Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

BBC Radio 4

Nick Robinson has a conversation with, not an interrogation of, the people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs.

  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Bonus: The Rishi Sunak Lessons from Downing Street One - Part 2

    In the second, bonus instalment of this exclusive interview with the former prime minister, Rishi Sunak opens up about his time as Chancellor and Prime Minister, including how his relationship with Boris Johnson fell apart, why he regrets his "Stop the Boats" slogan and what comes next for someone who has become an elder statesman, aged 44.

    Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Joel Massey

    5 March 2025, 5:55 am
  • 58 minutes 32 seconds
    The Rishi Sunak Lessons from Downing Street One

    An exclsuive in-depth interview with the Rishi Sunak. In this first instalment, the former prime minister tells stories from behind the scenes on the world stage explains why he thinks we must now cut welfare spending to fund defence.

    Sunak reflects on how a sense of duty - inspired by his Hindu faith - helped drive his political career, and reflects on how and why he ultimately led the Conservative Party to the worst electoral defeat in its history.

    Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Joel Massey

    5 March 2025, 5:50 am
  • 33 minutes 15 seconds
    The Carla Denyer 2025 One

    The co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales joins Nick for a conversation

    28 February 2025, 1:00 am
  • 41 minutes 41 seconds
    The Heidi Alexander One

    The Transport Secretary on Corbyn, Ukraine and growing up in Swindon

    Producer: Lauren Tavriger

    21 February 2025, 1:00 am
  • 40 minutes 20 seconds
    The Charlie Taylor One

    The Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales on how he went from being a teacher at a school for kids with beahvioural problems, to being the leading voice on prison conditions.

    He tells stories of cheap suits, perspex windows, being the subject of offensive graffiti, and explains how he retains optimism.

    Producers: Lauren Tavriger and Daniel Kraemer

    14 February 2025, 1:00 am
  • 48 minutes 6 seconds
    The Zia Yusuf One

    Who is the 38-year-old, Muslim, second-generation immigrant chairman of Reform UK?

    Zia Yusuf joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to tell his story, lay out his party's path to power, and share his thoughts on Boris Johnson, Elon Musk, Suella Braverman and his boss, Nigel Farage.

    Producer: Daniel Kraemer

    7 February 2025, 1:00 am
  • 41 minutes 50 seconds
    The Chris Philp One

    The Shadow Home Secretary joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to reflect on mistakes of the last government, humility in opposition and his anger at the new government.

    Chris Philp also opens up about the impact of caring for his premature baby twins and what he has learned from success and failure in business.

    Producer: Daniel Kraemer

    31 January 2025, 1:00 am
  • 42 minutes 32 seconds
    The Kim Leadbeater One

    The Labour MP sits down with Nick to reflect on how she went from selling beds in her Yorkshire hometown, to being at the forefront of political debate, as the face of the campaign to legalise assisted dying, and how the murder of her sister, Jo Cox, helps explain the journey.

    Producer: Daniel Kraemer

    24 January 2025, 6:00 am
  • 34 minutes 30 seconds
    The Rachel Reeves Chancellor One

    The Chancellor reflects on her first six months in power and what lies behind her determination that she has "what it takes" to "turn things around".

    Producer: Daniel Kraemer

    17 January 2025, 6:00 am
  • 50 minutes 24 seconds
    The Nick Clegg One

    Nick Robinson speaks to Sir Nick Clegg about life as Mark Zuckerberg's right hand man at Meta and the transition from Westminster to Silicon Valley.

    He responds to challenges on regulation of social media companies and issues a warning about the political power of Elon Musk.

    Producer: Daniel Kraemer

    6 December 2024, 5:00 am
  • 48 minutes 47 seconds
    The Husam Zomlot One

    The Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK reflects on a childhood in a Gaza refugee camp and how hope is what keeps him going.

    Update: This episode has been edited to remove a brief exchange suggesting that an interim finding by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found it plausible that genocide had been committed in Gaza. The ICJ actually decided that the Palestinians had a plausible right to be protected from genocide and we’re happy to make that clear.

    29 November 2024, 6:00 am
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