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.
AND SO IT BEGINS…….
06/11/2025
In this week’s blog, Jo looks at how a new wave of leaders — from New York’s Zohran Mamdani to the Netherlands’ Rob Jetten and the Greens’ Zack Polanski — are connecting with voters through energy and optimism, while Labour seems stuck in the November gloom.
EP.115 | Can the Gaza peace deal endure?
13/10/2025
A peace deal for the Middle East. Kemi Badenoch’s maiden speech as Leader to the Conservative Party. Potential problems for Labour with a China crisis and a deputy leadership contest, which seems to be getting a little bit spicy.
EP.114 | Can Kemi continue?
07/10/2025
Kemi Badenoch finds herself less than a year into the job, fighting to retain the leadership of the Tory party. Can she survive?
EP.113 | Keir’s best ever performance?
02/10/2025
This week it was the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, and it was badged as the conference that was make or break for Keir Starmer.
The Dangers of Overreaching
01/10/2025
Jim identifies three examples of potential overreach by politicians in recent weeks. Nigel Farage on right to remain,Andy Burnham’s leadership ambitions and the Prime Minister’s attack on Reform UK.
EP.112 | Trump in Town…
22/09/2025
Donald Trump’s state visit, the Labour Party’s deputy leadership contest, a Liberal Democrat conference and the meltdown of ‘Your Party.’
EP.111 | What does the future hold for the PM?
16/09/2025
Jim Hancock and Jo Phillips discuss the future of the Prime Minister, the defection of another Conservative MP to Reform and look ahead to Donald Trump’s state visit.
Reform UK in Birmingham: A Circus with a Serious Edge
11/09/2025
Despite Reform’s rather eccentric conference in Birmingham last week – it is time to start to take Nigel Farage and his party seriously.
Immigration is Good for Britain – But We Need to Manage It Better
21/08/2025
Simple slogans such as ‘Stop the Boats’, ‘Smash the Gangs’, and ‘Just send them Back’ are no substitute for a serious debate on the pros – and cons – of immigration. This complex area of policy has been weaponised by Nigel Farage – and sadly some within the official opposition have jumped on the populist bandwagon too – despite several of them being, at least in part, responsible for the mess immigration policy finds itself in the UK. Frank McKenna offers his thoughts on an issue that attracts many slogans – but few practical solutions.
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.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.