This week we're bringing you the very best of the podcast you might have missed this year. Welcome to the grand opening of The Museum of Political Fiascos, where artefacts old and new are on display showcasing the most embarrassing moments in British politics. Matt and Patrick Maguire tour the exhibits, taking in objects like Liz Truss' jenga lectern, Boris Johnson's Brexit bus and the 'Ed Stone'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 27, 2023•26 min
This week we're bringing you the very best of the podcast you might have missed this year. Very few people in Westminster have had as many lunches as The Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman. Tim sat down with Matt for three courses (and drinks) to explain how he gets the scoop over the soup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 26, 2023•36 min
Matt is joined by Mariella Frostrup for a special Christmas day edition of the coffee break. They crack open a drink, exchange gifts and look back at their highlights of the year - including when they both took a DNA test which revealed Matt is more Irish than Mariella. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 25, 2023•20 min
The Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times. Over the festive period we're re-releasing the entire series. The final episode features The Times' current Political Editor Steven Swinford, who has been in the job for a turbulent three years, straddling three prime ministers and at least 42 ministerial resignations. He tells Matt about covering partygate, Tories squaring up to each other, a serene Liz Truss as her premier...
Dec 23, 2023•26 min
The Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times. Over the festive period we're re-releasing the entire series. In episode six, Francis Elliott, who became The Times' Political Editor in 2013 and covered an extraordinary period that saw the end of the coalition, the slow downfall of Theresa May, and how Boris Johnson tried to get first Brexit and then Covid done. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 23, 2023•26 min
The Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times. Over the festive period we're re-releasing the entire series. After covering the US for the Times in the aftermath of 9/11 - and interviewing President Bush in the White House - Roland Watson returned to the "goldfish bowl" of Westminster, becoming the paper's political editor in time for the 2010 election. In the fifth episode, he tells Matt about Gordon Brown's prickly rel...
Dec 23, 2023•26 min
The Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times. Over the festive period we're re-releasing the entire series. The fourth episode features, Philip Webster, political editor of the Times for 18 years and a colossus of the Blair and Brown eras who survived nine editors at the paper. He tells Matt about writing the story that killed Tony Blair's dreams of joining the Euro, getting stuck on Margaret Thatcher's battle bus, and ...
Dec 23, 2023•24 min
The Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times. Over the festive period we're re-releasing the entire series. In the third episode, Westminster veteran Sir Peter Riddell tells Matt about his time charting the dramatic end to the Thatcher era, underestimating John Major, Labour coming back from the wilderness, and how the job of covering politics has changed over the years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Dec 23, 2023•24 min
The Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times. Over the festive period we're re-releasing the entire series. Julian Haviland became political editor of the Times in 1981, but his career in journalism began in the 1950s and covered every prime minister from Alec Douglas-Home to Margaret Thatcher. He tells Matt about his recollections of a smug Jim Callaghan, the decent but flawed Harold Wilson, and Thatcher having a ...
Dec 23, 2023•25 min
The Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times. Over the festive period we're re-releasing the entire series. First up is Fred Emery, who became political editor in 1977 after a series of foreign postings including covering the Vietnam War and Watergate. He tells Matt about getting the scoop that President Nixon was about to resign, the fall of the Callaghan government and what it was like to interview Margaret Thatcher.&...
Dec 23, 2023•26 min
'Tis the season and Matt has a new pantomime. This is the story of Keirnocchio, a wooden MP who desperately wants to become a real boy politician. When you wish upon a Starmer your dreams come true, and even if it means changing your mind, your poll lead will grow faster than your nose. Plus: Some of our favourite Times columnists join a festive focus group and debate the best Christmas song, and tell us their Christmas day traditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...
Dec 22, 2023•39 min
It's the 8th annual Politics Without The Boring Quiz, a test of who has been paying closest attention to the most extraordinary year in Westminster...since the last one. Politicians Nickie Aiken and Wes Streeting go up against Times Radio presenters Hugo Rifkind and Ed Vaizey and The Times journalists Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit in front of a live audience in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 21, 2023•47 min
Gardener, broadcaster and presenter of ITV’s Love Your Garden, Alan Titchmarsh, tells Matt why he dislikes fake grass, is "appalled by the very existence of cancel culture", and why he was "heartened" interviewing Keir Starmer. Plus: Some of our favourite Times columnists join a festive focus group - today they reveal what they thought of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer's year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 20, 2023•36 min
Every month former Number 10 pollster James Johnson joins Matt for the Times Radio Focus Group. They look at why the parties find focus groups so useful, and how the views of crucial swing voters have changed as we head into an election year. Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein discuss how to write jokes for politicians and how to avoid becoming the punchline. Hosted on Acast. Se...
Dec 19, 2023•39 min
From inaccurate polls to soundbites, from going early to biscuits being thrown on the campaign trail - what lessons can Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer learn from electoral history? Matt is joined by Lara Spirit and Jack Kessler to delve into the archives. Plus: Some of our favourite Times columnists join a festive focus group - today they reveal their winners and losers of 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 18, 2023•40 min
The British Film Institute has compiled a collection of political broadcasts spanning more than 100 years, from polling day with the Clangers to a Conservative film warning that votes for Labour are stepping stones to a communist state. Patrick Russell from the BFI national archive joins Matt to pick out his highlights. Plus: Columnists Gaby Hinsliff and James Marriott discuss the significance of Rishi Sunak meeting right-wing leaders in Europe this weekend, whether Martin Lewi...
