Share
Politics Unpacked
Politics On The Stage
•
It's culture week here on the podcast, and today we're looking at the theatre - does politics still have a place on the stage?
Ed Vaizey hears from playwrights including David Edgar, who’s been writing for the theatre for 50 years, and discusses some of the best political drama including James Graham’s This House.
Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Bell talk about the pressure on the government to give big public sector pay deals, why there's a culture war over 20mph zones, and Keir Starmer's choice of crisps.
More episodes
View all episodes
Did Starmer Pull His Punches?
31:00|Keir Starmer has said Donald Trump is "completely wrong" to threaten tariffs against countries that oppose his plan to take control of Greenland. But the Prime Minister stopped short of announcing retaliatory measures. Is this pragmatic diplomacy or weakness?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Sebastian Payne.The Jenrick Shockwave
28:58|Robert Jenrick becomes Reform UK’s newest MP after defecting from the Conservatives. Who has come out on top, and have we really seen a reshaping of the right of British politics?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby.The Tory Psychodrama Is Back!
30:46|Kemi Badenoch sacks Robert Jenrick after claiming to have clear evidence he was planning defecting to Reform UK.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Juliet Samuel.PMQs: The Starmer Sutra
45:41|Kemi Badenoch mocks Keir Starmer over his latest U-turn, while he claims the Tories have had 'more positions than the 'Kama Sutra'.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges from the Commons with Gabriel Pogrund, Stefan Boscia and Susie McCabe.Can We Stand Up To Big Tech?
35:38|The government is to criminalise non-consensual deepfakes after concerns were raised about the capabilities of Elon Musk's Grok AI. Can the government control what happens online? And should it?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Megan Kenyon and James Marriott.Zahawi Defects To Reform
30:55|Former Tory Chancellor (well, briefly) Nadhim Zahawi becomes Reform UK's highest profile defection yet - but does it make Nigel Farage's party look like a home for Tory has-beens? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Seb Payne.Yet Another U-Turn
32:33|Rachel Reeves is set to announce a bailout for pubs following a backlash over plans to hike business rates. It's the 12th major U-turn since Labour entered office - are they demonstrating confidence, or chaos?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Sonia Sodha and Michael Binyon.Do We Really Want Honest Leaders?
32:17|Donald Trump doesn't pretend his foreign interventions are part of a noble cause. Did we prefer it when US presidents hid their blunt motives with insincerity?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Sarah Ditum.PMQs: Nigel Farage
52:40|It's the first PMQs of the year, and Hugo and Patrick Maguire are joined in the studio by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. As they unpack the exchanges from the Commons, they discuss voting for sending troops to Ukraine, Donald Trump's raid on Venezuela, and how Farage will change PMQs if he makes it into Downing Street.