Politics Unpacked

The Past Imperfect is a podcast from The Times hosted by Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson. Hear stories from outstanding people about how moments in their early lives informed their identities, their careers and their drive to succeed.Wes Streeting is a Labour politician who is already being tipped as a potential future leader of his party. He is a former president of the National Union of Students, who worked for the Blairite campaign group Progress before winning his Ilford North parliamentary seat from the Conservatives in 2015. He then served as shadow Secretary of State for child poverty before becoming shadow health secretary.Wes Streeting is a centrist who supporters say could win back the party’s traditional working-class voters without alienating middle England. He is a gay Christian Cambridge graduate who is also tough on crime and patriotic.But this rising star of the Labour Party hasn’t had an easy time climbing the ladder. Rachel and Alice sit down with Wes to talk about his childhood experiences growing up in poverty on a council estate in East London and how grandparents, who spent time in prison, impacted his life.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Boris Johnson resigned as the Conservative Party leader, Matt Chorley takes a look at the key runners and riders for the Tory leadership, who is backing who, and some advice from history on how not to muck it up. Including interviews with the Times' Henry Zeffman, Baroness Catherine Fall and Iain Anderson who both ran leadership campaigns.COLUMNISTS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on Boris, who will replace him and the costly Downing Street flat.Don't forget to listen to tomorrow's episode for another round up of the leaders of the opposition with Nigel Fletcher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley presents highlights from the rolling coverage of Boris Johnson's resignation on Times Radio, hosted alongside Patrick Maguire. INCLUDING: A political obituary for Boris Johnson & thoughts from India Knight and James Marriott. PLUS: Boris' Biographer Andrew Gimson, his former advisor Katie Perrior and his former Employer Max Hastings reflect on Boris' legacy as Prime MinisterAND: Boris Johnson's statement of resignation in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley, the Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pick through those explosive exchanges between Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson in the House of Commons.COLUMNISTS: For a special edition, Matt Chorley speaks to the former political editors Phil Webster and Elinor Goodman on the resignations in the cabinet and how it's different from the 90's toppling of Margaret Thatcher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid rising inflation, Matt Chorley asks what would make a good pay-rise for workers this summer. With expert economic and political analysis and an interview with the TUC's General Secretary Frances O'Grady. PLUS: Danny Finkelstein and Manveen Rana assess the government's complicated response to the Chris Pincher scandal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Sunday Times Whitehall Editor Gabriel Pogrund on his investigations into Prince Charles and where his charity money comes from. Matt also speaks to Norman Baker who wrote to Scotland Yard to open up an investigation into the Prince of Wales and the Sunday Times' Royal Editor Roya Nikkah on the future of the monarchy.PLUS COLUMNISTS: Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd on the tory rebel plot 2.0 and ageing Britain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to tourism bosses about how the industry coping with rising costs, staff shortages and surging demand including Visit Britain, UK Hospitality, Tower of London and Stonehenge.PLUS COLUMNISTS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on MPs behaviour and offensive views. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With this week marking the 50th anniversary of the first pride rally in the UK, Matt Chorley speaks to LGBTQ+ Rights Advocate and Campaigner Peter Tatchell, who was there half a century ago and still goes every year, on his memories of how it all happened. PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott discuss nerd fashion and winking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley analyses the exchanges between Deputy Leader Dominic Raab and Angela Rayner at Prime Minister's Questions. Pausing the action alongside the Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator Tim Shipman.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Carol Lewis discuss Boris Johnson abroad and shirt buttons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley asks whether the capital should be moved out of London, and exclusive polling for Times Radio what the public thinks. Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy explains why she'd rather restore hometown nightclubs than move the House of Lords to the North.PLUS: David Aaronovitch and Matthew Parris on Liz Truss, Putin and Prince Charles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley reveals what's really happening inside the Tory party as he plays out off-the-record texts from Conservative MPs, voiced by actors. He and The Times' Political Editor Steven Swinford analyse and The Times' former Political Editor Phil Webster puts them into historical context.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss the plot to oust Boris Johnson and the value of an English Literature degree. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley looks back on the by-elections results of Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton. Matt crunches the numbers with Times Radio's Chief Political Commentator Lucy Fisher, pollsters Sir John Curtice, Lord Hayward and Professor Paula Surridge.COLUMNISTS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth with their analysis of the by-elections and the politics of Glastonbury. