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 UnpackedHas Sturgeon SNPeaked?
Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon is under pressure following the row over her gender reforms and a drop in the polls. But is she in serious trouble…
- Politics Unpacked
Is Truss Right or Wrong, Wrong, Wrong?
Liz Truss is back to make the case for her tax-cutting agenda. Does she have a point, and is anyone listening? Matt is joined by journalist Katy Balls…
- Politics Unpacked
Neil Kinnock: 92 or 97?
All week, people in politics have been asking whether the next general election is going to be a similar result to 1992 - when Labour were expected to win but…
- Politics Unpacked
Rishi Sunak's 100 Days
The Prime Minister has been in office for 100 days, a big achievement by recent standards. Matt has some exclusive polling from YouGov showing what the public…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Rank Pathetic!
Matt Chorley, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. Rishi Sunak accuses Keir Starmer of siding with…
- Politics Unpacked
Brexit Q&A
Three years after the UK left the European Union, Matt hosts a panel of experts from The Times to answer questions sent in by readers. Plus columnists Daniel…
- Politics Unpacked
Sorry, Not Sorry
Why do politicians find it so hard to say sorry? After Nadhim Zahawi declined to apologise following his sacking by the Prime Minister, Matt discusses the art…
- Politics Unpacked
Is Parliamentary Oratory Dead?
Patrick Maguire sits in for Matt Chorley and tests his theory that speeches in the House of Commons aren't as good as they used to be. He looks back at some…
- Politics Unpacked
Focus Group: Sunak's Pledges and Starmer's Face
The Times Radio Focus Group meets for the first time in 2023. James Johnson from J.L Partners leads a group of swing voters from across the country as they…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: A Job Too Big?
Matt Chorley, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. This week, Keir Starmer asks Rishi Sunak if being prime…
- Politics Unpacked
The Cost of Dying
One in four terminally ill people of working age find themselves in poverty. For them and their families, the agony of grief is compounded by financial…
- Politics Unpacked
Sunak's Away Day
As Rishi Sunak gets ready for a cabinet trip to Chequers and Keir Starmer plans an outing for his team, Matt asks if a political away day is a good way to…
- Politics Unpacked
How To Make A Party Political Broadcast
Party political broadcasts have been around for nearly 100 years, featuring everything from men sitting woodenly behind desks to yogic flying. How are they…
- Politics Unpacked
Generation Game
Nice to see the polls, to see the polls nice? Matt looks at exclusive polling showing that while the Conservatives are losing young voters, they have lost…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Lethal Chaos
Matt is joined by Tim Shipman to pause and unpack the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions. This week, Keir Starmer challenges Rishi Sunak on the 'lethal…
- Politics Unpacked
Britain's Litter Problem
Matt takes to the streets to find out about Britain's litter problem. He speaks to a listener who's found everything from sex toys to a sawn-off shotgun, a…
- Politics Unpacked
Bring Back Boris
The Conservative Democratic Organisation is a new group calling for Tory party members to have a greater say in how the party is run, and who it elects as…
- Politics Unpacked
Lineker: Football vs Politics
Matt talks to Gary Lineker about exclusive polling for Times Radio showing which job the public thinks is harder - being prime minister, or being a…
- Politics Unpacked
James Graham
Talk about making a drama out of a political crisis. If there's one man who's turned the defining moments of our age into hits on stage and screen, it's James…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: From Clapping to Sacking
Matt and Tim Shipman are back to pause and unpack the exchanges at the first PMQs of 2023, which sees Keir Starmer accuse Rishi Sunak of going from 'clapping…
- Politics Unpacked
Doctor, Doctor, Shall I Pay You Now?
After Ken Clarke told us better-off patients may have to start paying for GP appointments, Matt looks at the case for reforming general practice and hears…
- Politics Unpacked
Ken Clarke and Paying for the NHS
Matt's back, and he's joined by political big beast Ken Clarke to discuss a career spanning more than 50 years in the Commons and some of the biggest jobs in…
- Politics Unpacked
Smaller Parties Win Elections Too
How can the smaller political parties win in 2023 when the electoral system is stacked against them and they are struggling for the public's attention? Patrick…
- Politics Unpacked
Can The Lib Dems Cut Through?
The Liberal Democrats are stuck at a distant third in the opinion polls, with a leader many people still haven't heard of. Do a series of by-election wins mean…
- Politics Unpacked
Peter Mandelson
Patrick Maguire in for Matt Chorley talks to the architect of New Labour, the former cabinet minister Lord Mandelson. They discuss Keir Starmer "sorting out…
- Politics Unpacked
Have the Tories Run Out of Steam?
