Politics Unpacked

Matt Chorley speaks to a focus group of the podcast's regular Columnists who write for The Times discussing the politics of 2021. In part 1 of 2, Matt asks for the group's political highlight of the year and which politician had the worst year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley pits Labour's Jonathan Ashworth and Conservative Nicky Morgan, against Times and Sunday Times writers Patrick Maguire and Lindsay McIntosh and Times Radio's Ayesha Hazarika and Alexis Conran to see who will triumph in the big political quiz everyone is calling... Politics Without The Boring Quiz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Christmas Day, Matt Chorley and his fellow Times Radio presenter Mariella Frostrup go through some of their 2021 show highlights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley presents this year's Times Radio Pantomime, Bojo White and the Seven Political Dwarves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley talks to Armando Iannucci, the creator of The Day Today, The Thick of It and Veep. They discuss Iannucci's new book Pandemonium: Some Verses on the Current Predicament and what the new year might hold in store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No live PMQs this week, so Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire look back over the year and assess what we've learned from the exchanges at the dispatch box.PLUSRobert Crampton and Alice Thomson look at Conservative regicide and freedom of speech.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four months on from the evacuation, Jenny Kleeman, in for Matt Chorley, speaks to former Afghan MP Shukria Barakzai, and journalists Lynn O'Donnell and Stuart Ramsay about their experiences fleeing the country, and what life is like there now. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss Lord Frost's politics, and when a party is not a party.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Eden Project founder Tim Smit about growing plants, hosting the G7 and making power with hot rocks. PLUSRachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss new possible Covid restrictions.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special bumper podcast Matt Chorley speaks to Times Political Editor Steve Swinford, Conservative MP Charles Walker and Number 10 veterans Gavin Barwell, James Johnson and Kate Fall about whether the Shropshire by-election defeat could spell the end of Boris Johnson. PLUSScreenwriter Sarah Phelps talks about her latest drama, A Very British Scandal, series 2, which looks at the Duke and Duchess of Argyle's messy public divorce.PLUSColumnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth pick over the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to COP26 President and self-described "auditor in chief" Alok Sharma about the outcome of the climate summit, the challenges of touring the world in a pandemic, and more.PLUS India Knight and the Daily Mail's John Stevens discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Alice Thompson discuss the top stories of the day including the Prime Minister's backbench rebellion.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to economist, author and presenter of Radio 4's More or Less Tim Harford about how to make sense of the numbers around us, and what we can learn from pandemic statistics.PLUSDavid Aaronovitch and Daniel Finkelstein discuss the possibility of a new Conservative leader, and David Davis explains why he'll be voting against the government's new covid regulations.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley asks comedian Andy Zaltzman, host of the BBC's "The News Quiz", how best to satirise today's politicians.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss whether Boris Johnson's time as PM is running out of steam and who might replace him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones marks the second anniversary of the 2019 General Election with some of the big winners and losers from that year. How has politics has changed since then?PLUS: Melanie Reid and John Stevens discuss the latest on the political scandal surrounding Number 10 and John has a special scoop on Geronimo the alpaca. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley and discusses what does China want with former US ambassador to China under the Obama administration Max Baucus, MEP and co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Reinhard Hans Bütikofer and Senior Research Fellow at RUSI Veerle Nouwens.PLUS columnists Carol Lewis and James Marriott on Plan B, Christmas Parties and taking pride in Britain's past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley. Panto is back so Luke speaks to producers, writers and directors including; Robert Shaw Cameron, Vikki Stone, Lisa Spirling and Michael Harrison.PLUS Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on cancel culture and bringing back old TV hits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One hundred years after the Anglo-Irish treaty was signed, Luke Jones (in for Matt Chorley) goes back to the moment in history when the treaty was agreed and its impact on relations between both countries up to this day.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester talk about new plans to punish middle-class drug users, and the man who made Britain's biggest model railway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Lords debate a bill over whether to scrap Hereditary Peers by-elections, Matt Chorley finds out how the Hereditary Peer by-election system works and speaks to the Lord behind the bill.PLUS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss the day's headlines Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley looks at the progress of the campaign against smoking, which began in 1971, and the politics of lighting up with Former Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt who passed the public smoking ban in 2007. PLUS: India Knight and John Stevens discuss whether they'll go to their office Christmas party and whether they'll miss Angela Merkel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Alice Thompson discuss the top stories of the day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Number 10 pollster James Johnson convenes the final Times Radio focus group of the year to discuss new covid measures and what to get Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer for Christmas.PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss reshuffles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley assesses the state of relations between Britain and France with Lord Ricketts, Britain’s ambassador to Paris from 2012 until 2016, and Sylvie Berman, France’s ambassador to London from 2014-17. One of them rates the relationship as 3 or 4 out of 10, the other thinks it's as bad as anything since Waterloo.Plus Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on the politics of pandemic panic and the prospect of a Labour reshuffle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley interviews Writer James Graham and Director Jeremy Herrin. Their new play: "Best of Enemies" is about the debates of William F Buckley Junior and Gore Vidal which aired on ABC more than half a century ago, introducing viewers to a whole new style of dramatic on-screen punditry.PLUS: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do prisons work? Matt speaks to the former justice secretary Robert Buckland, former prisoners Tyrell and David Breakspear and Paula Harriott from the Prison Reform Trust.PLUS columnists India Knight and James Marriott on migrants, old photos and Matt's flared jeans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Chief Political Commentator of the Sunday Times Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson on anti-depressants, babies in the House of Commons and the snowflake generation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to former White House advisor Fiona Hill, former UK Ambassador Tony Brenton and former Kremlin spokesperson Sergei Markov about how the West can deal with the migrant crisis on the Polish border and increased military activity on the Ukrainian border. