Alastair Campbell joins Christopher Hope to talk about most people's worst nightmare: the publication of his diaries. He begrudgingly takes some of the responsibility for the rise of Boris Johnson, reflects on Labour's first 'year of Keir' and gives Chris a signature telling off.

Also on the show: Chris looks ahead to the May elections and catches up with Mayor for the West Midlands Andy Street, to talk about why you shouldn't ask if Birmingham is a commuter town, and to settle the great debate: do the Midlands lie in the South or North of England? And, making a return to politics after twenty-four years, Edwina Currie tells us how she was inspired by the plethora of septuagenarian politicians across the pond.

Alastair Campbell Diaries: Volume 8, Rise and Fall of the Olympic Spirit, 2010–2015: https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/alastair-campbell-diaries-volume-8 |

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Former Scotland Secretary David Mundell calls for those in favour of keeping the United Kingdom... well, united, to not shy away from sharing the "emotional" reasons for the union. He joins Christopher Hope to react to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's vote of no confidence triumph, to delve into the impact of the Salmond-Sturgeon row on upcoming elections, and to lay out why he believes there can't be a Great Britain without Scotland. 

Also on the podcast: former Attorney General Sir Geoffrey Cox on why he thinks some of the reaction to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is "hysterical", and London editor of German newspaper die Welt, Stefanie Bolzen on the EU's latest spat over the AstraZeneca vaccine. 

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Read Stefanie Bolzen's article about being glad to be in the UK instead of Germany here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/year-ago-wanted-flee-britain-germany-not-longer/#comment |

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The Telegraph’s Gordon Rayner has spent recent weeks deconstructing the government’s actions in the crucial early stages of the pandemic. He’s been given the inside track from Cabinet ministers, sat down with members of SAGE and grilled government advisers to find out what really happened this time last year - or more accurately, what went wrong. On this week’s Chopper’s Politics he lets Christopher Hope into those conversations, and decides whether more could have been done, or if hindsight really is 20/20. 

Are ministers willing to accept that the UK should have locked down earlier? What effect did keeping borders open have on case rates? And is “following the science” always the right approach? All is revealed within.

Read Gordon Rayner's reporting: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/gordon-rayner/ |

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A grim anniversary, but one former Conservative cabinet minister Esther McVey is hoping to turn into something positive. She joins Christopher Hope to tell listeners how she's planning to bring some light to March 23rd - one year on from the UK's first coronavirus lockdown - and whether it's fair to credit Brexit with the UK's speedy vaccine rollout. Also on the podcast: vice chairman of the 1922 committee, Sir Charles Walker tells Chopper why he's encouraging fellow MPs to vote against increased powers on coronavirus restrictions, and why his relationship with the state will never be the same following the UK's pandemic response.

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Read more about Esther McVey's 'Day of Reflection': https://www.esthermcvey.com/news/esther-mcvey-asks-minute-silence-day-reflection-23-march |

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Joanna Lumley is a cultural icon, acting legend, and - a political force to be reckoned with. 

She fills in the Telegraph’s Christopher Hope about her latest campaign to protect marine life, explains why she'd happily brandish a vaccine passport, and says "a little less conversation, and a little more action, please" to politicians. Plus she takes part in an enlightening game we've called 'Patsy or Politician' - can you guess who says what?

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After almost three decades stirring up British politics, Nigel Farage is hanging up his boots. In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph’s Christopher Hope, he lays bare the personal toll of leading an insurgent party, reveals his biggest political mentor - and enemy, and tells us why this time, he won’t be making a comeback.

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The morning after the Chancellor laid out his plans for continued pandemic support and how to pay for it in the years to come, Christopher Hope is joined for a Budget special by the Telegraph's Deputy Political Editor Lucy Fisher and economics fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, Julian Jessop, to discuss the ins and outs. 

Who fares the best from the announcements, what will Britain's post-pandemic recovery look like, and is this the final nail in the coffin for Thatcherite economics? All discussed within.

Read more of the Telegraph's analysis around the Budget here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/uk-economy/ |

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Michelle Donelan, Universities Minister, joins Christopher Hope to talk about whether students are getting value for money at the moment and how remote learning could make higher education more accessible. Plus the thorny issue of cancel culture on campuses and why she insists it's not about protecting conservative values, but the British value of free speech. 

Also on the podcast, Sir Stephen Bubb, Director of the Oxford Institute for Charity, amuses Chris by calling him "woke", and has some strong words for Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, following the Minister's charity summit this week. And political commentator and former MEP Patrick O'Flynn tells us why he's feeling micromanaged by the Prime Minister. 

Read 'Boris's 'roadmap' was meant to liberate us, not micro-manage us', Patrick O'Flynn: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/22/boriss-roadmap-meant-liberate-us-not-micro-manage-us/ |

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In his first interview since his political party was officially approved, Laurence Fox tells Christopher Hope why his faith in democracy is restored. His mission? To reverse ‘wokery’ and champion free speech. The party leader tells us how he plans to do that, why politics isn’t all that different to acting, and why he believes the Reclaim Party could attract up to fifty percent of the UK population.

Read more on the Reclaim Party's research: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/02/13/freedom-speech-uk-threat-say-half-britons-cancel-culture-poll/

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Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland, joins Christopher Hope to talk Scottish independence, and why now’s no time to consider a referendum. Instead, it’s time to work with the SNP, he tells listeners, in between puns for which we can only apologise.

Plus, Professor Corinne Fowler, the academic behind the controversial National Trust review into its properties' links to slavery, tells us why exploring difficult elements of Britain's past isn't unpatriotic.

Read 'National Trust history review 'is about facts, not patriotism', says top academic': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/07/national-trust-history-review-facts-not-patriotism-says-top/ |

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