Politics Unpacked

In a Westminster special, Matt Chorley is joined by Stewart McDonald MP, former Labour Party advisor Ayesha Hazarika and political sketch-writer and diarist for The Times, Patrick Kidd. The panel answer questions from the public about working and living in Westminster. Plus additional contributions from Deputy Politics Editor Sam Coates and Business writer Callum Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Times Deputy Editor Emma Tucker, Chief Leader writer Giles Whittell and columnist Phil Collins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by columnist David Aaronovitch, Business reporter Callum Jones and Red Box writer Hannah McGrath.David Aaronovitch:The BMA say the strike is the government's fault and the government says it's the BMA's. As in the bad old days the sides - an particularly the doctors - have become polarised beyond the reach of reason. From having been a question of how to staff hospitals properly at weekends the dispute is now being framed as an existential one about the very future of the NHS. Of course people like doctors more than politicians - this is the bully point which has always aided the BMA. But an all-out strike makes patients wonder whose side the doctors are on. That's not something doctors should take lightly. Callum Jones:Having come under heavy fire for its confused response in the days after Tata Steel's decision to leave the UK, the government yesterday picked up its game in the hours after BHS collapsed into administration. As the EU referendum debate twists and turns each... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Matt Chorley is joined by ex-Blair spin doctor John McTernan, former Home Office advisor Fiona Hill and Red Box columnist Matt Smith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Jenni Russell who thinks we've missed the point on the Panama Papers, deputy political editor Sam Coates who warns we don't understand how Westminster works and Times political editor Francis Elliott who explains why Number 10 is banking on Jeremy Corbyn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by a "denial" of Spin Doctors. Ayesha Hazarika - who had the unenviable task of trying to make Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman sound funny. Katie Perrior - whose PR magic helped get Boris Johnson into City Hall. Sean Kemp - who knows more about Nick Clegg and the inner workings of the Lib Dems than is healthy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by columnist Rachel Sylvester on the fall out from Iain Duncan Smith's resignation, politics professor Matthew Goodwin on the EU referendum and columnist Hugo Rifkind on the boat on everyone's lips, 'Boaty McBoatface'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Senior Political Correspondent Lucy Fisher, European Football Writer (and fellow Times podcast presenter) Gabriele Marcotti, plus Property Editor and Assistant Editor of The Times Anne Ashworth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Deputy Editor of The Times, Emma Tucker, who examines the latest attempt to deal with the migrant crisis, columnist Daniel Finkelstein who says Junior Doctors must face realities and columnist Matthew Parris on the legacy of the recently deceased Nancy Reagan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Political sketch-writer and diarist Patrick Kidd, columnist Jenni Russell and Assistant Editor of The Spectator, Isabel Hardman. Patrick Kidd:Marco Rubio is a big-eared sweaty robot with a water addiction, while Donald Trump is a stubby-fingered orange-faced pants-wetter with a dodgy hairdo. Meanwhile David Cameron makes "yer mum" jokes at Jeremy Corbyn, while Labour MPs still make piggy noises at the Prime Minister. Do playground insults demean politics or are they what's needed to get Joe Public interested?Jenni RussellIn the last few days I've been struck by the number of people I've come across who say they want to understand the consequences of leaving or staying in Europe before they decide which way to vote. But those facts are hard to come by. There are plenty of grand assertions on both sides but their truth is hard to judge. The referendum will be won by the side that can make a complex question sound clear and plausible. Neither has managed that yet.Isabel... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.