Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
by BBC Radio 4
Nick Robinson talks to people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs. Each episode of Political Thinking features an in-depth conversation with someone who is shaping our politics. The people who run our country (and those who want to), campaigners, business and union leaders, and people who run other countries. All of them join Nick in the studio, not for a news-y interrogation, but for an extended and relaxed conversation, delving into their past and how it shaped their worldview. New episodes drop on Fridays on BBC Sounds. You can also watch them on BBC Two at 12:15pm on Fridays or on BBC iPlayer. And you can listen on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays at 17:30.
Episodes
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Andy Haldane: Burnham's former adviser gives the Budget 4 out of 10
The President of the British Chambers of Commerce on his role as friend and critic of the new prime minister. Andy Haldane made his name as the "maverick" and "radical" Chief Economist at the Bank of England. Many thought he'd be brought into Andy Burnham's Downing Street as an adviser, but he...
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'We can't leave it to tech bros and oligarchs': AI minister Kanishka Narayan
From a childhood in India, to a new seat at Andy Burnham's cabinet table: what has shaped the man who is now tasked with shaping the UK's response to the world of AI? How did Kanishka Narayan go from sleeping on the floor in his family's one-bed flat in Cardiff, to Eton and Silicon Valley? Why…
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Suella Braverman: 'I'm not imposing my idea of Englishness on anyone else'
"I played it nicely in government. I should have been harder.' That is the reflection of the former Home Secretary, now Reform UK's education spokesperson, on her time at the top of government. Suella Braverman joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio, having sparked a row after saying "of...
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Tom Watson: Don't bow to 'mob rule' on Palantir
The former deputy Labour leader has been criticised for joining the controversial tech firm, Palantir, as it tries to persuade ministers not to cut off a huge NHS contract. How did the man who railed against Rupert Murdoch's media empire and Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook end up working for a Silicon...
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We're failing the next generation: Alan Milburn on getting young people into work
The man tasked with tackling youth worklessness joins Nick at the Labour conference in Liverpool. Alan Milburn has looked into the whites of the eyes of the prime minister and the chancellor, and believes they are on board with his upcoming 'manifesto for change,' aimed at solving the 'NEETs'...
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'Can you not hear their rage?': Film-maker Paul Greengrass
The British director reflects today's political and social mood in his new film, The Uprising, about the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. Paul Greengrass tells Nick how the rage that led to the revolt in medieval England is similar to what he sees in society and politics today. He charts his journey…
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"Weakness is provocative": Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat on the UK's role in the world
Tom Tugendhat on Trump's diplomacy, the Afghanistan withdrawal and being sanctioned by China Does the Shadow Foreign Secretary think Trump's remarks on Ireland and the Falkland Islands are serious? Why does he think China and Russia see the UK as 'not serious' And which language is the best to…
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Angela Rayner on her return to the top table: 'It’s good to give people a second chance'
The Housing Secretary joins Nick for the first episode of a new series of Political Thinking. Angela Rayner talks about the change of character, personality and politics in Downing Street under new leadership. She opens up about how it felt to "lose the confidence of the people" after being…
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"It's not a purge!" Kemi Badenoch on forging a future for her party
As the Burnham era dawns, the Leader of the Opposition on why it's time to transform her party, what would get her round the table with the new Prime Minister - and the people who believed in her when no one else did. Producer: Hannah Wilkinson
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'Our donors are brave people': Reform's Robert Jenrick on wealth, power, and the establishment
As the country reels from the death of Reform's Ann Widdecombe, the party's Treasury Spokesman discusses the threat to politicians, debates whether calling politicians racists and traitors is dangerous, and explains why the ‘cosy club’ of politics is in for a shock. Producer: Hannah Wilkinson
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We've got a plan: Louise Haigh on her journey back to power
The former Transport Secretary, sidelined by Keir Starmer, reveals she's been working with Burnham on a plan for government for at least a year, and has already seen the prospective Prime Minister make tough decisions. Also - bringing hope back to politics, navigating an exotic bird auction, and...
