Politics Unpacked

Matt Chorley speaks to the editors of three of the UK's biggest political magazines including the Spectator and the New Statesman to find out what makes a good one, and why print is still popular despite the rise of digital. PLUSLibby Purves and Rachel Cunliffe discuss the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is live from a café in Chorley for the G7 Speakers Conference. The UK's speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle gives him a tour of the market and star of 'The League of Gentleman' Steve Pemberton explains which of his characters were based on Chorley residents.PLUSThe Spectator's Political Editor James Forsyth and Associate Editor of the Lancashire Post Nicola Adam discuss the day's news including Michael Gove's plan for levelling up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Times Chief Political Correspondent/DJ Henry Zeffman unpack what the new cabinet means for the country, and discuss whether or not they're all singing from the same hymn sheet.PLUSIndia 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: Crampon: Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss the top stories of the day Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Boris Johnson prepares to host an awkward dinner party at chequers this weekend, Matt Chorley gets the best anecdotes from those who know the Prime Minister's country residence inside out, including Winston Churchill's grandson Sir Nicholas Soames, and former de facto Deputy Prime Minister, David Lidington. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Financial Times journalist Sebastian Payne about his new book Broken Heartlands, which documents the key constituencies Labour leader Keir Starmer needs to win back in the next election, and hears from Andrew Adonis, a former Labour cabinet minister, James Meadway, a former advisor to John McDonnell and Sienna Rogers from Labour list about Starmer's standing with MPs.PLUSLibby Purves and Andy Silvester pick over the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley looks back at the political response to 9/11 ahead of the 20th anniversary with those who were in the chamber, including Sir Bernard Jenkin and Louise Ellman.PLUS Columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley goes to the Spitting Image studio to speak to some of the stars of the show ahead of its second seriesPLUSIndia Knight and the Spectator's Katy Balls discuss the Commons action last night 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: Crampon: Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss the top stories of the day Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we facing the end of cheap goods and services? Matt Chorley speaks to economists, industry leaders and people working at the sharp end of retail, food and logistics to find out whether consumers are looking at permanently higher prices. PLUSFormer Social Care Minister Alistair Burt and Care England's Martin Green respond to the Prime Minister's Social care plan; and The Times' David Aaronovitch and the New Statesman's Rachel Cunliffe pick over the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is live from the House of Commons as parliament returns. He speaks to the chief political correspondent for The Times, Henry Zeffman, to find out who's up and who's down in the cabinet and hears from three MP's who've spent most of their career so far on Zoom. PLUS, The Times' Rachel Sylvester and The Telegraph's Lucy Fisher discussed the social care crisis.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been months since the governments last covid briefing so Matt Chorley steps up to the plate and has re-created it. Speaking to The Times data journalist Tom Calver and experts on the ground Dr Rachel Clarke and Rohini Mathur, epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.PLUSThe Times' Melanie Reid and The Financial Times' political editor Jim Pickard discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three weeks on from the Plymouth shooting, Matt Chorley speaks to Times Miami Correspondent Jacqui Goddard, Republicans Overseas' Greg Swenson and the Adam Smith Institute's Morgan Schondelmaier about the different attitudes to gun ownership and the legacies of mass shootings in the UK and the US. PLUSThe Times' James Marriott and the Telegraph's Olivia Utley discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to journalists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to get the news from the four corners of the UK. PLUSRobert Crampton and Susie Boniface discuss Dominic Raab's fate.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Times Scottish political editor Kieran Andrews and editor of the Courier David Clegg about the alliance and feud of Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond, that has dominated Scottish politics for a decade.PLUSEmma Woolf and Daniel Finkelstein discuss Greta Thunberg and the nappy tax. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carole Walker, sitting in for Matt Chorley, speaks to politics professors Tim Bale, Matthew Goodwin and Amelia Hadfield about what populism in Europe means for traditional mainstream right-wing parties. PLUSRachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss Afghanistan and Monica Lewinsky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley reassembles the Times Radio Focus Group with views from voters in Dominic Raab’s constituency in Surrey.PLUS columnists Melanie Reid and John Stevens on the death of department stores and political memorabilia.