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Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

310 episodes — Page 6 of 7

The Andy Burnham One

The Mayor of Greater Manchester on why he blames social media for losing to Jeremy Corbyn and growing up in Manchester but never losing his Merseyside roots.

Sep 28, 201835 min

The Vince Cable One

The LibDem leader discusses spasms, how racism affected his family, his respect for Blair and Brown, the prospects for liberalism, and his future career - as a novelist

Sep 21, 201830 min

The Len McCluskey One

The Unite leader on the dangers of the gig economy, why he wouldn't weep if Tony Blair left the Labour Party, his enduring love of poetry and the end of a friendship.

Sep 14, 201834 min

The Tony Blair One

Tony Blair on his fears about how Labour has changed, his hopes on how Brexit could be stopped, and what it's like being followed all the time by bodyguards

Sep 7, 201845 min

Political Thinking returns next week

Nick Robinson looks forward to a momentous autumn.

Aug 31, 20180 min

Bonus podcast: Could the PM have a Brummie accent?

In a bonus podcast for Political Thinking subscribers over the summer break, Chris Mason presents an edition of Archive on 4 about the accents of politics and the politics of accents. Political Thinking returns next week.

Aug 24, 201857 min

Bonus podcast: Corbyn’s Labour Episode 3

In a bonus podcast for Political Thinking subscribers over the summer break, Iain Watson presents the final episode in the Radio 4 series, ‘The Long March of Corbyn’s Labour’. He examines how the party has been transformed into a mass movement and whether it can maintain momentum. Political Thinking will return in September.

Aug 17, 201828 min

Bonus podcast: Corbyn’s Labour Episode 2

In a bonus podcast for Political Thinking subscribers over the summer break, the FT’s George Parker presents the second episode in the Radio 4 series, ‘The Long March of Corbyn’s Labour’. He explores Labour’s approach to the economy and how far reaching its policies will be. Political Thinking will return in September.

Aug 10, 201828 min

Bonus podcast: Corbyn’s Labour Episode 2

In a bonus podcast for Political Thinking subscribers over the summer break, the FT’s George Parker presents the second episode in the Radio 4 series, ‘The Long March of Corbyn’s Labour’. He explores Labour’s approach to the economy and how far reaching its policies will be. Political Thinking will return in September.

Aug 10, 201828 min

Bonus podcast: Corbyn’s Labour Episode 1

In a bonus podcast for Political Thinking subscribers over the summer break, Steve Richards presents the first episode in the Radio 4 series, ‘The Long March of Corbyn’s Labour’. He examines the year since the general election and looks at how Jeremy Corbyn has changed as leader. Political Thinking will return in September.

Aug 3, 201828 min

The Nia Griffith One

The Shadow Defence Secretary on learning Polish, how the classroom prepared her for frontline politics and Labour's wrangling over anti-Semitism.

Jul 25, 201826 min

The Liz Truss One

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury on why she's a 'freedom fighter', her penchant for British cheese and why any deal on Brexit 'doesn't bind future parliaments'.

Jul 20, 201840 min

The Andrea Leadsom One

The Commons Leader on backing Brexit, being baffled by Boris, being badmouthed by Bercow, boosting babies' brains and branding Big Ben.

Jul 13, 201835 min

The Dominic Raab One

The Housing Minister on ticking all the diversity boxes, coping with a divided household over the World Cup and negotiating the "rocky bridge" towards Brexit.

Jul 5, 201848 min

The Dominic Grieve One

The former Attorney General on his Anglo-French roots, efforts to stop a 'no deal' Brexit and challenging the actions of spooks

Jun 29, 201835 min

The Tommy Sheppard One

The SNP MP on when indyref2 might come, why his party walked out of the Commons and how he was knocked out of MasterChef

Jun 22, 201829 min

The Tom Watson One

Labour's Deputy Leader on how losing weight has lifted his 'brain fog', his fears when confronting Rupert Murdoch, and how he could now be 'taken out' by a former friend

Jun 14, 201826 min

The Andrew Adonis One

The Labour peer and self-proclaimed 'Remoaner' on why he thinks Brexit should be stopped, his ambition to become an MP and losing contact with his mother.

Jun 8, 201832 min

The Shakira Martin One

NUS President on how further education saved her, not wanting to sound like a politician (without denying political ambitions) and why it's polite to use jazz hands.

May 25, 201836 min

The Angela Rayner One

Labour's education spokesperson on being poor but not being "a scumbag", and whether she might become leader, plus London-centric politics, shoes and the Royal Wedding

May 18, 201837 min

The David Lammy One

The campaigning Labour MP on politicians standing up to "their bloody electorates", taking on the establishment over Grenfell and Windrush and how singing changed his life.

May 11, 201842 min

The James Graham One

The award-winning playwright on bringing politics to life, the magic of Hull, and why politicians are only human... plus, Nick's run-in with the Black Death.

May 4, 201847 min

The Dawn Butler One

The Shadow Equalities Secretary on her experiences of racism in Parliament, dealing with anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, and why she asks her constituents to pull their trousers up.

Apr 27, 201838 min

The Tom Tugendhat One

The soldier turned politician on talking to your enemies, surviving in the battlefield and taking responsibility when things go wrong.

Apr 20, 201831 min

The Jo Swinson One

The LibDem deputy leader says yes to an Easter egg but no to leading a new centre party, and also explains how she's changed her view on the best way to promote women in politics.

