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 UnpackedElection Special: What do the polls really tell us?
Essential listening in the election campaign brought to you by The Times Opinion podcast.Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Rachel Sylvester and…
Politics UnpackedElection Special: Are the main parties playing to their weaknesses?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Matthew Parris, Jenni Russell and Hugo Rifkind. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast…
Politics UnpackedElection Special: Is Fallon mistaken over Miliband comments?
Essential listening in the election campaign brought to you by The Times Opinion podcast.Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Michael Savage and…
Politics UnpackedIs Tony Blair an asset or a liability to Labour?
Election special: Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Webster, Laura Pitel and Oliver Moody. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read…
Politics UnpackedDid the Coalition confound the critics?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Danny Finkelstein, Peter Kellner and Libby Purves.Danny Finkelstein:The most lasting and impressive thing about the Coalition may…
Politics UnpackedWhy did Cameron reveal exit date?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Patrick Kidd, Ann Treneman and Matt Ridley to discuss David Cameron's potential gaffe, Alex Salmond scaring Westminster, and the…
Politics UnpackedBudget special
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Richard Fletcher, Philip Aldrick and Janice Turner for a Budget special, plus a look at George Osborne the Chancellor and the man…
Politics UnpackedIs the political ice cap starting to break?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Matthew Parris and Hugo Rifkind. Jenni Russell:Is the icecap starting to break? For months the polls have been…
Politics UnpackedImmigration special
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Rachel Sylvester and Philip Webster. The panel discuss how the major parties are confronting the issue of…
Politics UnpackedShould there be restrictions on MPs' second jobs?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Lucy Fisher, Isabel Hardman and David Aaronovitch. Lucy Fisher:Yesterday a new “cash for access” scandal exploded, after MPs Jack…
Politics UnpackedPolitics special: key weaknesses
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Suzy Jagger, Lech Mintowt-Czyz and Philip Webster. The panel discuss:1. Focus on the Conservative Party's key weakness - being…
Politics UnpackedShould Ukraine be armed?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Roger Boyes, Roland Watson and Anne Applebaum - the panel discuss the deteriorating situation in Eastern Ukraine. Should Ukraine…
Politics UnpackedDavos and the state of UK politics
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Richard Fletcher, business editor, and Philip Aldrick, economics editor, as they discuss recent events in Davos and Greece. Plus…
Politics UnpackedAre political promises worth it?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Sam Coates, Daniel Finkelstein and Anne Ashworth.The panel discuss David Cameron's employment manifesto pledge, the response of…
Politics UnpackedIs there a generational difference over the Paris massacres?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Laura Pitel and Libby Purves. Generational difference on the Paris massacres, 'weaponising' the NHS and televised…
Politics UnpackedIs this an election to lose?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Matthew Parris and Rachel Sylvester. The panel discusses the forthcoming general election:All of the politicians…
Politics UnpackedReview of 2014
Tim Montgomerie is joined by cartoonist Peter Brookes to review the biggest talking points of 2014 with his favourite drawings of the year with Anne Ashworth…
Politics UnpackedLooking forward to 2015
Special 2015 edition: Tim Montgomerie is joined by Roland Watson, Fay Schlesinger and Francis Elliott to discuss some potential big talking points in the year…
Politics UnpackedWhat will Russia do next?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Fay Schlesinger and Robert Crampton. David AaronovitchYesterday the Russian rouble dropped to an all-time low…
Politics UnpackedHow do you kill an idea?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Webster, Melanie Phillips and Robbie Millen. Philip Webster:The Lib Dems are flailing around trying to show they are…
Politics UnpackedAre proposed tax cuts an empty promise?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Francis Elliott, Giles Whittell and Libby Purves. Francis Elliott:All four political parties are promising to cut taxes after the…
Politics UnpackedAre we winning the war against Isis?
Philip Webster is joined by Suzy Jagger, Hugo Rifkind and Roger Alton. The panel discuss the progress against Isis, the launch of The National - a brand new…
Politics UnpackedRecognising the church in society
Philip Webster is joined by Patrick Kidd, Anne Ashworth and Daniel Finkelstein. Recognising the church's role in society, the housing dilemma and Lord Owen's…
Politics UnpackedDoes Labour lack leadership?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Matthew Parris, Roger Boyes and Alice Thomson.Labour leadership, Obama foreign policy and tackling dementia. Subscribe via iTunes…
Politics UnpackedCould we all lose out come May?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Ann Treneman and Rachel Sylvester. David Aaronovitch:The Age of Uncertainty. Not only do we not know the likely…
Politics UnpackedHas the immigration debate become toxic?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Philip Webster and Libby Purves.Jenni Russell This week the Defence Secretary apologised after saying that some…
Politics UnpackedIs property a ticking time bomb in Britain?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Laura Pitel and Richard Fletcher. Hugo Rifkind:"Mansion taxes, higher council taxes and rises in stamp duty are all…
Politics UnpackedWill rising waiting lists spell disaster for the Tories?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Philip Aldrick and Giles Whittell.The panel debate the effect of Andrew Lansley's health reforms, France and…
Politics UnpackedSpecial: UKIP gain first elected MP
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Webster and Daniel Finkelstein to discuss UKIP politician, Douglas Carswell's victory in the Clacton by-election. Subscribe…
Politics UnpackedConservative Conference special
Tim Montgomerie hosts this special edition of Did You Read? from the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.Featuring Philip Collins, Ann Treneman and…
Politics UnpackedLabour Conference special
Tim Montgomerie hosts this special edition of Did You Read? from the Labour Party Conference in Manchester.Featuring Jenni Russell, Matthew Parris, Phil…
Politics UnpackedReferendum Review: We Are Staying Together, But How?
