The Times Red Box Podcast

How likely is a second referendum in Scotland? Nicola Sturgeon has set out a timetable, giving the nation a year to decide whether they want independence. Matt Chorley speaks to two journalists in the thick of it, the Times' Kieran Andrews and Catriona Stewart, we also hear from the SNP's Stephen Flynn on why Sturgeon detests the tories and the polling legend Professor John Curtice crunching the numbers.Plus Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss Liz Truss in the tearoom and fixing childcare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Liz Truss got into trouble for playing Moving On Up at her Tory Party Conference speech, Matt Chorley explores the relationship between politics and pop.He hears from Al Mackenzie from the band D:Ream, Dave Rowntree, who was the drummer for Blur and then became a Labour councillor in Norfolk between 2017 and 2021, Matt Charlton, Music Journalist for the NME and Rolling Stone and Lisa Verrico, Music Journalist at The Sunday Times.PLUS James Forsyth and Melanie Reid on the heavy cost of Kwarteng’s spending squeeze and young people's support for Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK politics may be bonkers, but countries around the world have also lost the plot, changing Prime Minister every few years. Matt Chorley takes a trip around the world speaking to foreign correspondents about how quickly the leader get's the chop.PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott on Latin and Liz Truss' dress Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire take a forensic look at Liz Truss's first speech as party leader to the Conservative conference in Birmingham. PLUS Two former Times Political Editors Phil Webster and Francis Elliott delve into the audio archives to look back at the debut conference speeches of past leaders, from John Major and David Cameron, to Theresa May and Boris Johnson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the interview that caused Liz Truss's major headache on day 3 of Tory Party Conference. Matt Chorley speaks to Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt who says she hopes benefits will rise in line with inflation, a commitment the Prime Minister has not made.AND earlier this week Mordaunt joked about the bad communications strategy over the mini-budget, so Matt also convenes a crack team of government comms experts to advise on how the government can improve.PLUS: James Forsyth and David Aaronovitch on all the chaos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Gove has been a government minister for the majority of the last decade but now he's heading back to the backbenches. He tells Matt Chorley what he thinks of the government's decision to abandon its plans to abolish the top 45p rate of tax, and even plays the quiz.PLUS: Alice Thomson and Rachel Sylvester discuss another difficult morning for the government Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Venetia Menzies, Data Journalist at the Times and Sunday Times takes Matt Chorley through baby name statistics. Find out which names are the most popular and which have fallen out of favour, and what happens when your name is the same is a frontline politician.PLUS: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid discuss where the Tories go next after that extraordinary poll for The Times put Labour 33 points ahead.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Description: Matt Chorley and The Times' Political Editor Steve Swinford reveal what Conservative MPs really think about the Chancellor's budget and the economic crisis.PLUS: Highlight's from Liz Truss' difficult series of interviews on local BBC radio stations.AND: Carol Lewis and James Marriott on property and the middle classes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley and Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire go through the Labour leader’s speech to the conference in Liverpool and whether this was his best one yet. PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton on economic meltdown and memoirs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley sits down with the Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner. They discuss everything from Labour leadership, why Keir Starmer is a morning person and she isn't and why she wants to have slippery nipple shots with Therese Coffey.PLUS Finkelvitch, Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on Labour values and the call of office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Labour leader prepares to take the stage at the conference in Liverpool, Matt Chorley and Henry Zeffman rack through their contacts to find out how shadow ministers and aides think of him now. Former spinner for Sadiq Khan, Paddy Hennessey and former advisor for Keir Starmer, Ben Nunn also join Matt to discuss what the Labour leader needs to do now to win at the next election.PLUS Rachel Sylvester and John Stevens discuss the pound falling and the Italy elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's get Fiscal. Matt Chorley dives into the Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's fiscal statement and what it all means with the Times' Political Editor Steven Swinford and experts from the Institute of Economic Affairs, Institute of Directors, Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Resolution Foundation.Melanie Reid and James Forsyth also react and discuss the fiscal event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Therese Coffey made her first big announcement as Deputy Prime Minister in the Commons today. With archive and new interviews, Matt Chorley hears from people who have held that role in both an official and unofficial sense, including Michael Heseltine, Nick Clegg, Peter Mandelson and David Lidington to find out how it works. PLUS: James Marriott and Patrick Kidd on anxiety, imposter syndrome and pot noodles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley heads to the four corners of the UK to speak to local reporters from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about what is making the headlines there. The quest to find the UK's most fun country continues...PLUS:Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss two wars - nuclear and class.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Times Radio's Chief Political Commentator Lucy Fisher to discuss what's coming up in a frantic week of politics as Liz Truss' cabinet set out three key policy plans in the House of Commons. We also hear from Institute for Fiscal Studies Director Paul Johnson, Miriam Deakin from NHS Providers and Abby Jitendra from Citizens Advice.David Aaronovitch and Robert Colvile discuss economic growth and beige food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thirty years ago on 16th September 1992, a collapse in the pound sterling forced Britain to withdraw from the ERM. Matt Chorley speaks to the chancellor at the time, Lord Norman Lamont, about why he still thinks it was the right decision and if he still sings in the bath. We also hear from the two political editors of the Times and the Sun, Phil Webster and Trevor Kavanagh, on what it was like covering the story.Plus Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss the Britishness of queuing and what the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner needs to do. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If a lot can happen in seven days, think how much happened over the 70 years of the Queen’s reign. Matt Chorley looks at how life in Britain has changed from baby names to life expectancy, pay to power. Times Red Box Editor Patrick Maguire and Venetia Menzies go through the data and why some of the Queen's first state opening of parliament speech is still relevant today.India Knight and James Marriott discuss having a mid-life crisis and being glued to the TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley heads to the four corners of the UK to speak to local reporters from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about what is making the headlines there. This week, they talked about how each nation has been remembering the late Queen and welcoming the new King.Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss King Charles and the pen incident and their stories on getting the date wrong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the late Queen's coffin moves from Edinburgh to London, Matt Chorley takes a tour through Westminster taking in the history that surrounded her life from the place of her birth to the route of next week's funeral processionPLUS: Danny Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the right to protest during the period of mourning and the sacking of Treasury Permanent Secretary Sir Tom Scholar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A week, they say, is a long time in politics. First uttered of course by Harold Wilson, number five in Queen Elizabeth’s 15.Matt Chorley looks back at what happened last week with the Times’ Associate Political Editor Henry Zeffman.PLUS Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss King Charles’ speech to parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.