Nick Robinson has a conversation with, not an interrogation of, the people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs.
After 15 years as a member of the House of Lords, Tanni Grey-Thompson reflects on how a career at the top of sport prepared her for the world of politics. The crossbench peer speaks to Nick about what she sees as a dangerous relationship between benefit reforms and legalising assisted dying. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The First Minister of Wales sets a marker to the left of Keir Starmer, setting out her vision of a "Red Welsh Way", drawing inspiration from Gavin and Stacey. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Reform UK, discusses the party's growing success and his personal political ambitions, including potentially becoming Chancellor. He reflects on his privileged background and business career, linking his experience to his policy ideas such as nationalizing utilities and his defense of Reform's economic plans. Tice also details his strong skepticism towards climate change policy, the party's "Net Zero" immigration goal, and contrasts his view of modern Britain with examples like Dubai.
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, former president Joe Biden sits down with Nick Robinson for an exclusive interview, his first since leaving the White House. He issues a stark warning about the future of the western alliance and criticises his successor’s approach to foreign policy. In this extended interview, Biden also reflects on his decision to drop out of the 2024 election and the state of democracy in the US. Producers: Kirsty MacKenzie, Daniel Kraemer and Daniel Macadam Editor: Gil...
In the second, bonus instalment of this exclusive interview with the former prime minister, Rishi Sunak opens up about his time as Chancellor and Prime Minister, including how his relationship with Boris Johnson fell apart, why he regrets his "Stop the Boats" slogan and what comes next for someone who has become an elder statesman, aged 44. Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Joel Massey
An exclsuive in-depth interview with the Rishi Sunak. In this first instalment, the former prime minister tells stories from behind the scenes on the world stage explains why he thinks we must now cut welfare spending to fund defence. Sunak reflects on how a sense of duty - inspired by his Hindu faith - helped drive his political career, and reflects on how and why he ultimately led the Conservative Party to the worst electoral defeat in its history. Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Joel Massey...
The co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales joins Nick for a conversation
The Transport Secretary on Corbyn, Ukraine and growing up in Swindon Producer: Lauren Tavriger
The Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales on how he went from being a teacher at a school for kids with beahvioural problems, to being the leading voice on prison conditions. He tells stories of cheap suits, perspex windows, being the subject of offensive graffiti, and explains how he retains optimism. Producers: Lauren Tavriger and Daniel Kraemer
Political Thinking speaks with Zia Yusuf, the Chairman of Reform UK and a self-made tech entrepreneur. Yusuf discusses Reform UK's recent poll success, their ambitious goals for the next election, and the party's long-term strategy. He shares his personal story, including his background as a second-generation immigrant, his parents' work in the NHS, and his views on identity, faith, and sensitive political issues, while also offering assessments of figures like Donald Trump, Suella Braverman, and Boris Johnson.
The Shadow Home Secretary joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to reflect on mistakes of the last government, humility in opposition and his anger at the new government. Chris Philp also opens up about the impact of caring for his premature baby twins and what he has learned from success and failure in business. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Labour MP sits down with Nick to reflect on how she went from selling beds in her Yorkshire hometown, to being at the forefront of political debate, as the face of the campaign to legalise assisted dying, and how the murder of her sister, Jo Cox, helps explain the journey. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Chancellor reflects on her first six months in power and what lies behind her determination that she has "what it takes" to "turn things around". Producer: Daniel Kraemer
Nick Robinson speaks to Sir Nick Clegg about life as Mark Zuckerberg's right hand man at Meta and the transition from Westminster to Silicon Valley. He responds to challenges on regulation of social media companies and issues a warning about the political power of Elon Musk. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK reflects on a childhood in a Gaza refugee camp and how hope is what keeps him going. Update: This episode has been edited to remove a brief exchange suggesting that an interim finding by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found it plausible that genocide had been committed in Gaza. The ICJ actually decided that the Palestinians had a plausible right to be protected from genocide and we’re happy to make that clear.
The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats reflects on her journey from campaigning as a child against nuclear weapons and scratchy jumpers, to being at the heart of the third-largest party in parliament. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner reflects on the decision to rejoin the UK's largest police force when it was in crisis. Sir Mark Rowley sits down with Nick Robinson to outline the challenges the Met faces under his leadership, as well as how he decided as a teenager that policing was his mission. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury sits down with Nick to chart his rise to the heart of Starmer's government. How did a Bristol boy, whose parents sometimes went without meals to ensure he had food, end up at the Chancellor's side, in charge of the purse-strings of the government? Producer: Daniel Kraemer
How did Churchill's grandson end up at the top of British industry? Rupert Soames - Chair of the Confederation of British Industry - sits down with Nick Robinson to talk about this Labour government's first budget, which he claims did not offer enough "bang for the buck" Producer: Daniel Kraemer
What shaped the views and principles that Kemi Badenoch hopes will help her win the race to become next leader of the Conservative Party? Nick Robinson sits down with the former Business Secretary near the end of her party's leadership contest. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
Academic turned advocate Matt Goodwin speaks with Nick Robinson about the recent UK riots, arguing they stem from legitimate public unease over migration and failed integration rather than just hate or misinformation. He explains his personal shift in perspective, critiques the "elite class," and proposes policies like freezing non-essential migration while defending his controversial views.
The Israeli Ambassador sits down with Nick Robinson on the week of the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack. They discuss what lies behind her worldview, the mindset of Israelis and the actions of her government.
The First Minister of Scotland sits down with Nick to reflect on his reluctant path to power. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Health Secretary sits down with Nick Robinson at the end of the Labour conference in Liverpool. Wes Streeting reflects on how his family role-models led him to become a political fighter, rebukes those who criticise him for being too gloomy about the NHS, and reveals why an Oasis classic was his kareoke song of choice at the previous night's party. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
Mick Whelan is General Secretary of Aslef, the union representing train drivers. He sits down with Nick on the week that his members voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay offer, bringing to an end two years of strike action. Whelan reflects on growing up in working class West London and being one of a number of 2nd-generation Irish immigrants who have become union leaders in the UK. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
Why does the former Home Secretary believe he has 'outperformed everyone else on this leadership ticket by a country mile'? How did growing up as a mixed-race boy in London at the height of the National Front shape his politics? And what does the government need to do to improve integration in the UK?
The Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court sits down with Nick Robinson. Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Jonathan Brunert
Nick Robinson talks to the new Work and Pensions secretary about being at the centre of the Labour government's first row, taking on the scourge of worklessness and how her 2-year-old son is a cure for stress. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
Robert Jenrick on what went wrong for the Conservative Party and how to turn it around
Nick Robinson talks to the man at the heart of the new Downing Street government. Producer: Daniel Kraemer
