The Times Red Box Podcast

This week Matt is joined by Times columnist Philip Collins, who wonders why more billionaires don’t do good, Nicola Woolcock, Times education correspondent, on the latest, expensive Tory plan to win back the youth vote, and columnist Daniel Finkelstein who deciphers Labours Brexit position so you don't have to.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley meets House of Cards creator Lord Michael Dobbs. In a wide ranging conversation Dobbs explains his brutal firing by Margret Thatcher, how he came to write House of Cards when he should have been in therapy and the impact of the #metoo movement in Westminster and Hollywood.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Hugo Rifkind, who is worried about the vast power that vastly rich people today can have over our politics.In the week of the death of Jeremy Heywood, Rachel Sylvester wonders whether the civil service can withstand the huge pressure of Brexit.And Joe Jervis, co-author of Spirit of Britain, Purpose of Labour, says we are a nation divided between Communitarians and Cosmopolitans.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Philip Hammond heralded the beginning of the end of austerity, blowing a multi-billion pound windfall on tax cuts and extra spending. But what was hidden in the small print, does it make an election more likely, and who will actually have more money in their pocket?Matt Chorley is joined by Anne Ashworth, The Times money and property editor, Oliver Wright, The Times policy editor, and Richard Fletcher, The Times business editor, to answer these questions, and others sent in by Red Box newsletter readers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the leader of Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson about life beyond politics, including her upbringing, struggles with mental health, and impending motherhood. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Edinburgh's Signet library.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How do you solve a problem like Brexit, the Budget or Bercow?Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Rachel Sylvester, who warns Theresa May has no room to compromise.Carl Emmerson, from the Institute for Fisxal Studies, on why the chancellor can’t end austerity and the balance the books.And Henry Zeffman, Times political correspondent, on whether John Bercow can survive the latest calls to quit.Read more at thetimes.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Recorded live at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Matt Chorley hosts a special episode as Iain Martin, Lucy Fisher, Jenni Russell and Bruno Waterfield, argue over the big (and not so big) political issues of the day. Including: the Brussels view of brexit, the USA's abdication as "world police", how should the west fight back against Russia? And what is a Kayne West?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley meets health minister Matt Hancock in the last of the party conference podcasts. They talk about his dyslexia, why he accepted a demotion to remain in a minister in 2016, what he plans to do with the billions allocated for the NHS and what Ronnie Wood handed him to get through the Brit awards.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists, Alice Thomson, Patrick Kidd and Hugo Rifkind and former number 10 adviser, Will Tanner.The panel debates if a party torn apart by Brexit, promising tax rises not cuts and buffeted by domestic crises can reinvent itself and who is the right person for the job?Recorded live at the electric cinema in Birmingham.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Recorded shortly before her speech to the Labour party conference in Liverpool, Matt Chorley sits down with shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry. In a wide ranging interview they discuss her childhood, brexit, anti-semitism and why she expects Labour's demands for a general election to succeed.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Recorded live at the Labour party conference in Liverpool, the panel debate whether Jeremy Corbyn can inspire an electorate and turn the last election's gains in to a majority or whether his peak will be remembered as a song on a Glastonbury hillside.To find an answer Matt Chorley is joined by former Corbyn spokesman Matt Zarb-Cousin, author of "Comrade Corbyn" Rosa Prince and Times columnists Rachel Sylvester and Jenni Russell.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton, where leader Sir Vince Cable had a nightmare delivering the key part of his speech.Polly Mackenzie, former Lib Dem No10 policy chief, Vanessa Pine, former adviser to Sir Vince, and Henry Zeffman, Times political correspondent, pick over a bad few days beside the sea.Matthew Parris, The Times columnist, discusses 30 years of attending Lib Dem conference.And Matt goes in search of anyone who want to be Lib Dem leader instead.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, who argues only one person can lead a new Blairite party, and that’s Tony Blair. Sam Coates, The Times deputy political editor, tackles the most contentious issue in politics: trans rights. And Anne Ashworth, The Times money editor, wonders why ministers care so little about how much we are saving for old age.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As MPs return to Westminster, Matt Chorley assembles a crack team of former political spin doctors to diagnose the problems in their parties, and their long-term chances of survival.Katie Perrior, who was Theresa May's No10 director of communications, insists the PM is dead set against a second Brexit referendum: "She thinks it's highly divisive, when you go back on democracy. But will she choose it over getting fired? I don't know, that's politics."Paul Ovenden, who was a Labour press spokesman until after last year's snap election, voices his despair at the party's failure to get a grip on the antisemitism row. He explains: "The problem is it is not just any political issue for Jeremy Corbyn or the people around him. The foundation of their politics is the idea that the West is a force for bad, a force for disruption of the Middle East and Israel is a big part of that."Vanessa Pine, a former special adviser to Sir Vince Cable in the coalition government, admits h

Matt Chorley speaks to David Charter, The Times’ new US editor, about adjusting to life in Washington, the numerous threats to the Trump presidency and the challenge of being a foreign correspondent in a town where contacts can suddenly - and dramatically - lose their jobs.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If sometimes you think politics seems to trivial this might not be the episode for you.Matt Chorley assembles three of the biggest brains filled with useful (and useless) facts about politics and only one can emerge victorious.Showing off their knowledge are Patrick Kidd, The Times sketchwriter and diarist, Esther Webber, Red Box reporter, and Mark Mason, author of Question Time: A Journey Round Britain's Quizzes.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Recorded live at a TimesPlus event, Lucy Fisher speaks to Stig Abell, editor of the Times Literary Supplement, about his new book, How Britain Really Works, an in-depth look at the challenges facing the UK.Getting to grips with Britain is harder than ever – a nation that chose Brexit, rejects immigration but is dependent on it, is getting older but less healthy, is more demanding of public services but less willing to pay for them, and is tired of intervention abroad but wants to remain a global authority.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In part two of our special looking at political shows on the Edinburgh fringe, Matt Chorley is joined by Andrew Maxwell, who you’ll know from Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and Celebrity Mastermind. He is at the fringe with his show Shake a Leg.Lolly Jones, whose show Fifty Shades of May is a comedy/burlesque hybrid described as Downing Street on poppers, with a P45, suspenders, and a chunky metal necklace!And Fin Taylor tackles the politics of sex with his show When Harassy Met Sally.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by three comedians taking political shows to the Edinburgh fringe.Nick Hall brings his show Spencer, the story of Spencer Percival, the only British prime minister to have been assassinated. He asks if, in this age of Brexit, Trump, Corbynista and Maybot, could we still learn something from the past?Jess Green’s show is pretty self-explanatory: A Self-Help Guide to Being in Love With Jeremy Corbyn. She’ll describe how it was impossible to resist the Labour leader’s raw communist sex appeal.And Pierre Novellie’s show See Novellie, Hear Novellie, Speak Novellie promises satire for people without a team.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why a cross-party effort makes sense, but won't happen.PLUS Leaving Labour and replacing MayMatt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Philip Collins, Times deputy diary editor Grant Tucker and Red Box columnist Jane Merrick to discuss the week in politics.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.