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.
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.
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.
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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
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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
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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/
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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.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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MPs have left Westminster for the summer, but politics continues - with Nigel Farage promising to spend six weeks fighting a war on crime.
Can opposition parties use the break to put pressure on the government, did David Cameron deserve his reputation for 'chillaxing', and why did Tony Blair's team hope he wouldn't call from the sun lounger?
Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk
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With Hugo away, Patrick Maguire joins the political masterminds to ask whether Keir Starmer was right to punish rebellious Labour MPs by removing the whip.
They also consider whether giving the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds will help Nigel Farage at the next election, Rachel Reeves' unpalatable options over tax, and Donald Trump's appearance at the Club World Cup.
Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk
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This week the political masterminds consider what's happening on the populist left and right, with more Tories defecting to Reform UK and talk of a new party led by Jeremy Corbyn.
How small has the Conservative coalition become, do the voters expect Keir Starmer to wield a 'magic wand', and what would a new party be called?
Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk
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It's been a dramatic political week, with Keir Starmer attempting to answer speculation about the chancellor's future after she was seen in tears at prime minister's questions.
The political masterminds discuss what really happened at PMQs, how the prime minister has responded, and whether the government is in search of a new strategy. Plus, just how big is Polly's whiteboard?
Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk
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The political masterminds are answering your questions this week, including - should Keir Starmer look to Harold Wilson, or ignore historical precedents? Can politicians make the case for borrowing more? And what can Reform learn from the Lib Dems about coming second?
Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk
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The government has held a meeting of the Cobra committee to discuss the Israel-Iran crisis - but how important is it really during a national emergency, and is it the UK's version of the White House Situation Room?
The political masterminds also discuss the political impact of backing America during a conflict, and whether Keir Starmer can start ignoring Kemi Badenoch at prime minister's questions.
Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk
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The political masterminds ask whether Rachel Reeves' Spending Review charts a course to victory at the next General Election, before turning to another set of national elections - can Reform UK win in Labour's heartlands when Welsh voters go to the polls in a year's time?
And who will win the Lib Dem KitKat of victory?
Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk
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With tough choices facing the government, the political masterminds look at what goes on behind the scenes ahead of a spending review - and how reluctant ministers are brought into line.
And as the Tories finally put the boot into the Liz Truss legacy, have they found a new strategy on the economy - and will anyone notice?
Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk
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The political masterminds are joined by former Tory cabinet minister David Gauke, fresh from leading the sentencing review for Keir Starmer's government. When does bringing people into the big tent work, and when is does it go wrong? They talk about Tony Blair's tsars, Gordon Brown's GOATS and Chris Grayling's gaffe.
They also discuss cabinet tussles over the spending review, and Robert Jenrick's vigilante video tackling fare dodgers.
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