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The Times

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

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 at Labour conference in Liverpool for Keir Starmer's speech, and this special episode recorded in front of a live audience.

As the prime minister steps up his attack on Reform UK's Nigel Farage, has he fundamentally changed Labour's strategy - and will it help him win the next election?

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

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

Starmer's Speech: How To Attack Nigel Farage

The political masterminds are discussing party conferences - from how to deal with a leadership challenge while you're there, to how to write a speech (and when you should use a joke).

They also discuss Andy Burnham's philosophy of 'Manchesterism', and we get our first question from a listener asking when the next General Election will be.

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

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

How To Prevent Party Conference Chaos

After a series of sackings, missteps and with Reform ahead in the polls, Labour MPs are seriously thinking about trying to change leader.

But would replacing Keir Starmer improve the party's fortunes, would Andy Burnham be any good, and is it true that “the hand that wields the knife shall never wear the crown"?

With Danny away, the team are joined by former chancellor Jeremy Hunt to discuss the men in grey suits, and why it costs £800 to buy your ministerial red box.

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

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

How (And When) To Topple A Leader - With Jeremy Hunt

The political masterminds discuss the deputy Labour leadership contest - and then the breaking news as we record the episode that Peter Mandelson has been sacked as US ambassador.

Having backed two allies to stay in their jobs - first Angela Rayner, then Lord Mandelson - where does this leave Keir Starmer?

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

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

How To Win The Deputy Leadership - And Mandelson Sacked

Angela Rayner is under fire after admitting she failed to pay enough tax on her second home. Keir Starmer has vowed to do "everything he can" to save her political career, but how much damage is he doing to his own?

The political masterminds discuss whether Angela Rayner can survive this scandal. Plus, will Keir Starmer start to have sleepless nights over the Greens?

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

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

How To Survive A Scandal

Is Chevening, the foreign secretary's country house, more Maga than you might think? After news that US vice president JD Vance will stay with the foreign secretary, the team discuss their time at the government's grace-and-favour mansions.

They also answer a question from listener Nick about whether Nigel Farage can deliver as well as he can campaign, and look at the impact of Keir Starmer's policy shift over Gaza.

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

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

How To Holiday With JD Vance

The race is on to get candidates in place for the general election, with the Tories having to deal with more MPs announcing their departure by the day.

The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss who the parties will pick, and who they’ll come to regret.

And has Rishi Sunak’s campaign actually started better than we’d expected?

Send questions, comments and voicenotes to 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 Dodge A Dodgy Candidate

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