The Two Matts

The Matts speak to Andy Cowper, one of the leading journalists on health policy in the country – so someone who actually knows what he’s talking about. Andy gives a brilliant assessment of why the NHS is so broken today and how Keir Starmer should approach its repair. Also – are you holding your pets […]

The winter fuel debacle has been mismanaged by a Labour leadership long on misery and woefully short on a vision Britain can get behind. It’s early days but things have to improve. The Matts debate whether Keir Starmer understands what Britain needs right now – and that pointlessly punishing pensioners isn’t it. Also: the build […]

Join The Two Matts for this week’s Q&A as they delve into the integrity of British journalism and the concept of licensing for broadcasters. Also this week, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the English Channel with a critical look at the government’s response, Oasis, medical alternatives and Christmas. Yes, Christmas.

The appalling negligence and greed that resulted in 72 people dying in the Grenfell disaster is laid bare. The Matts wonder why nobody is already on remand for manslaughter. They wonder whether the system is actually broken or if it’s working as it was set up to. They wonder how people like Jacob Rees-Mogg sleep […]

As Germany reckons with the rise of the far right AfD in German regional elections, the Matts ask if simply demonising them is inviting disaster. Meanwhile, one Matt is feeling both smug about landing tickets for Oasis and furious that dynamic pricing has become the debate raging at the heart of our new Labour government. […]

Should smoking should be banned in designated outdoor spaces? The Two Matts answer this and other listener questions on the Conservative leadership contest and a 101 on government debt. Plus they ponder whether it’s still possible to maintain friendships across political divides in today’s polarised landscape.

Broadcasting legend Adam Boulton has, over 40 years as a journalist, seen the media’s relationship with politics disintegrate. In this episode he tells the Matts where things started to go wrong, what puzzles him about Keir Starmer’s apparent fear of upsettting the right and why an entire generation no longer understands the difference between news […]

The Two Matts delve into your questions, including the UK’s daunting economic outlook amidst high public borrowing figures, the need for a hopeful road map from the government, and compare the current situation with past examples of large-scale social uplift like Lula’s policies in Brazil. They also explore whether a Keynesian economic resurgence is on […]

Today on The Two Matts podcast Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly bask in the universal adulation after last week’s interview with Charlie Mullins… apart from the 74 listeners who wrote in asking what the hell they were thinking. Well, dear listeners … this is what they were thinking. But before that, in the first half, they consider an extraordinary […]

Charlie Mullins is the founder of Pimlico Plumbers and, despite his challenging upbringing, has managed to build a highly successful business. He is a big supporter of remain but has now decided to back Reform, led by Nigel Farage. In his conversation with The Two Matts, Mullins discusses his political views and his admiration for […]

The Matts recall the London Olympic opening ceremony and ask if it would even be possible for Britain today to demonstrate such joy and confidence. And, if not, then how can Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves rekindle the spirit of ambition and self-esteem that ceremony embodied – only for it all the come crashing down […]

The Matts answer your questions, from JD Vance’s political missteps to Benjamin Netanyahu’s tactics. Also discussed: what did the impact of austerity really do for a ringfenced NHS? And how will it prosper amidst changing demographics? Plus: reflections on global sustainability, an entrenched capitalist system, energy resource challenges and a glance at US-UK differences in […]

Nigel Farage this week jumped into the aftermath of tragedy in Southport to cynically incite hate. While families grieved and a community came to terms with the horror of what unfolded at a children’s summer holiday class, Reform leader Farage took his chance to plant questions of conspiracy and terrorism into the minds of his […]

Rachel Reeves is genuinely shocked by the gap in public finances and has moved quickly to put out the binfire she inherited from Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt. But will she and Keir Starmer have the boldness required to realise their talk of a decade of national renewal? The Matts need to be convinced. Also […]

