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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

Nigel Farage's Reform UK is on a roll, but can the political masterminds see a time when he breaks the traditional two-party system? How would they advise Labour and the Tories to deal with the threat - and how would they advise Farage?

They also look back to Ed Miliband's decision not to back air strikes against Syria in 2013, and Peter remembers a three-hour meeting with the country's dictator Bashar al-Assad soon after he took power.

Send your messages to Hugo, Peter, Polly and 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 See Off An Insurgent Party

Peter, Polly and Danny are answering your questions this week. When has politics ruined their Christmas - or in Polly's case, a hen do? Will there be a realignment on the left to threaten Keir Starmer? Why did Jo Swinson help Boris Johnson into Downing Street? And should politicians risk a holiday?

Send your messages to the political masterminds (and Hugo) 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 Stop Political Chaos Ruining Christmas

The political masterminds (and Hugo) say farewell to Peter before he heads to Washington as the UK's ambassador to the United States. Has he packed his wellies, and could there be another comeback around the corner?

Danny, Polly and Hugo also discuss who should replace him, and with local elections in England on the way - who will win the battle for control of the right of politics?

Send your messages 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 Say Goodbye To Peter

With Reform closing in on Labour in the polls and questions being asked about the chancellor's political survival, how can the government get on with the day job of changing the country?

The political masterminds are joined by guest Peter Hyman, former adviser to Tony Blair and Keir Starmer and architect of the government's five "missions for national renewal".

And... the podcast has been shortlisted in the People's Choice category at this year's Political Podcast Awards. While we get ready to deploy the dark arts, please vote for us here.

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

How To Stop Your Missions Becoming Impossible

Keir Starmer is on a charm offensive with Donald Trump - does it give Labour's opponents an electoral advantage?

The political masterminds (and Hugo) are joined by US pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson to discuss Trump's inauguration, his honeymoon (or otherwise), and Polly and Kristen disagree over Republican women.

You can still vote for us in the People's Choice category at this year's Political Podcast Awards. Please vote for us here.

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

How To Respond To Trump

How much time in Number 10 is devoted to getting on with the business of government, and how much to thinking about winning the next election?

Sally Morgan, one of Tony Blair's closest advisers, joins Hugo, Polly and Danny to discuss running a campaign and delivering at the same time. She explains what a political washing line is, why Liz Truss was all line and no clothes, and they compare notes on ministers who would always go on the airwaves to defend their party.

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

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

How To Hang Out Your Political Washing

This week the political masterminds (and Hugo) are joined by Theo Bertram, who worked in Downing Street for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

After a new book by Times journalists Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund sheds light on the inner workings of Keir Starmer's government, is chief of staff Morgan McSweeney actually in charge? And should a new YouGov/Times poll showing Reform UK ahead of Labour for the first time cause everyone to panic?

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

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

How To Tell Who's Really In Charge

Nigel Farage's former adviser Gawain Towler joins the political masterminds to discuss how to be an insurgent force in politics. They look back at how UKIP finally made a break-through at Westminster and forced David Cameron into offering the EU referendum.

If you have a message for Hugo, Polly or Danny send it to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk.

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

How To Be A Disrupter

What's the role of an adviser at the top level of politics, and does it always involve swearing?

John McTernan, who has worked for prime ministers in the UK and Australia, joins the political masterminds to discuss the highs and the lows of the job. And after Kemi Badenoch speaks at a gathering of right-of-centre thinkers in London, what have we learned about her brand of Conservatism?

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

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

How To Survive As A Political Adviser

How To Win An Election is moving to every Thursday, starting this Thursday, February 27th - when we'll be announcing a new political mastermind.

In the meantime, here's an episode from our colleagues at The Story.

Lord Maurice Glasman was the only Labour politician to be invited to Trump’s inauguration after striking up a friendship with JD Vance. So who is he and why is his 'Blue Labour' movement seen by Starmer's inner circle as the medicine to tackle the rise of Reform?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Patrick Maguire, Political Columnist, The Times and author of Get In:The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Further reading: To take on the right, will Labour go blue?

Clips: GB News, NBC, PBS, UnHerd, Together, ABC Australia, The Guardian.

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

The Labour Peer Who Inspired JD Vance

Keir Starmer is changing course on the winter fuel allowance - where does it sit in the league table of political U-turns, and will it please anybody?

The political masterminds also discuss the Conservative Party's existential polling spiral, why Starmer's approval ratings have fallen so far in the year since the General Election was called, and why Hugo agrees with Polly that babies should get the vote.

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

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

How To Perform A Giant U-Turn

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