The Iain Anderson One

The Iain Anderson One

Author: BBC Radio 4 February 10, 2023 Duration: 34:08

Nick Robinson talks to the influential lobbyist and new chair of Stonewall, Iain Anderson, about how the case of Isla Bryson has brought gender politics to the top of the news agenda and how he thinks the heat can be taken out of the debate. Anderson, a lifelong Conservative who founded the lobbying firm Cicero and ran Ken Clarke's leadership campaigns, talks candidly about why he's now moving away from his political roots.


Behind the headlines and soundbites, what really forms the convictions of those in power? On Political Thinking with Nick Robinson, the veteran BBC broadcaster sits down for a different kind of political dialogue. This isn't about rapid-fire questioning or chasing the day's news cycle. Instead, each episode offers an extended, thoughtful conversation with a single influential figure. You'll hear from prime ministers and protest leaders, cabinet members and campaigners, alongside voices from business, unions, and international politics. They all join Nick in the studio to explore a more personal question: what experiences, ideas, and beliefs actually shaped their political thinking? The result is a series of revealing portraits that go beyond policy to understand the person behind the public role. Produced by BBC Radio 4, this podcast provides a rare space for depth and reflection, allowing listeners to grasp the human motivations driving our political landscape. Tune in for conversations that are both relaxed and profoundly insightful, shedding light on how our world is shaped one perspective at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
Podcast Episodes
The Rupert Soames CBI One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:18
How did Churchill's grandson end up at the top of British industry?Rupert Soames - Chair of the Confederation of British Industry - sits down with Nick Robinson to talk about this Labour government's first budget, which…
The Kemi Badenoch for Leader One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:13
What shaped the views and principles that Kemi Badenoch hopes will help her win the race to become next leader of the Conservative Party?Nick Robinson sits down with the former Business Secretary near the end of her part…
The Matt Goodwin One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:27
The academic and author Matt Goodwin sat down with Nick Robinson in the aftermath of the riots that spread across the UK in the summer, to discuss whether there are 'legitimate grievences' that lay behind the violence, o…
The Tzipi Hotovely One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:26
The Israeli Ambassador sits down with Nick Robinson on the week of the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack. They discuss what lies behind her worldview, the mindset of Israelis and the actions of her government.
The John Swinney One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:42
The First Minister of Scotland sits down with Nick to reflect on his reluctant path to power.Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Wes Streeting Health Secretary One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:34
The Health Secretary sits down with Nick Robinson at the end of the Labour conference in Liverpool.Wes Streeting reflects on how his family role-models led him to become a political fighter, rebukes those who criticise h…
The Mick Whelan One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:43
Mick Whelan is General Secretary of Aslef, the union representing train drivers. He sits down with Nick on the week that his members voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay offer, bringing to an end two years of strike acti…
The James Cleverly for Leader One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:32
Why does the former Home Secretary believe he has 'outperformed everyone else on this leadership ticket by a country mile'? How did growing up as a mixed-race boy in London at the height of the National Front shape his p…
The Karim Khan International Prosecutor One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:23
The Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court sits down with Nick Robinson.Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Jonathan Brunert
The Liz Kendall One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:58
Nick Robinson talks to the new Work and Pensions secretary about being at the centre of the Labour government's first row, taking on the scourge of worklessness and how her 2-year-old son is a cure for stress.Producer: D…