James Marriott is an exceptional writer. His debut book 'The New Dark Ages' charts our shocking decline in reading and what the political impact of that already is.

This is a warning about the profound impact on smart phones on us as human beings and how they are directly linked to the rise of charismatic, populist leaders.

Reading less and scrolling more is ruining our politics.

It's not massively optimistic, but it is absolutely compelling.

Buy James's book 'The New Dark Ages' here:

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/482835/the-new-dark-ages-by-marriott-james/9781847929518

See the Political Party Live on Stage:

9 November: Liz Kendall and Mishal Husain

21 December: Wes Streeting

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:

www.mattforde.com

MARCH

19 FAVERSHAM The Alex

20 DORKING Halls

APRIL

7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall

8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall

9 LEICESTER Y Theatre

12 SALFORD Lowry

16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate

21 EXETER Northcott Theatre

24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre

28 ALNWICK Playhouse

29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham

30 HULL Asylum

MAY

6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club

12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre

13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall

14 CHORLEY Theatre

18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange

19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks

20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn

21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal

23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall

26 NORWICH Playhouse

27 NORWICH Playhouse

JUNE

2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright

4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre

5 READING Concert Hall

8 CARDIFF The Glee Club

9 BATH Komedia

10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre

11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre

15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal

16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables

18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre

30 LIVERPOOL Everyman Playhouse

JULY

1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station

2 GLASGOW The Glee Club

4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is Andy Burnham's online game so strong? And what the hell is looksmaxxing?

Two of the social media stars behind the Prime Minister's online dominance explain what works well on TikTok and Instagram and why the new PM is so adept at it.

Lottie, 19, and Poppy, 17, don't just take us inside the world of political stan accounts, they give us a fascinating insight into how young people think about politics and their futures and why they find progressive politics so hopeful.

This is a glimpse into the political future with two young people already shaping the present.

See the Political Party Live on Stage:

9 November: Liz Kendall and Mishal Husain

21 December: Wes Streeting

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:

www.mattforde.com

MARCH

19 FAVERSHAM The Alex

20 DORKING Halls

APRIL

7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall

8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall

9 LEICESTER Y Theatre

12 SALFORD Lowry

16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate

21 EXETER Northcott Theatre

24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre

28 ALNWICK Playhouse

29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham

30 HULL Asylum

MAY

6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club

12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre

13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall

14 CHORLEY Theatre

18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange

19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks

20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn

21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal

23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall

26 NORWICH Playhouse

27 NORWICH Playhouse

JUNE

2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright

4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre

5 READING Concert Hall

8 CARDIFF The Glee Club

9 BATH Komedia

10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre

11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre

15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal

16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables

18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre

30 LIVERPOOL Everyman Playhouse

JULY

1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station

2 GLASGOW The Glee Club

4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melanie Ward has only been an MP two years and she is already a government minister, promoted to the government by Andy Burnham.

Melanie worked in international aid before becoming an MP and continues to be an advocate for some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.

Two years ago she visited Gaza and she describes the horrors she witnessed.

This is a frank discussion about why Labour's policy on Gaza has changed and what it means for the Middle East and for domestic politics here in the UK.

And as Labour gathers in Liverpool for its Annual Conference, what song might Melanie be singing at the karaoke..?

See the Political Party Live on Stage:

9 November: Liz Kendall and Mishal Husain

21 December: Wes Streeting

https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/

GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:

www.mattforde.com

MARCH

19 FAVERSHAM The Alex

20 DORKING Halls

APRIL

7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall

8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall

9 LEICESTER Y Theatre

12 SALFORD Lowry

16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate

21 EXETER Northcott Theatre

24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre

28 ALNWICK Playhouse

29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham

30 HULL Asylum

MAY

6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club

12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre

13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall

14 CHORLEY Theatre

18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange

19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks

20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn

21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal

23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall

26 NORWICH Playhouse

27 NORWICH Playhouse

JUNE

2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright

4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre

5 READING Concert Hall

8 CARDIFF The Glee Club

9 BATH Komedia

10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre

11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre

15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal

16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables

18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre

30 LIVERPOOL Everyman Playhouse

JULY

1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station

2 GLASGOW The Glee Club

4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.