Matt Forde's Political Party
Comedian, Broadcaster (and former political adviser) Matt Forde presents Matt Forde's Political Party, the show where renowned politicians and experts open up and give their most honest, revealing and often hilarious answers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Lola is absolutely full of beans. Or is it Pease Pudding?
Elected in the 2024 landslide, she has already made a name for herself and is climbing the ladder as PPS to Lisa Nandy.
But it's her campaigning around online safety where she's really made an impact.
Should the government ban social media for children? Should smart phones be banned in schools?
Let's head up to Darlington, lick a Lemon Top and find out.&nbs...
The Special VIP Guest is... The Prime Minister.
This is a classic episode with plenty of light and shade.
There's the personal, the political, the domestic, the international and, of course, some football.
It's a mix of massive laughs and proper politics.
What's Trump like behind the scenese?
What could the government do better?
Would he wear aviators indoors?
THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE
1...
George became a national political sensation in 2025 when he became the leader of Warwickshire County Council at the age of 18.
The Reform councillor is now 19 and shares his experience of leadership.
This is a fascinating insight into Reform as a party, to the realignment on the right and about the impact of defections like Robert Jenrick's.
But it's also about the values that underpin George's thinking and about ho...
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 LIVE
26 January: Special VIP Guest
16 February: David Miliband
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 LIVE
26 January: Special VIP Guest
16 February: David Miliband
9 March: Zack Polanski
30 March: Lisa Nandy
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 LIVE
26 January: Special VIP Guest
16 February: David Miliband
9 March: Zack Polanski
30 March: Lisa Nandy
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 ...
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 Chri...
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 LIVE
26 January: Special VIP Guest
16 February: David...
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 LIVE
8 December: Nick Clegg
26 January: Special VIP Guest
16 February: David Miliband
9 March: Zack Polanski
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 LIVE
8 December: Nick Clegg
26 January: Special VIP Guest
16 February: David ...
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...
This is PHENOMENAL.
Jack was First Minister of Scotland 2001-2007. It was a tumultuous global time and he found himself at the centre of it at the Gleneagles summit.
His stories about George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin are incredible.
But there's loads more in this. Jack became the leader of a local authority at just 29. He'd joined the SNP at 16, but became a Labour member at 19. It would change the course of his life and ...
Well this is about way more than politics...
Bethany is one of the stars of the Politico Playbook morning email. It's the must-read morning briefing which mixes top-level political analysis with plenty of juicy gossip.
We talk about gossip, why it's important and how to get it... but we also talk about health and the importance of patients really pushing for themselves.
Bethany has had a number of health issues, including ...
Harriet is a rare thing: a new Conservative MP who won her seat at the last election. In Scotland.
She's already been made a whip.
So how come she's rising so fast and what's it like entering the Commons when your party has suffered a historic defeat?
And how has living in rural communities shaped her particular brand of conservatism?
THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE
8 December: Nick Clegg
26 January: Special VIP ...
This is a powerful lesson in campaigning, pragmatism and processing grief.
Rosamund's daughter Ella died in 2013 at the age of nine. She is still the only person ever in the UK to have air pollution registered as a cause of death.
Since then, Rosamund has been a relentless campaigner for improving air quality. She has helped change policy here in the UK and has a legion of international admirers that includes ...
Amy has led an extraordinary life and she's still only in her 30s.
While the SNP MP for East Dunbartonshire she suffered a brain hemorrhage. As she recovered, she had to battle the arcane rules of the House of Commons in order to speak and vote on behalf of her constituents.
Having narrowly beaten Jo Swinson in 2019, Amy then lost the seat in 2024. So what's life like outside of politics? And what does the future hold f...
Bridget is one of the biggest stars of the Labour government. As well as being Education Secretary, she is standing to be Labour's Deputy Leader.
It's the first major test of members' opinion since Labour came into office.
She's led a fascinating life. Growing up in poverty, but making it to Oxford via Byker Grove.
So what drives her, what changes is she making to our schools and who does she prefer... Oasis or...
Star of GB News (and many other places), Tom outlines his libertarianism as well as giving an engaging analysis about the problems facing the Tories, Reform and the government.
Tom is one of the most prominent broadcasters on the right and he's only 29. So why did he get involved so young and what's the secret of his success?
This is a fascinating analysis of the problems we face as a country from a libertarian/right pers...
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