logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2018
37m 36s

'Like Augustus Gloop in a chocolate fact...

THE TIMES
About this episode

Matt Chorley is joined by Hugo Rifkind, who is worried about the vast power that vastly rich people today can have over our politics.

In the week of the death of Jeremy Heywood, Rachel Sylvester wonders whether the civil service can withstand the huge pressure of Brexit.

And Joe Jervis, co-author of Spirit of Britain, Purpose of Labour, says we are a nation divided between Communitarians and Cosmopolitans.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Olly Robbins Fires Back at Starmer
Sacked Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins says No.10 took a “dismissive” approach to Peter Mandelson’s vetting - so where does this now leave Keir Starmer?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Ollie Cole, Charlotte Ivers and Patrick Kidd. Hosted on Acast. See acast ... Show More
26m 12s
Apr 20
Judgement Day For Starmer
Keir Starmer will blame the civil service for the vetting failures behind Peter Mandelson's appointment - but will his defence stand up to scrutiny?Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Libby Purves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 
34m 40s
Apr 17
Starmer's Mandelson Crisis Deepens
Keir Starmer says he's 'furious' he wasn't told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting before his appointment as US ambassador. Just how much trouble is the prime minister in?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. ... Show More
29m 1s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2021
‘I genuinely believe that the UK is not remotely a corrupt country’
<p>This week we examine the row about outside interests for British MPs. Is it acceptable to be earning hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on top of their parliamentary work? And do voters care? Chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley will analyse the situation with poli ... Show More
33m 45s
Apr 2023
The New Statesman political editors’ reunion: covering Westminster from Thatcher to Sunak
In this special podcast, nine political editors and writers come together to discuss working at the New Statesman, covering everything from the rise and fall of Thatcher and New Labour through to the coalition government and the recent period of Conservative hegemony. We hear fro ... Show More
45m 45s
Nov 2023
A Week is a Long Time in Politics
Eight shadow ministers have resigned or were sacked from Labour’s frontbench after voting for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war. And new foreign secretary David Cameron makes his first visit to Ukraine.Adam and Chris talk over the huge political stories of the week wi ... Show More
34m 41s
Mar 2024
Theresa Rules Out a May Election
Today we look at the announcement that Theresa May will leave the commons at the next election with two former close colleagues. Ali Donnelly, her former deputy spokesperson tells Adam what it’s like to receive a death stare from her.Former political adviser Cleo Watson says Brex ... Show More
39m 7s
Sep 2023
End of the UK-China 'Golden Era'?: George Osborne Interview
Questions continue following the arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for China. The man, who has not been charged, has today insisted that he is ‘completely innocent’.We are joined by George Osborne to discuss how the government should engage with Beijing. ... Show More
35m 36s
May 2024
Andrew Marr: "The Conservatives have fallen apart"
For the next six weeks we’re bringing you new episodes every weekday, with updates on the party campaigns, reaction from around the UK and the best polling analysis with our experts. Hannah Barnes, associate editor, is joined by Andrew Marr, political editor, and Freddie Hayward, ... Show More
19m 52s
Jan 2024
Yemen strikes: The political fallout
We look at how Westminster is reacting to the US and UK airstrikes in Yemen.Laura and Paddy discuss why the UK got involved, Sunak’s decision not to ask Parliament first, and Labour backing the military action. Laura’s got Sir Keir Starmer on her BBC One show on Sunday, and the S ... Show More
32m 24s
Sep 2022
Feature interview: Scottish satirist Armando Iannucci
The UK has been swept up in a week of economic and political turmoil, with Prime Minister Liz Truss’s Conservative government coming under increasing pressure over its controversial tax cut plan. Financial markets are roiled, the British pound tanked, and the IMF issued a rare re ... Show More
56m 37s
Oct 2023
UK Politics and the War in the Middle East
Israeli forces continue moving troops into Gaza as bombing continues.And different positions have emerged in UK politics on what should be done to help civilians in the region.Political editor of Newsnight, Nick Watt helps us make sense of them, and Lyse Doucet, BBC chief interna ... Show More
27m 14s
Jun 2024
Why are Labour calling Sunak a liar?
Rishi Sunak accused Keir Starmer of planning to put people's taxes up by £2,000 if he got into power - sums he said had been independently verified. This morning we learned they werent, after a top civil servant put the record straight. Labour are calling the PM a liar (he repeat ... Show More
34m 38s