Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

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• 'Our donors are brave people': Reform's Robert Jenrick on wealth, power, and the establishment 17.07.2026 39min

  As the country reels from the death of Reform's Ann Widdecombe, the party's Treasury Spokesman discusses the threat to politicians, debates whether calling politicians racists and traitors is dangerous, and explains why the ‘cosy club’ of politics is in for a shock.Producer: Hannah Wilkinson
• We've got a plan: Louise Haigh on her journey back to power 09.07.2026 42min

  The former Transport Secretary, sidelined by Keir Starmer, reveals she's been working with Burnham on a plan for government for at least a year, and has already seen the prospective Prime Minister make tough decisions. Also - bringing hope back to politics, navigating an exotic bird auction, and playing football in the House of Commons chamber. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Crossed Wires Festival in her home town of Sheffield.Producer: Hannah Wilkinson
• The Treasury was in denial: John Healey on why he resigned as defence secretary 06.07.2026 28min

  In his first interview since resigning from Keir Starmer's government, the former Defence Secretary John Healey talks about the threats we face, his hopes for a Burnham government, and why he thinks the Treasury is in denial.Producer: Hannah Wilkinson
• What went wrong for Starmer: Morgan McSweeney gives his side of the story 02.07.2026 1t 5min

  In his first ever interview, the Prime Minister's former Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney lifts the lid on winning power, dealing with Trump, and how project Starmer fell apart.Producer: Hannah Wilkinson.
• 'A bad start even before he starts' - Welsh First Minister on why trouble's brewing with Burnham 26.06.2026 34min

  The new First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth on what Wales really wants, why Reform surged in the Senedd election, and how working as a nightclub bouncer will help him deal with Andy Burnham.
• From Downing Street... to California Governor? Former Tory adviser Steve Hilton on making the Golden State great again 19.06.2026 32min

  Former Tory adviser and candidate for California Governor Steve Hilton on the frustrations that drove his political journey and why he believes the Golden State can turn red.
• 'We need some daydreaming': lawyer Theodor Meron on surviving the Holocaust, and issuing Netanyahu’s arrest warrant 12.06.2026 31min

  International lawyer and judge Theodor Meron on issuing Netanyahu’s arrest warrant, and how daydreaming helped him to survive the Holocaust.This episode has been subject to a Corrections and Clarifications note: https://www.bbc.co.uk/helpandfeedback/corrections_clarifications
• Why Starmer will survive: The Attorney General on human rights, small boats, and his ‘dogged’ friend the Prime Minister 05.06.2026 35min

  The Attorney General Richard Hermer speaks to Nick about small boats, his most controversial cases, and why his old friend Keir Starmer can survive a leadership challenge.
• “Inequalities don’t happen by accident” Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson on trans rights, Islamophobia, and why equality still matters 29.05.2026 36min

  Chair of the equalities watchdog, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, on sex and gender, the right to protest, and doing one of the hardest jobs in Britain.
• 'What the hell are we doing?' Wes Streeting on his promise to young people, resigning from government, and wanting to be PM 21.05.2026 52min

  Labour leadership contender and former health secretary Wes Streeting on what prompted his resignation, the challenges of being a working class politician, and his wealth tax plan.
• Why the PM has to go: Miatta Fahnbulleh on being the first minister to break with Starmer 15.05.2026 49min

  The former Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who was the first Minister to resign from Keir Starmer's government after the elections, discusses reaching breaking point, who should lead Labour now, and why she's terrified of where politics is going.She also talks about her experience as a civil servant working with Conservative Ministers, and why her children are her toughest critics.Senior Producer: Hannah Wilkinson Producer: Flora Murray Sound: Jack Wilfan Editor: Giles Edwards
• 'It's been a whirlwind': Zack Polanski on storytelling, Zionism and Zackonomics 20.03.2026 54min

  Few people have done more to shape politics in recent months than the Green Party Leader in England and Wales, Zack Polanski. In his Political Thinking debut, he tells Nick Robinson about his 'whirlwind' journey since becoming leader, saying that becoming PM is now 'in his mind' . He talks about his upbringing and Jewish identity and why he has now become a prominent critic of Israel. He explains his strong opposition to the war in Iran. He describes his plans to transform the capitalist model with a revolution based on 'Zackonomics'. And, asked about his earlier career as a hypnotherapist, he admits to 'cringing' when reminded that he once participated in a trial to help a woman increase her breast size.Producers: Leela Padmanabhan and Flora Murray Editor: GIles Edwards
• From Sky boss to Number 10: Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith 13.03.2026 39min