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The Treasury was in denial: John Healey on why he resigned as defence secretary
In his first interview since resigning from Keir Starmer's government, the former Defence Secretary John Healey talks about the threats we face, his hopes for a Burnham government, and why he thinks the Treasury is in denial. Producer: Hannah Wilkinson
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What went wrong for Starmer: Morgan McSweeney gives his side of the story
In his first ever interview, the Prime Minister's former Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney lifts the lid on winning power, dealing with Trump, and how project Starmer fell apart. Producer: Hannah Wilkinson.
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'A bad start even before he starts' - Welsh First Minister on why trouble's brewing with Burnham
The new First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth on what Wales really wants, why Reform surged in the Senedd election, and how working as a nightclub bouncer will help him deal with Andy Burnham.
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From Downing Street... to California Governor? Former Tory adviser Steve Hilton on making the Golden State great again
Former Tory adviser and candidate for California Governor Steve Hilton on the frustrations that drove his political journey and why he believes the Golden State can turn red.
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'We need some daydreaming': lawyer Theodor Meron on surviving the Holocaust, and issuing Netanyahu’s arrest warrant
International lawyer and judge Theodor Meron on issuing Netanyahu’s arrest warrant, and how daydreaming helped him to survive the Holocaust. This episode has been subject to a Corrections and Clarifications note: https://www.bbc.co.uk/helpandfeedback/corrections_clarifications
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Why Starmer will survive: The Attorney General on human rights, small boats, and his ‘dogged’ friend the Prime Minister
The Attorney General Richard Hermer speaks to Nick about small boats, his most controversial cases, and why his old friend Keir Starmer can survive a leadership challenge.
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“Inequalities don’t happen by accident” Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson on trans rights, Islamophobia, and why equality still matters
Chair of the equalities watchdog, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, on sex and gender, the right to protest, and doing one of the hardest jobs in Britain.
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'What the hell are we doing?' Wes Streeting on his promise to young people, resigning from government, and wanting to be PM
Labour leadership contender and former health secretary Wes Streeting on what prompted his resignation, the challenges of being a working class politician, and his wealth tax plan.
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Why the PM has to go: Miatta Fahnbulleh on being the first minister to break with Starmer
The former Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who was the first Minister to resign from Keir Starmer's government after the elections, discusses reaching breaking point, who should lead Labour now, and why she's terrified of where politics is going. She also talks about her experience as a...
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'It's been a whirlwind': Zack Polanski on storytelling, Zionism and Zackonomics
Few people have done more to shape politics in recent months than the Green Party Leader in England and Wales, Zack Polanski. In his Political Thinking debut, he tells Nick Robinson about his 'whirlwind' journey since becoming leader, saying that becoming PM is now 'in his mind' . He talks about...
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From Sky boss to Number 10: Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith
Andrew Griffith on why government sometimes has to say 'no' and why Rupert Murdoch was the "best boss". The Shadow Business Secretary was once the youngest Chief Financial Officer of any major British company, when he worked at Sky, before becoming an MP an joining Boris Johnson's team in Downing...
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'We cannot have chaos': Emily Thornberry on the law of war and Labour's struggles
The Foreign Affairs Committee Chair on Iran, Trump's 'asteroid of awfulness' and the 'grief' she felt after being dropped by Starmer. Emily Thornberry tells Nick about how her father's career as a UN peacekeeper helped shape her commitment to the ideals of international law. She also has frank...
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'This is Iran's Berlin Wall moment': Omid Djalili, comedian and actor
The British-Iranian comic on revolutions, Kensington, 9/11 jokes, King Charles and Iran's future. Omid Djalili has become one of the loudest voices in the Iranian diaspora calling for the overthrow of the regime in Tehran, in favour of US military action. While the world waits for Trump's next...