Are the Conservatives heading for a period out of office, or can they confound expectations before the next General Election? Sitting in for Matt, Patrick…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 11
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 10
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 9
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 8
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 7
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 6
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 5
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 4
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 3
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 2
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Leader of the Opposition: Episode 1
Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, Nigel…
- Politics Unpacked
Politics Without the Boring Quiz 2022
Matt Chorley is joined by a live audience for Politics Without the Boring Quiz, a test of how much the teams can remember from the most exciting, exhausting…
- Politics Unpacked
Chorls Dickens Presents: A Christmas Carol
Matt is Chorls Dickens, telling the story of Eber-Rishi Scrooge as he is visited by the spirit of his former business partner Jacob Rees-Marley, and the ghosts…
- Politics Unpacked
What is the Funnest Part of the UK?
In the final Disunited Kingdom of 2022, Matt Chorley puts some of our favourite journalists from around the UK to the test with a quiz of the fun local stories…
- Politics Unpacked
Baroness Prue Leith?
Prue Leith is already a successful chef, author, dame and queen of the Bake Off tent, but she has her sights on another title: a peerage. She speaks to Matt…
- Politics Unpacked
Political Thrillers
Plenty of former MPs, advisers and political journalists have tried their hand at writing fiction, and they often turn to the drama and skulduggery of…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: The 1972 Edition
Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire analyse the dramatic scenes at Westminster 50 years ago, when a protest by MPs against rising unemployment caused uproar and…
- Politics Unpacked
Focus Group: The Last One of 2022
The Times Radio focus group meets for the last time this year. Matt Chorley is joined by James Johnson from J.L. Partners to see what floating voters make of…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Nightmare before Christmas?
Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman pause the action and analyse the exchanges at the last Prime Minister's Questions of 2022, with Keir Starmer accusing Rishi Sunak…
- Politics Unpacked
Ed Balls All at Sea
Finding themselves on a week-long Times cruise from New York to Southampton, Matt Chorley talks to former cabinet minister Ed Balls about the chances of him…
- Politics Unpacked
Joe Lycett MP?
After giving evidence to the House of Lords, taking on David Beckham over human rights and becoming an unlikely cheerleader for Liz Truss, Joe Lycett is now a…
- Politics Unpacked
Dear Diary
As Matt Hancock releases his 'Pandemic Diaries', Patrick Maguire asks what makes a great political diary? He speaks to Sir Alan Duncan, who published his…
- Politics Unpacked
Afghanistan: The Forgotten Crisis
In Summer 2021 the eyes of the world were on Afghanistan as the West's 20-year mission came to an end. This winter the situation for ordinary Afghans is dire…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Strikes and Blancmange
Patrick Maguire and Tim Shipman pause the action and analyse the exchanges at Prime Minister’s Questions, as Rishi Sunak promises action to stop "unreasonable"…
- Politics Unpacked
Lessons from the Winter of Discontent
Patrick Maguire travels back to the late 1970s and the Winter of Discontent with author Phil Tinline. What caused this prolonged period of industrial unrest…
- Politics Unpacked
Sport, Schmoozing and Geopolitics
How much politics is taking place on the sidelines of the World Cup? Patrick Maguire looks at the wheeling and dealing in Qatar with Sunday Times special…
- Politics Unpacked
How to be an Ex-Prime Minister
The UK has seven living ex-prime ministers for the first time in modern history. But how should a former leader behave when they've left the top job? Patrick…
- Politics Unpacked
Rayner and Rees-Mogg on Cartoons
Matt Chorley visits the Political Cartoon of the Year Awards and speaks to cartoon superfans Jacob Rees-Mogg and Angela Rayner. He discusses the role of the…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Trickle-down Education
Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman pause the action and analyse the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions, as Sir Keir Starmer calls for an end to charitable…
- Politics Unpacked
Has Britain Got Too Many Dogs?
They say that if you want a friend in politics, get a dog. But with an estimated 10.3 million dogs in the UK, have we now got too many? Matt Chorley talks to…
- Politics Unpacked
Is the Right Alright?
With immigration at a record high and claims of backsliding on Brexit, are we about to see the resurgance of a party to the right of British politics? Matt…
- Politics Unpacked
The Politics of Gogglebox
Forget focus groups, watching Channel 4's Gogglebox can be a great insight into what the nation thinks about its politicians. The show's creator Stephen…
- Politics Unpacked
Nothing as Ex as an Ex-MP
After more Conservative MPs announce they will stand down at the next election, Matt Chorley asks Lucy Fisher and Matthew Parris if it could turn into an…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: League of Their Own
Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman pause the action and analyse the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions, as Sir Keir Starmer compares Rishi Sunak to a bottom of…