Should Michelle Obama be President? How has the political landscape changed following Kamala Harris’s emergence and what are Starmer and Reeves going to do with the inherited financial mess? These and more listener questions within. Subscribe to The New European for as little at £1/week and get an exclusive offer just for listening to this […]

This week, the Matts talk to Pulitzer-winning author and journalist Anne Applebaum about her terrific new book on modern autocracy – and how different it is to the 20th century totalitarian blocs. How complicit is the West in these new networks of corruption and repression? And – with the UN at a low ebb – […]

As the rest of Podcastistan celebrates the dignity of President Biden’s departure from the race to beat Donald Trump, the Matts are fuming and wonder how events might have unfolded had Joe seen sense six months ago. As it is, the contest is between a Black female Californian and an orange lunatic. Can the Democrats […]

The Two Matts discuss Europe’s shift towards right-wing populism and its implications for the UK rejoining the EU, how media brevity has impacted political understanding and debate, the Trump shooting conspiracy theories and the public’s diminished joy in politics and sport over the years. The intrepid podcasters also dive into how soundbite culture has reshaped […]

The King’s Speech was packed with plans, putting to bed the theory that Keir Starmer’s Labour government had no plan. But will it be enough to instigate the national renewal they have promised? The Matts discuss. Also – what does J. D. Vance mean for Donald Trump and for Britain? And why is David Lammy […]

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump does not sanctify a man who has thrived on particularly violent rhetoric his whole political career. As Nigel Farage blames the media and MAGA Republican Senator J.D. Vance blames Joe Biden and the Democrats, the Matts look at the unfolding shift in how Trump and his supporters are reacting […]

This week the Two Matts examine Keir Starmer’s leadership, the Labour Party’s Brexit policy and the political dynamics shaping the country’s future. From electoral strategies to European relations and internal political struggles, this episode covers it all. The pair also deliberate over the the Daily Telegraph‘s editorial stance, the UK’s military considerations and the United […]

It’s increasingly apparent President Joe Biden is unfit to challenge Donald Trump for the White House. But what can stop him? The Matts consider the predicament facing the United States and the world… with, it’s fair to say, a deep sense of foreboding. Also… can the Three Lions do it? Will it come home? The […]

Keir Starmer looked incredibly at ease and confident at the Saturday press conference. The Matts can’t remember a smoother beginning and he has recruited some great expertise. But is administrative excellence enough? Also, one question lingers in the air: where the hell are all the Tories? Enjoy!

After their election all-nighter, the Matts consider the twists and turns of a quite extraordinary election. A massive, historic night for Keir Starmer’s Labour and a shuddering comeuppance for Sunak and the Conservative Party. Well played Ed Davey and a disaster for the SNP. But the rise of Reform and the volatility of the electorate […]

It’s the final few days of the election campaign and the Matts are joined by Keir Starmer biographer Tom Baldwin for his deep insight into what’s going to happen in the immediate aftermath of a Labour government. How to combat the rising tide of far-right politics, who will the new stars of Labour be and […]

Will Keir Starmer involve Alastair Campbell in Number 10? How important is it that Labour provides stability? And how much impact does the media really have on voting outcomes? That and dirty rivers, NHS challenges and whether politicians should go to Glastonbury.

The Matts are joined by Simon Kuper, Financial Times journalist and author of Good Chaps – an extraordinary book exposing the collapse of morality at the heart of British politics. It’s a terrific conversation shedding light on how things got so bad so fast from Thatcher to Truss… and, as a bit of a diversion, […]

What does the election betting scandal say about Rishi Sunak’s qualities as a prime minister? And what is going on behind the scenes as Farage and Johnson go toe to toe over Putin and Ukraine… with a fascinating intervention by the Daily Mail? The Matts discuss all this… and revisit Matt K’s mini-adventure to Stuttgart […]

In this Sunday Q&A, the Two Matts ponder the Tories’ newfound support for electoral reform, given their historical stance. They also take on the complexities of proportional representation and the significance of party majorities. Also, are festivals cutting ties with sponsors like Baillie Gifford and Barclays due to activist pressure a problem and what impact […]

