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The Week Unwrapped
Andy Burnham’s first week in Downing Street
Parliament is back after the summer recess, and Andy Burnham has delivered his first major speech as Prime Minister, setting out a vision for Britain centred on regional power, public investment and economic growth. Burnham took aim at decades of deindustrialisation, privatisation and austerity, while also arguing that Brexit had contributed to a period of low growth. Zoë and Ali discuss Burnham’s first performance at the dispatch box, his more left-wing approach compared with Keir Starmer and his and whether he has brought the political analysis he developed before entering Downing Street with him into government.
James Cleverly sets his sights on City Hall
Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly is preparing a bid to become the next Mayor of London, promising a “classically conservative” campaign. Zoë and Ali discuss whether Cleverly is the strongest candidate the Conservatives have, and whether his appeal to the wider London electorate could give him a route to victory. They also look at the tension between Cleverly’s more economically conservative, One Nation-style pitch and Kemi Badenoch’s increasingly culture-war-focused Conservative Party. Could the approach that works for the Tories nationally actually hurt them in London?
Fancy a night at Number 10?
Booking.com has come under fire after a consumer watchdog managed to create and pay for a fake listing for Number 10 Downing Street. The bogus listing even claimed guests could hang out with Larry the Cat, and 14 people attempted to book the property in just 20 minutes. Zoë and Ali question how such an obviously fake listing was able to remain online, particularly given Booking.com’s claims that AI is used to identify fraudulent listings. They also unpack whether the incident really represents a security risk to the Prime Minister, or is simply an embarrassing failure for the booking platform.
Keir Starmer Resigns as MP, triggering byelection in Holborn and St Pancras
Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stepped down as an MP, triggering a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, the London constituency he has represented for 11 years. Green Party leader Zack Polanski has announced that he will stand, turning what should be a safe Labour seat into an early political test.
Zoë and Ali discuss Starmer’s decision to leave Parliament, particularly after he had previously said he would remain an MP until the next general election. They question why he chose to leave rather than return to the backbenches. They also look at what the by-election means for Andy Burnham, who will face weeks of campaigning and media attention just as he begins his premiership.
Zoë and Ali also unpack why, for the Greens, Polanski’s decision to stand represents a gamble. The party’s polling has fallen from its earlier highs, and a potential defeat for its leader could raise questions about whether the Green surge has plateaued.
Why are Brits moving house less and less?
New research suggests the UK housing market has become increasingly frozen, with people now moving house roughly once every 21 years, compared with once every nine years in the late 1980s, despite many people still wanting to move. Ben Cooper, research manager and lead at the Fabian Housing Centre, joins Zoë and Ali to explain why so many people are stuck and what can be done about it.
The final Politics Uncensored
Some in house news, this is the final episode of Politics Uncensored on Fubar Radio. Zoë and Ali look back on some of their favourite moments from the show. Zoë will be returning in a few weeks with a brand-new show, so stay tuned….
Guest: Ben Cooper, Research Manager and Lead at the Fabian Housing Centre. You can find him on X here.
Producer: Monica Lillis
