Should we trust the polls?

The Today Podcast

5d ago • 57 mins

There’s a week to go before votes are counted and barely a day goes by in the campaign without a new poll.

So are the Conservatives really on course for an election "wipe out"? Are Labour set for a so called ‘supermajority’? Where did the term ‘supermajority’ even come from and should we be sceptical about poll findings?

Amol and Nick are joined by the doyenne of polling, psephologist Prof Sir John Curtice, to interrogate the numbers and the algorithms that generate them.

And they assess how the smaller parties’ campaigns are stacking up.

Plus – moment of the week – find out why Nick has been swimming with seals.

Episodes of The Today Podcast land twice a week during the election campaign – and watch out for bonus episodes. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk

The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.

You can listen to the latest episode of The Today Podcast anytime on your smart speaker by saying “Alexa, Ask BBC Sounds for The Today Podcast.”

The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the researcher and digital producer is Joe Wilkinson, the producers are Hazel Morgan and Nadia Gyane. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Jonny Hall.

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