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the former prime minister of New Zealand, former head of the United Nations Development Programme and now President of Chatham House, about a new commission looking at how to prepare every country for the health threats of the future.COLUMNISTS: Patrick Kidd and Laura Freeman on the commonwealth, GCSE poetry and top gun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley analyses the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. Pausing the action alongside the Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator Tim ShipmanPLUS: Robert Crampton and Carol Lewis discuss whether strikes were better in the 1970s, property and cushions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Jersey goes to the polls, Matt Chorley explores its significance alongside Guernsey and Sark.PLUS Danny Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss strikes and the fall of Macron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley explores the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, taking place in Rwanda. He hears from Valentine Low, who writes on the Royals for The Times, Sue Onslow, Director at the Institute for Commonwealth Studies, Sir Simon McDonald, who was Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign Office between 2015 and 2020 and Henry Zeffman, The Times Associate political editor.PLUS Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss strike action and gymnastics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former MP turned national treasure Gyles Brandreth talks about keeping busy, why he would have voted for Boris Johnson in the recent confidence vote and his new podcast with the Duchess of Cornwall PLUS: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid discuss Islamism and why Peers don't want to move to Stoke-On-Trent Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley hears stories from the frontlines of the cost-of-living crisis, speaking to regional representatives for Citizens Advice to get a clear understanding of the hardships people in England and Wales are going through.PLUS: India Knight and Rachel Cunliffe discuss how to dress in a heatwave and the state of the economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley analyses the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions alongside Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator Tim Shipman.PLUS Patrick Kidd and Alice Thomson discuss the Rwanda flight court order and obesity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a Times Radio investigation showed that nearly a million people are considering or have confirmed strike action this summer, Matt Chorley explores what this means for the industries affected. He hears from Paul Nowak, Deputy General Secretary of the TUC, Gary Smith, the general secretary of the GMB union and Steven Fielding, Professor of political history at the University of Nottingham.PLUS Danny Finkelstein and Oliver Kamm discuss the Government's Rwanda flights and accentism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire have been hitting up their contacts books, speaking to some of the Labour leader's closest colleagues, who are getting increasingly jittery about whether he is the man for the job. PLUS Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on early years learning and dealing with criticism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode comes courtesy of our sister podcast: Wine Times.Dabbling in wines from across the globe with Suzi and Will is the journalist and broadcaster Matt Chorley - who has an astute love for sauvignon blanc. As well as tasting three great wines Matt discusses why he believes people should pay less attention to politics, Will talks about his love for savoury wine and Suzi reflects on some of the greatest highlights from the 80's.2020 Sauvignon Gris, Château Le Coin, Bordeaux, France2020 Albastrele Blanc de Cabernet, Moldova2016 Johnny Q Shiraz Viognier, AustraliaAll the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the story of the senior Conservative MP, loyalist and rebel David Davis. Matt Chorley sat down with him to discuss losing out to David Cameron in a leadership race, bringing down Theresa May, and why he wants Boris Johnson to go.PLUS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss Boris Johnson's future, capitol riots and shipwrecks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by James Johnson from Kekst CNC who has convened the latest Times Radio Focus Group of people from Wakefield, who all voted Conservative for the first time in 2019. Find out what they think of Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer ahead of the constituency's by-election on the 23rd of June.PLUS: James Marriott and India Knight discuss whether second homes are immoral, and why James hates twee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by the Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss train strikes, the NHS and why we are an anxious nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley takes us behind the scenes in Westminster to see how yesterday's extraordinary day in politics unfolded.PLUS Patrick Kidd and Daniel Finkelstein discuss the future for Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Deputy Leader and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab and now the former anti-corruption tzar John Penrose on whether or not Boris Johnson should be removed from No 10. We also take a look back through the archive when other Prime Ministers were removed from office, with memories from Michael Heseltine, John Whittingdale, Baroness Bertin and many more.Plus Carol Lewis and Rachel Sylvester discuss secret house sales and working a four day week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, he's learning about each Leader of the Opposition with Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies. Each month you'll find a collection of episodes on the podcast.This month, Sir William Harcourt, John Spencer, George Robinson, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice and Joseph Chamberlain. Listen live to the next Leader of the Opposition every Monday morning from 10am on Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Maguire explores what might've happened if Edward VIII had remained king. He hears from royal historian Andrew Lownie and political historian Sir Anthony Seldon.PLUS Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss Tory party woes and the future of the monarchy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carole Walker sits in for Matt Chorley and speaks to journalists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to get the news from the four corners of the UK. Also columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss ethics, nostalgia and being a macho man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can Rishi Sunak learn from former chancellors? We speak to Sir Howard Davies, a British economist, the first chairman of the Financial Services Authority and now the chairman of the Natwest Group. Carole speaks to him about his book.PLUS Columnists Hugo Rifkind and Angela Epstein on apocalypse fatigue and dogs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carole Walker sits in for Matt Chorley. She discusses how can the West break the naval blockade of Ukrainian ports? With the Times' Defence Editor Larisa Brown, Chair of Ukraine's biggest grain producer Dr John Rich, Chris Southworth, the General Secretary for The International Chamber of Commerce and Professor of War and Strategy Dr Alessio Palatano.PLUS: Manveen Rana and Alex Massie discuss 70's blackouts, immigration and the SNP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Steve Brown who co-wrote 'Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera" with Comedian Harry Hill, as well as the actors playing Gordon Brown and Princess Diana.PLUS: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid discuss Rishi Sunak's latest economic support package. