Politics Unpacked

The Times
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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