Matt is joined by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg, the man in charge of investigating politicians behaviour. He discusses whether MPs' conduct is getting worse or not, and the possible punishments he could hand down to those that break the rules. And with no PMQs Unpacked this week, Times Radio's very own 'PM', Patrick Maguire, faces questions from callers about ULEZ, troubles for the SNP and how to get an MP to answer a straight question. Plus: Columnists Robert Cr...
Jul 26, 2023•43 min
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 parliamentary seat, and finds out how green politicians in Europe have fared in government. Plus: Columnists Katy Balls and Kieran Andrews discuss whether Sunak, Starmer and Yousaf are leading or following , SNP attacks on the Labour Party , and Gregg Wallace's satirical look at eating human meat . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...
Jul 25, 2023•43 min
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 general election with pollsters Beth Mann and Peter Kellner, and the former Number 10 adviser Tim Smith. Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Steve Richards discuss Michael Gove's plan to build more houses , tactical voting and the Lib Dems , and why people like to watch politics on the stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 24, 2023•41 min
After the Conservatives suffered two by-election defeats but were spared the embarrassment of a whitewash, Matt explores what it means for Sunak and Starmer's fortunes with polling expert John Curtice , Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire, Conservative Minister Claire Coutinho, Labour's Thangam Debbonaire and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey. Plus: Columnists James Heale and Eleni Courea discuss political expectation management, lobbying via WhatsApp, and why teenagers are getting their news from TikTok . Hos...
Jul 21, 2023•58 min
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 Harold Wilson's knees, David Cameron's sunburn and the sea being closed with Claire Irvin from the Times and Sunday Times, and former Number 10 adviser Giles Kenningham. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Bell discuss whether the Tories can pin Just Stop Oil on Labour, how the giant panda has become one of China’s diplomatic tools , and why...
Jul 20, 2023•41 min
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 action from the Commons with Tim Shipman and Stig Abell, as the leaders clash over NHS waiting times and spending. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Carol Lewis discuss inflation , Nigel Farage's bank account , and anti-social youths in Cornwall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 19, 2023•1 hr 7 min
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 journey', and Matt heads out with with two officers to find out what an afternoon answering 999 calls is really like. Plus: Columnists Tim Montgomerie and Jane Merrick discuss whether the government can stop the small boats , Tony Blair and Keir Starmer, and whether you should rewild your garden . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...
Jul 18, 2023•48 min
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 election. Could the government afford to abolish it entirely, and is any kind of tax cut really on the cards? Matt speaks to former cabinet minister John Redwood, and former Labour adviser Lord Wood. Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss "rip-off" university degrees , Labour's tangle over the benefits cap , and whether we should le...
Jul 17, 2023•44 min
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 Marriott and Gaby Hinsliff are joined in the studio by a live brass band as they discuss whether Britain has lost its religion , whether the Conservatives can win the next election, and what locals make of Boris Johnson's swimming pool plans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 14, 2023•50 min
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, with many now paying the bills for failed business ventures too. Matt is joined by Tim Minogue, editor of Private Eye's Rotten Boroughs column, Kirsty Weakley from the Local Government Chronicle, and journalists covering some of the worst-affected areas. Plus: Columnists Matthew Parris and Matthew Bell ask whether Labour really will get tough over eth...
Jul 13, 2023•44 min
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 Rayner trade blows over housing policy and child poverty. Plus: Columnists Janice Turner and John Stevenson discuss Rishi Sunak's hog roast for Tory MPs, the return of Liz Truss, and Keir Starmer's love of the flute . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 12, 2023•1 hr 5 min
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 journalists protect their sources, and what happened when they went to play crazy golf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 11, 2023•47 min
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 Kanagasooriam, as well as former Tory chairman Jake Berry and Labour's Jenny Chapman, who lost her seat in 2019. Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Patrick Maguire discuss Joe Biden's UK trip , the prospect of a Labour reshuffle , and why we should be a bit less precious about the loss of railway ticket offices . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...
Jul 10, 2023•48 min
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 Culshaw and columnists James Marriott and Gaby Hinsliff to discuss exclusive new polling about the former prime minister and whether people want him back. Plus: Decisions, decisions, decisions. We convene a panel of experts to discuss the difficult trade-offs in politics when deciding who gets what, and who misses out. With the chair of the UK Statist...
Jul 07, 2023•46 min
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 suspension of former whip Chris Pincher means there could be at least one more on the way. Matt speaks to Times journalists on the ground to find out where the Conservatives have a chance of holding on. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Bell discuss oracy lessons with Keir Starmer , whether Bishops should sit in the House of Lords, and where they si...
