The Special VIP Guest is... The Prime Minister. 

This is a classic episode with plenty of light and shade.

There's the personal, the political, the domestic, the international and, of course, some football. 

It's a mix of massive laughs and proper politics. 

What's Trump like behind the scenese?

What could the government do better?

Would he wear aviators indoors?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:

https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list 

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

George became a national political sensation in 2025 when he became the leader of Warwickshire County Council at the age of 18.

The Reform councillor is now 19 and shares his experience of leadership.

This is a fascinating insight into Reform as a party, to the realignment on the right and about the impact of defections like Robert Jenrick's. 

But it's also about the values that underpin George's thinking and about how you get things done in politics.

Who is really in charge? And who should be?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:

https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list 

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Do MPs dread going back to work like the rest of us do?

Rising Labour star James Frith talks us through what it's like going back to the office as a politician.

He's now PPS to David Lammy, but what exactly does that involve?

And where does he buy and sell his old clothes?

All this and more in this entertaining start to 2026. 

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:

https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list 

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

2026 may be the year that Anas Sarwar finally leads Labour back into power at Holyrood. 

In this revealing and hilarious interview from 2021, he outlines what Labour needs to do to win.

Since then Labour have won a landslide at Westminster... can he replicate that?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:

https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list 

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

This is class. 

Ryan is the Director of Policy and Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. 

What are the problems we'll face in the future?

What are the answers?

And what's Tony Blair like as a boss?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsRyan Wain

This is class. 

Ryan is the Director of Policy and Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. 

What are the problems we'll face in the future?

What are the answers?

And what's Tony Blair like as a boss?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Keynes. Woolf. Hitchens.

The New Statesman has an illustrious history and editor Tom McTague is the latest custodian of that grand tradition.

But how does a centre-left magazine pitch itself in the ferocious world of social media and hot takes?

What's its relationship with the Labour Party?

How does it handle disagreements on the Left?

And, more importantly, what does Labour need to do to win next time?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

It's the biscuit man!

Gordon is a viral sensation thanks to his novel way of explaining the national debt using Custard Creams and Bourbons. 

This is an entertaining analysis of how to use social media and the wider political pressures that Labour face. 

As a member of the Labour Growth Group, Gordon tells us what the group actually does and how we get deliver growth in the economy. 

Plus... Gordon's Christmas Day breakfast will blow, and possibly influence, your mind.

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

This. Is. Phenomenal. 

Nick Clegg has been one of the most powerful people in the UK and in Silicon Valley. 

He takes us inside the crazy world of Meta and the tech bros. 

What is Mark Zuckerberg really like? 

Should we fear AI? 

Does he still speak to David Cameron?

All this and more are contained within! 

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Peray is the Labour leader of Haringay Council.

They are leading the way when it comes to building council homes.

But why?

This is a fascinating, entertaining insight into leadership in local government, including how to manage disagreement and where to go for the best kebabs.

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

8 December: Nick Clegg

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

Izzy is a political historian and host of the excellent 'Leading Labour' podcast that you can listen to here:

https://leadinglabour.podbean.com/

It's a series analysing every Labour leader from Attlee to Corbyn.

So which Labour leader from history is Keir Starmer most like? And which one can he learn from the most?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

8 December: Nick Clegg

26 January: Special VIP Guest

16 February: David Miliband

9 March: Zack Polanski

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:

https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows

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

The Matt Forde Focus Group (BBC RADIO 4) is returning!

Sign up to my mailing list for exclusive access to free tickets for the Christmas Special recording of The Matt Forde Focus Group on Wednesday 17 December at 7:15pm.

Tickets will be released on Wednesday 19 November. 

https://www.mattforde.com/focus-group

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