EP.132 | Can Starmer Survive?
09/02/2026
It has been a challenging week for Keir Starmer, with growing pressure surrounding his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson. Can his leadership endure?
EP.131 | By-elections, China Trade Missions and the Epstein Files
02/02/2026
All the candidates have been selected for the Gorton and Denton by-election. In this episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast, Frank, Jim and Jo, preview what the final outcome of that particular contest may be.
Meet the Partner with Glenville Walker
30/01/2026
As part of Downtown Den’s Meet the Partners, Frank McKenna caught up with Michael Smeaton and Anna Salisbury from Glenville Walker to get advice for our members about Shareholders Agreements and why we need them
EP.130 | Does Starmer Fear a Burnham Challenge?
26/01/2026
Does Keir Starmer and the Labour Party fear Andy Burnham? Will there be a comeback for Andy Street? Should Andy Street and Ruth Davidson join the Liberal Democrats?
EP.129 | Defections, Invasions, and a Very Blue Monday
19/01/2026
With political defections and American invasions, there is not much to cheer you up on this bluest of Blue Mondays, but we will do our best…
EP.128 | Global Tensions Ignite the New Year
12/01/2026
Happy belated New Year and welcome back to the Downtown Den Politics Podcast. We barely stepped away and the world went straight back to chaos with international tensions involving Iran Venezuela and Ukraine.
EP.127 | Listener Questions & 2026 Predictions
29/12/2025
Frank, Jim and Jo, look back on some of the highlights from their involvement with politics throughout the years, answer listeners questions and put together their Fantasy Cabinets.
EP.126 | 2025 Review
22/12/2025
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.
EP.125 | Can Keir Hold On?
15/12/2025
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?
Season 5. Episode 5. | Hospitality | Hyatt Regency & INNSiDE By Meliá
12/12/2025
In this episode DIB boss Frank McKenna chats with Sarah Matts from Hyatt Regency in Manchester and Annabel Lax from INNSiDE By Meliá Manchester.
EP.124 | Donations, Defections, Drama
08/12/2025
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.
Season 5. Episode 4. | Hospitality | Sefton Collection
05/12/2025
In this captivating discussion with DIB boss Frank McKenna, Conor O’Donovan, CEO at the Sefton Collection, explains how he got involved in the industry, his highs and lows and what he learned from the experiences.