Politics Unpacked

It's the first PMQs of the year, and Hugo and Patrick Maguire are joined in the studio by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. As they unpack the exchanges from the Commons, they discuss voting for sending troops to Ukraine, Donald Trump's raid on Venezuela, and how Farage will change PMQs if he makes it into Downing Street.

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After the US raid on Venezuela, the UK government has tried not to make a splash and condemn Trump. But with Greenland in his sights, will they continue to defer to his judgement?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott

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Keir Starmer’s turned off his out-of-office, and he’s planning a big push on the cost of living in 2026 - but will his survival strategy actually work?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers. 

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Keir Starmer is being held back by the "fringe obsessions" of the civil service, according to his former director of strategy Paul Ovenden. So how can the Prime Minister tackle the "weirdness" of Whitehall?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Michael Binyon.

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It's been an eventful year in politics and the party leaders will be hoping to set the right tone for 2026 - so what can we expect in the new year?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day for the final time in 2025, with Sarah Ditum and Emma Duncan. 

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The New Year's Honours list has raised eyebrows, with some recipients having previously been at the centre of culture war controversies. So who should really get a gong?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the news and politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.

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The prime minister has been urged to deport Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, after he apologised for social media posts apparently calling for violence against Zionists and the police.

But as successive governments backed his release from an Egyptian jail, will anyone listen to critics including Liz Truss?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Jack Blackburn and Albie Amankona.

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In this special Christmas episode of the podcast, Patrick Maguire joins Ed Vaizey for a story of a prime minister visited by three Christmas spirits - one carrying a disposable vape, one looking like George V, and the last smelling of tofu. Do any of them bear glad tidings for Keir Starmer as he looks forward to elections in 2026?

Politics Unpacked will be back on 29th January.

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Nearly ten million voters could see their local elections delayed until 2027, which Nigel Farage claims is to stop him winning more councils - does he have a point?

Guto Harri unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon

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TDS, or Trump Derangement Syndrome, is apparently the irrational desire to criticise the US President Donald Trump. But with his approval ratings slipping in the polls, is he in serious trouble over his handling of the economy?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Juliet Samuel.

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In the final PMQs of the year, Kemi Badenoch challenges Keir Starmer on growth, taxes and claims he doesn’t have the “baubles” to stop the doctors’ strike. Starmer hits back, arguing that Badenoch’s Christmas wish list would freeze the minimum wage...

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the Commons exchanges with Josh Glancy, Stefan Boscia and Ahir Shah. 

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Donald Trump has sued the BBC for $10 billion over an edit of his January 6th speech in a Panorama documentary. Could the corporation's survival be threatened if it doesn't settle with the US president?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.

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Does Andy Burnham want to be PM? Reform UK has become Britain’s largest party by membership, and Jeremy Clarkson is the latest pub owner to bar Labour MPs from his pub.

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Emma Duncan.

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Keir Starmer and his fellow European leaders are engaged in another intense period of diplomacy aimed at securing a peace deal for Ukraine. Can they make any progress - and is Donald Trump's hostility to Europe only increasing?

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Keir Starmer has appointed 25 new peers, despite having pledged to shrink and even abolish the House of Lords in the past - how could that affect trust in politics?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Salma Shah.

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Panto season hits PMQs, with Badenoch calling Starmer a “caretaker PM,” Starmer accusing her of job-saving panic, and Lindsay Hoyle asking MPs to stop the pantomime auditions.

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Patrick Maguire and Andrew Hunter Murray to unpack the exchanges in the House Of Commons. 

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Angela Rayner has expressed "frustration" with slow progress delivering on workers' rights. Now she's on the backbenches, is she going to be creating problems for Keir Starmer, and could she end up as leader?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Megan Kenyon and Patrick Kidd.

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The think-tank that backed Keir Starmer's bid to be Labour leader has started canvassing members about potential successors - are preparations underway for a leadership change?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Charlotte Ivers.

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The UK is planning to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine. But with Putin welcomed with open arms in India, how much pressure will this really put on the Kremlin?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the news of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon.

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Nigel Farage wants a “reverse takeover” of the Tory party, but he's not interested in any Reform UK-Conservative Party pact at the next election - could he lure Robert Jenrick to join Reform? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Juliet Samuel.

