Can Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer tell a decent gag, and does it matter? Why did 'From Stalin to Mr Bean' do so much damage to Gordon Brown, and why did Nick Clegg once compare David Cameron to Toilet Duck?
Matt Chorley and election masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein remember when politicians being funny made a difference, and when their side-splitters fell flat.
Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Tell A Political Joke, And Not Become One

As the parties prepare to do battle at the polls in 2024, we bring together three of the most experienced strategists of the past four decades who between them know a thing or two about winning (and losing) elections.
Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join journalist and stand-up comedian Matt Chorley for an intelligent, adversarial and witty political conversation every week.
Follow the podcast now to never miss an episode.
Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News

Politics

The race is on to get candidates in place for the general election, with the Tories having to deal with more MPs announcing their departure by the day.
The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss who the parties will pick, and who they’ll come to regret.
And has Rishi Sunak’s campaign actually started better than we’d expected?
Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Dodge A Dodgy Candidate

It's happened. Rishi Sunak has announced the General Election for 4th July - as predicted by Danny in the last episode of the podcast.
The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt for an emergency episode, recorded at the Podcast Show in London.
Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.

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

EMERGENCY EPISODE: How To Call An Election!

The long election campaign is well underway, and politicians are vying for attention with eye-catching photocalls, speeches, visits and stunts.
The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein explain what happened when Blair and Brown shared an ice cream, when Ming Campbell pointed down the toilet, and when Danny was asked to arrange an actual bonfire of regulations.
And why does Danny think the chances of a summer election may be rising?
Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.

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

How To Pull Off A Political Stunt

Is there a point in an election campaign when you realise that the game is up and you're going to lose? And can you admit it when it happens?
The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss whether Rishi Sunak has another roll of the dice, why Polly planned for a coalition that never happened, and when Peter, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown knew they had no chance of beating the Tories.
Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Tell When The Game's Up

What is Rishi Sunak's political legacy, and has he still got time to build one? The political masterminds discuss when leaders have left a lasting change - and whether they can ever leave the public wanting more.
Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to talk about legacy, why Rachel Reeves is using the word 'gaslighting', and why Peter thinks the Green Party is becoming a 'dustbin' for the hard left.
Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'. 
 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Tell A Political Joke, And Not Become One

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