I was the only MP allowed into Gaza. This is what I saw: Labour Minister Melanie Ward

Melanie Ward has only been an MP two years and she is already a government minister, promoted to the government by Andy Burnham.Melanie worked in international aid before becoming an MP and continues to be an advocate for some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.Two years ago she visited Gaza and she describes the horrors she witnessed. This is a frank discussion about why Labour's policy on Gaza has changed and what it means for the Middle East and for domestic politics here in the UK.And as Labour gathers in Liverpool for its Annual Conference, what song might Melanie be singing at the karaoke..?See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall and Mishal Husain21 December: Wes Streeting https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.comMARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall 8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall 9 LEICESTER Y Theatre 12 SALFORD Lowry 16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate 21 EXETER Northcott Theatre 24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre 28 ALNWICK Playhouse 29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham 30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club 12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre 13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall 14 CHORLEY Theatre 18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange 19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks 20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn 21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal 23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall 26 NORWICH Playhouse 27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright 4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre 5 READING Concert Hall 8 CARDIFF The Glee Club 9 BATH Komedia 10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre 11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre 15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal 16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables 18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre 30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station 2 GLASGOW The Glee Club 4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claire Hanna went viral with a superb joke about Donald Trump after he apparently supported a united Ireland. The leader of the SDLP gives us a comprehensive and entertaining briefing about the state of politics in Northern Ireland and has clear ideas about how to improve the system and its politics. On top of the detail, passionate and funny, Claire embodies the hope of a politics free of sectarianism. See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall and Mishal Husain21 December: Wes Streeting  https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/  GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.com MARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall 8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall 9 LEICESTER Y Theatre 12 SALFORD Lowry 16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate 21 EXETER Northcott Theatre 24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre 28 ALNWICK Playhouse 29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham 30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club 12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre 13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall 14 CHORLEY Theatre 18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange 19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks 20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn 21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal 23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall 26 NORWICH Playhouse 27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright 4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre 5 READING Concert Hall 8 CARDIFF The Glee Club 9 BATH Komedia 10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre 11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre 15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal 16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables 18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre 30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station 2 GLASGOW The Glee Club 4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Langford was Special Adviser to The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, from the day he became Prime Minister to the day he left. He takes us inside the famous black door and tells us what Keir Starmer was really like as a leader, a boss and a man.  He tells us what it was really like in those final weeks in between the local election results and the Prime Minister's departure. And he reveals the true extent of Larry the Cat's power and influence.This is an unmissable nosey around the most famous address in the country.  See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London) GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.com MARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall 8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall 9 LEICESTER Y Theatre 12 SALFORD Lowry 16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate 21 EXETER Northcott Theatre 24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre 28 ALNWICK Playhouse 29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham 30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club 12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre 13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall 14 CHORLEY Theatre 18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange 19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks 20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn 21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal 23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall 26 NORWICH Playhouse 27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright 4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre 5 READING Concert Hall 8 CARDIFF The Glee Club 9 BATH Komedia 10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre 11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre 15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal 16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables 18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre 30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station 2 GLASGOW The Glee Club 4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many have failed... but is Michael Marra the man to finally lead Labour to success in Scotland? It's a huge task that has proved beyond nine leaders, so what would Michael do differently? And does having Andy Burnham as Prime Minister help? More importantly, what on earth happened to him in Malawi?  