Politics Without The Boring Bits

Join Matt Chorley as he guides you through what really matters in British politics. Formerly the Red Box podcast, he brings together the best interviews, smartest analysis and funniest panel discussions from his Times Radio show, Politics Without The Boring Bits.
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Classic PMQs Unpacked: Weak, Weak, Weak

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Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire give the "Unpacked" treatment to a classic PMQs, with John Major and Tony Blair going head-to-head in January 1997, challenging each other over the leadership...

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More from Politics Without The Boring Bits

Mar 26, 2024

Tim Martin: Brexit, Boris and Sticky Carpets

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Matt's off to the pub... to meet Wetherspoons boss Sir Tim Martin and talk about Brexit, Boris Johnson and whether the lunchtime pint is alive and well.Then Matt hears how Steve Bray, Stop Brexit Man, has been silenced. Plus: A taster of...

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Mar 25, 2024

The Exit Interviews: Robin Walker

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Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to find out about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics.Conservative MP Robin Walker tells Matt why...

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Mar 22, 2024

The MPs Who Don't Exist

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Our new exclusive polling shows that both Labour and the Tories have some well-known frontbench spokespeople; the bad news is that some of them don't exist. Matt explores why fake politicians can poll better than real ones.Plus:...

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Mar 21, 2024

It's Not Just The Economy, Stupid

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Matt sits down with US political scientist Lynn Vavreck, author of 'The Message Matters', to find out whether the Clinton-era cliche - 'It's the economy, stupid' - really holds true.Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris...

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Mar 20, 2024

PMQs Unpacked: Geoff Norcott Rates The Jokes

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It's the last PMQs before MPs head off for an Easter break, and comedian Geoff Norcott joins Matt Chorley, Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit to pause and unpack the action from the Commons chamber. Rishi Sunak hails the latest inflation...

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Mar 19, 2024

What's The One Thing Sunak Could Do?

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With his party behind in the polls and some asking whether he'll survive until the autumn, what options does Rishi Sunak have to turn things around? Matt asks former leader Michael Howard and a panel of expert Tory watchers. Plus: A...

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Mar 18, 2024

The Exit Interviews: William Wragg

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Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to find out about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics.This week, Conservative MP William Wragg tells...

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Mar 15, 2024

Does The Feelgood Factor Matter?

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What makes the nation feel good about itself - is it the weather, sporting success or a royal wedding? And what difference does it make to how the nation votes? Matt takes a look back through history and the polls with Elinor Goodman,...

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Mar 14, 2024

Could Cameron Join the GOATs?

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Gordon Brown tried to form a "government of all the talents", giving ministerial jobs to figures from outside politics. Matt speaks to two of the original GOATs, and asks whether Keir Starmer could even keep on David Cameron as foreign...

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Mar 13, 2024

PMQs: A Racist’s Refund

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Rishi Sunak struggles to deflect questions about a Tory donor's racist comments, and accuses of Keir Starmer of double standards. But have government communications descended into the kind of 'inept catastrophe' we saw during the Boris...

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Mar 12, 2024

Too Easy To Sack Your MP?

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It's been a decade since the introduction of recall, meaning MPs who break the rules can be kicked out of the Commons. As another recall petition opens in Blackpool South, Matt asks whether it's become too easy to remove them from the...

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Mar 11, 2024

The Exit Interviews: Mark Drakeford

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Former Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson has defected to Reform UK, giving the party its first MP. Matt discusses the significance of the move with columnists Trevor Phillips and Libby Purves, and former minister Paul...

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Mar 8, 2024

The Secrets Of Political Advertising

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In the coming months you're going to see a lot more political adverts across TV, radio, and social media. But how much do we know about what really works, and what doesn't?Matt is joined by Mark Lucas, a British ad man who has made films...

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Mar 7, 2024

Rachel Reeves' First Budget

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If the polls are right, Rachel Reeves could be the next chancellor. But after a Budget that confirmed money is tight (and stole some of her flagship ideas), what will she be able to do in office? Matt speaks to former advisers to Keir...

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Mar 6, 2024

The Budget: Losing A Few Pounds

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Jeremy Hunt has delivered what is probably his last Budget before the general election, and as well as offering tax cuts he found time to refer to Peter Mandelson's suggestion that Keir Starmer 'shed a few pounds'.Times columnist Patrick...

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Mar 5, 2024

The Only Poll That Counts

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Politicians often tell journalists "the only poll that counts is the one on election day". Professor Jane Green from the University of Oxford tells Matt why we should trust opinion polls as she takes over as head of the British Polling...

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Mar 4, 2024

The Exit Interviews: Stephen Hammond

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Matt Chorley sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to find out about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics.Conservative MP Stephen Hammond explains why he...

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Mar 1, 2024

Inside The Downing St Handover

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What really goes on behind the famous black door after an election, as one government makes way for another? Matt hears about recently-released documents lifting the lid on the transfer of power in 1997, and speaks to some of the people...

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Feb 29, 2024

Focus Group: Time For Reform?

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Three out of 10 Tory voters now say they're leaning toward Reform UK. Is there anything Rishi Sunak can do to bring them back? Pollster James Johnson of J.L. Partners joins Matt for the monthly Times Radio Focus Group.Plus: Columnists...

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