The Times Red Box Podcast

Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond were once close allies and friends, but then the relationship turned sour, with the battle going all the way to the courts and to the heart of the question about whether the United Kingdom will follow their friendship in being broken up. Matt Chorley is joined by Keiran Andrews, Scottish political editor of The Times, to explain the row. Professor James Mitchell from Edinburgh University and journalist Angela Haggarty assess the impact on the SNP; and Luke Graham, former head of Boris Johnson's Union Unit, on turmoil in the Tory camp.PLUS: Finkelvitch: Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on political retreads, and Trump's comeback.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New polling shows the public now thinks benefits are too low. Matt Chorley speaks to a mother on Universal Credit and a former MP who had to rely on benefits after losing his seat.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on why we really do hate elections.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New polling reveals just 4 per cent of people know what the culture war is. Matt Chorley speaks to an expert panel about what this means for politics.Plus Esther Webber and Robert Crampton on why Germany now envies Britain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Times columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action at Prime Minister's Questions to explain the Commons exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris Smith tells Matt Chorley about being the first MP to come out as gay, and the first to come out as HIV positive, in the latest episode marking LGBT+ History Month.PLUS: Finkelvitch - Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on Lady Macbeth and anti-lockdowners losing the argument.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One year out from the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, Matt Chorley speaks to Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat and the Muslim Council of Britain's Hassan Joudi about whether Britain should boycott the event over allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and to Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies and the Times' Matt Lawton about attending controversial international sporting events. PLUS: Times Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves pick over the day's news.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Red Box reporter, Esther Webber, and Times' columnist Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley is joined by Blair Jenkins who ran Yes Scotland campaign and Blair McDougall who ran the Better Together campaign on whether a second Scottish independence referendum is likely.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced sweeping reforms to the NHS, but social care plans have been delayed again. Luke Jones - sitting in for Matt Chorley - is joined by experts in the area to discuss how to fix the system. Plus: Times writers Alice Thomson and John Kampfner pick over the day's news  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The UK parliament has more LGBT members than ever before, but how did it here? As part of LGBT History Month Luke Jones - sitting in for Matt Chorley - is joined by parliamentary historian Penny McMahon and current and former MPs Chris Bryant, Justine Greening and Hannah Bardell to talk about the history of the laws surrounding LGBT rights and what it's like being an out politician today.Plus, Times columnists David Aaronovitch and Danny Finkelstein discuss the day's headlines.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley. On Rishi Sunak's first anniversary as Chancellor Luke is joined by IPSOS Mori's Head of Politics Kieran Pedley, George Osborne's former Chief of Staff Rupert Harrison and former economic advisor to John McDonnell James Meadway to discuss why the Chancellor remains so popular, and what challenges he faces in the coming year. PlusColumnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves pick over the day's news.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Red Box reporter, Esther Webber, and Times' columnist Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley marks International Day of Women and Girls in Science by speaking to three prominent scientists, Payal Jain, Professor Monica Grady, Professor Lorna Dawson and the science minister Amanda Solloway.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Spectator's economics correspondent Kate Andrews and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action at Prime Minister's Questions to explain the Commons exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have you noticed a change in the prime minister? Less prone to starting fights? The over-optimism dialled down? Matt Chorley speaks to Steven Swinford, the Times political editor, about a change in tone in No10, plus Charles Walker, the vice-chairman of the 1992 committee of Tory MPs, and Baroness Jenkin, on why the reboot should involve more women.PLUS: Finkelvitch - Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on Keir Starmer's "Infamy" moment.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Former No10 pollster James Johnson chairs a group of swing voters to get their views on Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer and the economy.Plus: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on who is in tune with the national mood on tax.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Red Box reporter, Esther Webber, and Times' columnist Robert Crampton pick over the day's news; Matt Chorley is joined by Suzanne Heywood on her book about her husband and former cabinet secretary Jeremy Heywood and the competition she's launched in his name asking for your big ideas to change the country.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Times columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action at Prime Minister's Questions to explain the Commons exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With a month until the budget, Matt Chorley asks a panel of economic experts if it is time to tighten our belts or splash the cash. Guests include  Robert Chote, former head of the Budget Responsibility, Morgan Schondelmaier, from the free market think tank the Adam Smith Institute, and Costas Lapavitsas, an economist from SOAS University.Plus columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Tom McTague ask: does it matter if dissidents aren't perfect?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dame Sara Thornton, the Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner, tells Matt Chorley how lockdown has affected the thousands trapped in servitude in Britain.PLUS columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on vaccine volunteering and tackling online racists.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Times columnist Robert Crampton and Red Box reporter Esther Webber pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley speaks to former British Ambassador to the US Peter Westmacott about what Ambassadors do all day, and it isn't eating Ferrero Rochers...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Times columnist Alice Thomson and Red Box writer John Kampfner pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action at Prime Minister's Questions to explain the Commons exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.