Politics Unpacked - podcast cover

Politics Unpacked

Times Radiowww.thetimes.co.uk

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times.


You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at http://www.thetimes.com/

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Episodes

David Davis Studies

This is the story of the senior Conservative MP, loyalist and rebel David Davis. Matt Chorley sat down with him to discuss losing out to David Cameron in a leadership race, bringing down Theresa May, and why he wants Boris Johnson to go. PLUS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss Boris Johnson's future, capitol riots and shipwrecks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 10, 202240 min

Focus Group: Wakefield 09-06-22

Matt Chorley is joined by James Johnson from Kekst CNC who has convened the latest Times Radio Focus Group of people from Wakefield, who all voted Conservative for the first time in 2019. Find out what they think of Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer ahead of the constituency's by-election on the 23rd of June. PLUS: James Marriott and India Knight discuss whether second homes are immoral, and why James hates twee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 09, 202251 min

PMQs Unpacked 08-06-22

Matt Chorley is joined by the Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss train strikes, the NHS and why we are an anxious nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 08, 202248 min

Behind the Scenes in Parliament

Matt Chorley takes us behind the scenes in Westminster to see how yesterday's extraordinary day in politics unfolded. PLUS Patrick Kidd and Daniel Finkelstein discuss the future for Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 07, 202243 min

No Confidence

Matt Chorley speaks to the Deputy Leader and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab and now the former anti-corruption tzar John Penrose on whether or not Boris Johnson should be removed from No 10. We also take a look back through the archive when other Prime Ministers were removed from office, with memories from Michael Heseltine, John Whittingdale, Baroness Bertin and many more. Plus Carol Lewis and Rachel Sylvester discuss secret house sales and working a four day week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

Jun 06, 202248 min

BONUS: Leader of the Opposition - Episode 5

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, he's learning about each Leader of the Opposition with Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies. Each month you'll find a collection of episodes on the podcast. This month, Sir William Harcourt, John Spencer, George Robinson, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice and Joseph Chamberlain. Listen live to the next Leader of the Opposition every Monday morni...

Jun 04, 202224 min

Edward VIII

Patrick Maguire explores what might've happened if Edward VIII had remained king. He hears from royal historian Andrew Lownie and political historian Sir Anthony Seldon. PLUS Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss Tory party woes and the future of the monarchy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 03, 202243 min

Disunited Kingdom: Jubilee Special

Carole Walker sits in for Matt Chorley and speaks to journalists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to get the news from the four corners of the UK. Also columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss ethics, nostalgia and being a macho man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 01, 202239 min

The Chancellors

What can Rishi Sunak learn from former chancellors? We speak to Sir Howard Davies, a British economist, the first chairman of the Financial Services Authority and now the chairman of the Natwest Group. Carole speaks to him about his book. PLUS Columnists Hugo Rifkind and Angela Epstein on apocalypse fatigue and dogs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 31, 202242 min

The Ukraine Blockade

Carole Walker sits in for Matt Chorley. She discusses how can the West break the naval blockade of Ukrainian ports? With the Times' Defence Editor Larisa Brown, Chair of Ukraine's biggest grain producer Dr John Rich, Chris Southworth, the General Secretary for The International Chamber of Commerce and Professor of War and Strategy Dr Alessio Palatano. PLUS: Manveen Rana and Alex Massie discuss 70's blackouts, immigration and the SNP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 30, 202235 min

Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera

Matt Chorley speaks to Steve Brown who co-wrote 'Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera" with Comedian Harry Hill, as well as the actors playing Gordon Brown and Princess Diana. PLUS: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid discuss Rishi Sunak's latest economic support package. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 202234 min

Taking Back Control?

Immigration is on the rise. But is this a good or a bad thing? Matt speaks to Matt Dathan, Chief Exec of Ipsos Kelly Beaver, former Joint Downing Street Chief of Staff of Theresa May Nick Timothy and former journalist James Kirkup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 26, 202239 min

Sue Gray Day

Live from College Green, Matt Chorley unpacks the much-awaited Sue Gray report with Lucy Fisher and Patrick Maguire picking through the 39 pages and nine pictures of several events that happened at Downing Street. We also head to the Commons for PMQs Unpacked where Sir Keir Starmer focused on pressing Boris Johnson on the cost of living and a windfall tax. Plus Alice Thomson, Quentin Letts and Robert Crampton talk rule breaking and gun controls. If you want to watch PMQs Unpacked again, you can ...

May 25, 20221 hr 14 min

Is the Red Wall a red herring?

