Politics Without The Boring Bits The Times

The party leaders have been on the campaign trail day in, day out - but what seats have they been visiting, and what does it tell us about the kind of campaign they're fighting? Matt looks at whether an appearance by Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer can help swing a seat, and speaks to former Number 10 adviser Cleo Watson about the dos and don'ts of planning political events.
 
Plus: Columnists Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson discuss the ethics of political betting, and why Rishi Sunak should reform the rules for electing his successor. 
The Columnists: (04:00)
The Big Thing: (25:15)


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The Conservative party is facing one of its biggest ever challenges, but how did they get into this mess? And what does the future of the party look like?
Matt speaks to Paul Goodman, Conservative peer and former editor of Conservative Home, about what will happen if it loses the election, and hears from William Hague about what it is like being ignored in opposition. 
Plus: A selection of some of the best moments from How To Win An Election as it reaches 1 million downloads. 


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Matt sits down with the MPs leaving Parliament to find out their highs and lows, their best and worst bosses, and the lessons they've learned from politics.
Tory MP Craig Mackinlay lost his hands and feet after suffering a life-threatening episode of sepsis, and Rishi Sunak's snap election came too soon for him to run for his seat again. He talks to Matt about how he kept working from his hospital bed, dreaming about his colleagues while he was in a coma, and adjusting to life with prosthetic limbs.
Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylvester and James Marriott discuss whether Nigel Farage's call for peace talks with Putin could halt Reform UK's surge in the polls, whether political interviewers should treat politicians with more respect and what Barcelona's ban on AirBnB means for tourism.
Columnists (03:20)
The Exit Interviews (24:34)

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Author Anthony Horowitz tells Matt what he would do if he ruled the world, and explains why he's a libertarian and why he wants to make James Bond's M one of his advisors

Lara Spirit continues her A-Z of Parliament, this week looking at "T" for Tea Rooms

From Rishi Sunak calling the election in the rain to Ed Davey falling off his paddleboard, what are the images that define a general election campaign? Matt speaks to the photographers who have had a ring-side seat.
Plus: Benedict Pringle and Sam Jeffers discuss the best of the week's campaign adverts (and the ones that had to be deleted).
What We Learned This Week (00:47)
Mad Men (02:44)
The Pictures That Define The Election (11:31)

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It's the Times Radio Focus Group, where Matt steps outside the Westminster bubble to hear the opinions of ordinary voters.
This week it's a group who plan to vote for the Conservatives on July the 4th. Matt is joined by James Johnson from JL Partners to find out why.
PLUS: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed discuss whether building houses is a credible plan for economic growth and whether Matt should follow sports stars in drinking pickle juice for his health.
Columnists (04:20)
Focus Group (33:18)

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