Politics Unpacked
Wireless Group
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times.
You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at http://www.thetimes.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Location:
United Kingdom
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times. You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at http://www.thetimes.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Language:
English
Episodes
PMQs: Labour's 'Civil War'
11/12/2025
Kemi Badenoch tells the Prime Minister he's lost control of Downing Street, and his government has "descended into civil war."
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges from Prime Minister's Questions with Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Duration:00:40:09
Trump Eyes A Billion From The BBC
11/11/2025
The US President has given the BBC until Friday evening to apologise and remove a Panorama episode which edited a speech to make it appear he was inciting violence - or else, he'll sue.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Duration:00:31:31
Heads Roll Over BBC Bias Claims
11/10/2025
Accusations of bias have forced Tim Davie and Deborah Turness to resign from their roles at the BBC - has the job of running the corporation become almost impossible?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and Sebastian Payne.
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Duration:00:29:48
Is There Any Way Out For Rachel Reeves?
11/7/2025
As Rachel Reeves tells the Budget watchdog she could raise income tax for the first time in 50 years, is there any way out for the chancellor? And will she make all future promises on tax worthless?
Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Thangam Debbonaire.
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Duration:00:31:21
Have Politicians Stopped Lying?
11/6/2025
Nigel Farage and Rachel Reeves have both sought to be more frank with the public about the economy this week - does this herald a new era of honest politics?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Daisy McAndrew and Matthew Parris.
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Duration:00:31:06
PMQs: Lammy Rattled Over Second Manhunt
11/5/2025
David Lammy takes Deputy PMQs for the first time, and faces the same question from Conservative James Cartlidge five times in a row about a second asylum seeker mistakenly released from prison. In the end it turns out that Cartlidge knew the answer all along.
Hugo unpacks the action with Patrick Maguire and Stefan Boscia
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Duration:00:36:27
Reeves Drops A "Waffle Bomb"?
11/4/2025
Rachel Reeves tries to lay the ground for difficult decisions at her Budget. But did the speech say anything new, or was Kemi Badenoch right to call it a "waffle bomb"?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott
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Duration:00:31:40
Farage Appeals To "Alarm Clock Britain"
11/3/2025
Reform has set out its plan for the British economy, but will the sums add up?
And why has Farage recycled a Nick Clegg slogan from 2011?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of today with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers
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Duration:00:30:14
Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
10/31/2025
Andrew has been stripped of his prince title and ordered by the King to leave the Royal Lodge - but will he continue to cast a shadow over the Royals?
Harry Wallop unpacks the news of the day with Alys Denby and Patrick Kidd.
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Duration:00:30:38
Reeves' Rental Blunder
10/30/2025
After hinting at manifesto breaking tax rises in the budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has come under fire for breaching rental rules on her family home - can she hold on to her job?
Calum MacDonald unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Manveen Rana.
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Duration:00:30:07
PMQs Unpacked: "Always Someone Else's Fault"
10/29/2025
Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out a U-turn on his manifesto tax pledges in the budget, while blaming the Tories for the country’s economic woes. Kemi Badenoch accused him of playing the blame game.
Calum Macdonald unpacks the action with Josh Glancy and Jon Harvey.
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Duration:00:41:46
Migrants in Military Barracks
10/28/2025
The UK government will begin housing small boat migrants in military barracks from next month, part of a plan to move asylum seekers out of hotels and cut costs. But why is Labour now supporting policies it once condemned?
Calum McDonald unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.
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Duration:00:30:45
Where Are The Grown Ups?
10/27/2025
The Home Office is squandering billions of pounds on asylum hotels in another damaging story for the government. Can Labour still call themselves the "grown ups in the room"?
Calum Macdonald unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers
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Duration:00:31:52
Labour's Caerphilly Collapse
10/24/2025
Plaid Cymru have swept to victory in Caerphilly, taking a Senedd seat that has been held by Labour for a century - will it convince Keir Starmer to change course?
Alexis Conran unpacks the politics of the day with Daisy McAndrew and Michael Binyon.
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Duration:00:31:46
Why Is The Home Office Still Not Fit For Purpose?
10/23/2025
Shabana Mahmood says her department remains “not yet fit for purpose,” after The Times uncovered a secret report calling it dysfunctional and detached from reality. Should we be worried that we're still using that phrase, 20 years after John Reid first made it famous?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Patrick Kidd.
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Duration:00:29:12
PMQs: Grooming Gangs Inquiry In Chaos
10/22/2025
Hugo Rifkind unpacks this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions with Gabriel Pogrund from The Sunday Times and comedian Gráinne Maguire.
After several grooming gang victims withdrew from the inquiry process, Sir Keir Starmer vows to deliver justice — but can he restore confidence in the investigation?
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Duration:00:42:40
What Did Andrew Witness?
10/21/2025
Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir reveals her abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and alleged encounters with Prince Andrew - claims he denies. Now, the disgraced royal faces pressure to disclose what he knows about Epstein’s crimes and those who may have enabled them.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.
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Duration:00:30:53
Is China A Top-Tier Threat?
10/20/2025
Conservative MPs Alicia Kearns and Tom Tugendhat have urged Keir Starmer to designate China a top-tier threat, calling his inaction a sign of weakness - but would such a label really change anything?
Hugo Rifkind is joined by Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers to unpack the politics of the day.
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Duration:00:29:03
Football Ban Tests Starmer
10/17/2025
The Prime Minister wants to lift the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending their game against Aston Villa next month. But could it lead to violence?
Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby.
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Duration:00:37:12
The China Spy Blame Game
10/16/2025
The government, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Conservatives all blame each other for the collapse of the China spy case, is everyone set to lose in the blame game?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and David Runciman live from the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival
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Duration:00:33:23