Politics Unpacked

The Art of Political Drinking

Join Matt for a pint in Westminster's Red Lion pub. He talks to Gordon Brown's former spin doctor Charlie Whelan about how he inadvertently killed Tony Blair's dream of Britain joining the Euro with a spritzer in his hand, while Ben Wright talks us through which prime minister loved a drink the best. Plus: Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton eat some insects and discuss <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uk-supermarket-plastic-carrier-bag-charge-fee-drop-usage-2023-lpgjwd83v" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the plastic bag tax</a>, <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/if-we-want-to-roam-we-must-do-it-responsibly-kcwz62bbv" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wild camping in Dartmoor</a>, and debate <a href="https://twitter.com/MattChorley/status/1686471679512367104" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">brown sauce vs ketchup</a>. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times. You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.thetimes.com/</a> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.