Political Thinking with Nick Robinson - podcast cover

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

BBC Radio 4www.bbc.co.uk

Nick Robinson talks to people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs. Each episode of Political Thinking features an in-depth conversation with someone who is shaping our politics. The people who run our country (and those who want to), campaigners, business and union leaders, and people who run other countries. All of them join Nick in the studio, not for a news-y interrogation, but for an extended and relaxed conversation, delving into their past and how it shaped their worldview. New episodes drop on Fridays on BBC Sounds. You can also watch them on BBC Two at 12:15pm on Fridays or on BBC iPlayer. And you can listen on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays at 17:30.

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Episodes

The Richard Horton One

The editor of the Lancet discusses problems in the relationship between science and politics, why he thinks the lockdown must go on, and whether he is really a headline chaser.

May 07, 202034 min

The new Keir Starmer one

Labour's new leader Keir Starmer talks about his background, upbringing, legal career and core values (in an interview recorded in 2018)

Apr 06, 202028 min

The Rosena Allin-Khan One

The Labour deputy leadership candidate and doctor on being prepared for coronavirus, why she chose politics and that Love Actually video

Mar 13, 202041 min

The Rebecca Long-Bailey One

The Labour leadership candidate on her Mancunian roots, why she didn't go into politics straight away and raising her eyebrows

Mar 06, 202038 min

The Ian Murray One

The Labour deputy leadership candidate on uniting Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, saving Hearts FC and why Labour has to recover in Scotland if it is ever to win in Westminster again

Feb 28, 202043 min

The Nigel Farage Brexit Day One

The leading Brexit campaigner on the lessons he learnt as a City trader, what he thought of the 1975 referendum, and how he changed the 2019 election

Jan 31, 202035 min

The Andy Street One

The Mayor of the West Midlands on his passion for HS2, why he nearly became a social worker and encouraging mavericks

Jan 30, 202035 min

The Nicky Morgan One

The Culture Secretary on why she went from Remainer rebel to Boris loyalist, her decision to quit frontline politics and the uncertain future of the BBC

Jan 23, 202036 min

The Lisa Nandy One

The Labour leadership candidate on her Liberal Grandfather, Marxist Dad, reviving towns and a love of Britney

Jan 17, 202051 min

The Ben Wallace One

The Defence Secretary on getting the MoD's house in order, how he discovered a ticking bomb and why Boris Johnson is a 'left-wing Tory'

Dec 20, 201933 min

The Prime Ministerial Debate One

A special edition with audio of Boris Johnson v Jeremy Corbyn, plus Nick's reflections after the debate

Dec 07, 20191 hr 4 min

The General Election One with Bartley and Hancock

Green Party Co-Leader Jonathan Bartley reveals why an encounter with David Cameron led him into politics, while Health Secretary Matt Hancock discusses his loyalty to Boris Johnson and why he keeps his mobile phone at bay

Dec 04, 201957 min

The Lindsay Hoyle One

The new Speaker on how he'll be different from his predecessor, his Lancastrian roots and the roll call of his 'political' pets

Nov 07, 201948 min

The Laura Pidcock One

Labour's shadow employment rights spokesperson discusses class politics, friends and enemies, and the commentariat

Oct 31, 201942 min

The Robert Jenrick One

The Housing Secretary on sleeping rough, owning homes, the Grenfell inquiry - and being the youngest cabinet minister

Oct 25, 201933 min

The Sadiq Khan One

London's Mayor on the benefits of boxing, why it's good to be friends with Tories, and his arguments with Donald Trump

Oct 18, 201943 min

The Rishi Sunak One

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury on why the Wirral meeting may go down in history, loosening the purse strings and his knowledge of The Force

Oct 11, 201936 min

The Grant Shapps One

The Transport Secretary on planning for a no deal Brexit, using a spreadsheet to back Boris Johnson and why he's grateful to Ronald McDonald

Oct 03, 201932 min

The Ken Clarke One

The Father of the House on whether he still wants the top job, the politics of discord and finding relaxation through jazz

Sep 27, 201942 min

The Stephen Kinnock One

The Labour MP on being the son of a party leader, the husband of a prime minister, a difficult encounter with the Russian police, and why his colleagues should back a Brexit deal

Sep 19, 201937 min

The Jon Trickett One

The Shadow Commons Leader on how a conversation with his grandfather sparked his political ambition and why Labour shouldn't turn its back on Leave voters

Sep 13, 201937 min

The Alistair Burt One

The rebel Tory MP on the experience of being purged, how the Conservative Party is changing, and why Jacob Rees-Mogg should sit up straight in the Commons

Sep 05, 20191 hr

The Ian Blackford One

The SNP's Westminster leader discusses strategy at PMQs, parliamentary manoeuvres over Brexit, and how to deal with a procedural fankle or a political stramash

Jul 26, 201937 min

The William Hague One

The former Foreign Secretary on why he thinks Parliament will prevent a no-deal Brexit, the threat to the Union and why he has no desire to return to frontline politics

Jul 18, 201945 min

The Harriet Harman One

The longstanding campaigner for women's rights on why the next Labour leader and the next Commons Speaker must be women, her plans for a podcast, and why she now talks to Tories

Jul 11, 201933 min
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