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss speeches, business and social care.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley interviews Katharine Birbalsingh, the new Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, also known as "Britain's Strictest Headteacher".PLUS: Rachel Sylvester and Carol Lewis discuss the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why MPs do reality TV? Matt speaks to the culture secretary Nadine Dorries, former MPs; Matthew Parris, Julia Goldsworthy, Michael Fabricant and more.PLUS columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on migrants and HS2.Thanks to the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 for the archive material. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can the polls tell us? Matt Chorley speaks to Chris Curtis from Pollsters Opinium and Political Scientist Paula Surridge to reveal what's really going on in British politics.PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott discuss the rail review, and other stories from today's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Chief Political Commentator of the Sunday Times Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Carol Lewis discuss asylum laws, sleaze and Carry On vs. Bond.SPECIAL TREAT: The man who spent three years restoring the Big Ben clock in a barn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to author and friend of Clarissa Eden, wife of Anthony Eden, who died this week at the age of 101. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss Alok Sharma's COP26 legacy and Christopher Chope.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell speaks to Matt Chorley about his new book Beyond a Fringe: Tales from a Reformed Establishment Lackey.PLUS The Times Libby Purves and the Mirror's Susie Boniface discuss COP26, sleaze and sex work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the present sleaze scandal the worst? Or do we need to travel back in time to the 90's or the noughties? Matt speaks to some of the journalists who broke the stories of these historic sleaze scandals, David Hencke, Christopher Hope and Heather Brooke.PLUS columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on whether we can move on from this sleaze scandal, MPs second jobs and levelling up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley reflects on what Remembrance Day means to MPs and finds out about some of those who served and died in the war with parliament historian Kathryn Rix and current MPs Chris Bryant and Tom Tugenhat.PLUS Knight at the Marriott, India Knight and James Marriott, talk about their best flight stories and marrying young. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's transport day at COP26, and Matt Chorley speaks to journalists from the four corners of the UK to find out what green travel is like across the country. PLUSRobert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss Boris Johnson's COP intervention and House of Lords reform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley hears about a day in the life of two GPs as they face winter pressures and a mounting backlog of patients, as well as Royal College of GPs Vice Chair Michael Mulholland and Health Minister Maria Caulfield on what can be done to help them and their patients. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss Geoffrey Cox's Caribbean endeavours and the Royal Court's Fink blunder.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to historian Anthony Seldon, Catherine Haddon from the Institute for Government, Chris Evans MP and Nick Mays from the News UK archives to find out whether the government conducting their business on encrypted apps will make chronicling history more difficult. PLUSLibby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss sleaze and fallen heroes.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could we live forever? Matt Chorley speaks to Richard Faragher, professor of gerontology at the University of Brighton, on the science of living forever.Plus columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on rebel MPs and pantomimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In just 60 years there will be more Nigerians than Europeans. Matt Chorley looks at the future of migration in Africa with Roger Boyes, Yvonne Ndege from International Organisation of Migration, Paul Morland, Dr Parag Khanna.Plus James Marriott and John Stevens discuss the Owen Paterson U-turn and enthusiasm.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Chief Political Commentator of the Sunday Times Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Angela Rayner (in for Keir Starmer) at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss meat tax, will money and nudist holidays. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by James Johnson, who chairs a panel of swing voters from Plymouth, Manchester and Derby, to get their views on Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer, the budget and climate change.Plus: Finkelvitch, Daniel Finkelvitch and David Aaronovitch, on climate hypocrisy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Former Cabinet Minister Danny Alexander who's arrived at COP26 to argue for greener investment in Asia.PLUSLibby Purves and Rachel Sylevester discuss the day's news and praise the inventor of Tiramisu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Fiona Hill to talk about going from a County Durham comprehensive to working for three US presidents.PLUS a look back at a week that had a budget and more Brexit rows, with James Forsyth and Melanie Reid.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to a panel of economic experts each with their own key takeaway from Rishi Sunak's Budget. PLUS:India Knight and James Marriott discuss the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Ed Miliband (in for Keir Starmer) at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Polly Mackenzie discuss the top stories of the day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley puts questions sent in by Times Radio listeners to COP26 Spokesperson Allegra Stratton.PLUS: David Aaronovitch and John Stevens discuss the day's news as well as why parents can't behave at their children's football matches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Adam Macqueen, author of a new book chronicling six decades in news as captured by the satirical magazine.Plus Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on NHS backlogs and overhauling the honours system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As The Green Party host their party conference, Matt Chorley asks whether they can gain from environmental issues becoming mainstream and what they can learn from successful green parties in other countries.PLUSMelanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley looks at the impact of the past year on political attitudes with Sir John Curtice and Gillian Prior from National Centre for Social Research.Veteran broadcaster John Humphrys recalls the Aberfan disaster, 55 years on.PLUS India Knight and James Marriott on wasting your twenties, and not reading bad books   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action to analyse the despatch box exchanges at Prime Minister’s Questions. PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the day's news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.