How To Win An Election

What is Rishi Sunak's political legacy, and has he still got time to build one? The political masterminds discuss when leaders have left a lasting change - and whether they can ever leave the public wanting more.Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to talk about legacy, why Rachel Reeves is using the word 'gaslighting', and why Peter thinks the Green Party is becoming a 'dustbin' for the hard left.Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.

In a special bonus episode of the podcast, Matt and the political masterminds analyse the local elections results in front of a live audience.How easy is it to spin your way out of a heavy election defeat, has Rishi Sunak done enough to see off Tory rebels, and should Labour be talking more about Liz Truss?Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.

Is there anything that Rishi Sunak can do to defy political gravity and deny Labour a majority? And after flying high for so long, can the SNP find a new leader that will help them turn the page?The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss the turmoil in Scottish politics, whether Labour is overpromising, and Conservative fortunes heading into the local elections in England and Wales.Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.

There's currently no vacancy for the leadership of the Conservative Party, but that hasn't stopped potential candidates from positioning themselves for life after Rishi Sunak.Matt Chorley asks the political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein how to get the top job without being seen to wield the knife.After Rishi Sunak turns on Liz Truss, has he been taking their advice? And what will happen if Donald Trump endorses Nigel Farage during the election campaign?Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.

How much lasting damage has Liz Truss done to the Conservative Party, and any future leaders hoping to pursue a radical tax-cutting agenda?The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss the former prime minister's new book and whether she wants her party to win or lose the election.And with local elections on the way, does expectation management really work - and could a defeat even lead to Rishi Sunak walking away from Downing Street?Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.We'll be recording a special episode of the podcast in front of a live audience after the local elections - find the details here.

This week in 2010 saw the UK's first ever TV debate between the party leaders.Campaign insiders Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to remember the advice they gave at the time. Why did Tony Blair warn Peter not to talk up Nick Clegg's performance, why did David Cameron tell Danny he'd been nervous for the first time in his political life, and would they advise Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to take part this time around?Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.We'll be recording a special episode of the podcast in front of a live audience after the local elections - find the details here.

We're answering your questions this week, including whether Prime Minister's Questions really matters, how important is it to win the support of the newspapers, and does negative campaigning work?Matt Chorley is joined by the political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein.Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.And we'll be recording a special episode of the podcast in front of a live audience - find the details here.

Who is writing the manifestos ahead of the General Election, and how are the parties planning to make them grab the public's attention without blowing up during the campaign?Election masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to talk about 1983's 'longest suicide note in history', and the time Theresa May kept the manifesto secret from her own cabinet.We also hear why Peter's upset the unions, why H'Angus the Monkey won an election, and whether the Tories have given up plotting for a few weeks.

In the US, Taylor Swift could have the power to swing the presidential election. As famous faces come out to back Keir Starmer's plans for the arts, we ask when a celebrity endorsement can boost a campaign... and when it can go badly wrong.The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss star power, and who could be the next Conservative leader - could the runners and riders include Michael Gove and even David Cameron?Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.