Politics Unpacked

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Philip Webster and Libby Purves.Jenni Russell This week the Defence Secretary apologised after saying that some communities in Britain felt swamped by immigrants. He used a word that he must have known had a toxic resonance in the debate. The Archbishop of Canterbury, appalled, has pleaded with politicians not to portray individual immigrants as a 'deep menace'. He is right. Politicians are behaving scandalously. The answer to the problems created by rapid immigration is to change the rules of admission, not to abuse the people who follow them. Philip WebsterIt is in Labour's interest that UKIP wins the Rochester by-election. Such an outcome would leave the Tories in utter disarray, fearing further defections with a question mark over the future of David Cameron. But they cannot afford to say that, which is why they are campaigning hard there. Why? Because otherwise Cameron's message Vote UKIP, Get Labour has added salience. And UKIP might come for... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Laura Pitel and Richard Fletcher. Hugo Rifkind:"Mansion taxes, higher council taxes and rises in stamp duty are all opposed by many affluent homeowners, and often with good reason. They should realise that property in Britain is a time bomb they cannot escape. If measures are not taken soon to make more housing available to more people, then, twenty years from now, there will be such an appetite for savage taxes on homeowners as to make them inevitable."Laura Pitel:"Nigel Farage likes to say that UKIP is no longer a one-man band. But he is still the party’s biggest draw and its key decision-maker. If he quit tomorrow it would descend into chaos. UKIP is on a roll right now, but it is hard to see it surviving in the long term."Richard Fletcher:"The hostile rhetoric surrounding immigration has spooked big business. Capping EU immigration is not the answer, warns the CBI. But will big business be heard in a post crisis environment where politicians will... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Rachel Sylvester, Philip Aldrick and Giles Whittell.The panel debate the effect of Andrew Lansley's health reforms, France and Germany's role in the stability of the Eurozone, plus Obama's foreign policy is put under the microscope. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Webster and Daniel Finkelstein to discuss UKIP politician, Douglas Carswell's victory in the Clacton by-election. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie hosts this special edition of Did You Read? from the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.Featuring Philip Collins, Ann Treneman and Tory MP Owen Paterson, plus Phil Webster talks about the most influential people on the right today.Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie hosts this special edition of Did You Read? from the Labour Party Conference in Manchester.Featuring Jenni Russell, Matthew Parris, Phil Webster, plus Matthew Elliott from Taxpayers Alliance and Marcus Roberts from the Fabian Society on the fallout from the Scottish Referendum. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Collins, Richard Fletcher and Melanie Reid of The Times join Tim Montgomerie for this special edition of Did You Read?, where they discuss the Scottish Referendum result, the consequences for the entire UK as well as ask which party leader has come off worst?Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The panel discuss the latest news ahead of the independence referendum in Scotland and debate the potential political ramifications. Tim Montgomerie is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Jenni Russell and political commentator and pollster Peter Kellner. Plus, the paper's Scottish Political Editor, Lindsay McIntosh, joins the debate direct from Scotland. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Francis Elliott, Matthew Parris and Deborah Haynes. Francis Elliott David Cameron in Portugal, Ed Miliband in France and Nick Clegg in Spain - which of them will be most enjoying their break? Mr Cameron is famously good at "chillaxing" but with the polls not so far following the economic growth figures he - arguably - has more to worry about than Mr Miliband. It is Mr Clegg, however, who most needs a break.Matthew ParrisAs the situation deteriorates in LIbya, the voices keenest for the 2011 intervention (including perhaps The Times) will re-set their advice, arguing now that the problem is that we haven't intervened enough. They will advocate further intervention. But these are the voices that originally advised that intervention-lite, all done from the air with no "boots on the ground" would do the trick. We must remind ourselves that they were wrong then, that we have no reason to trust their advice now, and that a period of silence from the neocons would be... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Suzy Jagger, Roger Boyes and Patrick Kidd.Suzy JaggerLibya is at risk of fracturing into three fiefdoms - tripoli in the west, Benghazi in the east, and Sabbha in the south. Libya has enjoyed no stability since the overthrow of Gaddafi and points to a sobering third chapter of the Arab spring - uprising and coup; nascent democracy; and terrifying chaos. As the Middle East burns, literally, we have a foreign secretary with no foreign policy experience and a government with no foreign policy.Roger BoyesIt's a hot summer. Wars in Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Ukraine, Afghanistan, trouble brewing in the South China Sea, Libya in flames. It hasn't been that bad for a century. All these flare-ups seem insoluble so it's tempting to look away, do the Harold Macmillan thing and shoot some grouse on the moors. But is all this killing really so difficult to stop?Patrick KiddCameron's packing the latest Ben Macintyre book (sensible fellow), Miliband's sucking up to a Labour donor... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.