DIB meets… Poke
29/10/2026
Downtown in Business boss, Frank McKenna caught up with Andrew Binns and Nicola Docking from Poke.
DIB meets… Glenville Walker | Scaling up, shareholders and succession
01/10/2026
Denise Walker and Joanna Sproson once again join Frank McKenna, and this time the conversation turns to what happens when you’re ready to grow, sell, or step back from your business.
EP. 150 | Starmer Out, Burnham In
13/07/2026
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.
EP. 149 | Another Prime Minister Bites the Dust
22/06/2026
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 could mean for the political landscape.
EP. 146 | The Blair Intervention
01/06/2026
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?
EP 145 | Corruption or Mishap?
26/05/2026
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.
EP. 144 | Starmer, Streeting or Burnham?
18/05/2026
Jo and Jim look back on the last week in politics and discuss the possibilities of a potential Labour leadership change.
EP. 143 | Has Labour Forgotten how to do Politics?
11/05/2026
Less than two years after its landslide victory, Labour appears hesitant and politically outmanoeuvred by Reform UK.
EP.141 | Starmer on the Brink
27/04/2026
Publications from the left, right and centre agree that Keir Starmer has been, to put it kindly, underwhelming as prime minister.
EP 138 | The Cost of Conflict
30/03/2026
Is it peace talks going well, or are we about to see American troops invading parts of Iran? All of that remains uncertain. What is certain, however, is the serious economic consequences heading our way.
EP.136 | Trump’s Changing Tune
16/03/2026
Frank returns from MIPIM 2026 to join Jim and Jo for this week’s Downtown Den Politics Podcast. They discuss the dramatic shift in messaging from Donald Trump after claiming victory in the conflict with Iran.
EP.134 | Iranian crisis and a Green victory
02/03/2026
In the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast, Jim Hancock, Jo Phillips and Martin Liptrot discuss the latest Middle East crisis and the implications for Geo-Politics.