Politics Unpacked

In the 1980 presidential election, Ronald Reagan asked "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"With the economy likely to define the next general election here in the UK, Matt looks at who will win the voters' trust with former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson, Paul Johnson from the IFS, YouGov's Lukas Paleckis, and former Treasury adviser Poppy Trowbridge.Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the cost of harm in maternity care and the new name for the Brecon Beacons, before thinking of a number with maths legend Johnny Ball. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Have I Got News For You one of the last satirical comedy shows still standing, Patrick Maguire asks why satire on our screens seems to be dying a slow death.He speaks to John O'Farrell, former writer on Spitting Image and HIGNFY, Matt Forde, co-writer of Spitting Image the Musical, and TV critic Siobhan Synnot.Plus columnists India Knight and James Marriott on the nurses' strikes, whether we are living too much in the virtual world, and how many Tories does it take to fill a pothole? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to holding a general election, timing is everything. With Rishi Sunak reportedly hoping to pull off a surprise win late in 2024, Patrick Maguire is joined by historian Phil Tinline and former advisers Ayesha Hazarika and Giles Kenningham to discuss when to go early, and when to go late.Plus columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed on Liz Truss' speech to a US think-tank, why a former Tory party chair has said Suella Braverman's rhetoric is racist, and Kirstie Allsop's call to cut stamp duty for the elderly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Humza Yousaf done before he even gets started? Patrick Maguire looks at the SNP leader's chances after two weeks in office and a series of revelations about the party's finances. He speaks to Times columnist Alex Massie - who thinks it's all over - and the journalist Ruth Wishart, who thinks he can recover.Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the junior doctors' leader going on holiday, Alice defends the Dalai Lama, and can the high street be saved? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Maguire discusses political advertising - does going negative deliver, or do we all suffer when the parties get down in the gutter? He speaks to Steve Parker, former Head of Strategy at M&C Saatchi, author Ali Goldsworthy and campaigner Peter Tatchell.Plus columnists Henry Zeffman and Oliver Kamm discuss Keir Starmer's aggressive new approach, whether the Conservatives can win on the economy, and Joe Biden's visit to Belfast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carole Walker, sitting in for Matt Chorley, speaks to key figures that drafted the deal including Mark Durkan, assistant to SDLP leader John Hume, and Irish diplomat David Donoghue. Journalist Denis Murray joins the discussion too as he relives what it was like to report on the historic event.Plus Lord Howard and Lord Forsyth discuss Margaret Thatcher's legacy, 10 years after her death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt is joined by James Johnson of JL Partners who leads a panel of undecided voters giving their verdict on the government, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.Find out who their ideal Prime Minister would be and who reminds them of Hugh Grant and Desperate Dan.Plus columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss the Conservative MP who offered to lobby for gambling investors, sewage, farming and Matthew being awarded Freedom of the City of London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suella Braverman faces losing her seat in a reselection battle with Flick Drummond. Matt speaks to journalist Michael Crick and local councillors Caroline Brook and Roger Bird about who will come out on top. Plus columnists Janice Turner and Robert Crampton on same-sex spaces, and whether they know their journalistic jargon. And two Stevenage women take the Stevenage Woman test. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt revisits the last night of the Conservative party conference in 1984 when the IRA bombed the Grand Hotel in Brighton in an attempt to kill Margaret Thatcher. Author Rory Carroll explains how the attack was carried out and journalist Philip Webster remembers what it was like reporting at the scene.Columnists Danny Finkelstein and Henry Zeffman discuss Starmer's lack of vision, the ramifications of Trump's indictment and the legacy of Nigel Lawson, who died aged 91. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt shares the five things you need to know about British politics right now by looking at what's happening behind the headline polls with opinion experts Robert Hayward and Tanya Abraham. Plus columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves on what Sanna Marin's defeat in Finland shows about young, liberal, female leaders. The government's plan to tackle grooming gangs and why theatres are a hotbed of bad behaviour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.