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Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Chopper's Politics podcast

The Lockdown Files: Episode 6, The Forgotten Victims

2023/11/09

In January 2021, the first Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccines made their way into people’s arms. By mid-march, 11 million people had received the jab. After successive lockdowns, it felt like a way out. But now, more than two years on, storm clouds are gathering. Today, 80 of them are preparing to sue Astrazeneca. They say that until now, no one has wanted to hear their stories. So we’re telling them. Find out more: ‘We were told the vaccine was safe - but what happened has been life-changing’ Archive used in this episode from: BBC, Sky News, 10 Downing Street. Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lockdown Files: Episode 5, The Fallout

2023/08/18

In the face of major disasters, it is perhaps inevitable that there will be missteps. And when the dust settles, people are asked to account for their actions. How is history going to judge the government’s response to COVID? In this last episode of the Lockdown Files podcast, the investigations team at the Telegraph investigates potential mistakes at the heart of the pandemic response. Shutting schools, a lack of oversight with financial support and questions over whether lockdown would ever happen in the same way again. Finally, the team catches up with the latest news from the public inquiry and hears from a relative of someone who died as they watch the evidence unfold. Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lockdown Files: Episode 4, Project Fear

2023/08/11

Is it ever ok to scare the public? In this episode, the reporters dig into leaked messages which show a discussion between Matt Hancock and one of his team. They say “We frighten the pants off everyone with the new strain” and “When do we deploy the new variant”. The exchanges speak to a so-called “Project Fear”, which prompts the team to ask government ministers about whether decisions made were the right ones… We also speak to the adviser behind some of the government's messaging… And to a mum whose children are still dealing with the fall out tells her family’s story. Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lockdown Files: Episode 3, The Case on Care Homes

2023/08/04

Tens of thousands of care home residents died during the pandemic. Many people see it as the government’s biggest failure. Matt Hancock’s Whatsapp messages lifted the lid on conversations behind key decisions. But it wasn’t just the messages which were revealing… The team behind the Lockdown Files unearths new documents suggesting an unnerving offer made to care homes in Durham and Birmingham. Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lockdown Files: Episode 2, The Road to Lockdown

2023/07/28

The Investigations team looks back on the early days of the pandemic. How prepared was the government? Was lockdown inevitable? But they hit a stumbling block - they may have 100,000 messages, but there’s a gap in March. So the team decide that if they can’t read where those key decisions were made, they’d do the next best thing: speak to people who were in the room where it happened Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lockdown Files: Episode 1, The Leak

2023/07/21

In January 2023, reporters at the Telegraph are called into a meeting. The newspaper has got something big. Matt Hancock’s Whatsapps from when he was the Health Secretary, during the pandemic: 100,000 messages. The reporters start digging. Rate and Review the Lockdown Files podcast here: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files | Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: Richard Sharp's Exclusive Exit Interview from the BBC

2023/07/08

In this bonus episode of Chopper's politics, former BBC chairman Richard Sharp joins Chris for his 'exit interview' to discuss the controversial events surrounding his departure. Over a round of black velvets they discuss his opinions on former PM Boris Johnson, why he's in favour of a charter renewal and his advice for his successor. For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cheerio... with Gove, Rees Mogg, Forde and Cox

2023/07/07

Over 360 episodes, 8.2 million listens and one Red Lion Pub, welcome to the last edition of Choppers Politics Podcast. Joining the Telegraph's legendary political journalist Chris Hope in Westminster's finest drinking hole is star of Spitting Image: Idiots Assemble, comedian Matt Forde, discussing comedy in a woke world as well as bringing some of his finest political impressions. Two big beasts of the Tory party also join Chris, including Jacob Rees Mogg airing his concerns about the privileges committee and Sir Bernard Jenkin, as well as the prospect of A.I. shouldering the burden of social care. Plus, Michael Gove drops by to discuss, amongst other thing, resurrecting an old (nautical) project very close to Chris' heart. And of course, how could we finish the show without long time friend of the podcast, the velvet-voiced Sir Geoffery Cox. For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper | Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files| Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School children identifying as Lions & Tigers & Bears, oh my!

