Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
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 12:30pm on Fridays or on BBC iPlayer. And you can listen on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays at 17:30. If you enjoy Political Thinking, then we think you’ll also like another podcast from Today. It’s called Radical with Amol Rajan and you can listen here on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
Episodes
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 meantime, he is on a mission to persuade people that his party has changed since its history as the National Front, founded in the 1970s b...
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 Conservative Party?
How did anger help drive her into politics?
And why do her kids wish she still worked at McDonald's?
Producer: Daniel Kraemer Resea...
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 "ceding the territory of asylum to the far right"?
The Home Secretary reflects on how her Muslim faith plays a part in her job and sense of p...
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 country.
They explore Welsh identity and the anti-monarchy spirit that inspired the name of his teenage band.
Also on the agenda: immigration,...
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
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 likened her relationship with Corbyn to the Gallagher brothers.
Producer: Daniel Kraemer Research: Chloe Desave Editor: Giles Edwards
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 a behind-the-scenes account of how he works with the Trump White House and how the ceasefire deal was struck in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Fletcher als...
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 what she calls a rising "ethno-nationalism" on the right of British politics, as well as her reaction to her colleague Robert Jenrick's com...
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: where the boundary should lie between free speech - which should be protected - and speech that threatens, intimidates and leaves people feelin...
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: Daniel Kraemer Research: Chloe Desave Editor: Giles Edwards
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 conservatism.
Producer: Daniel Kraemer Reserach: Chloe Desave Sound: Ged Sudlow and Hal Haines Editor: Giles Edwards
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
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 Chief of Staff.
In this interview, he gives Nick a behind-the-scenes account of coming to power and the "whirlwind" of an emergency reshuffle.
T...
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 been a "disaster" for Putin.
He also talks about the recent show of military strength in China and what it was like serving four UK prime mi...
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
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 Democrats.
Producer: Daniel Kraemer
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 losing his brother last year and his personal relationship with President Trump
Producers: Daniel Kraemer, Leela Padmanabhan and Chloe Desave
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 attention to politics.
He joins Nick down the line from Washington DC, in the aftermath of his President's decision to drop bombs on Iran.
Perry...
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 humiliating defeat in 2015.
The Shadow Chancellor sets out his vision for a more "thoughtful" politics and faces up to the challenge of winning the argument before the next general election.
Sir Mel Stride reveals what he admires about his opposite number, Rachel Reeves, and why a world war two commander is one of his political heroes.
He also has a warning about what the British economy would look like under Nigel Farage.
Producer: Daniel Kraemer
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