Share
Politics Unpacked
Philby, Fleming and Putin: A History of Spies
•
Ed Vaizey interrogates the past, present and future of espionage, from moments that could have come from fiction to the reality of spying in the modern world. He speaks to former GCHQ director Sir David Omand and Lord Robin Renwick, former UK ambassador to the United States and author of 'The Intelligent Spy's Handbook'.
Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Timandra Harkness discuss how to make companies take responsibility for Grenfell, Tony Blair's call for closer links to Europe, and kicking hereditary peers out of Parliament.
More episodes
View all episodes
Can Mandelson Charm Donald Trump?
21:50|Peter Mandelson is set to become Britain’s next ambassador to Washington, but does he have a plan to win over Donald Trump - and Elon Musk?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day, and all the other news, with Robin Brant and Timandra Harkness.Can Kemi Look Like A PM In Waiting?
33:58|A new YouGov polls shows the public doesn't see Kemi Badenoch as a PM in waiting - is their verdict a suprise?Plus, is Matthew Parris the British equivalent of a cowboy?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris.PMQs Unpacked: One-Trick Phony
43:58|It's the last PMQs of 2024, and Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch trade blows over the government's decision to restrict winter fuel payments.But some of the toughest questions come from the backbenches over the Waspi women campaign, with one MP calling the Starmer a "one-trick phony".Why Is Starmer Polling So Badly?
32:00|Starmer's approval rating is the lowest of any Prime Minister after five months in Number 10 - is he a victim of circumstance, or of the fickle nature of modern politics?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.Naming Spies
31:45|Should MPs use parliamentary privilege to reveal the identity of an alleged Chinese spy? Is anti-bullying training 'woke'? And is the government's communications grid finally working?Lara Spirit unpacks the politics of the day, and all the other news, with Patrick Maguire and Hadley Freeman.Streeting Goes For Miliband
27:58|Keir Starmer faces a cabinet split as Wes Streeting criticises Ed Miliband's decision to oppose military action against Assad in Syria when he was the party's leader in 2013, but was Ed really to blame? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and and the I newspaper's Jane MerrickKemi's War on Sandwiches
27:50|Kemi Badenoch gives an interview in which she claims sandwiches aren't 'real food' - and says she identifies with a murderous Game of Thrones character.Hugo Rifkind is joined by Matthew Syed and Jenni Russell to unpack the politics of the day, including the Tory leader's lunch habits.PMQs: Tip Of The Iceberg
41:23|Kemi Badenoch attacks Keir Starmer for his views on immigration when he was a lawyer - but can a letter be the tip of the iceberg? And does the prime minister eventually get the better of the leader of the opposition?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the angry exchanges from the Commons with the help of Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman and comedian Ria Lina.Lammy Hams It Up Over Syria
31:37|After David Lammy tells the Commons that Assad is the "rat of Damascus", does the foreign secretary have a habit of playing to the gallery?Plus: A first hand account from the court room during the Gisèle Pelicot rape trial.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Janice Turner.