Politics Unpacked

Despite raising taxes Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak think they're Thatcherites, but some of their MPs think they're socialists. We speak to the people who knew the Iron Lady best to find out what Thatcherism is...Plus Rachel Cunliffe and Rachel Sylvester discuss the day's news 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 it's Charles James Fox, George Ponsonby, George Tierney and Henry Petty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the press gallery? Hundreds of journalists across different media organisations are now able to report from the Houses of Parliament. We take you back to 1738 where journalists had to fight to be able to report on what went on in the House of Commons with News UK archivist Nick Mays, former Political Editor of the Times, Philip Webster and Times Radio's Carole Walker. Plus columnists chat with FORMEL, James Forsyth and Melanie Reid, on resignations and scrapping exams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Veteran Political Journalist Michael Crick about his incredibly detailed biography of Brexit's Nigel Farage "One Party After Another".PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott on the cost of living crisis and Botox. 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 ALIBERT: Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss the Office of the Prime Minister and men behaving badly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After explosive scenes in the House of Commons, Matt Chorley unpacks what happened with the Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire.PLUS FINKELVITCH: Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch talk about the relationship between politicians and police and Jimmy Savile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to an unofficial focus group of women called Sue Gray to find out what they think about the report and Boris Johnson. Plus Opinium pollster Chris Curtis goes through what the public think.COLUMNISTS Rachel Sylvester and Susie Boniface talk about levelling up and Boris Johnson's chances in the next general election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt dives into the real spiking threat in nightclubs with chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee Dame Diana Johnson, St John's Ambulance, nightclub operator Peter Marks and student organisations trying to tackle this at their universities.PLUS FORMEL: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid talk tax, Johnson's plea to MPs and political location hotspots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the former Editor of the Jewish Chronicle about Holocaust Memorial Day and the threat of anti-Semitism in the UK today. PLUSJames Marriott and Martha Gill discuss reasons to be positive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and The Sunday Times' Tim Shipman pause the action and ring the bell in yet another Prime Minister's Questions dominated by Partygate and the prospect of Sue Gray's report. PLUSAlice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the top stories of the day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Liz Truss continues negotiations to fix the Northern Ireland protocol, Matt Chorley speaks to political analysts and MPs on both sides of the Assembly to ask whether the island of Ireland is on the path to reunification.PLUS Danny Finklestein and David Aaronovitch react to the Police announcing that they will investigate Downing Street parties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Times Diplomatic Correspondent Catherine Philp, Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox, former UK Ambassador to Ukraine Leigh Turner and others to find out what's happening in Ukraine and what it means for the UK and the rest of the world. PLUSLibby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss the latest from Westminster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone is talking about letters of no confidence this week so Matt looks through letters which have shaped politics down the years, from campaigns to get prime ministers to change their policies, to Harold Wilson's letter to Daniel Finkelstein about watching the muppets. Daniel Finklestein, Dr Kit Kowol and Professor Richard Toye speak what we can learn from political letters.PLUS FORMEL: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid on the political tv drama we're in and train announcements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes a politician defect and change political sides? Matt talks to four politicians who decided to jump and how they kept it a secret including; Alan Howarth, Douglas Carswell, Anna Soubry and Dr Phillip Lee.PLUS KNIGHT AT THE MARRIOTT... India Knight and James Marriott discuss taking responsibility and why rule breakers get ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Boris Johnson claims 'he was not told' the Downing Street party would breach lockdown regulations, Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire pause the action between the exchanges at the dispatch box to explain what's going on.PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss Boris Johnson's leadership woes and swimming in the Serpentine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Times Chief Political Correspondent Henry Zeffman, former SpAd Kirsty Buchanan and head of the Institute of Economic Affairs Mark Littlewood to find out who the woman behind the photo ops really is. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss fairness in politics.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley talks to Sir Mark Walport, Professor Linda Bauld and The Science Media Centre's Fiona Fox about going from anonymous scientists in front of a microscope to media sensations during a pandemic.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester talk Operation Red Meat, the BBC licence fee and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley hears from people who were in the room with previous Conservative Prime Ministers as they were forced out from office. The Times' Political Editor Steven Swinford analyses how close Boris is to following them.PLUS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss the latest Number 10 Downing Street party to be revealed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley catches up with former civil servant, cancer patient and listener Clair Fisher about being moved into a hospice and why palliative care needs to be considered in the Health and Social Care bill.PLUS COLUMNISTS: India Knight and Hugo Rifkind talk about Boris Johnson's leadership, art degrees and dogs wearing clothes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Boris Johnson under fire for the latest party allegations, Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire pause the action between the exchanges at the dispatch box to explain what's going on. PLUSAlice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss parties and farming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and former Number 10 Pollster James Johnson convene the Times Radio focus group to find out what they think about the latest Number 10 party revelations. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss Michael Gove's lift incident. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to former Ambassador to the US Kim Darroch, Times Diplomatic Editor Roger Boyes, and former senior civil servants Jill Rutter and Simon Fraser about the issues facing the Foreign Office, and what it can do to get back on top. PLUSThe Times Libby Purves and the Mirror's Susie Boniface talk party-gate and living forever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Danish political drama is back this year. Matt Chorley speaks to the show's creator Adam Price about life imitating art, what really happens in Danish politics and what to expect in season four.PLUS COLUMNIST FORMEL: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid talk about the Downing Street flat inquiry and the cost of living. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley looks back a year since the Capitol riots with Jamie Roberts and Robert Moore who were there. Also he spoke to Barbara Walter and Carlton Larson on the future of US democracy and a possible civil war.PLUS COLUMNISTS: Knight at the Marriott, India Knight and James Marriott, discuss compulsory vaccines, culture wars and loving pets more than children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special PMQs Unpacked episode after Prime Minister's Questions was pushed back to 3pm. Matt Chorley takes over the role of Tim Shipman and pauses the action in the Commons with Mariella Frostrup.PLUS it's Wednesdays so it's our columnist duo Alibert, Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton on care homes and vaccine exemptions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Times Chief Political Commentator Henry Zeffman, former Labour MP Anna Turley, pollster Kelly Beaver and Financial Times journalist Seb Payne about Keir Starmer's speech resetting Labour's agenda, patriotism, and the flag. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss political nomenclature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carole Walker, sitting in for Matt Chorley, speaks to historian Brenda Van Coppenolle, and Conservative politicians Geoffrey Clifton Brown and Nicholas Soames about political dynasties in the UK.PLUSThe Times' Rachel Sylvester and the New Statesman's Rachel Cunliffe discuss schools, covid and France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a Christmas special, fellow Times Radio presenter Luke Jones speaks to Matt Chorley about growing up in Taunton, working in Westminster and what he loves about presenting politics without the boring bits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PM Christmas Special: Matt Chorley and historian and author Andrew Gimson dive into the lives of British Prime Ministers. This episodes goes through all the Prime Ministers from Margaret Thatcher to Boris Johnson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 2 of 2, Matt asks the group how they'll spend Christmas and which Times Columnist would make the best Prime Minister. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.