Politics Unpacked

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Richard Fletcher, Philip Aldrick and Janice Turner for a Budget special, plus a look at George Osborne the Chancellor and the man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Matthew Parris and Hugo Rifkind. Jenni Russell:Is the icecap starting to break? For months the polls have been locked, with Labour and the Tories stuck on a third of the vote, and Labour remaining just slightly ahead. Labour has been hoping that the electorate will reject austerity; the Tories have been anxiously awaiting a reward for seeing the economy turning at last. Ashcroft's latest poll puts the Tories four points ahead; more importantly the Tories have led more of the last twenty polls than Labour have. Matthew Parris:Okay, I'll say it: I think there's a chance the Tories are just going to win outright. We are in the media have a habit of fighting the last battle and because the last election led to a coalition this has conditioned thinking about the next one. But Labour support may begin to ebb away: not least because the party has no stomach for this fight and people know it. Hugo Rifkind:Parts of England are developing a profound... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Rachel Sylvester and Philip Webster. The panel discuss how the major parties are confronting the issue of immigration ahead of the general election in May. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Lucy Fisher, Isabel Hardman and David Aaronovitch. Lucy Fisher:Yesterday a new “cash for access” scandal exploded, after MPs Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind were caught out offering their influence and political contacts in exchange for money. The revelation looks set to erode further voters’ faith in mainstream politics, which will benefit only Ukip and the Greens at the polls in May. The scandal has also sparked a row about MPs’ second jobs, on which many are now calling for an outright ban.Isabel Hardman:The Church of England is now locked into a face-off with the Conservative party. The Bishops probably didn’t mean to offend the Tories so much with their letter last week, but they did, partly by being so naive about complex issues such as defence and partly by being mealy-mouthed about the recovery. But the Tories also didn’t need to get so upset about what the Bishops wrote - if indeed they read it. It included a defence of markets and of the Big Society:... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Suzy Jagger, Lech Mintowt-Czyz and Philip Webster. The panel discuss:1. Focus on the Conservative Party's key weakness - being party of the rich. Are they in danger of being too punitive on welfare? 2. Focus on Labour's key weakness - their remoteness from business. Is it too late to correct?3. Key weakness of all of the parties - a complete disinterest in foreign policy. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Roger Boyes, Roland Watson and Anne Applebaum - the panel discuss the deteriorating situation in Eastern Ukraine. Should Ukraine be armed? Does Britain have any foreign policy at present?In addition, conservative commentator John O'Sullivan joins Tim direct from Sydney to talk about Tony Abbott's leadership in Australia. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Richard Fletcher, business editor, and Philip Aldrick, economics editor, as they discuss recent events in Davos and Greece. Plus, our political sketch writer, Ann Treneman, joins the president of YouGov, Peter Kellner, to discuss the state of UK politics.Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Sam Coates, Daniel Finkelstein and Anne Ashworth.The panel discuss David Cameron's employment manifesto pledge, the response of the Muslim Council of Britain to the letter from Eric Pickles plus the astounding response to the National Savings & Investment Pensioner Bonds. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Laura Pitel and Libby Purves. Generational difference on the Paris massacres, 'weaponising' the NHS and televised political debates.Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Matthew Parris and Rachel Sylvester. The panel discusses the forthcoming general election:All of the politicians say that this election matters more than any for a generation but they always do. But are they right this time?In terms of the minor parties, who has the potential to most affect the outcome of the next parliament: Ukip or the SNP?Who will be prime minister at the end of the year?Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.