Introducing: How To Win An Election.

As the next General Election approaches, Matt Chorley is joined by three of the sharpest, funniest and best-connected strategists who know a thing or two about winning (and losing).

Peter Mandelson was Labour’s director of communications for Neil Kinnock in 1987 and 1992; New Labour’s architect and later cabinet minister in 1997, 2001 and 2005; and Gordon Brown’s right-hand man in 2010.

Daniel Finkelstein advised the SDP’s David Owen in 1987, worked for John Major in the run-up to 1987; for William Hague ahead of 2001; and advised David Cameron before 2010 and 2015.

Polly Mackenzie was a Lib Dem policy expert, working for Charles Kennedy in their record-breaking 2005 election; for Nick Clegg in 2010, and after five coalition years in No 10, was there for the 2015 wipeout too.

How To Win An Election will be your guide through the twists and turns of a tumultuous campaign every Tuesday. Follow the podcast now to never miss an episode.

https://podfollow.com/how-to-win-an-election

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Do Labour's by-election wins add up to a political earthquake, and a sure sign that the Conservatives are destined to lose the next election? Or are they what you'd expect from a party that's been in power for 13 years facing difficult circumstances in both seats. Matt is joined by an expert panel including polling expert Professor John Curtice, Times Radio's Patrick Maguire and shadow cabinet minister Nick Thomas-Symonds.

Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Heale discuss Joe Biden's defence of democracy, one year since Liz Truss left No 10, and could the next election really be as late as 2025?

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Matt is joined by Times and Sunday Times cartoonists Peter Brookes and Morten Morland at the Cheltenham Literature Festival to discuss the art of mocking politicians, and why mocked politicians still want to buy their work. 

Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matt Deegan talk about the importance of language when reporting on conflict, and how to get over news fatigue.

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Against the backdrop of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the prime minister and Labour leader debate the global response and the impact on the streets of Britain. Matt is joined by Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the action.

PLUS: Robert Crampton and John Stevens discuss whether Westminster has a drinking problem, Robert's 30-year-old jokes, and whether there's any point in learning German.

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As the world faces another major conflict, Matt takes a look at the history and changing nature of warfare since 1945 with former director of the CIA General David Petraeus and historian Andrew Roberts.

Plus: Columnists Tom McTague and Jane Merrick discuss British influence in the Middle East, whether Sir Patrick Vallance's Covid-19 diaries should be kept private, and the tree-felling that brought down a Conservative council.

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Should politicians do God, and does religion still matter in politics? Matt discusses the role of faith in public life and the Israel-Gaza conflict with the broadcaster Edward Stourton.

Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on whether it's right to go to a protest alongside bad actors, covid's ghost children, and why the Austrian "Beer Party", which started as a joke, has surged to third in the Viennese polls. 

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Which election in history could 2024 most closely resemble? Will it be a 1997-style landslide? Could the Tories pull off a surprise win like John Major in 1992? Or could it be such a tight result we have to go back to the polls, like in 1974?

Live at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Matt is joined by polling guru Professor John Curtice, Times Radio's Ayesha Hazarika, Red Box Editor Lara Spirit, and Times Radio's senior political correspondent Patrick Maguire.

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Has Keir Starmer sealed the deal with undecided voters? In the latest Times Radio Focus Group, Matt and James Johnson from JL Partners find that while Rishi Sunak's attempt to become the change candidate hasn't landed so far, Starmer is still seen as 'weak' and 'vanilla'.

Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Holehouse discuss disinformation and the Israel-Hamas war, what the Captain Tom donation story says about Britain, and how to get rid of bedbugs.

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As Keir Starmer makes his final pitch to the public ahead of the next general election, Matt looks back at the pre-election conference speeches of previous Labour leaders with Tony Blair's former speechwriter Phil Collins and former Ed Miliband adviser Ayesha Hazarika.

Plus: Columnists Daniel Finkelstien and Miranda Green on ministers calling pro-Palestinian protesters in London to stay at home, and who emerges victorious from this year's party conference season. 

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