This is PHENOMENAL.

Jack was First Minister of Scotland 2001-2007. It was a tumultuous global time and he found himself at the centre of it at the Gleneagles summit.

His stories about George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin are incredible.

But there's loads more in this. Jack became the leader of a local authority at just 29. He'd joined the SNP at 16, but became a Labour member at 19. It would change the course of his life and he would have a huge impact on the future of Scotland and the UK.

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

8 December: Nick Clegg

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Well this is about way more than politics...

Bethany is one of the stars of the Politico Playbook morning email. It's the must-read morning briefing which mixes top-level political analysis with plenty of juicy gossip.

We talk about gossip, why it's important and how to get it... but we also talk about health and the importance of patients really pushing for themselves.

Bethany has had a number of health issues, including chronic pain in her teenage years. Told that she was making it up, she's had to be relentless to get the proper diagnosis and treatment.

Prepare to be inspired!

SUBSCRIBE to Politico London Playbook: 

https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

8 December: Nick Clegg

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

 SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Harriet is a rare thing: a new Conservative MP who won her seat at the last election. In Scotland. 

She's already been made a whip.

So how come she's rising so fast and what's it like entering the Commons when your party has suffered a historic defeat?

And how has living in rural communities shaped her particular brand of conservatism?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

8 December: Nick Clegg

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

This is a powerful lesson in campaigning, pragmatism and processing grief. 

Rosamund's daughter Ella died in 2013 at the age of nine. She is still the only person ever in the UK to have air pollution registered as a cause of death. 

Since then, Rosamund has been a relentless campaigner for improving air quality. She has helped change policy here in the UK and has a legion of international admirers that includes Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

You can see why. Rosamund is impassioned but also reasonable and empathetic towards those who disagree with her. 

She is a total inspiration. 

DONATE to the Ella Roberta Foundation here:

https://www.ellaroberta.org/about-ella

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

8 December: Nick Clegg

16 February: David Miliband

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Amy has led an extraordinary life and she's still only in her 30s.

While the SNP MP for East Dunbartonshire she suffered a brain hemorrhage. As she recovered, she had to battle the arcane rules of the House of Commons in order to speak and vote on behalf of her constituents. 

Having narrowly beaten Jo Swinson in 2019, Amy then lost the seat in 2024. So what's life like outside of politics? And what does the future hold for her?

This is a great chat about life and how fragile it is. And what that means for politics. 

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

8 December: Nick Clegg

16 February: David Miliband

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Bridget is one of the biggest stars of the Labour government. As well as being Education Secretary, she is standing to be Labour's Deputy Leader.

It's the first major test of members' opinion since Labour came into office. 

She's led a fascinating life. Growing up in poverty, but making it to Oxford via Byker Grove. 

So what drives her, what changes is she making to our schools and who does she prefer... Oasis or Blur?

 THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

8 December: Nick Clegg

16 February: David Miliband

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Star of GB News (and many other places), Tom outlines his libertarianism as well as giving an engaging analysis about the problems facing the Tories, Reform and the government.

Tom is one of the most prominent broadcasters on the right and he's only 29. So why did he get involved so young and what's the secret of his success?

This is a fascinating analysis of the problems we face as a country from a libertarian/right perspective. 

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

6 October: Bridget Philipson

8 December: Nick Clegg

16 February: David Miliband

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Tom Tugendhat Returns. Again!

Friend of the show Tom Tugendhat returns to give us the perspective from the Tory backbenches.

Why are so many Tories defecting to Reform?

How worried is he about the Tommy Robinson march?

Is he still addicted to Haribo?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

6 October: Bridget Philipson

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Lindsay Hoyle - REPLAY

The charismatic Speaker of the House was on cracking form back in 2022.

He shows how you can make the Commons function more effectively without sacrificing its unique atmosphere. One episode with Lindsay really isn't enough, you'll be left wanting so many more stories from him. His tale about taking Nancy Pelosi to Coronation Street is one of the best you'll ever hear. Grab a crumpet and wash it down with a pint of Newton and Ridleys, we're going to Lancashire...

