Politics Unpacked

Host Philip Webster is joined by Ann Treneman, Stewart Wood and Daniel Finkelstein in this end-of-year special as each panelists picks a topic to debate from the past year.Ann Treneman:It's been a terrible year for getting it wrong. The Westminster Bubble called the election wrong, the Labour leadership wrong and it still can't quite believe what's happened in Scotland. But, just say, that Jeremy Corbyn is right and that he will increase Labour's vote, as happened in Oldham. Is Britain heading towards an American situation where half of the electorate passionately believe one thing, and the other half passionately believe the other? Is the Bubble capable of acknowledging that politics has changed, possibly if not forever, then for the time being?Stewart Wood:2015 was the year when politics changed fundamentally in Britain. It saw the rise & further rise of politics outside the traditional Westminster cartel – from the social movement that underpinned a triumphant SNP to the Corbynista movement that... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Philip Webster is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Libby Purves and Hugo Rifkind. Rachel Sylvester:David Cameron once said his Party had to stop banging on about Europe but now the rest of premiership is going to be defined by a referendum on Britain's relationship with the EU. The polls are narrowing and ministers who wants to stay in are increasingly worried that people will vote to leave. The essay crisis prime minister got the grades he needed in the referendums on AV and Scotland, and the general election but is complacency going to make him fail the biggest test?Libby Purves:The fear of ‘radicalization’ into actual violence is reasonable; so is public political correctness, which is basically just politeness. But they’re leading us too far down a dangerous path. Hate-speech laws haven’t helped. We need to accept that as long as you don’t incite or perform violence or discrimination, you can believe what you like, and insult other people’s behaviour and beliefs. That's a British value... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Opinion podcast with David Aaronovitch, Lucy Fisher and Phil Collins. --Phil Collins:The anonymous man who said, to the attacker at Leytonstone tube station, “you ain’t no Muslim, bruv” has been hailed as speaking for moderate people of all faiths and none. Quite right too. Yet the statement is, alas, not quite true. We cannot attribute murder to faith but we cannot pretend faith is entirely irrelevant either.David Aaronovitch:Oh what a great brouhaha that Syria vote was. 'Momentous' said the BBC. A fabulous debate everyone agreed, with MPs congratulated - on either side - for weighing the issues and their consciences with almost exquisite aesthetic precision. Well, balls frankly. The decision was the minimum possible response a country like ours could have made. Anything else would have been an admission that, short of responding to being invaded, Britain had put its military out to grass. Lucy Fisher:It's received wisdom that Jeremy Corbyn is unelectable & Labour will tank at the 2020 polls... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Webster is joined by Fay Schlesinger, Giles Whittell and Anne Ashworth. Fay Schlesinger:After Jeremy Corbyn was elected, he promised a “kinder politics”. Fast forward two months and his allies are vowing revenge on shadow cabinet ministers at odds with him over Syrian airstrikes. Even the most attractive of Corbyn’s traits are turning sour. He must drop the Mr Nice Guy act or compromise over his ideals. He can't keep up the charade of both.Giles Whittell:There is an air of unreality about the Paris climate conference. The challenge is more urgent than ever but India won't stop burning coal, America won't be legally bound by anything and yet somehow delegates are optimist for a breakthrough. It won't happen until someone does for energy what cell phones did for communications - enables the developing world to leapfrog the developed.Anne Ashworth:There's a power grab going in the housing market. Schemes - like the Help to Buy Isa which makes its debut today and the stamp duty changes - are... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Webster is joined by Stewart Wood and Daniel Finkelstein.Stewart Wood:The Syrian crisis looks set to dominate British politics for the foreseeable future. Issues around the response to terrorism in Europe, dealing with unprecedented migration flows & UK involvement in bringing the Syrian conflict to an end should be the overwhelming priorities for our Government. Given the seriousness and complexity of these issues, David Cameron should seek all-party support for postponing the EU referendum until 2019.Daniel FInkelstein:During the first years of this government, it was argued that we needed to borrow more because we were in a recession. Now we aren't in one it should follow that this is the time to borrow less. We can't continue with a massive structural deficit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Webster is joined by Alice Thomson, Roger Boyes and John McTernan. Alice Thomson:Looking at the rows of victims in Paris, they all have glossy hair, white smiles and youth. It used to be the police, establishment, businesses and commuters who were the most vulnerable to terrorism. This is the first time the Facebook generation has been targeted, on a Friday night when they're relaxing at cafes, concerts and matches, how will they respond?Roger Boyes:Our efforts to " contain and degrade" Isis have failed. We are left with two rotten options: accept that Putin now controls Syria's future and mount joint bombing campaigns, using unpalatable Hezbollah and Iranians to do the dirty work on the ground. Or we overcome our fear of using ground troops and confront Isis face to face.John McTernan:To be a credible potential government Labour has to convince voters they can be trusted with national security. In uncertain times that becomes even more critical. Opposing shoot to kill, condemning French... