Political Thinking with Nick Robinson - podcast cover

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

BBC Radio 4www.bbc.co.uk

Nick Robinson has a conversation with, not an interrogation of, the people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs.

Episodes

The Caitlin Moran One

Bestselling author and columnist talks to Nick Robinson about why, after years of writing about women and girls, she decided to turn her attention to problems with boys and young men with her latest book "What About Men?" Producer: Daniel Kraemer

May 24, 202425 min

The Victoria Atkins One

After a damning report into maternity services in England, the Health Secretary opens up about her own traumatic childbirth experience in the NHS. Victoria Atkins also speaks to Nick Robinson about a change of tone in dealings with doctors' unions, growing up as child of an MP and what she thought when Natalie Elphicke defected to Labour.

May 17, 202438 min

The Nigel Farage 2024 One

Nigel Farage tells Nick Robinson that "timing is everything" when it comes to deciding whether to return to frontline politics. Fresh off the plane from Florida, Farage talks about what he can learn from - and how he can defend - Donald Trump, as well as islamophobia, Liz Truss, and what he would do if prime minister Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Feb 29, 202453 min

The Mariana Mazzucato One

One of the world's most influencial progressive economists outlines her pitch to leaders across the world - and Starmer's Labour Party - to focus on ambitious 'missions' that can transform society for the better.

Feb 21, 202437 min

The Emma Runswick One

The Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association Council talks to Nick Robinson ahead of the latest round of junior doctor strikes. She defends the pay demands set out by doctors, tells the story of a life of activism, and opens up about the horrors of working in Covid wards at the height of the pandemic. Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Feb 16, 202445 min

The Shabana Mahmood One

The Shadow Justice Secretary and Labour's most senior Muslim MP reflects on Gaza, her faith and campaigning for Rishi Sunak's "geek vote" when they were at university Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Feb 08, 202445 min

The Jeremy Hunt Chancellor One

Nick Robinson sits down with the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the dining room of No11 Downing Street. They discuss living nextdoor to the Sunaks, how much headroom he will have at the budget, and who he would invite to his dream dinner party

Feb 01, 202436 min

The Blair and Hague One

Sir Tony Blair and Lord William Hague sit down with Nick Robinson to discuss their vision for a new "national purpose". They reflect on facing each other across the dispatch box 25 years ago and how to deal with an unstable world Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Jan 25, 202446 min

The Humza Yousaf One

The First Minister of Scotland sits down with Nick Robinson in Glasgow to reflect on his first ten months in power and how his family is dealing with the ongoing trauma of being caught up in the war in Gaza Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Jan 18, 202439 min

The Ben Wallace 2023 One

The former Defence Secretary opens up about the impact of high-pressure government jobs on family relations and tells the behind-the-scenes story of the lead-up to the Ukraine War and his take on the “poison” in British politics.

Nov 24, 202342 min

The Kishwer Falkner One

Nick Robinson sits down with the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to discuss multiculturalism, transgender rights and challenging the UK government on its asylum policies.

Nov 17, 202339 min

The Michael Gove 2023 One

Nick Robinson sits down with the Levelling Up Secretary for an in-depth conversation about what lies behind his drive for reform, having first joined the cabinet 13 years ago. They also reflect on community tensions in the UK as a result of war in the Middle East, what the Home Secretary has said about protests, and what Nadine Dorries has written about him Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Nov 09, 202347 min

The Pat McFadden One

Labour's campaign chief talks to Nick Robinson about how to deal with divisions with in the party, communities and families on events in the middle east. And how has he become the "great survivor" of the party, from working as Tony Blair's backroom fixer in the 90s to running Labour's election campaign?

Nov 03, 202339 min

The Michelle Donelan One

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology talks to Nick Robinson about the UK's AI summit and how the world can balance protection against AI's dangers and harnessing it for good. Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Oct 26, 202334 min

The Radek Sikorski One

Poland's former foreign minister talks to Nick Robinson about his journey from rebelling against communist rule as a child, living in exile in the UK, being a leading diplomat, and his party on the brink of returning to power after 8 years

Oct 21, 202335 min

The Nick Gibb One

The Schools Minister tells Nick Robinson how his single-minded curriculum reform has kept him in his job for 10 of the last 13 years, and how his sexuality might have limited his career prospects Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Oct 13, 202342 min

The Roger Hallam One

The co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, now behind the scenes in Just Stop Oil, challenges Nick Robinson to emotionally engage with the reality of climate change and take a stand against global inaction

Oct 05, 202351 min

The Keir Starmer 2023 One

The Leader of the Opposition sets out his vision for getting Labour back into government Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Sep 28, 202345 min

The Ed Davey Party Leader One

The Liberal Democrat leader talks to Nick Robinson about caring for his disabled son, the value of coalitions in politics and why the prime minister's net zero strategy 'hands the future to China' Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Sep 21, 202339 min

The Theresa May One

Nick Robinson talks to former prime minister Theresa May about why she wants to call out abuses of power, what went wrong after Brexit and growing up as a vicar's daughter. Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Sep 13, 202358 min

The Paul Nowak One

Nick Robinson talks to the boss of the TUC ahead of hosting his first Congress in his hometown of Liverpool, what it was like working with ministers during Covid and why we need a national conversation on tax

Sep 07, 202334 min

The Anas Sarwar One

Nick Robinson has a conversation with, not an interrogation of, the people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs.

Jun 29, 202335 min

The George Freeman One

The Science minister talks to Nick Robinson about how his troubled childhood instilled conservative values from a young age and the challenge of dealing with buccaneering tech billionaires

Jun 23, 202334 min

The Lord Finkelstein One

Lord Daniel Finkelstein talks to Nick Robinson about what it is like preparing Conservative leaders for PMQs and how having two refugee parents shaped his politics of 'moderation'

Jun 17, 202340 min

The Louise Casey One

Baroness Louise Casey has become one of the most influencial non-politicians in the UK. She tells Nick Robinson why it all started with a passion for homelessness and what might be next on her list.

Jun 09, 202343 min

The Peter Kyle One

How does a politician with the reading age of an 8-year-old operate as a Shadow Cabinet member?

Jun 02, 202340 min

The Feargal Sharkey One

The former Undertones frontman tells Nick how his youth in Derry during the Troubles led him to becoming one of the most prominent environmental campaigners in Britain today.

May 26, 202335 min

The Stephen Flynn One

The SNP's Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, on what he will demand in the event of a hung Parliament, and how living with a disability shaped his politics.

May 18, 202336 min
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