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.
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.