How To Win An Election

Mar 13 2025 69 ep. 39 mins 681

How To Win An Election Podcast artwork

The Times brings together some of the most experienced strategists in British politics to discuss what's really going on behind the big stories, and elections taking place here and around the world.

Daniel Finkelstein, Sally Morgan and Polly Mackenzie join Hugo Rifkind for an intelligent, adversarial and witty conversation every week.

Follow the podcast now to never miss an episode.

Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

How To Learn From Farage's Feud

Mar 13 2025 40 mins

As the row between Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe threatens the success of Reform UK, how do you stop the big beasts in a political party from falling out? Is it ever just about policy, or always more about personality?We also discuss giving geography lessons to politicians, and Polly gets cross about more empty words about the welfare state.Send questions, comments and voicenotes to

How To Be PM In A Global Crisis

Mar 06 2025 40 mins

With Keir Starmer focused on diplomacy over Ukraine, the political masterminds ask if the domestic agenda always has to suffer during major world events. When does a foreign conflict turn into a 'Falklands moment', and when does a leader get criticised for spending too much time globe-trotting?Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo also ask how to stop a minister resigning - or how to let th

How To Tell Jokes, Deal With Trump, And Welcome Sally

Feb 27 2025 41 mins

We're welcoming a new political mastermind to the podcast this week - Sally Morgan has been a Labour insider since the days of Neil Kinnock and went on to be Tony Blair's right-hand woman in Downing Street, at his side for some of the biggest moments in recent political history.She joins Polly, Danny and Hugo to discuss leaders who can tell jokes and those who can't, Liz Truss call

The Labour Peer Who Inspired JD Vance

Feb 25 2025 28 mins

How To Win An Election is moving to every Thursday, starting this Thursday, February 27th - when we'll be announcing a new political mastermind.In the meantime, here's an episode from our colleagues at The Story.Lord Maurice Glasman was the only Labour politician to be invited to Trump’s inauguration after striking up a friendship with JD Vance. So who is he and why is his 'Blue

How To Survive As A Political Adviser

Feb 18 2025 39 mins

What's the role of an adviser at the top level of politics, and does it always involve swearing?John McTernan, who has worked for prime ministers in the UK and Australia, joins the political masterminds to discuss the highs and the lows of the job. And after Kemi Badenoch speaks at a gathering of right-of-centre thinkers in London, what have we learned about her brand of Conservati

How To Be A Disrupter

Feb 11 2025 38 mins

Nigel Farage's former adviser Gawain Towler joins the political masterminds to discuss how to be an insurgent force in politics. They look back at how UKIP finally made a break-through at Westminster and forced David Cameron into offering the EU referendum.If you have a message for Hugo, Polly or Danny send it to [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m

How To Tell Who's Really In Charge

Feb 04 2025 38 mins

This week the political masterminds (and Hugo) are joined by Theo Bertram, who worked in Downing Street for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.After a new book by Times journalists Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund sheds light on the inner workings of Keir Starmer's government, is chief of staff Morgan McSweeney actually in charge? And should a new YouGov/Times poll showing Reform UK ah

How To Hang Out Your Political Washing

Jan 28 2025 41 mins

How much time in Number 10 is devoted to getting on with the business of government, and how much to thinking about winning the next election?Sally Morgan, one of Tony Blair's closest advisers, joins Hugo, Polly and Danny to discuss running a campaign and delivering at the same time. She explains what a political washing line is, why Liz Truss was all line and no clothes, and they

How To Respond To Trump

Jan 21 2025 40 mins

Keir Starmer is on a charm offensive with Donald Trump - does it give Labour's opponents an electoral advantage?The political masterminds (and Hugo) are joined by US pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson to discuss Trump's inauguration, his honeymoon (or otherwise), and Polly and Kristen disagree over Republican women.You can still vote for us in the People's Choice category at this yea

How To Stop Your Missions Becoming Impossible

Jan 14 2025 41 mins

With Reform closing in on Labour in the polls and questions being asked about the chancellor's political survival, how can the government get on with the day job of changing the country?The political masterminds are joined by guest Peter Hyman, former adviser to Tony Blair and Keir Starmer and architect of the government's five "missions for national renewal".And... the podcast has