Matt Chorley explores whether politicians are too obsessed with the red wall. He hears from Professor Jane Green from Nuffield College at Oxford University and part of the British Election Study, as well as Dr Rose de Geusfrom the University of Reading who released a report called Red Wall, Red Herring. PLUS Patrick Kidd and Daniel Finklestein discuss Boris Johnson misleading Parliament and the Chelsea Flower Show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 24, 202239 min

Cost of schooling crisis

Matt Chorley hears from headteachers to see how the cost of living crisis is hitting our schools. He also speaks to Anne Longfield, former Children's Commissioner and Robert Halfon, Conservative MP and Chair of the Education Select Committee. PLUS Carol Lewis and Rachel Sylvester discuss the politics of windfall tax and the care review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 23, 202238 min

Nadhim Zahawi on Education

Matt Chorley speaks to Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi to hear about University fee refunds, how cost-of-living is affecting schools and whether we test too much. PLUS Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss the Tories losing in 2024 and Rishi Sunak joining the Sunday Times Rich List. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 20, 202243 min

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Are hyperlocal newspapers on the rise? Matt speaks to Francesca Evans from Lyme Online, Joshi Hermann from the Manchester Mill and Phyllis Stephens from Edinburgh Reporter. Matt also speaks to the Independent Community News Network, News Media Association and the National Union of Journalists on the future of local journalism. PLUS James Marriott and Martha Gill on the cost of living and twitter rows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 19, 202243 min

PMQs Unpacked 18-05-22

Matt Chorley is joined by Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator Tim Shipman to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss sustainable farming and he-peating Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 18, 202250 min

The Worst MPs Ever

Is this batch of politicians the worst ever? Matt Chorley speaks to journalists Isabel Hardman and Elinor Goodman, Dr Will Jennings and father of the House Sir Peter Bottomley on the calibre of current crop against MPs of the past. PLUS FINKELVITCH: Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the government obesity strategy and Putin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 17, 202237 min

How to Stop the NHS Killing People

Matt Chorley hears from a panel of experts to see how the NHS can be fixed after Jeremy Hunt's new book claimed that 150 preventable deaths were occurring every week. PLUS Libby Purves and Manveen Rana discuss A Level Exams and Guinness drinking in Nigeria. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 16, 202243 min

The NHS is Killing People

Matt Chorley speaks to Jeremy Hunt about his new book 'Zero' where it explains how the NHS is causing 150 preventable deaths each week. They explore how culture within the organisation and leadership from the top can be changed to prevent the preventable deaths. PLUS Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss the housing crisis and the Bayeux Tapestry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 13, 202240 min

Focus Group: Tiverton and Honiton 12-05-22

Matt Chorley is joined by James Johnson from Kekst CNC who has convened the latest Times Radio Focus Group of 2019 Conservative voters in the constituency of Neil Parish, who recently resigned, triggering a by-election. Will they stick with the Tories? PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott on bad people, food banks and eating in the bath Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 12, 202251 min

Disunited Kingdom 11-05-22

Matt Chorley gets reaction to the Queen's Speech as well as all the latest news from the four corners of the UK. PLUS: Patrick Kidd and Alice Thomson on Prince Charles, Keir Starmer and Eurovision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 11, 202239 min

Queen's Speech 1952 Unpacked

Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire unpack Queen Elizabeth's first ever state opening of parliament, 70 years ago in 1952 to explain what has and hasn't changed in British politics during the reign of the Queen. Featuring Deadringers impressionist Jan Ravens as the voice of the Queen. PLUS. David Aaronovitch and Danny Finkelstein on the point of the Queen's Speech and Beergate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 10, 202237 min

Conserving the Union

Following last week's election results, which saw success for the nationalists in Northern Ireland and Scotland, Matt Chorley speaks to a panel of politicians and commentators to ask whether the Conservative and Unionist Party has what it takes to keep the Union together. PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss what may and may not be in the Queen's Speech and making fun of millennials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 09, 202240 min

In Conversation With Andrew Neil

After our special documentary series, the Sunday Shows at 50, charting the rise and fall of Sunday political shows, Matt Chorley interviews broadcast legend Andrew Neil ahead of the launch of a new political TV show this weekend, discussing his plans to reinvent the format and his view of today's politicians. PLUS COLUMNISTS: James Forsyth and Rachel Cunliffe break down the election results as they unfolded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 06, 202236 min

Big Ben Back Again

After almost five years near total silence, Big Ben is ready to bong again. Matt Chorley got exclusive access to the Elizabeth Tower to see how the restoration is going. He speaks to Keith Scobie-Youngs, from the Cumbria Clock Company who have helped to fix the clock and Matthew Hamlyn, chair of the Elizabeth Tower project board. COLUMNISTS Knight at the Marriott, The Times' India Knight and James Marriott, on the life of a celebrity, shorthand and whether politicians and business should pay to ...

May 05, 202242 min

Disunited Kingdom 04-05-22

Matt Chorley convenes the Disunited Kingdom panel to preview the local elections from the four corners of the UK. PLUS: Alice Thomson and Patrick Kidd discuss what voters in the South West really think, and French MP expenses. BONUS: MPs and Times Radio listeners tell tales from the doorstep, telling their experiences canvassing for elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 04, 202243 min

Northern Ireland Elections Unpacked

Matt Chorley dives into this potentially historic Northern Ireland Assembly election including interviews with U105's News Editor Grainne McKinney, Bill White from the polling company LucidTalk, Dr Clare Rice and Lord Peter Hain who is a former Northern Ireland Secretary. PLUS FINKELVITCH: Danny Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on all women shortlists, beergate and Roe vs Wade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 03, 202247 min

Sexism in Parliament

After a flurry of more accounts of sexual harassment and bullying within Parliament, Carole Walker speaks to those who've seen it first hand and people who have both tried and are continuing to try to improve political life for women. PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester consider a Liberal Democrat and Labour electoral pact and the dangers of privatisation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 02, 202238 min
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