The Political Party

Six weeks ago the Education Select Committee published a report on calculated grades. That report raised serious concerns about disadvantaged pupils having their grades downgraded. The committee's chair, Robert Halfon, takes us through their findings and expresses his frustration with a system which they knew was clearly flawed. Matt and Robert also discuss other areas of the committee's work, Robert's passion for tackling disadvantage and his desire to see the Conservative Party change its logo to something else... Pre-order a signed copy of Matt's book 'Politically Homeless' here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/2100000262618 Read the Select Committee Report which saw it all coming here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/1834/documents/17976/default/ Follow Robert on Twitter here: @halfon4harlowMP Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Browder tells the story behind the Magnitsky Act that he successfully lobbied governments around the world to introduce. Sergei Magnitsky was Bill's lawyer and was tortured and murdered by the Russian authorities. Bill explains how he went from running the largest foreign portfolio investment fund in Russia to having the company taken over by criminals, getting deported, being found guilty of tax fraud in his absence and having Interpol arrest warrants issued for him. This is an astonishing, heartbreaking and inspiring conversation with someone who has direct personal experience of how corrupt the Russian state is. Pre-order a signed copy of Matt's book 'Politically Homeless' here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/2100000262618 Buy Bill's book 'Red Notice' here: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0593072952?pf_rd_r=HQDA77SBPBR8S9ZD7R6P&pf_rd_p=e632fea2-678f-4848-9a97-bcecda59cb4e Follow Bill on Twitter here: @Billbrowder Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get ready for the best briefing on the Russia Report you'll hear. Tom is back to explain the findings of the report and the context behind it. An expert on Russia and its relationship with the UK, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee gives his top-level insight into the issues around our handling of Russian interference and why the Russian government behaves the way it does. Pre-order a signed copy of Matt's book 'Politically Homeless' here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/2100000262618 Read the Russia Report here: https://docs.google.com/a/independent.gov.uk/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=aW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuZ292LnVrfGlzY3xneDo1Y2RhMGEyN2Y3NjM0OWFl Follow Tom on Twitter here: @TomTugendhat Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second of two Lib Dem Leadership Specials, Ed Davey delivers his leadership pitch and reflects on his time in government. He gives an impassioned critique of the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, especially on care home deaths. Ed also underlines his own liberal philosophy and how it would apply to future public health challenges. Follow Ed on Twitter here: @EdwardJDavey Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde Email the show: politicalpartypodcast@gmail.com For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of two Lib Dem Leadership Specials featuring each candidate, Layla Moran explains how the party can move on from the shock of the last few years and force itself into the national conversation. How do the Lib Dems win back the trust of their former voters? Where does the party position itself in a post-Corbyn world? What do Lib Dem members want the party to do? What's it like running for the leadership during lockdown? Oh and a bit of personal stuff... Follow Layla on Twitter here: @LaylaMoran Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barack Obama's former Deputy Labor Secretary takes us inside the administration with brilliant insights about both Barack Obama and Joe Biden - their personalities and their leadership styles. Seth explains what being on a transition team for in incoming President actually involves and shares some great stories about his time on both the Bill Clinton and Barack Obama transition teams. Looking ahead to the election the pair discuss how clean it will be and how much outside interference we can expect. How far will Trump go to win? Follow Seth on Twitter here: @MrSethHarris Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus *** IMPORTANT TOUR UPDATE *** NEW REARRANGED DATES INCLUDE: 2 October - Corby Cube 4 October - Brighton Komedia 9 October - Chorley Little Theatre 18 October - Leeds Hyde Park Book Club 25 October - Newcastle Stand 3 November - Camberley Theatre 13 November - Alnwick Playhouse 15 November - York Crescent 19 November - Cardiff Sherman Theatre 29 November - Glasgow Stand 3 December - Southend Dixon Studio 6 December - Sheffield Leadmill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The importance of free speech - and the limits of it - have again been the subject of contentious debate. Ruth Smeeth is the new Chief Executive of the Index on Censorship, an organisation which champions freedom of expression. Her timely appointment follows her 4 years as the Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North. Ruth reflects on her experience as a Jewish woman in Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party and delivers her analysis on how Labour can win places like Stoke back. Follow Ruth on Twitter here: @RuthSmeeth Follow Index on Censorship here: @IndexCensorship Sign up to the Index on Censorship mailing list here: https://www.indexoncensorship.org/ Donate to Black Lives Matter here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus *** IMPORTANT TOUR UPDATE *** NEW REARRANGED DATES INCLUDE: 2 October - Corby Cube 4 October - Brighton Komedia 9 October - Chorley Little Theatre 18 October - Leeds Hyde Park Book Club 25 October - Newcastle Stand 3 November - Camberley Theatre 13 November - Alnwick Playhouse 15 November - York Crescent 19 November - Cardiff Sherman Theatre 29 November - Glasgow Stand 3 December - Southend Dixon Studio 6 December - Sheffield Leadmill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you want to feel better about the world, you've come to the right place. The energetic Shadow Justice Secretary (and Shadow Lord Chancellor) talks movingly about the power of identity and tribes. In the middle of this distressing and emotional time, David Lammy helps us make sense of it with an inspiring generosity of spirit and sharp political advice. It's a classic. Follow David on Twitter here: @DavidLammy Buy David's latest book 'Tribes' here: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Tribes-David-Lammy/dp/1472128737/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=david+lammy&qid=1591784162&sr=8-1 Donate to Black Lives Matter here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus *** IMPORTANT TOUR UPDATE *** NEW REARRANGED DATES INCLUDE: 2 October - Corby Cube 4 October - Brighton Komedia 9 October - Chorley Little Theatre 18 October - Leeds Hyde Park Book Club 25 October - Newcastle Stand 3 November - Camberley Theatre 13 November - Alnwick Playhouse 15 November - York Crescent 19 November - Cardiff Sherman Theatre 29 November - Glasgow Stand 3 December - Southend Dixon Studio 6 December - Sheffield Leadmill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The SNP's Home Affairs Spokeperson is also a QC and was central to bringing the case against the government to the Supreme Court, which ruled the Prime Minister had unlawfully prorogued Parliament. Joanna shares the story behind the case as well as discussing the need for internal debate in political parties and what the future prospectus for an independent Scotland should be and how it should be decided. Follow Mark on Twitter here: @joannaccherry Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde For the latest Scottish Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus *** IMPORTANT TOUR UPDATE *** NEW REARRANGED DATES INCLUDE: 2 October - Corby Cube 4 October - Brighton Komedia 9 October - Chorley Little Theatre 18 October - Leeds Hyde Park Book Club 25 October - Newcastle Stand 3 November - Camberley Theatre 13 November - Alnwick Playhouse 15 November - York Crescent 19 November - Cardiff Sherman Theatre 29 November - Glasgow Stand 3 December - Southend Dixon Studio 6 December - Sheffield Leadmill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our foremost political playwright and screenwriter joins Matt for a brilliant discussion about creating theatre and film out of politics. Do his shows reflect his own politics? Does he try to be balanced? Why, in This House, choose to write a play about a minority government and the challenges it faced? It's also a discussion about the role of James' background on his art and why growing up in a Nottinghamshire coal mining community shaped the things that he values in politics. Oh, and a bit about having Benedict Cumberbatch play Dominic Cummings... Follow James on Twitter here: @mrJamesGraham Watch 'This House' for free on the National Theatre's YouTube channel from 7pm on Thursday 28 May: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDq1XzCY0NIOYVJvEMQjqw Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde For the latest UK Government advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus *** IMPORTANT TOUR UPDATE *** NEW REARRANGED DATES INCLUDE: 2 October - Corby Cube 4 October - Brighton Komedia 9 October - Chorley Little Theatre 18 October - Leeds Hyde Park Book Club 25 October - Newcastle Stand 3 November - Camberley Theatre 13 November - Alnwick Playhouse 15 November - York Crescent 19 November - Cardiff Sherman Theatre 29 November - Glasgow Stand 3 December - Southend Dixon Studio 6 December - Sheffield Leadmill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.