The Times Red Box Podcast

Patrick Maguire sits in for Matt Chorley. Boris Johnson is plotting a comeback, so we take you back in time to when former prime ministers tried to get back in power for the second time with Tim Montgomerie, Professor Richard Toye, Nick Thomas- Symonds and across the waters, Bernard Lagan. Plus columnists David Aaronovitch and Rachel Cunliffe on the leadership TV debate and Keir Starmer going back on his leadership pledges. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Patrick Maguire sits in for Matt Chorley and finds out about the 160,000 Tory members who will be deciding who is the next Prime Minister will be and why do they have so much power with Professor Tim Bale, Henry Hill from Conservative Home and Charlotte Pole from Women2Win.PLUS COLUMNISTS: Libby Purves and Carol Lewis discuss the nitty gritty policies from the two conservative leadership candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, and whether they are too soft. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Pub Landlord, Comedian and friend of the show Al Murray about politics, comedy and missing Boris JohnsonPlUS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on Margaret Thatcher and sleeper trains. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley gets to know the two Tory leadership finalists in more detail. Hear the life and times of Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, and why their supporters are backing them to win.PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott on Liz Truss, Jane Austen and Business lunches. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley and the Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action to analyse the exchanges at Boris Johnson's last ever Prime Minister's Questions. PLUS: CCHQ - Armchair Generals Phil Webster and Elinor Goodman with the latest lowdown on the Tory Leadership race. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Gabriel Milland from Portland Communications who has convened the latest Times Radio Focus Group of swing-voters from Newcastle-under-Lyme who give their verdict on the Tory leadership election candidates.PLUS: Danny Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch with their take on the ins-and-outs of the contest, and whether S-Club 7 are underrated. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley hears from The Times' Policy Editor Oliver Wright, former Chancellor Lord Lamont and Gemma Tetlow the Chief Economist at the Institute for Government to delve into the Tory Leadership hopeful's economic plans.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss TV debates and museums. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley hears from a former spinner from the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems about how they prepared their respective leaders for political TV debates, and they offer their advice to the current tory leadership contenders. Krishnan Guru-Murthy who is hosting Channel 4's debate tells Matt what he is looking out for.PLUS: Melanie Reid and David Collins on the contest and the heatwave See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Who better to divulge the strengths and weaknesses of the Leadership candidates than the people who know them best. Peter Cardwell worked with Rishi Sunak when he was a junior minister, Kirsty Buchanan was an advisor to Liz Truss and Katie Perrior worked at Tory HQ with Penny Mordaunt. They rate the chances of all three of becoming the next Prime Minister.PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott discuss Penny Mordaunt and narcissism in the office. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley and the Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. PLUS: Alice Thomson and Carol Lewis discuss why Penny Mordaunt is popular and why politicians need to target the young. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley hears from Phil Webster, former political editor for The Times, and Elinor Goodman, the former political editor at Channel 4 news on Chorley's Campaign Headquarters for the latest from the Conservative leadership race.He also speaks to Andrea Leadsom former leader of the house about her book Snakes and Ladders.PLUS: Danny Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the Tory Leadership Contest and the Voting System. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley introduces the Chorley Campaign Headquarters as the race to become Conservative Party Leader begins. He speaks to Phil Webster, Former Political Editor for The Times, Elinor Goodman, The former political editor at Channel 4 news, Henry Hill, Assistant Editor at Conservative Home and Patrick English, Political Research Manager at YouGov.PLUS Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd discuss tax policy and campaign videos. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, he's learning about each Leader of the Opposition with Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies. Each month you'll find a collection of episodes on the podcast.This month its Sir Edward Carson, William Adamson, Sir Donald Maclean and  Arthur Henderson.Listen live to the next Leader of the Opposition every Monday morning from 10am on Times Radio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Past Imperfect is a podcast from The Times hosted by Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson. Hear stories from outstanding people about how moments in their early lives informed their identities, their careers and their drive to succeed.Wes Streeting is a Labour politician who is already being tipped as a potential future leader of his party. He is a former president of the National Union of Students, who worked for the Blairite campaign group Progress before winning his Ilford North parliamentary seat from the Conservatives in 2015. He then served as shadow Secretary of State for child poverty before becoming shadow health secretary.Wes Streeting is a centrist who supporters say could win back the party’s traditional working-class voters without alienating middle England. He is a gay Christian Cambridge graduate who is also tough on crime and patriotic.But this rising star of the Labour Party hasn’t had an easy time climbing the ladder. Rachel and Alice sit down with Wes to talk about his childhood experienc

After Boris Johnson resigned as the Conservative Party leader, Matt Chorley takes a look at the key runners and riders for the Tory leadership, who is backing who, and some advice from history on how not to muck it up. Including interviews with the Times' Henry Zeffman, Baroness Catherine Fall and Iain Anderson who both ran leadership campaigns.COLUMNISTS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on Boris, who will replace him and the costly Downing Street flat.Don't forget to listen to tomorrow's episode for another round up of the leaders of the opposition with Nigel Fletcher. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley presents highlights from the rolling coverage of Boris Johnson's resignation on Times Radio, hosted alongside Patrick Maguire. INCLUDING: A political obituary for Boris Johnson & thoughts from India Knight and James Marriott. PLUS: Boris' Biographer Andrew Gimson, his former advisor Katie Perrior and his former Employer Max Hastings reflect on Boris' legacy as Prime MinisterAND: Boris Johnson's statement of resignation in full. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley, the Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pick through those explosive exchanges between Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson in the House of Commons.COLUMNISTS: For a special edition, Matt Chorley speaks to the former political editors Phil Webster and Elinor Goodman on the resignations in the cabinet and how it's different from the 90's toppling of Margaret Thatcher. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Amid rising inflation, Matt Chorley asks what would make a good pay-rise for workers this summer. With expert economic and political analysis and an interview with the TUC's General Secretary Frances O'Grady. PLUS: Danny Finkelstein and Manveen Rana assess the government's complicated response to the Chris Pincher scandal. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Sunday Times Whitehall Editor Gabriel Pogrund on his investigations into Prince Charles and where his charity money comes from. Matt also speaks to Norman Baker who wrote to Scotland Yard to open up an investigation into the Prince of Wales and the Sunday Times' Royal Editor Roya Nikkah on the future of the monarchy.PLUS COLUMNISTS: Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd on the tory rebel plot 2.0 and ageing Britain. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to tourism bosses about how the industry coping with rising costs, staff shortages and surging demand including Visit Britain, UK Hospitality, Tower of London and Stonehenge.PLUS COLUMNISTS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on MPs behaviour and offensive views. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.