EP.107 | In Conversation with Dame Louise Ellman
13/08/2025
DIB Boss, Frank McKenna, caught up with Dame Louise Ellman in the Downtown Den.
EP.106 | What will Rachel do in the Autumn Budget?
13/08/2025
An interest rate cut may have given Chancellor Rachel Reeves a little respite this week, but an independent economic report suggests that she has a £50 billion hole to fill if she’s to hit her own fiscal targets. What options does she have?
EP.105 | NHS Strikes – A win for Wes?
05/08/2025
NHS strikes VAT on private healthcare, the Online Safety Act, Trump tariffs and Epstein, Gaza and Palestine.
EP.104 | Doctors Dispute Drama
29/07/2025
With Frank still away, Jim, Jo, and Kevin tackle the doctors dispute and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s pledge to ban strikes. They’ll also weigh up the likelihood of serious disorder during the hot summer nights around asylum hotels
EP.103 | Water Scandals, Voting Age & Labour Rebels
22/07/2025
With Frank and Jim away, Jo and Kevin take charge of this week’s Downtown Den Politics, unpacking the latest developments from Westminster and beyond.
EP.102 | Devolution: A big step in the right direction
14/07/2025
The governments devolution white paper, Labours union issues, more bad news for the economy, but a successful state visit of President Macron. And Forty years of Live Aid.
EP.101 | In Conversation with Sir Graham Brady
08/07/2025
In a very special episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast Frank McKenna is joined by the former chairman of the very influential conservative backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | EP.100 | What is going on with the Government?
07/07/2025
Labours first year in government ended with a backbench rebellion, a chancellor in tears, and Jeremy Corbyn announcing the launch of a new political party.
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | EP.97 | Can a Certain Manchester Mayor Change Labour’s Narrative?
25/06/2025
The government is launching a ten year industrial strategy this week, will Labour get any credit for its longer term approach to the country’s problems- and might a certain mayor from Manchester be able to help them tell their story more positively?
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | EP.94 | Budgeting for Better Days?
19/06/2025
Rachel Reeves announced her long awaited Spending Review last Wednesday and the DIB podcast team reflect about what that might do in terms of Labour’s polling fortunes.
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | EP.93 | The World’s Most Expensive Feud
10/06/2025
The most powerful man in the world has fallen out with the richest man in the world- what will be the fall out from the Trump/Musk bust up?
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | EP.92 | Reeves’ Budget Blues
10/06/2025
Rachel Reeves is getting ready to announce her much anticipated spending review- but apparently all is not well with some of her Labour colleagues.