Still want the job Rachel?
07/03/2024
In his blog Jim asks if Rachael Reeves still wants the job of Chancellor after Jeremy Hunt has stolen her policies and left a legacy of tax increases and spending cuts.
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | EP. 20 | 4th March 2024
04/03/2024
George Galloway stormed to victory in the Rochdale by-election last week. We’ll be asking if Gorgeous George’s return to Parliament is a threat to democracy, to Keir Starmer, or simply a fluke result in the strangest of polls.
Gutter politics brings parliament into further disrepute
22/02/2024
Frank McKenna condemns the gutter politics of the SNP which brought parliament into disrepute this week.
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | 18th February 2024
20/02/2024
Whose ‘double whammy’ was worse? It hasn’t been a great 7 days for either the prime minister or the Keir Starmer. Frank, Jim and guest Kevin Johnson discuss the latest from the world of politics.
Lack of confidence could still cost Labour the election
15/02/2024
Labour has been reminded of the old adage ‘a week is a long time in politics’. Frank McKenna reflects on a tough seven days for Keir Starmer and his team.
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | 13th February 2024
14/02/2024
The past seven days have not been great for the prime minister nor the leader of the opposition. Rishi Sunak followed up his ill advised bet with Piers Morgan with a truly cringeworthy performance at PMQs
What took Labour so long?
08/02/2024
In his blog, Jim weighs up the different factors that have lead Labour to ditch their £28bn green energy promise. He also looks at the rise of the right in the Tory Party.
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | 18th January 2024
19/01/2024
In the first Downtown Den Politics podcast of 2024, Frank and Jim discuss the post office scandal, another turbulent week for Rishi Sunak and whether Keir Starmer will be the next Prime Minister.
History not on Labour’s side
18/01/2024
Is Sir Keir Starmer heading for a landslide or will the General Election be a close run thing? Jim reports on two major surveys this week that reached very different conclusions.
Post haste
11/01/2024
Jim is unimpressed with the sudden urgency ministers are applying to decades of post office injustice. He also looks ahead to a year of elections.
DIB members meet Starmer and Streeting
11/01/2024
Downtown in Business members with an interest in the health and care sector were given an opportunity to meet Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting at a special event on Wednesday evening.
Winners & Losers in 2023
14/12/2023
Jim gives us his winners and losers from a year which, he thinks, leaves
us with little to be optimistic about.