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE - Bridget Philipson

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK

January

28 Birmingham Glee Club

29 Dorking Halls

30 Northampton Royal and Derngate Theatre

February

5 Lancaster Grand Theatre

6 Brighton Corn Exchange

12 Tunbridge Wells Theatre

14 London Bloomsbury Theatre

18 Faversham The Alex

19 Maidstone Hazlitt Theatre

20 Milton Keynes The Stables

26 Canterbury The Gulbenkian

27 Bridport Electric Palace

March

1 Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

3 Buxton Opera House

4 Shrewsbury Theatre Severn

5 Isle of Wight Shanklin Theatre

6 Paignton Palace Theatre

19 Leicester Y Theatre

20 Durham Gala Theatre

25 Sunderland Fire Station

26 Alnwick Playhouse

27 Barnard Castle The Witham

April

9 Winchester Theatre Royal

15 Worcester Huntingdon Hall

16 Swansea Taliesin Arts Centre

17 Monmouth Savoy Theatre

18 London Bloomsbury Theatre

22 Cheltenham Town Hall

23 Bath Komedia

24 Swindon Arts Centre

26 Salford Lowry

28 Leeds City Varieties

29 Lincoln New Theatre Royal

30 Chorley Theatre

May

1 Chester Playhouse

7 Norwich Playhouse

8 Oxford Northwall Arts Centre

13 Plymouth Quad Theatre

14 Launceston Town Hall

15 Exeter Northcott

20 Stamford Corn Exchange

21 Chelmsford Theatre

22 Bury St Edmunds The Apex

27 Lowestoft Marina Theatre

29 Maidenhead Norden Farm

31 Nottingham Theatre Royal

June

4 Coventry Warwick Arts Centre

5 Cambridge Junction

6 Sheffield Steamworks

9 Liverpool Everyman Theatre

10 Chipping Norton Theatre

DONATE

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

Mark Pougatch

One of our most gifted sports broadcasters is also a massive politics nerd. Mark's usually seen anchoring ITV's coverage of England games. 

But should we keep politics out of sport? Is that even possible? In this hugely entertaining and insightful interview Mark indulges his twin passions: politics and sport and explains what they can learn from each other. This is great fun. SUBSCRIBE to Mark's brilliant podcast 'How It All Played Out'

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE - 6 October: Bridget Philipson

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK

January

28 Birmingham Glee Club

29 Dorking Halls

30 Northampton Royal/Derngate Theatre

February

5 Lancaster Grand Theatre

6 Brighton Corn Exchange

12 Tunbridge Wells Theatre

14 London Bloomsbury Theatre

18 Faversham The Alex

19 Maidstone Hazlitt Theatre

20 Milton Keynes The Stables

26 Canterbury The Gulbenkian

27 Bridport Electric Palace

March

1 Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

3 Buxton Opera House

4 Shrewsbury Theatre Severn

5 Isle of Wight Shanklin Theatre

6 Paignton Palace Theatre

19 Leicester Y Theatre

20 Durham Gala Theatre

25 Sunderland Fire Station

26 Alnwick Playhouse

27 Barnard Castle The Witham

April

9 Winchester Theatre Royal

15 Worcester Huntingdon Hall

16 Swansea Taliesin Arts Centre

17 Monmouth Savoy Theatre

18 London Bloomsbury Theatre

22 Cheltenham Town Hall

23 Bath Komedia

24 Swindon Arts Centre

26 Salford Lowry

28 Leeds City Varieties

29 Lincoln New Theatre Royal

30 Chorley Theatre

May

1 Chester Playhouse

7 Norwich Playhouse

8 Oxford Northwall Arts Centre

13 Plymouth Quad Theatre

14 Launceston Town Hall

15 Exeter Northcott

20 Stamford Corn Exchange

21 Chelmsford Theatre

22 Bury St Edmunds The Apex

27 Lowestoft Marina Theatre

29 Maidenhead Norden Farm

31 Nottingham Theatre Royal

June

4 Coventry Warwick Arts Centre

5 Cambridge Junction

6 Sheffield Steamworks

9 Liverpool Everyman Theatre

10 Chipping Norton Theatre

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