The Downtown Den Politics Podcast

It's Keir Starmer's final week as Prime Minister, with Andy Burnham preparing to become the UK's seventh Prime Minister in just ten years.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has called a by-election, and over the summer will be debating Count Binface.

Join the Downtown Den team for our landmark 150th episode as we discuss the latest twists in British politics.

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This week’s Downtown Den Politics podcast is somewhat of an unusual one because, as we sat down to record, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation. We reflect on that breaking news and what it means for the future of British politics.

We also look back on the phenomenal win for Andy Burnham in Makerfield, as well as the Conservatives’ first by-election victory in 50 years. 

In this week's Downtown Den Politics Podcast, Jim Hancock is joined by Martin Liptrot and Jo Phillips to discuss the key political stories of the week.

With voters heading to the polls in the Makerfield by-election, the panel considers what the result could mean for the government and opposition parties alike. They also reflect on the resignation of Defence Minister John Healey and debate the government's decision to ban social media for under-16s.

In this week’s Downtown Den Politics Podcast, Frank, Jim and Jo discuss the political implications of the tragic murder of Henry Nowak and what it could mean for the wider political landscape.

They also preview the upcoming Makerfield by-election, examining the key issues, candidates and potential impact of the result, as well as discussing the special election edition of Question Time.

Tony Blair has waded into the political debate, claiming the Government lacks vision, leadership and a clear plan. Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting were quick to push back, but did their responses actually prove Blair's point?

We also take a look at the latest from the crucial Makerfield by election and discuss Compass's proposal for a coalition of progressive parties. Is it a serious route to power or simply wishful thinking?

Read Frank McKenna's The Politics of Fairy Dairy Land HERE

Listen to Carl Cashman on The Downtown Den HERE

Listen to the latest Northern Spin podcast HERE

From the latest corruption controversy in Scotland to the growing influence of Reform UK, this week Frank Mckenna is joined by Jim Hancock and Jo Phillips to discuss the biggest political stories of the week and ask whether Andy Burnham or Keir Starmer is best placed to lead Labour’s future.

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In this weeks episode, Jo and Jim look back on the last week in politics and discuss the possibilities of a potential Labour leadership change.

Less than two years after its landslide victory, Labour appears hesitant and politically outmanoeuvred by Reform UK.

As Reform dominates the media narrative and Labour struggles to fight back, questions are growing over whether Keir Starmer has the political instincts needed to regain control of the national conversation.

We turn now to the biggest test of public opinion between general elections, with full elections taking place in Scotland and Wales, as well as across all London boroughs, Birmingham and many other places across the country. It’s a big test for the Prime Minister, and for Reform UK, raising the question of whether Reform has peaked, while other parties and voters across the political spectrum also make their voices heard. 

We also look at the rise in antisemitism and its wider implications, alongside the success of King Charles III in the USA.

Publications from the left, right and centre agree that Keir Starmer has been, to put it kindly, underwhelming as prime minister.

They all conclude that the only reason he is currently surviving at No.10 is because Labour can’t agree on an alternative.

The left of the party are scared of Wes Streeting. The right are scared of Angela Rayner. The country is scared of Ed Miliband. 

Meanwhile, Labour’s most popular retail politician, Andy Burnham, is ineligible for the job, sitting, as he does, in Manchester rather than Westminster.

Following another damaging week and further fallout from the Peter Mandelson debacle, the chances of Starmer hanging on post the May elections seem remote.

However, Labour’s inability to unite around a single alternative candidate means that a challenge to Starmer’s leadership could be messy - for the party, but more importantly for the country.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast...