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 UnpackedWho Cares About Corbyn
Keir Starmer has withdrawn the whip from Jeremy Corbyn, but has to decide whether he can stand for Labour at the next election. If he doesn't, could he end up…
- Politics Unpacked
Lorraine Kelly Rules the World
TV legend Lorraine Kelly tells Matt Chorley what she would do if she ruled the world, including appointing Captain Kirk as Prime Minister and locking up litter…
- Politics Unpacked
Has The Lobby Lost It?
The Lobby is the group of journalists who have special access at Westminster and cover the daily twists and turns of British politics. Have they become hooked…
Politics UnpackedSir Keir Starmer
In this bonus episode for Red Box subscribers to mark the start of the new series of Past Imperfect, Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson talk to Sir Keir…
- Politics Unpacked
Hunt's Tax-and-Axe Plan
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has set out his planned tax rises and spending cuts in the Autumn Statement. Matt Chorley unpacks the key announcements and discusses…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Duel of the Deputies
While Rishi Sunak is away, the deputies are out to play. Matt Chorley and Tim Shipman pause the action and analyse the exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions…
- Politics Unpacked
A Reckoning for Raab
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…
- Politics Unpacked
What Next for Ukrainian Refugees in the UK?
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…
- Politics Unpacked
Dick’s Six Decades in Politics
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…
- Politics Unpacked
The Sultan of Swing
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…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked: Bully For You
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…
- Politics Unpacked
Can I See Your Papers Please?
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…
- Politics Unpacked
How do you take on Nicola Sturgeon?
Matt talks to Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross about facing Nicola Sturgeon in Holyrood, and accusations that he is guilty of "flip-flopping". Plus…
- Politics Unpacked
Focus Group: Rishi's First
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…
- Politics Unpacked
Starmer Speaks, and the Forrest Gump of The Times
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…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked : Who Broke It?
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…
- Politics Unpacked
The Five Disgraces of Liz Truss
Matt Chorley is joined by Harry Cole and James Heale to discuss their new book about the former prime minister, Out Of The Blue. PLUS breaking news about Matt…
- Politics Unpacked
Austerity 2.0
As Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt look for spending cuts to help balance the books, Matt Chorley talks to key figures from the first round of austerity including…
- Politics Unpacked
Too Much Too Young
With Rishi Sunak becoming prime minister at 42, Patrick Maguire asks: Are MPs really getting younger? And does age matter in politics? He's joined by…
- Politics Unpacked
Has Starmer got Sunak's Measure?
Patrick Maguire sitting in for Matt Chorley looks at Labour's strategy for tackling the new prime minister, and asks whether Rishi Sunak puts the Conservatives…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked 26-10-2022
Patrick Maguire sits in for Matt Chorley and is joined by Tim Shipman, The Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator, to unpack Rishi Sunak's first PMQs. PLUS…
- Politics Unpacked
Rishi Sunak: The New PM in Town
Patrick Maguire gets the low-down on Rishi Sunak and the team he is bringing to Downing Street, and James Johnson from the Times Radio focus group explains how…
- Politics Unpacked
Can Sunak Save the Tories?
Patrick Maguire asks whether the new Prime Minister can rescue the Tory party from electoral defeat and what can actually be achieved by a government just two…
- Politics Unpacked
Ben Elton
As Friday Night Live returns to our screens for a one off 40th anniversary special, Matt Chorley has a chat with compere Ben Elton about champagne socialism…
- Politics Unpacked
What A Fracking Mess
On a dramatic day at Westminster, Matt Chorley and Times Radio's Lucy Fisher tell the inside story of the events that led up to the resignation of Liz Truss…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked 19-10-2022
Matt Chorley and Red Box Editor for The Times Patrick Maguire unpack the brutal exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions, as Liz Truss struggles to save her…
- Politics Unpacked
Spreadsheet Politics
Matt Chorley unlocks the secrets of the operation to monitor MPs' views, speaking to Siimon Burton, former whip special adviser under Theresa May and Boris…
- Politics Unpacked
Shredding the Mini-Budget
Matt Chorley presents live coverage and analysis of the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's statement, in which he put Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng's policies into the…
- Politics Unpacked
Kwasi Out
On the day Liz Truss performs another budget u-turn and sacks Kwasi Kwarteng, Times' Political Editor Steven Swinford speaks to Matt Chorley with news from…
- Politics Unpacked
How To Build A House
Almost everyone seems to agree we're not building enough house, so today Matt looks at how a house is built, from planning through to getting what politicians…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked Live 12-10-22
Matt Chorley is joined by Times Radio's Lucy Fisher and Patrick Maguire from The Times Red Box live on stage at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, pausing the…
- Politics Unpacked
Focus Group 11-10-22
