Red Box Politics Podcast

By The Times

News & Politics

What's Red Box Politics Podcast about?

Politics without the boring bits: Matt Chorley presents the best interviews, analysis and panel discussions from his Times Radio show. Listen to Times Radio live on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at http://www.thetimes.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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LAST EPISODE

And Finally... With Trevor ...

12.01.2023

Broadcasting legend Trevor McDonald is arguably the most recognisable face (and voice) in British news broadcasting history. He talks to Matt about his 60-year career including interviewing Saddam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi, and securing the first interview with Nelson Mandela after ...

Red Box Politics Podcast episodes:

12.01.2023 And Finally... With Trevor McDonald Broadcasting legend Trevor McDonald is arguably the most recognisable face (and voice) in British news broadcasting history. He talks to Matt about his 60-year career including interviewing Saddam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi, and securing the first interview with Nelson Mandela after ...
11.30.2023 From Child Refugee To Top Lawyer The headlines are dominated by statistics about who is coming to the UK and why; but what is it like to come to Britain as a child refugee, without your parents or the ability to speak English, and make a ...
11.29.2023 PMQs Unpacked: Dad Joke Delivery The dad jokes are flowing at Prime Minister's Questions, as Keir Starmer accuses Rishi Sunak of 'losing his marbles' after falling out with the Greek prime minister. Matt is joined by Giles Coren, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause ...
11.28.2023 The Art Of Political Sketch Writing Matt is joined by parliamentary sketch writers old and new to discuss the art of the political sketch. Hear first hand from the people whose job is to poke fun at politicians, which MPs are the ones to watch, and ...
11.27.2023 Is Farage A Tory Threat? As ministers try to plot a new path to cut record migration numbers, Reform UK - formerly the Brexit Party - hopes to win over disillusioned Conservative voters. Patrick Maguire is joined by Iain Martin and John Stevens to discuss ...
11.24.2023 A Winter Of Political Discontent? As temperatures drop around the UK, Patrick Maguire and historian Phil Tinline look at how political problems can turn into a crisis during the winter months - from the industrial action and coal shortages of the 1970s to modern-day demands ...
11.23.2023 How Conspiracies Poisoned Politics Conspiracy theories aren't new, bu they're becoming harder for politicians to ignore. Patrick Maguire explores how they've crept into mainstream discourse, and how they're dominating the Republican primaries in the US. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed debate how ...
11.22.2023 PMQs Unpacked: All About The Money On the day of the chancellor's Autumn Statement, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash in the Commons over Sunak's missing pledge and Labour's record in Wales. Patrick Maguire is joined by Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack ...
11.21.2023 What's Left For The Tory Right? Rishi Sunak has been under pressure from MPs on the right of his party since the cabinet reshuffle, which saw Suella Braverman replaced by David Cameron. But what options do his critics really have, and will they go as far ...
11.20.2023 Are Tax Cuts The Answer? Rishi Sunak says the time has come to cut taxes, but how much are we really paying? Patrick Maguire asks how much they pay in Europe and America, and what, if anything, the Chancellor can do about them in this ...
11.17.2023 The Best of Enemies: Thatcher & Major As a cabinet minister under both Maragret Thatcher and John Major, Norman Fowler is perfectly placed to chronicle the rise and fall of the two prime ministers. He tells Matt about his shock at being promoted by Thatcher, his battle ...
11.16.2023 Focus Group: Meek Sunak and Slimy Starmer It's bad news for both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer in the latest Times Radio Focus group, with voters taking a dim view of David Cameron's return and Suella Braverman's departure - and it's not much better news for the ...
11.15.2023 PMQs Unpacked: Rwanda Rejected On the day that the Supreme Court ruled the government's Rwanda plan is unlawful, Rishi Sunak goes head-to-head with Keir Starmer over immigration and national security. Matt is joined by Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause the action and ...
11.14.2023 The World vs Cameron What does the rest of the world make of David Cameron's return to frontline politics? Climb aboard Chorley Airlines for a whistle-stop tour from Jerusalem to Brussels to Berlin. Matt is also joined by two people who came up against ...
11.13.2023 Cameron the Comeback Kid As David Cameron's return to government stuns Westminster, Matt asks if he's the future once again - with guests including the former prime minister's biographer and his former deputy chief of staff. Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss ...
11.10.2023 Jonathan Aitken: Ruin And Redemption Jonathan Aitken's career in politics began 60 years ago as a speech writer for Alex Douglas-Home and saw him rise to the cabinet under John Major. It all came crashing down when he was convicted of perjury and sent to ...
11.09.2023 Has Nadine Lost The Plot? Nadine Dorries' new book "The Plot" claims Boris Johnson was ousted by a cabal called "The Movement" that has been controlling the Tory leadership for two decades. Matt puts those claims to the test by speaking to Patrick Maguire - ...
11.08.2023 Spads vs Civil Servants? Has the relationship between the civil service and politicians and their advisers been permanently damaged? Matt speaks to Lord McDonald, permanent secretary at the Foreign Office until 2020, former civil servant Jill Rutter, and Hugh Bennett, former special adviser to ...
11.07.2023 The Other King's Speech As the government sets out its plans for the year ahead in the King's Speech, Matt is joined by impressionist Jon Culshaw to imagine some alternative measures King Charles could have announced. Plus: A taster of the second episode of ...
11.06.2023 The Politics of Vegetables British horticulture is at a crisis point, with millions of pounds worth of crops rotting in the ground every year. Matt asks how our politicians can help the industry flourish and speaks to some green-fingered politicos. Plus: Columnists Libby Purves ...
