How To Win An Election

May 07 2024 412
How To Win An Election Podcast artwork

As the parties prepare to do battle at the polls in 2024, we bring together three of the most experienced strategists of the past four decades who between them know a thing or two about winning (and losing) elections.
Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join journalist and stand-up comedian Matt Chorley for an intelligent, adversarial and witty political conversation every week.
Follow the podcast now to never miss an episode.
Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: [email protected]
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How To Leave A Legacy

May 07 2024 40 mins  
What is Rishi Sunak's political legacy, and has he still got time to build one? The political masterminds discuss when leaders have left a lasting change - and whether they can ever leave the public wanting more.Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to talk about legacy, why Rachel Reeves is using the word 'gaslighting', and why Peter thinks the

LIVE: How To Spin Defeat

May 03 2024 47 mins  
In a special bonus episode of the podcast, Matt and the political masterminds analyse the local elections results in front of a live audience.How easy is it to spin your way out of a heavy election defeat, has Rishi Sunak done enough to see off Tory rebels, and should Labour be talking more about Liz Truss?Send questions, comments and voicenotes to [email protected], or Whats

How To Defy Political Gravity

Apr 30 2024 39 mins  
Is there anything that Rishi Sunak can do to defy political gravity and deny Labour a majority? And after flying high for so long, can the SNP find a new leader that will help them turn the page?The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss the turmoil in Scottish politics, whether Labour is overpromising, and Conserv

How To Pitch For The Leadership

Apr 23 2024 42 mins  
There's currently no vacancy for the leadership of the Conservative Party, but that hasn't stopped potential candidates from positioning themselves for life after Rishi Sunak.Matt Chorley asks the political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein how to get the top job without being seen to wield the knife.After Rishi Sunak turns on Liz Truss, has he bee

How To Learn From Liz Truss

Apr 16 2024 40 mins  
How much lasting damage has Liz Truss done to the Conservative Party, and any future leaders hoping to pursue a radical tax-cutting agenda?The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss the former prime minister's new book and whether she wants her party to win or lose the election.And with local elections on the way,

How To Do A TV Debate

Apr 09 2024 37 mins  
This week in 2010 saw the UK's first ever TV debate between the party leaders.Campaign insiders Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to remember the advice they gave at the time. Why did Tony Blair warn Peter not to talk up Nick Clegg's performance, why did David Cameron tell Danny he'd been nervous for the first time in his political life, and

How To Win PMQs And The Papers

Apr 02 2024 50 mins  
We're answering your questions this week, including whether Prime Minister's Questions really matters, how important is it to win the support of the newspapers, and does negative campaigning work?Matt Chorley is joined by the political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein.Send questions, comments and voicenotes to [email protected], or WhatsApp

How To Write A Manifesto

Mar 26 2024 41 mins  
Who is writing the manifestos ahead of the General Election, and how are the parties planning to make them grab the public's attention without blowing up during the campaign?Election masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to talk about 1983's 'longest suicide note in history', and the time Theresa May kept the manifesto secret from her

How To Win With Taylor Swift (And Other Celebrities)

Mar 19 2024 42 mins  
In the US, Taylor Swift could have the power to swing the presidential election. As famous faces come out to back Keir Starmer's plans for the arts, we ask when a celebrity endorsement can boost a campaign... and when it can go badly wrong.The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss star power, and who could be the

How To Defect

Mar 12 2024 40 mins  
Can Rishi Sunak hold his party together, or is former deputy chairman Lee Anderson's departure a sign of even more Tory unrest ahead?The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to look at what happens when politicians defect, from the Gang of Four to Change UK. And how did Keir Starmer react to Peter's diet advice?Send questio