The Times Red Box Podcast

Why MPs do reality TV? Matt speaks to the culture secretary Nadine Dorries, former MPs; Matthew Parris, Julia Goldsworthy, Michael Fabricant and more.PLUS columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on migrants and HS2.Thanks to the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 for the archive material.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What can the polls tell us? Matt Chorley speaks to Chris Curtis from Pollsters Opinium and Political Scientist Paula Surridge to reveal what's really going on in British politics.PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott discuss the rail review, and other stories from today's news.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley and Chief Political Commentator of the Sunday Times Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Carol Lewis discuss asylum laws, sleaze and Carry On vs. Bond.SPECIAL TREAT: The man who spent three years restoring the Big Ben clock in a barn.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to author and friend of Clarissa Eden, wife of Anthony Eden, who died this week at the age of 101. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss Alok Sharma's COP26 legacy and Christopher Chope.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell speaks to Matt Chorley about his new book Beyond a Fringe: Tales from a Reformed Establishment Lackey.PLUS The Times Libby Purves and the Mirror's Susie Boniface discuss COP26, sleaze and sex work.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is the present sleaze scandal the worst? Or do we need to travel back in time to the 90's or the noughties? Matt speaks to some of the journalists who broke the stories of these historic sleaze scandals, David Hencke, Christopher Hope and Heather Brooke.PLUS columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on whether we can move on from this sleaze scandal, MPs second jobs and levelling up.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley reflects on what Remembrance Day means to MPs and finds out about some of those who served and died in the war with parliament historian Kathryn Rix and current MPs Chris Bryant and Tom Tugenhat.PLUS Knight at the Marriott, India Knight and James Marriott, talk about their best flight stories and marrying young.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's transport day at COP26, and Matt Chorley speaks to journalists from the four corners of the UK to find out what green travel is like across the country. PLUSRobert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss Boris Johnson's COP intervention and House of Lords reform.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley hears about a day in the life of two GPs as they face winter pressures and a mounting backlog of patients, as well as Royal College of GPs Vice Chair Michael Mulholland and Health Minister Maria Caulfield on what can be done to help them and their patients. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss Geoffrey Cox's Caribbean endeavours and the Royal Court's Fink blunder.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to historian Anthony Seldon, Catherine Haddon from the Institute for Government, Chris Evans MP and Nick Mays from the News UK archives to find out whether the government conducting their business on encrypted apps will make chronicling history more difficult. PLUSLibby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss sleaze and fallen heroes.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Could we live forever? Matt Chorley speaks to Richard Faragher, professor of gerontology at the University of Brighton, on the science of living forever.Plus columnists Melanie Reid and James Forsyth on rebel MPs and pantomimes.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In just 60 years there will be more Nigerians than Europeans. Matt Chorley looks at the future of migration in Africa with Roger Boyes, Yvonne Ndege from International Organisation of Migration, Paul Morland, Dr Parag Khanna.Plus James Marriott and John Stevens discuss the Owen Paterson U-turn and enthusiasm.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley and Chief Political Commentator of the Sunday Times Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Angela Rayner (in for Keir Starmer) at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss meat tax, will money and nudist holidays.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by James Johnson, who chairs a panel of swing voters from Plymouth, Manchester and Derby, to get their views on Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer, the budget and climate change.Plus: Finkelvitch, Daniel Finkelvitch and David Aaronovitch, on climate hypocrisy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Former Cabinet Minister Danny Alexander who's arrived at COP26 to argue for greener investment in Asia.PLUSLibby Purves and Rachel Sylevester discuss the day's news and praise the inventor of Tiramisu  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Fiona Hill to talk about going from a County Durham comprehensive to working for three US presidents.PLUS a look back at a week that had a budget and more Brexit rows, with James Forsyth and Melanie Reid.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to a panel of economic experts each with their own key takeaway from Rishi Sunak's Budget. PLUS:India Knight and James Marriott discuss the day's news.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Ed Miliband (in for Keir Starmer) at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUS: Robert Crampton and Polly Mackenzie discuss the top stories of the day.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley puts questions sent in by Times Radio listeners to COP26 Spokesperson Allegra Stratton.PLUS: David Aaronovitch and John Stevens discuss the day's news as well as why parents can't behave at their children's football matches.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Adam Macqueen, author of a new book chronicling six decades in news as captured by the satirical magazine.Plus Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on NHS backlogs and overhauling the honours system.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.