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Webster is joined by Oliver Kamm, Lucy Fisher and Michael Savage. Oliver Kamm:Jeremy Corbyn has accused the chief of defence staff, Sir Nicholas Houghton, of political bias for intervening on the question of Britain's nuclear deterrent. The claim is absurd - a measure of the frivolity of Corbyn's own stance rather than any extra-constitutional manoeuvring by the armed forces. Every postwar government has supported Britain's nuclear deterrent and our participation in Nato. That is the policy of the Labour party, regardless of Corbyn's own views. Corbyn's parliamentary colleagues know that the voters will never trust a party that is weak on defence - and they should flatly contradict their leader's whims. Lucy Fisher:Britain is facing a crisis of confidence in foreign policy, “sidelined in Syria, ineffective in Ukraine, unwilling in Europe, and inimical towards refugees”. That was the damning verdict of some of the UK’s most senior former diplomats, intelligence officers and academics in a... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Webster is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Emma Tucker and Philip Collins.Rachel Sylvester:George Osborne is the most intriguing politician of our age. He’s morphed from a short termist partisan tactician to a political strategist with a long term plan. But, as the tax credit fiasco shows, his biggest flaw is that he still lacks empathy - the ability to win people over by persuading them he understands how they feel. If he wants to become Conservative leader and Prime Minister he's got to prove he knows that that politics is about emotions as well power.Emma Tucker:Debate about Britain's relationship with the European Union is about to heat up as David Cameron prepares to outline his desired reform package in a letter to be delivered to Brussels this week. But he faces very tricky manoeuvres. Europe’s leaders don't really want to engage with him until he can reassure them that he will vote for Britain to stay in the EU. But if he does so, the Outers will accuse him of reducing incentives for... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Webster is joined by Sam Coates, Hugo Rifkind and Patrick Kidd.Sam Coates:George Osborne got the strategy wrong, the tactics wrong, the politics wrong, the communications wrong and the people-handling wrong - all the things the Chancellor is meant to be good at. MPs think his reputation has taken a hit. After riding high over the summer, the Chancellor's reputation was probably due a correction to the mean, but Boris would be unwise to think things have swung that much in his favour. Anyway the tax credit problem is still far from solved - anyone with any ideas should pop them on a postcard to the TreasuryHugo Rifkind:What's up with students? Last week, Germaine Greer cancelled a lecture at Cardiff University, after a petition circulated calling for her to be disinvited, due to her "problematic" views. When I was a student, visiting speakers included people such as the BNP's Nick Griffin and the radical Islamist Omar Bakri. If we could cope with them, how come students today can't cope with... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his final Opinion podcast, host Tim Montgomerie is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Mathew Parris and Ann Treneman. Matthew Parris:Now that we're having to take seriously the possibility (though not, I think, the likelihood) that Britain may vote to leave the EU, we need to look beyond that possible Leave vote. What happens then? The government will have to begin a lengthy negotiation about the terms of our departure, with (of course) no negotiating cards to play at all. Much - a huge amount - will hang on the terms we are finally able to secure. It's perfectly possible voters who voted in principle to leave will find those terms unacceptable in practice. There will have to be a second referendum.Ann Treneman:What is Jeremy Corbyn playing at? Going on holiday (and to Scotland!) when he should be kissing the Queen's hand and becoming a privy councillor. It seems that we knew he was a republican but, hey, he actually seems to be a republican! Will Corbyn, in his own way, make us grow up as to how we... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie presents the Opinion podcast direct from Manchester at The Conservative Party conference:- Daniel Finkelstein and Jenni Russell: The Times- Paul Goodman: Conservativehome.