The Times Red Box Podcast

Matt Chorley returns to the studio after the party conference season and due to popular demand this episode is a Brexit free zone. This week: Lucy Fisher, senior political correspondent for The Times, on cutting cronyism in the Lords, Katie Perrior, Theresa May’s former director of communications now Times columnist on the perils of reshuffles, and columnist Daniel Finkelstein on Corbyn's proposed assault towards traditional foreign policy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley braves his fourth and final conference of the season this time with the SNP in Glasgow. He asks, have we reached, 'peak Nat', is Brexit making the case for independence harder, and with leaving the union not mentioned throughout conference, how do the SNP continue to motivate party members? The questions are put to Hamish Macdonell, Times Scottish political editor, Times columnist Alex Massie, and SNP MPs including Kirsty Blackman, Stewart McDonald and Stephen Gethins.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the final conference special Matt Chorley welcomes a panel of Times political columnists and journalists including Matthew Parris, Hugo Rifkind and Rachel Sylvester, who dangerously try to predict the future of British politics once more and answer, who will lead the Conservatives next?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special podcast Matt Chorley interviews Ruth Davidson MSP in front of a packed fringe event at the Conservative party conference in Manchester. Davidson speaks on a variety of issues including, firing Boris Johnson, not wanting a second Brexit referendum, parking her tanks on Alex Salmond's lawn, how the party should fight Corbyn and whether she will ever stand for the Tory leadership. In the second part of the podcast the leader of the Scottish Conservatives takes questions from the floor, explaining why she's a "Majorite", answering whether she's the female Boris Johnson and outlining why the party has to speak people 18-25 "not as if they're a separate species". **NB due to circumstances beyond our control the sound quality varies in this podcast**  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the second special from Brighton, Matt Chorley is joined by shadow education secretary Angela Rayner MP, to reflect on the changed mood of the Labour party conference. They also discuss why she took the job in the first place, why she's comfortable saying Labour lost, how teenage pregnancy turned her life around and how her upbringing informs her politics.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The first Red Box debate of conference season comes from Brighton, Matt Chorley welcomes Times senior political correspondent Lucy Fisher, Times columnist Philip Collins, and journalist Rachel Shabi, to try and answer whether Corbyn can become prime minister? In an extended podcast, the panel grapple with the key issues surrounding the topic before taking questions from the audience. **NB: the start of this episode sounds a bit "wedding disco" don't worry it's only for the first thirty seconds**  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special episode, Matt Chorley takes a trip to the seaside to cover the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth. He encounters former special advisors, James McGrory and Vannesa Pine, who share the tribulations of preparing a leader for a major speech. Matthew Parris and Henry Zeffman, try to work out if the Lib Dems have a message for the general public whilst on a cliff top. And Times sketch writer Patrick Kidd tells us the mood of conference and how a change in membership has upended traditional drinking habits. There's also mini golf at the end.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Still armed with his "Brexit Buzzer" Matt Chorley welcomes a panel to debate anything but the B-word. Times columnist, Rachel Sylvester asks if the Tories will ever be forgiven for taking a hardline on the big issue of the day by a generation that overwhelmingly supports Remain. (01:03) Roland Watson, foreign editor of The Times, ponders solving a problem like Korea. With the United Nations divided, where does that leave the balance of power in president Trump's first test of brinkmanship? (10:48) And Grant Tucker, Times diarist, questions why politicians think it's a good idea to make big decisions in the middle of the night? (22:47)  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley returns from Brussels and immediately bans any talk of Brexit until some progress is made, the podcast focuses instead on other issues facing the country. Chris Smyth, the Times health editor, explains why the NHS winter warning gets earlier every year (01:00) Jenni Russell, Times columnist on upcoming benefit cuts that are starting to bite (10:43) And fellow columnist Iain Martin asks why we're losing our religion (20:41)  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Red Box returns from the summer break with an episode from Brussels. Matt Chorley and Henry Zeffman emerge from a windowless room in the Berlaymont Building to try to work out why the Brexit talks have stalled.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the final Red Box of the political year, Matt Chorley welcomes back Jan Ravens, from Spitting Image and Dead Ringers. Patrick Kidd, The Times sketchwriter and diarist. And Peter Brookes, The Times cartoonist who mocks the mighty in beautiful watercolours. The panel attempt a quiz and remember their highlights of 2017 so far before recalling the political characters from the past they enjoyed parodying. Red Box will return in September  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley casts a critical eye back over the most dramatic year in British politics since last year. On the panel, Jan Ravens, the impressionist who has given voice to leaders on Spitting Image and Dead Ringers. Patrick Kidd, The Times sketchwriter and diarist who gives them a kicking in print. And Peter Brookes, The Times cartoonist who mocks the mighty in beautiful watercolours. They review the last political year and reveal their creative processes. Part 2 airs on Friday  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Fay Schlesinger, The Times head of news, who wonders how to reverse the collapse of trust in the state, Red Box commentator Rachel Shabi sets out what Labour will be doing while the Tories are on their summer break, and Lucy Fisher, senior political correspondent for The Times, discusses the little local difficulty in the Tory party.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the week Theresa May marks a year as Prime Minister, Matt Chorley asks, what path should May now take? Two people who know her best offer their insight. Katie Perrior, May's director of communications in No10 until the election was called, explains why the PM needs to cheer up and offer some hope. And in his first interview since leaving Downing Street, Chris Brannigan, who was head of government relations, details the challenge in balancing the access given to major industrial and economic players whilst also keeping an eye on the needs of small and medium enterprises. Plus Sam Coates, deputy political editor of The Times, asks how a May government can last if it's so internally vulnerable?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the second special in the run up to Pride, Matt Chorley sits down to chat with Justine Greening, Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, to discuss coming out by tweet, her view of the DUP and why her personal slogan is "keep on trucking". They also cover her attempt to extract money for schools from the treasury, whether she has any ambitions for future leadership and what battles still need to be fought for the LGBT community?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a two-part special to mark Pride week Red Box examines where the battles now lie for the LGBTQ community. Matt Chorley is joined by James Holt from Pride, Times columnist Matthew Parris, Labour MP Angela Eagle and SNP MP Stewart McDonald. Up for debate: is it no longer a big deal to be a gay politician, how important are labels and was there surprise at the reaction to the DUP deal? Also, Angela Eagle recalls becoming first female MP to come out in office and Matthew Parris remembers inadvertently outing Peter Mandelson on TV in 1998. In the next episode Matt speaks to Justine Greening, the education secretary and equalities minister, about what the government needs to do to tackle homophobia.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by three new MP's to discuss the quirks of adjusting to life in parliament. On the panel: Douglas Ross (Conversative), Luke Pollard (Labour) and Wera Hobhouse (Lib Dem) They discuss the pain of sorting your office, getting lost in the giant building, what they hope to achieve in their terms and what's been the strangest part about the job so far.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley welcomes Jenni Russell who says Brexit is already a mess, Iain Martin who thinks he knows who should be the next prime minister and Anne Ashworth, Times property editor, who suggests the lessons that must be learnt from the Grenfell Tower fire.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley welcomes columnists Rachel Sylvester and Phillip Collins as well as political reporter Henry Zeffman. The panel discuss, why the Tories need to listen to Ruth Davidson, why Jeremy Corbyn should resist calls to move rightwards and how shelving Brexit could be the PM's least worst option in 2019.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Britain wakes up to another shock result, a sleep deprived Matt Chorley welcomes The Times Deputy Editor, Emma Tucker, Times columnist, Alice Thomson, Times diary and sketch writer Patrick Kidd, and Sunday Times Political Editor, Tim Shipman.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.