Hello and welcome to the Red Box Politics Podcast of The Times, I'm Matt Chorley.

Now, Politics moves fast these days. By the time you listen to this, we might have done a deal with Brussels or we might not

Theresa May might still be Prime Minister or might not. Jeremy Corbyn might have

successfully explained Labour's position on Brexit or might not. But where we are right

now all of this is in the balance.

Trying to make sense of it all. This week I'm joined by Lucy Fisher, time senior

political correspondent who'll tell us what is going on with the latest Labour

Purge. Gideon Skinner, head of political research at the

pollsters Ipsos Mori, reveals the five political tribes in Britain today. But

first, Matthew O'Toole, a former number 10 Brexit spokesman, argues Ireland was always going to be the big Brexit sticking point.

The island of Ireland and its complications have always been at the centre of Brexit.

It's just that lots of people didn't realize it.

This week's events have rammed at home. To do a deal with the EU, Britain will have to engage

with its complex history with the island next door.

Matthew, just explain to us first of all what your job was when you were in number

ten and once you've explained it I think we'll probably realize why you decided to leave.

But what was your job when you were at Never Ted?

So, Matt, I was the chief press officer on

first Europe before the referendum, arguing to stay in and then Brexit post Brexit post the referendum so I kind of

sort from from both sides through the looking glass as it were and there's always

been sort of various types of different issues have blown up whether there's going to be the

divorce bill was going to be citizens rights there was going to be the big

...