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie presents the Opinion podcast direct from Brighton at The Labour Party conference:- Andy Burnham: Shadow Home Secretary - Matthew Parris, Lucy Fisher and Marcus Roberts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie presents the Opinion podcast direct from Bournemouth:Norman Lamb - Liberal Democrats Patrick Kidd and Michael Savage from The TimesJulia Unwin - Joseph Rowntree Foundation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Collins, Oliver Kamm and Libby Purves.Philip CollinsLet's skip the bit where commentators ingeniously invent reasons why Corbyn might turn out to be Clement Attlee. No, this is man of no interesting ideas and no experience of running a political operation. He has started as he is condemned to go on. In chaos. The task for the sensible Labour party is to renew intellectually and engage the new members who will rapidly have buyer's remorse. Oliver KammIn the 48 hours since Corbyn's election, I have dramatically changed my opinion. Yet again the great Phil Collins is vindicated.I've previously argued there's an ethical obligation on Labour MPs to withdraw cooperation from the whips and declare themselves opposed to a leader who is out of step with party's traditions & progressive values. Yet I hadn't reckoned on the scale of the incompetence of Corbyn & his allies. You can hold on as leader even in the face of bad polls; but it's much more difficult to do so if... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Matthew Parris and Roger Boyes:Rachel SylvesterPoliticians ought to like the country they want to lead but the Corbynistas seem to disapprove of modern Britain. They are Roundheads in a Cavalier age, collectivists in an era dominated by individualism. There is a sense of moral superiority on the left that is as off-putting as the born-to-rule attitude on the right. Labour moderates must take back the moral high ground in their party. There is nothing wrong with wanting to win. Matthew ParrisThere was something infantile about the apparent switch of public - or at least media - opinion after the publication of that photograph of a drowned Syrian toddler. As if we didn't know already that children were being drowned. My guess, though, is that public sympathy and generosity remains rather thin. People do understand the argument that European hospitality risks drawing in new waves of migrants. Still, the sentiment that photo stirred did give the Prime... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Michael Savage, Patrick Kidd and Melanie Philips:Michael SavageIt's not been a good summer for our increasingly cramped second chamber. The latest set of peerages confirmed their use as a reward for political donors, allies and lieutenants - the appointment of a prominent figure felled by the expenses scandal caused wide disbelief, and it all came after Lord Sewell's alleged extra-curricular antics had provoked new calls for Lords reform of some kind. With the second chamber now bigger than ever and its reputation in question, will they - or should they - come to anything?Patrick KiddThe claim that David Cameron had to buy a cheap pair of Asda wellies to visit the Somerset floods when he had a perfectly good pair of Hunters in the car boot shows that we have reached peak vacuity in this image-obsessed era of politics. But is that their fault or ours? And is the key lesson of Corbynmania that looks really don't matter?Melanie PhilipsWhen I saw the Union Jack being... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Webster, who sits in for Tim Montgomerie, is joined by Anne Ashworth, Giles Whittell and Ann Treneman. Anne Ashworth:So that's all right, then. Breathe a sigh of relief and get on with your day. After all, some investors saw Monday's share price falls as a buying opportunity - which meant that global markets recovered some of their losses. But maybe we should actually be concerned as events on the Chinese bourses indicated that the regime is ill-equipped to deal with this sort of situation and that the truth about this country's economy could be more disturbing than we think. Giles Whittell:I've never seen the Baalshamin temple at Palmyra, and now I never will. The barbarism of the Isis fanatics who've blown it up is numbing, but what's really troubling about the destruction of Palmyra is its intent. Isis wants to make a mark for eternity, and to this end it's also doing more practical things like training up women doctors. It's not going away unless and until it's defeated, and diplomacy... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Francis Elliott and Jenni Russell. Hugo Rifkind:Are politicians responsible for their own unsavory supporters? When opponents of Jeremy Corbyn are targeted with sexist or anti-semitic abuse on social media, is that really his fault? And, if not, does that also render Nigel Farage blameless when racists decide he’s speaking their language, or the SNP, when Cybernats bat for them? More worrying still, what if similar people - heaven forbid - should ever agree with us?Francis Elliott:The delay to the Iraq Inquiry report is clearly upsetting for the families of those killed in the war and is frustrating for the politicians. But when a mob unites David Cameron with Yvette Cooper it's hard not to feel queasy. Are we sure we are blaming the right person for the delay and for the right reasons? Jenni Russell:in the last month Edward Heath and Camila Batmanghelidjh have both been fatally damaged by vague and flimsy accusations. Phrases like sex abuse are now... