Share

cover art for Show 357. Iain McNicol

Matt Forde's Political Party

Show 357. Iain McNicol

Iain McNicol 

 

This. Is. Class.  

 

Iain was General Secretary of the Labour Party from 2011 to 2018.  

 

He tells us what it was like having to run the party during the most tumultuous time in its history. 

 

You'll be hanging on his every word.  

 

 

SEE Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his 2 extra dates at The Bloomsbury Theatre: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows 

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 

6 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre 

14 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre 

 

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 

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Show 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-shows
  • Show 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
  • Anas Sarwar - REPLAY

    01:21:42|
    2026 may be the year that Anas Sarwar finally leads Labour back into power at Holyrood. In this revealing and hilarious interview from 2021, he outlines what Labour needs to do to win.Since then Labour have won a landslide at Westminster... can he replicate that?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
  • Show 384. Ryan Wain

    58:29|
    This is class. Ryan is the Director of Policy and Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. What are the problems we'll face in the future?What are the answers?And what's Tony Blair like as a boss?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/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsRyan Wain This is class. Ryan is the Director of Policy and Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. What are the problems we'll face in the future?What are the answers?And what's Tony Blair like as a boss?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/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
  • Show 383. Tom McTague

    01:00:51|
    Keynes. Woolf. Hitchens. The New Statesman has an illustrious history and editor Tom McTague is the latest custodian of that grand tradition.But how does a centre-left magazine pitch itself in the ferocious world of social media and hot takes?What's its relationship with the Labour Party?How does it handle disagreements on the Left?And, more importantly, what does Labour need to do to win next time?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/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
  • Show 382. Gordon McKee

    59:00|
    It's the biscuit man!Gordon is a viral sensation thanks to his novel way of explaining the national debt using Custard Creams and Bourbons. This is an entertaining analysis of how to use social media and the wider political pressures that Labour face. As a member of the Labour Growth Group, Gordon tells us what the group actually does and how we get deliver growth in the economy. Plus... Gordon's Christmas Day breakfast will blow, and possibly influence, your mind.THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanskihttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
  • Show 381. Nick Clegg - LIVE

    01:38:21|
    This. Is. Phenomenal. Nick Clegg has been one of the most powerful people in the UK and in Silicon Valley. He takes us inside the crazy world of Meta and the tech bros. What is Mark Zuckerberg really like? Should we fear AI? Does he still speak to David Cameron?All this and more are contained within! THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanskihttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows 
  • Show 380. Peray Ahmet

    54:01|
    Peray is the Labour leader of Haringay Council.They are leading the way when it comes to building council homes.But why?This is a fascinating, entertaining insight into leadership in local government, including how to manage disagreement and where to go for the best kebabs.THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE8 December: Nick Clegg26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanskihttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
  • Show 379. Izzy Conn

    42:38|
    Izzy is a political historian and host of the excellent 'Leading Labour' podcast that you can listen to here:https://leadinglabour.podbean.com/It's a series analysing every Labour leader from Attlee to Corbyn.So which Labour leader from history is Keir Starmer most like? And which one can he learn from the most?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE8 December: Nick Clegg26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanskihttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows