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Times Radio

The Times brings together some of the most experienced strategists in British politics to discuss what's really going on behind the big stories, and elections taking place here and around the world.

Daniel Finkelstein, Sally Morgan and Polly Mackenzie join Hugo Rifkind for an intelligent, adversarial and witty conversation every week.

Follow the podcast now to never miss an episode.

Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: howtowin@thetimes.co.uk

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Win An Election

Was the Budget aimed at short-term political survival, or did it form part of a coherent electoral strategy?

Sally, Polly, Danny (and Hugo) discuss Rachel Reeves' statement - does it make it more likely that she and the prime minister will stay in their jobs, but more likely to lose the next election? What could she have learned from Gordon Brown's budgets? And does Kemi Badenoch's success in the Commons chamber mean anything in the world outside?

Send your questions, comment, voicenotes and weird food suggestions for Polly to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Survive A Tax-Raising Budget

The prime minister is at the G20 in South Africa, the week ahead of a tricky budget. Is it fair to criticise him for being away, and can he influence negotiations over a peace plan for Ukraine?

Guto Harri unpacks the politics of the day - including China's super embassy, and Donald Trump's insults - with Michael Binyon and Lucy White.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Keir Really Never Here?

Can Keir Starmer persuade his backbenchers to back his tough new migration reforms - and stop them openly plotting his downfall?

We discuss how prime ministers have tried to keep their MPs on side, Alex Ferguson's advice for Tony Blair, and whether Andy Burnham could be heading back to Westminster (via Norfolk).

Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Make Your MPs Like You

Keir Starmer has vowed to fight any plot to oust him - but has Downing Street's briefing operation against the plotters actually made his downfall more likely?

Sally, Pollly, Danny and Hugo discuss the prime minister's survival, and look at past plots that have succeeded - and those that haven't. From the curry house conspiracy against Tony Blair to doomed attempts to bring down David Cameron and Nick Clegg, how do they compare with the civil war in the Labour Party?

Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Plot Against A Prime Minister

Danny says if Rachel Reeves raises income tax she will have to resign - and will make all political promises in the future worthless. Do the other political masterminds (and Hugo) agree?

We also discuss why Zack Polanski didn't like our discussion about the Green Party, whether British politicians are learning the wrong lessons from Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York, and Polly tries Marmite for the first time, ever.

Send your questions and comments to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Rachel Reeves Will Have To Resign

We're joined by William Hague for the latest in our series looking at how the biggest elections in recent political history were won - and how they were lost.

We go inside the Tory campaign, in which Hague's Conservative Party tried to convince the nation it was time for a common sense revolution - and ended up resembling the protester punched in the head by John Prescott.

From foot and mouth to Sharon Storer, from Thatcher announcing 'The mummy returns' to Oliver Letwin going into hiding, the team get under the skin of the campaign and ask why it couldn't make a dent in Tony Blair's popularity.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How...The Elections Were Won And Lost: Hague & The Tories in 2001

Rachel Reeves is thinking about increasing taxes - perhaps even breaking Labour's manifesto commitment not to raise income tax.

The political masterminds discuss what that would mean for the government's electoral fortunes, and whether they could end up like George HW Bush - who famously said 'Read my lips: no new taxes', only to do exactly that.

We also look at the pressure on Labour from Zack Polanski's Green Party, whether the government 'grid' of daily announcements has had its day, and which prime minister played the most musical instruments?

Send your questions, comments and views on marmite to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Raise Taxes

As well as knowing how to win an election, the team have plenty of experience of losing them too. For this episode, recorded in front of an audience at the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, we look at some campaigns that went really, really badly.

Sally chooses Neil Kinnock's defeat in 1987, Danny chooses John Major's drubbing in 1997, and Polly chooses Jo Swinson's ill-feted run at becoming prime minister in 2019.

Send your questions, comments and stories of defeat to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Lose An Election, Really Badly

Has Kemi Badenoch done enough to see off her Tory critics, for now? Does her promise to abolish stamp duty remind the team of George Osborne's inheritance tax pledge in 2007?

Danny explains why the public have forgotten about Liz Truss sooner than expected, and Polly realises she shares a dress with Liz Truss AND Kemi Badenoch.

The political masterminds - or 'golden trio', plus Hugo - will be live at the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival on Tuesday 14th October. Tickets are available at: https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Escape Political Oblivion (With A Tax Promise)

As the Tories prepare for their annual conference, can the UK's oldest political party avoid sliding into irrelevance? And how has Nigel Farage become more popular while support for Brexit has declined?

Hugo, Sally and Polly are joined by Sir Craig Oliver, former Director of Politics and Communications for David Cameron.

Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk.

The political masterminds will be recording the show in front of a live audience at the Times & Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival on Tuesday 14th October. Tickets available here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Avoid (Tory) Irrelevance

The political masterminds are joined by Chatham House's Dr Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss the state of American democracy, the gender gap between US voters, and the chances of violence in the wake of the presidential election.

Does Kemi Badenoch know which voters she'll be pursuing at the next election? And will increasing tuition fees damage Keir Starmer?

You can send messages to Hugo, Peter, Polly or Danny at at howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Win'.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Win A US Election, Part II

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