Politics Without The Boring Bits The Times

Tim Shipman and Kait Borsay join Matt Chorley to pause and unpack the action from the Commons chamber as Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak clash over pensions and how to fund them, and one Tory gets a ticking-off from the Speaker.
Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the violence on American University campuses, whether sports stars make good politicians and the policing of domestic violence. 
Columnists (02:30)
PMQs Unpacked (23:05)

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For months a group of Tory plotters have been saying that the local elections will be pivotal to their efforts to remove Rishi Sunak from office. So as the moment of truth nears, can the plot succeed, or are the plotters themselves divided?
Plus: After an MSP accidentally (and briefly) enters the race to replace Humza Yousaf, we look at the shotest ever leadership campaigns.
Short Leadership Campaigns: (05:06)
The Big Thing: (12:25)


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Matt sits down with MPs leaving Parliament at the next election to find out about their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics.
Caroline Lucas - the only Green MP - tells Matt about her reasons for standing down and what's wrong with Westminster - including MPs cowering in the toilet to hide from their party whips.
Plus: As Humza Yousaf resigns, Times Scottish Political Editor Kieran Andrews tells us where the SNP goes next.

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Comedian, writer and Starstruck creator Rose Matafeo tells Matt what she would do if she ruled the world, including putting Rasputin and Fran Lebowitz in her cabinet.

Plus: We find out what you'll be able to see when No 10 Downing Street opens its garden to the public.

The impressionists are back - Jon Culshaw, Rory Bremner and Nerine Skinner join Matt to talk about their favourite political impressions, before engaging in a 'three-way Trump-off'.
Plus: Andrew Neil gives his take on the future of Humza Yousaf and the SNP, and Gyles Brandreth discusses Keir Starmer opening up about his childhood.
Andrew Neil (03:15)
The Columnists (12:00)
The Impressionists (30:30)

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Exclusive polling for the podcast shows two in 10 voters - including one in 10 of those who voted Tory in 2019 - would like the Conservative party to disappear completely, in favour of another right-wing party.
How bad do things look for the Tories, and could they be facing a Canada-style electoral wipeout? 
Plus: Manveen Rana and Matthew Bell discuss political nicknames, whether politicians should answer more questions with "I don't know", and why Mr Bates vs The Post Office didn't make any money.
The Columnists (01:57)
The Big Thing (22:10)

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