What is lifestyle economics and why does it matter?

The IEA's Christopher Snowdon is a fun-loving political thinker and explains his opposition to puritanism, why we should have more freedom and what that would mean for our policies on smoking, alcohol, gambling and the very existence of the NHS.

Also... what are ultra-processed foods and are they necessarily bad?

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

 20 April: Shabana Mahmood

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.

A classic from 2022... was it really four years ago?

In his pomp as RMT's General Secretary, Mick Lynch was on sparkling form. 

 THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

20 April: Shabana Mahmood

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.

Oh boy, are you in for a treat.

Political colossus David Miliband is in the UK and is on blistering form. 

This is impassioned, urgent and absolutely electrifying.

An absolute classic.  

THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE

9 March: Zack Polanski

30 March: Lisa Nandy

20 April: Shabana Mahmood

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 'The Matt Forde Focus Group':

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.

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

Baroness Cass didn't expect to end up in the House of Lords.

She began her career as a paediatrician, a career path that culminated in her publishing the Cass Review into Gender Identity Services. 

This is a thoughtful and empathetic analysis of the experiences of vulnerable young people. 

Hilary takes us inside the report and her findings.

She also makes a compelling case for banning social media for under 16s... and tells us what it's like being a newbie in the Upper Chamber. 

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.

Lola is absolutely full of beans. Or is it Pease Pudding?

Elected in the 2024 landslide, she has already made a name for herself and is climbing the ladder as PPS to Lisa Nandy.

But it's her campaigning around online safety where she's really made an impact. 

Should the government ban social media for children? Should smart phones be banned in schools?

Let's head up to Darlington, lick a Lemon Top and find out. 

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.

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.