The Matts are joined by comedian Rosie Holt whose alter ego MP has done what many thought impossible – successfully (and hilariously) satirised this Tory government. Rosie talks about her new book and faces into life as a political satirist after the chaos of the Conservatives: “We’re going to have to work a bit harder […]

How Farage sucks the oxygen out of the political debate and the media fall for it every time. Plus – what would life be like if the Tories get as badly wiped out as polls suggest? And, as a special treat for listeners, Matt D delivers Donald Trump’s Father’s Day message in full.

In this Sunday’s Q&A, The Two Matts are asked whether a Labour ‘supermajority’ is good or bad, drawing on historical results to try to predict the impact of a huge majority. They also dive into the unique structure of and its implications, and are challenged on what they went without in their childhood. Subscribe to […]

After an opening half dissecting the latest election news, the Matts hook up with Dylan Jones, editor of the Evening Standard and ex-editor of GQ in the UK whose new memoir These Foolish Things is out now – an extraordinary trip through modern British culture taking in some of the biggest names in pop, rock, […]

The Matts explore the depths of Rishi Sunak’s catastrophic decision to bail from D-Day, trying to understand what might have possessed him… and they question if the gift he’s handed Nigel Farage could have possibly come at a worse time, coinciding as it does with Europe’s far-right gaining collective momentum. On a more hopeful note, […]

The Two Matts dive into Labour’s stance on Sunak’s honours list and discuss what a truly independent honours system could look like. They debate Nigel Farage’s potential to lead the right and the notable silence on Brexit from opposition parties. They also explore gonzo journalism, media influence and the peculiar phenomenon of ‘time slips’. Tune […]

The Two Matts digest the aftermath of the Sunak v Starmer TV debate and find big problems with both candidates… but at least one of them is actually capable of opening his mouth without a lie spilling out. In part two, they reflect on the inimitable courage of the D-Day generation and consider a family […]

Welcome to the first Two Matts General Election special podcast – and you join us with the breaking news that Nigel Farage has thrown himself into the campaign in a surprise announcement – taking over the leadership of Reform and running to win the Tory-held seat of Clacton. It’s the worst news Rishi Sunak could […]

Topics include the impact of Brexit on the UK and the Conservative Party, the reasoning behind voting Tory in this election, what the new portrait of King Charles III says about politics in the country and the future of AI in various fields such as defence and medicine.

How did Keir Starmer allow the row over Diane Abbott to swamp the early days of his election campaign? What is the upside? And had Abbott been mistreated to the point where the Labour leadership looks petty and vindictive? The Matts weigh in on the big campaign trail talking point. Also – in part two […]

In this Q&A episode The Two Matts discuss whether the blood scandal will be forgotten in the mayhem of the election, if bosses will take more responsibility for company failings in the wake of Paula Vennell’s inquiry breakdown, and does Rishi have another job to go to?

The Matts are joined by author and journalist Caitlin Moran to talk about men and the manisphere. What can men learn from the progress women made with feminism? It’s a broad spectrum conversation veering from pornography to football, from the benefits of banter to why so many men are bad at friendships. Also – is […]

Special bonus podcast on this week’s big story… no, not Paula Vennell’s disgrace in the Post Office scandal… no, not the infected blood scandal… no, not the huge upswing in migrants crossing the channel… not the news that mortgage rate cuts will be delayed until August, nor the news that the Rwanda flights will probably […]

In this Sunday Q&A episode the two Matts take on your questions on compulsory voting, online voting, Article 7 and more on the Elphicke defection.

Not only was Rishi Sunak’s election campaign salvo this week one of the laziest, most divisive and incoherent collections of gaslighting gibberish in recent political history – it was littered throughout with misleading suggestions and basic untruths. The Matts do a bit of fact checking on our dear leader’s latest spell behind baby’s first lectern. […]

‘Potential’ coalition governments, defections, the Beatles… it’s the Q&A that has it all!

