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

Rory Bremner and Jan Ravens

Matt Chorley is joined by two of his favourite comedians who give their impressions of the last year. Look out for their Fawlty Towers sketch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 25, 201837 min

Quiz of the year: Part two

Matt Chorley presides over more chaos in part two as the teams fight it out in the remaining rounds. On the MPs’ team, Conservative MP Anna Soubry and Labour’s Conor McGinn. On the columnists team Daniel Finkelstein and Hugo Rifkind. And finally on the reporter’s team, the undefeated champion for the last two years: sketchwriter and diary editor Patrick Kidd, who this year is joined by Red Box reporter Esther Webber. Can they make it three years in a row? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

Dec 20, 201818 min

Quiz of the year: Part one

Matt Chorley is ringmaster of the annual circus, testing who has paid the most attention this year: MPs, columnists or reporters. On the MPs’ team, Conservative MP Anna Soubry and Labour’s Conor McGinn. On the columnists team Daniel Finkelstein and Hugo Rifkind. And finally on the reporter’s team, the undefeated champion for the last two years: sketchwriter and diary editor Patrick Kidd, who this year is joined by Red Box reporter Esther Webber. Can they make it three years in a row? Hosted on A...

Dec 18, 201828 min

Theresa May clings on, obviously.

On another day of drama, Matt Chorley presents from Westminster speaking to journalists and MPs about May's narrow victory, her promise to stand down before the next election, and whether all the theatrics help or hinder the path to a deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 13, 201822 min

Shopping for a new leader

Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Iain Martin who tries to explain what went wrong with the Brexit vote, Katie Perrior, May's former director of communications, says her old boss could be on the way, and Henry Zeffman, The Times political correspondent, examines what (might) happen next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 11, 201834 min

Jeremy Hunt on democracy in crisis

Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, tells Matt Chorley about the risk of social unrest if Brexit is stopped, his fears over the decline of freedom around the world, and how he carries out diplomacy via WhatsApp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 07, 201820 min

May's deal is defeated. Then what?

Matt Chorley is joined by Henry Zeffman, Times political correspondent, who explains what could happen if and when Theresa May's Brexit deal is voted down by MPs. Rachel Sylvester, Times columnist, argues Theresa May’s fixation on immigration is her fatal flaw. And Kenny Farquharson on interviewing John McDonnell on Labour working with the SNP, splits with Jeremy Corbyn, and learning to play the trombone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Dec 04, 201833 min

Why is our politics so bad?

Who would become a politician? Who can afford to? And why is there is disconnect between the electorate and the elected? Matt Chorley is joined by Isabel Hardman, author of Why We Get the Wrong Politicians, Sam Alvis, a former parliamentary intern and researcher, and Rob Wilson, a former minister who lost his seat in 2017. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 27, 201832 min

Would you get involved?

When it comes to bad leaders, trapped penguins or mental health, is there a right time to intervene? Matt Chorley is joined by Francis Elliott, The Times' political editor, who wonders how the Tory plotters got it so wrong. PLUS Alice Thomson, Times columnist, on police appeals for the public to step in and Matthew Parris asks do we get bang for our buck on mental health? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Nov 20, 201828 min

What the hell is going on? Again.

On the most extraordinary day in Westminster since, well, yesterday Matt Chorley watches Jacob Rees-Mogg call for a leadership challenge with The Times' Sam Coates and Patrick Kidd; Kate Devlin explains why Dominic Raab quit; and Henry Zeffman, Esther Webber and Oliver Wright try to explain what is happening, before admitting nobody knows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 15, 201819 min

Steve Jobs vs Bill Gates

This week Matt is joined by Times columnist Philip Collins, who wonders why more billionaires don’t do good, Nicola Woolcock, Times education correspondent, on the latest, expensive Tory plan to win back the youth vote, and columnist Daniel Finkelstein who deciphers Labours Brexit position so you don't have to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 13, 201832 min

Michael Dobbs Interview

Matt Chorley meets House of Cards creator Lord Michael Dobbs. In a wide ranging conversation Dobbs explains his brutal firing by Margret Thatcher, how he came to write House of Cards when he should have been in therapy and the impact of the #metoo movement in Westminster and Hollywood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 09, 201835 min

'Like Augustus Gloop in a chocolate factory'

Matt Chorley is joined by Hugo Rifkind, who is worried about the vast power that vastly rich people today can have over our politics. In the week of the death of Jeremy Heywood, Rachel Sylvester wonders whether the civil service can withstand the huge pressure of Brexit. And Joe Jervis, co-author of Spirit of Britain, Purpose of Labour, says we are a nation divided between Communitarians and Cosmopolitans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Nov 06, 201838 min

Is this a pre-election budget?

Philip Hammond heralded the beginning of the end of austerity, blowing a multi-billion pound windfall on tax cuts and extra spending. But what was hidden in the small print, does it make an election more likely, and who will actually have more money in their pocket? Matt Chorley is joined by Anne Ashworth, The Times money and property editor, Oliver Wright, The Times policy editor, and Richard Fletcher, The Times business editor, to answer these questions, and others sent in by Red Box newslette...

