Shows / Politics Unpacked
Politics Unpacked
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/
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Episodes
Politics UnpackedPenny Mordaunt: How To Carry A Sword
Matt talks to Lord President of the Privy Council Penny Mordaunt about her role in the Coronation, where she'll carry the four-foot sword of state in the…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: They're Going To Need a Bigger Note
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer trade blows over housing and the infamous 'no money left' note at the last Prime Minister's Questions before the local elections…
- Politics Unpacked
The Swing Voters Who’ll Decide The Next Election
This week millions of voters will go to the polls as more than 8,000 council seats in England are contested in the local elections – the most significant gauge…
- Politics Unpacked
Rock Against Racism
45 years ago, tens of thousands of people marched through London for the Rock Against Racism concert featuring some of the biggest names in music at the time…
- Politics Unpacked
Focus Group: He's A Snake
Undecided voters in Scotland who previously backed the SNP give their verdict in the Times Radio Focus Group. Humza Yousaf is 'unremarkable', but which party…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Zippy and George
While Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash over the cost of living, Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman pause and unpack the exchanges - and do a passable impression of…
- Politics Unpacked
Corbyn Won In 2017. No He Didn't.
Matt talks to American academic and author Noam Chomsky about the conflict in Ukraine, the end of the world - and who won the 2017 general election. Plus…
- Politics Unpacked
Sir Softy or Keir Hard-y
Keir Starmer keeps talking about his record as Director of Public Prosecutions, arguing it shows he was tough on crime - but the Conservatives think it proves…
- Politics Unpacked
Are You Having a Laugh?
Which party's supporters can take a joke, and which have a sense of humour failure? Matt looks at the league table of humourlessness with Private Eye editor…
- Politics Unpacked
Testing The Schools Minister
Nick Gibb is one of Britain's longest-serving ministers, in office (almost) continuously since the Conservatives came to power in 2010. Matt quizzes him about…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Arise, Sir Softy
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer trade personal attacks over crime at Prime Minister's Questions, as Sunak dubs Starmer 'Sir Softy'. Matt is joined by Tim Shipman…
- Politics Unpacked
Is Rishi Too Rich?
Matt is joined by Daniel Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman to discuss whether Rishi Sunak's wealth is a problem after it was revealed he's being investigated by…
- Politics Unpacked
The Reagan Question
In the 1980 presidential election, Ronald Reagan asked "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" With the economy likely to define the next general…
- Politics Unpacked
The Death of TV Satire?
With Have I Got News For You one of the last satirical comedy shows still standing, Patrick Maguire asks why satire on our screens seems to be dying a slow…
- Politics Unpacked
When to Hold a General Election
When it comes to holding a general election, timing is everything. With Rishi Sunak reportedly hoping to pull off a surprise win late in 2024, Patrick Maguire…
- Politics Unpacked
Difficult Days For Humza Yousaf
Is Humza Yousaf done before he even gets started? Patrick Maguire looks at the SNP leader's chances after two weeks in office and a series of revelations about…
- Politics Unpacked
Does Negative Campaigning Work?
Patrick Maguire discusses political advertising - does going negative deliver, or do we all suffer when the parties get down in the gutter? He speaks to Steve…
- Politics Unpacked
Good Friday Agreement 25 Years On: Inside the Negotiations
Carole Walker, sitting in for Matt Chorley, speaks to key figures that drafted the deal including Mark Durkan, assistant to SDLP leader John Hume, and Irish…
- Politics Unpacked
Focus Group: Hugh Grant vs. Desperate Dan
Matt is joined by James Johnson of JL Partners who leads a panel of undecided voters giving their verdict on the government, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. Find…
- Politics Unpacked
The Battle for Waterlooville
Suella Braverman faces losing her seat in a reselection battle with Flick Drummond. Matt speaks to journalist Michael Crick and local councillors Caroline…
- Politics Unpacked
Killing Thatcher
Matt revisits the last night of the Conservative party conference in 1984 when the IRA bombed the Grand Hotel in Brighton in an attempt to kill Margaret…
- Politics Unpacked
Clever Things to Say About Polling
Matt shares the five things you need to know about British politics right now by looking at what's happening behind the headline polls with opinion experts…
- Politics Unpacked
The Day The Times Was Bombed
From the first camera to take aerial pictures over Everest to documents from the day the paper's offices were bombed during World War Two, the Times archives…
- Politics Unpacked
VAT's Life
It's 50 years since Value Added Tax was introduced, and it's been a political football ever since. Matt discusses Jaffa Cakes, the pasty tax and the…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Thugs and Scum
It's Deputy Prime Minister's questions with Dominic Raab and Angela Rayner standing in for Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. Matt, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit…
- Politics Unpacked
'Putin of The Labour Party'
As Jeremy Corbyn is barred from standing as a Labour MP, Momentum founder Jon Lansman accuses Keir Starmer of behaving like 'Putin of the Labour Party'. Matt…
- Politics Unpacked
Oh, Doctor Beeching!
On this day 60 years ago Dr Richard Beeching wielded the axe, closing thousands of miles of railway and thousands of stations. Matt talks to the music mogul…
- Politics Unpacked
Secrets of the Red Box
Matt Chorley delves into the history of the iconic Red Box, the symbol of power given to every cabinet minister and prime minister. We find out what's in them…
- Politics Unpacked
Focus Group: Tories Turning the Tide?
