In The Room
The Independent / Next Chapter Studios 24 episodes Nov 10, 2026
Two former Westminster insiders reveal how politics and power really work. Each week former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson, former political advisor to Theresa May and Boris Johnson, dissect the week’s biggest news, revealing how decisions get made, why they go wrong, and what should happen next. In The Room is straight-talking, insider analysis with a dose of humour, every week.
Episodes
Is Andy Burnham about to reignite the Brexit wars?
Ten years after the Brexit referendum, Europe is back at the centre of Westminster politics. Andy Burnham is preparing for major EU summits in Dublin and Brussels, hoping to forge a closer relationship with Britain’s European neighbours - but his ambitions are already exposing tensions inside his Cabinet and reopening Labour’s most politically dangerous argument. With the UK facing a long-term pro
Laura Kuenssberg: Inside Westminster's decade of chaos
Laura Kuenssberg has interviewed every living UK prime minister. In this special episode, she joins us to reveal how politicians attempt to control the narrative – and to diagnose the deeper dysfunction behind Britain’s political malaise.People have felt squeezed for years, and the political system has done little to earn their patience. In two decades covering Westminster, Kuenssberg says, she ha
Has Shabana Mahmood gone soft on immigration?
While Andy Burnham was playing cricket in Antigua, a storm was brewing at the top of the Labour Party.This week, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood found herself in the spotlight after finally backing down on plans to make many migrant care workers wait up to 15 years for permanent settlement. But the wider reform to Indefinite Leave to Remain remains largely intact.The Conservatives have wasted no ti
Burnham’s first Budget: Will this really save our economy?
Cheaper gherkins, £100 towards energy bills, higher taxes on banks and billions for defence. John Healey’s first Budget had something for everyone. But was there a main course among the picky bits?In this Budget special of In The Room, Cleo Watson and Helen MacNamara ask who benefits, who pays and what was conspicuously left off the table. They examine the real value of energy support, Healey’s de
Why France is rioting – and is Britain next?
France is reeling after a weekend of unrest that escalated dramatically. Hundreds of thousands marched peacefully, but elsewhere shops were looted, cars burned, police attacked and public buildings set alight.What began with schoolchildren furious about missing teachers, crumbling classrooms and a system they believe is failing them quickly became something much bigger. People of all ages joined d
Does Andy Burnham want to reverse Brexit?
In Andy Burnham’s Makerfield constituency, 65% of voters backed Leave. During the recent by-election campaign, Burnham said he did not want to reopen the old Brexit arguments. Yet in recent weeks, the Prime Minister has made a series of pointed interventions on Britain’s relationship with the EU.At Labour conference, he said Brexit had done “more harm than good”. In a BBC interview, he suggested i
Can Kemi Badenoch save the Tories with Thatcherism 2.0?
Conference season is in full swing - and this week, it unfolded across two very different political stages.In Birmingham, the Conservatives came to town. As Kemi Badenoch continues to win strong approval ratings - despite the Conservatives struggling to recover from their 2024 defeat - her conference speech doubled down on a classic Tory pitch: a smaller state, lower taxes, and a return to economi
Andy Burnham waited his whole life to deliver this speech – here's how it landed
In The Room hits Liverpool for Labour Party Conference. Cleo heads into the hall, fringe events, protests and the media pen, talking to delegates, campaigners and lobbyists to get a feel for Andy Burnham’s Labour. Helen takes a different route, moving between Shelter, the Future Governance Forum and the receptions where senior figures are talking about what comes next.The mood is unusually upbeat,
Burnham’s Trump test – and the Lib Dems' identity crisis
The Liberal Democrats are the third-largest party in the Commons, but where do they fit into Andy Burnham’s Britain? Following Ed Davey’s Brighton conference speech, we ask what the party actually stands for and uncover a surprising connection to Cleo’s political past.In New York, Burnham faces his first meeting with Donald Trump. With Ukraine, Iran, AI and even the Falklands potentially on the ag
Reform’s £72m war chest - and how real are AI doomsday warnings?