James Johnson from J.L. Partners joins Matt Chorley to discuss the latest findings from the Times Radio focus group. PLUS: Finkelvitch on Sam Tarry's…
- Politics Unpacked
Sturgeon's Schedule
How likely is a second referendum in Scotland? Nicola Sturgeon has set out a timetable, giving the nation a year to decide whether they want independence. Matt…
- Politics Unpacked
The Politics of Pop
After Liz Truss got into trouble for playing Moving On Up at her Tory Party Conference speech, Matt Chorley explores the relationship between politics and pop…
- Politics Unpacked
It's Not Just Us
UK politics may be bonkers, but countries around the world have also lost the plot, changing Prime Minister every few years. Matt Chorley takes a trip around…
- Politics Unpacked
Truss Unpacked
Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire take a forensic look at Liz Truss's first speech as party leader to the Conservative conference in…
- Politics Unpacked
Penny Mordaunt and the Conservative Comms Crisis
It's the interview that caused Liz Truss's major headache on day 3 of Tory Party Conference. Matt Chorley speaks to Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt who says she…
- Politics Unpacked
Michael Gove
Michael Gove has been a government minister for the majority of the last decade but now he's heading back to the backbenches. He tells Matt Chorley what he…
- Politics Unpacked
Say My Name
Venetia Menzies, Data Journalist at the Times and Sunday Times takes Matt Chorley through baby name statistics. Find out which names are the most popular and…
- Politics Unpacked
Truss' Tough Thursday
Description: Matt Chorley and The Times' Political Editor Steve Swinford reveal what Conservative MPs really think about the Chancellor's budget and the…
- Politics Unpacked
Starmer Unpacked
Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire go through the Labour leader’s speech to the conference in Liverpool and whether this was his best one…
- Politics Unpacked
Angela Rayner
Matt Chorley sits down with the Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner. They discuss everything from Labour leadership, why Keir Starmer is a morning person and…
- Politics Unpacked
Keir Starmer 3.0
As the Labour leader prepares to take the stage at the conference in Liverpool, Matt Chorley and Henry Zeffman rack through their contacts to find out how…
- Politics Unpacked
Two Minute Takeaways
Let's get Fiscal. Matt Chorley dives into the Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's fiscal statement and what it all means with the Times' Political Editor Steven…
- Politics Unpacked
How to be a Deputy Prime Minister
Therese Coffey made her first big announcement as Deputy Prime Minister in the Commons today. With archive and new interviews, Matt Chorley hears from people…
- Politics Unpacked
Disunited Kingdom 21-09-22
Matt Chorley heads to the four corners of the UK to speak to local reporters from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about what is making the…
- Politics Unpacked
Politics Is Back!
Matt Chorley is joined by Times Radio's Chief Political Commentator Lucy Fisher to discuss what's coming up in a frantic week of politics as Liz Truss' cabinet…
- Politics Unpacked
Black Wednesday
Thirty years ago on 16th September 1992, a collapse in the pound sterling forced Britain to withdraw from the ERM. Matt Chorley speaks to the chancellor at the…
- Politics Unpacked
1952 vs 2022
If a lot can happen in seven days, think how much happened over the 70 years of the Queen’s reign. Matt Chorley looks at how life in Britain has changed from…
- Politics Unpacked
Disunited Kingdom 14-09-2022
Matt Chorley heads to the four corners of the UK to speak to local reporters from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about what is making the…
- Politics Unpacked
The Royal Mile
As the late Queen's coffin moves from Edinburgh to London, Matt Chorley takes a tour through Westminster taking in the history that surrounded her life from…
- Politics Unpacked
A Week Is A Long Time In Politics
A week, they say, is a long time in politics. First uttered of course by Harold Wilson, number five in Queen Elizabeth’s 15. Matt Chorley looks back at what…
- Politics Unpacked
Queen Elizabeth II: A 70 Year Reign
Queen Elizabeth II appointed 15 Prime Ministers and witnessed 18 general elections, 13 government referendums, three minority governments, and one coalition…
- Politics Unpacked
Times Radio Focus Group: Liz Truss
Matt Chorley is joined by James Johnson from J.L. Partners who has convened the latest Times Radio Focus Group to find out what they think about the new Prime…
- Politics Unpacked
PMQs Unpacked 07-09-22
As the new term in Parliament begins, Matt Chorley is joined by Tim Shipman, the Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator to analyse Liz Truss's first PMQs…
- Politics Unpacked
The Queen and Her Prime Ministers
Liz Truss has been appointed the new Prime Minister and as she made her way to Balmoral to be invited by the Queen to form a new government, Matt Chorley finds…
- Politics Unpacked
Behind The Scenes Of Becoming PM
What happens when you enter Downing Street? Matt Chorley speaks to the people who really know, including former prime ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron…
- Politics Unpacked
Three Acts of a Premiership
Brexit, Covid and Partygate came to define Boris Johnson's time in Number 10, with the latter conspiring to bring about his downfall. As Johnson takes his…
- Politics Unpacked
What’s The Best Job?
A new prime minister means a new cabinet. From great offices of state to great offices to change things, Alan Johnson, Justine Greening, David Gauke, Jill…
- Politics Unpacked
Disunited Kingdom 31-08-22
Matt Chorley gets news from all four corners of the UK. He speaks to Sarah Booker-Lewis the Local Democracy reporter for Brighton and Hove News, Ciaran Jones…