Just imagine what your best Christmas ever would sound like.

Thank you for calling National Lottery. I can see you calling about a winner today, is that correct?

Yeah, I think I have. I'd just take to double check before I do a cartwheel.

Yeah, I can confirm that you have won the top prize 1.2 million oh my

what happy Christmas why do now you have the best Christmas ever this Christmas it could be you. The National Lottery. Rules and procedures apply. Players must be

18 or over. Hello and welcome to the Red Box Politics Podcast on the Times I'm Matt Jolly back in

our usual studio after what seems like years on the road for the

party conference season. Once again by popular demand I'm declaring this week's

episode a Brexit free zone so we can look in more detail at some of the other big things happening in politics right now if anyone does use the B word you'll hear my Brexit klaxen which this week sounds like this

Joining me this week are Lucy Fisher, senior political correspondent for The Times on

cutting the cost of politics.

Katie Perrier, Theresa May's former director of communications are now Times columnist on

the perils of reshuffles, and Daniel Finkelstein on trouble at home and abroad.

If you've got a burning question about the state of British politics getting in touch, tweet us at times

Redbox or email redbox at the Time.

Dotco. UK and will at least try to answer your questions in the coming weeks.

Right then, let's get started and we begin with Lucy Fisher and who is suffering from peer pressure.

The House of Lords is looking at 15 year time limits for new peers

and ways of slashing its size after its 800 odd members last year agreed it was a bloated institution.

It's not the size

it's the fundamental problem with the chamber however, it's the cronyism. The

current review may be welcomed as a start by some campaigners, but to my mind it's

...