Dec 15, 2023•49 min
Matt is joined by Matthew Parris and Manveen Rana to discuss claims that Rishi Sunak is a bit thin-skinned, whether a Labour councillor has been blacklisted because of his sexy satanic novels, and what happened when Matthew jumped into the Thames to rescue a dog. Plus: Matt speaks to David Halpern, Founding Director of the Behavioural Insights Team - better known as the 'Nudge Unit' - about the role of behavioural science during the Covid pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...
Dec 14, 2023•48 min
In the final Prime Minister's Questions of the year, the insults are flying: Rishi Sunak accuses Keir Starmer of engaging in "political tittle-tattle", while Starmer brands Sunak the donkey of the Tories' nativity. Matt is joined by Ayesha Hazarika, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges from the Commons chamber. Plus: Columnists Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss at what age people start to feel like adults, how to avoid arguments about politics over Christmas, and...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Four years on from Boris Johnson's 2019 General Election victory, Matt goes 'polling in the deep' with a panel of experts to find out how the British public's views have changed and how they're likely to vote when they go back to the polls. PLUS: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win An Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein discuss how to build a war chest and what to do with it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Dec 12, 2023•37 min
While Rishi Sunak gives evidence to the Covid inquiry, at Westminster his MPs are debating whether to back his Rwanda policy. Can he find a way out of his nightmare before Christmas, and save his premiership? Matt is joined by three wise experts to look at the options. Plus: Tom McTague, Libby Purves and Calum Macdonald discuss the state of the Covid inquiry , David Cameron's row with Humza Yousaf and whether Keir Starmer can take the countryside. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
Dec 11, 2023•49 min
From Rishi Sunak being fined for not wearing a seatbelt, to David Cameron's surprise return to the cabinet, to Nigel Farage's trip to the jungle, 2023 has been a wild ride in news and politics. Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You team captain Ian Hislop joins Matt to sprint through the best, worst and weirdest moments of the past year. Plus: Columnists James Marriott and India Knight discuss the Conservative Party using a rude meme, whether it's okay to make fun of vegans, and help Ja...
Dec 08, 2023•50 min
Rishi Sunak faces resignations and rebellions over his immigration policy, with questions being asked about his survival as prime minister. Will his emergency press conference be enough to persuade his critics to back him? Matt is joined by The Times' Political Editor Steven Swinford and Politics Professor Philip Cowley to gauge the scale of unrest within the Conservative Party. Plus: Times Radio's Calum MacDonald explains what we learned from Boris Johnson's second day of evidence at the Covid ...
Dec 07, 2023•29 min
Boris Johnson is on oath to tell the truth at the Covid inquiry, as he explains what worked and what didn't as the British state struggled to respond to the deadly virus. Matt is joined by Times Radio's Calum MacDonald to break down the key moments including his disappearing Whatsapp messages, the role of Dominic Cummings, and why there was so much swearing in Number 10. Plus: It's PMQs Unpacked, with Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clashing over Rwanda and Starmer sharing more dad jokes. Matt is j...
Dec 06, 2023•55 min
As editors of regional newspapers challenge the BBC for threatening their future, Matt details why local journalism has been in such steep decline over the last decade. He asks culture minister Sir John Whittingdale what the government can do to help, and looks at new ways local reporters are funding their journalism. Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win An Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein discuss how to deal w...
Dec 05, 2023•46 min
It's 100 years since the election of December 1923, which led to the formation of Britain's first Labour government under Ramsay MacDonald. How did the illegitimate son of a crofter come to lead a cabinet of socialist 'wild men', and has history judged him fairly? Matt is joined by Patrick Maguire, author David Torrance and Ramsay MacDonald's granddaughter Iona Kielhorn. Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Tom McTague discuss the chances of Nigel Farage making a political comeback , why Keir S...
Dec 04, 2023•45 min
Broadcasting legend Trevor McDonald is arguably the most recognisable face (and voice) in British news broadcasting history. He talks to Matt about his 60-year career including interviewing Saddam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi, and securing the first interview with Nelson Mandela after his release from prison. Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss Omid Scobie's penchant for publicity , whether reality really is stranger than fiction , how much is too much to spend on biscuits, and ...
Dec 01, 2023•49 min
The headlines are dominated by statistics about who is coming to the UK and why; but what is it like to come to Britain as a child refugee, without your parents or the ability to speak English, and make a success of life in the UK? Somali born Hashi Mohamed arrived in North London aged 9. He tells Matt about his journey to becoming a top barrister and author, why people from poor backgrounds face the same obstacles he did, and why he is put off from a career in politics. Plus: Co...
Nov 30, 2023•44 min
The dad jokes are flowing at Prime Minister's Questions, as Keir Starmer accuses Rishi Sunak of 'losing his marbles' after falling out with the Greek prime minister. Matt is joined by Giles Coren, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges from the Commons chamber. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton talk about bringing funerals back into fashion , Robert's experience on the march against anti-semitism , and whether there really is a shortage of British ballet d...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Matt is joined by parliamentary sketch writers old and new to discuss the art of the political sketch. Hear first hand from the people whose job is to poke fun at politicians, which MPs are the ones to watch, and what topics are off limit. Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win An Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein chat about how to see off rebels within your own party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...
Nov 28, 2023•41 min
As ministers try to plot a new path to cut record migration numbers, Reform UK - formerly the Brexit Party - hopes to win over disillusioned Conservative voters. Patrick Maguire is joined by Iain Martin and John Stevens to discuss the threat to the Tories, and whether Labour was right to mock Rishi Sunak's use of a hammer. PLUS: In Patrick's political counter-factual series "What If", Labour's Lord Adonis and Lib Dem Baroness Featherstone remember the 2010 coalition talks and discuss what might ...
Nov 27, 2023•31 min