Who would have predicted the extent to which the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 last year would have changed the world to such a degree, in such a short time? The Matts debate their differences in a conversation that lays bare the tragic complexity of a crisis spreading division throughout the world. It’s […]

In this Sunday Q&A episode the two Matts explore whether a potential Starmer government bodes well for GB/EU relations, whether we should be worried about a second term of Trump and Matt Kelly responds to his criticism of the last night of the Proms.

The Two Matts discuss Rishi Sunak, isolated and facing certain defeat in a general election as this week’s local results make clear. What is left for the embattled PM as he stares catastrophe in the face? Should he go to the country now, or tough it out even as his own party plots against him? […]

In this Sunday Q&A edition of The Two Matts, the pair try to answer your questions on everything from Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill to Sam Smith and whether a new legal age needs to be set to buy the Daily Mail.

What is England? What is Englishness? The Matts are joined by Tom Baldwin and Marc Stears, authors of a fascinating new deep dive into the question of nationalism, called England: Seven Myths That Changed A Country And How To Set Them Straight. It’s a wide-ranging conversation on their journey from Runnymede to Hull via Plymouth, […]

Have the Matts ever been victim to a honeytrap? What is a ‘Police and Crime Commissioner’ and should we bin off first names for MPs? This and more discussed in this weeks Q&A.

The Matts get philosophical about smoking and what a ban means for Britain. Whisper it… but has Rishi Sunak done something not completely crap for once? Or is his proposed age-related ban on smoking the start of a slippery slope towards big government invading the rights of its citizens? Also: the magnificence of Salman Rushdie’s […]

In this Q&A episode, Matt and Matt take on questions from you on poverty in the media, Trump’s stance on abortion and Harold Wilson’s love life.

How did we get to the point where troubled children have been damaged by a health system that should have protected them? How did the dogma of trans activists subsume standard medical practices? And how do those who cynically cheered them on from the sidelines sleep at night? The Two Matts discuss the Cass Report, […]

How time flies when the world is on fire… a quarter of 2024 has already passed so the Matts check global progress against their expectations at New Year. It’s a grim reality check as Gaza and Ukraine go from bad to worse and Trump appears to be gaining ground on the White House. On the […]

Have the Tories hit rock bottom.. or could things get even worse? The Matts gameplay their options with outcomes ranging from disastrous to cataclysmic. In the second half, they examine the role of satire in society and ask the question: Have we all lost our sense of humour? Subscribe to the New European and get […]

The Matts discuss Owen Jones resigning from the Labour Party, ponder the need for an upper chamber in the UK parliament, debate the influence of unions, discuss Donald Trump’s latest rhetoric and briefly touch on the identity of the next James Bond. Happy Sunday!

Rachel Reeves’ speech on the future of the economy was dense with ideas which will affect all our futures under a Labour government. What did she mean and why does it matter? The Two Matts do a deep dive into one of the most interesting and important speeches from Labour since it lost power. Also […]

Did Deggsy do well for Liverpool? Why is no-one intervening in Gaza? Can you ban “extremism”? And is Fargo better than The Big Lebowski? The Two Matts take the big questions of our times head on.

The inside track on how Princess Kate and the Royal press offices messed up so badly – and how some of the most famous photographs ever were faked. But first: another week of shambolic governance courtesy of the Conservative Party. Racism, misogyny, dodgy contract relationships and abject failure of leadership. In other words, just another […]

Are ultra-processed foods the new cigarettes? Is there a solution to rough sleeping? And should the fact GB News lost £75m last year cheer us up or scare us even more? All this and more on the Two Matts regular Q&A episode. Enjoy!

