Politics Unpacked

It’s Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth, and Matt plays crazy golf with party leader Ed Davey. How many houses does he want to build, why won’t he talk about Brexit, and who will get a hole-in-one?Plus Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Miranda Green debate whether there's any point of the Lib Dems and whether Rishi Sunak is truly a long-term thinker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As party conference season kicks off, Matt speaks to those who have seen it all - from karaoke, to babysitting drunk ministers, to skinny dipping.Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the ballooning costs of HS2, Taylor Swift's political power, and ask what is the point of the Liberal Democrats? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History is written by (and often about) the winners, but the lives and careers of Britain's political losers can be just as telling. Leaders of the Opposition was a long-running feature on Matt's Times Radio show, and now author and historian Nigel Fletcher has written the book explaining what they can tell us about modern politics.Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott on Rishi Sunak's plans for a British baccalaureate, why we need more expertise in public debate, and how to stop yourself being digitally re-animated once you're dead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The British Social Attitudes Survey has been running for 40 years, and its latest findings show that we expect the state to do more than ever before. Matt is joined by Gillian Prior from the National Centre for Social Research to chart the journey from Thatcherite Britain to post-Covid big state spending.Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss whether Rishi Sunak's message on net zero will win over voters, and the King's surprisingly warm reception in France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Parliament in recess and no PMQs, Matt is joined by Patrick Maguire and Kate McCann to answer questions from the listeners on Rishi Sunak's net zero promises, political speeches and culture wars.Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the art of ageing well, taking a midlife gap year and Rishi Sunak’s love of Britney Spears... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we learn Labour's slogan for party conference season, Matt is joined by columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Jane Merrick to discuss the best and the worst - from 'build back better' to 'straight talking honest politics'.Plus: It's not just the UK dealing with the consequences of people leaving their home country for safety or economic security. How are other nations dealing with this rising tide of migration? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer may be ahead in the polls, but nearly half of voters say they still don't think he looks like a prime minister in waiting. Matt hears advice on how to look the part from experts from the worlds of fashion and photography, and Thatcher's biographer Charles Moore explains how the Iron Lady changed her voice.Plus Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Robert Colvile on what Russell Brand is like in person, why Robert is obsessed with a Labour Party video from 1997, and what has happened to the Conservative Party after 13 years in government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt is working from home today...a rare occasion for him but not for millions of people . Stanford economist and world leading expert in remote working Nick Bloom explains the impact changing work patterns will have on the railways, golf courses and why it could lead to a total rewiring of the state.Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether the 20s are better than the 60s, if they would get in a self-driving car, and Theresa May's cookbook collection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer says he'll tackle the problem of small boats crossing the channel with his plan to "smash the gangs". Will the policy work, can he park his tanks on the Tory lawn, and does anyone remember Labour's migration mugs?Plus Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss back seat driving by former prime ministers, peers blocking the government's housebuilding plan, and the weirdest political world records. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the last PMQs before the party conferences, with Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer trading blows over the government's string of recent woes and Starmer dubbing Sunak 'inaction man'. Matt, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit pause, unpack and analyse the action from Westminster.Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss what to do about the rising popularity of the drug Ketamine, whether Britons want to ban too many things, and the popularity of Dorset's Tank Museum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.