.Today he'...
Should The Starmers Buy Their Own Clothes?
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Columnists Hadley Freeman and Patrick Maguire join Hugo Rifkind to discuss Keir Starmer's breach of parliamentary rules in failing to declare that clo...
PFI 2.0, Salmond vs Sturgeon, and Gove's Return?
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's Friday, so Ed Vaizey is back to unpack the politics of the day with Trevor Phillips and Miranda Green.Could Labour plug the financial black hole ...
Does Starmer Have It In For Pensioners?
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo Rifkind is here to unpack the politics of the day, and plenty of other news, with the brightest minds from the Times and the Sunday Times.Today h...
PMQs: Starmer Sticks To The Script
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the action from Prime Minister's Questions, joined by Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman and comedian Ria ...
Is Britain In A Sickness Crisis?
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo Rifkind is back to unpack the politics of the day, and all the other news, with the brightest minds from the Times and the Sunday Times.Today he'...
Is Labour Really Risking A Brain Drain?
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hugo Rifkind is here to unpack the politics of the day, and plenty of other news, with the brightest minds from the Times and the Sunday Times.Today h...
What Makes A Maiden Speech
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the 335 new MPs elected at the last election continue to deliver their first speeches to Parliament, Ed Vaizey asks what is the secret to...
Philby, Fleming and Putin: A History of Spies
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ed Vaizey interrogates the past, present and future of espionage, from moments that could have come from fiction to the reality of spying in the moder...
PMQs: No, I'M Prime Minister
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
PMQs is back from summer recess, with Rishi Sunak quizzing Keir Starmer - although the prime minister is still having a hard time getting used to his ...
Go For Degrowth?
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer says it's all about growth, growth, growth - but why do some economists and politicians say we're looking at it the wrong way? Ed Vaizey ...
Starmer's Back-To-School Plans
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
MPs are back in Westminster after the summer recess, and the government has big plans for the new term - but where will it be plain sailing, and where...
Conference Clangers
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With the SNP gathering in Edinburgh, party conference season is well and truly upon us. Ed Vaizey is joined by a panel of political advisers to discus...
Does Starmer Have A Union Problem?
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Labour Party was born from the trade union movement, but is Keir Starmer's government on a collision course with the unions over public sector pay...
The Fall of Kabul 3 Years On
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's been three years since the last British troops and diplomats left Afghanistan in the chaotic withdrawal of Western forces. Ed Vaizey finds out wh...
Starmer's Woes Garden
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer uses his speech in the Downing Street rose garden to warn of a turbulent time ahead, with a 'painful budget' on the way. Ed Vaizey unpack...
The Making Of A Political Documentary
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Cockerell is one of the UK’s most experienced political film-makers, and has interviewed prime ministers from Macmillan to Johnson. He joins...
When Sport Gets Political
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is it ever possible to keep politics out of sport? Ed Vaizey looks at times when the two have collided, as well as how AI could change the world of at...
Politics On The Stage
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's culture week here on the podcast, and today we're looking at the theatre - does politics still have a place on the stage?Ed Vaizey hears from pla...
The Obama Effect
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Was Barack Obama's speech to the Democratic Convention a reminder that great orators don't come along very often? Columnists Robert Crampton and Jane ...
Politicians vs Social Media
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Clinton once said that regulating the internet would be like ‘nailing jello to a wall’, but in the UK new rules are on the way. Ed Vaizey loo...
Vlad to Be Here
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
25 years ago Vladimir Putin began his Russian reign in continuous positions as president or prime minister. How did the man in Moscow build his powerb...
The Beginning Of The End For Putin?
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do people like Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin really hold onto power? The Pulitzer-prize winning historian and author of 'Autocracy Inc', Anne App...
The Politics Of Your Plate
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Where does the food on your plate come from? As farmers call on ministers to bolster national food security, Adam weighs up the pros and cons of buyin...
Rebuilding After The Riots
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the wake of the riots that followed the Southport attacks, Adam Boulton asks what Keir Starmer can learn from other politicians who tried to rebuil...
Stories From The Frontline
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As fighting in the Russian-Ukraine war intensifies, and Israel warns of an imminent Iranian strike, what does it take to report on these deadly c...
