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Politics Unpacked
Jonathan Aitken: Ruin And Redemption
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Jonathan Aitken's career in politics began 60 years ago as a speech writer for Alex Douglas-Home and saw him rise to the cabinet under John Major. It all came crashing down when he was convicted of perjury and sent to prison, where he then rediscovered his religion.
He talks to Matt about faith, prison reform, and why politicians lose their moral compass.
Plus: Columnists James Marriott and India Knight discuss the possibility of Nigel Farage entering the I'm a Celebrity jungle, how happy we are as a nation, and whether Shakespeare is as good as James thinks he is.
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When Group Chats Go Wrong
31:06|Hugo Rifkind unpacks the news of the day, including the US security blunder that saw senior White House officials text war plans in a secure app that included a journalist. With Times columnists James Marriott and Libby Purves.Freebies, Austerity & Trump Tourism
33:51|Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Jane Mulkerrins, including: Should we take the Rachel Reeves freebie story seriously? How is the chancellor rolling the pitch ahead of the Spring Statement? And is Donald Trump harming US tourism?Reeves' Unappealing Options
28:45|With growth in short supply, how will Chancellor Rachel Reeves sell big spending cuts to the public and the Labour Party?Coalition Of The Not-So-Willing?
33:07|As military leaders meet in London to discuss support for Ukraine, have the French blocked British manufacturers from an EU defence fund?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Fraser Nelson and Lara Spirit.PMQs: Glazed Expressions And Waffle
42:20|Comedian Andy Hamilton joins Hugo and Tim Shipman to unpack the exchanges at prime minister's questions. It's heavy going as Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch discuss taxes and hospices, but Reform UK's Lee Anderson lightens the mood with a question about "glazed expressions and waffle" from government ministers.The Government Shakes Up Welfare
35:18|As the government lays out massive changes to the welfare system, Kemi Badenoch has a different concern: net-zero. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Tom WhippleDoes Badenoch Have The Luxury Of Time?
32:23|Kemi Badenoch is launching a series of new policy commissions, but how long can she afford to wait before setting out what the party believes? And how likely is it that she will promise to leave the EHRC?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with the help of Sebastian Payne and Jane Mulkerrins.Where Do Peace Talks Go From Here?
29:22|Russia says there is "a lot ahead to be done" on the Ukrainian ceasefire deal; what concessions can Donald Trump realistically extract from Vladimir Putin? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Claire Fox.Is Starmer Wielding The Chainsaw?
27:37|Keir Starmer has announced he is abolishing NHS England, the quango in charge of NHS standards. Is he the chainsaw-wielding disruptor the UK didn't know it had? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed.