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How To Win An Election

How To Win An Election

By: Times Radio
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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: howtowin@thetimes.co.uk


Executive Producer: Andrew Alexander

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

The Times
Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • How Burnham Is (Or Isn't) Defining Himself
    Jun 4 2026

    How is Andy Burnham defining his vision for the country as he tries to win the Makerfield by-election?


    Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo discuss whether the (possible) next prime minister can really wind back the clock back 40 years, whether Nigel Farage has taken a risk in his response to the murder of Henry Nowak, and whether Kemi Badenoch can define Labour as the party of welfare.


    Send your messages, voicenotes, praise and criticism to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk


    A full list of the candidates in the Makerfield by-election is available here.

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

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    41 mins
  • How... The Elections Were Won And Lost: Michael Heseltine
    May 28 2026

    Former cabinet minister, former deputy prime minister, big beast of the Tory jungle - Lord Heseltine joins us for our series looking at how the most significant elections of our lifetimes were won, and how they were lost.


    He takes us back to the 1983 general election. Margaret Thatcher was fresh from victory in the Falklands, Labour offered voters the 'longest suicide vote in history', and the polls suggested the SDP-Liberal Alliance could break the old two-party system.


    If you enjoyed this episode, listen to more in the series:


    Nick Clegg and 2010

    William Hague and 2005

    Neil Kinnock and 1992

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

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    43 mins
  • How The By-Election Will Be Seismic
    May 21 2026

    The Makerfield by-election is going to be huge - if Andy Burnham wins, Labour will believe it has a route to beating Reform UK at a general election. If Reform wins, then it will clear Nigel Farage's path to power and plunge the government into (further) chaos.


    Sally, Polly, Danny (and Hugo) weigh up who is the underdog, whether Wes Streeting will run against Burnham, and whether a victorious Burnham could even think about going to the country.


    Also, Danny explains why the best parallel for this contest is probably William Gladstone in 1876.


    Send you questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk



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

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    41 mins
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a really interesting panel who always have thoughtful things to say and draw on valuable experience of different political times.

fascinating insights

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Love this podcast! Already informative, can't wait for the next episode!! Great cast with Matt at the helm. If you love the Red Box Podcast....this is a must.

Matt does it again!!!

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