

Politics Unpacked
The Times
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

Jul 22, 2025 • 33min
Reshuffles, Reform & JD Vance's Holiday
Kemi Badenoch is using the last day before the Commons recess to launch a reset of her leadership of the Conservative Party, while Nigel Farage is gearing up to spend his summer talking about crime. Plus: What will JD Vance get up to in the Cotswolds? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Sarah Ditum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 21, 2025 • 33min
Farage's Summer Of Crime
Reform UK's leader launches a six-week summer crime campaign, promising to deport criminals to prisons in El Salvador and halve crime overall. Could he deliver it?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Patrick Kidd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 18, 2025 • 32min
Afghan Data Leak: "Cock-up Or Conspiracy"?
As more revelations about the Afghan data leak continue to come out, who will take the blame? And is an urgent inquiry needed to unpack the failings? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 17, 2025 • 32min
Persistent Knobheadery
Keir Starmer has suspended four of his MPs over repeated breaches of party discipline, or as one party source described it to the Times, “persistent knobheadery”. Was this a ruthless or desperate move from Starmer?Patrick Maguire unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 16, 2025 • 42min
PMQs: Don't Mention The Data Leak
Keir Starmer said Conservative ex-ministers have serious questions to answer over the Afghanistan data leak at the start of Prime Minister's Questions. But after that, no one seemed to want to mention it.Patrick Maguire unpacks the action with Sunday Times Whitehall Editor Gabriel Pogrund and former Conservative cabinet minister Sir David Lidington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 15, 2025 • 29min
Melania, Billionaires And The Power Of Pessimism
Patrick Maguire is unpacking the politics of the day, asking James Marriott and Libby Purves whether Melania Trump changed the US president's mind over Putin, whether we should mourn the departure of billionaires, and why pessimism can be a force for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 14, 2025 • 36min
Tax Rises: The Question Of The Summer
What is a "working person" and who is on a "modest income"? Government ministers are pressed to say who could face higher taxes, as expectation mounts that the chancellor will have to act in the Autumn.Patrick Maguire unpacks the politics of the day with The Times' Seb Payne and Carol Lewis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 11, 2025 • 30min
Sick Note Britain?
GPs are being told to stop handing out so many sick notes as part of the government's efforts to get more people back to work. And why are women turning to Reform?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 10, 2025 • 32min
"Washed-up Tories" Defecting to Reform
Former Conservative Chairman Jake Berry is the second ex-Tory minister to defect to Reform this week, but is this working in Nigel Farage's favour?Hugo Rifkind is joined by Tim Montgomerie and Zoe Strimpel to unpack the politics of the day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 9, 2025 • 39min
PMQs: 'Flirting' With A Wealth Tax
Keir Starmer reiterated his tax pledges at PMQs as Kemi Badenoch accused him of 'flirting' with a wealth tax. Hugo Rifkind pauses and unpacks the exchanges from the Commons with Patrick Maguire and Jon Harvey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


