Politics Unpacked

Matt Chorley is joined by Iain Dale, Lolly Jones and Dominic Frisby to discuss tax, talk shows and nipple tassels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does a special adviser (spad) do? Where does power lie? How do you tell the boss to change the clothes or their poll ratings are tanking?Matt Chorley speaks to three former special advisers who have just left government. Paul Harrison was Theresa May's political press secretary, having previously been an adviser to Jeremy Hunt. Salma Shah was a special adviser to Sajid Javid at the home office, ministry of housing and department for business. James Johnson was the Downing Street pollster from 2016. All three left government last week, and lift the lid on the dark arts of spin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley was in the room for the announcement that Boris Johnson will be the new Tory leader, and gets instant reaction from Francis Elliott, The Times political editor, and sketchwriter Quentin Letts.PLUS columnist Matthew Parris on whether we get “good Boris or naughty Boris”, Lucy Fisher, Times defence correspondent, on the international crises waiting in the in-tray, and Red Box’s Esther Webber on who might be in Team Boris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A visit to the Queen, a speech in Downing Street, then what? In a special documentary Matt Chorley speaks to those who know what it is like to move into No10.Contributors include Tony Blair, the former prime minister; Anji Hunter, Blair’s former gatekeeper; Gus O’Donnell, the cabinet secretary to Blair, Brown and Cameron; Stewart Wood, foreign policy adviser to Brown;Gabby Bertin, press secretary to Cameron;and Katie Perrior, May’s director of communications.For more, read Matt Chorley’s feature in The Times Magazine or at thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As May leaves No10, Matt Chorley asks Alice Thomson, Daniel Finkelstein and Anne Ashworth if her injustices are still burning.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After going running with Jeremy Hunt last month, Matt Chorley wants to know how Boris Johnson exercises, his plans for Brexit and his other policies.*Rory Bremner helps provide the answers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by David Aaronovitch and Hugo Rifkind to discuss who are the members pulling the strings in the Labour and Tory parties.Plus Catherine Philp, The Times’ diplomatic correspondent, on what on Earth is going on in the White House. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this transatlantic special to Mark Independence Day, Matt Chorley is joined on the line from DC by David Charter, The Times US editor, who tries to explain the method in the Trump madness.Boer Deng, Washington correspondent, on the ones to watch in the Democratic race to take on the Republican President.And Ben Hoyle, US West Coast bureau chief, on America’s confused experiment with drugs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Alice Thomson, Eleni Courea and Steven Swinford to debate why Lib Dems need more scrutiny. PLUS how to beat Boris and MPs' maternity pay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Theresa May, Lorraine Kelly and many more thanks to impressionists Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.