Politics Unpacked

Take A Chance On Ed?

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's the podcast everyone has been waiting for... join Matt and Patrick Maguire as they bring you Ed Davey Unpacked: pausing and analysing the&nb...

Crazy Golf, Crazy Davey

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth, and Matt plays crazy golf with party leader Ed Davey. How many houses does he want to build, why wo...

How To Party At Party Conferences

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As party conference season kicks off, Matt speaks to those who have seen it all - from karaoke, to babysitting drunk ministers, to skinny dipping.Plus...

The Not Quite Prime Ministers

22 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

History is written by (and often about) the winners, but the lives and careers of Britain's political losers can be just as telling. Leaders of the Op...

Why Are We In Love With The Big State?

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The British Social Attitudes Survey has been running for 40 years, and its latest findings show that we expect the state to do more than ever before. ...

Cutting The Green Crap?

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With Parliament in recess and no PMQs, Matt is joined by Patrick Maguire and Kate McCann to answer questions from the listeners on Rishi Sunak's ...

Make Slogans Great Again

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As we learn Labour's slogan for party conference season, Matt is joined by columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Jane Merrick to discuss the best and...

How To Look Like A Prime Minister

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer may be ahead in the polls, but nearly half of voters say they still don't think he looks like a prime minister in waiting. Matt hears adv...

WTF did WFH do to UK?

15 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is working from home today...a rare occasion for him but not for millions of people . Stanford economist and world leading expert in remote worki...

Can Starmer Stop The Boats?

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer says he'll tackle the problem of small boats crossing the channel with his plan to "smash the gangs". Will the policy work, can he park h...

PMQs Unpacked: Cock Up After Cock Up

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's the last PMQs before the party conferences, with Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer trading blows over the government's string of recent woes and Starm...

Would You Like A Referendum On That?

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are referendums the sign of a healthy democracy, or as Thatcher said a "device of dictators and demagogues"? Matt finds out about their increasing use...

Can Labour Beat The Tories On Defence?

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Defence and security is one of the areas where the Conservatives are still more trusted than Labour by the public. With big questions looming over Ukr...

The Museum of Political Fiascos

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the grand opening of The Museum of Political Fiascos, where artefacts old and new are on display showcasing the most embarrassing moments i...

Focus Group: It Gets Worse For Sunak

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The focus group is back, with swing voters from around England giving us their unvarnished view of politics. It's bad for Rishi Sunak, with even forme...

PMQs Unpacked: Concrete Chaos

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's the first PMQs clash between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer since Parliament returned from the summer break, and the exchanges are dominated by cru...

Blair To The Future

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer has met with his brand new shadow cabinet for the first time, but does his top team now have more Blairites than Tony Blair ever did? Mat...

What's Worrying Rishi Sunak?

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With MPs back after the summer recess, Matt and Times Radio Political Editor Kate McCann bring you their guide to the five things Rishi Sunak should b...

The Rest is Dominic Sandbrook

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brand new Times columnist and Rest is History star Dominic Sandbrook tells Matt why the King's first year on the throne has been a surprising success,...

The Political Editors: How Reporting Changed

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From sending stories by mail to sacking ministers by tweet, 'The Political Editors' series showed how the news, and the creators of news, changed...

The Political Editors: Steven Swinford

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Times' current Political Editor Steven Swinford has been in the job for a turbulent three years, straddling three prime ministers and at least 42 ...

The Political Editors: Francis Elliott

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Francis Elliott became The Times' Political Editor in 2013, covering an extraordinary period that saw the end of the coalition, the slow downfall of T...

How To Write A Great Political Speech

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sixty years ago Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which went onto shape modern America. Hugo Rifkind asks a panel of former ...

The Political Editors: Roland Watson

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After covering the US for the Times in the aftermath of 9/11 - and interviewing President Bush in the White House - Roland Watson returned to the "gol...

The Political Editors: Philip Webster

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Philip Webster was political editor at the Times for 18 years, a colossus of the Blair and Brown eras who survived nine editors at the paper. He tells...

The Political Editors: Sir Peter Riddell

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Westminster veteran Sir Peter Riddell tells Matt about his time charting the dramatic end to the Thatcher era, underestimating John Major, Labour comi...

