The Political Party
Avalon
Recent Episodes
Salma Shah is back!
The Tory strategist gives her entertaining assessment of Kemi Badenoch and how the Tories are doing.
This is such a great chat in which I have my centre-left prejudices thoroughly checked.
Talking about the Opposition has never been more fun.
FOLLOW Salma on X: @Ommasalma
SEE Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his extra dates at The Bloomsbury Theatre: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
2024
20 November: York, The Crescent
21 November: Chorley, Little Theatre
27 November: Chipping Norton Theatre
28 November: Leicester, Y Theatre
29 November: Eastleigh, The Berry
31 November: Faversham, The Alexander Centre
6 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
14 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2025
29 January: Norwich, Playhouse - EXTRA DATE
2 February: Salford, Lowry
4 February: Leeds, City Varieties
5 February: Sheffield, The Leadmill
6 February: Chelmsford Theatre
7 February: Bedford, The Quarry Theatre
12 February: Bath, Komedia
13 February: Southend, Palace Theatre
16 February: Cambridge, The Junction
20 February: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts
23 February: Brighton, Komedoa
25 February: Cardiff, Glee Club
26 February: Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal
28 February: Chelmsford Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2 March: Bristol, Tobacco Factory
4 March: Colchester Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
6 March: Birmingham, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
7 March: Maidenhead, Norden Farm - EXTRA DATE
11 March: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
12 March: Glasgow, Glee Club
27 March: Oxford, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
28 March: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Seth Harris - US Election Special
Well, it happened.
This is a comprehensive and entertaining analysis of why and how Trump won the election with friend of the show, Seth Harris.
Seth served in Obama's Cabinet and worked closely with both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
If you're looking for answers, you'll find them here.
FOLLOW Seth on X: @MrSethHarris
SEE Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his extra dates at The Bloomsbury Theatre: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
2024
14 November: Basingstoke, The Haymarket
15 November: Colchester Arts Centre
20 November: York, The Crescent
21 November: Chorley, Little Theatre
27 November: Chipping Norton Theatre
28 November: Leicester, Y Theatre
29 November: Eastleigh, The Berry
31 November: Faversham, The Alexander Centre
6 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
14 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2025
29 January: Norwich, Playhouse - EXTRA DATE
2 February: Salford, Lowry
4 February: Leeds, City Varieties
5 February: Sheffield, The Leadmill
6 February: Chelmsford Theatre
7 February: Bedford, The Quarry Theatre
12 February: Bath, Komedia
13 February: Southend, Palace Theatre
16 February: Cambridge, The Junction
20 February: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts
23 February: Brighton, Komedoa
25 February: Cardiff, Glee Club
26 February: Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal
28 February: Chelmsford Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2 March: Bristol, Tobacco Factory
4 March: Colchester Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
6 March: Birmingham, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
7 March: Maidenhead, Norden Farm - EXTRA DATE
11 March: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
12 March: Glasgow, Glee Club
27 March: Oxford, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
28 March: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Darren Jones - Budget Special
This is a cracker.
A full Budget briefing from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury which includes some excellent breakfast chat.
SEE Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his extra dates at The Bloomsbury Theatre: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
2024
6 November: Exeter, Phoenix
8 November: Tunbridge Wells, Trinity Theatre
14 November: Basingstoke, The Haymarket
15 November: Colchester Arts Centre
20 November: York, The Crescent
21 November: Chorley, Little Theatre
27 November: Chipping Norton Theatre
28 November: Leicester, Y Theatre
29 November: Eastleigh, The Berry
31 November: Faversham, The Alexander Centre
6 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
14 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2025
29 January: Norwich, Playhouse - EXTRA DATE
2 February: Salford, Lowry
4 February: Leeds, City Varieties
5 February: Sheffield, The Leadmill
6 February: Chelmsford Theatre
7 February: Bedford, The Quarry Theatre
12 February: Bath, Komedia
13 February: Southend, Palace Theatre
16 February: Cambridge, The Junction
20 February: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts
23 February: Brighton, Komedoa
25 February: Cardiff, Glee Club
26 February: Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal
28 February: Chelmsford Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2 March: Bristol, Tobacco Factory
4 March: Colchester Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
6 March: Birmingham, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
7 March: Maidenhead, Norden Farm - EXTRA DATE
11 March: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
12 March: Glasgow, Glee Club
27 March: Oxford, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
28 March: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
One of our most gifted political writers reflects on the death of Alex Salmond and the current state of Scottish politics.