Join us for our first transatlantic podcast as Matt d’Ancona in Manhattan and Matt Kelly in London dissect the extraordinary events of this week’s Super Tuesday and what it all means for the seemingly inevitable presidential showdown between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. And we get Matt d’Ancona’s verdict on the big Broadway production An […]

Beer with Tucker Carlson or George Galloway? Mob rule, Lee Anderson and Liz Truss v Rishi Sunak and is Ofcom doing a great job regulating GB News… (take a wild guess)?

In conversation with the Two Matts, the man who knows Keir Starmer better than most – his biographer Tom Baldwin sheds light on a complex politician and what we might expect from him as PM, including the truth about his attitude to Europe and Brexit.

Garbage “food”, Liz Truss and the deep state, anti-semitism and “legitimate concerns about racism” – all explored

Remember the war in Ukraine? The one that used to be front page news every day for a while? It’s TWO years since Putin launched his full scale invasion and after a brief period of delusional confidence that Ukraine was going to see him of it appears, for the moment at least, he is winning. […]

Why are politicians terrified of the Daily Mail? Should Labour pin its colours to the proportional representation mast? Is Jez Butterworth a genius? And what’s the secret to effective communications? Find out ASAP…

Unravelling and deciphering the chaos within Labour’s response to anti-semitism – the eternal conflict simmering, and now once more raging, within the party’s ranks. What does it mean for Starmer’s momentum towards Number 10… and does his response to this give a clue to the kind of prime minister he will be? The Matts find […]

Were we too hard on Laurence Fox? Why does the US back Israel? And is it segue or segway? All these and more in our soaraway Sunday Q&A episode.

What is it about Keir Starmer and pledges? His latest u-turn is a big one: the central plank of his economic reboot of Britain’s economy into a global green leader. Where does it leave him in terms of political credibility and, more importantly perhaps, in terms of his vision for taking a moribund national economy […]

The brass neck of The New European, why tens of thousands of people in the UK are dying before their time, shouldn’t we stop Instagram harming our children and what superpower would the Two Matts like Elon Musk to implant into their brains? All this and more in the liveliest podcast Q&A in town…

If Laurence Fox is just the monkey, then who is the organ grinder and why is he pumping millions into causes and individuals so conspicuously damaging Britain? The Two Matts ask some uncomfortable questions of the people funding culture wars. Also… will Rishi Sunak’s fasting regime endear him to the millions of Brits who can’t […]

This week the Two Matts tackle division in Ireland, independence in Scotland and personal abuse from Julia in South London.

When more than a million people came out in cities across Germany to protest against the far-right AfD party it was an indication of how perilous that nation’s political situation has become. New European columnist Tanit Koch joins the Two Matts from Bonn to explain the origins of the crisis and what it means for […]

The Matts discuss the Scottish National Party’s political strategies, ponder the what-if scenario of a centrist incursion into the Tory party and delve into data protection issues. Plus: some podcast plugs and Oscar tips.

It seems certain that Trump will become the Republican nominee for President. We take a deep breath and let that sink in – along with all the horrendous consequences for American democracy and the inescapable reality that this was not a blip in 21st-century politics but a taste of how things will be… forever. Also […]

In this week’s Sunday Q&A The Two Matts are asked whether Sunak is wrong-footing Labour, if the English people or press are royal obsessed, and what books we should be reading.

Has justice been done in the appalling scandal of the Post Office’s prosecution of subpostmasters? Not by a long chalk. The convictions may be overturned, the compensation cheques arranged… but what about punishing those responsible? The Two Matts anticipate the next phase of this sorry saga – and try to understand the mindset of Post […]

Should Liz Truss have had an honours list? Are think tanks fit for purpose? And is Dave Chappelle still funny? All of these and more are answered by the Two Matts in this Sunday Q&A episode.