Reform’s money trail is still dominating the headlines, with two billionaire donors handing the party £72m in just 48 hours. Meanwhile, the Representation of the People Bill is making its way through the Lords. We look at why attempts to curb big money in British politics keep failing, and why Labour’s own position is more complicated than it seems.Across the Irish Sea, President Trump has reignit
Farage’s scandal-hit conference and Burnham’s next big test
Westminster is back, and so is conference season, beginning with Reform’s scandal-hit gathering in Birmingham. Helen was there, and gives her verdict on whether Nigel Farage’s party still feels like a government-in-waiting after a bruising week.Meanwhile, Keir Starmer’s decision to stand down in Holborn and St Pancras has triggered the sixth by-election of the year, with Green leader Zack Polanski
Lessons from No 10: What happens when the PM meets Trump and Putin | Peter Hill
Being prime minister can be a lonely job. Everyone wants your attention, your approval and a say in the decisions you make. But when the fanfare dies down, it’s you holding the pen and making the biggest calls.Fortunately, every prime minister has one person at their side: their principal private secretary. Peter Hill was Theresa May’s PPS from 2017 to 2019, as well as her sherpa for the G7 and G2
Lessons from No 10: When government comms go badly wrong | Lee Cain
“It's a comms problem” is the diagnosis politicians, pundits and the public often reach for whenever a prime minister flounders. It was arguably Keir Starmer’s biggest undoing. From the beginning, he failed to articulate what kind of prime minister he would be. In the end, nobody really knew what he thought about anything. For today’s guest Lee Cain, Starmer was a “political vacuum” - but believes
Count Binface vs Farage: Flakes, Ferraris and the Clacton by-election
With the Clacton by-election just days away, In The Room welcomes perhaps Nigel Farage’s most unusual opponent: Count Binface.The intergalactic candidate joins Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson to defend his manifesto, from capping 99 Flakes at 99p and building “at least one” affordable home to tackling Britain’s badly positioned hand dryers. He explains why housing and homelessness sit behind some
Lessons from No 10: When the world's most powerful CEOs enter Downing Street | Jimmy McLoughlin
When Apple chief executive Tim Cook visited No 10, he stopped to admire David Bailey’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Jimmy McLoughlin, then Downing Street’s business director, gave him an impromptu tour and discovered along the way that Cook was also a fan of Netflix’s acclaimed royal drama The Crown.Working under Theresa May, McLoughlin’s role was to help ensure that some of the world’s most in
Who's winning the summer? Burnham, Badenoch and Farage assessed
As Andy Burnham's second week in power draws to a close, his rivals are scratching their heads and plotting their summer challenges – with mixed results. Green leader Zack Polanski is facing heat over yet another social media misdemeanour, it’s far from all quiet for Nigel Farage on the Clacton front, and the Liberal Democrats are nowhere to be seen – time for another Ed Davey stunt? Meanwhile, Ke
Too much Manchester? Andy Burnham's first big interview unpacked
Andy Burnham finally sat down to face some old school scrutiny this week. After weeks of winning praise for his social-first approach to communications – Britain's first TikTok Prime Minister? – he finally sat down for a proper grilling with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg.Today, we unpack his performance. How did he handle the tough questions on Trump and Putin? Is he talking about Manchester a l
Andy Burnham week one: promises, pitfalls and the prison problem
Andy Burnham has survived his first week. The former Manchester mayor turned prime minister is now in his spiritual home – No.10 North – after repeatedly calling it the best day of his life. It's been a week of 6am policy drops, wall-to-wall coverage and Burnham firmly at the centre of every story. But Helen and Cleo aren't just here to admire the opening moves. They want to know whether the presi
Andy Burnham is Prime Minister. Now what?
After weeks of speculation, Andy Burnham finally unveiled his first cabinet late on Tuesday, with John Healey the surprise choice as chancellor, Ed Miliband moving to the Foreign Office and Shabana Mahmood remaining as home secretary. Then came his first speech outside Downing Street. Dispensing with the familiar prime ministerial lectern, Burnham promised to end rough sleeping, reviving one of th
Inside Andy Burnham’s No 10 takeover
Andy Burnham has finally been crowned Labour Party leader. Attention turns now to his top team, with home secretary Shabana Mahmood hotly tipped to be named chancellor. Meanwhile, Ed Miliband and Wes Streeting continue to cast a shadow over Burnham’s picks. On Monday, after formalities with the King, Burnham will become the UK’s seventh prime minister in ten years. Today, we tell you what to expec
Can Andy Burnham succeed where Keir Starmer failed?
It’s Keir Starmer’s final week in office. 739 days ago, after a rejection of the Tories and a sweeping landslide for Labour, he became PM. So where did it all go wrong for him? Today we take a trip down memory lane to summer 2024 and the beginning of Keir Starmer’s rocky first 100 days and ask: can Andy Burnham learn from Keir Starmer's mistakes? Executive Producer: Rod ArdehaliProducer: Sam Durha
Will Andy Burnham make you richer?
Andy Burnham has promised “growth in every postcode”. It is a big, attractive political line – the sort of thing voters want to hear after years of feeling poorer, public services feeling stretched, and wages struggling to keep up with the cost of living. It is also a promise that tells us a lot about Burnham’s politics. He has long argued that Britain is too London-centric, that Whitehall is too
The real reason Nigel Farage fired himself
Nigel Farage got Westminster watchers in a frenzy today. A cryptic tweet promising a statement on “the future of my public life” triggered two hours of fevered speculation: resignation as Reform leader, departure from Parliament, or another act of political theatre.What followed was a scathing attack on the media and political class he routinely rails against - despite his own deep entanglement wi
Has Nigel Farage lost his Midas touch?
