

Politics Unpacked
Times Radio
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times.You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at http://www.thetimes.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 25, 2019 • 35min
Walking out with Ian Austin
Matt Chorley takes another stroll, this time with the former Labour MP on why he quit, looking his dad in the eye, and his fears for his old party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 20, 2019 • 24min
Soubry: Unplugged
Outrageous, outspoken and out of the Tory party, Anna Soubry speaks to Matt Chorley about why she quit, who tried to persuade her to stay and what happens next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 19, 2019 • 33min
Labour splits: what now?
Matt Chorley speaks to two MPs who quit the party, plus Ayesha Hazarika on the threat to Labour and Ash Sarkar on how Corbyn should respond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 12, 2019 • 32min
Conspiracies, constituencies and cake
Marking three years of the Red Box politics podcast from The Times, Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist David Aaronovitch who reveals he is close to quitting Labour over antisemitism; Red Box reporter Esther Webber worries about how one man is blocking backbench laws in the Commons; and YouGov's Anthony Wells explains the firms latest modelling which predicts another hung parliament if we have a snap election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 5, 2019 • 34min
Is Theresa May to blame for everything?
PLUS: Is a general election insane, and how much did Times reporters drink in the 1980s?Matt Chorley is joined by Sam Coates, The Times deputy political editor, who says the prime minister is the root of all our problems.Times columnist Daniel Finkelstein warns a planned election is mad, but it is worth planning for an accidental one.And as Frances Gibb prepares to retire after four decades covering the law for The Times, she describes what has got better (and worse) in justice and journalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 29, 2019 • 42min
Who is really ahead in the polls?
Who is really ahead in the polls? Is support building for a second referendum? Would Leave or Remain win? And is Labour really trailing the Tories? Matt Chorley is joined by polling guru Sir John Curtice and Deborah Mattinson, Gordon Brown's former pollster and founder of Britain Thinks. PLUS: Do you feel politically homeless? Jane Merrick describes quitting Labour and Nick Mazzei explains why he quit the Tories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 22, 2019 • 45min
Five other things to worry about
Nevermind Brexit, there are plenty of other crises to keep us awake at night.Matt Chorley is joined by a bumper panel of Times reporters and columnists to discuss the issues not being discussed enough.Columnist Rachel Sylvester is worried about poverty; Lucy Fisher, the defence correspondent, is worried about Nato; Graeme Paton, the transport correspondent, is worried about the railways; Chris Smyth, health editor, is worried about almost all of the NHS, and columnist Kenny Farquharson is worried about SNP infighting.Subscribe to the Red Box politics morning email at thetimes.co.uk/redbox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 16, 2019 • 39min
A historic defeat. Now what?
Matt Chorley is joined by The Times' Daniel Finkelstein, Iain Martin, Esther Webber, Hugo Rifkind and Henry Zeffman in the corridors of power, and asks MPs including Boris Johnson, Mary Creagh and James Cleverly what happens now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 8, 2019 • 43min
Making a drama out of Brexit
Matt Chorley is joined by award-winning playwright James Graham, who explains how and why he created Channel 4’s Brexit: The Uncivil War, and why he hopes drama can be a catharsis.Kieran Hodgson is a comedian and actor but also a self-confessed political history nerd and his latest show, '75 indulges his fascination for the lively world of 1970s politics, in particular the dramatic story of how the UK joined Europe in the first place.And Nikki da Costa, who until November was Theresa May’s director of legislative affairs in No 10, explains how the Brexit plot will play out over the next few months. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 1, 2019 • 30min
What will happen in 2019?
Matt Chorley asks Tim Shipman, political editor of The Sunday Times, Esther Webber, the Red Box reporter, and Katie Perrior, Theresa May's former director of communications to gaze into their crystal balls and predict what this year might hold in store in British politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