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley indulges Boris Johnson's request for local leaders to email him with ideas on how to 'Level Up' the UK, hearing from several councillors from around the country.PLUS James Marriott and Rachel Cunliffe reappraise the importance of the suburbs, and whether Nigella Lawson was right to remove the word 'slut' from her recipes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to journalists from the four corners of the UK to get the latest political and pandemic news.PLUSRobert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss Britain's relationship with animals and the four day working week.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to experts and journalists in the US, France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan about what their countries want to see happen at the virtual G7, hosted today by Boris Johnson to find an international solution to the situation in Afghanistan. PLUS David Aaronovitch and Daniel Finkelstein discuss Dominic Raab and Extinction Rebellion.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Nobel Prize winning behavioural economist Richard Thaler about this new book Nudge: The Final Edition and how governments can change people's behaviour in a pandemic. PLUSTimes columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley and speaks to guardian correspondent Jason Burke and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Williams about what it was like in Afghanistan in 2001.Plus Times columnist Melanie Reid and the Daily Mail’s John Stevens on the holidays and the Paralympics.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley where he discusses the situation in Belarus right now with former UK ambassador to Belarus, Dr Nigel Gould-Davies and former Belarusian Minister of Culture, now opposition figure, Pavel Latushko.PLUS columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss incel culture and uprooting your life.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a departure from normal service, Luke Jones speaks to journalists and experts from China, Pakistan, the US and Russia to hear about what different countries will be hoping happens in the wake of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and how they are pivoting to capitalise on the situation.PLUS Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson assess the opening statements of the parliamentary debate on Afghanistan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones speaks to Times Retail Editor Ashley Armstrong, Pizza Express Founder Hugh Osmond, Phones4u founder John Caudwell and serial entrepreneur Luke Jonhson about how you go about buying and selling a business. PLUSDavid Aaronovitch and Daniel Finkelstein discuss the West's response to the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones, sitting in for Matt Chorley is joined by the Mother and the Father of the House, Conservative MP Peter Bottomley and Labour MP Harriet Harman to reminisce over 85 years on the green benches. PLUSThe Times Libby Purves and the New Statesman's Rachel Cunliffe talk Afghanistan and the Plymouth shooting.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley tries to save the government with the Times' Henry Zeffman as they take part in an immersive play called Crisis? What Crisis? where they have to save the Callaghan government of 1979 from a vote of no confidence. PLUS columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss learning languages and why we need the royal family more than ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Washington Post journalist Carol Leonnig on her book, Zero Fail, which sheds light on the secrets and scandals of the Secret Service.PLUS columnists India Knight and James Marriot discuss privacy and the rise in supermarket delivery apps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley dives into the news across the four corners of the UK and this week's focus is on education. PLUS John Stevens and Emma Woolf join Matt to go through the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley asks whether second home ownership is a blessing or a curse for local communities in staycation hotspots with local protest groups, councils and MPs. PLUS David Aaronovitch and Danny Finkelstein discuss whether we should really care about the protests to save Geronimo the alpaca.AND As students learn their A-Level results, MPs including Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick and Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner share memories from their own results day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley hears from Red Box listeners about the difficulty in getting a face-to-face appointment with a GP. He hears from GP Sarah Jarvis and people within Health and the NHS to find out what's going wrong.PLUS Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester ask who will pay for net-zero and whether more school students should apply for apprenticeships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley reflects on the riots of 2011 with Shadow Justice Secretary and MP for Tottenham David Lammy, Stephen Reicher and Frances Crook.PLUS columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss whether life really changes after Covid-19. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Julia Stonehouse, the daughter of the former Labour MP John Stonehouse who faked his own death in the 1970s, and found out how she still sees him as a hero.PLUS He speaks to James Marriott and Rachel Cunliffe on staycations and snobbery.Clips: BBC  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley gets the news from the four corners of the UK with guests Rob Parsons, Editor of the Northern Agenda for Reach, Caroline Wilson, Senior Reporter at The Herald, John Manley, Political Correspondent at the Irish News, and Ruth Mosalski, Political Editor at Wales Online.PLUSRobert Crampton and Emma Woolf discuss jabs for kids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood MP, and experts in the field of space defence to find out what threats countries pose to each other in outer space. PLUSThe Times' David Aaronovitch and the Spectator's Katy Balls discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Prime Minister's COP26 spokesperson, Allegra Stratton, ahead of the COP26 conference in Glasgow. PLUS Times columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester go through the day's news and whether Rishi Sunak could become the next Conservative leader. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if Ed Miliband had won? What if we'd voted for proportional representation? Luke Jones, sitting in for Matt Chorley, speaks to Duncan Brack about his new book exploring political counterfactuals, and the man who created the Miliverse Twitter account. PLUSTimes Columnist Melanie Reid and Emma Woolf pick over the news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones, sitting in for Matt Chorley, speaks to Adam Peaty's mum Caroline, Jessica Ennis-Hill's coach Steve Ingham and Chair of the British Olympic Association Sir Hugh Robertson about how families, coaching and political will can create champions. PLUSIndia Knight and James Marriott talk about why it might be good to be sad sometimes.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones, sitting in for Matt Chorley, gets the news from the four corners of the UK. PLUSTimes Columnist Robert Crampton and the Daily Mail's John Stevens discuss opening the borders and Olympians' mental health.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones, sitting in for Matt Chorley, speaks to Suzanne Heywood and the winners of the Heywood Prize, which asked for members of the public to send in their big policy ideas. PLUSTimes Columnist David Aaronovitch and City AM's Andy Silvester discuss the Prime Minister's plans to tackle crime.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Luke Jones, sits in for Matt Chorley and speaks to three eighteen year old councillors about why they wanted to get into politics, and what they want to achieve. PLUSTimes Columnist Libby Purves and the New Statesman's Rachel Cunliffe discuss covid cases and Amy Winehouse.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley talks to legendary broadcaster Andrew Marr about 40 years in the industry, holding politicians to account, and which Britons he thinks will define the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.PLUSThe Times' Melanie Ried and the Daily Mail's John Stevens discuss the Olympics and unlocking.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by legendary comedian Harry Enfield to talk about his new West End Show Windsors: Endgame, creating infamous political comedy characters and that Question Time sketch. PLUS India Knight and James Marriott pick over MPs summer reading lists.  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: Crampon: Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss the billionaire's flying to space and the importance of human touch.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by former Number 10 Pollster James Johnson to see what the Times Radio focus group make of freedom day, the pingdemic and Boris Johnson's isolation u-turn.PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley goes through some of the positive things to come out of the pandemic and covid breakthroughs with Sunday Times Science Editor Ben Spencer, Dr Angela George and Professor Paul Moss.PLUS columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester talk about what Freedom Day means to them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 60 years this week since Prime Minister's Questions started properly in the Commons. Matt Chorley goes back to that first PMQs in 1961, and recreating what it would have been like with the Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire.He pauses the action as Harold Macmillan faces questions from backbenchers and the leader of the opposition. Plus legendary Commons speaker Betty Boothroyd joined Matt to tell him what she makes of PMQs today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley talks to Michael Wolff, who has spent the last four years chronicling Donald Trump's presidency. His third book Landslide covers the final days in the run up to the election and the Capitol riots. India Knight and James Marriot chat through the days news and ask why are we so lonely. 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 Angela Epstein and Andy Silvester discuss how much personal responsibility should we have, and at what point do we stop needing rules? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government is subject to an inquiry into the way it's handing Freedom of Information Requests; Matt Chorley speaks to veteran FOI journalists Martin Rosenbaum, George Greenwood and Susie Boniface about how they work and why they're so important. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the day's news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.