Chopper's Politics

In January 2021, the first Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccines made their way into people’s arms. By mid-march, 11 million people had received the jab.

After successive lockdowns, it felt like a way out. 

But now, more than two years on, storm clouds are gathering.

Today, 80 of them are preparing to sue Astrazeneca. They say that until now, no one has wanted to hear their stories. So we’re telling them.

Find out more: ‘We were told the vaccine was safe - but what happened has been life-changing’

Archive used in this episode from: BBC, Sky News, 10 Downing Street.

Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast |

If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on [email protected] |

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In the face of major disasters, it is perhaps inevitable that there will be missteps. And when the dust settles, people are asked to account for their actions.

How is history going to judge the government’s response to COVID?

In this last episode of the Lockdown Files podcast, the investigations team at the Telegraph investigates potential mistakes at the heart of the pandemic response.

Shutting schools, a lack of oversight with financial support and questions over whether lockdown would ever happen in the same way again.

Finally, the team catches up with the latest news from the public inquiry and hears from a relative of someone who died as they watch the evidence unfold.

Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast |

If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on [email protected] |

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Is it ever ok to scare the public?

In this episode, the reporters dig into leaked messages which show a discussion between Matt Hancock and one of his team. They say “We frighten the pants off everyone with the new strain” and “When do we deploy the new variant”. 

The exchanges speak to a so-called “Project Fear”, which prompts the team to ask government ministers about whether decisions made were the right ones… 

We also speak to the adviser behind some of the government's messaging… 

And to a mum whose children are still dealing with the fall out tells her family’s story.  

Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast |

If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on [email protected] |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tens of thousands of care home residents died during the pandemic. Many people see it as the government’s biggest failure. Matt Hancock’s Whatsapp messages lifted the lid on conversations behind key decisions. But it wasn’t just the messages which were revealing… The team behind the Lockdown Files unearths new documents suggesting an unnerving offer made to care homes in Durham and Birmingham. 

Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast |

If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on [email protected] |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Investigations team looks back on the early days of the pandemic. How prepared was the government? Was lockdown inevitable? But they hit a stumbling block - they may have 100,000 messages, but there’s a gap in March. 

So the team decide that if they can’t read where those key decisions were made, they’d do the next best thing: speak to people who were in the room where it happened

Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast |

If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on [email protected] |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In January 2023, reporters at the Telegraph are called into a meeting. The newspaper has got something big.

Matt Hancock’s Whatsapps from when he was the Health Secretary, during the pandemic: 100,000 messages. The reporters start digging.

Rate and Review the Lockdown Files podcast here: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files |

Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast |

If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on [email protected] |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode of Chopper's politics, former BBC chairman Richard Sharp joins Chris for his 'exit interview' to discuss the controversial events surrounding his departure.

Over a round of black velvets they discuss his opinions on former PM Boris Johnson, why he's in favour of a charter renewal and his advice for his successor.

For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper |

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Over 360 episodes, 8.2 million listens and one Red Lion Pub, welcome to the last edition of Choppers Politics Podcast.

Joining the Telegraph's legendary political journalist Chris Hope in Westminster's finest drinking hole is star of Spitting Image: Idiots Assemble, comedian Matt Forde, discussing comedy in a woke world as well as bringing some of his finest political impressions.

Two big beasts of the Tory party also join Chris, including Jacob Rees Mogg airing his concerns about the privileges committee and Sir Bernard Jenkin, as well as the prospect of A.I. shouldering the burden of social care. Plus, Michael Gove drops by to discuss, amongst other thing, resurrecting an old (nautical) project very close to Chris' heart.

And of course, how could we finish the show without long time friend of the podcast, the velvet-voiced Sir Geoffery Cox.

For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper |

Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files|

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It’s been a week when the economic picture has worsened for millions of us and to discuss the government wrestling with the problem - and how Liz Truss was right - is Ranil Jayawardena, a former Tory Cabinet minister in Truss’s administration.

As Labour surge ahead in the polls, MP Rosie Duffield - sidelined by the leaders of her own party - joins Chris to discuss whether the party is ready for governing the country.

Plus, schools have been at the forefront of recent news with reports of students identifying as cats and wolves. To discuss this, and concerns about the number of pupils missing lessons due to the hangover from the Covid pandemic, Schools Minister Nick Gibb popped by the pub to chat to Christopher Hope.

For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper |

Sign up to the Chopper's Politics newsletter: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politicsnewsletter |

Read Chopper's Peterborough diary: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/peterborough-diary |

Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files|

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Treasury minister Andrew Griffith MP hot-foots it across the road to the Red Lion pub to tell Christopher Hope that he thinks banks should help families who are seeing their mortgage costs spiral, and face the awkward question of how he'd deal with a business that had three CEOs in the space of a year (Conservative Party, take note).

Also on the podcast, Joy Morrissey MP, one of only seven Conservative MPs who voted against the privileges committee report into Boris Johnson, and a whip no less. She tells Chopper why she put her head above the parapet and how the "crucifixion" of the former Prime Minister has cause a "crisis" in her party.

Plus Tim Knox, editor of the Effective Governance Forum on the changes needed to make the Civil Service and ministers work in perfect harmony.

For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper |

Sign up to the Chopper's Politics newsletter: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politicsnewsletter |

Read Chopper's Peterborough diary: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/peterborough-diary |

Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files|

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.