Politics Unpacked

Matt Chorley speaks to Labour grandee Margaret Beckett who has announced she is retiring after half a century in politics, going through her career decade by decade.PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott discuss the days news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and the Sunday Times Chief Political Commentator Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. PLUS: Manveen Rana and Robert Crampton discuss problems with the NHS and fast food job adverts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Tom Lubbock from Kekst CNC who has convened the latest Times Radio Focus Group to assess the situation in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and Partygate.PLUS Daniel Finkelstein and Oliver Kamm on Partygate fines and politicians discussing Will Smith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley reflects on nearly five years since the Manchester Arena bombing with the Northern Editor of the Sunday Times David Collins and Pete Weatherby QC, who represents seven of the families. Also, Times Radio's Phil Williams and Manchester Evening News' Helena Vesty on Manchester hospital admissions and the backlog plus what happened at the Oscars between Will Smith and Chris Rock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley charts the rise and fall of Sunday political TV shows with Sunday shows at 50. Last week we heard about the 21st century boom of political shows, this week we hear about how the axing of Breakfast with Frost paved the way for a new face of Sunday politics, Andrew Marr. Featuring the man himself, Barney Jones, William Hague, Peter Mandelson and more.. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is in Leeds to find out how the Spring Statement will affect the local area. James Smith from the Resolution Foundation, Henri Murison, Leeds City Council Leader James Lewis and Kayleigh Hignell. PLUS Rob Parsons & Victoria Finan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and The Times' Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the vicious backlash against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and hoarding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley explores why the number of fluent Russian speakers in the Foreign Office fell by a quarter in the years before the invasion of Ukraine.PLUS Daniel Finkelstein and Oliver Kamm discuss President Putin getting "an easy off-ramp" and Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Times Radio's new Chief Political Commentator Lucy Fisher about her top 5 things: an event, a trend, a person, a place and an issue - that could explain how the rest of the political year might play out.PLUS Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss P&O Ferries and the Government's Covid Inquiry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, he's learning about each Leader of the Opposition with Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies.Each month you'll find a collection of episodes on the podcast. This month it's John Spencer, Lord George Bentinck, Charles Manners, Marquess of Granby and John Charles Herries.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.