How To Win An Election
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.
Episodes
How To Spend £72m
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 th
How To Bribe An Election
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 Israe
How Polanski's Gamble Is Make Or Break
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 o
How Clacton Wasn't The Victory Farage Needed
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 'Burnh
How To Promise Everything And Pay For It Later
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
How To Launch Your Premiership In Downing Street
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
How Burnham Risks Being All Things To All People
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, questi
How Farage Triggered A By-Election
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
How To Read Burnham's Blueprint For Government
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
How To Pick Your Chancellor And Cabinet
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 Blackpoo
How Keir Went, And Andy Arrived
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
How The By-Election Result Changes Everything
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 stra
How Will The Days After The By-Election Play Out?
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
How Burnham Is (Or Isn't) Defining Himself
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,
How... The Elections Were Won And Lost: Michael Heseltine
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 poll
How The By-Election Will Be Seismic
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 Burnh
How The Labour Leadership Challenge Could Play Out
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.
Emergency Episode: How Long Can Starmer Cling On?
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
How Labour Suffered An Historic Defeat
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 n
How The Elections Could Be Existential for Labour
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 Golder
How To Decide When (And If) The PM Will Be Challenged
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
How To Defeat The Populists
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 bui
How To Sell Starmer The Statesman
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, Poll
How The Energy Shock Helps Starmer Survive
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
How To Shut Down A Political Conspiracy
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
How To Run A Shadow Leadership Campaign
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 Stree
How Starmer Became The Passive Prime Minister
In this special crossover episode with our colleagues at the Times podcast The State Of It, Hugo is joined by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund to discuss the new edition of their book Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer.Morgan McSweeney was the man credited with rescuing Labour from electoral oblivion and propelling Keir Starmer to power. How did it all go so wrong, and how did Kei
How The Mandelson Files Weigh On The PM
Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo look at what the Mandelson files say about decision making in Keir Starmer's Downing Street. Is there a comparison with Boris Johnson's handling of the Chris Pincher scandal, which led to Johnson's resignation as prime minister?With Starmer's cost of living agenda in trouble, we ask if lessons can be learned from Edward Heath and the 1973 oil crisis, and from Tony Blai
How Trump's War Is Upending British Politics
We're looking at the implications of the American-Israeli attacks on Iran for British politics - has the prime minister been constrained by a near-religious belief in international law, by cabinet divisions, or by party politics?We also discuss whether the Green Party's bounce in the polls can be sustained, and whether Labour's new migration policy shows the party has made a decisive strategic cho
How Labour's By-Election Hammering Damages Starmer
The Green Party crushes Labour at the Gorton and Denton by-election, knocking Keir Starmer's party into third place in one of their safest seats.The political masterminds discuss whether the prime minister can find a new strategy to survive, whether the Green Party can replicate the victory across the country, and what the fracturing of the traditional two-party system means for the next General E
How Government Responds To Andrew's Arrest
As we assembled the How To Win An Election team to talk about Robert Jenrick, Rupert Lowe and Danny's quest for the point of Ed Davey, news broke that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He denies wrongdoing.Sally, Polly, Danny (and Hugo) look at how the news would have been received in Downing Street, and whether republicanism has a future in
How To Survive In The Number 10 Bunker
Keir Starmer has seen off the threat to his leadership - for now. What happens inside Downing Street when things get really, really bad for a prime minister?We also discuss whether the Labour Party will swing to the left with Morgan McSweeney's departure, and Zack Polanski's singing at Liberal Democrat conference.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Aca
Emergency Episode: McSweeney Resigns
Morgan McSweeney has resigned as Keir Starmer's chief of staff. With Number 10 in survival mode, can the prime minister find a new strategy, and how long will potential leadership challengers wait?Hugo, Danny and Polly respond to the emergency podcast bell and react to the news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How Mandelson's Downfall Threatens Starmer
The Mandelson-Epstein scandal has left Keir Starmer's authority over his party, perhaps his future as prime minister, dangling by a thread.In this week's episode we discuss the huge impact of the downfall of Peter Mandelson - who says he has not acted criminally in any way or acted for financial gain - and we also have a frank discussion about his time on the How To Win An Election team, his polit
