The Political Party

Shama TatlerShama was the Labour candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green and almost unseated Iain Duncan Smith just a few weeks ago. Had it not been for an independent candidate standing in the seat, Shama would almost certainly have won. Shama describes her experience in full, including the abuse she faced and the misinformation spread about her. In an election when many candidates had to suffer a similar fate, Shama's story is a vital testimony of how abusive modern politics has become.SEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August and on tour until March 2025: Matt Forde The End of an Era Tour202431 July - 25 August: Edinburgh, The Pleasance2 October: Norwich Playhouse3 October: Maidenhead, Norden Farm9 October: Middlesbrough, The Crypt10 October: London, Leicester Square Theatre24 October: Hull, Truck Theatre6 November: Exeter, Phoenix8 November: Tunbridge Wells, Trinity Theatre14 November: Basingstoke, The Haymarket15 November: Colchester Arts Centre20 November: York, The Crescent21 November: Chorley, Little Theatre22 November: Salford, The Lowry27 November: Chipping Norton Theatre28 November: Leicester, Y Theatre29 November: Eastleigh, The Berry31 November: Faversham, The Alexander Centre20254 February: Leeds, City Varieties5 February: Sheffield, The Leadmill6 February: Chelmsford Theatre7 February: Bedford, The Quarry Theatre12 February: Bath, Komedia13 February: Southend, Palace Theatre16 February: Cambridge, The Junction20 February: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts23 February: Brighton, Komedoa25 February: Cardiff, Glee Club26 February: Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal2 March: Bristol, Tobacco Factory11 March: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree12 March: Glasgow, Glee Club

Anthony Mangnall  Anthony was one of the stars of the Election 24 Series. A former adviser to William Hague, he'd been the Conservative MP for Totnes since 2019.   On 4 July he lost his seat to the Lib Dems.  In this candid and hilarious interview, he reflects on defeat and reveals what advice he gave his successor.   SEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August and on tour until March 2025: Matt Forde The End of an Era Tour 2024  31 July - 25 August: Edinburgh, The Pleasance 2 October: Norwich Playhouse 3 October: Maidenhead, Norden Farm 9 October: Middlesbrough, The Crypt 10 October: London, Leicester Square Theatre 24 October: Hull, Truck Theatre 6 November: Exeter, Phoenix 8 November: Tunbridge Wells, Trinity Theatre 14 November: Basingstoke, The Haymarket 15 November: Colchester Arts Centre 20 November: York, The Crescent 21 November: Chorley, Little Theatre 22 November: Salford, The Lowry 27 November: Chipping Norton Theatre 28 November: Leicester, Y Theatre 29 November: Eastleigh, The Berry 31 November: Faversham, The Alexander Centre  2025  4 February: Leeds, City Varieties 5 February: Sheffield, The Leadmill 6 February: Chelmsford Theatre 7 February: Bedford, The Quarry Theatre 12 February: Bath, Komedia 13 February: Southend, Palace Theatre 16 February: Cambridge, The Junction 20 February: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts 23 February: Brighton, Komedoa 25 February: Cardiff, Glee Club 26 February: Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal 2 March: Bristol, Tobacco Factory 11 March: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree 12 March: Glasgow, Glee Club 

Election 24 Season Finale with Lauren Edwards  It's all over, but how did all our guests do?  You're about to find out with the Political Party Results Service.   We couldn't end the series without catching up with one of our guests, so let's grab a pint of CAMRA approved real ale and a big back of pork scratchings and sit down with Lauren Edwards, who sensationally won Rochester and Strood for Labour.  SEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August: Matt Forde The End of an Era Tour 

Election 24, Episode 32  It's Polling Day!  Soak up the final day of the election in style with one last tour of the campaign.  Today's candidates are:   Ian Murray, Labour, Edinburgh South @IanMurrayMP https://linktr.ee/ianmurraymp   Tom Tugendhat, Conservative, Tonbridge @TomTugendhat https://www.tomtugendhat.org/  Uma Kumaran, Labour, Stratford and Bow @Uma_Kumaran https://www.umakumaran.co.uk/  Andrew David Green, Independent, North West Essex https://adg4nwe.co.uk/  Alexandra Marsanu, Conservative, Manchester Rusholme @alex_marsanu https://www.alexandramarsanu.uk/ Tim Leaver, Labour, North West Norfolk @TimLeaver4NWN https://www.timleaver.com/ Just 517 to go... somehow...   SEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August: Matt Forde The End of an Era Tour