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Kemi Badenoch is on a roll at PMQs, but was she right to keep the focus on what was and wasn't said in the weeks before the Budget?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges from the Commons with Gabriel Pogrund and Guto Harri

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Keir Starmer says the UK is still facing consequences of Brexit vote's 'wild promises' - why is the prime minister bringing up Brexit? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.

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The Prime Minister has denied that he and the Chancellor misled the cabinet, and the country, over the state of the nation's finances - has he put the question to bed?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Sebastian Payne.

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The governments' abandoned its plan to give workers day-one-rights against unfair dismissal - a policy which was in its manifesto. Will this blow up into a full-scale row - or is ditching the pledge what “grown-up politics” looks like?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Thangham Debbonaire and Michael Binyon. 

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Rachel Reeves has told Times Radio she is determined to remain in Number 11 Downing Street, and that she wasn't going to have her political obituary written today - how might this play out with Labour’s election chances? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Robert Colvile and Megan Kenyon 

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The OBR may have mistakenly released Reeves' budget too early, but it was just in time for Prime Minister's Questions. 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges with The Times' Chief Political Correspondent Patrick Maguire.

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Rachel Reeves has told Labour MPs she'll survive Wednesday's budget, and be back for years to come. Is it set to be worse than previous budget disasters, including George Osborne's 'omnishambles' in 2012?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Ed Vaizey and James Marriott.

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It’s been a year since Rachel Reeves told the CBI she'd steer clear of extra borrowing or new tax rises. After a weekend spent defending her position, is the Chancellor really in control?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers. 

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The Times today reveals the guidance on transgender people using single-sex spaces like toilets and changing rooms. It's been sitting on the government's desk - are ministers trying to avoid a political backlash? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Sarah Ditum.

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Kemi Badenoch presses Keir Starmer over whether the government would "break another promise" by freezing income tax thresholds. With Starmer deferring to the chancellor’s plans next week, will it truly be “a Labour Budget with Labour values”?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges from Prime Minister's Questions with Patrick Maguire and Luke Sullivan.

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The Home Secretary's new asylum plans are facing backlash from Labour MPs, including one who told Times Radio the government is trying to "appease the electorate" - is that the job of politicians, or not?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott. 

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Shabana Mahmood's sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration have already faced backlash from Labour's backbenches, how bad will it get for the Home Secretary? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Seb Payne.

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The Chancellor has scrapped plans to raise income tax in the Budget because of improved economic forecasts and fears over the reaction of mutinous Labour MPs - is she right to change course?

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With Starmer investigating briefings against his own cabinet ministers and facing calls to sack his own Chief of Staff, can anyone explain what's going on in Downing Street?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Jenni Russell and Matthew Syed

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Kemi Badenoch tells the Prime Minister he's lost control of Downing Street, and his government has "descended into civil war."

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges from Prime Minister's Questions with Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund.

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The US President has given the BBC until Friday evening to apologise and remove a Panorama episode which edited a speech to make it appear he was inciting violence - or else, he'll sue. 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.

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Accusations of bias have forced Tim Davie and Deborah Turness to resign from their roles at the BBC - has the job of running the corporation become almost impossible?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and Sebastian Payne.

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As Rachel Reeves tells the Budget watchdog she could raise income tax for the first time in 50 years, is there any way out for the chancellor? And will she make all future promises on tax worthless?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Thangam Debbonaire.

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Nigel Farage and Rachel Reeves have both sought to be more frank with the public about the economy this week - does this herald a new era of honest politics?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Daisy McAndrew and Matthew Parris.

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David Lammy takes Deputy PMQs for the first time, and faces the same question from Conservative James Cartlidge five times in a row about a second foreign prisoner mistakenly released. In the end it turns out that Cartlidge knew the answer all along.

Hugo unpacks the action with Patrick Maguire and Stefan Boscia

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Rachel Reeves tries to lay the ground for difficult decisions at her Budget. But did the speech say anything new, or was Kemi Badenoch right to call it a "waffle bomb"?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott

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Reform has set out its plan for the British economy, but will the sums add up? 

