Share
Matt Forde's Political Party
Show 266 *Neil Kinnock - LIVE*
•
One of Labour's greatest ever leaders and one of British politics' greatest ever stars returns to thrill and move in equal measure. Neil Kinnock is still blessed with a command of language and sharp wits that very few politicians will ever get near. Reminiscing about being a Labour leader having to expel the hard left draws an irresistible parallel with the present, and Neil shares his analysis of Keir Starmer's leadership and the lessons he learned in making the party more electable. Neil is also a man with immense heart and this show is, at times, deeply emotional. Pour yourself a single malt, you'll be forgiven for tearing up.
Buy tickets to The Political Party, live at The Duchess Theatre including the next show with TOM TUGENDHAT on Monday 21 March here: https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/
Buy tickets to Matt's brand new stand-up show Clowns To The Left Of Me, Jokers to the Right, touring across the UK including at The Bloomsbury Theatre on Saturday 23 April: https://www.mattforde.com/2022tour
Forthcoming guests at The Political Party include:
21 March: Tom Tugendhat
4 April: James Cleverly
11 April: Jacob Rees-Mogg and Rosena Allin-Khan
18 April: Rosie Duffield
16 May: Lisa Nandy
13 June: Gary Neville
27 June: David Davis
Email the show: politicalpartypodcast@gmail.com
Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattforde
More episodes
View all episodes
Show 392. Christopher Snowdon
58:04|What is lifestyle economics and why does it matter? The IEA's Christopher Snowdon is a fun-loving political thinker and explains his opposition to puritanism, why we should have more freedom and what that would mean for our policies on smoking, alcohol, gambling and the very existence of the NHS. Also... what are ultra-processed foods and are they necessarily bad? THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandy 20 April: Shabana Mahmoodhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 391. Mick Lynch - REPLAY
01:19:41|A classic from 2022... was it really four years ago?In his pomp as RMT's General Secretary, Mick Lynch was on sparkling form. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandy 20 April: Shabana Mahmoodhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 390. David Miliband - Live
01:28:50|Oh boy, are you in for a treat. Political colossus David Miliband is in the UK and is on blistering form. This is impassioned, urgent and absolutely electrifying. An absolute classic. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandy 20 April: Shabana Mahmoodhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series 'The Matt Forde Focus Group':https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
*The Matt Forde Focus Group returns – Free tickets*
00:55|To get first access to FREE audience tickets to series two of The Matt Forde Focus Group sign-up to my mailing list at www.mattforde.com/focus-groupShow 389. Hilary Cass
01:16:29|Baroness Cass didn't expect to end up in the House of Lords.She began her career as a paediatrician, a career path that culminated in her publishing the Cass Review into Gender Identity Services. This is a thoughtful and empathetic analysis of the experiences of vulnerable young people. Hilary takes us inside the report and her findings.She also makes a compelling case for banning social media for under 16s... and tells us what it's like being a newbie in the Upper Chamber. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 388. Lola McEvoy
01:00:42|Lola is absolutely full of beans. Or is it Pease Pudding?Elected in the 2024 landslide, she has already made a name for herself and is climbing the ladder as PPS to Lisa Nandy.But it's her campaigning around online safety where she's really made an impact. Should the government ban social media for children? Should smart phones be banned in schools?Let's head up to Darlington, lick a Lemon Top and find out. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 387. Keir Starmer - Live
01:17:51|The Special VIP Guest is... The Prime Minister. This is a classic episode with plenty of light and shade.There's the personal, the political, the domestic, the international and, of course, some football. It's a mix of massive laughs and proper politics. What's Trump like behind the scenese?What could the government do better?Would he wear aviators indoors?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 386. George Finch
01:08:22|George became a national political sensation in 2025 when he became the leader of Warwickshire County Council at the age of 18.The Reform councillor is now 19 and shares his experience of leadership.This is a fascinating insight into Reform as a party, to the realignment on the right and about the impact of defections like Robert Jenrick's. But it's also about the values that underpin George's thinking and about how you get things done in politics.Who is really in charge? And who should be?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 385. James Frith
30:18|Do MPs dread going back to work like the rest of us do?Rising Labour star James Frith talks us through what it's like going back to the office as a politician.He's now PPS to David Lammy, but what exactly does that involve?And where does he buy and sell his old clothes?All this and more in this entertaining start to 2026. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows