Politics Unpacked

20 years since Robin Cook's "chicken tikka masala" speech, Matt Chorley is joined by food historians Dr Rachel Rich from Leeds Beckett University and Dr Lisa Smith from University of Essex for a trip down memory lane, from John Gummer’s burger and David Cameron’s pasty, to Liz Truss’s cheese and Ed Miliband’s bacon sandwich.PLUS: Libberachi - Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester give their take on the news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is standing down later this year, and her party, the Christian Democratic Union, are choosing her successor. Matt Chorley speaks to CDU MEP David McAllister, former Conservative Europe Minister David Lidigton and journalist Katrin Pribyl about the candidates and what it will mean for Germany's relationship with Britain. PLUSColumnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss lobbying and contrarianism.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action to explain what's going on at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUSColumnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss lobbying and supporting women in the workplace.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An inquiry into the government's handling of Coronavirus seems inevitable; Matt Chorley is joined by the chair of the inquiry into Bloody Sunday Lord Saville and expert inquiry lawyer Peter Jones to discuss in the ins and outs of holding an inquiry, and how long the one into Covid might take. PLUSTimes Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch remember Shirley Williams.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pubs are back open in England and Matt Chorley is live from the Ship Tavern in London, where he speaks to landlords from across the country including Tim Martin from Wetherspoons, Jack Stein and [insert names of other landlords here from script].PLUSTimes columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the day’s news.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones speaks to Sir Alan Duncan on his new memoir In The Thick Of It about life as an MP and foreign minister. Plus our columnists India Knight and James Marriott on Astrazeneca vaccine confidence and their favourite diary entries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley and he speaks to the UK's National Statistician Professor Sir Ian Diamond on why data is key. Plus Robert Crampton and Rosamund Urwin on vaccine passports and female billionaires. And the incredible life of Dr Ike McKinnon, the former Detroit Police chief on the Chauvin trial. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones speaks t Lord Heseltine and Akash Paun from the Institute Government on the power of mayors and devolution.Plus Danny Finklestein and David Aaronovitch on Boris Johnsons roadmap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Jones speaks to; Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Prison Reform, former prisoner Andrew Morris and the national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association Mark Fairhurst on how prisons have been during the pandemic.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester give their take on the day's news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final instalment of Prime Ministers Week, Matt Chorley looks to the future, and convenes the Times Radio focus group to find out swing voters in Red Wall seats think of Keir Starmer's chances of becoming PM. PLUS:Times columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss the day's news, and the war on human nature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.