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cover art for Down Under Take Over

Politics Without The Boring Bits

Down Under Take Over

Whether it's a love of Kylie, cricket or beer, Australia and Britain have plenty in common when it comes to popular culture - and politics, with a new wave of strategists from down under stirring things up in Westminster.


Patrick Maguire in for Matt Chorley speaks to Senator James McGrath, who worked on Boris Johnson's mayoral campaign, John McTernan, who worked for Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and Kathy Lette, Australian-British author and comedy writer.


Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss Boris Johnson's WhatsApps, a campaign against the 'death tax', free speech tsars and why Spain doesn't want to go to the polls in the middle of the summer.

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  • Classic PMQs Unpacked: Weak, Weak, Weak

    58:39
    Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire give the "Unpacked" treatment to a classic PMQs, with John Major and Tony Blair going head-to-head in January 1997, challenging each other over the leadership of their respective parties.Plus: Columnists Robert Crompton and Jane Merrick discuss a potential Labour government's nightmare in-tray, whether school bullies prosper, and why Alan Titchmarsh had his trousers censored in North Korea.(Columnists 03:55)Classic PMQs (26:50)
  • Tim Martin: Brexit, Boris and Sticky Carpets

    35:03
    Matt's off to the pub... to meet Wetherspoons boss Sir Tim Martin and talk about Brexit, Boris Johnson and whether the lunchtime pint is alive and well.Then Matt hears how Steve Bray, Stop Brexit Man, has been silenced. Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein discuss how to write a manifesto.How To Win Taster (01:03)Steve Bray silenced (06:30)Tim Martin (11:20)
  • The Exit Interviews: Robin Walker

    49:20
    Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to find out about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics.Conservative MP Robin Walker tells Matt why growing up with an MP in the family didn't prepare him for life in Parliament, why being Brexit minister for Theresa May was such a difficult job, and joining the queue to call for Boris Johnson to resign.PLUS: Columnists Libby Purves and Sir Trevor Phillips discuss China's cyber-threat, why both parties have tied themselves in knots over key policies, and why Libby's column has upset people in Scotland.Columnist Panel (03:09)The Exit Interviews (22:58) 
  • The MPs Who Don't Exist

    49:11
    Our new exclusive polling shows that both Labour and the Tories have some well-known frontbench spokespeople; the bad news is that some of them don't exist. Matt explores why fake politicians can poll better than real ones.Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether anyone cares if politicians have done drugs, why it's good to rub people the wrong way, and what makes political theatre worth watching.Columnists: (02:50)The Big Thing: (23:23)
  • It's Not Just The Economy, Stupid

    44:33
    Matt sits down with US political scientist Lynn Vavreck, author of 'The Message Matters', to find out whether the Clinton-era cliche - 'It's the economy, stupid' - really holds true.Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss the Tory mood after a poll for The Times had the party at its lowest level of support since Liz Truss' mini-budget, banging tables at the 1922 committee, and whether shampoo is a scam.Columnists (03:01)It's Not Just The Economy, Stupid (21:31)
  • PMQs Unpacked: Geoff Norcott Rates The Jokes

    01:05:37
    It's the last PMQs before MPs head off for an Easter break, and comedian Geoff Norcott joins Matt Chorley, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the action from the Commons chamber. Rishi Sunak hails the latest inflation figures, while Keir Starmer describes the prime minister's Rwanda plan as a "gimmick".Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss why Labour keeps talking about Margaret Thatcher, whether Gen Z peers are a welcome addition to the House of Lords, and whether the right to roam is as straightforward as it sounds.Columnists (06:20)PMQs Unpacked (25:00)
  • What's The One Thing Sunak Could Do?

    29:07
    With his party behind in the polls and some asking whether he'll survive until the autumn, what options does Rishi Sunak have to turn things around? Matt asks former leader Michael Howard and a panel of expert Tory watchers. Plus: A taster of the latest episode of How to Win an Election, where political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein discuss who could take over as next leader of the party.How To Win (01:21)What's The One Thing Sunak Could Do? (06:09)
  • The Exit Interviews: William Wragg

    51:34
    Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to find out about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics.This week, Conservative MP William Wragg tells Matt what it's like being a serial backbench troublemaker, how government whips behave like the mafia, and why he compares Boris Johnson to Faust.Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss whether Penny Mordaunt could lead the Conservative Party and whether the SNP should campaign for a 'Tory-free Scotland'.Columnists (04:49)The Exit Interviews (26:42)
  • Does The Feelgood Factor Matter?

    48:24
    What makes the nation feel good about itself - is it the weather, sporting success or a royal wedding? And what difference does it make to how the nation votes? Matt takes a look back through history and the polls with Elinor Goodman, Steve Richards and pollster Kelly Beaver.Plus: Columnists James Marriott and Miranda Green discuss Rishi Sunak ruling out a May election, whether heft and height matter in politics, and the value of cheap flights.The Columnists: (03:00)The Big Thing: (22:15)