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Politics Unpacked

Times Radio

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times.

You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at http://www.thetimes.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

66 episodes
daily
Avg 32 min
English

Episodes 66

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Yesterday · 14 min
Kemi Badenoch’s Speech: What Did We Really Learn?
Kemi Badenoch has given her big speech at Tory conference, with a promise to scrap inheritance tax on family homes, and a warning that the country is running out of money. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the speech with Anna Mikhailova, Lara Spirit, Josh Glancy and Robert Colville. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tuesday · 29 min
The Tory Conference Bubble
The Tories are in an upbeat mood at their party conference, but the polls are flat and plenty of seats are empty. Are they insulated from political reality? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Monday · 29 min
Badenoch Channels Her Inner Thatcher
It’s the Conservative Party conference, and it’s all about what Kemi Badenoch is calling “Kemistry” - but why does the Tory obsession with Margaret Thatcher continue? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Seb Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Friday · 29 min
Polanski's Polling Problem
The Green Party has slipped in the polls since Andy Burnham became Labour leader. Is it a temporary setback, or does Zack Polanski have a bigger problem? And could a motion on Zionism risk alienating some of his supporters? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 1 · 28 min
Andy Burnham Reopens Old Brexit Wounds
The prime minister has said a future Labour election manifesto could promise a new in-out referendum on the EU - but does Britain want to spend any more years debating Brexit? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Juliet Samuel and Alice Thomson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 30 · 31 min
Old Labour Is Back
Andy Burnham's conference speech was bold - but was it, as some are claiming, the most left-wing speech by a prime minister since the 1970s? And does the PM mind if it is? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 29 · 37 min
Labour's Harsh Winter Ahead
Andy Burnham wants to project a message of hope, but with rising costs, is the country - and the Labour Party - facing a challenging winter to come? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day at Labour Party conference with Janice Turner and Patrick Maguire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 28 · 32 min
Burnham's Big Cheques
The chancellor says the money simply isn't there, but Andy Burnham began party conference with a big pledge on free adult social care in England. What are the hard choices needed to pay for it? Plus: Polling expert Sir John Curtice on how popular it would be with the public. Hugo unpacks the politics of the day live from Labour Party Conference in Liverpool with Noa Hoffman and Theo Bertram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 25 · 29 min
Trump Flip-Flops On China
Donald Trump said the US and China had "never gotten along better" as he laid on a lavish banquet for Xi Jinping at the White House. Why is he rolling out the red carpet for his biggest rival? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Daisy McAndrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 24 · 30 min
Blair Urges Burnham To Reverse Brexit
Tony Blair is flexing his muscles, telling Andy Burnham that Britain should rejoin the EU within a decade - without another referendum. Could Burnham put it in Labour’s next manifesto? Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Ayesha Hazarika Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 23 · 30 min
Burnham Bows To Trump Over Chagos
Andy Burnham has agreed to review the Chagos deal after Donald Trump called it 'terrible' at their meeting in New York. But can it be renegotiated, or is it dead in the water? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 22 · 35 min
Trump, Danny Dyer & Dressing Like A Lib Dem
Andy Burnham is having his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump at the United Nations. But will Burnham’s past comments about the US president make for an awkward encounter? Plus, Danny Dyer's expletive-filled view on Andy Burnham and fashion tips for Liberal Democrats. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Carol Lewis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 21 · 30 min
Ed Davey Fights Accusations of Irrelevance
Ed Davey is trying to re-energise the Liberal Democrats at the party’s conference in Brighton - but do his speeches reveal a party struggling to find a clear national message? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Kidd and Timandra Harkness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 18 · 31 min
Stay-At-Home Burnham
While 'Never-Here-Keir' was accused of spending too much time abroad, Andy Burnham has preferred to host foreign leaders in the UK - and often away from Downing Street. Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 17 · 32 min
Not Your Traditional Socialist Government
With the public finances under pressure, the unions meet John Healey and make a series of demands ahead of the Budget. Can Andy Burnham avoid the sense that he's running a 'traditional tax and spend socialist government'? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and Andy Silvester. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 16 · 31 min
Trusting The Tech Broligarchy
Open AI boss Sam Altman says people are "right to be afraid" of artificial intelligence but that firms like his can be trusted to "do the right thing" - so should we rely on Silicon Valley to regulate itself? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Jane Mulkerrins and Robert Crampton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 15 · 30 min
Trump and the AI 'Hoax'
Donald Trump dismisses warnings about AI as a “hoax” by those who want to regulate the industry. But how worried should we be - and what happens if the president doesn’t take the threat seriously? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Charlotte Ivers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 14 · 33 min
Reform's Record-Breaking Donations
Reform UK is confident that the £72m in donations it received from two crypto-billionaires are legal, but could the government still change the law to force them to return the money? Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Sonia Sodha. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 11 · 29 min
Burnham's Winter of Gloom
Britons face an expensive winter with rising bills and the prospect of higher taxes. Can Andy Burnham still deliver on his promise to make people feel “hopeful” as the cold sets in? And on the anniversary of 9/11, is Britain safer or more dangerous than it was 25 years ago? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 10 · 30 min
Burnham’s Early Election Dilemma
A successful party conference could tempt Andy Burnham to call an early general election, but will he take the risk? Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Showing 1–20 of 66 episodes