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immigration is on the rise. But is this a good or a bad thing? Matt speaks to Matt Dathan, Chief Exec of Ipsos Kelly Beaver, former Joint Downing Street Chief of Staff of Theresa May Nick Timothy and former journalist James Kirkup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from College Green, Matt Chorley unpacks the much-awaited Sue Gray report with Lucy Fisher and Patrick Maguire picking through the 39 pages and nine pictures of several events that happened at Downing Street. We also head to the Commons for PMQs Unpacked where Sir Keir Starmer focused on pressing Boris Johnson on the cost of living and a windfall tax.Plus Alice Thomson, Quentin Letts and Robert Crampton talk rule breaking and gun controls.If you want to watch PMQs Unpacked again, you can go to our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPiVSi2YJfE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley explores whether politicians are too obsessed with the red wall. He hears from Professor Jane Green from Nuffield College at Oxford University and part of the British Election Study, as well as Dr Rose de Geusfrom the University of Reading who released a report called Red Wall, Red Herring.PLUS Patrick Kidd and Daniel Finklestein discuss Boris Johnson misleading Parliament and the Chelsea Flower Show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley hears from headteachers to see how the cost of living crisis is hitting our schools. He also speaks to  Anne Longfield, former Children's Commissioner and Robert Halfon, Conservative MP and Chair of the Education Select Committee.PLUS Carol Lewis and Rachel Sylvester discuss the politics of windfall tax and the care review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi to hear about University fee refunds, how cost-of-living is affecting schools and whether we test too much.PLUS Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss the Tories losing in 2024 and Rishi Sunak joining the Sunday Times Rich List. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are hyperlocal newspapers on the rise? Matt speaks to Francesca Evans from Lyme Online, Joshi Hermann from the Manchester Mill and Phyllis Stephens from Edinburgh Reporter. Matt also speaks to the Independent Community News Network, News Media Association and the National Union of Journalists on the future of local journalism.PLUS James Marriott and Martha Gill on the cost of living and twitter rows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator Tim Shipman to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss sustainable farming and he-peating Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is this batch of politicians the worst ever? Matt Chorley speaks to journalists Isabel Hardman and Elinor Goodman, Dr Will Jennings and father of the House Sir Peter Bottomley on the calibre of current crop against MPs of the past. PLUS FINKELVITCH: Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the government obesity strategy and Putin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley hears from a panel of experts to see how the NHS can be fixed after Jeremy Hunt's new book claimed that 150 preventable deaths were occurring every week.PLUS Libby Purves and Manveen Rana discuss A Level Exams and Guinness drinking in Nigeria. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Jeremy Hunt about his new book 'Zero' where it explains how the NHS is causing 150 preventable deaths each week. They explore how culture within the organisation and leadership from the top can be changed to prevent the preventable deaths.PLUS Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss the housing crisis and the Bayeux Tapestry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by James Johnson from Kekst CNC who has convened the latest Times Radio Focus Group of 2019 Conservative voters in the constituency of Neil Parish, who recently resigned, triggering a by-election. Will they stick with the Tories? PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott on bad people, food banks and eating in the bath Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley gets reaction to the Queen's Speech as well as all the latest news from the four corners of the UK.PLUS: Patrick Kidd and Alice Thomson on Prince Charles, Keir Starmer and Eurovision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire unpack Queen Elizabeth's first ever state opening of parliament, 70 years ago in 1952 to explain what has and hasn't changed in British politics during the reign of the Queen. Featuring Deadringers impressionist Jan Ravens as the voice of the Queen.PLUS. David Aaronovitch and Danny Finkelstein on the point of the Queen's Speech and Beergate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following last week's election results, which saw success for the nationalists in Northern Ireland and Scotland, Matt Chorley speaks to a panel of politicians and commentators to ask whether the Conservative and Unionist Party has what it takes to keep the Union together.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss what may and may not be in the Queen's Speech and making fun of millennials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After our special documentary series, the Sunday Shows at 50, charting the rise and fall of Sunday political shows, Matt Chorley interviews broadcast legend Andrew Neil ahead of the launch of a new political TV show this weekend, discussing his plans to reinvent the format and his view of today's politicians. PLUS COLUMNISTS: James Forsyth and Rachel Cunliffe break down the election results as they unfolded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After almost five years near total silence, Big Ben is ready to bong again. Matt Chorley got exclusive access to the Elizabeth Tower to see how the restoration is going. He speaks to Keith Scobie-Youngs, from the Cumbria Clock Company who have helped to fix the clock and Matthew Hamlyn, chair of the Elizabeth Tower project board.COLUMNISTS Knight at the Marriott, The Times' India Knight and James Marriott, on the life of a celebrity, shorthand and whether politicians and business should pay to be on social media.If you want to see Matt Chorley going up the Elizabeth Tower, check out the Times Red Box YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtrKDjMo42k Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley convenes the Disunited Kingdom panel to preview the local elections from the four corners of the UK.PLUS: Alice Thomson and Patrick Kidd discuss what voters in the South West really think, and French MP expenses.BONUS: MPs and Times Radio listeners tell tales from the doorstep, telling their experiences canvassing for elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.