Apr 13, 201832 min

The Matt Hancock One

The Culture Secretary on controlling the power of the internet giants, why he wants his own personal app and how to win a horse race

Mar 23, 201831 min

The Brandon Lewis One

The Conservative Party chairman talks about popcorn, high street parking and whether he's too young to be a Tory

Mar 16, 201828 min

The Keir Starmer One

Labour's Brexit Secretary discusses the ups and downs of his upbringing, his youthful attacks on 'reformist passivity' and how he let burglars steal his television

Mar 9, 201839 min

The Jacob Rees-Mogg One

The leader of the Eurosceptics on the Tory backbenches talks about why the state should respect our individuality, when the gloves should come off in political debate and why we should keep personal morals separate from politics – and of course, Brexit.

Mar 2, 201851 min

The Anna Soubry One

From her tough school days to her backbench battle against the Brexiteers, the former criminal barrister tells Nick why she doesn't scare easy, how Theresa May can take back control and what could make her leave the Conservative Party.

Feb 23, 201840 min

Bonus Podcast: Cameron Years Episode 3

In this final part, Steve Richards explores the record of the coalition years, comparing David Cameron's approach with that of the current Prime Minister, Theresa May, also governing in a hung parliament. He examines other key aspects of the Cameron era such as his relationship with the media, his handling of the Scottish independence referendum, and his dramatic final days in office. What will David Cameron's legacy be and what are the lessons of his premiership?The series was produced by Leala Padmanabhan.

Feb 21, 201827 min

Bonus Podcast: Cameron Years Episode 2

Part Two focuses on David Cameron's mission to modernise and transform the Conservative party and its thinking, exploring ideas such as the Big Society, the major shake-up of education and health policy, social reforms such as same-sex marriage and the ambition to make the party more environmentally conscious. We examine the impact of the financial crisis and "austerity" on the Cameron governments. We ask whether there is such a thing as "Cameronism" and we assess the success of David Cameron's mission to make the Conservatives more diverse and representative of modern Britain.

Feb 14, 201827 min

The Paris Lees One

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The journalist and transgender rights activist talks about growing up trans and why the way media debates trans issues makes her angry.

Feb 9, 201841 min

Bonus podcast: Cameron Years Episode 1

In a bonus podcast for Political Thinking subscribers, Steve Richards presents a series looking back at David Cameron's dramatic years in power. Part one explores the issue of Europe which overwhelmed his premiership.

Feb 7, 201828 min

The Sam Gyimah One

The new Universities minister talks about the importance of free speech on campus, growing up in Ghana, being Oxford president and life as David Cameron's bag carrier.

Feb 2, 201832 min

The Jess Phillips One

The straight-talking Brummie talks feminism, why pragmatism trumps principle and her unlikely friendship with Jacob Rees-Mogg

Jan 26, 201833 min

The James Cleverly One

The new Conservative Deputy Chairman recalls his parents' sacrifices, explains why it's ok to want to be PM and reveals how he relaxes with his toy soldiers.

Jan 19, 201839 min

The Ian Hislop One

The Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You stalwart Ian Hislop talks about being a sceptic but not a cynic, his admiration for the Victorians' political energy and why the Eye's satirical journalism matters.

Jan 12, 201828 min

The Emily Thornberry One

From schoolgirl ragamuffin to queen of sass, the Shadow Foreign Secretary tells Nick how life’s challenges have forged her, and the benefits of singing. Will she perform for us?

Jan 5, 201841 min

The Unusual George Osborne One

George Osborne turns the tables and achieves his long-standing ambition - to interview Nick. Does he get his own back?

Dec 15, 201727 min

The Peter Tatchell One

The human rights activist talks about the long fight for LGBT equality, the importance of debate and free speech, and why love drives his campaigning.

Dec 8, 201738 min

The Dan Hannan One

The politician who some credit as the man behind Brexit tells Nick why it wasn't about immigration, how the British sometimes fail to appreciate what they have and why the UK should look to Switzerland as inspiration.

Dec 1, 201732 min

The Armando Iannucci One

The comedy brain behind The Thick of It, Veep and The Death of Stalin talks with Nick about the importance of language in politics, why comedy needs to be more like journalism and which one of them was the bigger teenage political trainspotter.

Nov 24, 201736 min

The Frances O'Grady One

The TUC leader tells us what the Remain campaign got wrong, why we were happiest in the 1970s, and what she does with her lunch break. But does she forgive Nick for using Uber?

Nov 17, 201733 min

The Chuka Umunna One

Can he block Brexit? Is he a Remaniac? Does he really think Jeremy Corbyn is like Harold Wilson? Why didn't he run for Labour leader? And is he happy to be a backbencher?

Nov 10, 201732 min

The Caroline Lucas One

How patriarchy works in Parliament, why her party's vision of a green economy is more radical than Jeremy Corbyn's, and when it's sometimes just too tough to go vegan.

Nov 3, 201730 min

The Rob Halfon One

Rob Halfon MP tells Nick why Conservatives need to radically reconnect with the people

Oct 27, 201726 min

The GO'D One

Gus O'Donnell, former top civil servant, on cabinet disunity and the problems of Brexit

Oct 20, 201724 min

The Ed Miliband One

Ed Miliband tells Nick his big ideas and wonders if he should have been a redder Ed.

Oct 13, 201730 min

The Ruth Davidson One

Nick discusses the implications of Theresa May's conference speech with Ruth Davidson

Oct 6, 201731 min