How bad can it be? Well… pretty bad is the answer. 2024 is shaping up to be a seismic year in so many ways – but the Two Matts aren’t all doom and gloom (just mostly). Will the 14th Amendment change the course of US history? Will Keir Starmer find the recipe to restore trust […]

The Two Matts review the year through the prism of people: going through their heroes, villains and the dearly departed. Who will make the list? Tune in to find out…

Why is the New European suing Michelle Mone? The full story unfolds here… together with what we think it might mean for future writ-happy individuals trying to silence honest reporting. Plus we are joined by the brilliant Zoe Gardner who looks back at an appalling year for the demonisation of migrants and forward to 2024 […]

Is a thirty-five day suspension for one MP really enough? Are ID cards a good idea or an invasion of privacy? And ‘Slow Horses‘ or ‘The Crown‘. All these questions and more are answered in this edition of The Two Matts, with Matt Kelly and Matt d’Ancona. Thanks to these wonderful people for their questions […]

Is Nigel Farage ‘hard right’ or ‘far right’? The Two Matts pass judgement on James Cleverly, celebrate the cultural highlights of 2023 and give their alternative choices for Person Of The Year.

You asked the questions and we’ve responded… Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly don’t hold back over proportional representation, immigration, benefits and the power of Elon Musk.

The Two Matts discuss the legacy of the former Secretary of State, who died this week. How will he be remembered? As one of the most effective diplomats of our times… or a mass-murdering war criminal who should have died in The Hague? Or is the answer, just possibly, a bit more nuanced than that? […]

Happy Sunday – the Two Matts are back in the mailbox to answer your questions. #ama

How to spot an actual fascist in your midst! The Two Matts explore a fascinating checklist that sends shudders down their spines … and sheds light on the persistent rise of right wing populists from Geert Wilders in Holland to Javier Milei in Argentina to Nigel Farage in… as James Cleverley would say… a sh*thole […]

In this Q&A episode, Matt Kelly and Matthew d’Ancona answer questions on Jordan Peterson, the EU, podcasting, and politics. Can the use of humour counter charlatans and populists? Does the EU need to undergo reformation before the UK rejoins, and who should you vote for? Thanks to Roland, Keith, Andrew, J.Wells and Micheal for their […]

First half… a sharp dissection of the asylum that has become UK politics. How did Rishi Sunak manage to make Suella Braverman look like the competent one? In the second half, the Two Matts are joined by the inimitable Dom Joly whose new book on conspiracy theories is a treat. Well, that’s the rumour we […]

Braverman out, Cameron in. What does it all add up to? In the first ever Two Matts emergency podcast, Matt and Matt get inside the head of Rishi Sunak (the things they do for you!) and work through his thinking and the consequences.

Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly answer important questions on the possibility of civil war in America if Trump wins the election, the introduction of mandatory ID in the UK, the impact of right-wing media on British political discourse, their favourite George Michael songs and the new John Lewis advert. Questions come from Ben Valentine, Dave, […]

On a question of statesmanship over Gaza between Barack Obama and Suella Braverman, who do the Two Matts think comes out on top? Go on, take a wild guess. Also: Is Nadine Dorries locked in a paranoid fantasy or is there a kernel of truth in the conspiracy theories she’s packed into her new book? […]

Steph, Andrew, Nigel and Jim pose all the important questions, from voter ID to The Beatles.

He’s the leader of a new brand of right wing politics… but has he actually got anything to say? The Two Matts spend an evening with Jordan Peterson – and it’s an experience they’ll never forget. Plus – who’s worst? Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson or Matt Hancock? And what should we do with politicians with […]

Ben, Rob, Mike, Mo, Jane and Andrew pose all the important questions, from WhatsApp to biscuits.

In a competition for lousiest leader, it’s a toss up between Elon Musk and Rishi Sunak. Matt d’Ancona argues Sunak might actually be the worst Tory leader since the referendum – and that’s a pretty high bar! Meanwhile – how did the late, great Bill Kenwright summarise life at Everton FC to Matt Kelly? It […]

Clarissa, Sanjay, Zack and Louise have questions – and The Two Matts have answers. Hopefully in the right order. Have a question? Email us at 2matts@tnepublishing.com