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How To Win An Election
How To Stop Your Missions Becoming Impossible
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With Reform closing in on Labour in the polls and questions being asked about the chancellor's political survival, how can the government get on with the day job of changing the country?
The political masterminds are joined by guest Peter Hyman, former adviser to Tony Blair and Keir Starmer and architect of the government's five "missions for national renewal".
And... the podcast has been shortlisted in the People's Choice category at this year's Political Podcast Awards. While we get ready to deploy the dark arts, please vote for us here.
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How (And When) To Topple A Leader - With Jeremy Hunt
40:53|After a series of sackings, missteps and with Reform ahead in the polls, Labour MPs are seriously thinking about trying to change leader.But would replacing Keir Starmer improve the party's fortunes, would Andy Burnham be any good, and is it true that “the hand that wields the knife shall never wear the crown"?With Danny away, the team are joined by former chancellor Jeremy Hunt to discuss the men in grey suits, and why it costs £800 to buy your ministerial red box.Send your comments and questions to: howtowin@thetimes.co.ukHow To Win The Deputy Leadership - And Mandelson Sacked
42:21|The political masterminds discuss the deputy Labour leadership contest - and then the breaking news as we record the episode that Peter Mandelson has been sacked as US ambassador.Having backed two allies to stay in their jobs - first Angela Rayner, then Lord Mandelson - where does this leave Keir Starmer?Send your comments and questions to: howtowin@thetimes.co.ukHow To Survive A Scandal
38:18|Angela Rayner is under fire after admitting she failed to pay enough tax on her second home. Keir Starmer has vowed to do "everything he can" to save her political career, but how much damage is he doing to his own?The political masterminds discuss whether Angela Rayner can survive this scandal. Plus, will Keir Starmer start to have sleepless nights over the Greens?Send your comments and questions to: howtowin@thetimes.co.ukHow To Holiday With JD Vance
41:53|Is Chevening, the foreign secretary's country house, more Maga than you might think? After news that US vice president JD Vance will stay with the foreign secretary, the team discuss their time at the government's grace-and-favour mansions.They also answer a question from listener Nick about whether Nigel Farage can deliver as well as he can campaign, and look at the impact of Keir Starmer's policy shift over Gaza.Send your comments and questions to: howtowin@thetimes.co.ukHow To Win The Summer
30:03|MPs have left Westminster for the summer, but politics continues - with Nigel Farage promising to spend six weeks fighting a war on crime.Can opposition parties use the break to put pressure on the government, did David Cameron deserve his reputation for 'chillaxing', and why did Tony Blair's team hope he wouldn't call from the sun lounger?Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukHow To Punish The Labour Rebels
41:20|With Hugo away, Patrick Maguire joins the political masterminds to ask whether Keir Starmer was right to punish rebellious Labour MPs by removing the whip.They also consider whether giving the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds will help Nigel Farage at the next election, Rachel Reeves' unpalatable options over tax, and Donald Trump's appearance at the Club World Cup.Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukHow The Populists Are Coming (From Left And Right)
41:56|This week the political masterminds consider what's happening on the populist left and right, with more Tories defecting to Reform UK and talk of a new party led by Jeremy Corbyn.How small has the Conservative coalition become, do the voters expect Keir Starmer to wield a 'magic wand', and what would a new party be called?Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukHow To Respond To A Tearful PMQs
39:53|It's been a dramatic political week, with Keir Starmer attempting to answer speculation about the chancellor's future after she was seen in tears at prime minister's questions.The political masterminds discuss what really happened at PMQs, how the prime minister has responded, and whether the government is in search of a new strategy. Plus, just how big is Polly's whiteboard?Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukHow To Learn From Former PMs
42:06|The political masterminds are answering your questions this week, including - should Keir Starmer look to Harold Wilson, or ignore historical precedents? Can politicians make the case for borrowing more? And what can Reform learn from the Lib Dems about coming second?Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk