Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

The Trade Minister explains how a penalty shootout played a role in his government appointment.Douglas Alexander has the same job that he had 20 years ago in Tony Blair's government. He reflects on how the world has changed in that time, and his motivation for returning to politics after a humiliating defeat in 2015.

The Shadow Chancellor sets out his vision for a more "thoughtful" politics and faces up to the challenge of winning the argument before the next general election.Sir Mel Stride reveals what he admires about his opposite number, Rachel Reeves, and why a world war two commander is one of his political heroes.He also has a warning about what the British economy would look like under Nigel Farage. Producer: Daniel Kraemer

How does it feel to be held up as the 'anti-Trump' by progressives across the globe?Jacinda Ardern was prime minister of New Zealand for 6 years and is now committed to promoting empathy and kindness in world leadership. She joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to reflect on her unexpected rise to power and being described as a 'global pinup for progressive values'.She also opens up about how growing up in a Mormon family prepared her for politics and reveals what she told Donald Trump in the aftermath of the murder of 51 people in a mosque in New Zealand in 2019.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

After 15 years as a member of the House of Lords, Tanni Grey-Thompson reflects on how a career at the top of sport prepared her for the world of politics.The crossbench peer speaks to Nick about what she sees as a dangerous relationship between benefit reforms and legalising assisted dying.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

The First Minister of Wales sets a marker to the left of Keir Starmer, setting out her vision of a "Red Welsh Way", drawing inspiration from Gavin and Stacey.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Reform UK's deputy leader reflects on a year of political success, a privileged upbringing and the cabinet job he's eyeing upProducer: Daniel Kraemer

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, former president Joe Biden sits down with Nick Robinson for an exclusive interview, his first since leaving the White House.

In the second, bonus instalment of this exclusive interview with the former prime minister, Rishi Sunak opens up about his time as Chancellor and Prime Minister, including how his relationship with Boris Johnson fell apart, why he regrets his "Stop the Boats" slogan and what comes next for someone who has become an elder statesman, aged 44.Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Joel Massey

An exclsuive in-depth interview with the Rishi Sunak. In this first instalment, the former prime minister tells stories from behind the scenes on the world stage explains why he thinks we must now cut welfare spending to fund defence.Sunak reflects on how a sense of duty - inspired by his Hindu faith - helped drive his political career, and reflects on how and why he ultimately led the Conservative Party to the worst electoral defeat in its history.Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Joel Massey

The co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales joins Nick for a conversation

The Transport Secretary on Corbyn, Ukraine and growing up in SwindonProducer: Lauren Tavriger

The Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales on how he went from being a teacher at a school for kids with beahvioural problems, to being the leading voice on prison conditions. He tells stories of cheap suits, perspex windows, being the subject of offensive graffiti, and explains how he retains optimism.Producers: Lauren Tavriger and Daniel Kraemer

Who is the 38-year-old, Muslim, second-generation immigrant chairman of Reform UK?Zia Yusuf joins Nick in the Political Thinking to tell his story, lay out his party's path to power, and share his thoughts on Boris Johnson, Elon Musk, Suella Braverman and his boss, Nigel Farage.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

The Shadow Home Secretary joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to reflect on mistakes of the last government, humility in opposition and his anger at the new government.Chris Philp also opens up about the impact of caring for his premature baby twins and what he has learned from success and failure in business. Producer: Daniel Kraemer

The Labour MP sits down with Nick to reflect on how she went from selling beds in her Yorkshire hometown, to being at the forefront of political debate as the face of the campaign to legalise assisted dying, and how the murder of her sister, Jo Cox, helps explain the journey.

The Chancellor reflects on her first six months in power and what lies behind her determination that she has "what it takes" to "turn things around".Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Nick Robinson speaks to Sir Nick Clegg about life as Mark Zuckerberg's right hand man at Meta and the transition from Westminster to Silicon Valley. He responds to challenges on regulation of social media companies and issues a warning about the political power of Elon Musk.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

The Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK reflects on a childhood in a Gaza camp and how hope is what keeps him going.

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats reflects on her journey from campaigning as a child against nuclear weapons and scratchy jumpers, to being at the heart of the third-largest party in parliament.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner reflects on the decision to rejoin the UK's largest police force when it was in crisis.Sir Mark Rowley sits down with Nick Robinson to outline the challenges the Met faces under his leadership, as well as how he decided as a teenager that policing was his mission.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury sits down with Nick to chart his rise to the heart of Starmer's government.How did a Bristol boy, who's parents sometimes went without meals to ensure he had food, end up at the Chancellor's side, in charge of the purse-strings of the government?Producer: Daniel Kraemer

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 he claims did not offer enough "bang for the buck"Producer: Daniel Kraemer

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 party's leadership contest. Producer: Daniel Kraemer

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, or just 'hate-fuelled mob violence sparked by misinformation.

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 Scottish First Minister sits down with Nick to reflect on his path to powerProducer: Daniel Kraemer

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 him for being too gloomy about the NHS, and reveals why an Oasis classic was his kareoke song of choice at the previous night's party.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

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 action.Whelan reflects on growing up in working class West London and being one of a number of 2nd-generation Irish immigrants who have become union leaders in the UK. Producer: Daniel Kraemer

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 politics? And what does the government need to do to improve integration in the UK?

The Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court sits down with Nick Robinson.Producers: Daniel Kraemer and Jonathan Brunert

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: Daniel Kraemer

Robert Jenrick on what went wrong for the Conservative Party and how to turn it around

Nick Robinson talks to the man at the heart of the new Downing Street government.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Bestselling author and columnist talks to Nick Robinson about why, after years of writing about women and girls, she decided to turn her attention to problems with boys and young men with her latest book "What About Men?"Producer: Daniel Kraemer

After a damning report into maternity services in England, the Health Secretary opens up about her own traumatic childbirth experience in the NHS.Victoria Atkins also speaks to Nick Robinson about a change of tone in dealings with doctors' unions, growing up as child of an MP and what she thought when Natalie Elphicke defected to Labour.

Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister talks to Nick Robinson.

Nigel Farage tells Nick Robinson that "timing is everything" when it comes to deciding whether to return to frontline politics. Fresh off the plane from Florida, Farage talks about what he can learn from - and how he can defend - Donald Trump, as well as islamophobia, Liz Truss, and what he would do if prime ministerProducer: Daniel Kraemer

One of the world's most influencial progressive economists outlines her pitch to leaders across the world - and Starmer's Labour Party - to focus on ambitious 'missions' that can transform society for the better.

The Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association Council talks to Nick Robinson ahead of the latest round of junior doctor strikes. She defends the pay demands set out by doctors, tells the story of a life of activism, and opens up about the horrors of working in Covid wards at the height of the pandemic.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

The Shadow Justice Secretary and Labour's most senior Muslim MP reflects on Gaza, her faith and campaigning for Rishi Sunak's "geek vote" when they were at universityProducer: Daniel Kraemer

Nick looks back at his 2021 conversation with the new First Minister of Northern Ireland

Nick Robinson sits down with the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the dining room of No11 Downing Street. They discuss living nextdoor to the Sunaks, how much headroom he will have at the budget, and who he would invite to his dream dinner party