How To Go To The Polls - If Labour Ditches Starmer
Danny argues that if Labour wants to ditch Keir Starmer and pick a new leader, his replacement should immediately go to the polls. Have we switched to a presidential system without realising it, and would the party ever actually risk letting Reform into Downing Street?The team also discuss whether No 10's handling of Andy Burnham has parallels with Tony Blair's opposition to Ken Livingstone becomi
How To Reshape The Right
This week we're discussing the shape of the right of British politics - are we witnessing a landmark moment in the journey of Reform UK, and is Kemi Badenoch worried the Conservative Party is now seen as less right wing?The political masterminds also consider whether anyone is making political capital from Donald Trump's diplomatic chaos, and whether Ed Davey is offering his MPs thin gruel.Send yo
How To Sack Robert Jenrick
Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick, saying he was plotting to defect to Reform UK. Hugo and Danny discuss the return of the Tory psychodrama, and what it means for the future of the right in British politics.Also in this week's episode: Sally, Polly and Danny talk about Lynton Crosby's famous commandment to 'scrape the barnacles off the boat', the death of the party political broadcast, and m
How To Get Some Swagger (Like Donald Trump)
Can Keir Starmer learn from Donald Trump and get some swagger? Hugo, Polly and Danny are joined by former Labour strategist Peter Hyman to discuss whether the government can stop looking anxious, and whether the prime minister is right to keep talking about the next election as a straight fight with Reform UK.We also look at whether Nigel Farage is right to say he'd return PMQs to twice-weekly, an
How To Predict Whether Starmer Will Survive 2026
What are the chances that the elections in May 2026 in Scotland, Wales and England will lead to a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer?That's one of the questions answered by the political masterminds in our Christmas episode. We also find out about their favourite political memorabilia, why the parties import advisers from America and Australia, and whether we've been stuck in a political ti
How... The Elections Were Won And Lost: Nick Clegg
We're joined by former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg for the latest in our series looking at how the most significant elections in our lifetimes were won, and how they were lost.He takes us inside the 2010 Liberal Democrat campaign - from the first TV leaders' debate in British history, to Cleggmania and 'bigotgate' - ending in the first hung parliament since the 1970s and the frenzied days of
How Labour Could Reverse Brexit
The prime minister has been increasingly critical of Brexit this week, and says he wants a closer relationship with the EU - without rejoining key parts of the club.But will Labour inevitably have to go further, and if they do will they be falling into a Reform UK trap?We also discuss the role of the Downing Street 'maverick genius' - and what that's got to do with My Little Pony.Send your questio
How To Survive A Tax-Raising Budget
Was the Budget aimed at short-term political survival, or did it form part of a coherent electoral strategy?Sally, Polly, Danny (and Hugo) discuss Rachel Reeves' statement - does it make it more likely that she and the prime minister will stay in their jobs, but more likely to lose the next election? What could she have learned from Gordon Brown's budgets? And does Kemi Badenoch's success in the C
How To Make Your MPs Like You
Can Keir Starmer persuade his backbenchers to back his tough new migration reforms - and stop them openly plotting his downfall?We discuss how prime ministers have tried to keep their MPs on side, Alex Ferguson's advice for Tony Blair, and whether Andy Burnham could be heading back to Westminster (via Norfolk).Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast.
How To Plot Against A Prime Minister
Keir Starmer has vowed to fight any plot to oust him - but has Downing Street's briefing operation against the plotters actually made his downfall more likely?Sally, Pollly, Danny and Hugo discuss the prime minister's survival, and look at past plots that have succeeded - and those that haven't. From the curry house conspiracy against Tony Blair to doomed attempts to bring down David Cameron and N
How Rachel Reeves Will Have To Resign
Danny says if Rachel Reeves raises income tax she will have to resign - and will make all political promises in the future worthless. Do the other political masterminds (and Hugo) agree?We also discuss why Zack Polanski didn't like our discussion about the Green Party, whether British politicians are learning the wrong lessons from Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York, and Polly tries Marmite for
How...The Elections Were Won And Lost: Hague & The Tories in 2001
We're joined by William Hague for the latest in our series looking at how the biggest elections in recent political history were won - and how they were lost.We go inside the Tory campaign, in which Hague's Conservative Party tried to convince the nation it was time for a common sense revolution - and ended up resembling the protester punched in the head by John Prescott.From foot and mouth to Sha
How To Raise Taxes
Rachel Reeves is thinking about increasing taxes - perhaps even breaking Labour's manifesto commitment not to raise income tax.The political masterminds discuss what that would mean for the government's electoral fortunes, and whether they could end up like George HW Bush - who famously said 'Read my lips: no new taxes', only to do exactly that.We also look at the pressure on Labour from Zack Pola
How To Lose An Election, Really Badly
As well as knowing how to win an election, the team have plenty of experience of losing them too. For this episode, recorded in front of an audience at the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, we look at some campaigns that went really, really badly.Sally chooses Neil Kinnock's defeat in 1987, Danny chooses John Major's drubbing in 1997, and Polly chooses Jo Swinson's ill-feted r
How To Escape Political Oblivion (With A Tax Promise)
Has Kemi Badenoch done enough to see off her Tory critics, for now? Does her promise to abolish stamp duty remind the team of George Osborne's inheritance tax pledge in 2007?Danny explains why the public have forgotten about Liz Truss sooner than expected, and Polly realises she shares a dress with Liz Truss AND Kemi Badenoch.The political masterminds - or 'golden trio', plus Hugo - will be live a
How To Avoid (Tory) Irrelevance
As the Tories prepare for their annual conference, can the UK's oldest political party avoid sliding into irrelevance? And how has Nigel Farage become more popular while support for Brexit has declined?Hugo, Sally and Polly are joined by Sir Craig Oliver, former Director of Politics and Communications for David Cameron.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk.The pol
Starmer's Speech: How To Attack Nigel Farage
The political masterminds are at Labour conference in Liverpool for Keir Starmer's speech, and this special episode recorded in front of a live audience.As the prime minister steps up his attack on Reform UK's Nigel Farage, has he fundamentally changed Labour's strategy - and will it help him win the next election?Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Ac
How To Prevent Party Conference Chaos
The political masterminds are discussing party conferences - from how to deal with a leadership challenge while you're there, to how to write a speech (and when you should use a joke).They also discuss Andy Burnham's philosophy of 'Manchesterism', and we get our first question from a listener asking when the next General Election will be.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@the
How (And When) To Topple A Leader - With Jeremy Hunt
After a series of sackings, missteps and with Reform ahead in the polls, Labour MPs are seriously thinking about trying to change leader.But would replacing Keir Starmer improve the party's fortunes, would Andy Burnham be any good, and is it true that “the hand that wields the knife shall never wear the crown"?With Danny away, the team are joined by former chancellor Jeremy Hunt to discuss the men
How To Win The Deputy Leadership - And Mandelson Sacked
The political masterminds discuss the deputy Labour leadership contest - and then the breaking news as we record the episode that Peter Mandelson has been sacked as US ambassador.Having backed two allies to stay in their jobs - first Angela Rayner, then Lord Mandelson - where does this leave Keir Starmer?Send your comments and questions to: howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr
How To Survive A Scandal
Angela Rayner is under fire after admitting she failed to pay enough tax on her second home. Keir Starmer has vowed to do "everything he can" to save her political career, but how much damage is he doing to his own?The political masterminds discuss whether Angela Rayner can survive this scandal. Plus, will Keir Starmer start to have sleepless nights over the Greens?Send your comments and questions
How To Holiday With JD Vance
Is Chevening, the foreign secretary's country house, more Maga than you might think? After news that US vice president JD Vance will stay with the foreign secretary, the team discuss their time at the government's grace-and-favour mansions.They also answer a question from listener Nick about whether Nigel Farage can deliver as well as he can campaign, and look at the impact of Keir Starmer's polic
How To Win The Summer
MPs have left Westminster for the summer, but politics continues - with Nigel Farage promising to spend six weeks fighting a war on crime.Can opposition parties use the break to put pressure on the government, did David Cameron deserve his reputation for 'chillaxing', and why did Tony Blair's team hope he wouldn't call from the sun lounger?Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.u
How To Punish The Labour Rebels
With Hugo away, Patrick Maguire joins the political masterminds to ask whether Keir Starmer was right to punish rebellious Labour MPs by removing the whip.They also consider whether giving the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds will help Nigel Farage at the next election, Rachel Reeves' unpalatable options over tax, and Donald Trump's appearance at the Club World Cup.Send your comments and questions to h
How The Populists Are Coming (From Left And Right)
This week the political masterminds consider what's happening on the populist left and right, with more Tories defecting to Reform UK and talk of a new party led by Jeremy Corbyn.How small has the Conservative coalition become, do the voters expect Keir Starmer to wield a 'magic wand', and what would a new party be called?Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast.
How To Respond To A Tearful PMQs
It's been a dramatic political week, with Keir Starmer attempting to answer speculation about the chancellor's future after she was seen in tears at prime minister's questions.The political masterminds discuss what really happened at PMQs, how the prime minister has responded, and whether the government is in search of a new strategy. Plus, just how big is Polly's whiteboard?Send your comments and
How To Learn From Former PMs
The political masterminds are answering your questions this week, including - should Keir Starmer look to Harold Wilson, or ignore historical precedents? Can politicians make the case for borrowing more? And what can Reform learn from the Lib Dems about coming second?Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How To Call A Cobra Emergency Meeting
The government has held a meeting of the Cobra committee to discuss the Israel-Iran crisis - but how important is it really during a national emergency, and is it the UK's version of the White House Situation Room?The political masterminds also discuss the political impact of backing America during a conflict, and whether Keir Starmer can start ignoring Kemi Badenoch at prime minister's questions.
How Reform Plans Another Election Upset
The political masterminds ask whether Rachel Reeves' Spending Review charts a course to victory at the next General Election, before turning to another set of national elections - can Reform UK win in Labour's heartlands when Welsh voters go to the polls in a year's time?And who will win the Lib Dem KitKat of victory?Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See
How To Stop A Spending Review Revolt
With tough choices facing the government, the political masterminds look at what goes on behind the scenes ahead of a spending review - and how reluctant ministers are brought into line.And as the Tories finally put the boot into the Liz Truss legacy, have they found a new strategy on the economy - and will anyone notice?Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast.
How To Bring In An Outsider, Tsar, Or GOAT
The political masterminds are joined by former Tory cabinet minister David Gauke, fresh from leading the sentencing review for Keir Starmer's government. When does bringing people into the big tent work, and when is does it go wrong? They talk about Tony Blair's tsars, Gordon Brown's GOATS and Chris Grayling's gaffe.They also discuss cabinet tussles over the spending review, and Robert Jenrick's v
How To Perform A Giant U-Turn
Keir Starmer is changing course on the winter fuel allowance - where does it sit in the league table of political U-turns, and will it please anybody?The political masterminds also discuss the Conservative Party's existential polling spiral, why Starmer's approval ratings have fallen so far in the year since the General Election was called, and why Hugo agrees with Polly that babies should get the
How… The Elections Were Won And Lost: Labour in 1992
We're kicking off a new series on the podcast, looking at how the biggest elections in recent history were won - and lost.We start with the Labour campaign in 1992, an election that has been mythologised and is still influencing political strategy today. From soapboxes to shadow budgets to Sheffield rallies, the political mastermind are joined by then Labour leader Neil Kinnock to get under the sk
How To Save A Legacy Party
The Labour and Tory leaders are getting plenty of advice on how to see off the threat from Reform UK, the Lib Dems and the Green Party. Should they move to the right, the left, or double down on what they're already doing? And does it have anything to do with Greggs?Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How To Win A Canadian Election
Canada has been to the polls, and the results are extraordinary - a huge swing in the polls helping the Liberals rise from the dead, opposition leaders losing their seats, and established parties reduced to the sidelines.The political masterminds find out exactly what happened, how much of it was really down to Donald Trump, and what the parties here in the UK can learn.And stop the clocks - Keir
How To (Prepare To) Lose An Election
With local elections in England on the way, the political masterminds are joined by former Tory adviser and Reform UK supporter Tim Montgomerie to discuss what to do when you know you’re heading for defeat.Does Robert Jenrick know how to unite the right of British politics? Why didn’t Steve Hilton share his snacks with Polly when they worked together in Number 10? And what’s the political strategy
How To Turn The Red Wall... Turquoise?
Nigel Farage is pitching for voters in the North and Midlands, promising to build what he calls a "turquoise wall". Will taking control of British Steel help persuade voters Labour is protecting its former industrial heartlands? Who does Ed Davey have in mind when he appeals to Middle England? And is Reform UK definitely turquoise?Hugo, Sally and Danny are joined by former Lib Dem director of comm
How To Take On The Flabby State (With Michael Gove)
Danny's away, so Sally, Polly and Hugo are joined by former cabinet minister and politest man in politics, Michael Gove. What did he learn about Donald Trump's 'man cave' when he interviewed him the first time round?And, Keir Starmer wants to tackle what he calls the 'flabby state' - Is that the same as the 'blob', and can you reform Whitehall without going to war with it?Send questions, comments
How To Run Number 10
10 Downing Street is a rabbit warren of offices in a Georgian townhouse, and the centre of power in Britain. But how much control does it really exert over the rest of government, does it matter who has what job, and should we turn the whole thing into a museum?The political masterminds discuss how number 10 really works, and Polly explains why her husband thinks Canada is worse than North Korea.S
How To Sell Austerity 2.0
Rachel Reeves doesn't want to use the word 'austerity', but has she found a narrative to help explain her cuts to welfare and government spending? Why was 'fixing the roof when the sun is shining' such an effective message for David Cameron and George Osborne? And which of Danny's three types of strategy will Labour adopt at the next General Election?Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howt
How To Lose A By-Election (And Sell Your Tesla)
Which party has the most to lose in the Runcorn & Helsby by-election? The political masterminds make their predictions, and discuss what's at stake for Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch.And as Sally reveals she's replaced her Tesla, do boycotts make any difference?Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk, or WhatsApp 0333 00 323 53 with the words 'How To Wi
How To Learn From Farage's Feud
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 howtowin@thetim
How To Be PM In A Global Crisis
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 them do it at an a
How To Tell Jokes, Deal With Trump, And Welcome Sally
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 calling Britain a fa
The Labour Peer Who Inspired JD Vance
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 Labour' movement s
How To Survive As A Political Adviser
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 Conservatism?Send question