11.03.2023 When Musk Met Sunak Matt's been to see 'gently spoken nerd' Elon Musk meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and finds it's all a bit strange. He talks to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer about whether the interview was a good idea, and talks to ...
11.02.2023 Lessons From A Dying Government What can Rishi Sunak learn from the final days of the Major government, when the prime minister was behind in the polls with a party mired in sleaze and infighting? Matt talks to Howell James, John Major's political secretary in ...
11.01.2023 Covid Inquiry Unpacked This week at the Covid inquiry we've learned a lot about the way Boris Johnson's government worked - and didn't - during the pandemic. Matt is joined by the Sunday Times' George Arbuthnott and the Specator's Isabel Hardman to unpack ...
10.31.2023 Starmer Defies Ceasefire Calls Keir Starmer has been explaining why he has rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, and claims the Labour Party is united. Will his speech settle tensions within the ranks? Matt speaks to Times Radio senior political correspondent Patrick Maguire ...
10.30.2023 Can AI Swing The Election? As politicians from around the globe prepare to touch down in England for Rishi Sunak's AI summit, Matt asks the experts what risks this new technology poses for next year's campaign and elections around the world. Plus: Columnists Libby Purves ...
10.27.2023 How To Rebuild Parliament 80 years ago, Winston Churchill announced a plan to rebuild the Palace of Westminster after the Commons chamber was hit during the last major raid of the blitz. Patrick Maguire in for Matt Chorley looks at the building's history from ...
10.26.2023 Why Can't Politicians Fix Our Prisons? The crisis facing prisons in England and Wales is nothing new - in fact, governments of every stripe have been trying to fix it for decades. Patrick Maguire asks why they've failed, and what can be done to improve criminal ...
10.25.2023 PMQs Unpacked: Eff Off Fresh from Labour's recent by-election victories, Keir Starmer tells Rishi Sunak that voters want him to eff off while they clash over mortgages and rent costs. Patrick Maguire, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit pause and unpack the action from Westminster. ...
10.24.2023 Rishi's Report Card Its one year since Rishi Sunak was voted into number 10 so how is he faring when it comes to the policies that really matter? Patrick and a faculty of experts from The Times track his progress and grade his ...
10.23.2023 More Money, More Politics With the government set to raise the spending cap for the next general election, Patrick Maguire asks if more money leads to worse politics. He talks to two donors about why they give money to the parties, and takes a ...
10.20.2023 Introducing: How To Win An Election 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 ...
10.20.2023 Rishi Sunak's By-Election Blow 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 ...
10.19.2023 Secrets Of A Political Cartoonist 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 ...
10.18.2023 PMQs Unpacked: Speaking With One Voice 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 ...
10.17.2023 The Changing Face of War 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 ...
10.16.2023 Faith In Politics? 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 ...
10.13.2023 What Election Year Is It? 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 ...
10.12.2023 Focus Group: Stop Being So Weak 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 ...
10.11.2023 Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors Forget the Westminster bubble, some of history's most important political events happened not in the corridors of power but in car parks, village halls and seaside resorts. In a taster of his new book 'Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors', Matt ...
10.10.2023 Can A Conference Speech Win An Election? 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 ...
10.09.2023 Angela Rayner's Venom Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting have a round of cocktails with Matt and discuss Angela's favourite drink ('venom'), what to do about children vaping, and what music Keir Starmer should walk on stage to ...
10.06.2023 Iron Daughter: Carol Thatcher After Labour's decisive win in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, Keir Starmer channelled Michael Caine and claimed the party had 'blown the doors off'. But does the result mean he's now on the way to Number 10? Matt talks ...
10.05.2023 Secrets Of Churchill's Office The old War Office in Whitehall, once used by Winston Churchill as the nerve centre of Britain's war effort, has been hidden from public view for more than a century. Matt is given a guided tour of the historic building, ...
10.04.2023 What Comes After Sunak? Rishi Sunak has made his first party conference speech as leader, but polls suggest it could be his last; so who comes next? JL Partners' Scarlett Maguire and Sam Lister from the Daily Express look at the frontrunners in the ...
10.03.2023 100 Years Of Tory Turmoil This year marks a century since the 1922 committee of Conservative backbenchers came into being. Why do the men and women in grey suits still wield so much power, and why aren't they called the 1923 committee? Matt also talks ...
10.02.2023 Focus Group: Snog, Marry, Avoid It's a special conference edition of the Times Radio Focus Group; Matt and James Johnson from JL Partners hear from a group of 2019 Conservative voters who say they no longer support the party. What can Rishi Sunak do to ...
09.29.2023 30 Years Since Back To Basics 30 years ago John Major made a speech pledging to get Britain, and his government, ‘back to basics' - but the scandals just kept coming. Matt speaks to Howell James, Major’s former political secretary, and political journalists Phil Webster and ...
09.28.2023 Your Starter For Ten How often do politics and quizzing collide? There's a rich history of politicians trying and failing to answer simple questions, and the British public struggling to grapple with political trivia. Matt is joined by comedian Lucy Porter and Jenny Ryan, ...
09.27.2023 Take A Chance On Ed? It's the podcast everyone has been waiting for... join Matt and Patrick Maguire as they bring you Ed Davey Unpacked: pausing and analysing the action from Bournemouth and the Liberal Democrat Leader's conference speech. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert ...
09.26.2023 Crazy Golf, Crazy Davey It’s Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth, and Matt plays crazy golf with party leader Ed Davey. How many houses does he want to build, why won’t he talk about Brexit, and who will get a hole-in-one? Plus Columnists Daniel Finkelstein ...

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