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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It's the government's biggest u-turn so far - but will Rachel Reeves' new winter fuel payments policy succeed? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After five years and something like 150 episodes, Tim Shipman is leaving the Sunday Times and the podcast. What has he learned from unpacking all those exchanges at PMQs? He hands over to Times chief political commentator Patrick Maguire, and with Hugo they unpack the exchanges between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch - as the PM refuses to be drawn on plans to end the two child benefit cap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Keir Starmer has promised to make Britain "battle ready" as he unveiled plans to improve the military - but will taxpayers be prepared to pay for higher defence spending? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Libby Purves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour and Reform of 'fantasy economics', the day after Keir Starmer made the same charge about Nigel Farage. Is it doing any of them any good? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sir Keir Starmer has hit back at Nigel Farage - making a speech warning that Farage's "fantasy" economics will lead to a Liz Truss-style economic meltdown. So would Reform UK's policies crash the economy? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Zoe Strimpel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After police chiefs publicly raised their concerns about budget cuts making it harder to keep us all safe, Rachel Reeves is under renewed pressure over government spending. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nigel Farage has branded Keir Starmer as “one of the most unpatriotic prime ministers in our history" - is there a lack of patriotism on the left? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As Labour inches along its huge benefits u-turn, Nigel Farage says he would restore winter fuel payment and end the two child benefit cap. Is Reform becoming a big state, big benefits party now? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Carol Lewis and Patrick Kidd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ed Vaizey is joined by Jane Merrick and Albie Amankona to discuss a week of big challenges for the government - from the EU reset to the U-turn on winter fuel to finally signing off the Chagos deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mouths were agape when Donald Trump confronted South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa with false claims of white genocide. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer said more pensioners would get the winter fuel payment at PMQs. But had Kemi Badenoch even noticed the U-turn? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action in the Commons with The Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator Tim Shipman and the SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Tories have fallen to fourth place in the latest Times/YouGov poll - behind the Liberal Democrats for the first time in six years. Plus, Keir Starmer might've landed his EU reset deal, but Boris Johnson has labelled him the 'orange-ball chewing gimp of Brussels'. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Janice Turner and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer's deal with the European Union will allow closer co-operation on security, food standards and travel - but will all that come at the expense of the British fishing industry? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Jane Mulkerrins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As European leaders meet in Tirana, is Keir Starmer inching Britain closer to Europe - and is that progress? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Gaby Hinsliff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As the Prime Minister adopts increasingly tough rhetoric on immigration, can his opponents on the left offer a populist alternative? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kemi Badenoch dismisses Keir Starmer's “tiny tariff deal” with Donald Trump, while Keir Starmer called the Tories a “dead party walking.” Hugo Rifkind unpacks all the action from the Commons with Tim Shipman and the comedian Ria Lina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sir Keir Starmer is under fire for saying the UK could become an "island of strangers" unless new curbs on migration bring the numbers down - but are comparisons with Enoch Powell and 'Rivers of Blood' misplaced? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer claims soaring immigration has done 'incalculable' damage to the UK and risks creating an 'island of strangers'. But can he deliver on his promise to drive the numbers down? Will Rachel Reeves hold the line on welfare cuts, and will the Tories send for Boris Johnson? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Jane Mulkerrins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As Keir Starmer celebrates getting a trade agreement with the US over the line, does Peter Mandelson fit into Donald Trump's circle? Plus, how has moral universalism led to the rise of Nigel Farage? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Miranda Green. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The UK finally has its trade deal with the US - but will it make us any richer? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Fraser Nelson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer wants to be celebrating its trade deal with India, worth 5 billion pounds to the British economy...but Kemi Badenoch instead presses him over cuts to the winter fuel allowance and energy bills. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges from the House of Commons with Tim Shipman and comedian Ahir Shah. Plus, we wave Lara Spirit off to Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With the cuts to the winter fuel allowance being blamed for Labour's problems at the ballot box, is there any chance of Number 10 changing course? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Libby Purves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer's hopes of a reset with the EU have taken a blow, after the bloc refused Britain access to critical crime and illegal migration databases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With Nigel Farage's Reform UK the clear winner from the English local elections and Runcorn by-election, have they broken the two-party system for good? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with John McTernan, Salma Shah and Sir John Curtice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is Britain considering swapping a golf tournament for a trade deal? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the news of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ahead of Thursday's local elections in England, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch doesn't question Keir Starmer over net zero - instead focusing on the grooming gangs scandal and claims of a cover up. Lara Spirit unpacks all the action from the Commons with Tim Shipman and the comedian Alistair Barrie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the news of the day including Donald Trump's first 100 days, whether secularism is just a historical blip, and whether the male-only publisher's time has come. With James Marriott and Libby Purves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Senior Tories are being asked about the prospect of a pact with Reform UK ahead of local elections in England this week. But what's in it for Nigel Farage's Reform? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Jane Mulkerrins, including the rising risk of strikes and what happened at this year's White House Correspondents Dinner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this bonus episode of the podcast, Douglas Murray joins Hugo Rifkind to discuss his new book - On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel, Hamas and the Future of the West. He argues that the future of the Western world is at stake in the Israel-Gaza war, and discusses Donald Trump's plan to create a "riviera of the Middle East". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rachel Reeves is in Washington attempting to get a US trade deal over the line, while Donald Trump’s special envoy has arrived in Moscow to hold peace talks with Putin. And why was half of Westminster added to a WhatsApp chat? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Sarah Vine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