How Scandal Brought Down A President
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fifty Years ago Richard Nixon became the first, and so far only, sitting US President to resign. Ed looks back at how Watergate caused his demise, and...
The Deepfake Election That Wasn't
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fears that AI generated 'deepfakes' could threaten British democracy in the run up to the general election turned out to be largely unfounded. Ed Vaiz...
The Worst Vice President Of All Time
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As Kamala Harris confirms she's chosen Tim Walz as her running mate, Ed Vaizey looks back on some of the best and worst vice presidential picks throug...
The Free Speech Debate
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After the government announced it may ditch the Conservatives' law to fight cancel culture on campuses, Ed Vaizey asks whether freedom of speech at Un...
Can Starmer Stop The Riots?
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As rioters rampage through towns and cities across the country, Times columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves join Ed Vaizey to discuss what Keir...
Mission Impossible: Save The NHS
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer says he's running a 'mission-led government', and this week Adam Boulton is looking at all five of his missions. Today it's his plan...
Mission Impossible: Smashing The Class Ceiling
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer says he's running a 'mission-led government', and this week Adam Boulton is looking at all five of his missions. Today it's his plan...
Mission Impossible: Keir, Crime Fighter?
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Boulton continues his analysis of Keir Starmer's five missions for the Labour government, today it's his plan to 'take back our streets'. Pl...
Mission Impossible: Energy Superpower
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Boulton continues his analysis of Keir Starmer's five missions for the Labour government.Today it's his plan to turn Britain into a “clean ener...
Mission Impossible: Go For Growth
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As Rachel Reeves addresses the nation with a warning about a £20 billion black hole in the public coffers, Adam Boulton is checking on the progress o...
The Impressionists Are Back
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's Matt's last appearance on the podcast, and he's assembled comedians Jon Culshaw, Lewis Macleod and Nerine Skinner to give us their best political...
The Tory Olympics
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The starting gun has been fired and Conservative MPs have begun entering the race to become next leader of the party. Who will make it to the fin...
PMQs: Keir's First One
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
PMQs is back, and this time it's Rishi Sunak putting questions to new prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.Matt unpacks the action from the new-look Common...
SpAd School
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Special advisers, known as 'SpAds', are being appointed left and right and centre by the new government. But what do they actually do? Matt is joined ...
10 Years Of Red Box
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the Times Red Box newsletter celebrates its 10th birthday, Matt rounds up all the previous editors to look back over a remarkable decade in po...
Has Keir Starmer Killed Comedy?
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As thousands of performers descend upon Edinburgh for the Fringe, those promising topical comedy are buried in hasty rewrites after the snap election....
Quad Goals
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt takes a look at the government's new gang of four - Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner, Rachel Reeves and Pat McFadden. Will they make all the big decis...
1945 All Over Again
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
King Charles III has set out the government's plans for the year ahead, but what happened the last time a King was on the throne unveiling the program...
Stand And Deliver
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer has promised to "deliver from the get-go”, but what does a focus on delivery really mean? Matt is joined by US political theorist Matt ...
Biden's Brain & Starmer’s Face
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As Joe Biden gaffes his way through his latest press conference, columnists James Marriott and India Knight ask if he should stand down. They also dis...
What Dog Should Keir Starmer Get?
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After Keir Starmer told us his children are campaigning to get a German Shepherd, we find out whether there's room for one in the flat above Downing S...
Starmer Goes Global
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer is in America for his first Nato summit as prime minister, but what kind of leader will he be on the world stage? Matt is joined by corre...
How To Keep Order! In The Commons
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the Commons meets to elect the Speaker, who has made a success of the job - and who hasn't? Matt speaks to two former deputy speakers to find out h...
The Exit Interviews: Our Survival Guide For New MPs
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Now, as a record number of new faces arrive in Westminster, Matt pulls together a helpful guide on how to survive life as an MP - from asking for dire...
Sunak Out, Starmer In
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Chorley guides you through an extraordinary moment in British politics, as Rishi Sunak leaves Downing Street for the last time and Keir Starmer b...