The Times Red Box Podcast

In the final Red Box of the political year, Matt Chorley welcomes back Jan Ravens, from Spitting Image and Dead Ringers. Patrick Kidd, The Times sketchwriter and diarist. And Peter Brookes, The Times cartoonist who mocks the mighty in beautiful watercolours. The panel attempt a quiz and remember their highlights of 2017 so far before recalling the political characters from the past they enjoyed parodying. Red Box will return in September  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley casts a critical eye back over the most dramatic year in British politics since last year. On the panel, Jan Ravens, the impressionist who has given voice to leaders on Spitting Image and Dead Ringers. Patrick Kidd, The Times sketchwriter and diarist who gives them a kicking in print. And Peter Brookes, The Times cartoonist who mocks the mighty in beautiful watercolours. They review the last political year and reveal their creative processes. Part 2 airs on Friday  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Fay Schlesinger, The Times head of news, who wonders how to reverse the collapse of trust in the state, Red Box commentator Rachel Shabi sets out what Labour will be doing while the Tories are on their summer break, and Lucy Fisher, senior political correspondent for The Times, discusses the little local difficulty in the Tory party.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the week Theresa May marks a year as Prime Minister, Matt Chorley asks, what path should May now take? Two people who know her best offer their insight. Katie Perrior, May's director of communications in No10 until the election was called, explains why the PM needs to cheer up and offer some hope. And in his first interview since leaving Downing Street, Chris Brannigan, who was head of government relations, details the challenge in balancing the access given to major industrial and economic players whilst also keeping an eye on the needs of small and medium enterprises. Plus Sam Coates, deputy political editor of The Times, asks how a May government can last if it's so internally vulnerable?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the second special in the run up to Pride, Matt Chorley sits down to chat with Justine Greening, Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, to discuss coming out by tweet, her view of the DUP and why her personal slogan is "keep on trucking". They also cover her attempt to extract money for schools from the treasury, whether she has any ambitions for future leadership and what battles still need to be fought for the LGBT community?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a two-part special to mark Pride week Red Box examines where the battles now lie for the LGBTQ community. Matt Chorley is joined by James Holt from Pride, Times columnist Matthew Parris, Labour MP Angela Eagle and SNP MP Stewart McDonald. Up for debate: is it no longer a big deal to be a gay politician, how important are labels and was there surprise at the reaction to the DUP deal? Also, Angela Eagle recalls becoming first female MP to come out in office and Matthew Parris remembers inadvertently outing Peter Mandelson on TV in 1998. In the next episode Matt speaks to Justine Greening, the education secretary and equalities minister, about what the government needs to do to tackle homophobia.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by three new MP's to discuss the quirks of adjusting to life in parliament. On the panel: Douglas Ross (Conversative), Luke Pollard (Labour) and Wera Hobhouse (Lib Dem) They discuss the pain of sorting your office, getting lost in the giant building, what they hope to achieve in their terms and what's been the strangest part about the job so far.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley welcomes Jenni Russell who says Brexit is already a mess, Iain Martin who thinks he knows who should be the next prime minister and Anne Ashworth, Times property editor, who suggests the lessons that must be learnt from the Grenfell Tower fire.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley welcomes columnists Rachel Sylvester and Phillip Collins as well as political reporter Henry Zeffman. The panel discuss, why the Tories need to listen to Ruth Davidson, why Jeremy Corbyn should resist calls to move rightwards and how shelving Brexit could be the PM's least worst option in 2019.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Britain wakes up to another shock result, a sleep deprived Matt Chorley welcomes The Times Deputy Editor, Emma Tucker, Times columnist, Alice Thomson, Times diary and sketch writer Patrick Kidd, and Sunday Times Political Editor, Tim Shipman.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Britain prepares to go to the polls, Matt Chorley chairs a Red Box debate. On the panel: Katie Perrior, former director of communications at Number 10, Anthony Wells, director of YouGov's political polling and Times columnists Hugo Rifkind and David Aaronovitch. Up for discussion: are people still backing Theresa May, is Jeremy Corbyn a turn-off on the doorstep or surging, is the only way down for the Nicola Sturgeon's SNP, and did the Lib Dems and UKIP make it all about Brexit?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley heads to Edinburgh for a Scottish Red Box special. On a whirlwind tour of the capital he gauges public opinion on the major parties and seeks to understand issues on the minds of voters, there's also host of interviews including: Times columnist Alex Massie, on why the political map could become very divided, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who explains why she's 'in charge' north of the border. There's also contributions from University of Strathclyde's John Curtis who reviews the polls and details why victory could still mean peril for Theresa May, and Times' Scottish political correspondent, Hamish Macdonell outlines what to look for on election night.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Katie Perrior, former May director of communications, Matt Zarb-Cousin, former Corbyn spokesman and James McGrory, former Nick Clegg spinner, to lift the lid on the realities of running a campaign, who's currently doing well, and their worst moments whilst out on the road with the candidates.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As general election campaigning restarts following the terror attack in Manchester, Matt Chorley is joined by Tim Shipman and Sam Coates. They reflect on the political response to terror, what the intelligence leaks mean for transatlantic relations and how the final stages of the election campaign will look.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After the terror attack in Manchester, Matt Chorley delivers a short monologue in place of the the regular podcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley welcomes Lucy Fisher, Alice Thomson and Matthew Shaddick from Ladbrokes as the manifestos break cover. On the agenda: why politicians aren't talking about the rise of the robots, how the social care crisis has finally become a major election issue, and how bookies set political odds, plus the big money bets placed to far.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley escapes the Westminster bubble to visit Yeovil to discover if the Lib Dem fightback is realistic. Listen in as he travels around the local area to chat with Conservative candidate, Marcus Fysh, Lib Dem candidate, Jo Roundell Greene and a whole host of local voters. There's also expert analysis from Professor Charles Lees from the University of Bath and Times columnist Hugo Rifkind.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by former Number 10 director of communications, Katie Perrior, Ipsos Mori research director, Kully Kaur-Ballagan and columnists, David Aaronovitch in the studio and Robert Crampton on the road. On the agenda: The Mays and their political relationship, why there is little evidence meeting immigration targets would please the public, and are there lessons to be learned in Britain from the En Marche experience?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Lucy Fisher, Danny Finkelstein and Oliver Kamm. On the agenda: Why campaigns should be disciplined and hide candidates away if required. Why Oliver is wrestling with voting for a local Labour candidate despite his problems with Corbyn's leadership and why switched UKIP votes could cause swathes of Labour-held seats in the north to turn blue.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley escapes the Westminster bubble to present a special debate between the leading candidates to become West Midlands mayor. Andy Street (Conservative) and Sion Simon (Labour) go head to head and are joined on the panel by Jenni Russell and Matthew Parris. Conversation covers not only local issues but the general election as well. Recorded live on the 26th April 2017  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.