The Downtown Den Politics Podcast

018 | 19th February 2024

Whose ‘double whammy’ was worse?
Rishi Sunak suffered not one, but two humiliating be-election defeats last week- and rumours abound that a poor showing at the May local elections will likely see a batch of no confidence letters winging their way to the chairman of the 1922 committee, as anxious MPs conclude that giving us a fourth prime minister in as many years will not look like the lunatics taking over the asylum!
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer, basking in another couple of poll victories still has challenges to deal with- most of which are wrapped up in the Middle East conflict.
We’ll be asking if Sunak will survive, and how damaging the past fortnight has been to the Leader of the Opposition.
We will also be taking a look ahead to those local elections and in particular the mayoral contest in the West Midlands.
This week Frank and Jim are joined by Kevin Johnson owner of Urban Communications.
Website: http://www.urbancomms.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/urbancomms
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urbancomms/
 

017 | 13th February 2024

The past seven days have not been great for the prime minister nor the leader of the opposition. Rishi Sunak followed up his ill advised bet with Piers Morgan with a truly cringeworthy performance at PMQs. Meanwhile Keir Starmer finally ditched Labours £28bn green pledge - and was inevitably met with a chorus of criticism with accusations of traitor and flip flopper in equal measure. To add to his woes, disturbing words in respect of Israel and the Gaza conflict from Labours Rochdale by election candidate came to light, reminding voters of the party’s challenge with antisemitism. But, if you think it’s been a bad week for messrs Sunak & Starmer, then spare a thought for US president Joe Biden. His senility is becoming a real barrier to his re-election and a boost to his Republican opponent Donald Trump. Is it too late for the Democrats to select an alternative candidate before the November presidential poll? Welcome to the Downtown Den Politics podcast.

016 | 5th February 2024

The woman who took less than 50 days to crash the British economy, sent interest rates spiralling, and lasted less time in office than a lettuce is launching her political comeback this week. Liz Truss’ new Popular Conservative movement- or PopCon - is the latest right wing grouping readying itself for the post election battle for the soul of the Tory Party- and among her guests at the launch event is one Nigel Farage. What does this mean for Rishi Sunak, one nation Tories, and the Conservatives? Meanwhile the Labour Party continued with its charm offensive of the business community last week, with a gathering of leaders from the world of commerce in central London. What are the odds on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves convincing industry that it is they who can finally get the UK economy moving?  Some challenges on the foreign policy front for Labour though, not least in the Middle East. Has Starmer been outflanked on the Palestinian question by Lord ‘call me Dave’ Cameron? We’ll also be taking a look back at Downtowns parliamentary reception and as DIB gets ready to welcome not one, but two, regional mayors to our annual property conference this week, we’ll take a glance at the mayoral contests that take place in May- and, we take a quick saunter over to Rochdale where a couple of well-known personalities to the Downtown network are vying to win the forthcoming by-election in the Greater Manchester town.
Listen to Frank McKenna in conversation with Simon Danczuk in the first ever Downtown Den podcast. 
https://downtowninbusiness.podbean.com/e/episode-001-in-conversation-with-simon-danczuk/

015 | 26th January 2024

Will Rishi Sunak survive until the next GE?
The Daily Telegraph is after him, Simon Clarke is after him, and now a former advisor to the PM is apparently part of a group of Tories who are after him too. Would the Conservatives really give us our fourth prime minister in two years?
The BBC has been in the news again- accused of bias- although the culture minister struggled to give any examples of the Beebs impartiality in an excruciating interview with Skys Kay Burley. Frank asks our former BBC man Jim Hancock if he thinks his former bosses have gone all woke.
And across the pond Donald Trump, 99 indictments and all, looks a cert for the Republican nomination- what will that means for the UK and geopolitics generally, if he goes on and wins the presidency.

014 | 19th January 2024

In the first Downtown Den Politics podcast of 2024, Frank and Jim discuss the post office scandal, another turbulent week for Rishi Sunak and whether Keir Starmer will be the next Prime Minister.
Looking further afield than the UK shores, they also ask whether Donald Trump's return to The White House in inevitable?

013 | 18th December 2023 | U.S. Special

In the final Downtown Den Politics Podcast of 2023, Frank is joined by Downtown's U.S. commentator Martin Liptrot.
Martin provides a weekly blog for the DIB website with all the latest news and views from across the pond, so make sure to check that out to keep up to date with all the political and business news from America.
In this episode Frank and Martin look at how the U.S. is performing economically, its views on foreign affairs (including the current issues in Ukraine and the Middle East), how the U.S. views its relationship with the UK and looks ahead to the 2024 Presidential Election.
Enjoy this final episode of 2023.

012 | 4th December 2023

In the final edition of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast Frank and Jim reflect on the year in politics and highlight their winners and losers over the past 12 months.
They also discuss the Rishi Sunak's last minute meeting cancellation with the Greek Prime Minister and Keir Starmer's subsequent Prime Minister's questions battering.
But it hasn't all been plain sailing for the leader of the opposition, with his remarks about Margaret Thatcher over the weekend.
Enjoy the final Downtown Den Politics Podcast of 2023.

011 | 28th November 2023

The government bought themselves some respite and some positive headlines in the Tory press with a tax cutting autumn statement last week. However, the New Conservatives, as the new model rebels have labelled themselves, were back on the warpath 24 hours later, as the latest immigration figures were released. Is it time for ‘grown up politicians’ to come clean about migration - or is it inevitable that the issue will simply be used as a political football between now and the GE?
This the latest episode of the Downtown Den Politics Podcast with Frank McKenna and Jim Hancock.