The Downtown Den Politics Podcast
The Downtown Den politics podcast is a weekly commentary on all the latest news from the world of politics. Hosted by Downtown in Business CEO and Group Chairman, Frank McKenna and Downtown’s Political Editor Jim Hancock with regular guests from across the political spectrum.
Episodes
Rachel Reeves tears at PMQ's, the resignation of the deputy prime minister, the huge losses in the local elections and constant speculation about Keir Starmer's future as leader, 2025 has been an annus horribilis for the Labour Party.
On the up, has been Nigel Farage and Reform UK winning control of councils, parliamentary by-elections and attracting a slew of Tory defectors, the right wing populist party has maintained a healthy l...
With the Sunday papers predicting a return to Westminster for Andy Burnham, Shabana Mahmood doing the keynote interview at the annual Tony Blair Christmas gig, and Wes Streeting featuring as the main interview in the New Statesman’s final issue of the year, what can Keir Starmer do to stop the speculation about his leadership?
Twelve months ago it was Kemi Badenoch who was under pressure; how has she turned this around, and can the...
It’s been a mixed week for Nigel Farage and Reform: a record-busting £9 million donation, plus defections from the Conservative Party. But that, combined with some controversial comments Nigel Farage was allegedly making back in his days at Dulwich College, has perhaps made it a more tetchy week for the Reform leader than he has had in the past.
Meanwhile, the Government has turned its attention to welfare reform once again, with P...
After an interminable wait, we finally get the Chancellor's budget this week. We will also be talking about Shabana Mahmood's new immigration proposals, a possible Ukraine peace deal, and the results of the COVID-19 Inquiry.
Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
Jim, Jo and Kevin discuss the shambolic run-up to the Budget, with persistent challenges to the Prime Minister’s leadership still far from over - forming the main agenda items for this week’s Downtown Den podcast.
They also look at the Home Secretary’s latest attempts to get a grip on immigration, ask whether the BBC should be spending your money appeasing Donald Trump, and reflect on the surprising decision to scrap Police and Cri...
With Frank and Jim absent this week, the dream team of Jo Phillips and Kevin Johnson takes the reigns on the Downtown in Business Politics podcast for this episode.
Up for discussion this week is the BBC's latest crisis, Deputy Prime Minsister David Lammy's PMQ's appearance, Rachel Reeves' pre budget scene setter speech and are there any point in COPs?
This is the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
Britain's got a racism problem. It's not creeping back, it's marching flag in hand, and far too many in public life are either turning a blind eye or quietly egging it on.
Frank, Jim, Jo and Kevin discuss the country's racism problem, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the Chancellor's housing issue, and reflect on Kemi Badenoch's one year as leader of the Tories.
Read Jim Hancock's latest blog - Put up income tax and be done with it!
This week, Lucy Powell was elected as the new deputy leader of the Labour Party, there was a big investment summit that took place in Birmingham, and Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP in Runcorn, got herself into some difficulties over some unfortunate comments.
We will be discussing all that and more on this week’s episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
It’s coming up to the first anniversary of Donald Trump 2.0, there is certainly much to talk about and who better to catch up with what is happening across the pond in the United States than our man Martin Liptrot.
This is a special edition of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
Read Martin's Blog HERE
The government has continued to find itself embroiled in a row over Chinese spies, the West Midlands Police have banned Tel Aviv supporters from an Aston Villa European game. And the Green Party's Zack Polanski has impressed.
In this week's podcast we also do a special Question Time.
This is the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
A peace deal for the Middle East. Kemi Badenoch's maiden speech as Leader to the Conservative Party. Potential problems for Labour with a China crisis and a deputy leadership contest, which seems to be getting a little bit spicy.
Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
For more information about DIB's Change Makers Live Summit in Birmingham, visit https://downtowninbusiness.com/events/change-makers-live-...
The Conservative Party gets together for its conference in Manchester this week and Kemi Badenoch finds herself less than a year into the job, fighting to retain the leadership of the Tory party. Can she survive?
Indeed, can she ensure that the Conservative Party doesn't die a death as it faces extinction at the hands of the Reform Party?
We also talk about international affairs. Donald Trump's proposed peace plan, crisis in France...
This week it was the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, and it was badged as the conference that was make or break for Keir Starmer.
Well, the Prime Minister delivered, what does that mean for the future of the government, the future of the party and the future of Andy Burnham?
Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
Read Jim's latest blog at: downtowninbusiness.com/blogs/2025/10/01/the-dangers-of-ove...
Donald Trump's state visit, the Labour Party's deputy leadership contest, a Liberal Democrat conference and the meltdown of ‘Your Party.’
Plus the latest developments in the Middle East and the recognition by the UK of a Palestinian state.
Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
In the episode 111 of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast, Jim Hancock and Jo Phillips discuss the future of the Prime Minister, the defection of another Conservative MP to Reform and look ahead to Donald Trump's state visit.
This is the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
DIB Events - downtowninbusiness.com/events
Keir Starmers latest reset has not gone according to plan. But has the PM turned the crisis into an opportunity?
Is the BBC determined to see Nigel Farage become prime minister or are Chris Mason and Laura Kuenssberg simply crap journalists?
And should five armed police officers be deployed to arrest an unfunny comedy writer for posting an offensive social media post?
This is the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
...Why has the government been absent without leave over the summer, leaving the way clear for Nigel Farage to dominate the headlines?
Can Keir Starmer’s latest reset revive Labour’s fortunes?
And is the United States sleepwalking into dictatorship?
Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast
DIB Events Programme- https:/...
Donald Trump treated us to the spectacle of the red carpet treatment for Vladimir Putin last week, but how will Zelensky be received by the US President today?
We will also be talking about the future of the Tory Party and the economy in this week's Downtown Den Politics Podcast...
DIB Boss, Frank McKenna, caught up with Dame Louise Ellman in the Downtown Den.
Louise was Leader of Lancashire County Council from 1981 until 1997, when she become MP for Liverpool Riverside until 2019.
In this episode, Frank and Louise chat about her time leading Lancashire and being an MP, and her most difficult job of all, being Frank McKenna's boss.
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