The Political Editors: Julian Haviland

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Julian Haviland became political editor of the Times in 1981, but his career in journalism began in the 1950s and covered every prime minister from Al...

The Political Editors: Fred Emery

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times.First up is Fred Emery, who ...

Has Political Correctness Saved Comedy?

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Has political correctness come to bury comedy, or to save it? Patrick Maguire speaks to David Stubbs, who believes 'wokeness' has been good rather tha...

How To Stage A Coup

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Military coups are "back" according to the UN, with Niger the latest African nation to have its government overthrown. Patrick asks why they're on the...

PMQs: Patrick Maguire Questions

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's Wednesday, but with the House of Commons in recess we bring you the other PMQs - Patrick Maguire Questions. Patrick is joined by Red Box Editor L...

What Does Tony Blair Want?

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's 16 years since Tony Blair walked away from frontline politics, forced to step down by a party that had fallen out of love with him. But with Keir...

How To Perfect A Political Denial

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Twenty five years after Bill Clinton infamously denied having an affair with Monica Lewinsky, Patrick speaks to Damian Whitworth, who remembers the ch...

Why So Many MPs Are Calling It Quits

12 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This Saturday we're bringing you an extra episode from another Times podcast - Stories of Our Times - one remarkable story, told in depth, each d...

Spinning Like Sunak

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do politicians keep fit? Rishi Sunak spends his holidays going to Taylor Swift-themed spin classes; Keir Starmer prefers to kick around a foo...

How To Fix Parliament

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is Parliament broken, and how can we fix it? Chair of the Committees on Standards and Privileges Chris Bryant joins Patrick Maguire to discuss hi...

Why August Isn't Silly Season

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's a journalistic cliché that very little happens in politics while MPs are on holiday during the Parliamentary recess. But is it fair to describe ...

Is Britain Skint?

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A decade of low economic growth has seen Britain fall behind it's wealthy counterparts, and nations like Poland and South Korea are set to become rich...

How To Lose An Unloseable Election

07 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer is firmly ahead in the polls, but nothing in politics is ever certain. So, how do you lose an election that seems unloseable? Patrick Mag...

The Art Of The Political Lunch

04 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Very few people in Westminster have had as many lunches as The Sunday Times' Chief political commentator Tim Shipman.So for the final day of food...

Confessions Of The Chequers Chef

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is it like to cook for world leaders, celebrities, and even the Queen? Graham Howarth is the Head Chef at Chequers - the PM's country retreat. He...

The Art of Political Drinking

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join Matt for a pint in Westminster's Red Lion pub. He talks to Gordon Brown's former spin doctor Charlie Whelan about how he inadvertently killed Ton...

Shopping Under The Nanny State

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After Rishi Sunak delayed the ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals on fatty foods for two years, Matt takes stock of how much the nanny state is policing...

Cooking In The Commons

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Food week begins with the history of Bellamy's, a restaurant that's been serving politicians' portions for 250 years. Charles Walker is the MP in...

How To Start A New Political Party

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

More than one hundred new political parties have already been registered this year, but what does it take to create one that goes the distance? Kate M...

Focus Group: Attack Of The Clones

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A group of people from across England who voted for the Conservatives at the 2019 election, but now say they plan to vote for Labour give their verdic...

How To Punish Politicians

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is joined by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg, the man in charge of investigating politicians behaviour. He discusse...

Are The Greens Missing Their Moment?

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the climate at the top of the news agenda, why isn't the Green Party doing better? Matt asks Siân Berry if she can hold the party's only parliam...

When Will Sunak Call An Election?

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should Rishi Sunak go early like Boris Johnson, or cling on until the bitter end like John Major? Matt considers the merits of an early or a late gene...

What Do The By-Elections Mean?

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After the Conservatives suffered two by-election defeats but were spared the embarrassment of a whitewash, Matt explores what it means for Sunak and S...

MPs On Holiday: What Not To Do

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As MPs leave Westminster for the summer recess, Matt brings you his guide to the dos and don'ts of taking some time away from politics. He talks about...

