BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.

It used to dominate political debate to inspire marches, protests and songs.

It provoked fear and anger, mass unemployment has not been seen in this country for decades,

but now it looks set to make a comeback with some forecasts predicting it could even rise

above the levels seen in the early 1980s.

At that time, Liverpool was a city blighted by unemployment, a city in which people tended

to blame Margaret Thatcher, not so my guest on political thinking this week.

A proud scourcer who joined the Conservative Party because she thought Mrs Thatcher was right.

Now as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Theresa Covey is in charge of the benefit

system on which more and more people will be forced to rely and in charge of the schemes

they'll rely on to get them back into work.

Not afraid to stand out from the crowd, Theresa Covey is a plain-speaking cigar-chomping

karaoke-singing remain-backer who supported Boris Johnson in his bid to become Prime Minister.

Theresa Covey, welcome to political thinking.

I'm delighted to join you, Nick.

Now, you are speaking to me from a job centre.

I'm speaking to you from Barking Job Centre+, and we've also had the chance to hear today,

Rishi Sunak.

Had you been in a job centre?

Had you even signed on before you became Secretary of State?

Yes, three times.

When I lived in Liverpool, certainly, I remember walking down to the one on the St Mary's

...