This is engrossing from the very first second.
SUBSCRIBE to the Ponsonby and Massie podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ponsonby-and-massie-podcast/id1749779794
SEE Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his extra dates at The Bloomsbury Theatre: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
2024
6 November: Exeter, Phoenix
8 November: Tunbridge Wells, Trinity Theatre
14 November: Basingstoke, The Haymarket
15 November: Colchester Arts Centre
20 November: York, The Crescent
21 November: Chorley, Little Theatre
27 November: Chipping Norton Theatre
28 November: Leicester, Y Theatre
29 November: Eastleigh, The Berry
31 November: Faversham, The Alexander Centre
6 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
14 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2025
29 January: Norwich, Playhouse - EXTRA DATE
2 February: Salford, Lowry
4 February: Leeds, City Varieties
5 February: Sheffield, The Leadmill
6 February: Chelmsford Theatre
7 February: Bedford, The Quarry Theatre
12 February: Bath, Komedia
13 February: Southend, Palace Theatre
16 February: Cambridge, The Junction
20 February: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts
23 February: Brighton, Komedoa
25 February: Cardiff, Glee Club
26 February: Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal
28 February: Chelmsford Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2 March: Bristol, Tobacco Factory
4 March: Colchester Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
6 March: Birmingham, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
7 March: Maidenhead, Norden Farm - EXTRA DATE
11 March: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
12 March: Glasgow, Glee Club
27 March: Oxford, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
28 March: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sir Graham Brady
What's it like telling a Prime Minister their time is up?
Sir Graham chaired the 1922 Committee throughout the tenure of five Conservative Prime Ministers.
In this entertaining interview he tells us what those private moments with them were like and how each of them used their power differently.
This is the thrilling inside account of the most tumultuous political time in living memory.
BUY Sir Graham's book 'Kingmaker' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingmaker-Secrets-Truth-about-Ministers/dp/1804188263
SEE Matt at on tour until March 2025, including his extra dates at The Bloomsbury Theatre: https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
2024
24 October: Hull, Truck Theatre
6 November: Exeter, Phoenix
8 November: Tunbridge Wells, Trinity Theatre
14 November: Basingstoke, The Haymarket
15 November: Colchester Arts Centre
20 November: York, The Crescent
21 November: Chorley, Little Theatre
22 November: Salford, The Lowry
27 November: Chipping Norton Theatre
28 November: Leicester, Y Theatre
29 November: Eastleigh, The Berry
31 November: Faversham, The Alexander Centre
6 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
14 December: London, Bloomsbury Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2025
29 January: Norwich, Playhouse - EXTRA DATE
4 February: Leeds, City Varieties
5 February: Sheffield, The Leadmill
6 February: Chelmsford Theatre
7 February: Bedford, The Quarry Theatre
12 February: Bath, Komedia
13 February: Southend, Palace Theatre
16 February: Cambridge, The Junction
20 February: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts
23 February: Brighton, Komedoa
25 February: Cardiff, Glee Club
26 February: Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal
28 February: Chelmsford Theatre - EXTRA DATE
2 March: Bristol, Tobacco Factory
4 March: Colchester Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
6 March: Birmingham, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
7 March: Maidenhead, Norden Farm - EXTRA DATE
11 March: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
12 March: Glasgow, Glee Club
27 March: Oxford, Glee Club - EXTRA DATE
28 March: Nottingham, Lakeside Arts Centre - EXTRA DATE
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.