The Today Programme’s got the only interview with the prime minister recorded after his conference speech. What sort of a week has it been for Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives? 
 
Join Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson as they ask whether Rishi Sunak can lead his party to a 5th electoral victory and give their take on a strange week in politics.
 
Jane Green, professor of politics at Oxford University is in The Today Podcast studio with the latest polling and writer Armando Iannucci joins us to talk about the weirdness of party conferences and that time he nearly got a story on the Today programme. 
 
Plus, it’s Nick’s birthday!
 
Episodes land every Thursday. Subscribe to The Today Podcast to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week. With insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme.
 
Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email Today@bbc.co.uk  The Today Podcast is presented by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson. The producers are Tom Smithard and Stephanie Mitcalf. The editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. The Today Podcast music is composed by Nick Foster and Paddy Fletcher.

Can Rishi Sunak win it for the Tories?

Amol and Nick on the election announcement.

News

Less than a day after calling the general election, Rishi Sunak kicked off his campaign with a set-piece interview with Nick on Today. 
 
Amol and Nick explore what clues it provides for the coming campaign – and Nick talks though his interview strategy.
 
Also, with inflation now down to 2.3% we bring together two of the leading economic thinkers from the left and the right to talk tax-and-spend: Kate Bell, assistant general secretary of the TUC, and Robert Colvile, director of centre-right think tank the Centre for Policy Studies.    Plus. comedian Angela Barnes provides her moment of the week.
 
Episodes of The Today Podcast usually land on Thursdays. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk
 
The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.
 
The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producers are Hatty Nash and Joe Wilkinson. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Daffyd Evans and digital production from Elliot Ryder.

Rishi Sunak Talks to Today

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called an election on July 4th. But why did he choose today to do it and what can we expect in the coming weeks? Amol and Nick consider the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s calculation on an announcement that took both of them by surprise.  Episodes of The Today Podcast usually land on Thursdays. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk  The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.  The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producers are Hatty Nash and Joe Wilkinson. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Daffyd Evans.

Election announcement special

In a week in which Keir Starmer outlines his six ‘first steps for change’ (just don’t call it a pledge card), Amol and Nick look into what defines the Labour leader’s mission – and how left wing he really is. Labour insider and author of Starmer’s latest biography, Tom Baldwin, gives Amol and Nick a behind-the-scenes look into what Keir Starmer is really like and how his working class background has shaped his political beliefs. Zarah Sultana, a leading light among Labour’s socialist MPs, gives her take on whether the left of the party are convinced by Starmerism. And Susie Dent leaves Countdown’s dictionary corner to join Amol and Nick in the studio with some words that best define the Labour leader – and shares her moment of the week.  Episodes of The Today Podcast land every Thursday and watch out for bonus episodes. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk  The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.  The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producers are Hatty Nash and Joe Wilkinson. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Hannah Montgomery and digital production from Elliot Ryder.

What does Keir Starmer really believe in?

Amol asks what the local elections results really tell us about what might happen in a general election and why so many Britons feel skint. Pollster James Kanagasooriam is back in The Today Podcast studio to give his verdict on whether the local election results point to a Labour majority at the general election or a hung parliament.  In a week where Britain could come out of a recession Amol asks whether an improving economic picture may pay political dividends in the general election. Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation - a think tank focusing on people on lower incomes – explains why so many millennials are still feeling the pinch.  And retail guru Mary Portas joins Amol to give her thoughts on how the high street has been affected by Britain’s struggling economy – and shares her moment of the week. Episodes of The Today Podcast land every Thursday and watch out for bonus episodes. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor. The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producers are Hazel Morgan and Joe Wilkinson. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Mike Regaard and digital production from Elliot Ryder. Note: this podcast has been re-edited.

Hung parliament or thumping majority? And why do we all feel so skint?

Today: Your Election is all about giving Today listeners across the UK the chance to suggest a story for the team to look into in this election year.  Working with our producers, listeners will have the chance to input ideas, bringing new perspectives and voices to the programme. In this special episode of The Today Podcast Amol and Nick share their advice on how to make your team's idea stand out. Groups of between two and six people can apply. If your team is chosen you will work with Today programme producers to turn your idea into a piece of reporting or a discussion that will feature as a segment on the programme. Apply online: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5MlZ9zzXc12dl8vHLmbdzxl/today-your-election On our website you will also find privacy notices and the terms and conditions. The deadline to apply is the 31st May 2024 at 11:59pm.

Can Rishi Sunak win it for the Tories?

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