PMQs Unpacked: The A Team Is Back

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The deputies have gone, and Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer are back at PMQs for their last outing before the summer recess. Matt pauses and unpacks the ...

How Do You Fix The Met Police?

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley joins Matt to talk about his plan to overhaul Britain's largest force, warning it will be a 'bumpy jo...

Death & Taxes

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When George Osborne promised to scrap inheritance tax on the family home in 2007, it was credited with deterring Gordon Brown from holding a snap elec...

Radio, Religion And Brass Bands

14 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt looks at a boom in hyper-local community radio, including the station bringing you the sounds of a hedge for eight hours.Plus: Columnists James M...

Is Your Council Going Bust?

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If your town hall isn't already in trouble, it could be soon. Local authorities around the country are taking drastic action to balance the books, wit...

DPMQs Unpacked: A Teachable Moment

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's Deputy PMQs, and Matt and Tim Shipman are joined by a deputy head teacher to help them pause and unpack the action as Oliver Dowden and Angela Ra...

Finkelstein & Zeffman: Crazy Politics, Crazy Golf

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As Henry Zeffman leaves the Times, he joins Daniel Finkelstein and Matt one last time. They discuss what politics will look like in 2030, how journali...

Can The Tories Hold The Red Wall?

10 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's been four years since the term 'Red Wall' entered the political lexicon. Matt is joined by the man who coined the phrase, analyst James...

Boris Johnson, One Year On

07 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a year since Boris Johnson resigned outside Downing Street, telling the nation: "Them's the breaks." Matt is joined by impressionist Jon Cul...

Could The Tories Lose Four By-Elections?

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In two weeks' time Rishi Sunak faces major by-election tests in the seats vacated by Boris Johnson, Nigel Adams and David Warburton, and the suspensio...

DPMQs Unpacked: Game, Set and Match

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Deputies Oliver Dowden and Angela Rayner stand in at PMQs and clash over mortgage rates and problems in the rental market. Matt pauses and unpacks the...

Sunak's 5 Pledges, 6 Months On

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Six months ago today, Rishi Sunak laid out five key pledges that he said would build a better future for the country. Matt and a panel of experts from...

The Exit Interviews: Ian Blackford

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ian Blackford joined the SNP aged 16, going on to lead the party in Westminster during a period of high political drama. In the latest episode of...

Behind The Scenes At Parliament TV

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a century since the broadcasters first asked to record what goes on in Parliament, although cameras didn't make it into the Commons cha...

Margaret McDonagh

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Baroness McDonagh, Labour's first female general secretary, was a key figure in the paty and was instrumental in Tony Blair's election victories in 19...

PMQs Unpacked: We've Got The X-Factor

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer trade blows over housing statistics, Matt pauses and unpacks the action with the help of Peter Dickson, the voice of t...

Focus Group: Martin Lewis For PM

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Swing voters from across England give their verdict on Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer and explain why they'd rather have consumer expert Martin Lewis at Nu...

The Exit Interviews: Ben Bradshaw

26 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Ben Bradshaw spent almost a decade as a junior minister before reaching the cabinet under Gordon Brown. In the latest episode of our series talkin...

Falklands, Robin Day and Peppa Pig

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As defence secretary when the Falklands were invaded, John Nott had to check the globe in his office and was horrified to see how far away the islands...

Keir Starmer Does The Quiz

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Labour Leader Keir Starmer joins Matt in the studio to discuss help for homeowners, travelling by helicopter, whether Tony Blair should be in the Lord...

PMQs Unpacked: Jane & Fi Take On Rishi & Keir

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer argue over whether there's a "Tory mortgage penalty", Matt is joined by special guests Jane Garvey and Fi Glover to pa...

The Johnson Defence

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman discuss what we we learned from the MPs defending Boris Johnson during the debate over the Privileges Committee r...

The Exit Interviews: Gary Streeter

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Gary Streeter started out in the SDP, defected to the Tories, was an aide to John Major after his general election defeat and was sacked by Iain D...

Blackadder Goes Fortieth

16 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week in 1983 one of the great political schemers, Edmund Blackadder hit TV screens for the first time. Matt chart's the politics of the classic s...

