Politics Unpacked

Lessons in a landslide: 20 years after New LabourA Red Box podcast series of interviews with all of the key players in the 1997 campaign, and their fears for the future of the party.In this episode: Anji Hunter, Blair's gatekeeper, on watching New Labour being born, surviving in a team of "pushy" blokes, and relations with "tetchy" Cherie.Additional clips: Sky News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley previews an exclusive series detailing Labour's historic landslide victory in 1997. The series features interviews with all the key players, including Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, Anji Hunter, Margaret McDonagh and Peter Mandelson for insights on the campaign, early government days and reflections on the current Labour party. The Times political team from 1997 reassemble to tell you the stories they couldn't report at the time. All six episodes are available from Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Matt Chorley is joined by Jenni Russell, Anthony Wells and Hamish Macdonell.On the agenda: hear how pollsters have changed their methodology after poor accuracy in recent years, why the Scottish political map should shift yet again with the Tories benefitting, and why Jenni is feeling depressed by an election for the first time in her life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Theresa May stuns Westminster by calling a snap election Lucy Fisher sits in for Matt Chorley and is joined by Sam Coates and Henry Zeffman to discuss the repercussions.The panel consider May's hit to her trustworthy image, her motivations for calling the election now and how large her majority must be for this to be considered a success? Whether a heavy election loss for Labour would really signal the end for Jeremy Corbyn, and why the Lib Dems will be delighted to fight a 'Brexit Election' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final Red Box Politics and Comedy Special Matt Chorley is joined by a Ayesha Hazarika, James McGrory and Daniel Finkelstein to discuss what it's like writing jokes for politicians. They discuss their best and worst efforts before debating what's required to make famous political names appear funny and the potential problems when it goes wrong.Also covered, how Nick Clegg can strangle any joke, why Ed Milliband shudders at Hush Puppies and why William Hague might have been better suited to comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded in a busy Portcullis House, Matt Chorley sits down with comedian Al Murray to discuss how he invented the pub landlord character, what it was like standing against Nigel Farage in the 2015 general election and what he learned about the life of a politician. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Andy Zaltzman, Tiff Stevenson and Hugo Rifkind to debate whether the current times are too serious for comedy. Also discussed are the fundamentals of the art, if certain subjects are taboo, whether acts needs a message behind the punchlines and whether Donald Trump can truly be parodied? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of a four-part series focusing on politics and comedy, Matt Chorley sits down with Rory Bremner to discuss his thirty year career, the lack of political satire on British television, how he formulates his impressions and why deep down he has a core respect for politicians. Check back tomorrow when Matt speaks to Andy Zaltzman and Tiff Stevenson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the agenda: how Trump's survival will hinge on tax cuts, deficit spending and domestic deregulation, how the new liberal backlash against the populist surge will see the Lib Dems benefit, and what Theresa May's Vogue interview tells us about her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the podcast Matt Chorley is joined by Catherine Philp, Sam Coates and Oliver Kamm. This week, the panel tries to make sense of Michael Howard's Gibraltar comments and the resulting firestorm, there's debate over the prime minister's 'counterproductive' tour of the Middle East to drum up interest in trade deals and Sam can't understand ministers sheepishly pretending they're not really announcing anything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.