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How To Win An Election

Times Radio
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Conservative Party
Rishi Sunak
Donald Trump
Brexit
Reform UK
Liberal Democrats
Tony Blair
David Cameron
Kemi Badenoch
UK Politics
Political Strategy
Downing Street
UK Elections
Immigration Policy
Austerity
Rachel Reeves
Gordon Brown
Boris Johnson

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.

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PublishesWeeklyEpisodes136Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for How To Win An Election

Latest Episodes

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... more

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 ma... more

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... more

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 wo... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Lord Heseltine
Former Cabinet Minister, former Deputy Prime Minister
Conservative Party
Episode: How... The Elections Were Won And Lost: Michael Heseltine
Daniel Finkelstein
Political commentator and former advisor
The Times
Episode: Emergency Episode: How Long Can Starmer Cling On?
Luke Tryll
Executive director of More In Common; pollster; host of the Opinion Brief podcast; former special advisor
More In Common
Episode: How To Decide When (And If) The PM Will Be Challenged
Simon Finkelstein
Former advisor to Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor and Dominic Raab as Foreign Secretary
UK Government/Conservative circles
Episode: How To Sell Starmer The Statesman
Patrick Maguire
Co-author, The State Of It book contributors
The Times / The State Of It
Episode: How Starmer Became The Passive Prime Minister
Gabriel Pogrund
Co-author, The State Of It book contributors
The Times / The State Of It
Episode: How Starmer Became The Passive Prime Minister
Polly Mackenzie
Policy expert, commentator
Policy UK
Episode: How The Mandelson Files Weigh On The PM
Danny Finkelstein
Times columnist, former politician
The Times
Episode: How The Mandelson Files Weigh On The PM
Nick Clegg
Former Lib Dem leader, former Deputy Prime Minister
Liberal Democrats
Episode: How... The Elections Were Won And Lost: Nick Clegg

Host

Hugo Rifkind
Host of the show

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 536 ratings
  • Has its moments but mostly average

    This was quite interesting back in the Matt Chorley days - and he was a much better host. Peter Mandelson was on the panel (not mentioned anymore) and the whole thing was entertaining. Today it is ok if you have nothing better to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    jjh297
    United Kingdom15 days ago
  • Better with Chorley

    Sally Morgan should say ‘in the end’, and ‘actually’ a bit more often. And also keep interrupting others.

    Matt Chorley added way more value. Don’t find Hugo very insightful or original.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bath time now
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Going downhill

    Started off as a good podcast, now an attempt for the commentators to shoehorn ‘oh look I can make a different point to you’ and the presenter making feeble, embarrassing attempts at comedy.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sw1200
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • áp

    As a non-UK political enthusiast, obsessed with UK politics this is, by far the best political podcast available!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ÀPpol
    Belgium6 months ago
  • The best politics podcast

    My favourite of the many political podcasts I listen to. An unmatched mix of humour, knowledge and debate. Love them all but I could listen to Danny tell his anecdotes and political science theories all day.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BradEThom
    United Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, praised for intelligent, informed debate and high production quality.
Some episodes feel repetitive or dominated by strong personalities, which can dampen the balance for some listeners.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful analysis and cross-party perspectives from regulars.
Balanced, adversarial discussions with insider tone, great depth on politics and leadership.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#26
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#50
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#126
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#153
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#48
Indonesia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#51
Hong Kong/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Burnham Is (Or Isn't) Defining Himself
Q: Following on from your emergency pod and Danny's comments about the potentially unconstitutional nature of party members effectively electing a prime minister mid-parliament again, is it democratically sustainable that a small and unelected party membership can effectively determine the next prime minister without a general election?
The guests discuss that leadership elections via party membership are not parliamentary elections and argue for or against constitutional coherence, with some advocating that a general election should occur when leadership changes; others emphasize the evolving nature of party democracy and its impact on democratic legitimacy.
How To Predict Whether Starmer Will Survive 2026
Q: If Labour loses power in Wales next May, would Keir Starmer be done for as Prime Minister?
The results are kind of baked in; if Labour does badly, it may reduce the risk of challenging Starmer but it's unclear if there will be a significant response in terms of leadership change.
How To Raise Taxes
Q: What do you think about the argument for a grid system for government communications?
Polly argues it keeps everyone busy while allowing for necessary background work, suggesting complexity is needed in government communication.
How To Raise Taxes
Q: How damaging do you think it would be to break that manifesto commitment?
Sally believes it is always difficult to break a manifesto commitment and wishes they had been upfront about the need for tax increases earlier.
How To Prevent Party Conference Chaos
Q: Are there any circumstances where the government might want to hold an election early?
Danny Finkelstein discusses the probabilities affecting the timing of elections, suggesting that the government is likely to wait until the last minute to maximize their chances as they anticipate a better political climate.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Win An Election

What is How To Win An Election about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A high-signal UK politics discussion featuring experienced strategists and policy insiders who dissect leadership contests, party dynamics, and policy trade-offs with sharp wit and adversarial rigor. Episodes frequently tackle labour leadership, by-elections, the rise of reform-oriented challengers, and how international events influence domestic political strategy, often contrasting insider perspectives with polling and public mood. Notable strengths include a knowledgeable panel drawn from journalism, think tanks, and Westminster circles, plus a host who keeps debates lively without sacrificing depth. The show is likely to appeal to politically engaged listeners who enjoy thorough analysis, historical context, and practical implications f... more

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Which podcasts are similar to How To Win An Election?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How To Win An Election:

1. Politics Unpacked
2. Political Currency
3. The State of It
4. Not Another One
5. Westminster Insider

How many episodes of How To Win An Election are there?

How To Win An Election launched 3 years ago and published 136 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on How To Win An Election?

Recent guests on How To Win An Election include:

1. Lord Heseltine
2. Daniel Finkelstein
3. Luke Tryll
4. Simon Finkelstein
5. Patrick Maguire
6. Gabriel Pogrund
7. Polly Mackenzie
8. Danny Finkelstein

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