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.ukExecutive Producer: Andrew Alexander Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kemi Badenoch has made an unashamed pitch for voters in Middle Britain with her conference promise on inheritance tax, trying to frame the next election as a battle between traditional Conservative and traditional Labour ideas.But does a focus on the 'blue wall' mean abandoning any hopes of building a broader coalition, and giving up hopes of winning voters back from Reform UK? Have comparisons with Margaret Thatcher misrepresented both leaders? And should speechwriters be banned from referring to a 'battle for the soul of the nation'?We also hear about Polly's new project with consumer advice guru Martin Lewis, and try out some small but significant policy ideas.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo Editor: Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew AlexanderPicture: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08/10/2026 • 39:40
Andy Burnham has outlined his vision for the country, and in the process written a good chunk of Labour's next manifesto.But could his ambitious promises cost more than the UK economy can bear? Danny argues the country can't afford his old Labour instincts, and Hugo says the party is like an ostrich putting its head in the sand. Sally thinks he's being mean.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo Editor: Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew AlexanderPicture: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
01/10/2026 • 40:46
We're at Labour conference, where Andy Burnham is enjoying North Korean-style levels of support from party members. But how long will it last? John Healey has warned there isn't any money left, and is softening the party up for welfare cuts.The political masterminds also discuss Burnham's conference speech - should he be writing it himself, does he still need to introduce himself, and how can you tell if AI has crept into political oratory?Send your questions, comments and emails to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo Producers: Harry Kitson & Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew Alexander Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28/09/2026 • 25:54
The polling company YouGov has released its latest MRP survey, and in a dramatic reversal of last year's findings it now projects a hung parliament, with Labour on top and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK squeezed by the rise of Restore Britain.But is it too soon for Labour and the Tories to break out the champagne, especially given the difficulty of putting together a coalition that could command a majority in the Commons?With Danny away, Sally, Polly and Hugo are joined by Guto Harri, who worked for Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London and was his Director of Communications in Downing Street.We also talk about attempts to freeze out the mainstream media, from Boris Johnson through to Donald Trump launching Trump TV, and enjoy this remarkable early YouTube appearance by Tony Blair.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo Editor: Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew AlexanderPicture: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
24/09/2026 • 42:04
Does big money win elections?As Reform UK receives record sums from billionaire donors, we look at what it will take to translate the cash into votes.The team recalls the fall-out from the Bernie Ecclestone affair and the cash-for-honours scandal during the Blair years, and both Danny and Sally say they've been approached by people asking for a peerage.Plus: After the 'Gail's' strategy, what do the Liberal Democrats need to do to get out of the electoral doldrums?Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo editor: Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew AlexanderPicture: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17/09/2026 • 41:44
Donald Trump faces accusations of bribery after promising every adult $5,000 if they vote Republican - but Danny says he advised Rishi Sunak to present tax cuts to the British public in the same way.The political masterminds also consider whether Andy Burnham made a mistake in saying national security can't come at the expense of social security, whether the British government's sanctions on Israeli settlements are born from principle or political calculation, and at what point the voters notice sleaze.The book Danny refers to is The Rise of Reform by Nick Tyrone. It's available to order at the Times Bookshop where Times Plus members can get a 20% discount.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukExecutive Producer: Andrew Alexander Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10/09/2026 • 40:40
There's a by-election on the way, thanks to Keir Starmer's decision to stand down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras.Green Party leader Zack Polanski wants to stand - just how big a risk is he taking, and could he fall flat on his face? The team have been looking into the likely scenarios.We also talk about Andy Burnham's ongoing efforts to do politics differently, and we try to give Reform advice on how to get back on track after a tricky summer. But does Nigel Farage really want to campaign all the way to the next election?Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03/09/2026 • 39:38
