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.
EP.123 | Budget for Benefit Street?
01/12/2025
Today on the Downtown Den, it’s just Frank and Jim as they discuss Rachel Reeves’ budget, Kemi Badenoch’s response, and Your Party’s Conference in Liverpool.
Season 5. Episode 3. | Hospitality | The Hospitality Hero
28/11/2025
In this fascinating discussion with DIB boss Frank McKenna, Steven shares his career journey from the beach hotels of Australia to the countryside hotels of North Wales and his involvement with one of the UK’s fastest growing festivals DevaFest.
EP.122 | Chaos Within: Budget Week Begins
24/11/2025
After an interminable wait, we finally get the Chancellor’s budget this week. We will also be talking about Shabana Mahmood’s new immigration proposals, a possible Ukraine peace deal, and the results of the COVID-19 Inquiry.