Jul 06, 2023•44 min
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 action with the help of Tim Shipman and tennis coach Mark Petchey, who joins us live from Wimbledon. Plus Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss whether Rishi Sunak's low attendance record at PMQs is a problem, whether Robert will be downloading Mark Zuckerberg's new Twitter alternative , and how to solve the rental crisis . Hosted o...
Jul 05, 2023•59 min
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 Times deliver their verdict on the progress he has made so far and whether or not he is on course to achieve those promises. Plus: For the penultimate time, columnists Danny Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman discuss whether the Tory Party is struggling to renew itself under Rishi Sunak, whether the number of MPs in parliament should be halved but ...
Jul 04, 2023•45 min
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 our series reflecting on the careers of MPs leaving Parliament at the next election, he tells Matt about his regrets over negative campaigning against Charles Kennedy, what he thinks about Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond, and how he came to be known as the 'humble crofter'. Plus Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss whether there's anything to cel...
Jul 03, 2023•42 min
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 chamber until 1989. Matt goes behind the scenes to see how it all works, and to hear about some of the speeches and debates that have defined political history. Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether more politicians should take a long-term view , what India takes to a barbecue , and whether Britain is becoming too obsessed with A...
Jun 30, 2023•47 min
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 1997 and 2001 Following her recent death, Matt revisits an interview she gave in 2017 when she talked about designing the pledge card to keep politicians on message, her trip to the cinema with John Prescott, and what happened when she realised the party had won a landslide. Plus Columnists Patrick Maguire and Matthew Parris discuss whether the gover...
Jun 29, 2023•43 min
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 the X Factor and Britain's Got Talent. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the degree marking fiasco , the death of the "good chap" system and whether Elton John is brilliant or terrible . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 28, 2023•49 min
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 Number 10. The good news for the prime minister is they've heard of his five pledges, the bad news is they don't think he can deliver on them - and are in a mood for change. Matt is joined by James Johnson of J.L. Partners to analyse their verdict. Plus: Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman discuss whether Conservatives should ever interve...
Jun 27, 2023•44 min
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 talking to MPs leaving Parliament at the next election, he tells Matt about forming a 'council of elders' to advise the current shadow cabinet on how to be in government, and the importance of doing yoga in the office. Plus columnists Jane Merrick and Matt Bell discuss public sector pay , Prince William's plan to tackle homelessness , and we see what hap...
Jun 26, 2023•46 min
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 were. He talks to Matt about the conflict that defined Margaret Thatcher's legacy, and why he walked out of a TV interview when Robin Day called him a 'here-today, gone-tomorrow politician'. He also reveals his connection to the Peppa Pig song. PLUS: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether they feel reassured when Rishi Sunak sa...
Jun 23, 2023•40 min
Labour Leader Keir Starmer joins Matt in the studio to discuss help for homeowners, travelling by helicopter, whether Tony Blair should be in the Lords - and he has a go at the quiz, Can You Get To Number 10. Plus: We look at exclusive new polling by YouGov showing the Conservatives may have lost the countryside, and columnists Carol Lewis and Matthew Bell discuss house prices and things they'd ban in restaurants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 22, 2023•50 min
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 pause and unpack the exchanges from Prime Minister's Questions. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton on whether homeowners should expect the state to help with mortgages, why we look down on people who want to get into politics, and why Robert is a cinnamon roll ... and proud of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...
Jun 21, 2023•53 min
Daniel Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman discuss what we we learned from the MPs defending Boris Johnson during the debate over the Privileges Committee report, and why is Keir Starmer planning to fill the Lords with new Labour peers? Plus: Does Britain care about freedom? New research by US Pollster Frank Luntz shows how important freedom is to the UK public, and how political parties can use the concept to win their votes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 20, 2023•41 min
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 Duncan Smith after telling him he was 'unelectable'. He joins Matt for the latest episode of the Exit Interviews - our series talking to MPs leaving Parliament at the next election. Plus columnists Rachel Sylvester and Iain Martin enter the 'no Boris zone' to discuss Labour's green energy promises , the SNP slumping in the polls, and has a mathemati...
Jun 19, 2023•44 min
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 sitcom, from the power plays to the by-elections, speaking to Tony Robinson, who played Baldrick, and Miriam Margolyes who was a regular on the show. Plus Columnists India Knight and James Heale discuss whether partygate would have blown over had Boris Johnson fessed up at the very star t and whether today's softer work culture is destroying ambitio...
Jun 16, 2023•45 min
After the Privileges Committee finds that Boris Johnson misled the Commons, Matt considers his future career options with Times sketchwriter Quentin Letts, biographer Andrew Gimson, the Spectator's Katy Balls and Johnson supporter David Campbell Bannerman. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris on the former prime minister's relationship with the truth, the migrant boat disaster in Greece , and should we take more responsibility for being scammed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
Jun 15, 2023•1 hr