Oct 30, 201836 min

Ruth Davidson on mental health, motherhood and not wanting May's job

Matt Chorley speaks to the leader of Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson about life beyond politics, including her upbringing, struggles with mental health, and impending motherhood. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Edinburgh's Signet library. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 23, 201842 min

The Three Impossible Bs

How do you solve a problem like Brexit, the Budget or Bercow? Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Rachel Sylvester, who warns Theresa May has no room to compromise. Carl Emmerson, from the Institute for Fisxal Studies, on why the chancellor can’t end austerity and the balance the books. And Henry Zeffman, Times political correspondent, on whether John Bercow can survive the latest calls to quit. Read more at thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Oct 16, 201827 min

Live: May, Trump, Putin and Kanye

Recorded live at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Matt Chorley hosts a special episode as Iain Martin, Lucy Fisher, Jenni Russell and Bruno Waterfield, argue over the big (and not so big) political issues of the day. Including: the Brussels view of brexit, the USA's abdication as "world police", how should the west fight back against Russia? And what is a Kayne West? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 12, 201854 min

Dyslexia, digital and Ronnie Wood's pick-me-up: in conversation with Matt Hancock

Matt Chorley meets health minister Matt Hancock in the last of the party conference podcasts. They talk about his dyslexia, why he accepted a demotion to remain in a minister in 2016, what he plans to do with the billions allocated for the NHS and what Ronnie Wood handed him to get through the Brit awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 03, 201837 min

Can the Tories survive? And should they?

Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists, Alice Thomson, Patrick Kidd and Hugo Rifkind and former number 10 adviser, Will Tanner. The panel debates if a party torn apart by Brexit, promising tax rises not cuts and buffeted by domestic crises can reinvent itself and who is the right person for the job? Recorded live at the electric cinema in Birmingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 01, 201847 min

Racism, Remain and growing up poor: in conversation with Emily Thornberry

Recorded shortly before her speech to the Labour party conference in Liverpool, Matt Chorley sits down with shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry. In a wide ranging interview they discuss her childhood, brexit, anti-semitism and why she expects Labour's demands for a general election to succeed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 25, 201851 min

Live Special: Have we reached peak Corbyn?

Recorded live at the Labour party conference in Liverpool, the panel debate whether Jeremy Corbyn can inspire an electorate and turn the last election's gains in to a majority or whether his peak will be remembered as a song on a Glastonbury hillside. To find an answer Matt Chorley is joined by former Corbyn spokesman Matt Zarb-Cousin, author of "Comrade Corbyn" Rosa Prince and Times columnists Rachel Sylvester and Jenni Russell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 23, 201842 min

Vince's exotic spresm

Matt Chorley is at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton, where leader Sir Vince Cable had a nightmare delivering the key part of his speech. Polly Mackenzie, former Lib Dem No10 policy chief, Vanessa Pine, former adviser to Sir Vince, and Henry Zeffman, Times political correspondent, pick over a bad few days beside the sea. Matthew Parris, The Times columnist, discusses 30 years of attending Lib Dem conference. And Matt goes in search of anyone who want to be Lib Dem leader instead. Hosted on Acas...

Sep 18, 201830 min

The case for Tony Blair

Matt Chorley is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, who argues only one person can lead a new Blairite party, and that’s Tony Blair. Sam Coates, The Times deputy political editor, tackles the most contentious issue in politics: trans rights. And Anne Ashworth, The Times money editor, wonders why ministers care so little about how much we are saving for old age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 11, 201836 min

"It's going to be a you-know-what-show"

As MPs return to Westminster, Matt Chorley assembles a crack team of former political spin doctors to diagnose the problems in their parties, and their long-term chances of survival. Katie Perrior, who was Theresa May's No10 director of communications, insists the PM is dead set against a second Brexit referendum: "She thinks it's highly divisive, when you go back on democracy. But will she choose it over getting fired? I don't know, that's politics." Paul Ovenden, who was a Labour press spokesm...

Sep 04, 201837 min

Our Man In Washington

Matt Chorley speaks to David Charter, The Times’ new US editor, about adjusting to life in Washington, the numerous threats to the Trump presidency and the challenge of being a foreign correspondent in a town where contacts can suddenly - and dramatically - lose their jobs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 28, 201830 min

Politics is too trivial

If sometimes you think politics seems to trivial this might not be the episode for you. Matt Chorley assembles three of the biggest brains filled with useful (and useless) facts about politics and only one can emerge victorious. Showing off their knowledge are Patrick Kidd, The Times sketchwriter and diarist, Esther Webber, Red Box reporter, and Mark Mason, author of Question Time: A Journey Round Britain's Quizzes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Aug 21, 201830 min

How Britain really works

Recorded live at a TimesPlus event, Lucy Fisher speaks to Stig Abell, editor of t he Times Literary Supplement, about his new book, How Britain Really Works , an in-depth look at the challenges facing the UK. Getting to grips with Britain is harder than ever – a nation that chose Brexit, rejects immigration but is dependent on it, is getting older but less healthy, is more demanding of public services but less willing to pay for them, and is tired of intervention abroad but wants to remain a glo...

Aug 14, 201840 min

Beyond the fringe #2

In part two of our special looking at political shows on the Edinburgh fringe, Matt Chorley is joined by Andrew Maxwell, who you’ll know from Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and Celebrity Mastermind. He is at the fringe with his show Shake a Leg. Lolly Jones, whose show Fifty Shades of May is a comedy/burlesque hybrid described as Downing Street on poppers, with a P45, suspenders, and a chunky metal necklace! And Fin Taylor tackles the politics of sex with his show When Harassy Met Sally. Host...

Aug 07, 201828 min

Beyond the fringe

Matt Chorley is joined by three comedians taking political shows to the Edinburgh fringe. Nick Hall brings his show Spencer, the story of Spencer Percival, the only British prime minister to have been assassinated. He asks if, in this age of Brexit, Trump, Corbynista and Maybot, could we still learn something from the past? Jess Green’s show is pretty self-explanatory: A Self-Help Guide to Being in Love With Jeremy Corbyn. She’ll describe how it was impossible to resist the Labour leader’s raw c...

Jul 31, 201833 min

Government of national disunity

Why a cross-party effort makes sense, but won't happen. PLUS Leaving Labour and replacing May Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Philip Collins, Times deputy diary editor Grant Tucker and Red Box columnist Jane Merrick to discuss the week in politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 24, 201831 min
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