Politics Unpacked

Former head of the Foreign Office Simon McDonald tells Matt civil servants were scared to go into Dominic Raab's office.As well as claims about the minister's behaviour, he also discusses his long diplomatic career working with six foreign secretaries and five prime ministers, answers the charge that the civil service opposed Brexit, and talks about his part in the downfall of Boris Johnson.Plus columnists Danny Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss how ministers should treat officials, and the failure of Trump-supporting candidates to win in the US midterm elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As many Ukrainian refugees come to the end of their initial six-month stay in the UK, Matt looks at what lies in store for those who came here fleeing from war.He speaks to Ukrainians Svetlana and Olga, hosts Caroline and Sarah, and the former minister for refugees Lord Harrington.Columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss a new deal with France to stop small boats crossing the channel, stealth taxes and whether children should sing in school.Plus the nation's best-loved fox, Basil Brush, explains what he would do if he ruled world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dick Taverne entered parliament in 1962, and rubbed shoulders with some of the political giants of the 20th century. He was a minister in Harold Wilson’s government, and worked with Roy Jenkins to legalise homosexuality and introduce decimalisation. He even campaigned for remain on a bus with Liz Truss.Plus columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on Kwasi Kwarteng's non-apology over the mini-budget, the end of the age of secrecy in Westminster and the return of Big Ben's bongs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He was the 'Sultan of Swing' - the inventor of the swingometer and the father of modern election science.Matt reflects on the career of psephologist Sir David Butler with his biographer and friend Michael Crick, professor Jane Green and election night legends Jeremy Vine, Peter Snow and David Dimbleby.Plus columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether nurses should ever go on strike, why older people are the new radicals, and whether prime ministers should take an oath of office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman pause the action in the Commons, analysing the key exchanges as Sir Keir Starmer questions Rishi Sunak about the allegations of bullying against Gavin WilliamsonPLUS: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss whether they would take a peerage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock, who says ID cards should be "on the table" to help control our borders. Plus columnists Danny Finkelstein and Jane Merrick on Boris Johnson's peerages, claims of bullying by Gavin Williamson, and have plans for a new royal yacht finally been sunk? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt talks to Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross about facing Nicola Sturgeon in Holyrood, and accusations that he is guilty of "flip-flopping".Plus, Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on the UK as an immigrant melting pot, and whether Jeremy Hunt was right to spend £110 on a haircut. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Johnson from J.L. Partners joins Matt Chorley to discuss what a focus group of undecided voters in key electoral seats think of new prime minister Rishi Sunak.PLUS: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid on the government's ambitions, Trump and the joys of reading a newspaper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt is joined by Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer to react to a big rise in interest rates, before speaking to the 'Forrest Gump' of The Times - Michael Binyon reflects on 50 years as a foreign and diplomatic correspondent with a ringside seat at some of history's most significant moments.Plus James Marriott and Manveen Rana discuss the return of immigration to the centre of the national conversation, and ask whether social media echo chambers might not be so bad after all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire pause the action in the Commons, analysing the key exchanges as Sir Keir Starmer questions Rishi Sunak about the state of the immigration and asylum system. PLUS: Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton on Matt Hancock entering the 'I'm a Celebrity' jungle, the price of tea and tinned fish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.