Share

cover art for Falklands, Robin Day and Peppa Pig

Politics Unpacked

Falklands, Robin Day and Peppa Pig

As defence secretary when the Falklands were invaded, John Nott had to check the globe in his office and was horrified to see how far away the islands were.


He talks to Matt about the conflict that defined Margaret Thatcher's legacy, and why he walked out of a TV interview when Robin Day called him a 'here-today, gone-tomorrow politician'. He also reveals his connection to the Peppa Pig song.


PLUS: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether they feel reassured when Rishi Sunak says "I'm totally, 100% on it", and why James is worried about righteous anger from centrist populists.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • The Mother Of All Rebellions

    32:04|
    Rachel Reeves' spring statement has been picked over by the experts, but could the chancellor be facing the 'mother of all rebellions' as one Labour MP claims?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Fraser Nelson and Lara Spirit. 
  • PMQs: Kemi and Keir Phone It In

    27:01|
    Ahead of the Chancellor's Spring Statement, Kemi Badenoch uses prime minister's questions to ask why Keir Starmer doesn't support banning phones in schools.Hugo Rifkind pauses and unpacks the exchanges from the Commons with Tim Shipman and Ria Lina.
  • 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 Whipple 
  • Does 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.