Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

312 episodes

'What the hell are we doing?' Wes Streeting on his promise to young people, resigning from government, and wanting to be PM
2026/05/21 | 52 mins.
Labour leadership contender and former health secretary Wes Streeting on what prompted his resignation, the challenges of being a working class politician, and his wealth tax plan.
Why the PM has to go: Miatta Fahnbulleh on being the first minister to break with Starmer
2026/05/15 | 49 mins.
The former Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who was the first Minister to resign from Keir Starmer's government after the elections, discusses reaching breaking point, who should lead Labour now, and why she's terrified of where politics is going.
She also talks about her experience as a civil servant working with Conservative Ministers, and why her children are her toughest critics.
Senior Producer: Hannah Wilkinson
Producer: Flora Murray
Sound: Jack Wilfan
Editor: Giles Edwards
'It's been a whirlwind': Zack Polanski on storytelling, Zionism and Zackonomics
2026/03/20 | 54 mins.
Few people have done more to shape politics in recent months than the Green Party Leader in England and Wales, Zack Polanski. In his Political Thinking debut, he tells Nick Robinson about his 'whirlwind' journey since becoming leader, saying that becoming PM is now 'in his mind' .
He talks about his upbringing and Jewish identity and why he has now become a prominent critic of Israel. He explains his strong opposition to the war in Iran. He describes his plans to transform the capitalist model with a revolution based on 'Zackonomics'.
And, asked about his earlier career as a hypnotherapist, he admits to 'cringing' when reminded that he once participated in a trial to help a woman increase her breast size.
Producers: Leela Padmanabhan and Flora Murray
Editor: GIles Edwards
From Sky boss to Number 10: Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith
2026/03/13 | 39 mins.
Andrew Griffith on why government sometimes has to say 'no' and why Rupert Murdoch was the "best boss".
The Shadow Business Secretary was once the youngest Chief Financial Officer of any major British company, when he worked at Sky, before becoming an MP an joining Boris Johnson's team in Downing Street.
Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer
Producer: Flora Murray
Editor: Giles Edwards
'We cannot have chaos': Emily Thornberry on the law of war and Labour's struggles
2026/03/06 | 41 mins.
The Foreign Affairs Committee Chair on Iran, Trump's 'asteroid of awfulness' and the 'grief' she felt after being dropped by Starmer.
Emily Thornberry tells Nick about how her father's career as a UN peacekeeper helped shape her commitment to the ideals of international law.
She also has frank views about what her party needs to do to stem the rise of the Green Party.
Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer
Producer: Flora Murray
Sound: Jack Wilfan
Editor: Giles Edwards

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About Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

Nick Robinson talks to people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs. Each episode of Political Thinking features an in-depth conversation with someone who is shaping our politics. The people who run our country (and those who want to), campaigners, business and union leaders, and people who run other countries. All of them join Nick in the studio, not for a news-y interrogation, but for an extended and relaxed conversation, delving into their past and how it shaped their worldview. New episodes drop on Fridays on BBC Sounds. You can also watch them on BBC Two at 12:15pm on Fridays or on BBC iPlayer. And you can listen on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays at 17:30.

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