And why has Farage recycled a Nick Clegg slogan from 2011? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of today with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers

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Andrew has been stripped of his prince title and ordered by the King to leave the Royal Lodge - but will he continue to cast a shadow over the Royals?

Harry Wallop unpacks the news of the day with Alys Denby and Patrick Kidd.

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After hinting at manifesto breaking tax rises in the budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has come under fire for breaching rental rules on her family home - can she hold on to her job?

Calum MacDonald unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Manveen Rana. 

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Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out a U-turn on his manifesto tax pledges in the budget, while blaming the Tories for the country’s economic woes. Kemi Badenoch accused him of playing the blame game.

Calum Macdonald unpacks the action with Josh Glancy and Jon Harvey.

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The UK government will begin housing small boat migrants in military barracks from next month, part of a plan to move asylum seekers out of hotels and cut costs. But why is Labour now supporting policies it once condemned? 

Calum McDonald unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.

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The Home Office is squandering billions of pounds on asylum hotels in another damaging story for the government. Can Labour still call themselves the "grown ups in the room"? 

Calum Macdonald unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers

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Plaid Cymru have swept to victory in Caerphilly, taking a Senedd seat that has been held by Labour for a century - will it convince Keir Starmer to change course?

Alexis Conran unpacks the politics of the day with Daisy McAndrew and Michael Binyon.

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Shabana Mahmood says her department remains “not yet fit for purpose,” after The Times uncovered a secret report calling it dysfunctional and detached from reality. Should we be worried that we're still using that phrase, 20 years after John Reid first made it famous?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Patrick Kidd.

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Hugo Rifkind unpacks this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions with Gabriel Pogrund from The Sunday Times and comedian Gráinne Maguire.

After several grooming gang victims withdrew from the inquiry process, Sir Keir Starmer vows to deliver justice — but can he restore confidence in the investigation?

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Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir reveals her abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and alleged encounters with Prince Andrew - claims he denies. Now, the disgraced royal faces pressure to disclose what he knows about Epstein’s crimes and those who may have enabled them. 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.

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Conservative MPs Alicia Kearns and Tom Tugendhat have urged Keir Starmer to designate China a top-tier threat, calling his inaction a sign of weakness - but would such a label really change anything?

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers to unpack the politics of the day. 

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The Prime Minister wants to lift the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending their game against Aston Villa next month. But could it lead to violence?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby.

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The government, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Conservatives all blame each other for the collapse of the China spy case, is everyone set to lose in the blame game?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and David Runciman live from the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival

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Hugo Rifkind unpacks PMQs alongside Patrick Maguire and Ayesha Hazarika live from the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Badenoch challenges Starmer over the China spy case, but Starmer enjoys arguing over legal technicalities.

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Does an embarrassing moment for Sir Keir Starmer on stage at the Egypt peace summit reveal something about the UK's influence on the global stage?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott

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Reform UK's Nigel Farage is preparing to drop his promise to deliver £90bn of tax cuts, saying his party will reduce public spending first. Is this a more credible position, and is it in response to Tory attacks?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Carol Lewis and Patrick Kidd 

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The ceasefire in Gaza is underway after US president Donald Trump brokered a peace deal between Israel and Hamas. But how will he feel about missing out on the Nobel Peace Prize?

Alexis Conran unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby.

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President Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to phase one of his plan for peace in Gaza. Is he on track for a Nobel Peace Prize?

Plus, why is Matthew trying to avoid calling Nigel Farage by his name? 

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Hugo Rifkind unpacks Kemi Badenoch's speech to Conservative Party conference in which she pledged to scrap Labour's tax rises and abolish stamp duty. But has she discovered her own magic money tree?

Plus: Margaret Thatcher also struggled to make an impact in her first year, how do the two leaders compare?

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Robert Jenrick has been announcing a series of policies at Conservative conference, and defending comments he made about the lack of 'white faces' in an inner-city area of Birmingham. 

Was he just making a point about integration? Is he trying to destabilise Kemi Badenoch's leadership? And, what does Badenoch's favourite author - Terry Pratchett - tell us about her?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Josh Glancy and James Marriott

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Hugo Rifkind unpacks the latest Times Radio Focus Group with James Johnson of JL Partners.

Kemi Badenoch has failed to make an impression on these 2024 Conservative voters so far, but which of her potential rivals do they compare to Martin Lewis? 

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the pro-Palestine protests after the Manchester synagogue attack were "fundamentally un-British". But can the authorities stop them?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Daisy McAndrew and Michael Binyon. 

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The government says the UK is too attractive to refugees and says it will end the 'Golden Ticket' of resettlement and family reunion rights. But will it stop people crossing the channel?

Plus, reaction to the attack on a Manchester synagogue. 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Patrick Kidd.

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Reform UK says Keir Starmer’s attack on Nigel Farage risks inciting violence. Has Labour been guilty of playing the man, not the ball?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Robert Crampton and Phil Tinline.

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Labour Party Conference began with much speculation about the Prime Minister's survival. Is he out of the danger zone - and if so - for how long?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Ayesha Hazarika

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Rachel Reeves has delivered her speech to Labour Party conference, warning of 'harsh global headwinds' and harder choices to come. Is she laying the ground for a brutal autumn Budget, and did she look like a chancellor secure in her job?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the speech with Joe Mayes and Megan Kenyon. He also speaks to Bill Esterson, chair of the Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, about whether the government is making the case to the public for net zero.

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Hugo Rifkind unpacks the latest Times Radio Focus Group with Tom Lubbock of JL Partners.

What do these 2024 Labour voters think about Keir Starmer and the government, and will they back him again to keep out Nigel Farage?

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Keir Starmer urges liberals to take on the populist right as he confirms plans for mandatory digital ID cards. But has the prime minister worked out how to tackle Nigel Farage's Reform UK?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Emma Duncan. 

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Andy Burnham says he's been privately urged to challenge Keir Starmer. Could the so-called King of the North return to parliament and run for leader?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris.

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After Ed Davey claimed the Lib Dems were the last block against Nigel Farage's 'forces of darkness', why does he spend so much time talking about Reform UK and Donald Trump?

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton to unpack the politics of the day. 

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Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day, including Donald Trump's unproven claim that paracetamol in pregnancy increases the risk of autism, and Reform's claim that its latest migration policy will save hundreds of billions of pounds.

With James Marriott and Sarah Ditum.

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Ed Davey has called Elon Musk a criminal and promised a crackdown on 'doomscrolling' - but is Nigel Farage's latest migration announcement stealing attention from Lib Dem conference?

Hugo Rifkind Unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers 

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After another public row between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, 'Your Party' looks like it may not get off the ground - but could a more serious left-wing threat to Labour come from Zack Polanski's Green Party?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Giles Dilnot and Alys Denby.

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Donald Trump says America owes the UK for its legacy of free speech - but why do some Republicans believe the hallmark of modern Britain is censorship?

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed to unpack the politics of the day. 

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Sir Keir Starmer’s migrant returns deal with France is in disarray after a judge paused an Eritrean man’s deportation hours before he was due to fly - will the one-in, one-out scheme ever get off the ground?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.

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Danny Kruger - who has called for a "revival of faith" in Britain - has been tasked with preparing Reform for government. Is religion playing a bigger role in politics?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.

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As Danny Kruger becomes the first sitting Tory MP to defect to Reform UK, is he right to say the Conservative party is over? What can Kemi Badenoch do to stem the tide, and is Keir Starmer drinking in 'last-chance saloon'?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Carol Lewis.

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How bad is the fallout from the sacking of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador? With a State visit fast approaching, can Starmer recover - or is he a "dead man walking"?

Ed Vaizey is joined by Alys Denby and Michael Binyon to unpack the politics of the day. 

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Keir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US, after growing scrutiny over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the story with reaction from from Matthew Parris, Manveen Rana, Adam Boulton and Francis Elliot. 

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Kemi Badenoch was quick off the mark to challenge the prime minister over allegations about Peter Mandelson, repeatedly asking if Starmer was aware of their close friendship and if he still had "confidence" in the US Ambassador 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges from the Commons with Times' Chief Political Correspondent Patrick Maguire and comedian Ria Lina. 

