The Times Red Box Podcast

Essential listening in the election campaign brought to you by The Times Opinion podcast. Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Rachel Sylvester and Callum Jones and asks the following questions: - What was your moment of the week? - Who had a good / bad week? - What new things did we learn this week? - What should Times readers expect next week? Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Matthew Parris, Jenni Russell and Hugo Rifkind. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Essential listening in the election campaign brought to you by The Times Opinion podcast. Tim Montgomerie is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Michael Savage and The Spectator's Isabel Hardman and asks the following questions: - What was your moment of the week? - Who had a good / bad week? - What new things did we learn this week? - What should Times readers expect next week? Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Election special: Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Webster, Laura Pitel and Oliver Moody. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Danny Finkelstein, Peter Kellner and Libby Purves. Danny Finkelstein: The most lasting and impressive thing about the Coalition may end up being the fact of it - that it lasted and was stable at a time when the country needed stable government but hadn't voted for one. But there was more - in particular that it enabled cuts to be made with remarkable little social unrest. And there was less - the parties together failed to forge a political identity that enabled them to capture the centre. Peter Kellner: I agree with Danny. In addition, voters are now far less keen on the idea of coalitions than they were before the last election. They wanted parties to work together in the national interest but now are unhappy with the results. As a nation we say we want politicians to put country before party. Nick Clegg did just that- and look what has happened to his ratings. Libby Purves: Excited that scientists have discovered not only Richard III’s scoliosis and head wounds but... &#

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Patrick Kidd, Ann Treneman and Matt Ridley to discuss David Cameron's potential gaffe, Alex Salmond scaring Westminster, and the governments role in the biggest marine protection zone in the world.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Richard Fletcher, Philip Aldrick and Janice Turner for a Budget special, plus a look at George Osborne the Chancellor and the man.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Matthew Parris and Hugo Rifkind. Jenni Russell: Is the icecap starting to break? For months the polls have been locked, with Labour and the Tories stuck on a third of the vote, and Labour remaining just slightly ahead. Labour has been hoping that the electorate will reject austerity; the Tories have been anxiously awaiting a reward for seeing the economy turning at last. Ashcroft's latest poll puts the Tories four points ahead; more importantly the Tories have led more of the last twenty polls than Labour have. Matthew Parris: Okay, I'll say it: I think there's a chance the Tories are just going to win outright. We are in the media have a habit of fighting the last battle and because the last election led to a coalition this has conditioned thinking about the next one. But Labour support may begin to ebb away: not least because the party has no stomach for this fight and people know it. Hugo Rifkind: Parts of England are developing a profound...  

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Rachel Sylvester and Philip Webster. The panel discuss how the major parties are confronting the issue of immigration ahead of the general election in May. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Lucy Fisher, Isabel Hardman and David Aaronovitch. Lucy Fisher: Yesterday a new “cash for access” scandal exploded, after MPs Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind were caught out offering their influence and political contacts in exchange for money. The revelation looks set to erode further voters’ faith in mainstream politics, which will benefit only Ukip and the Greens at the polls in May. The scandal has also sparked a row about MPs’ second jobs, on which many are now calling for an outright ban. Isabel Hardman: The Church of England is now locked into a face-off with the Conservative party. The Bishops probably didn’t mean to offend the Tories so much with their letter last week, but they did, partly by being so naive about complex issues such as defence and partly by being mealy-mouthed about the recovery. But the Tories also didn’t need to get so upset about what the Bishops wrote - if indeed they read it. It included a defence of markets and of the Big Society:... &

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Suzy Jagger, Lech Mintowt-Czyz and Philip Webster. The panel discuss: 1. Focus on the Conservative Party's key weakness - being party of the rich. Are they in danger of being too punitive on welfare? 2. Focus on Labour's key weakness - their remoteness from business. Is it too late to correct? 3. Key weakness of all of the parties - a complete disinterest in foreign policy. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Roger Boyes, Roland Watson and Anne Applebaum - the panel discuss the deteriorating situation in Eastern Ukraine. Should Ukraine be armed? Does Britain have any foreign policy at present? In addition, conservative commentator John O'Sullivan joins Tim direct from Sydney to talk about Tony Abbott's leadership in Australia. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Richard Fletcher, business editor, and Philip Aldrick, economics editor, as they discuss recent events in Davos and Greece. Plus, our political sketch writer, Ann Treneman, joins the president of YouGov, Peter Kellner, to discuss the state of UK politics. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Sam Coates, Daniel Finkelstein and Anne Ashworth. The panel discuss David Cameron's employment manifesto pledge, the response of the Muslim Council of Britain to the letter from Eric Pickles plus the astounding response to the National Savings & Investment Pensioner Bonds. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Alice Thomson, Laura Pitel and Libby Purves. Generational difference on the Paris massacres, 'weaponising' the NHS and televised political debates. Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Jenni Russell, Matthew Parris and Rachel Sylvester. The panel discusses the forthcoming general election: All of the politicians say that this election matters more than any for a generation but they always do. But are they right this time? In terms of the minor parties, who has the potential to most affect the outcome of the next parliament: Ukip or the SNP? Who will be prime minister at the end of the year? Subscribe via iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by cartoonist Peter Brookes to review the biggest talking points of 2014 with his favourite drawings of the year with Anne Ashworth and Hugo Rifkind. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Subscribe to The Times: www.thetimes.co.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Special 2015 edition: Tim Montgomerie is joined by Roland Watson, Fay Schlesinger and Francis Elliott to discuss some potential big talking points in the year ahead. Tim also roams the newsroom to chat to various Times editors to see what is on their 'ones to watch' list. Subscribe in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/did-you-read Subscribe to The Times: www.thetimes.co.uk'  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Fay Schlesinger and Robert Crampton. David Aaronovitch Yesterday the Russian rouble dropped to an all-time low rate of 63 against the dollar, and interest rates were raised by 6.5% to 17%. Part of this economic collapse is due to the oil price drop and part to sanctions following the annexation of the Crimea. Meanwhile, for the last few weeks reports have been multiplying of aggressive Russian air activity, which could itself endanger more civilian life. The consequences of Putinism, not the general election, will arguably be the great story of 2015. We need to wake up to it now. Fay Schlesinger Faces pressed against glass and framed by an Islamic flag, millions watched the victims of the Sydney siege go through their 16-hour ordeal. All that terror seems to have been the doing of one man. The fact is that almost anyone can be a terrorist these days, and heightened security can't be expected to protect against lone wolf attacks. The only solution is... &

Tim Montgomerie is joined by Philip Webster, Melanie Phillips and Robbie Millen. Philip Webster: The Lib Dems are flailing around trying to show they are different from the Tories they have kept in office. It won't work. They have just signed off the autumn statement whose accompanying documents contain all the cuts they now so despise. They should pull out of the coalition. That will prove they are different. It won't mean an early election. Melanie Phillips: The appeal of Islamic State lies in the real power it has gained through territory and wealth. The only way to stop it recruiting is therefore to destroy it on the ground. The west's real problem, though, is the absence of a strategy to combat holy war. Robbie Millen: Should the Elgin Marbles be returned to Athens? The Greek Prime Minister said that their loan to the Hermitage was an “affront to the Greek people”. Such bombastic, bone-headed nationalism should be ignored. The marbles belong as much to Britain --- and all the civilised world... &