Politics Unpacked

The Times
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Aug 26, 2025 • 31min

Farage's Bold Asylum Seeker Plan

Reform UK has unveiled its proposal to tackle the small boat crisis - from mass deportations, to detention camps on disused airfields, to replacing the ECHR. As public anger over asylum hotels reaches fever-pitch, will Nigel Farage's strategy pay off?Hugo Rifkind is joined by James Marriott and Libby Purves to unpack the politics of the day.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 25, 2025 • 36min

Can Starmer Solve The Asylum Crisis?

YouGov polling for The Times suggests that seven in ten voters think Keir Starmer is doing a bad job at handling the issue of asylum hotels. Does he need to get more radical?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Patrick Kidd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 22, 2025 • 33min

Pressure Grows Over Immigration

There'll be a fresh wave of protests against asylum hotels across the country this weekend, as more councils call for illegal immigrants to be housed elsewhere - but can Labour fix this "mess"? Or will unrest continue to grow? Ed Vaizey is joined by Thangam Debbonaire and Robin Brant to unpack the politics of the day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 21, 2025 • 37min

Why Are There So Many Asylum Seekers In Hotels?

A record 111,000 people claimed asylum in the UK during Keir Starmer's first year in office - and the number in hotels rose by 8%. How did we get here and what is Britain's moral responsibility to migrants?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 20, 2025 • 35min

Asylum Policy In Crisis

The government's asylum accommodation scheme is in turmoil - after the High Court ruled migrants must be removed from an Epping Hotel. As other councils look set to follow suit, where will asylum seekers go now?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 18, 2025 • 31min

Oval Office Round Two

President Zelensky is returning to the White House - but this time he isn't alone. Seven European leaders, including Keir Starmer, have gone with him to help make sure Donald Trump is on side.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Sebastian Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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5 snips
Aug 15, 2025 • 32min

The Trump-Putin Summit

Donald Trump heads to Alaska today to meet Vladimir Putin and try to find a path to peace in Ukraine - but how likely is an end to the war?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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4 snips
Aug 14, 2025 • 33min

Trump's Plan For Peace

Russia and the US are understood to have agreed a "West Bank-style" occupation of Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin - but the plan may not appeal to Kyiv.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 13, 2025 • 34min

JD Vance's Unlikely BBQ

JD Vance's holiday to the cotswolds continues, where he's been meeting with Tories, breakfasting with Nigel Farage, and having a barbecue with a former Apprentice candidate who says 'Bosh' a lot. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 12, 2025 • 35min

Is Political Language Too Loose?

As the debate over legal and illegal migration continues, are politicians being too imprecise with the words they choose?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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