I'm Sharla Ivers, the political correspondent at Times Radio and a columnist for the Sunday Times.

Every day, I'm searching for the humour in the comings and goings of our political masters,

and hopefully trying to hold them to account along the way. I wouldn't be able to do this without

the subscribers to the Times and the Sunday Times. Subscribe today and only pay £1 for three months.

Visit the Times.co.uk forward slash podcast offer, terms and conditions apply.

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Hello, you're listening to The Times Red Box Politics Podcast. I'm Patrick McGuire.

I'll be with you for the next six days. Matt Shirley is on a cruise with fellow times journalist

and readers. And no, that's not a joke. We've got a pat show for you this Friday. We'll be

talking about how to behave if you're an ex-prime minister. So I'm good advisor for Liz Trust and

Boris Johnson there. But first, today's Conor's panel was James Forsyth and Melanie Reed.

James Forsyth and Melanie Reed on Times Radio.

Yes, I'm to speak to Melanie Reed and James Forsyth Morning James. Morning Patrick, how are you?

...