  Andrew Griffith on why government sometimes has to say 'no' and why Rupert Murdoch was the "best boss".The Shadow Business Secretary was once the youngest Chief Financial Officer of any major British company, when he worked at Sky, before becoming an MP an joining Boris Johnson's team in Downing Street. Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer Producer: Flora Murray Editor: Giles Edwards
• 'We cannot have chaos': Emily Thornberry on the law of war and Labour's struggles 06.03.2026 41min

  The Foreign Affairs Committee Chair on Iran, Trump's 'asteroid of awfulness' and the 'grief' she felt after being dropped by Starmer.Emily Thornberry tells Nick about how her father's career as a UN peacekeeper helped shape her commitment to the ideals of international law.She also has frank views about what her party needs to do to stem the rise of the Green Party.Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer Producer: Flora Murray Sound: Jack Wilfan Editor: Giles Edwards
• 'This is Iran's Berlin Wall moment': Omid Djalili, comedian and actor 27.02.2026 46min

  The British-Iranian comic on revolutions, Kensington, 9/11 jokes, King Charles and Iran's future.Omid Djalili has become one of the loudest voices in the Iranian diaspora calling for the overthrow of the regime in Tehran, in favour of US military action.While the world waits for Trump's next steps, Djalili talks to Nick about growing up in a hub of London's Iranian community, chasing history from Berlin to Czechoslovakia, deciding to perform in Saudi Arabia and turning down Game of ThronesProducers: Daniel Kraemer and Flora Murray Sound: Jack Wilfan Editor: Giles Edwards
• 'We're appeasing the tech bros': Beeban Kidron, from film-maker to lawmaker 20.02.2026 47min

  What links Bridget Jones to social media regulation?The answer: Baroness Beeban Kidron. In 2004 she directed the Bridget Jones sequal. 20 years later, she became one of the most vocal campaigners for regulation of social media and tech in the UK.She joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to tell her story, from joining Marxist dinner parties in her childhood home, to filming and living with the protesters of Greenham Common in the 1980s.Today, she has strong words for Keir Starmer's government, and is pushing for law-changes from her seat in the House of Lords.Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Flora Murray Editor: Giles Edwards
• Nigel Farage: 'Broken Britain', national identity and lessons from Trump 13.02.2026 52min

  A frank conversation with the leader of Reform UK.Nigel Farage has put his party on a "general election war footing" and says he is preparing for power.What has his party still got to learn before they're ready? Who is he referring to when he talks about putting "our own people first"?And what made him change his mind and return to politics?Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer Producer: Flora Murray Editor: Giles Edwards Sound: Ged SudlowThis episode has been subject to a Corrections and Clarifications note: https://www.bbc.co.uk/helpandfeedback/corrections_clarifications
• How to tell England’s story: James Graham, playwright 06.02.2026 43min

  James Graham joined Nick in the political thinking studio in late January, ahead of a this year's TV adaptation of his play Dear England.What did Gareth Southgate get right about national identity?What advice does the playwright have for Keir Starmer on storytelling?And why is it important that people continue to go to the theatre?Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer Producer: Flora Murray Sound: Ged Sudlow and Hal Haines Editor: Giles Edwards
• Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv: From boxing to politics 30.01.2026 34min

  How did the world heavyweight champion end up running a city of 3 million people in wartime?Vitali Klitschko joins Nick from the Ukrainian capital in the midst of a Russian campaign to descimate the city's energy infrastructure.He talks about what peace could look like, the lessons he learned from living under Soviet rule as a child, and why he decided to abandon a lucrative life in the US to enter Ukrainian politics. Senior producer: Daniel Kraemer Producer: Flora Murray Sound: Ged Sudlow Editor: Giles Edwards
• David Lammy: The old world order isn't coming back 23.01.2026 50min

  What happens when US Vice President Vance goes drinking with Angela Rayner & David Lammy?The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary knows America better than probably anyone else around the cabinet table. And in this interview he reflects at length on the state of the world and the significance of the US president's Greenland threats.David Lammy gives an impassioned defence against critics who question his friendship with Vice President J D Vance and reflects on his life's journey from Tottenham to Harvard. He also discusses the ongoing row over jury trial reforms, potential upcoming by-elections, and Keir Starmer government's storytelling.Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer Producer: Flora Murray Sound: Hal Haines and Chris Murphy Editor: Giles Edwards