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'We're appeasing the tech bros': Beeban Kidron, from film-maker to lawmaker
What links Bridget Jones to social media regulation? The answer: Baroness Beeban Kidron. In 2004 she directed the Bridget Jones sequal. 20 years later, she became one of the most vocal campaigners for regulation of social media and tech in the UK. She joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio…
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Nigel Farage: 'Broken Britain', national identity and lessons from Trump
A frank conversation with the leader of Reform UK. Nigel Farage has put his party on a "general election war footing" and says he is preparing for power. What has his party still got to learn before they're ready? Who is he referring to when he talks about putting "our own people first"? And what...
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How to tell England’s story: James Graham, playwright
James Graham joined Nick in the political thinking studio in late January, ahead of a this year's TV adaptation of his play Dear England. What did Gareth Southgate get right about national identity? What advice does the playwright have for Keir Starmer on storytelling? And why is it important…
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Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv: From boxing to politics
How did the world heavyweight champion end up running a city of 3 million people in wartime? Vitali Klitschko joins Nick from the Ukrainian capital in the midst of a Russian campaign to descimate the city's energy infrastructure. He talks about what peace could look like, the lessons he learned...
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David Lammy: The old world order isn't coming back
What happens when US Vice President Vance goes drinking with Angela Rayner & David Lammy? The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary knows America better than probably anyone else around the cabinet table. And in this interview he reflects at length on the state of the world and the...
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The union leader who agrees with the Tory leader: Daniel Kebede
The National Education Union's general secretary on banning social media, strikes and race Daniel Kebede says he is "completely aligned" with Kemi Badenoch on social media policy but warns that the Labour government is on a "collision course" with teachers over pay and conditions. Why does a…
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John Swinney: Trump, Independence and Scottish Troops in Ukraine
What is the Scottish First Minister's secret for getting Donald Trump's attention? Nick is in Edinburgh to sit down with John Swinney, at the start of a year of big elections across the UK, including for the Scottish Parliament. He has been at the top of SNP-led government's for almost all of the...
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Jordan Bardella: The 30-year-old populist hoping to be France's next president
An exclusive interview on immigration, racism, Russia, Farage and Trump. Jordan Bardella is the leader of National Rally in France, and currently leading the polls to become president in 2027 if his mentor, Marine Le Pen fails to overturn a conviction that bars her from running for office. In the...
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Kemi Badenoch: Shooting from the hip
Why did the leader of the opposition call the chancellor 'spineless' and 'shameless'? Kemi Badenoch joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to reflect on what lay behind the personal and political debates around Budget Day. How can she emulate Margaret Thatcher's regeneration of the...
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Shabana Mahmood: Racism, Asylum and Me
Why is the Home Secretary warning against leaving space for "darker forces"? Shabana Mahmood sits down with Nick off the back of announcing sweeping changes to the asylum system in the UK. Why did she decide to quote explicit racial abuse in the House of Commons? And how does she intend to avoid...
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'I'm preparing for government': Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth
Can Plaid Cymru replace Labour as the party of power in Wales next year? Rhun ap Iorwerth, the party's leader, thinks so. Rhun ap Iorwerth joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to talk about how his parents' passion for Welsh heritage and language formed the basis for his vision for the...
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'I like it when people underestimate me': Lib Dem leader Ed Davey
Ed Davey warns Starmer against handing Reform UK 'the keys into 10 Downing Street' Producer: Daniel Kraemer Research: Chloe Desave Sound: Ged Sudlow and Andrew Mills Editor: Giles Edwards
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Life after Labour: Zarah Sultana on Palestine, Farage and 'Your Party'
How a trip to the West Bank in her teens set the Coventry MP on a path into politics. Zarah Sultana joins Nick in the studio a few weeks before the launch of her new party with Jeremy Corbyn. In the interview, they discuss her positions on NATO, the state of Israel, seeking power, and why she...
