Matt Forde's Political Party

Lottie Viola, a student and Labour social-media creator, and Poppy Alsford, a teenage Labour activist and political content maker, explore the forces shaping young political culture. They unpack Andy Burnham’s TikTok appeal, stan accounts, influencer-style campaigning, Farage’s online strengths, looksmaxxing and radicalisation, social-media limits, and why hope may matter more than outrage to young voters.

Melanie Ward, Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy and a former international aid leader, discusses her rapid rise to ministerial office. She recalls witnessing devastation in Gaza, Labour’s changing policy, antisemitism and online extremism. Also featured: rebuilding trust with Scottish farmers, Gordon Brown’s advice, family influences, radical reform, and karaoke.

Claire Hanna went viral with a superb joke about Donald Trump after he apparently supported a united Ireland. The leader of the SDLP gives us a comprehensive and entertaining briefing about the state of politics in Northern Ireland and has clear ideas about how to improve the system and its politics. On top of the detail, passionate and funny, Claire embodies the hope of a politics free of sectarianism. See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall and Mishal Husain21 December: Wes Streeting  https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.com MARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall 8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall 9 LEICESTER Y Theatre 12 SALFORD Lowry 16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate 21 EXETER Northcott Theatre 24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre 28 ALNWICK Playhouse 29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham 30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club 12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre 13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall 14 CHORLEY Theatre 18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange 19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks 20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn 21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal 23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall 26 NORWICH Playhouse 27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright 4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre 5 READING Concert Hall 8 CARDIFF The Glee Club 9 BATH Komedia 10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre 11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre 15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal 16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables 18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre 30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station 2 GLASGOW The Glee Club 4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Langford was Special Adviser to The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, from the day he became Prime Minister to the day he left. He takes us inside the famous black door and tells us what Keir Starmer was really like as a leader, a boss and a man.  He tells us what it was really like in those final weeks in between the local election results and the Prime Minister's departure. And he reveals the true extent of Larry the Cat's power and influence.This is an unmissable nosey around the most famous address in the country.  See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London) GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.com MARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall 8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall 9 LEICESTER Y Theatre 12 SALFORD Lowry 16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate 21 EXETER Northcott Theatre 24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre 28 ALNWICK Playhouse 29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham 30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club 12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre 13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall 14 CHORLEY Theatre 18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange 19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks 20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn 21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal 23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall 26 NORWICH Playhouse 27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright 4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre 5 READING Concert Hall 8 CARDIFF The Glee Club 9 BATH Komedia 10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre 11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre 15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal 16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables 18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre 30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station 2 GLASGOW The Glee Club 4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many have failed... but is Michael Marra the man to finally lead Labour to success in Scotland? It's a huge task that has proved beyond nine leaders, so what would Michael do differently? And does having Andy Burnham as Prime Minister help? More importantly, what on earth happened to him in Malawi?  And is he really a proper 6Music dad? See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London)GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.com MARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall9 LEICESTER Y Theatre12 SALFORD Lowry16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate21 EXETER Northcott Theatre24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre28 ALNWICK Playhouse29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall14 CHORLEY Theatre18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall26 NORWICH Playhouse27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre5 READING Concert Hall8 CARDIFF The Glee Club9 BATH Komedia10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station2 GLASGOW The Glee Club4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malcolm Offord, leader of Reform in Scotland and former Conservative peer and junior minister, shares colourful political stories and his path from Greenock to Westminster. He discusses party culture, clashes with Tory leadership, Reform’s rapid rise and strategy. He also reveals being diagnosed with prostate cancer on election day and talks about his recovery.

Douglas Alexander, senior Labour politician and Secretary of State for Scotland, shares candid backstage stories from Blair/Brown days and reflects on Scotland’s political shift. He explains why Labour faltered in Holyrood, the fall of Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham’s fresh energy. Expect lively anecdotes, reflections on devolution and governance, plus a surprising Greggs and tattie scone preference.

One of the SNP's top talents, Stephen Flynn is on hilarious form at the Edinburgh Festival.He opens up about his frustrations with Nicola Sturgeon's critique of the SNP campaign and exclusively reveals that he'd already resigned as SNP Leader in Westminster BEFORE the 2024 general election had been called. Stephen's got great stories about small talk with ex-Prime Ministers at the Cenotaph as well as his experiences from his summer travelling across the USA with the Tartan Army at the World Cup.It's clear to see why he's so highly regarded, especially as he had to overcome major health problems in his youth.This is a story of resilience, determination. And football. See the Political Party Live on Stage:18 August: Douglas Alexander (Edinburgh)20 August: Malcolm Offord (Edinburgh)9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London) GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.comMARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall9 LEICESTER Y Theatre12 SALFORD Lowry16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate21 EXETER Northcott Theatre24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre28 ALNWICK Playhouse29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall14 CHORLEY Theatre18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall26 NORWICH Playhouse27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre5 READING Concert Hall8 CARDIFF The Glee Club9 BATH Komedia10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLEOld Fire Station2 GLASGOW The Glee Club4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour politician, former party leader and now a minister and Lord. He talks about narrowly missing First Minister and the sting of that loss. He reflects on why Scottish Labour failed to break through and the tough call to tell Keir Starmer to resign. He outlines his new ministerial trade brief and urges unity ahead of the next Holyrood contest.

Simon McCoy, veteran news presenter famed for his BBC and Sky tenure, and later GB News, tells vivid broadcasting stories. He recalls on-air authenticity, a cancelled afternoon slot after senior intervention, culture shocks between newsrooms, and the chaos of 24-hour coverage. Conversational and candid, he reflects on Brexit reporting, GB News’ early struggles, and why he still loves news.