And is he really a proper 6Music dad? See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London)GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.com MARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall9 LEICESTER Y Theatre12 SALFORD Lowry16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate21 EXETER Northcott Theatre24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre28 ALNWICK Playhouse29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall14 CHORLEY Theatre18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall26 NORWICH Playhouse27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre5 READING Concert Hall8 CARDIFF The Glee Club9 BATH Komedia10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station2 GLASGOW The Glee Club4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is astonishing.Malcolm Offord is the leader of Reform in Scotland and led them to a huge result in May, tying with Scottish Labour on 17 seats. But that day had mixed feelings for him as he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was the latest chapter in an incredible life that led him from Greenock on the west coast of Scotland, to the House of Lords via the City of London.Made a peer and a minister by Boris Johnson, Malcolm has brilliant stories about dealing with him, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London)GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.comMARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall9 LEICESTER Y Theatre12 SALFORD Lowry16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate21 EXETER Northcott Theatre24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre28 ALNWICK Playhouse29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall14 CHORLEY Theatre18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall26 NORWICH Playhouse27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre5 READING Concert Hall8 CARDIFF The Glee Club9 BATH Komedia10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station2 GLASGOW The Glee Club4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Douglas Alexander has been around for ages and he still looks fresh-faced. In this frank and entertaining hour the Secretary of State for Scotland reveals why Labour failed so badly at this year's Holyrood elections.He also takes us behind-the-scenes of the first weeks of the Burnham government as well as the fall of Keir Starmer.PLUS stories from the good old Blair/Brown days and more importantly: what's his ideal Greggs order?See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London) GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.comMARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall9 LEICESTER Y Theatre12 SALFORD Lowry16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate21 EXETER Northcott Theatre24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre28 ALNWICK Playhouse29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall14 CHORLEY Theatre18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall26 NORWICH Playhouse27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre5 READING Concert Hall8 CARDIFF The Glee Club9 BATH Komedia10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station2 GLASGOW The Glee Club4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the SNP's top talents, Stephen Flynn is on hilarious form at the Edinburgh Festival.He opens up about his frustrations with Nicola Sturgeon's critique of the SNP campaign and exclusively reveals that he'd already resigned as SNP Leader in Westminster BEFORE the 2024 general election had been called. Stephen's got great stories about small talk with ex-Prime Ministers at the Cenotaph as well as his experiences from his summer travelling across the USA with the Tartan Army at the World Cup.It's clear to see why he's so highly regarded, especially as he had to overcome major health problems in his youth.This is a story of resilience, determination. And football. See the Political Party Live on Stage:18 August: Douglas Alexander (Edinburgh)20 August: Malcolm Offord (Edinburgh)9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London) GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.comMARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall9 LEICESTER Y Theatre12 SALFORD Lowry16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate21 EXETER Northcott Theatre24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre28 ALNWICK Playhouse29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall14 CHORLEY Theatre18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall26 NORWICH Playhouse27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre5 READING Concert Hall8 CARDIFF The Glee Club9 BATH Komedia10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLEOld Fire Station2 GLASGOW The Glee Club4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an exclusive, the first interview Anas has given since becoming a Minister and a Lord.No stone is unturned as he tells us:What really happened when he called on Keir Starmer to resign.Why Scottish Labour lost so badly.Why he believes there are still legitimate questions the SNP must answer about the party finances...And so much more.  It's packed. Best enjoyed with a black coffee...See the Political Party Live on Stage:15 August: Stephen Flynn (Edinburgh)18 August: Douglas Alexander (Edinburgh)20 August: Malcolm Offord (Edinburgh)9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London) GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.comMARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall9 LEICESTER Y Theatre12 SALFORD Lowry16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate21 EXETER Northcott Theatre24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre28 ALNWICK Playhouse29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall14 CHORLEY Theatre18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall26 NORWICH Playhouse27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre5 READING Concert Hall8 CARDIFF The Glee Club9 BATH Komedia10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station2 GLASGOW The Glee Club4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon McCoy is the man who made BBC News funny.He is also an absolute news obsessive. In this fascinating and entertaining interview, he tells us what it was like moving from the BBC to GB News, what frustrated him about covering the Brexit referendum, and the intervention that Huw Edwards made about Simon's afternoon slot on News 24. Packed full of behind-the-scenes insight, this is an absolute cracker with one of our most gifted broadcasters.  GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.comMARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall9 LEICESTER Y Theatre12 SALFORD Lowry16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate21 EXETER Northcott Theatre24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre28 ALNWICK Playhouse29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall14 CHORLEY Theatre18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall26 NORWICH Playhouse27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre5 READING Concert Hall8 CARDIFF The Glee Club9 BATH Komedia10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station2 GLASGOW The Glee Club4 EDINBURGH Lyceum TheatreSee the Political Party Live on Stage:9 August: Anas Sarwar (Edinburgh)15 August: Stephen Flynn (Edinburgh)18 August: TBC (Edinburgh)20 August: Malcolm Offord (Edinburgh)9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John McTernan is one of the most fascinating voices on the British left. He worked at the centre of 10 Downing Street as Tony Blair's Political Secretary. But now he's in a slightly different space. His perspective has shifted and he sees new Labour as the end of a different era. Now he believes Labour has to be more left wing. So what's changed?  And how many more agree with him?SEE Matt's brand-new stand-up show 'Project Holy Moly' at the Edinburgh Festival 5-30 August:https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/matt-forde-project-holy-moly Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.