Nigel Farage has seen off along list of novelty candidates to increase his majority in the Clacton by-election. The Reform UK leader says it's a resounding victory, but over whom? And if it was, why wasn't he been out trumpeting the result?The political masterminds (well, most of them) return from their summer break to explain what the outcome means for the general election, and whether the 'Burnham Bounce' has actually been a bit flat.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk. The podcast will be back on September 3. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
14/08/2026 • 33:08
Andy Burnham’s first week in Downing Street has been full of promises - but can he keep everyone happy and still balance the books?Hugo, Sally, Polly and Danny look at the prime minister’s first week in power, from his plans for public services and tax cuts, to the questions over how he will pay for them. They also discuss John Healey’s appointment as Chancellor, the fallout from the purge of Starmer allies, and whether Burnham’s approach risks trying to please everyone. Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23/07/2026 • 43:52
Andy Burnham will soon be making his first speech from Downing Street as prime minister - how will he introduce himself to the nation?The team discuss striking the right balance between optimism and acknowledging the scale of the challenge, and look back at their role in preparing speeches for Tony Blair, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. And, does the choice of lectern actually matter?We also answer a question from a listener who asks whether Nigel Farage could lose the Clacton by-election.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
16/07/2026 • 43:40
This week the political masterminds are answering more of your questions.Does Andy Burnham risk becoming all things to all people, and will that inevitably result in disappointment? What jobs would Sally, Polly and Danny have in No 10 North? Have former military figures seized the agenda over defence spending, and is Labour worrying enough about a possible Tory revival?Send your voicenotes, questions and comments to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukAnd you can watch the podcast on YouTube here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10/07/2026 • 34:50
Nigel Farage has announced his resignation as an MP, saying he will fight a 'people versus the establishment' by-election in Clacton.Is it a high risk stunt by the Reform UK leader? When have by-elections backfired in the past, and will it make questions about his finances, and his future, go away?Hugo, Sally, Polly and Danny analyse Farage's gamble.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
07/07/2026 • 20:27
What have we learned so far about Andy Burnham's plan for government? Danny has been reading his book, Head North, and thinks he's proposing a clear left turn when it comes to the economy and public services.Does Burnham's vision of a more devolved United Kingdom add up to an electoral strategy, or is that actually coming from Morgan McSweeney's playbook?Plus: We're joined by comedian and host of the How To Win The World Cup podcast Matt Forde to discuss whether success on the football pitch can give a boost at the ballot box.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
02/07/2026 • 41:14
The team bring their years of experience inside Downing Street to the question of how Andy Burnham will construct his cabinet, and who he could pick as chancellor.After the return of James Purnell as chief of staff, is there a risk of having too many veterans of the Blair and Brown years back in power?And - Polly sets out her vision for replacing Chequers with a Mar-a-Lago-style resort in Blackpool.Send your questions, voicenotes and views on Polly's policy to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
25/06/2026 • 42:49
Sally and Danny join Hugo for this extra episode to examine the Keir Starmer legacy - if there is one - and ask whether Andy Burnham could be a more consequential leader than the consensus gives him credit for.And, how will Reform UK attack Burnham - can they make the label 'Captain Flip-flop' stick?Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23/06/2026 • 22:59
Andy Burnham has won, and won big in the Makerfield by-election - what happens next in Downing Street and the Labour Party, and what does it all mean for the next general election?Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo discuss Keir Starmer's insistence he won't walk away from No 10, the reaction of the cabinet, who will get the top jobs in a Burnham government, and whether Reform UK will need to change strategy.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
19/06/2026 • 41:47
We're only a week away from the Makerfield by-election, when voters could choose the next prime minister.If Andy Burnham wins, what happens in the hours and days after he arrives in Westminster? Will he seize the moment and try to challenge Keir Starmer immediately, or wait until he has a plan for running the country?And if he wins, what does it mean for Reform UK's electoral strategy?We also look at Steve Hilton's journey from David Cameron's modernising adviser to the race to be the next governor of California.Send you messages, voicenotes and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11/06/2026 • 40:40
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.ukA full list of the candidates in the Makerfield by-election is available here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
04/06/2026 • 40:38
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 2010William Hague and 2005Neil Kinnock and 1992 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28/05/2026 • 43:29
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.
