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Shabana Mahmood doesn't hold back in this impassioned, thoughtful and hilarious interview.   This is the Home Secretary as you've never heard her before.   Nothing is off limits in this wide-ranging interview which includes reflections on her upbringing, her solution for dealing with immigration and a revelation about her hobby that you'd never see coming.   Warning: includes protestors. And a very direct response from the Home Secretary.    THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE   11 May: Lewis Goodall   1 June: Andy Burnham   https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/   SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a top level briefing from one of the best minds in foreign policy.   Ben was Special Adviser to David Lammy when he was Foreign Secretary.   He's been in the room for some of the most important meetings of the last few years, including face-to-face meetings with JD Vance.    In this gripping episode he answers some of the biggest questions about global instability.    What should the UK do to mitigate the shift in American policy?   How terrifying is the future?   What do these changes mean for politics in the UK?   How can the British state be changed to work better?   How radical do we need to be when it comes to racial and religious integration at home?   Big questions with big answers from one of the most compelling voices in modern politics.    THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE   20 April: Shabana Mahmood   11 May: Lewis Goodall https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claire is the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy, Climate Change and Net Zero, having been Secretary of State in the last Conservative government... and she's changed her position on Net Zero.   In this candid and entertaining interview, she tells us why she's changed her mind and her frustrations with the system.   Claire also talks about having to confront her own mortality after the traumatic birth of her son and what it's done for her outlook on life.   Plus, freedom of speech, class, race and everything else going on in politics at the moment.   It's a classic.     THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE   20 April: Shabana Mahmood   11 May: Lewis Goodall https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does Labour defeat Reform and the Greens?   What would count as success in the local, Holyrood and Cardiff elections for Labour?   PLUS, The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport talks   Culture Media   and...   Peroni, AI and Britney Spears.      It's a classic.        THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE   20 April: Shabana Mahmood   11 May: Lewis Goodall https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris is 32 and was elected in 2024.   Despite that, he's already made a name for himself as the co-chair of the Labour Growth Group.   But who are they and what would they do differently?   A former pollster, what's his take on Labour's position and can it be saved?   More importantly, what is the most nutritious item on the Wetherspoons menu?     THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 30 March: Lisa Nandy   20 April: Shabana Mahmood   11 May: Lewis Goodall https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strap in for an energetic hour of raw analysis from Labour's Karl Turner.   He's been going viral lately and you're about to discover why.   Karl is forthright but fair in assessing Labour's issues and what the PLP actually want from the leadership.   His perspective my surprise you.   He's also had his fair share of health issues in the last few years and is open and honest about it all.    THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 30 March: Lisa Nandy   20 April: Shabana Mahmood https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zack Polanski has catapulted The Green Party into the national conversation like no-one else before him.   So how have The Greens captured so much attention?   What do they actually stand for?   Can his policies survive until the election?   And more importantly, what was his favourite meat?   THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 30 March: Lisa Nandy   20 April: Shabana Mahmood   11 May: Lewis Goodall https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is lifestyle economics and why does it matter?   The IEA's Christopher Snowdon is a fun-loving political thinker and explains his opposition to puritanism, why we should have more freedom and what that would mean for our policies on smoking, alcohol, gambling and the very existence of the NHS.   Also... what are ultra-processed foods and are they necessarily bad?   THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 9 March: Zack Polanski 30 March: Lisa Nandy  20 April: Shabana Mahmood https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A classic from 2022... was it really four years ago? In his pomp as RMT's General Secretary, Mick Lynch was on sparkling form.     THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 9 March: Zack Polanski 30 March: Lisa Nandy   20 April: Shabana Mahmood https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oh boy, are you in for a treat.   Political colossus David Miliband is in the UK and is on blistering form.    This is impassioned, urgent and absolutely electrifying.   An absolute classic.   THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 9 March: Zack Polanski 30 March: Lisa Nandy   20 April: Shabana Mahmood https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series 'The Matt Forde Focus Group': https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To get first access to FREE audience tickets to series two of The Matt Forde Focus Group sign-up to my mailing list at www.mattforde.com/focus-group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Baroness Cass didn't expect to end up in the House of Lords. She began her career as a paediatrician, a career path that culminated in her publishing the Cass Review into Gender Identity Services.  This is a thoughtful and empathetic analysis of the experiences of vulnerable young people.  Hilary takes us inside the report and her findings. She also makes a compelling case for banning social media for under 16s... and tells us what it's like being a newbie in the Upper Chamber.  THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 16 February: David Miliband 9 March: Zack Polanski 30 March: Lisa Nandy https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 16 February: David Miliband 9 March: Zack Polanski 30 March: Lisa Nandy https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 16 February: David Miliband 9 March: Zack Polanski 30 March: Lisa Nandy https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 how you get things done in politics. Who is really in charge? And who should be? THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 26 January: Special VIP Guest 16 February: David Miliband 9 March: Zack Polanski 30 March: Lisa Nandy https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series: https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list    SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.