Share
Matt Forde's Political Party
Show 379. Toby Perkins
Toby Perkins
Toby won his Chesterfield seat for the fifth time at the recent general election. But how did he retain his seat throughout Labour's darkest years when colleagues around him were losing theirs?
One of the most likeable MPs in the Commons was a Shadow Minister but didn't get appointed to the frontbench after the election.
He talks openly and honestly about the mixed feelings he has about Labour finally forming a government, but not being a minister in it.
A massive football fan, Toby also reveals which football manager he thinks he'd most be like if he chairs the Environmental Audit Committee.
SEE Matt at the Edinburgh Festival in August and on tour until March 2025: 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
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 402. Lewis Goodall
01:33:52|WOAH. Recorded the night Labour MPs began calling on Keir Starmer to resign, this is an adrenaline-fuelled up-to-the-minute analysis of what has gone wrong and what happens next. PLUS great stuff about Lewis's life growing up, his book, his mum and the dynamic between him, Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel. It's a corker. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 1 June: Andy Burnham https://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-showsShow 401. Steve Baker
01:03:12|Strap on in for an adrenaline-fuelled hour with former Conservative minister Steve Baker. This is packed full of honest reflections on the faith, life, mental health... and so much more. Steve is a deep thinker and has continued to analyse politics since he left Parliament. This is cracking. CHECK OUT Steve's project, 'Fighting for a Free Future' here: https://www.fightingforafreefuture.com/ THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 11 May: Lewis Goodall 1 June: Andy Burnham https://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-showsShow 400. Andrew Marr - Replay
01:22:56|This is a classic from the back catalogue. You are about to be thoroughly entertained by one of the best raconteurs in the history of the show. Andrew Marr is one of the most gifted broadcasters that Britain has ever produced and he shares hilarious stories from his wonderful career. This is a show packed with powerful moments, including the mistakes Andrew thinks the media made in their coverage of Iraq, and his experiences of interviewing leading politicians like Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn. Andrew Marr isn't just a gifted journalist, he's fantastic company. Enjoy! THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 11 May: Lewis Goodall 1 June: Andy Burnham https://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-showsShow 399. Shabana Mahmood - LIVE
01:36:59|Shabana Mahmood doesn't hold back in this impassioned, thoughtful and hilarious interview. This is the Home Secretary as you've never heard her before. Nothing is off limits in this wide-ranging interview which includes reflections on her upbringing, her solution for dealing with immigration and a revelation about her hobby that you'd never see coming. Warning: includes protestors. And a very direct response from the Home Secretary. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 11 May: Lewis Goodall 1 June: Andy Burnham https://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-showsShow 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-showsShow 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-showsShow 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-showsShow 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-showsShow 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