Politics Unpacked

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.

Matt Chorley is joined by former No10 pollster James Johnson for the monthly Times Radio Focus Group in association with Kekst CNC, asking a panel of swing voters in Wolverhampton, Rother Valley and Swindon what they noticed about the conference season, the rising cost of living, and their thoughts on Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer.Plus Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on anonymity online and how the rich call politicians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Labour frontbencher at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, just an hour after news broke of the killing of Sir David Amess. They discuss MPs' safety, honesty in politics and cross-party working.PLUS:Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on police attitudes towards threats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley looks at the link between GCHQ and Cheltenham and speaks to GCHQ's historian David Abrutat and former GCHQ director David Omand. Also Ed Balls pops in to chat about food, new labour and strictly.PLUS the Times' Carol Lewis and Jack Malvern discuss Covid in the city and eavesdropping. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley hosts a panel live at the Cheltenham Literature festival asking how important personality is to a politician's success. PLUS: An interview with Gyles Brandreth on his memoirs. AND David Sanderson from the Arts section of the Times and Manveen Rana of the Stories of Our Times Podcast dissect the days news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire take a trip down political history lane and analyse their favourite PMQs exchanges in front of a live audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.PLUS Author Tim Marshall and the Cheltenham Literature Festival's Head of Programme's Nicola Tuxworth discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Irish Culture Minister Catherine Martin, Irish Ambassador to the UK Adrian O’Neill and visits a new exhibition showcasing negotiating documents to commemorate 100 years since the start of negotiations of the Anglo Irish treaty.PLUSDavid Aaronovitch and Daniel Finkelstein discuss party conference and Sally Rooney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to legendary cartoonist Peter Brookes about satirising the cabinet.PLUSLibby Purves and the Atlantic’s Tom McTague discuss the energy crisis and Newcastle United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an exclusive first interview, former NATO ambassador now Parole Board member Sir Stewart Eldon, tells Matt how they decide who gets to come out of prison.PLUS columnists Knight at the Marriott, India Knight and James Marriott, go through Boris Johnson's speech and why we call people scum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley dives into some analysis and reaction after Boris Johnson addresses Conservative delegates at their party conference in Manchester. Plus James Forsyth and Nadine Batchelor-Hunt go through the day’s news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Nick Timothy, Theresa May's Chief Advisor in the Home Office and Number 10, about policing ahead of the Home Secretary's Conference speech.PLUS: Seb Payne from the FT and The Spectator's Kate Andrews discuss Rishi Sunak's speech and Michael Gove's plans for more local mayors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live in Manchester Matt Chorley speaks to a panel of economic experts to analyse the PM's claims that wages are rising for the nation's poorest. PLUS: The Daily Mail's John Stevens and The Spectator's Katy Balls discuss the day's news and what to expect from the conference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley dives into how the political system works with Tim Bale and Paul Webb talking about their new book, The Modern British Party System.PLUSColumnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss what we should expect from the Conservative Party Conference and the worst jobs they've had. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley remembers the Winter of Discontent in 1978/79 with people who were in government and the media at the time. Can we compare it to today's driver shortage?PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott pick over the news including the sentencing of Sarah Everard's killer.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley looks back through history at the maiden conference speeches made by past Labour leaders.PLUS: Labour List's Sienna Rogers and The Spectator's Isabel Hardman discuss the day's top stories.AND: Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire joins Matt to analyse the 5 key takeaways from Starmer's speech Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to a panel of seasoned Labour journalists and aides about whether the ghost of Tony Blair still haunts the Labour Conference. PLUS: Janice Turner and Hugo Rifkind discuss the days big stories including a Labour frontbench resignation and Labour's troubles over trans-rights Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the CBI Director-General Tony Danker about Labour's bid to become the party of business.PLUS Jane Merrick from the I and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire discuss the hot topics around the conference and the petrol shortage  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour is heading to Brighton this weekend, kicking off the first party conference season in two years, we take a look at what can go wrong with the people who really know.PLUS columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on the energy crisis and work outings gone wrong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legendary documentary maker and journalist Michael Cockerell speaks to Matt Chorley about what makes a good political documentary.PLUSIndia Knight and James Marriott on Keir Starmer's Labour essay and freshers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the despatch box exchanges at Prime Ministers Questions. PLUSAlice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to former Ambassador to the US Kim Darroch about what Boris Johnson can expect when he sits down to speak to President Joe Biden on Tuesday. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch pick over the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.