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Gaza, Trump and me: UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher
Driving through Gaza is like "driving through the ruins of Hiroshima, or Stalingrad, or Dresden" Tom Fletcher has been the United Nations humanitarian chief for almost a year and speaks to Nick two weeks into his organisation's efforts to get as much aid as possible into the Gaza Strip. He gives…
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Net Zero has become a religion: Claire Coutinho on climate, identity and cooking
The Shadow Energy Minister has transformed her party's approach to climate policy. In this extended conversation, Claire Coutinho sets out what changed her mind on net zero, a shift that has brought her into fierce debates with her opposite number, Ed Miliband. She also shares her feelings about...
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Free Speech Tsar: Arif Ahmed on how to avoid the 'abyss' of political violence
How do you protect and police freedom of speech on campus and in society? Arif Ahmed is a Cambridge Philosopher who is now responsible for enforcing new freedom of speech rules on universities, colleges and students. He took office at a time when there is particular focus on a vexed question…
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Bridget Phillipson on life as education secretary
One of the two candidates to be deputy leader of Labour joins Nick at the end of party's conference in Liverpool. Bridget Phillipson opens up about how her own experience of poverty informs her political views on childcare, schools and universities. She also reveals her DJ set-list Producer…
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Preparing Farage for Power: Danny Kruger on defecting to Reform UK
Danny Kruger had been at the heart of the Conservative Party since it was led by David Cameron, until he decided that party was "over". He is now a Reform UK MP and has been tasked with preparing the party for government. He sits down with Nick to explain why we need a "revival" of Christian...
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Lucy Powell: People have lost sense of Labour's values
Lucy Powell on why and how she was sacked by Keir Starmer, and why she now wants to be his Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. Producer: Daniel Kraemer Editor: Giles Edwards
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'Build Baby Build': The new housing secretary, Steve Reed
Steve Reed was given the job of Housing Secretary as the result of crisis, after the resignation of his close friend Angela Rayner. But he has been part of the inner circle preparing Keir Starmer's rise to power from the beginning, having recruited the man who ended up as the prime minister's…
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China, Russia and us: Tony Radakin on four years as Chief of the Defence Staff
An exclusive exit interview with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on the week he steps down as the UK's military chief. Radakin's time as head of the armed forces was dominated by responding to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As he leaves, he is adamant that the UK is "safe" and that the war has...
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The Friedrich Merz One
The German Chancellor speaks candidly about Trump's attitude to Europe, war on the continent, and the future relationship Britain Producer: Daniel Kraemer Researcher: Chloe Desave Editor: Giles Edwards
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The Josh Babarinde One
The Lib Dem Justice Spokesperson managed to persuade ministers to change domestic abuse law within a year of being elected to parliament. Josh Babarinde tells Nick how his own childhood experience spurred him on to push for reform. He also explains how a beer mat persuaded him to join the Liberal...
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The Keir Starmer Prime Minister One
After some of the most tumultuous days of his premiership, Keir Starmer sits down with Nick in Downing Street, to reflect on a year in power. In a wide-ranging interview, the prime minister defends his style of leadership, while taking responsibility for the setbacks. He also opens up about…
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Trump's America: The Scott Perry One
A Republican Congressman outlines the values that lie behind his conservative politics. Scott Perry is the Representative for Pennsylvania's 10th District, a Trump ally, an Iran hawk who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and a veteran, who flew combat missions in Iraq before turning his...
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The Douglas Alexander One
The Trade Minister explains how a penalty shootout played a role in his government appointment. Douglas Alexander has the same job that he had 20 years ago in Tony Blair's government. He reflects on how the world has changed in that time, and his motivation for returning to politics after a...
About this show
Nick Robinson talks to people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs. Each episode of Political Thinking features an in-depth conversation with someone who is shaping our politics. The people who run our country (and those who want to), campaigners, business and union leaders, and people who run other countries. All of them join Nick in the studio, not for a news-y interrogation, but for an extended and relaxed conversation, delving into their past and how it shaped their worldview. New episodes drop on Fridays on BBC Sounds. You can also watch them on BBC Two at 12:15pm on Fridays or on BBC iPlayer. And you can listen on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays at 17:30.
Hosted by
BBC Radio 4