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The field of candidates wanting to succeed Angela Rayner as deputy leader is growing, but will the contest inevitably end up as a referendum on Keir Starmer's leadership?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Kidd and Libby Purves.

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Keir Starmer's reshuffle has given key jobs to people seen as being from the "reforming right" of the party - is the government tilting towards a tougher, Blairite agenda? Or is it just lumbering from one set of priorities to another?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers.

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Angela Rayner has resigned as deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary after an independent report found she had broken the ministerial code for failing to pay stamp duty on her second home.

Ed Vaizey brings you the full fallout from the major political shakeup, with reaction from The Times' Political Editor Steven Swinford and Labour Peer Thangam Debbonaire. Plus additional insight from Political Historian Nigel Fletcher and the Times' former Political Editor Philip Webster. 

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It's the Times Radio Focus Group, where Hugo steps outside the Westminster bubble to hear the opinions of ordinary voters.

This week, it's a group considering voting for Reform UK at the next election. Hugo Rifkind is joined by pollster Guy Miscampbell, of JL Partners to find out why.

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It's the first PMQs back after the summer break and Angela Rayner is fighting for her political life. Kemi Badenoch tells the prime minister to 'grow a backbone' and sack his deputy.

Hugo Rifkind Unpacks the exchanges from the Commons with Sunday Times Whitehall Editor Gabriel Pogrund and Comedian Jon Harvey.

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It's Keir Starmer's birthday, and what better way to usher in his 63rd year than with a new "phase two" for his government - but did phase one go all that well? 

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd to unpack the politics of the day.  

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Parliament is back from recess, and Keir Starmer has reshuffled his team in Downing Street - what do the prime minister's appointments tell us about his plans for a reset?

Hugo Rifkind Unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers.

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Xi Jinping will host Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un in Beijing next week to mark the end of the Second World War. As Western leaders largely stay away, how much should we worry about the dictators cosying up to each other?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Michael Binyon.

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Nigel Farage has stumbled over whether a Reform government would deport women and children as part of its border security plans. Does Reform UK need to think twice before rushing through policies? 

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Manveen Rana and Fraser Nelson to unpack the politics of the day. 

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A political crisis in Paris threatens to undo a key pillar of Keir Starmer's plan to 'smash the gangs'. Can cooperation with Europe help Britain tackle the crisis or is a new strategy needed?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.

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Reform UK has unveiled its proposal to tackle the small boat crisis - from mass deportations, to detention camps on disused airfields, to replacing the ECHR. As public anger over asylum hotels reaches fever-pitch, will Nigel Farage's strategy pay off?

Hugo Rifkind is joined by James Marriott and Libby Purves to unpack the politics of the day.  

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YouGov polling for The Times suggests that seven in ten voters think Keir Starmer is doing a bad job at handling the issue of asylum hotels. Does he need to get more radical?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Patrick Kidd.

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There'll be a fresh wave of protests against asylum hotels across the country this weekend, as more councils call for illegal immigrants to be housed elsewhere - but can Labour fix this "mess"? Or will unrest continue to grow? 

Ed Vaizey is joined by Thangam Debbonaire and Robin Brant to unpack the politics of the day.

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A record 111,000 people claimed asylum in the UK during Keir Starmer's first year in office - and the number in hotels rose by 8%. How did we get here and what is Britain's moral responsibility to migrants?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris.

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The government's asylum accommodation scheme is in turmoil - after the High Court ruled migrants must be removed from an Epping Hotel. As other councils look set to follow suit, where will asylum seekers go now?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.

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President Zelensky is returning to the White House - but this time he isn't alone. Seven European leaders, including Keir Starmer, have gone with him to help make sure Donald Trump is on side.

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Sebastian Payne.

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Donald Trump heads to Alaska today to meet Vladimir Putin and try to find a path to peace in Ukraine - but how likely is an end to the war?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Cindy Yu.

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Russia and the US are understood to have agreed a "West Bank-style" occupation of Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin - but the plan may not appeal to Kyiv.

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed.

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JD Vance's holiday to the cotswolds continues, where he's been meeting with Tories, breakfasting with Nigel Farage, and having a barbecue with a former Apprentice candidate who says 'Bosh' a lot. 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton. 

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