EP.126 | 2025 Review

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 lead in the polls for the last 12 months.

Sixteen year olds have been given the right to vote and many of them will see the new Green Party Leader, Zack Polanski as their champion, whilst the Liberal Democrats and Ed Davey have continued to progress, winning more council seats this year than any other party.

Recent months have seen a more polished and professional Kemi Badenoch, give the official opposition a boost, however the Tories are still languishing in the polls and know there is a long way to go before they can claim to be a genuine alternative government.

On the international stage, Donald Trump began his second presidential term after a four year interlude, and it's been a wild ride that most anticipated. Tariffs, the Epstein files, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the election of the first Muslim governor in the US, the drive-by on Zelensky by JD Vance in the Oval Office and splits in the MAGA movement that have seen Trump fall out with Elon Musk and Marjorie Taylor Greene, are only the edited highlights and low lights from the orange ones first 12 months in office.

Elsewhere in geopolitics, the Middle East still simmers, the Ukraine war continues to rage and despite victories for progressives in Germany and Canada, the feeling remains that liberal democracy is in retreat as right wing populists continue to gain momentum.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast, that is going to try and makes sense of what has been a turbulent year in the world of politics.