For the landmark 50th episode, Political Frenemies goes bigger than ever as Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert reports live from the Lib Dem Spring Conference in York while regular sparring partner and former Tory adviser Chris Newton holds the fort. They’re joined by a heavyweight panel: Tory commentator Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, Lib Dem YouTuber Andy Chandler, and former Labour adviser Matt Lloyd. Together they dive into the escalating Iran War and what it could mean for Britain, unpack the explosive release of the Mandelson files, and debate Labour’s controversial moves on social cohesion, cutting back jury trials, and introducing Digital ID. Expect sharp disagreements, surprising alliances, and plenty of laughs—plus the long-awaited return of the Political Frenemies quiz. It’s chaotic, combative, and completely unmissable!

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Keir Starmer: Number 10

USS Thomas Hudner: US Department of War

On this episode of Political Frenemies former Tory defence policy adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert are joined once again by Conservative commentator and councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman for a lively and occasionally combustible discussion on Britain’s response to the unfolding Iran War. The trio dive into how Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour government have handled the crisis, weighing claims of caution against accusations of drift and indecision. They also dissect the political reactions across Westminster, from the positioning of Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to the criticisms coming from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. Expect sharp disagreements, insider perspectives, and plenty of political sparring as the frenemies debate whether Britain’s response has been strategic restraint—or a missed moment on the world stage.

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Israeli F-16s: IDF Spokesperson Unit

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Keir Starmer: Number 10

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In this electric episode of Political Frenemies, Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton are joined by Green activist Daniel Laycock to unpack the shockwaves from the Greens’ dramatic by-election triumph in Gorton and Denton—asking whether this is a local blip or the start of something much bigger. The panel digs into what the result means for Zack Polanski and the wider Green strategy, while also weighing the knock-on effects for Nigel Farage, Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch, and Ed Davey as the political weather shifts. To round things off, they turn to Westminster gridlock, sparring over the growing controversy surrounding the House of Lords’ delay of the Assisted Dying Bill—and what it says about power, principle, and paralysis in British politics.

On this week’s Political Frenemies, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert are joined by James Nation, former Deputy Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit under Rishi Sunak, for a candid, behind-the-scenes tour of life at the heart of government. Nation lifts the lid on how policy is really made in Downing Street — and what it’s like navigating crises from inside No.10. The trio then dive into the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, another bruising week for Keir Starmer and the Labour Party — from Labour Together allegations to a local election u-turn and blistering criticism of the Chagos deal from Donald Trump — and ask whether the pressure is finally starting to bite. Plus, what do Reform UK’s first four “Shadow Cabinet” appointments tell us about Nigel Farage’s endgame? Sharp, punchy and unfiltered — politics as you’ve never heard it before.Thumbnail Image: Simon Dawson / Number 10

In this explosive episode of Political Frenemies, Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert, former Tory adviser Chris Newton, and political commentator Oliver Dean dive headfirst into Keir Starmer’s most dramatic week yet — from shock senior government resignations and mounting calls for him to quit, to a last-minute Cabinet rally that pulled him back from the brink. The trio unpack what it all means for Labour’s authority and the wider political landscape, before turning to Starmer’s fiery spat with Jim Ratcliffe — co-owner of Manchester United — over immigration, a clash that blends politics, business, and culture-war flashpoints. The episode wraps up with a sharp look at the Liberal Democrats’ latest pitch on economic growth — and whether it’s bold enough to cut through in an increasingly volatile political climate.

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In a dramatic bonus edition of Political Frenemies, hosts Chris Newton and Mathew Hulbert return to a Westminster story that just won’t stop accelerating. In the wake of the Mandelson–Epstein scandal, the political shockwaves intensify with the stunning departure of Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s powerful Chief of Staff, as pressure mounts inside the Labour Party and the Starmer operation begins to visibly wobble. Chris and Mathew dig into what McSweeney’s exit really signals—panic, recalibration, or the start of a wider unravelling—while dissecting the internal blame game, factional manoeuvring, and brutal questions now being asked of Keir Starmer’s judgement and authority. Sharp, forensic, and unflinchingly political, this bonus episode asks whether this moment marks the clearest sign yet that Starmer’s grip on power is slipping.

Political Frenemies dives headfirst into Westminster meltdown mode as former Tory adviser Chris Newton, Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert, and academic and ex–Labour adviser Matt Lloyd unpack the explosive fallout from the Mandelson–Epstein scandal. From Mandelson’s association with Epstein to KeirStarmer’s jaw-dropping admission that he knew about it when appointing Mandelson as ambassador, the trio tear into a week of high political drama that culminated in one of the most bruising PMQs in recent memory. Sharp, partisan, and occasionally brutal, the episode closes with the question now hanging over British politics: are we finally watching the beginning of the end for Starmer?

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Political Frenemies returns with Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton joined by Tom Willerton-Gartside, Head of Press at Looking for Growth, for a fast-paced scrap over the week’s biggest political stories. The trio dig into Keir Starmer’s contentious China visit, Suella Braverman’s dramatic defection to Reform UK, the opening skirmishes of the Gorton and Denton by-election, and Labour’s proposed police reforms—serving up sharp analysis, partisan tension, and just enough common ground to keep things interesting.

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In this EMERGENCY episode, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert dive headfirst into the shock decision that’s rocked Labour HQ: Andy Burnham’s bid to return to Parliament—blocked by the Labour NEC. What does this mean for Burnham’s future, and why did the party machine slam the door? From furious fallout to whispered leadership consequences, Chris and Mathew chew over Keir Starmer’s authority, Labour’s internal power struggles, and whether this moment exposes a party still at war with itself. Sharp takes, insider perspective, and zero chill—don’t miss it.

Old rivalries, new rows, and plenty of political mischief: Political Frenemies is back with former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert, joined once again by Yellow Rebel host Andy Chandler, to tear into another week of chaotic politics. From Keir Starmer’s increasingly spiky clashes with Donald Trump over Greenland, Chagos, and Afghanistan, to the fallout from Andrew Gwynne’s resignation and the tantalising question of whether Andy Burnham would fancy a by-election comeback, nothing is off limits. Throw in postponed local elections and fresh right-wing turbulence as Robert Jenrick stirs controversy from his new home in Reform UK, and you’ve got an episode packed with sharp takes, ideological sparring, and the kind of uncomfortable agreements only true frenemies can deliver.