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 12:15 pm on Fridays or on BBC iPlayer. And you can listen on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays at 17:30.
Episodes
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 Valley tech giant?
Tom Watson accepts he's at the centre of a 'media storm', partly due to the firm's work with the Israel Defence Forces, ...
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' crisis: young people not in education, employment or training.
The veteran of the Blair cabinet is now one of the most powerful people behind t...
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 from growing up in Gravesend, through documentary making for World in Action, to Hollywood stardom with the Jason Bourne films
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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 have an argument in?
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Send us your thoughts, reactions, questions and suggestions to politicalthinking@bbc.co.uk
Senior Producer: Daniel K...
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 accused of not paying the tax she owed.
And she defends her decision to halt a huge local government reorganisation that had been started by her p...
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
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
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 playing football in the House of Commons chamber.
Recorded in front of a live audience at the Crossed Wires Festival in her home town of S...
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 civil servant working with Conservative Ministers, and why her children are her toughest critics.
Senior Producer: Hannah Wilkinson Producer:...
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 his upbringing and Jewish identity and why he has now become a prominent critic of Israel. He explains his strong opposition to the war i...
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 Street.
Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer Producer: Flora Murray Editor: Giles Edwards
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 views about what her party needs to do to stem the rise of the Green Party.
Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer Producer: Flora Murray Sound: Jack ...
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