2023/06/30

It’s been a week when the economic picture has worsened for millions of us and to discuss the government wrestling with the problem - and how Liz Truss was right - is Ranil Jayawardena, a former Tory Cabinet minister in Truss’s administration. As Labour surge ahead in the polls, MP Rosie Duffield - sidelined by the leaders of her own party - joins Chris to discuss whether the party is ready for governing the country. Plus, schools have been at the forefront of recent news with reports of students identifying as cats and wolves. To discuss this, and concerns about the number of pupils missing lessons due to the hangover from the Covid pandemic, Schools Minister Nick Gibb popped by the pub to chat to Christopher Hope. For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper | Sign up to the Chopper's Politics newsletter: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politicsnewsletter | Read Chopper's Peterborough diary: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/peterborough-diary | Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files| Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Banks, Boris and the "blob"

2023/06/22

Treasury minister Andrew Griffith MP hot-foots it across the road to the Red Lion pub to tell Christopher Hope that he thinks banks should help families who are seeing their mortgage costs spiral, and face the awkward question of how he'd deal with a business that had three CEOs in the space of a year (Conservative Party, take note). Also on the podcast, Joy Morrissey MP, one of only seven Conservative MPs who voted against the privileges committee report into Boris Johnson, and a whip no less. She tells Chopper why she put her head above the parapet and how the "crucifixion" of the former Prime Minister has cause a "crisis" in her party. Plus Tim Knox, editor of the Effective Governance Forum on the changes needed to make the Civil Service and ministers work in perfect harmony. For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper | Sign up to the Chopper's Politics newsletter: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politicsnewsletter | Read Chopper's Peterborough diary: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/peterborough-diary | Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files| Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris blames kangaroo court: has Johnson gone "full Trump"?

2023/06/15

On the day the former PM faces having his parliamentary pass removed after being found to have “deliberately” misled MPs over partygate, Christopher Hope is joined in the Red Lion by Boris Johnson's long-time pal, legendary pollster Frank Luntz. Frank thinks comparisons to Trump are unfair on Johnson, but bemoans the fact his friend did not take the seriousness of his post more seriously. Also on the podcast, the so-called grandfather of Brexit, Bill Cash MP, on why he's retiring and whether government is 'walking the line' when it comes to delivering on Brexit. Plus Phil White of Patriotic Millionaires on why he's pushing to pay more taxes, and Investigations Editor Claire Newell on The Telegraph's new podcast series, The Lockdown Files. For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper | Sign up to the Chopper's Politics newsletter: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politicsnewsletter | Read Chopper's Peterborough diary: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/peterborough-diary | Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files| Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Disinformation" with David Davis

2023/06/09

Finally the Covid inquiry starts next week - and the Government is in a right old tangle over what to do about it. Veteran Conservative MP and former Cabinet Minister David Davis joins Christopher Hope in the Red Lion to voice his concerns about the shadowy Government body called the Counter Disinformation Unit, which was used to spy on lockdown critics and why he'd only give the current government a 6/10. Also on the podcast, we explore what would Labour do about the Covid Whatsapp row, if it's not resolved by the time a potential Labour govt is formed next year, with Shadow Cabinet Office minister Baroness Jenny Chapman. She admits she had misgivings about closing schools, and also makes her pitch for a Prime Minister Starmer. Plus Tory London Mayor hopeful Dan Korski on what the capital would look like if he took the reigns, and his thoughts on a certain former London Mayor with a penchant for zip-wires. For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper | Sign up to the Chopper's Politics newsletter: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politicsnewsletter | Read Chopper's Peterborough diary: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/peterborough-diary | Listen to Planet Normal: playpodca.st/planetnormal| Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BTMule 2020/06/18

Needs more Cox

Geoffrey Cox is a subtle commentator with supreme delivery; if not invited for that, he could always read poems and speeches that have shaped the UK.

Gshug 2023/06/23

Arguably, the best political podcast available today.

I found Chopper during the height of the pandemic (when it was still called Chopper’s Brexit) and have never looked back. The level of conversation, e...

eLow4 2021/03/01

Woke!

Yes the term is considered an insult in some circles and a compliment in others. Depends on how you choose to write history! Cheers from the USA!

Fonzie2K 2020/09/25

Great Podcast

Listening to it since it was “Chopper’s Brexit Podcast” as a reliable source to get me up to speed with all matters Brexit. Now I follow Chopper’s Po...

Posfan1253 2020/09/11

Insight into the Tory mind

An interesting insight into the lunatic Tory mind. This podcast is fun, light hearted and flippant. An enjoyable listen. Of course the politics are nu...

gooletownboy 2020/08/24

Let’s hope for a similar result usa2020

sorry could not listen to that so called reporter who filled in for you... Having listened to his absolute garbage on hurricane crossfire I nearly sto...

Adiraj D Gr8 2020/03/29

Love Chopper

One of my favorite podcasts! Listen every Thursday

Gingerlicious 2020/01/11

A proper British podcast from down the pub

Finally!!! A voice of common sense in British politics. No this isn’t a hard Brexit cheerleader’s podcast. This is the moderate and sensible voice tha...

JJmc345 2020/02/16

While it try’s sometimes it’s viewpoint is from an echo chamber

I have listened to the Brexit podcast for over a year now. As an Irish person living in Ireland I am interested in the views of mainstream Brexit supp...

NJ Anglophile 2020/01/08

My favorite podcast

I’m a U.S. citizen, but avidly follow British politics. There is *no* better source than this podcast for insights into British politics!

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