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Lucy Fisher and Ed Conway. Daniel Finkelstein:The prospect of Jeremy Corbyn as leader is not a problem for the labour Party. It is a calamity, a disaster, a debacle. It doesn't mean having an leader who can’t win an election. A party can deal with that. It means having a leader that the mainstream Labour MP can't even vote for. It seems astonishing to me that these MPs have not pressed the panic button. They seem to be causally drifting towards catastrophe. Lucy Fisher:Andy Burnham's wife let slip on Monday that he had wanted to be an MP since the age of 18. The revelation prompted jeers that he is a "Westminster bubble” career politician, a common slur that conveys suspicion and contempt. But I think it's time we stopped bashing career politicians. Commons advisers who later look to stand for parliament boast depth of knowledge of the arcane workings of the legislature - surely a good thing. And on a more important level, MPs who have dedicated... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Isabel Harman, Matthew Parris and David Aaronovitch. Isabel HardmanPoliticians are obeying perfectly the rules of a Summer Crisis on Calais. They are ensuring that they are seen to be Doing Something on the question of illegal migrants by posturing on regulations around the private rented sector, rather than answering the question of how to solve the crisis, especially whether Britain should be letting in some of those thronging on the border at Calais. Why answer difficult questions when you can just pretend to be busy?Matthew ParrisFear and dislike of the Left is what impelled me into the Conservative Party as an undergrad. It's part of the Tories' raison d'être and the cement that holds often ideologically different members together. If Labour reall does fall apart, the Tories will be next.David AaronovitchYesterday the IPCC announced that it was investigating a claim that Wiltshire police had abandoned a case in the 1990s because someone involved had alleged... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Sam Coates, Laura Pitel and Philip Webster: What happens to British politics if Jeremy Corbyn wins?A living wage. Prisons reform. 2% spending on defence: do we prefer the Tory government to the Tory manifesto?When will the EU referendum happen?Subscribe via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-times-opinion-podcast/id660638948?mt=2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Richard Fletcher and Roger Boyes to discuss Greece and its future in the European Union. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined Rachel Sylvester, Philip Aldrick and Matthew Parris. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Aaronovitch sits in for Tim Montgomerie as the panel debate a wide range of topics. Fay SchlesingerJon Stewart, the American comedian, played it straight on his chat show last week. If Islamist terrorists had massacred nine people in a church, he said, the repercussions would be huge. Because Dylann Roof killed under the banner of home-grown racism, the country will do “jackshit”. The Charleston attack cannot be reduced to failed gun laws, or America as an outlier. Britain and Europe need to take heed.Daniel Finkelstein The idea that the mistakes of the pollsters require state sponsored regulation, as suggested in a new private members bill before Parliament is totally barmy. So is the thought that we should give up polling and just try and guessMelanie Phillips As the Palace of Westminster crumbles, on one side are MPs singing we shall not be moved, on the other, people wanting to hang constitutional change on the scaffolding. All they've got to do is move out for a few years and then move... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Ed Conway and Hilary Rose.Alice Thomson:The Scottish Nationalists lost the referendum but they were left with the moral high ground. The Scots had been 'scared' into voting no and then dumped by the English, which is partly why the Scot Nats did so well in the Election.But the increasingly nasty sectarian abuse by the extreme cybernats, hounding the late Charles Kennedy and any businessmen who dare to speak up for the union risks souring the SNP's apparently triumphal progress. When moderate Scots are fleeing South of the border it's time to ask if the dream is turning sour.Ed Conway:For the umpteenth time, Greece is back on what everyone is calling the brink of default. The economy is back in recession and austerity seems to be biting even more than in the darkest days of the crisis. What's agreed by most insiders and outsiders is that it should never have joined the euro in the first place. But simply turfing it out of the club would cause more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Lucy Fisher, Rachel Sylvester and Helen Rumbelow.Lucy Fisher:As the referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU looms closer, the “out” campaign is beginning to take shape. But its proponents now face a number of tough questions: who to lead them, with whom to ally and what strategies to pursue? The right business chiefs must be recruited, Tory Eurosceptics and Ukip must calculate how closely to embrace each other, and theoretical reasoning about UK sovereignty must be carefully balanced with more tangible arguments about the impact of immigration.Rachel Sylvester:Labour is speaking in code as it launches its leadership contest. Aspiration, equality, responsibility, choice, Blairite Brownite - these are words used to signify a political direction rather than simply to communicate. The party has to face up to electoral reality and go back to celebrating success even if that means some people doing better than others.Helen Rumbelow:Flexible working the male way: ask... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Webster steps in for Tim Montgomerie and is joined on the panel by Suzy Jagger, David Aaronovitch and Lech Mintowt-Czyz.Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Webster, Anne Ashworth and Robbie Millen. Anne Ashworth:The Queen's Speech will focus on the extension of Right to Buy to housing association tenants. It's right to place an emphasis on home ownership: why should we deny this rite of passage to younger people. However, there are millions who cannot afford to take this step and must rely on rented accommodation. Whoever wants to win the 2020 election needs to get together a workable policy for the provision of better quality homes for this group. Philip Webster:The Labour leadership race is happening far too soon. Contenders exhausted by the election are having to fight again for four months. And no one really knows what they should be saying and doing to please a Labour electorate whose makeup remains a mystery. Will it be Andy, Liz or Yvette?Robbie Millen:Last week Jeffrey Spector, a 54-year-old British man suffering from an inoperable tumour on his spine, went to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Patrick Kidd, Giles Whittell and Libby Purves.Patrick Kidd:When it comes to recovering from a disastrous election it is best to ignore that noted political analyst Meghan Traynor. It is not all about the base ('bout the base) but about understanding those who rejected you. Small businesses and aspirant parents are the kingmakers. Do any of Labour's would-be leaders get this? It would be better to pick the next leader in an open primary of floating voters than an internal talking shop.Giles Whittell:Nicola Sturgeon is right. Renewing Trident is ridiculous. She's wrong about the reason, though. The £100 billion figure used by the CND is for 40 years and anything can be made to seem appallingly expensive over 40 years. The reason is that Trident is outdated now, will be even more outdated in 40 years and may well be every bit as vulnerable to terrorists as Able Seaman William McNeilly says it is.Libby Purves:At last, research confirms what has been obvious to anyone... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part two of an election special recorded in front of a live studio audience.Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Daniel Finkelstein and Jenni Russell.Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie and a panel of Times columnists, including David Aaronovitch, Daniel Finkelstein and Jenni Russell, discuss the results of the general election in front of a live audience.Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Essential listening in the election campaign brought to you by The Times Opinion podcast.Tim Montgomerie is joined by Melanie Phillips, Jenni Russell and Matthew Parris.Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Essential listening in the election campaign brought to you by The Times Opinion podcast.Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Webster, Fay Schlesinger and Daniel Finkelstein and asks the following questions:- What was your moment of the week?- Who had a good / bad week?- What new things did we learn this week?- What should Times readers expect next week?And crucially - who is going to be Prime Minister?Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Matthew Parris, Rachel Sylvester and Hugo Rifkind.Opinion podcast 28 April:Rachel SylvesterIt's going to be Fear versus Fear between now and May 7th. The parties are intent on terrifying the voters about the dire things that will happen if their rivals win but they just risk fuelling the anti-politics mood with their negativity.Matthew ParrisThis is a genuine question to which I am not sure of the answer. Just imagine the Tory campaign had from the start made no accusations against other parties, said nothing unpleasant about Ed Miliband, and confined itself to describing what they believe to be in their own successes. Doubtless the media would have done the negative stuff anyway. Would this have hurt the Conservatives? I really don't know, but I'm very unsure that it would.Hugo RifkindThe Passion of David Cameron is all a bit "The Quiet Man Is Turning Up The Volume". Passion ought to be deeply suspect in British politics; the preserve of fanatics, zealots... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Essential listening in the election campaign brought to you by The Times Opinion podcast.Tim Montgomerie is joined by Laura Pitel, Daniel Finkelstein and Alice Thomson and asks the following questions:- What was your moment of the week?- Who had a good / bad week?- What new things did we learn this week?- What should Times readers expect next week?Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Collins, Marcus Roberts and Jenni Russell. The panel discuss the latest trends in the run up to the 2015 General Election. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Essential listening in the election campaign brought to you by The Times Opinion podcast.Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Rachel Sylvester and Callum Jones and asks the following questions:- What was your moment of the week?- Who had a good / bad week?- What new things did we learn this week?- What should Times readers expect next week?Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Matthew Parris, Jenni Russell and Hugo Rifkind. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Essential listening in the election campaign brought to you by The Times Opinion podcast.Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Michael Savage and The Spectator's Isabel Hardman and asks the following questions:- What was your moment of the week?