The Times Red Box Podcast

Matt Chorley meets David Baddiel to discuss his appearance on a government panel hoping to tackle antisemitism, how social media forces comedians to take political positions and why Tony Blair is like Bob Monkhouse.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You’ve worked hard to become an MP, you’ve worked even harder to become a minister, so what happens when it all comes crashing down and you’re faced with a resignation calibre problem? Matt Chorley sits down with Mark Harper MP to discuss why his response to events in 2014 is regarded as the textbook political resignation.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Politicians resign for all sorts of reasons, in this special the panel examine the art and the fall out of the political resignation.Matt Chorley is joined by Theo Barclay, author of “Fighters and Quitters” which chronicles some of the great resignations, Sir Craig Oliver, David Cameron’s director of communications, and Jane Merrick, Red Box columnist.They discuss: what are grounds for quitting, how do you do it with grace and some dignity intact, and is there ever a way back?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Fay Schlesinger, Alice Thomson and Iain Martin to discuss fears of society becoming overly prudish, how to fix the housing crisis, and why the Tories need to find the courage to change leader.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Matt Chorley talks comedy, social media and why we need a party of nutters.On the panel: Matthew Moore, The Times media correspondent, who asks why all the jokes are on the left. Polly Mackenzie, head of Demos think tank, on regulating the future and Times columnist Matthew Parris on the slow death of a political party.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Chris Smyth, Times health editor, to see whether Jeremy Hunt can solve social care, Graeme Paton, transport correspondent, on Chris Grayling hitting the buffers, and Rosemary Bennett, education editor, on whether Damian Hinds can win over whingeing teachers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnists David Aaronovitch and Rachel Sylvester and former Director of Strategy & Chief Speechwriter at May's No10, Chris Wilkins.The panel debate: a government afflicted by caution as seen in the reshuffle, how the hard left is further seizing control of the Labour party and its institutions and whether President Hilary Clinton could have survived the mainstream media onslaught if facing Trump like revelations.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley welcomes Lucy Fisher, Times Senior Political Reporter, Tim Shipman the author of 'Fall Out' and Tom McTague co-author of 'Betting the House' to cast one final look at the political events of 2017.The panel pick their highlights from the last twelve months and dare to make wild guesses about the chaos which might await us in the coming year.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special episode recorded in front of an audience, Matt Chorley sits down with former No10 speechwriter and Times columnist, Philip Collins to discuss the art of writing the perfect political speech. Using examples from famous speeches Philip explains how Churchill showed timing is everything, why you must have something of importance to say and why it's best try to include a joke, unless the person telling it is John Prescott.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Red Box christmas quiz returns to review another bizarre political year. In part two Matt Chorley introduces rounds such as "play your Farages right" as three teams go head to head. The reporters Patrick Kidd and Lucy Fisher attempt to defend their crown against Ruth Smeeth and Johnny Mercer, the MPs, while the columnists Danny Finkelstein and Matthew Parris attempt to find Matthew's glasses.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Red Box christmas quiz returns to review another bizarre political year. Matt Chorley attempts to keep order as three teams of varying ability go head to head. The reporters Patrick Kidd and Lucy Fisher attempt to defend their crown against  Ruth Smeeth and Johnny Mercer, the MPs, while the columnists Danny Finkelstein and Matthew Parris mainly plead for bonus points for decent guesses. Part two airs on Friday.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Times Columnist Rachel Sylvester, Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, and Grant Tucker from the Times Diary. This week: Will anyone stand up for the benefits of Immigration? What are the conclusions we can draw from David Davis’ media appearances? What might 2018 look like?   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Lucy Fisher, senior political correspondent, who tells us about Labour's "purge", Matthew O'Toole, a former No10 Brexit spokesman, explains why it all comes back to Irish first principles, and Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos Mori, reveals the five political tribes crossing party and Brexit lines.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Hugo Rifkind, who worries that the Tories are kitten-killers, Anne Ashworth, Times Money editor, who warns that we are all still losing interest from the major banks, and Patrick Maguire, political reporter, tries to explain the political fall out in Ireland.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Has chancellor Philip Hammond solved a housing problem? Will £2.8 billion really help the NHS? Or was it a "record of failure with a forecast of more to come". Matt Chorley welcomes Nicky Morgan, Alison McGovern, Sam Coates, Patrick Kidd and Alice Thomson to discuss the budget.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley welcomes Times columnist David Aaronovitch, Times religious affairs correspondent Kaya Burgess and Red Box columnist Jane Merrick to discuss the crisis in Germany, religion’s place in politics, and politics place in the celebrity jungle.Philip Hammond’s attempt to save the economy and his own job will be covered in a podcast special later this week.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley assembles a team of experts to answer your Brexit questions in an attempt to figure out what is actually going on and whether it's all very boring?On the panel: Times Brexit briefing pair, policy editor Oliver Wright and political reporter Henry Zeffman, and Jill Rutter, former No10 and Treasury policy guru who is now programme director of the Institute for Government.They answer among other questions: will we actually leave, how much will the divorce bill be, do we need urgent cross party talks, what is Labour's position and will the cost of your weekly shop suddenly sky rocket?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With nothing of interest happening in Westminster at the moment - Matt Chorley casts a critical eye over the first year of the Trump presidency. Joining him on the panel: Times columnist Jenni Russell, who argues Trump is not interested in helping anyone but himself, Sir Christopher Meyer, former British ambassador to the US, who says we should finally now stop talking about the special relationship, and impressionist Rory Bremner on whether it is possible to satirise the most extraordinary character to inhabit the Oval Office.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As parliament is gripped by a sexual harassment storm, Matt Chorley is in Westminster to find out what the so-called “dirty dossier” of Tory MPs means and asks how the culture in politics can be changed so people feel safe going to work. Times reporters Henry Zeffman and Hannah McGrath describe the challenge of corroborating the swirling litany of anonymous allegations.Jess Phillips, a Labour MP, warns that listing people in consenting relationships alongside those accused of serious offences risks discrediting victims.Jane Merrick, a Red Box columnist, describes her own experience of being humiliated by a Tory MP and Times columnist Rachel Sylvester warns of a rising tide of misogyny on the hard left.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Matt assembles a panel of people who do politics differently. Forget politicians, or think tanks or even journalists. This episodes focuses on those who bring about change outside the party system. On the panel: David Babbs from the online petition website 38 Degrees, campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez, who’s successes include getting Jane Austen on the £10 note, and Matteo Bergamini from the youth politics website Shout Out UK. They'll be answering: what role can technology play, and what response there should be to the rise in youth engagement in the political process?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.