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Politics Unpacked
Can Sunak Save the Tories?
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Patrick Maguire asks whether the new Prime Minister can rescue the Tory party from electoral defeat and what can actually be achieved by a government just two years from a general election.
PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on Boris' exit from the race and how the Labour party approach the new regime.
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Is Labour The Disrupter - Or The Disrupted?
32:11|After Keir Starmer tells his cabinet they need to be the "disrupters if you don't want to be disrupted", can they live up to the billing - and is this just a reaction to the rise of Reform UK? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Emma Duncan and Patrick Maguire.Build Baby Build
27:53|With growth forecast to be less than a measly one percent this year, can Keir Starmer build his way out of the bad news?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Robin Brant and Zoe Strimpel.Are Labour And The Tories Panicking Over Reform?
29:21|As Kemi Badenoch sets out a new migration policy and Labour attacks Nigel Farage over his views on the NHS, are the Tories and Labour panicking about Reform's rise in the polls?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Manveen Rana.PMQs: The Kemi Pivot
35:32|Kemi Badenoch continues her scattergun approach to questioning Keir Starmer, jumping from the Chagos Islands deal to voice coaches to drilling for oil in the North Sea.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman and comedian Marcus Brigstocke.The President Who Cried Tariff
32:29|Donald Trump has suspended the hefty tariffs on Mexico and Canada that he threatened after last-minute negotiations with the two US neighbours...is this the president showing the world just how favorable complying with his terms can be? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.Keir's Not Driving The Train
32:30|A new book reveals that Keir Starmer closest advisers have doubted his ability to lead. Does it matter if he acts more like an HR manager than a politician?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with the book's author Patrick Maguire, and Lara Spirit Pre-order a copy of 'Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer' at timesbookshop.co.uk.Brexit, Boomers & Centrist Dads
31:42|It's the fifth anniversary of Brexit - is Ed a remoaner, what's gone wrong for the centrists, and is it time for boomers to open their pockets?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Zoe Strimpel and Robin Brant.Focus Group: Rabbit In The Headlights
25:28|In the first Times Radio focus group of 2025, we find out whether voters who backed Labour at the general election are suffering from buyer's remorse.Hugo Rifkind is joined by pollster James Johnson, of JL Partners.PMQs: The Next Lettuce?
41:52|Kemi Badenoch goes on the offensive over the government's plans for growth, but Keir Starmer thinks she's going to be 'the next lettuce'.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman and comedian Lucy Porter.