21/05/2026 • 40:54
The struggle for the future of the Labour Party, and the country, has begun, even as Keir Starmer tries to hang on.The political masterminds look at the potential pitfalls for Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham - and discuss whether Labour should give up on its working class roots and try instead to unite liberal Britain.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
14/05/2026 • 40:02
Sally Morgan, Polly Mackenzie, Danny Finkelstein (and Hugo) explain what's behind a chaotic day at Westminster - where Keir Starmer vows to carry on, despite a growing number of MPs and ministers calling for him to go.Why didn't the cabinet speak out, is government continuing to function, and does Wes Streeting need to move within 24 hours or miss out on the leadership?Send you questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12/05/2026 • 22:43
Labour has taken a hammering at elections in England, Scotland and Wales, with Nigel Farage calling it an ‘historic shift in British politics’ - does this add up to the end of the two-party system, and does it add up to the end of Keir Starmer?Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo explain why things went so badly for the party, how Starmer will respond, and whether the Reform UK leader is going to be the next prime minister.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08/05/2026 • 41:12
Ahead of the local elections in England and parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales, the political masterminds ask: just how bad can it get for the Labour Party?If predictions of huge losses come to pass, how will the cabinet, MPs and councillors react, and can Downing Street come up with a plan to circle the wagons around Keir Starmer?We also discuss what impact the terror attacks in Golders Green, north London, will have on political campaigning.Send your questions, comments, and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30/04/2026 • 39:47
As regular listeners know, Danny likes to say there is a market failure in political coups - but does Keir Starmer's handling of the Peter Mandelson vetting crisis mean we're entering a period of maximum danger for the PM?How will Labour MPs react if their party does as badly in May as the polls predict, and what do they think about Starmer's potential replacements?Sally, Danny and Hugo are joined by pollster Luke Tryl to discuss focus groups - how much the parties rely on them, and how Phillip Gould used them to help Tony Blair change the Labour Party.Send your messages, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23/04/2026 • 40:21
In the wake of Viktor Orbán's election defeat in Hungary, can we draw conclusions about the limits of populism - and the chances of a recovery by the centre here in the UK?Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo also discuss how government prepares for disaster - from foot-and-mouth disease to fuel protests to looming shortages caused by the war in Iran.And, Polly has a plan to rescue sad, empty historic buildings on our high streets.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
16/04/2026 • 41:06
The prime minister is trying to appeal to voters ahead of May's elections by talking about conflict overseas - can branding him as a global statesman rescue his premiership, in the same way Gordon Brown tried to survive after the financial crash?With Danny away, we turn to the next generation - Simon Finkelstein, former adviser to Jeremy Hunt and Dominic Raab (and Danny's nephew) joins Sally, Polly and Hugo.We also discuss whether MPs know enough about the real world - would we be better off with a House Of Commons full of Ed Milibands or Angela Rayners?And, we answer a listener who worries we're too flippant about the remarkable rise of Zack Polanski's Green Party.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09/04/2026 • 42:34
There's an arms race under way as the parties make competing offers to help with the rising cost of living. Is anyone cutting through to the voters?And as Keir Starmer's rivals consider whether to move against him after May's elections, Danny argues that the looming economic crisis makes it a bad time for them to act.We also find out why Sally introduced 'garish posters and loud music' to Downing Street, and Polly holds forth about barbecues.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
02/04/2026 • 40:19
Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo discuss the conspiracies swirling around the theft of Morgan McSweeney's mobile phone. How did government work in the pre-smartphone era, when Tony Blair refused to use one?They also explore how political language is evolving (and whether it’s becoming dangerously loose), and imagine what’s more likely - a Lab-Lib coalition or a Tory-Reform alliance.Plus, the team settle a debate you didn't even know existed - chilled vs super-chilled.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
26/03/2026 • 39:06
Angela Rayner has fired the opening shot in the leadership race to succeed Keir Starmer, warning that Labour is 'running out of time'.We discuss the art of being on manoeuvres without being caught doing it - from Michael Portillo installing the phone lines, to Rishi Sunak's team secretly registering 'readyforrishi.com'.And, will any of the potential candidates - including Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham or even John Healey - actually be ready to go if the party suffers a heavy defeat in the local elections in May?We also give (unsolicited) reading suggestions for Keir Starmer:Sally: The Choice Before the Labour Party, RH TawneyPolly: The Man Who Planted Trees, Jean GionoDanny: Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer, Patrick Maguire and Gabriel PogrundHugo: Guards! Guards! Terry PratchettSend your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
19/03/2026 • 41:25