Philip Collins, Richard Fletcher and Melanie Reid of The Times join Tim Montgomerie for this special edition of Did You Read?, where they discuss the Scottish…
Politics UnpackedReferendum Special: Scotland decides
The panel discuss the latest news ahead of the independence referendum in Scotland and debate the potential political ramifications. Tim Montgomerie is joined…
Politics UnpackedDoes Nick Clegg need a slice of luck?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Francis Elliott, Matthew Parris and Deborah Haynes. Francis Elliott David Cameron in Portugal, Ed Miliband in France and Nick…
Politics UnpackedIs UK foreign policy adequate?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Suzy Jagger, Roger Boyes and Patrick Kidd.Suzy JaggerLibya is at risk of fracturing into three fiefdoms - tripoli in the west…
Politics UnpackedWhy is the West blowing hot and cold in East Ukraine?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Matt Ridley and Anne Ashworth. David AaronovitchSometimes it is hard to grasp the meaning of an event. In the…
Politics UnpackedReshuffle Special: Is this still a reforming Government?
Special addition: Tim Montgomerie is joined by Phil Collins, Jill Sherman and Phillip Webster after an extraordinary day which has seen an extensive cabinet…
Politics UnpackedIs the Cabinet reshuffle patronising?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Fay Schlesinger and Matthew Syed.Rachel SylvesterDavid Cameron is carrying out a reshuffle for women. How…
Politics UnpackedIs the justice system blighted by hysteria?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Ann Treneman and Patrick Kidd. Daniel Finkelstein: “The recent death of Gerry Conlon and the compensation paid…
Politics UnpackedIs Andrew Lansley a compromised candidate?
This week, Tim Montgomerie is joined by Francis Elliott, Matthew Parris and Jenni Russell. DYR? Francis ElliottIf David Cameron really wants the European…
Politics UnpackedCaught between Iraq and a hard place
Philip Collins steps in for Tim Montgomerie and is joined by Suzy Jagger, Phil Webster and Patrick Kidd.Suzy JaggerThis month's surprise - and to date…
Politics UnpackedShould the West rely on Iran in Iraq?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Melanie Phillips, Alice Thomson and Roger Alton.Melanie PhillipsPeople say the Iraq debacle has happened because we went in and…
Politics UnpackedShould we be worried about faith schools?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Libby Purves, Daniel Finkelstein and newcomer, Giles Whittell.Libby PurvesAnn Widdecombe complains that it is ‘very difficult” to…
Politics UnpackedAre real monarchists in the minority?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Matthew Parris, Ann Treneman and David Aaronovitch. Matthew ParrisSpain's King Juan Carlos was respected in the 1980s for his…
Politics UnpackedAdvice for Political Leaders
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Philip Webster and Hugo Rifkind.Jenni gives advice to David Cameron:Cameron needs to become a radical dynamic…
Politics UnpackedLocal Election Special
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Philip Webster and Stephan Shakespeare to discuss the following:Is UKIP here to stay as Britain's fourth…
Politics UnpackedCan we Take That and Party?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Richard Fletcher and Daniel Finkelstein.Alice Thomson discusses the moral implications of singer Gary Barlow's tax…
Politics UnpackedAre we becoming a less censorious society?
Phillip Collins is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Fay Schlesinger and Patrick Kidd.Hugo RIfkind, "For three decades, Max Clifford was the guru of the dirty secret…
Politics UnpackedShould David Cameron resign if Scotland is lost?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Matthew Parris, Rachel Sylvester and Melanie Phillips. Matthew Parris, "I don't believe David Cameron should resign if Scotland is…
Politics UnpackedWould Scottish independence lead to UK vulnerability?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Juliet Samuel and Robbie Millen.David Aaronovitch, "Lucky Scotland! Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is there…
Politics UnpackedHas Maria Miller been misrepresented?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Peter Brookes and Phil Collins.Jenni Russell, "Maria Miller isn't being fairly judged because she has three…
Politics UnpackedWhy aren't the young more rebellious?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Alice Thomson and David Aaronovitch. Hugo Rifkind: "Teenagers and young people have never been so close to their…
Politics UnpackedIs i-Culture getting out of hand?
Ann Treneman is joined by Matthew Parris, Libby Purves and Fay Schlesinger.Matthew Parris: "Ukraine: the Western powers should have decided in advance what…
Politics UnpackedIt's time to scrap the Budget
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Jenni Russell and Roger Boyes.Daniel Finkelstein: "It's time to scrap the Budget. We now have two major fiscal…
Politics UnpackedIgnore Ukip at your peril
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Philip Webster and Alice Thomson. Rachel Sylvester: “Ukip has been dismissed as “fruitcakes and loonies”…
Politics UnpackedWhat if Ukraine still had a nuclear arsenal?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Roger Boyes, Ann Treneman and Matt Ridley. Ukraine gave away its nuclear arsenal 20 years ago. Roger Boyes asks if the country…
Politics UnpackedAre we too egotistical about our data?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Alice Thomson and Libby Purves.Hugo Rifkind says it's not the fault of the NHS or the Government that a pioneering…
Politics UnpackedThe Scottish referendum campaign has heated up
Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Juliet Samuel and Fay Schlesinger. David Aaronovitch looks at the forthcoming Scottish referendum for…
Politics UnpackedHow enforceable is a contentious law?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Oliver Kamm and Roger Boyes.Jenni Russell agrees in the principles of banning smoking in cars where children are…
Politics UnpackedWhat does David Cameron stand for?
Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Collins, Matthew Parris and Rachel Sylvester. Subscribers to The Times will be familiar with the passionate divide of…