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
With Frank still away, Jim, Jo, and Kevin tackle the doctors dispute and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s pledge to ban strikes. They’ll also weigh up the likelihood of serious disorder during the hot summer nights around asylum hotels.
Will the UK follow France in recognising Palestine? And if it does, what does that really mean with Gaza in ruins and thousands of Israeli settlers occupying the West Bank?
Plus, a big congratulations to...
With Frank and Jim away, Jo and Kevin take charge of this week’s Downtown Den Politics, unpacking the latest developments from Westminster and beyond.
They discuss a critical report into British water companies, growing calls to lower the voting age, the mysterious Afghan super injunction, and Keir Starmer’s suspension of rebel MPs, including Diane Abbott.
The government published its white paper on devolution this week. Frank, Jim and Jo reflect on that, plus Labour's travails with the doctors union and unite. More bad news on the economy too, with growth shrinking for the second consecutive month. But on a more positive note, a successful state visit of President Macron. Can the new deal with France help stop the boats?
And Forty years on, yes, can you believe it? Forty years on, w...
In a very special episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast Frank McKenna is joined by the former chairman of the very influential conservative backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.
Sir Graham was in Parliament for 25 years and he has recently written a book reflecting on his quarter of a century as a parliamentarian.
Listen to a fascinating conversation about Sir Graham's life in parliament and a bit more too.
Welcome to ...
Labours first year in government ended with a backbench rebellion, a chancellor in tears, and Jeremy Corbyn announcing the launch of a new political party.
Elsewhere Reform suspended one of its 5 MPs, Ed Davey, finally, criticised the BBCs sycophancy towards Nigel Farages party, and Downtown in Business hosted its annual City of Liverpool Business Awards.
Welcome to the 100th episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
The NATO summit and Daddy Trump, the fallout from Americas bombing raids in Iran, antisemitism at Glastonbury, and the BBC continuing its love-in with Reform UK.
Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast
Long running public sector strikes settled, race riots quashed, an uplift in the minimum wage, NHS waiting lists cut, NHS England scrapped, breakfast clubs introduced in schools, 100,00 extra kids entitled to free school meals, renationalisation of the railways, the establishment of GB Energy, British steel saved, record numbers of immigrants deported, inflation down, interest rates falling, a trade deal with India, a trade deal wi...
The government is launching a ten year industrial strategy this week, will Labour get any credit for its longer term approach to the country’s problems- and might a certain mayor from Manchester be able to help them tell their story more positively?
Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast
View Frank's most recent blog HERE
Donald Trump decided to bomb Iran. Was the President simply pissed off with his TACO reputation- Trump Always Chickens Out- or has he got a longer term plan for the Middle East- and where does the unilateral action from the States and Israel leave international institutions? Are NATO and the UN now simply moribund, outdated, talking shops?
I’m Frank McKenna and this is the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
Another very busy week in geopolitics. Israel and Iran are at war. In America, we've seen the shocking assassination of senior politicians.
This week the G7 comes together, where world leaders will attempt to find resolution to some of the events taking place across the globe which seem to have put the whole of the world in crisis.
Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
Rachel Reeves announced her long awaited Spending Review last Wednesday and we will be reflecting about what that might do in terms of Labour's polling fortunes.
Keir Starmer also announced that there is going to be a national enquiry into grooming gangs but why did he wait so long...
This is the latest Downtown Den politics podcast!
The most powerful man in the world has fallen out with the richest man in the world- what will be the fall out from the Trump/Musk bust up?
Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
Rachel Reeves is getting ready to announce her much anticipated spending review- but apparently all is not well with some of her Labour colleagues, with the deputy prime minister, the home secretary and some backbench MPs unhappy at some of the chancellor’s decisions.
And we’ll also be reflecting on an interesting week for Reform.
Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
Internationally, the Gaza conflict has sunk to new levels of depravity, The Ukraine war rages on, Poland has elected a populist president, Elon Musk has left the White House, Trump's tariffs are back and King Charles opened the Canadian Parliament.
We also learned what you need to appear on every major BBC current affairs programme … 5 MPs.
Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
If a week is a long time in politics, then two weeks can feel like a life time. Much has happened since we were with you a fortnight ago! A UK/EU reset, Robert Jenrick becoming a vigilante, and Nigel Farage becoming a socialist! And they are just the highlights…
Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
In this week's episode Jim and Jo discuss the UK' European deal, examine Labour's backbench discontent, the surprise of a pro-European victory in Romania and Donald Trump's whistle stop tour of the Middle East.
Listen to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
For more information about DIB visit downtowninbusiness.com
Trade deals with the United States and India. An interest rate cut. And a major announcement on immigration policy.
It's probably been a good week for the Labour government. Certainly better than many they've experienced over the last ten months.
In a special Downtown Den politics podcast, Frank and Jim are joined by a select group of DIB members along with Tom Brufatto and James Coldwell from Best for Britain.
In this episode Tom and James dive into the future of the European project and UK-EU relations in these challenging times.
To find out more about Best for Britain visit: www.bestforbritain.org
A great night for Reform. A good night for the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. A bad night for Labour, a catastrophic evening for the Conservatives.
Frank, Jim and Jo take a look back at last Thursday's UK polls, as well as casting their eyes internationally and seeing what's been happening in Canada, Australia and Romania.
Listen to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.
For more information about DIB visit downtowninbusiness...
Have UK politicians ever been as unpopular? Maybe we'll find out on Thursday when we go to local and mayoral polls and a by election in Runcorn. But whether you're Nigel Farage, Keir Starmer or Kemi Badenoch, the polls do not make for healthy reading.
And Donald Trump is about to celebrate, if that's the right word, his first hundred days in office. We'll be reflecting on what that has been like for the Americans, but also for the ...
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