How To Win An Election
Times Radio Politics
The Times brings together some of the most experienced strategists in British politics to discuss what's really going on behind the big stories, and elections taking place here and around the world.Daniel Finkelstein, Sally Morgan and Polly Mackenzie join Hugo Rifkind for an intelligent, adversarial and witty conversation every week.Follow the podcast now to never miss an episode.Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: [email protected] Producer: Andrew Alexander Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 15, 2026 • 43min
How To Kick Extremists Out Of A Party
Daniel Finkelstein, Times columnist and Conservative peer; Polly Mackenzie, former adviser to Nick Clegg; and Sally Morgan, former senior Blair strategist, examine how parties can keep extremists and entryists at bay. They revisit Labour’s battle with Militant, the Greens’ transformation and the risks of purges. They also dissect Britain’s Ukraine strategy, private tech power in security, and the Liberal Democrats’ failed leadership coup.
Oct 8, 2026 • 40min
How Kemi Badenoch's Free-Market Revival Gives The Tories Hope
Daniel Finkelstein, Conservative peer and former adviser to Margaret Thatcher, Polly Mackenzie, ex-policy director to Nick Clegg, and Sally Morgan, former senior adviser to Tony Blair, examine Kemi Badenoch’s pitch to Middle England. They debate inheritance tax, Thatcher nostalgia, English identity and Reform voters. The panel also questions culture-war rhetoric and explores Polly’s practical government-reform project with Martin Lewis.
23 snips
Oct 1, 2026 • 41min
How Andy Burnham's Election Promises Could Backfire
Daniel Finkelstein, Times columnist and former Conservative adviser; Polly Mackenzie, ex-Clegg policy director; and Sally Morgan, former Blair adviser, debate Andy Burnham’s sweeping political vision. They explore the price of social care, pensions and water reform, Labour’s missing growth story, renewed arguments over Europe, electoral reform and whether ambitious promises could trigger an early election.
9 snips
Sep 28, 2026 • 26min
How Long Will Burnham's Labour Honeymoon Last?
Daniel Finkelstein, Times columnist and former Conservative strategist; Polly Mackenzie, Liberal Democrat policy expert; and Sally Morgan, former Blair adviser, assess Andy Burnham’s triumph at Labour conference. They examine his 94% party approval, the looming politics of social care and welfare reform, and John Healey’s warnings on spending. They also debate speechwriting, AI tells, authentic storytelling and the challenges Burnham must tackle next.
17 snips
Sep 24, 2026 • 42min
How A Hung Parliament Looks Inevitable
Guto Harri, British journalist and former Boris Johnson communications director, joins a lively discussion on YouGov’s shock hung-parliament forecast. The panel examines Labour, the Conservatives, Reform and tactical voting, plus the challenges of governing without a majority. They also debate Trump TV, Tony Blair’s media instincts, political charisma, Andy Burnham’s optimism and the craft of persuasive speeches.
14 snips
Sep 17, 2026 • 42min
How To Spend £72m
Daniel Finkelstein, Times columnist and former Conservative adviser; Polly Mackenzie, Liberal Democrat policy strategist; and Sally Morgan, former Labour adviser and Downing Street official, examine how political money shapes campaigns. They discuss Reform UK’s donor war chest, digital advertising loopholes, billionaire and union influence, and the Ecclestone and cash-for-honours scandals. They also debate the Liberal Democrats’ next identity beyond the “Gail’s” strategy.
21 snips
Sep 10, 2026 • 41min
How To Bribe An Election
Daniel Finkelstein, a Times columnist and Conservative strategist; Polly Mackenzie, a former senior adviser to Nick Clegg; and Sally Morgan, a former Downing Street Labour adviser, unpack the fine line between election bribes and persuasive tax cuts. They debate Andy Burnham on security and welfare, Labour’s sanctions on Israeli settlements, when sleaze finally hurts politicians, Reform’s image problem, and the case for standard airline luggage.
23 snips
Sep 3, 2026 • 40min
How Polanski's Gamble Is Make Or Break
Daniel Finkelstein, Conservative strategist and Times columnist; Polly Mackenzie, former senior adviser to Nick Clegg; and Sally Morgan, former senior Labour adviser, examine Zack Polanski’s risky Camden by-election bid. They debate Andy Burnham’s political appeal, devolution and the need for hard policy. Plus, Reform UK’s internal troubles, Nigel Farage’s commitment and the threat from Restore Britain.
16 snips
Aug 14, 2026 • 33min
How Clacton Wasn't The Victory Farage Needed
Sally Morgan, former Labour insider and strategist, and Daniel Finkelstein, Conservative peer and political columnist, dissect Nigel Farage's Clacton win. They debate what the result really signals for Reform and national politics. They then probe Farage's absence from the count, the party's internal struggles, and whether the outcome matters beyond local theatre.
12 snips
Jul 23, 2026 • 44min
How To Promise Everything And Pay For It Later
Daniel Finkelstein, Conservative peer and Times columnist, offers strategic and historical political analysis. Polly Mackenzie, policy specialist, focuses on public service reform and AI policy. Sally Morgan, Labour strategist, brings insider perspective on party operations. They debate Burnham’s flood of promises, how to pay for tax and service pledges, timing of reforms, and the political risks of pleasing everyone.
