The Suella Braverman One

The Suella Braverman One

Author: BBC Radio 4 March 10, 2023 Duration: 42:48

In the week the government introduced tough, controversial new rules on stopping illegal immigrants entering the UK, Nick Robinson talks to the home secretary, Suella Braverman, about her father's journey to Britain while fleeing persecution in Kenya, how her mum's admiration for Margaret Thatcher introduced her to the Conservative Party and how she, as the wife of a Jewish man, feels when people compare her policies with those of 1930s Germany.


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
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The co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, now behind the scenes in Just Stop Oil, challenges Nick Robinson to emotionally engage with the reality of climate change and take a stand against global inaction
The Keir Starmer 2023 One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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The Leader of the Opposition sets out his vision for getting Labour back into governmentProducer: Daniel Kraemer
The Ed Davey Party Leader One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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The Liberal Democrat leader talks to Nick Robinson about caring for his disabled son, the value of coalitions in politics and why the prime minister's net zero strategy 'hands the future to China'Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Theresa May One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:17
Nick Robinson talks to former prime minister Theresa May about why she wants to call out abuses of power, what went wrong after Brexit and growing up as a vicar's daughter.Producer: Daniel Kraemer
The Paul Nowak One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:08
Nick Robinson talks to the boss of the TUC ahead of hosting his first Congress in his hometown of Liverpool, what it was like working with ministers during Covid and why we need a national conversation on tax
The Anas Sarwar One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:57
Nick Robinson has a conversation with, not an interrogation of, the people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs.
The George Freeman One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:19
The Science minister talks to Nick Robinson about how his troubled childhood instilled conservative values from a young age and the challenge of dealing with buccaneering tech billionaires
The Lord Finkelstein One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:58
Lord Daniel Finkelstein talks to Nick Robinson about what it is like preparing Conservative leaders for PMQs and how having two refugee parents shaped his politics of 'moderation'
The Louise Casey One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:46
Baroness Louise Casey has become one of the most influencial non-politicians in the UK. She tells Nick Robinson why it all started with a passion for homelessness and what might be next on her list.
The Peter Kyle One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:17
How does a politician with the reading age of an 8-year-old operate as a Shadow Cabinet member?