Politics Unpacked

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• Is Starmer's Labour the Welfare Party? 02.06.2026 34min

  Pat McFadden's assessment of Labour MPs will fuel claims that the party cares more about welfare recipients than taxpayers - is Keir Starmer's Labour becoming the Welfare Party?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Labour's Trade Union Problem 01.06.2026 34min

  Polling suggests that union members are just as likely to support Reform UK as they are to back Labour. Is Nigel Farage now leader of the 'party of the working class'?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Burnham, Body Doubles & Boozy Lunches 29.05.2026 31min

  Is Labour having a policy debate in public healthy for our democracy? What's behind an online conspiracy claiming Vladimir Putin is dead? And have we forgotten the power of a boozy lunch?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Sarah Ditum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• All's Blair In Love And War 28.05.2026 34min

  Tony Blair is said to be "fired up" and poised to escalate his involvement in Labour's leadership race, after being criticised by both Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting.Why can't the Labour party stop squabbling with itself?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Jenni Russell and Daisy McAndrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Blair Slams Labour 27.05.2026 34min

  Sir Tony Blair says Labour has “no coherent plan” for the country, attacking the party’s direction under Keir Starmer and its plan to change leader - but does his intervention matter?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Robert Crampton and Anne McElvoy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Is Social Media The New Smoking? 26.05.2026 34min

  Medical leaders have compared social media to tobacco as pressure grows on Keir Starmer to change his mind and back a ban for under-16s. Will political pressure force another u-turn?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Josh Glancy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Will Restore Britain 'Split The Right'? 25.05.2026 32min

  Nigel Farage has hit out at Elon Musk over his support for the hardline Restore Britain in the Makerfield by-election - could Rupert Lowe’s party split the right-wing vote?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Kidd and Carol Lewis  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Is Burnham Really A Man Of The People? 22.05.2026 30min

  Andy Burnham has officially launched his campaign to be Makerfield's next MP, which he hopes will propel him to Downing Street.How can a Cambridge-educated former cabinet minister make the case that he's taking on the political establishment?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Falling Immigration: The Political Impact 21.05.2026 36min

  Net migration has fallen to its lowest level since before the pandemic - but will it have any impact on the public's view?Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Fraser Nelson and Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• PMQs: Starmer Looks Demob Happy 20.05.2026 47min

  It's the first PMQs since Labour's local election hammering, but despite the leadership challengers circling Keir Starmer is surprisingly upbeat.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges in the House of Commons with Patrick Maguire and Cleo Watson, former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Do Political Backstories Matter? 19.05.2026 31min

  Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting are each setting out their pitch to be the next Prime Minister. But do their stories of triumphing over adversity make them better politicians?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• What If Burnham Loses? 18.05.2026 32min

  Under pressure over his stance on rejoining the EU, Andy Burnham could face a bruising contest against Reform if selected for the Makerfield by-election. But what happens if he loses?  Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Sonia Sodha and Sarah Ditum.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Burnham Makes His Move 15.05.2026 30min

  Andy Burnham is plotting his route back to Westminster, where he intends to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. But would he make a good Prime Minister? And why is he so adored by some parts of the party?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Thangam Debbonaire and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Labour's Wild Wes 14.05.2026 29min

  Labour's leadership crisis has deepened, plunging the government into chaos - can Keir Starmer continue? And what kind of Prime Minister would Wes Streeting be? Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Jenni Russell.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Gyles Brandreth: Whips, Plots & PMs 13.05.2026 18min

  Hugo speaks to broadcaster, former MP and speechwriter to three prime ministers Gyles Brandreth.They unpack the latest twists in Westminster, life as a government whip amid a Tory civil war, and which prime minister was the funniest behind closed doors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Psychodrama Is Back 12.05.2026 34min

  Keir Starmer insists he's staying on in Downing Street, but an increasing number of his ministers and MPs disagree.What happened to the promise that politics would tread more lightly on our lives? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers, James Marriott and Theo Bertram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Was Starmer's Speech Enough? 11.05.2026 31min

  Keir Starmer's speech was his last attempt to convince his MPs he's the right man for the job, but will it work?Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne, Libby Purves and Matt Pound, a former advisor to the prime minister Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• A Historic Shift in British Politics 08.05.2026 35min

  Labour is losing heavily to Reform UK in areas once considered the party’s heartlands - what Nigel Farage calls a “truly historic shift” in British politics.Keir Starmer says he won't leave and plunge the party into chaos - but will it be up to him?Carolyn Quinn unpacks the politics of the day with Will Lloyd and Alys Denby. Plus: Shadow Minister Victoria Atkins and Reform UK’s London Assembly leader, Alex Wilson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Can Labour Match The Tories For Plotting? 07.05.2026 30min

  It's election day across the UK, and speculation is rife about a looming plot to oust Keir Starmer. But should the Labour Party just admit it's not as good at skulduggery as the Conservatives in their heyday?Hugo Rifkind is joined by Sarah Ditum and Matthew Parris, to discuss scheming politicians, the drinking culture in Parliament, and how the 24 hour news cycle changed modern politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Polanski, Heckling, and Internet Relics 06.05.2026 31min

  Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton. A Times investigation reveals Zack Polanski made false claims when seeking the deputy leadership of the Green party, Kemi Badenoch's handling of hecklers, and what happened to relics of the early internet age.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.