Show 385. James Frith

Do MPs dread going back to work like the rest of us do?Rising Labour star James Frith talks us through what it's like going back to the office as a politician.He's now PPS to David Lammy, but what exactly does that involve?And where does he buy and sell his old clothes?All this and more in this entertaining start to 2026. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2026 may be the year that Anas Sarwar finally leads Labour back into power at Holyrood. In this revealing and hilarious interview from 2021, he outlines what Labour needs to do to win.Since then Labour have won a landslide at Westminster... can he replicate that?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is class. Ryan is the Director of Policy and Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. What are the problems we'll face in the future?What are the answers?And what's Tony Blair like as a boss?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsRyan Wain This is class. Ryan is the Director of Policy and Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. What are the problems we'll face in the future?What are the answers?And what's Tony Blair like as a boss?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keynes. Woolf. Hitchens. The New Statesman has an illustrious history and editor Tom McTague is the latest custodian of that grand tradition.But how does a centre-left magazine pitch itself in the ferocious world of social media and hot takes?What's its relationship with the Labour Party?How does it handle disagreements on the Left?And, more importantly, what does Labour need to do to win next time?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the biscuit man!Gordon is a viral sensation thanks to his novel way of explaining the national debt using Custard Creams and Bourbons. This is an entertaining analysis of how to use social media and the wider political pressures that Labour face. As a member of the Labour Growth Group, Gordon tells us what the group actually does and how we get deliver growth in the economy. Plus... Gordon's Christmas Day breakfast will blow, and possibly influence, your mind.THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanskihttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This. Is. Phenomenal. Nick Clegg has been one of the most powerful people in the UK and in Silicon Valley. He takes us inside the crazy world of Meta and the tech bros. What is Mark Zuckerberg really like? Should we fear AI? Does he still speak to David Cameron?All this and more are contained within! THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanskihttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peray is the Labour leader of Haringay Council.They are leading the way when it comes to building council homes.But why?This is a fascinating, entertaining insight into leadership in local government, including how to manage disagreement and where to go for the best kebabs.THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE8 December: Nick Clegg26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanskihttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Izzy is a political historian and host of the excellent 'Leading Labour' podcast that you can listen to here:https://leadinglabour.podbean.com/It's a series analysing every Labour leader from Attlee to Corbyn.So which Labour leader from history is Keir Starmer most like? And which one can he learn from the most?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE8 December: Nick Clegg26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanskihttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matt Forde Focus Group (BBC RADIO 4) is returning!Sign up to my mailing list for exclusive access to free tickets for the Christmas Special recording of The Matt Forde Focus Group on Wednesday 17 December at 7:15pm.Tickets will be released on Wednesday 19 November.   https://www.mattforde.com/focus-group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marie is one of Labour's rising stars of the 2024 intake and was recently awarded 'Parliamentarian of the Year' by The Spectator. It's easy to see why. She is a formidable campaigner and has had to overcome various barriers in her life in order to succeed.An immense talent, Marie could easily have ended up in law or broadcasting, but politics was too strong a pull.Although there is one particular TV show she'd love to be on...THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE8 December: Nick Clegg26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanskihttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.