What Next For Boris Johnson?

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After the Privileges Committee finds that Boris Johnson misled the Commons, Matt considers his future career options with Times sketchwriter Quen...

PMQs Unpacked: Peer Pressure

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer takes aim at Rishi Sunak over Boris Johnson's resignation honours list, while Sunak attacks Labour for picking peers like Tom Watson.Matt...

Boris vs Rishi

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman are back to discuss the battle over Boris Johnson's honours list, why the former prime minister annoys Rishi...

The Exit Interviews: Margaret Hodge

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Labour veteran Dame Margaret Hodge sits down for The Exit Interviews, our new series featuring MPs leaving Parliament at the next election.She talks t...

Donald or Ron or Nikki or Mike or Tim or Chris or Doug vs Joe

09 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former US President Donald Trump has been criminally charged for the second time in three months, but is still the favourite to secure the Republican ...

Escaping Hitler and Stalin

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel Finkelstein, Times columnist and friend of the podcast, tells the story of his parents' remarkable journey from the Soviet Gulags and the Nazi ...

DPMQs Unpacked: Dire Punchlines

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With Rishi Sunak away in America, deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden faces off against Labour's number two, Angela Rayner. Matt, Patrick Maguire and ...

Mr Sunak Goes to Washington

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak is off to meet Joe Biden at the White House for the first time and will hope to make a big impression (or at least get the President ...

The Exit Interviews: George Eustice

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back with the first episode in a new series, The Exit Interviews, sitting down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to talk about ...

How (Not) to Write a Manifesto

02 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick Maguire is in for Matt, looking at Labour's 1983 manifesto - 'the longest suicide note in history' - 40 years on, with historian Phil Tinline....

Down Under Take Over

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it's a love of Kylie, cricket or beer, Australia and Britain have plenty in common when it comes to popular culture - and politics, with a new...

Running The Numbers For Thatcher

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It was the leadership contest that finally ended Margaret Thatcher's premiership - even though she won in the first round. The year was 1990, whe...

Should Johnson's WhatsApps Stay Secret?

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While Matt is away, Patrick Maguire is joined by columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Miranda Green to discuss whether the government should hand Boris J...

How Call of Duty Became Britain's Post-Brexit Battleground

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is away for the bank holiday, but in the meantime we have another guest episode from the team at Stories of Our Times - one remarkable story...

Sex, Lies And Boris Johnson

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cleo Watson has gone from being deputy chief of staff for Boris Johnson to writing a satirical 'bonkbuster' set in and around Westminster, Downing Str...

Focus Group: I Haven't Heard Of Him

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Undecided voters from across England make up this month's Times Radio Focus Group. They give their verdict on record levels of net migration, and thei...

PMQs Unpacked: You Owe Me Dinner

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer battle it out over migration, inflation and apprenticeships. Matt, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit pause and unpack the ...

What Is The Point of the Points-Based System

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After more than a decade of Conservative promises, targets and legislation to cut the rate of net migration, official figures are expected to show it ...

Can Starmer Win Without Scotland?

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After years of decline north of the border, can a win for Labour in Scotland clear the path for Keir Starmer to secure a majority and get the keys to ...

Photographing Five Prime Ministers

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For more than a decade Andrew Parsons was the official Downing Street photographer - chronicling life at No 10 with every prime minister from David Ca...

The Biggest Threat to the West

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Richard Dearlove began his career in the intelligence services at the height of the Cold War, and went on to become 'C' - the head of MI6. He tell...

DPMQs Unpacked: Olive v Ange

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's Deputy Prime Minister's questions with new DPM Oliver Dowden facing Angela Rayner for the first time. Matt, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit pause and...

Stuck In The Middle With You

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Exclusive YouGov polling for Times Radio shows that plenty of Labour voters - and even more Liberal Democrats - would like to see a coalition between ...

Turkey's Turning Point

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Turks are at a historic turning point - choosing between two radically different visions for the future of their country.With the battle for the presi...

Is It 1974 All Over Again?

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A Conservative prime minister, soaring inflation, strikes bringing the country to a standstill - and Britain hosting the Eurovision Song Contest. Welc...