The Times Red Box Podcast

Rishi Sunak says the time has come to cut taxes, but how much are we really paying? Patrick Maguire asks how much they pay in Europe and America, and what, if anything, the Chancellor can do about them in this week's Autumn Statement.Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss David Cameron's introduction into the House of Lords, revelations from the Covid inquiry, and the prime minister's latest five-point plan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a cabinet minister under both Maragret Thatcher and John Major, Norman Fowler is perfectly placed to chronicle the rise and fall of the two prime ministers. He tells Matt about his shock at being promoted by Thatcher, his battle to draw public attention to the dangers of Aids, and why he never forgave her for talking down 'Majorism'.Plus: Columnists James Marriott and Helen Lewis discuss whether the Tories have lost their heads over Rwanda, whether Labour has a woman problem and whether £20 is too much to pay for biscuits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's bad news for both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer in the latest Times Radio Focus group, with voters taking a dim view of David Cameron's return and Suella Braverman's departure - and it's not much better news for the Labour leader. James Johnson of J.L. Partners joins Matt to discuss the results.Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris look at the fallout from the Rwanda ruling and the Gaza ceasfire vote, and find out why a disco ball is essential in a chicken hotel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the day that the Supreme Court ruled the government's Rwanda plan is unlawful, Rishi Sunak goes head-to-head with Keir Starmer over immigration and national security. Matt is joined by Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause the action and unpack the exchanges.Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the progress Sunak is making on his five pledges, whether it matters what a minister's spouse does for a living, and Robert is forced to defend his assertion that the Northern Lights are "pants". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the rest of the world make of David Cameron's return to frontline politics? Climb aboard Chorley Airlines for a whistle-stop tour from Jerusalem to Brussels to Berlin. Matt is also joined by two people who came up against Cameron on opposite sides of the Brexit debate - former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and former Brexit Secretary David Davis. Plus: A taster of the third episode of How To Win An Election, the new podcast which sees electoral masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt to find out how to pull of a shock cabinet reshuffle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As David Cameron's return to government stuns Westminster, Matt asks if he's the future once again - with guests including the former prime minister's biographer and his former deputy chief of staff.Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss the future of the Suella Braverman, the power of protest and why some in society are blind to antisemitism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Aitken's career in politics began 60 years ago as a speech writer for Alex Douglas-Home and saw him rise to the cabinet under John Major. It all came crashing down when he was convicted of perjury and sent to prison, where he then rediscovered his religion.He talks to Matt about faith, prison reform, and why politicians lose their moral compass.Plus: Columnists James Marriott and India Knight discuss the possibility of Nigel Farage entering the I'm a Celebrity jungle, how happy we are as a nation, and whether Shakespeare is as good as James thinks he is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nadine Dorries' new book "The Plot" claims Boris Johnson was ousted by a cabal called "The Movement" that has been controlling the Tory leadership for two decades. Matt puts those claims to the test by speaking to Patrick Maguire - who read the book cover to cover, Danny Finkelstein - an alleged member of "The Movement", and Stephen Greenhalgh - an ally of Boris Johnson. Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed discuss Suella Braverman's claim that the Met police is biased towards pro-Palestinian activists, what Rishi Sunak should do about her and whether buying a Lordship at auction is worth the money.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has the relationship between the civil service and politicians and their advisers been permanently damaged? Matt speaks to Lord McDonald, permanent secretary at the Foreign Office until 2020, former civil servant Jill Rutter, and Hugh Bennett, former special adviser to Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss Rishi Sunak's lack of political energy, British women's binge drinking habits, and why politicians are bunking off work more than ever before.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the government sets out its plans for the year ahead in the King's Speech, Matt is joined by impressionist Jon Culshaw to imagine some alternative measures King Charles could have announced.Plus: A taster of the second episode of How To Win An Election, the new podcast which sees electoral masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt to find out how to write an election-winning policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British horticulture is at a crisis point, with millions of pounds worth of crops rotting in the ground every year. Matt asks how our politicians can help the industry flourish and speaks to some green-fingered politicos.Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester look at what's in and what's out of the King's Speech, why more kids than ever are missing from school, and James Marriott talks about his strange evening watching philosopher Jordan Peterson speak at the O2 in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt's been to see 'gently spoken nerd' Elon Musk meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and finds it's all a bit strange. He talks to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer about whether the interview was a good idea, and talks to a former Twitter employee who was sacked by Musk.Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss a future where no one has a job, James' opinion that we all have too many opinions, and M&S apologising after an online backlash. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can Rishi Sunak learn from the final days of the Major government, when the prime minister was behind in the polls with a party mired in sleaze and infighting? Matt talks to Howell James, John Major's political secretary in the lead up to the 1997 election.PLUS: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris discuss whether the prime minister's's AI summit can help him escape his domestic political troubles, whether King Charles should have apologised to Kenya for colonial-era abuses, and whether height matters in politics.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week at the Covid inquiry we've learned a lot about the way Boris Johnson's government worked - and didn't - during the pandemic. Matt is joined by the Sunday Times' George Arbuthnott and the Specator's Isabel Hardman to unpack the most important, and the most expletive-laden, exchanges.Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss whether MPs should be selected using US-style open primaries, and why Robert is determined not to retire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has been explaining why he has rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, and claims the Labour Party is united. Will his speech settle tensions within the ranks? Matt speaks to Times Radio senior political correspondent Patrick Maguire and a councillor who calls Starmer's speech 'tone deaf'.Plus: We introduce the first episode of How To Win An Election, as electoral masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt to discuss when Rishi Sunak will call the next General Election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As politicians from around the globe prepare to touch down in England for Rishi Sunak's AI summit, Matt asks the experts what risks this new technology poses for next year's campaign and elections around the world.Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss Keir Stamer allowing his MPs to undermine his position on a ceasefire in the Middle East, the blockbuster week ahead in the covid inquiry and the accents replacing cockney and RP.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

80 years ago, Winston Churchill announced a plan to rebuild the Palace of Westminster after the Commons chamber was hit during the last major raid of the blitz. Patrick Maguire in for Matt Chorley looks at the building's history from the Great Fire of London to the present day, and speaks to the chairman of Parliament's Restoration and Renewal programme Nigel Evans.Plus: Columnists James Marriott and Isabel Hardman discuss the power of the individual backbencher, play a round of Hansard Hoedown, and ask how to write a good sex scene. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The crisis facing prisons in England and Wales is nothing new - in fact, governments of every stripe have been trying to fix it for decades. Patrick Maguire asks why they've failed, and what can be done to improve criminal justice in the future.Plus Manveen Rana and Matthew Bell discuss Israel's fallout with the United Nations, whether we should be scared of the AI future and Rachel Reeves plagiarising Wikipedia in her new book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh from Labour's recent by-election victories, Keir Starmer tells Rishi Sunak that voters want him to eff off while they clash over mortgages and rent costs. Patrick Maguire, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit pause and unpack the action from Westminster. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton chat about bankers bonuses, the division of labour in their households and why you should be writing a letter to winter...  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Its one year since Rishi Sunak was voted into number 10 so how is he faring when it comes to the policies that really matter? Patrick and a faculty of experts from The Times track his progress and grade his homework.Plus: The Daily Mirror's John Stevens and the Spectator's Katy Balls discuss why the Tories are losing voters to both their left and right, and why Brexiteer Steve Baker regrets that the referendum passed without a supermajority. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.