The Downtown Den Politics Podcast

The NATO summit and Daddy Trump, the fallout from Americas bombing raids in Iran, antisemitism at Glastonbury, and the BBC continuing its love-in with Reform UK.  Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast 

Long running public sector strikes settled, race riots quashed, an uplift in the minimum wage, NHS waiting lists cut, NHS England scrapped, breakfast clubs introduced in schools, 100,00 extra kids entitled to free school meals, renationalisation of the railways, the establishment of GB Energy, British steel saved, record numbers of immigrants deported, inflation down, interest rates falling, a tra...

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?  Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast  View Frank's most recent blog HERE

Donald Trump decided to bomb Iran. Was the President simply pissed off with his TACO reputation- Trump Always Chickens Out- or has he got a longer term plan for the Middle East- and where does the unilateral action from the States and Israel leave international institutions? Are NATO and the UN now simply moribund, outdated, talking shops? I’m Frank McKenna and this is the Downtown Den Politics Po...

Another very busy week in geopolitics. Israel and Iran are at war. In America, we've seen the shocking assassination of senior politicians. This week the G7 comes together, where world leaders will attempt to find resolution to some of the events taking place across the globe which seem to have put the whole of the world in crisis. Welcome to the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast...

Rachel Reeves announced her long awaited Spending Review last Wednesday and we will be reflecting about what that might do in terms of Labour's polling fortunes. Keir Starmer also announced that there is going to be a national enquiry into grooming gangs but why did he wait so long... This is the latest Downtown Den politics podcast!

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? Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.

Rachel Reeves is getting ready to announce her much anticipated spending review- but apparently all is not well with some of her Labour colleagues, with the deputy prime minister, the home secretary and some backbench MPs unhappy at some of the chancellor’s decisions. And we’ll also be reflecting on an interesting week for Reform. Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.

Internationally, the Gaza conflict has sunk to new levels of depravity, The Ukraine war rages on, Poland has elected a populist president, Elon Musk has left the White House, Trump's tariffs are back and King Charles opened the Canadian Parliament. We also learned what you need to appear on every major BBC current affairs programme … 5 MPs.  Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.

If a week is a long time in politics, then two weeks can feel like a life time. Much has happened since we were with you a fortnight ago! A UK/EU reset, Robert Jenrick becoming a vigilante, and Nigel Farage becoming a socialist! And they are just the highlights… Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.

In this week's episode Jim and Jo discuss the UK' European deal, examine Labour's backbench discontent, the surprise of a pro-European victory in Romania and Donald Trump's whistle stop tour of the Middle East.  Listen to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast. For more information about DIB visit downtowninbusiness.com

Trade deals with the United States and India. An interest rate cut. And a major announcement on immigration policy. It's probably been a good week for the Labour government. Certainly better than many they've experienced over the last ten months. Listen to our special podcast with Best for Britain .

In a special Downtown Den politics podcast, Frank and Jim are joined by a select group of DIB members along with Tom Brufatto and James Coldwell from Best for Britain. In this episode Tom and James dive into the future of the European project and UK-EU relations in these challenging times. To find out more about Best for Britain visit: www.bestforbritain.org

A great night for Reform. A good night for the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. A bad night for Labour, a catastrophic evening for the Conservatives. Frank, Jim and Jo take a look back at last Thursday's UK polls, as well as casting their eyes internationally and seeing what's been happening in Canada, Australia and Romania. Listen to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast. For more information...

Have UK politicians ever been as unpopular? Maybe we'll find out on Thursday when we go to local and mayoral polls and a by election in Runcorn. But whether you're Nigel Farage, Keir Starmer or Kemi Badenoch, the polls do not make for healthy reading. And Donald Trump is about to celebrate, if that's the right word, his first hundred days in office. We'll be reflecting on what that has been like f...

The Business genius that is Donald Trump sent the global economy into turmoil this week, with his unfathomable 'Hokey Cokey' tariffs policy, with literally trillions wiped from stocks and shares. As the markets got to use to the President's technical term - a bit yippy - the supreme deal maker blinked, backed down, and exposed himself as the arse of the deal. Even as the odds of a US recession go...

What do Russia, North Korea, Belarus and Cuba have in common? They have all been spared Donald Trumps tariffs. From Canada to the Canary’s, Poland to penguins, the rest of the international community has suffered from a tax hike of eye watering proportions. So, what can the government here do about it - indeed how can economies around the world respond? This is the latest Downtown Den Politics Pod...

Rachel Reeves' Spring statement. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. Erdoğan in Türkiye. Marine Le Pen in France. Much for Frank, Jim and Jo to reflect upon in this week's Downtown and Politics podcast. To read Frank's latest blog CLICK HERE . For more information about DIB visit downtowninbusiness.com  

In today's podcast, Jim Hancock and Jo Phillips preview Rachel Reeves Spring Statement and look abroad at the troubled scenes in Ukraine, Gaza and now Türkiye. Welcome to this week's Downtown and Politics podcast.  For more information about DIB visit downtowninbusiness.com

NHS reform, welfare reform, MIPIM and Adolescence. Welcome to this week's Downtown and Politics podcast.  Watch Jo Phillips on GB News every Tuesday from 7pm-8pm! For more information about DIB visit downtowninbusiness.com

As Frank McKenna struggles with internet issues in the South of France, Jim Hancock and Jo Phillips discuss the last seven days in the world of politics. Discussed this week are: the latest developments around Ukraine, a new Canadian PM and the latest from the UK, including a good week for Keir Starmer and a bad week for Nigel Farage. Stay tuned for the end as Jim and Jo's review the film Septembe...

Keir Starmer has had his best week as Prime Minister - but not as good a week as Vladamir Putin. Why does the USA seem content to abandon the Western Alliance in favour of Russia, and can Europe realistically defend Ukraine without American support? Listen to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast now.

Keir Starmer heads to the White House this week. What will he say? What can he say to President Trump who seems determined to rewrite history and tear up the settled world order of 80 plus years? What does yesterday's election results in Germany mean for Europe and the world? And on the domestic front. How much trouble is Labour in with business? Listen to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.

This week, in the absence of Frank Mckenna, Jim and Jo discuss all things Trump, along with his Vice-President Vance, a dip in business morale following Rachel Reeves recent budget, and bright lights on cars? Listen to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.

Another economic blow for Rachel Reeves, a WhatsApp row, a controversial book and Reform ahead in the polls. Is the Labour Government ever going to get a break? Listen to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast.