Douglas Beattie

The Political Breakdown

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The Political Breakdown examines the changes we are seeing across British politics since Labour's 2024 general election landslide victory. Hosted by former BBC journalists - Simon Thomson and Douglas Beattie - both of whom have decades worth of inside knowledge of Westminster politics and the Labour Party in particular. In each episode we’ll take one big political story and pull it apart — not just the headline, but the machinery underneath. British politics isn’t just having a bad week - something deeper is happening. The system itself feels like it’s… breaking down. Douglas Beattie is the a...

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Douglas Beattie

Episodes

Episode 3: Goodbye Keir - Hello Andy? 02.07.2026 22:20

It was the former Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, who said “a week is a long time in politics.” Well, the last couple of weeks have felt like a year. Keir Starmer has announced he’s stepping down as Labour leader and Prime Minister. And after winning the Makerfield by election, self-proclaimed King of the North Andy Burnham looks set to be the next leader and PM. So will anyone challenge h...

The Political Breakdown 23.06.2026 26:14

Less than two years after a landslide victory, Labour is tearing itself apart. Resignations, leadership rumours, and a potential showdown in Makerfield — is this the beginning of the end for Keir Starmer? Former BBC journalists Douglas Beattie and Simon Thomson go beyond the headlines to unpack the chaos: who’s manoeuvring, what’s really driving the unrest, and why voters have been turning away. F...

The Political Breakdown: Episode 2 - Makerfield and Beyond 10.06.2026 28:57

In this episode Simon Thomson and Douglas Beattie examine the forthcoming Makerfield by-election, explaining how this extraordinary contest might shape British politics in the years ahead. Who might win, and if Andy Burnham triumphs for Labour does that spark an immediate leadership bid? For an on the ground perspective Douglas and Simon are joined by Yakub Qureshi – journalist, editor and edit...