Swing voters from across England say they prefer Rishi Sunak to Keir Starmer as prime minister in the latest Times Radio Focus Group. Matt is joined by James…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Get Out of Westminster
Matt is joined by Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. Rishi Sunak claims Labour is 'soft on crime…
- Politics Unpacked
Food Fight
Matt speaks to Leon co-founder Henry Dimbleby, who has just resigned as the government's 'food tsar'. He explains why he's quit, what's wrong with our supply…
- Politics Unpacked
D-Day for Boris Johnson
Will the inquiry into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over Partygate finish his political career - or open the door for his return? Matt is joined by…
- Politics Unpacked
David Owen: Labour, Limehouse and “hubris syndrome”
David Owen became foreign secretary aged just 38, before going on to break away from Labour as one of the ‘Gang of Four’ and lead the SDP. He talks to Matt…
- Politics Unpacked
Get Off The Golf Course
Matt looks at the government's new plan to get seven million adults back into a job. He speaks to Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, who says he's not…
- Politics Unpacked
We're Going On A Jeremy Hunt
It's Budget day, and we've been on a Jeremy Hunt - talking to people around the country called Jeremy who all look after the finances of a local club, society…
- Politics Unpacked
3 Dads Walking
Matt is joined by three men whose daughters took their own lives to talk about their campaign for suicide prevention to become part of the school curriculum…
- Politics Unpacked
Chorley's Budget Airline
Ahead of this week's budget Matt jets around the G7 to speak to a raft of international correspondents who lay out the economic problems they're facing, and…
- Politics Unpacked
Strong Message Here
From Ron Burgundy to Jeremy Corbyn's 'strong message here', Matt looks at what happens when the TV autocue goes wrong. He speaks to Lauri Plesco, the woman who…
- Politics Unpacked
Happy Birthday, Sir Humphrey
It's 170 years since Gladstone commissioned the Northcote-Trevelyan review, which gave birth to the impartial civil service. Why has the system survived, and…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Back To School
Matt is joined by Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and the politics students of Vyners School to pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. Keir…
- Politics Unpacked
Rishi, parlez-vous français?
Ahead of Rishi Sunak's trip to France for the first Anglo-French summit in five years, Matt discusses the state of relations between Paris and London. He's…
- Politics Unpacked
The Next Spymaster
Sir Jeremy Fleming, the director of the intelligence agency GCHQ, is stepping down after nearly six years in the role. Matt speaks to two of his predecessors…
- Politics Unpacked
'I Haven't Felt Happy Since Brexit'
The Northern Ireland Minister and self-styled Brexit hardman Steve Baker sits down with Matt and Times Political Editor Steve Swinford for a frank discussion…
Politics UnpackedFrank Field
In 2021 Frank Field, now Lord Field, was told he had weeks to live. 18 months on he tells Matt he's published his memoirs and is 'just happily waiting for the…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Do Widzenia, Pet
Matt is joined by Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. Keir Starmer claims that the average family in…
- Politics Unpacked
Final Finkelvitch
Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch have been the cleverest duo on the podcast for nearly three years. Today Matt and Danny say goodbye to David, who is…
- Politics Unpacked
Remembering Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd, the first female speaker of the House of Commons, has died aged 93. Matt is joined by current speaker Sir Lindsey Hoyle to reflect on her…
- Politics Unpacked
Floella Benjamin
Matt hosted this year's Parliamentary Book Awards, where he sat down with winner and children's TV legend Floella Benjamin. Columnists Manveen Rana and Katy…
- Politics Unpacked
Focus Group: Labour Switchers
The Times Radio focus group returns, this time with a group who voted Conservative in 2019 but say they currently plan to back Labour. Matt is joined by James…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Deal Me In
Matt is joined by Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. Rishi Sunak says he'll keep fighting until he…
Politics UnpackedGot To Have Faith
After SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes faces questions about her views on gay marriage, Matt discusses the role of faith in politics with columnists Daniel…
Politics UnpackedHow to Talk to Putin
Baroness Ashton was the first - and last - Briton to lead European foreign policy, with an in-tray including Iran's nuclear programme, natural disasters and…
Politics UnpackedDo Protests Work?
Twenty years on from the march against the Iraq War, Patrick Maguire is joined by historian Phil Tinline to ask whether protests ever actually work. They hear…
- Politics Unpacked
Life After Sturgeon
Patrick Maguire get's the latest polling on Nicola Sturgeon’s possible successor with Dr Emily Gray from Ipsos and explores the wider implication of her…
- Politics Unpacked
Sturgeon Resigns
Patrick Maguire presents highlights from the reaction to Nicola Sturgeon's resignation as First Minister live on Times Radio. The Conservatives' Ruth Davidson…
- Politics Unpacked
Gay Marriage: 10 Years On
A decade after the Commons voted to introduce civil marriage for same-sex couples, Patrick Maguire looks back at a moment of change for the country and the…
- Politics Unpacked
Can Sunak Shake Off Sleaze?
New polling for the Times shows that 70% of voters think the Conservatives give the impression of being sleazy and disreputable - up from 51% in April 2021…
- Politics Unpacked
Letters That Changed Britain
What do Queen Victoria, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens and an anonymous prostitute have in common? They all wrote letters to The Times that rewrote…
- Politics Unpacked
Wacaday with Wes Streeting
Matt talks to shadow health secretary Wes Streeting about NHS pay, Labour's relationship with the unions and his experience as a gay Anglican - before he plays…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Zelensky's in Town
Matt is joined by Patrick Maguire to pause and unpack the exchanges between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. With Ukrainian…