The Times Red Box Podcast

20 years since Robin Cook's "chicken tikka masala" speech, Matt Chorley is joined by food historians Dr Rachel Rich from Leeds Beckett University and Dr Lisa Smith from University of Essex for a trip down memory lane, from John Gummer’s burger and David Cameron’s pasty, to Liz Truss’s cheese and Ed Miliband’s bacon sandwich.PLUS: Libberachi - Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester give their take on the news.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is standing down later this year, and her party, the Christian Democratic Union, are choosing her successor. Matt Chorley speaks to CDU MEP David McAllister, former Conservative Europe Minister David Lidigton and journalist Katrin Pribyl about the candidates and what it will mean for Germany's relationship with Britain. PLUSColumnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss lobbying and contrarianism.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action to explain what's going on at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUSColumnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss lobbying and supporting women in the workplace.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An inquiry into the government's handling of Coronavirus seems inevitable; Matt Chorley is joined by the chair of the inquiry into Bloody Sunday Lord Saville and expert inquiry lawyer Peter Jones to discuss in the ins and outs of holding an inquiry, and how long the one into Covid might take. PLUSTimes Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch remember Shirley Williams.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The pubs are back open in England and Matt Chorley is live from the Ship Tavern in London, where he speaks to landlords from across the country including Tim Martin from Wetherspoons, Jack Stein and [insert names of other landlords here from script].PLUSTimes columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the day’s news.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones speaks to Sir Alan Duncan on his new memoir In The Thick Of It about life as an MP and foreign minister. Plus our columnists India Knight and James Marriott on Astrazeneca vaccine confidence and their favourite diary entries.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley and he speaks to the UK's National Statistician Professor Sir Ian Diamond on why data is key. Plus Robert Crampton and Rosamund Urwin on vaccine passports and female billionaires. And the incredible life of Dr Ike McKinnon, the former Detroit Police chief on the Chauvin trial.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones speaks t Lord Heseltine and Akash Paun from the Institute Government on the power of mayors and devolution.Plus Danny Finklestein and David Aaronovitch on Boris Johnsons roadmap  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones speaks to; Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Prison Reform, former prisoner Andrew Morris and the national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association Mark Fairhurst on how prisons have been during the pandemic.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester give their take on the day's news.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the final instalment of Prime Ministers Week, Matt Chorley looks to the future, and convenes the Times Radio focus group to find out swing voters in Red Wall seats think of Keir Starmer's chances of becoming PM. PLUS:Times columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss the day's news, and the war on human nature.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Parliament in recess, Matt Chorley looks at what it takes to win PMQs with former Ed Miliband advisor Ayesha Hazarika, Theresa May's former press secretary Paul Harrison, and which leaders were the best to caricature with sketch-writers Quentin Letts and Ann Treneman.PLUS:Times Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the government's Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Jonathan Lynn, co-creator Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, to talk about the legacy of the hit comedy series, and how he thinks it may not have been beneficial to the way Whitehall works now.PLUS:Times' Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the day's news.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week marks 300 years since Britain got its first Prime Minister. In the first instalment of a special Prime Ministers' week, Matt Chorley is joined by Times Columnist Danny Finkelstein, Historian and political biographer Anthony Seldon, author and journalist Andrew Gimson and former civil servant Jill Rutter to discuss what qualities are needed to build the perfect Prime Minister. PLUS Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves pick over the days' news.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley tackles the philosophical questions behind pub passports and longer lockdowns, with AC Grayling, Baroness Deech and Alberto Giubilini.PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott on editing friends out and the curse of London.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Times columnist Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action at Prime Minister's Questions to explain the Commons exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To mark a year of lockdown, Matt Chorley and former Number 10 pollster James Johnson convene the Times Radio focus group to see how people's attitudes to politics and politicians have changed over the past year. PLUS Times columnist Daniel Finkelstein and Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire talk protests, Scotland and flags.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to the Times' veteran war reporter Anthony Lloyd about Syria, Shamima Begum and what essential packing for life in a war-zone. PLUS Times Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss Nicola Sturgeon and the droves of people leaving cities for villages.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special bonus edition we are bringing you an episode from another Times podcast - Past Imperfect.Ed Balls is a broadcaster, former Labour Politician and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and the winner of Celebrity Best Home Cook 2021. He talks openly to Rachel and Alice about his time in government, how he overcame the bullying he faced as a child and why he kept his lifelong stammer a secret.Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/pastimperfectBullies Out: www.bulliesout.comYoung Minds: www.youngminds.org.ukThe Brittish Stammering Associtation: www.stamma.org  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley hosts the Parliamentary Book Awards, revealing the winners of the best books by, and about, politicians. Stephen Lotinga, from the Publishers Association, dishes out the prizes, and Chris Bryant, Nicky Morgan and Dan Jarvis discuss their work. PLUS: Rosamund Irwin and James Marriott on self-esteem, and one man who doesn't lack it, Dominic Cummings.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How will nightclubs survive the pandemic? Matt Chorley speaks to CEO of Night Time Industries Association Michael Kill, Chief executive of late night bar and club operator REKOM Peter Marks and Graeme Park who is one of the original founders of the UK rave/club scene about how the nightlife industry will bounce back after the pandemic.PLUS Times columnists Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson pick over the day’s news  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.