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Politics Unpacked

Gray Matter

How and why was Sue Gray ousted from Downing Street, and what does it tell us about Keir Starmer's government?


Times columnists Patrick Maguire and Hadley Freeman join Hugo Rifkind to discuss the inside story of the reshuffle at No 10.

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  • Harris's Lessons For Labour

    29:03|
    Can Keir Starmer learn anything from the Democrats' defeat in the presidential election, or are the UK and the US too different to draw comparisons?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Jane Mulkerrins and playwright Jonathan Maitland
  • Trump's Hard Truth For Liberals

    32:32|
    Donald Trump's victory might be a bitter pull for liberals around the world to swallow, but they can't avoid his overwhelming success at the ballot box.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Lara Spirit. You can read Hugo's column in the Times here.
  • PMQs: Badenoch Plays Her Trump Card

    42:40|
    In Kemi Badenoch's first PMQs as Tory leader, she ask whether Keir Starmer will get on with President-elect Trump and protect the "special relationship", but was her explosive style successful?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action at Prime Minister's Questions with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Andy Zaltzman.
  • Has Starmer U-Turned on Fees?

    33:54|
    In 2020 Keir Starmer promised to abolish university tuition fees - so will his government suffer from the decision to increase them in line with inflation?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day, and all the other news, with Libby Purves and James Marriott. 
  • Like British Politics, But Bigger

    34:37|
    Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have been making their closing pitches in front of large crowds in the US, but are the differences between British and American politics exaggerated?And is Kemi Badnoch right to be frustrated about how her comments are sometimes reported?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Hadley Freeman and Patrick Maguire. 
  • PTSD From Truss's Mini-Budget

    33:07|
    Were the markets hostile to the budget or are our jitters a hangover from Liz Truss? Should we bring back food rationing? Can you hold a grudge for as long as a crow?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Timandra Harkness and Robin Brant. 
  • The Real Problem With The USA

    29:57|
    As Biden makes another blunder, is the US president making the campaign impossible for Kamala Harris? And are both parties failing to diagnose the real problems in Washington D.C.? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed. 
  • Reeves' Budget & Sunak's Swan Song

    36:59|
    Labour's first budget in nearly fifteen years will also be the biggest tax-raising budget in history. Hugo unpacks it all with Times Radio's Political Correspondent Theo Usherwood. Plus: In Rishi Sunak's last hurrah at PMQs, he talks up his record in Number 10. Hugo pauses and analyses the action with the help of Lara Spirit and comedian Jon Harvey.
  • Is Kemi Too Outrageous?

    31:10|
    Do politicians have to be outrageous to get attention? Why is the nation's birth rate plummeting? Plus, a lesson in how to carve turnip lanterns. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Laura Freeman.