In January 2021, the first Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccines made their way into people’s arms. By mid-march, 11 million people had received the jab. After successive lockdowns, it felt like a way out.  But now, more than two years on, storm clouds are gathering. Today, 80 of them are preparing to sue Astrazeneca. They say that until now, no one has wanted to hear their stories. So we’re telling them. Find out more: ‘We were told the vaccine was safe - but what happened has been life-changing’ Archive used in this episode from: BBC, Sky News, 10 Downing Street. Read more about the Lockdo ..read more

In the face of major disasters, it is perhaps inevitable that there will be missteps. And when the dust settles, people are asked to account for their actions. How is history going to judge the government’s response to COVID? In this last episode of the Lockdown Files podcast, the investigations team at the Telegraph investigates potential mistakes at the heart of the pandemic response. Shutting schools, a lack of oversight with financial support and questions over whether lockdown would ever happen in the same way again. Finally, the team catches up with the latest news from the public inquir ..read more

Tens of thousands of care home residents died during the pandemic. Many people see it as the government’s biggest failure. Matt Hancock’s Whatsapp messages lifted the lid on conversations behind key decisions. But it wasn’t just the messages which were revealing… The team behind the Lockdown Files unearths new documents suggesting an unnerving offer made to care homes in Durham and Birmingham.  Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information ..read more

In January 2023, reporters at the Telegraph are called into a meeting. The newspaper has got something big. Matt Hancock’s Whatsapps from when he was the Health Secretary, during the pandemic: 100,000 messages. The reporters start digging. Rate and Review the Lockdown Files podcast here: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files | Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email t ..read more

In this bonus episode of Chopper's politics, former BBC chairman Richard Sharp joins Chris for his 'exit interview' to discuss the controversial events surrounding his departure. Over a round of black velvets they discuss his opinions on former PM Boris Johnson, why he's in favour of a charter renewal and his advice for his successor. For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper ..read more

Over 360 episodes, 8.2 million listens and one Red Lion Pub, welcome to the last edition of Choppers Politics Podcast. Joining the Telegraph's legendary political journalist Chris Hope in Westminster's finest drinking hole is star of Spitting Image: Idiots Assemble, comedian Matt Forde, discussing comedy in a woke world as well as bringing some of his finest political impressions. Two big beasts of the Tory party also join Chris, including Jacob Rees Mogg airing his concerns about the privileges committee and Sir Bernard Jenkin, as well as the prospect of A.I. shouldering the burden of social ..read more

It’s been a week when the economic picture has worsened for millions of us and to discuss the government wrestling with the problem - and how Liz Truss was right - is Ranil Jayawardena, a former Tory Cabinet minister in Truss’s administration. As Labour surge ahead in the polls, MP Rosie Duffield - sidelined by the leaders of her own party - joins Chris to discuss whether the party is ready for governing the country. Plus, schools have been at the forefront of recent news with reports of students identifying as cats and wolves. To discuss this, and concerns about the number of pupils missing l ..read more

Treasury minister Andrew Griffith MP hot-foots it across the road to the Red Lion pub to tell Christopher Hope that he thinks banks should help families who are seeing their mortgage costs spiral, and face the awkward question of how he'd deal with a business that had three CEOs in the space of a year (Conservative Party, take note). Also on the podcast, Joy Morrissey MP, one of only seven Conservative MPs who voted against the privileges committee report into Boris Johnson, and a whip no less. She tells Chopper why she put her head above the parapet and how the "crucifixion" of the former Pri ..read more

On the day the former PM faces having his parliamentary pass removed after being found to have “deliberately” misled MPs over partygate, Christopher Hope is joined in the Red Lion by Boris Johnson's long-time pal, legendary pollster Frank Luntz. Frank thinks comparisons to Trump are unfair on Johnson, but bemoans the fact his friend did not take the seriousness of his post more seriously. Also on the podcast, the so-called grandfather of Brexit, Bill Cash MP, on why he's retiring and whether government is 'walking the line' when it comes to delivering on Brexit. Plus Phil White of Patriotic Mi ..read more

Finally the Covid inquiry starts next week - and the Government is in a right old tangle over what to do about it. Veteran Conservative MP and former Cabinet Minister David Davis joins Christopher Hope in the Red Lion to voice his concerns about the shadowy Government body called the Counter Disinformation Unit, which was used to spy on lockdown critics and why he'd only give the current government a 6/10. Also on the podcast, we explore what would Labour do about the Covid Whatsapp row, if it's not resolved by the time a potential Labour govt is formed next year, with Shadow Cabinet Office mi ..read more