Politics Without The Boring Bits

Why August Isn't Silly Season

It's a journalistic cliché that very little happens in politics while MPs are on holiday during the Parliamentary recess. But is it fair to describe August as 'silly season'? Historian Phil Tinline joins Patrick Maguire to debunk this myth and look at the biggest political moments of summers gone by. Plus: columnists Alice Thomson and Carol Midgely discuss <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/barbies-ken-puts-andrew-tate-in-the-shade-m0w5ntl7m" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">toxic masculinity</a>, <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/will-no-one-save-poor-old-matt-hancock-from-his-own-cringe-factor-50kz06ctq" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt Hancock's TikToks</a>, and whether Beyond Meat is <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/beyond-meat-sales-fall-as-shoppers-count-cost-of-vegan-burgers-3gpcwthwg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">past its best</a>. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Join Matt Chorley as he guides you through what really matters in British politics. Formerly the Red Box podcast, he brings together the best interviews, smartest analysis and funniest panel discussions from his Times Radio show, Politics Without The Boring Bits. Listen live on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.thetimes.co.uk/</a> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.