- Who had a good / bad week?- What new things did we learn this week?- What should Times readers expect next week? Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Election special: Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Webster, Laura Pitel and Oliver Moody. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Danny Finkelstein, Peter Kellner and Libby Purves.Danny Finkelstein:The most lasting and impressive thing about the Coalition may end up being the fact of it - that it lasted and was stable at a time when the country needed stable government but hadn't voted for one. But there was more - in particular that it enabled cuts to be made with remarkable little social unrest. And there was less - the parties together failed to forge a political identity that enabled them to capture the centre.Peter Kellner:I agree with Danny. In addition, voters are now far less keen on the idea of coalitions than they were before the last election. They wanted parties to work together in the national interest but now are unhappy with the results. As a nation we say we want politicians to put country before party. Nick Clegg did just that- and look what has happened to his ratings.Libby Purves:Excited that scientists have discovered not only Richard III’s scoliosis and head wounds but... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Patrick Kidd, Ann Treneman and Matt Ridley to discuss David Cameron's potential gaffe, Alex Salmond scaring Westminster, and the governments role in the biggest marine protection zone in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Richard Fletcher, Philip Aldrick and Janice Turner for a Budget special, plus a look at George Osborne the Chancellor and the man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Matthew Parris and Hugo Rifkind. Jenni Russell:Is the icecap starting to break? For months the polls have been locked, with Labour and the Tories stuck on a third of the vote, and Labour remaining just slightly ahead. Labour has been hoping that the electorate will reject austerity; the Tories have been anxiously awaiting a reward for seeing the economy turning at last. Ashcroft's latest poll puts the Tories four points ahead; more importantly the Tories have led more of the last twenty polls than Labour have. Matthew Parris:Okay, I'll say it: I think there's a chance the Tories are just going to win outright. We are in the media have a habit of fighting the last battle and because the last election led to a coalition this has conditioned thinking about the next one. But Labour support may begin to ebb away: not least because the party has no stomach for this fight and people know it. Hugo Rifkind:Parts of England are developing a profound... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Rachel Sylvester and Philip Webster. The panel discuss how the major parties are confronting the issue of immigration ahead of the general election in May. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Lucy Fisher, Isabel Hardman and David Aaronovitch. Lucy Fisher:Yesterday a new “cash for access” scandal exploded, after MPs Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind were caught out offering their influence and political contacts in exchange for money. The revelation looks set to erode further voters’ faith in mainstream politics, which will benefit only Ukip and the Greens at the polls in May. The scandal has also sparked a row about MPs’ second jobs, on which many are now calling for an outright ban.Isabel Hardman:The Church of England is now locked into a face-off with the Conservative party. The Bishops probably didn’t mean to offend the Tories so much with their letter last week, but they did, partly by being so naive about complex issues such as defence and partly by being mealy-mouthed about the recovery. But the Tories also didn’t need to get so upset about what the Bishops wrote - if indeed they read it. It included a defence of markets and of the Big Society:... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Suzy Jagger, Lech Mintowt-Czyz and Philip Webster. The panel discuss:1. Focus on the Conservative Party's key weakness - being party of the rich. Are they in danger of being too punitive on welfare? 2. Focus on Labour's key weakness - their remoteness from business. Is it too late to correct?3. Key weakness of all of the parties - a complete disinterest in foreign policy. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Roger Boyes, Roland Watson and Anne Applebaum - the panel discuss the deteriorating situation in Eastern Ukraine. Should Ukraine be armed? Does Britain have any foreign policy at present?In addition, conservative commentator John O'Sullivan joins Tim direct from Sydney to talk about Tony Abbott's leadership in Australia. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Richard Fletcher, business editor, and Philip Aldrick, economics editor, as they discuss recent events in Davos and Greece. Plus, our political sketch writer, Ann Treneman, joins the president of YouGov, Peter Kellner, to discuss the state of UK politics.Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Sam Coates, Daniel Finkelstein and Anne Ashworth.The panel discuss David Cameron's employment manifesto pledge, the response of the Muslim Council of Britain to the letter from Eric Pickles plus the astounding response to the National Savings & Investment Pensioner Bonds. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.