The Times Red Box Podcast

What makes a politician defect and change political sides? Matt talks to four politicians who decided to jump and how they kept it a secret including; Alan Howarth, Douglas Carswell, Anna Soubry and Dr Phillip Lee.PLUS KNIGHT AT THE MARRIOTT... India Knight and James Marriott discuss taking responsibility and why rule breakers get ahead. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Boris Johnson claims 'he was not told' the Downing Street party would breach lockdown regulations, Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire pause the action between the exchanges at the dispatch box to explain what's going on.PLUS Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss Boris Johnson's leadership woes and swimming in the Serpentine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Times Chief Political Correspondent Henry Zeffman, former SpAd Kirsty Buchanan and head of the Institute of Economic Affairs Mark Littlewood to find out who the woman behind the photo ops really is. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss fairness in politics.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley talks to Sir Mark Walport, Professor Linda Bauld and The Science Media Centre's Fiona Fox about going from anonymous scientists in front of a microscope to media sensations during a pandemic.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester talk Operation Red Meat, the BBC licence fee and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley hears from people who were in the room with previous Conservative Prime Ministers as they were forced out from office. The Times' Political Editor Steven Swinford analyses how close Boris is to following them.PLUS: Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss the latest Number 10 Downing Street party to be revealed. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley catches up with former civil servant, cancer patient and listener Clair Fisher about being moved into a hospice and why palliative care needs to be considered in the Health and Social Care bill.PLUS COLUMNISTS: India Knight and Hugo Rifkind talk about Boris Johnson's leadership, art degrees and dogs wearing clothes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Boris Johnson under fire for the latest party allegations, Matt Chorley and Patrick Maguire pause the action between the exchanges at the dispatch box to explain what's going on. PLUSAlice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss parties and farming. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley and former Number 10 Pollster James Johnson convene the Times Radio focus group to find out what they think about the latest Number 10 party revelations. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss Michael Gove's lift incident. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to former Ambassador to the US Kim Darroch, Times Diplomatic Editor Roger Boyes, and former senior civil servants Jill Rutter and Simon Fraser about the issues facing the Foreign Office, and what it can do to get back on top. PLUSThe Times Libby Purves and the Mirror's Susie Boniface talk party-gate and living forever. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Danish political drama is back this year. Matt Chorley speaks to the show's creator Adam Price about life imitating art, what really happens in Danish politics and what to expect in season four.PLUS COLUMNIST FORMEL: James Forsyth and Melanie Reid talk about the Downing Street flat inquiry and the cost of living. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley looks back a year since the Capitol riots with Jamie Roberts and Robert Moore who were there. Also he spoke to Barbara Walter and Carlton Larson on the future of US democracy and a possible civil war.PLUS COLUMNISTS: Knight at the Marriott, India Knight and James Marriott, discuss compulsory vaccines, culture wars and loving pets more than children. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A special PMQs Unpacked episode after Prime Minister's Questions was pushed back to 3pm. Matt Chorley takes over the role of Tim Shipman and pauses the action in the Commons with Mariella Frostrup.PLUS it's Wednesdays so it's our columnist duo Alibert, Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton on care homes and vaccine exemptions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Times Chief Political Commentator Henry Zeffman, former Labour MP Anna Turley, pollster Kelly Beaver and Financial Times journalist Seb Payne about Keir Starmer's speech resetting Labour's agenda, patriotism, and the flag. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss political nomenclature. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Carole Walker, sitting in for Matt Chorley, speaks to historian Brenda Van Coppenolle, and Conservative politicians Geoffrey Clifton Brown and Nicholas Soames about political dynasties in the UK.PLUSThe Times' Rachel Sylvester and the New Statesman's Rachel Cunliffe discuss schools, covid and France. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a Christmas special, fellow Times Radio presenter Luke Jones speaks to Matt Chorley about growing up in Taunton, working in Westminster and what he loves about presenting politics without the boring bits. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

PM Christmas Special: Matt Chorley and historian and author Andrew Gimson dive into the lives of British Prime Ministers. This episodes goes through all the Prime Ministers from Margaret Thatcher to Boris Johnson. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to a focus group of the podcast's regular Columnists who write for The Times discussing the politics of 2021. In part 2 of 2, Matt asks the group how they'll spend Christmas and which Times Columnist would make the best Prime Minister. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to a focus group of the podcast's regular Columnists who write for The Times discussing the politics of 2021. In part 1 of 2, Matt asks for the group's political highlight of the year and which politician had the worst year. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley pits Labour's Jonathan Ashworth and Conservative Nicky Morgan, against Times and Sunday Times writers Patrick Maguire and Lindsay McIntosh and Times Radio's Ayesha Hazarika and Alexis Conran to see who will triumph in the big political quiz everyone is calling... Politics Without The Boring Quiz. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Christmas Day, Matt Chorley and his fellow Times Radio presenter Mariella Frostrup go through some of their 2021 show highlights. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.