Share

cover art for Show 359. Thangam Debbonaire

Matt Forde's Political Party

Show 359. Thangam Debbonaire

Thangam Debbonaire


Thangam is one of the brightest stars of the Labour movement. As Shadow Culture Secretary she was all set to command the brief in government. 


But things didn't go to plan. On 4 July, Thangam lost Bristol Central to the Green Party. 


A classically trained cellist. Thangam has a range of life experience. 


She's one of the most charismatic and engaging politicians in the country and her reflections on her career so far are thoughtful and hopeful. 



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

2024


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 - EXTRA DATE

14 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE


2025


29 January: Norwich, Playhouse - EXTRA DATE

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

28 February: Chelmsford Theatre - EXTRA DATE

2 March: Bristol, Tobacco Factory

4 March: Colchester Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE

6 March: Birmingham, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE

7 March: Maidenhead, Norden Farm - EXTRA DATE

11 March: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree

12 March: Glasgow, Glee Club

27 March: Oxford, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE

28 March: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Show 398. Ben Judah

    01:01:28|
    This is a top level briefing from one of the best minds in foreign policy. Ben was Special Adviser to David Lammy when he was Foreign Secretary. He's been in the room for some of the most important meetings of the last few years, including face-to-face meetings with JD Vance.  In this gripping episode he answers some of the biggest questions about global instability.  What should the UK do to mitigate the shift in American policy? How terrifying is the future? What do these changes mean for politics in the UK? How can the British state be changed to work better? How radical do we need to be when it comes to racial and religious integration at home? Big questions with big answers from one of the most compelling voices in modern politics.  THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 20 April: Shabana Mahmood 11 May: Lewis Goodallhttps://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 397. Claire Coutinho

    49:54|
    Claire is the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy, Climate Change and Net Zero, having been Secretary of State in the last Conservative government... and she's changed her position on Net Zero. In this candid and entertaining interview, she tells us why she's changed her mind and her frustrations with the system. Claire also talks about having to confront her own mortality after the traumatic birth of her son and what it's done for her outlook on life. Plus, freedom of speech, class, race and everything else going on in politics at the moment. It's a classic.   THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 20 April: Shabana Mahmood 11 May: Lewis Goodallhttps://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 396. Lisa Nandy LIVE

    01:36:58|
    How does Labour defeat Reform and the Greens? What would count as success in the local, Holyrood and Cardiff elections for Labour? PLUS, The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport talks CultureMedia and... Peroni, AI and Britney Spears.   It's a classic.    THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 20 April: Shabana Mahmood 11 May: Lewis Goodallhttps://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 395. Chris Curtis

    52:36|
    Chris is 32 and was elected in 2024. Despite that, he's already made a name for himself as the co-chair of the Labour Growth Group. But who are they and what would they do differently? A former pollster, what's his take on Labour's position and can it be saved? More importantly, what is the most nutritious item on the Wetherspoons menu?  THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE30 March: Lisa Nandy 20 April: Shabana Mahmood 11 May: Lewis Goodallhttps://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 394. Karl Turner

    01:02:08|
    Strap in for an energetic hour of raw analysis from Labour's Karl Turner. He's been going viral lately and you're about to discover why. Karl is forthright but fair in assessing Labour's issues and what the PLP actually want from the leadership. His perspective my surprise you. He's also had his fair share of health issues in the last few years and is open and honest about it all.  THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE30 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-shows 
  • Show 393. Zack Polanski - LIVE

    01:45:11|
    Zack Polanski has catapulted The Green Party into the national conversation like no-one else before him. So how have The Greens captured so much attention? What do they actually stand for? Can his policies survive until the election? And more importantly, what was his favourite meat? THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE30 March: Lisa Nandy 20 April: Shabana Mahmood 11 May: Lewis Goodallhttps://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 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-shows
  • Show 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-shows
  • Show 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