Election 24, Episode 31  It's Political Christmas Eve! One of the most magical days in the political calendar.  The Battlebus picks up pace as we sprint towards the finish.   Today's candidates are:   Jonathan Ashworth, Labour, Leicester South @JonAshworth https://www.facebook.com/JonAshworth   Abi McGuire, Independent, Wells and Mendip Hills @Abi4MP https://abimcguire.co.uk/  Catherine McKinnell, Labour, Newcastle North @CatMcKinnell https://linktr.ee/catherine.mckinnell Glenn Bluff, Conservative, Doncaster North @BluffGlenn https://www.doncasterconservatives.org/people/glenn-bluff  Tim Morgan, Green, Wrexham https://newales.greenparty.org.uk/ Just 523 to go...  WATCH the 1966 film Jonathan Ashworth mentions about politicians responding to hecklers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRjDusinQdc   SEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August: Matt Forde The End of an Era Tour 

Election 24, Episode 30  It's a passionate and energetic day on the podcast as Polling Day becomes visible on the horizon.  Enjoy a refreshing glass of rosé but remember, no smoking on the Battlebus!  Today's candidates are:   Danielle Newson, Lib Dem, Sussex Weald @LibDemDanielle https://www.wealdenlibdems.org.uk/   Julie Marson, Conservative, Hertford and Stortford  @JulieMarsonMP https://linktr.ee/julie.marson  Jeremy Lee, Independent, Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket @independentlee_ https://www.independentlee.org/    Just 528 to go... If you are a candidate or know one who'd like to come on the show, email politicalpartypodcast@gmail.com  SEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August: Matt Forde The End of an Era Tour  

Election 24, Episode 29 Today's episode is best enjoyed with some fine wine. And a pint of ale. And a Sunday roast.  Today's candidates are: Steve Reed, Labour, Streatham and Croydon North @SteveReedMPhttps://www.stevereedmp.co.uk/ Tom Pridham, Conservative, Battersea@tom_pridhamhttps://www.wandsworthconservatives.co.uk/people/tom-pridham Helen Baxter, Lib Dem, Queen’s Park and Maida Vale@HelenBaxter_LDhttps://www.westminsterandcityoflondonlibdems.org.uk/meet-helen James Nelson, Green, Filton and Bradley Stoke @JamesNe78081707https://southglos.greenparty.org.uk/2024/03/13/candidates-ge24/ Just 531 to go...If you are a candidate or know one who'd like to come on the show, email politicalpartypodcast@gmail.com SEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August: Matt Forde The End of an Era Tour

Election 24, Episode 28We're trying to collect them all! The political Pokémon challenge continues with four more candidates:  Oliver Ryan, Labour, Burnley @OliverRyanUKhttps://www.oliverryan.org.uk/ Sharmen Rahman, Green, Leicester South @sharmen_rhttps://leicester.greenparty.org.uk/ Lauren Edwards, Labour, Rochester and Strood @LaurenREdwardshttps://laurenedwards.uk/ Charlie Davis, Conservative, Eltham and Chislehurst @CharlieJSDavishttps://www.greenwichconservatives.com/people/charlie-davisJust 535 to go...If you are a candidate or know one who'd like to come on the show, email politicalpartypodcast@gmail.comSEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August: Matt Forde The End of an Era Tour

Election 24, Episode 27Imagine a selection box only filled with the best chocolates. Now imagine that in audio form.You've just imagined this episode.  Today's candidates are: Emily Thornberry, Labour, Islington South and Finsbury@EmilyThornberryhttps://www.emilythornberry.com/ Damian Collins, Conservative, Folkestone and Hythe @DamianCollinshttps://linktr.ee/damiancollins Thomas Daw, Green, Weston-Super-Mare@CllrThomasDawhttps://northsomerset.greenparty.org.uk/general-election/ Christian Wakeford, Labour, Bury South@Christian4BuryShttps://christianwakeford.org.uk/Just 539 to go...If you are a candidate or know one who'd like to come on the show, email politicalpartypodcast@gmail.comSEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August: Matt Forde The End of an Era Tour