Nigel Farage has spent decades turning political setbacks into opportunities. Parties have risen and fallen around him, controversies have come and gone, and yet he has always managed to emerge stronger.But this week feels different. Questions over a £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire, lucrative outside earnings, a series of disappointing by-election results and an unusually defensive run o
Andy Burnham wants to be Britain’s least powerful PM
Devolution – or devo-maxxing – was the order of the day in Andy Burnham’s most significant speech yet on how he would govern. In front of an eager press pack that scrambled up from London, the prime minister-in-waiting set out a bold agenda focused on devolving power, reforming Whitehall and reindustrialising Britain.But devolution is a tune plenty of leaders have played before. Tony Blair turbo-c
Why Andy Burnham might not be ready for No 10
Andy Burnham’s camp is caught between euphoria and fear. After his victory in the Makerfield by-election and Keir Starmer’s resignation, the path to No 10 appears to have opened up for the former Manchester mayor.On what would be his third attempt at the Labour leadership, Burnham could be prime minister by mid-July – and the UK’s seventh in ten years. But with the clock already ticking, is his te
Makerfield by-election: Has Andy Burnham united the left?
It wasn’t so close after all. Andy Burnham achieved 9,241 votes more than the second place Reform candidate, Robert Kenyon. Even talk of Restore Britain stealing votes from Reform mattered little in the end. The reality of the Makerfield by-election is it’s a thumping win for Labour’s Andy Burnham, and a disappointing night for Nigel Farage, whose attempts to dial up division in recent weeks didn’
Starmer activates legacy mode while Farage activates Substack
This week, Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media for under-16s. It’s a punchy policy announcement. And it’s a clear sign that he has activated legacy mode. Today, we ask: what will his legacy really look like? And why are prime ministers obsessed about their legacy?On the week of the announcement, Nigel Farage has dialled up his divisive rhetoric with a brand new Substack page. His numbers&
Inside the by-election that could change UK politics
Next week will see one of the most consequential by-elections in UK political history. Journalists, pollsters and politicians are swamping the small market town near Wigan - where the voters of Makerfield could make Burnham king. At the time of recording, Labour are 10 points ahead of Reform in the polls. To close the gap, Reform must win a battle of ideas on the right, where Restore Bri
Mandelson files: 1,504 pointless pages?
After 83 days of waiting, the government has finally released the second tranche of files on the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador to Washington. The first tranche was already heavy on the filler, but the latest set of documents takes it to a whole new level. It features an incredible amount of seemingly pointless material: Mandelson’s resignation letter appears 8 times, there’s
Ex-SNP chief’s embezzlement scandal and the shady role of money in politics
A Dyson floor lamp, a £4,000 fountain pen, boxsets of Scandi noir TV dramas. These are just a handful of the items that former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell purchased with the £400k he embezzled from the party over the course of a decade. The full list is even longer. Murrell has been remanded in custody and likely faces lengthy prison time. Ever since the eruption of the 2009 MPs’ expens
Burnham or Brexit 2.0: Inside the leadership contest latest
With the writing seemingly on the wall for Keir Starmer, two contenders have already thrown their names into the ring for his job. Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched an appeal to heartland Labour voters, suggesting he might be vying to initiate a "Brexit 2.0." Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, the "King of the North," has made it clear that if he wins the Makerfield by-election, he wants in
Bonus episode: Burnham's long path to power
It’s hotting up in the bid to become Labour leader. Angela Rayner’s tax affairs are cleared up, Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary and Andy Burnham has found a route back to Westminster. But Keir Starmer is resolutely staying put – for now.Today, we analyse who really has the numbers, what the public thinks of all this and assess Andy Burnham’s chances of winning in Makerfield. Plus, C
Streeting, Burnham, Rayner: Coming for Starmer's job?
Keir Starmer is still clinging to power. But when this morning’s 9:30am cabinet meeting began, that outcome looked far from certain. More than 81 MPs have now called for him to step down - the number required to trigger a leadership contest - but only if they unite behind a single challenger. For now, they remain split. And, in characteristically procedural style, Starmer has managed to buy himsel
Local elections: Reform's big day out spells more trouble for Starmer
Labour is losing votes to the Greens and seats to Reform. Across England, Scotland and Wales, the electoral map is shifting in ways not seen for years. The foundations of the two-party system are looking more fragile than ever.In this bonus episode, we ask: are voters sending a message Westminster still isn’t hearing? What does history suggest about Starmer’s chances of staying in power? And what
Local elections: Green vs Reform heats up as Starmer comes out swinging
Local elections are often a stick used to beat the government with. That’s never been truer than in this Thursday’s contests. Across the country, voters are expected to desert Labour, exposing the real dividing lines in British politics that have been emerging since before the 2024 general election.In this week’s episode, we reveal whether Labour can survive a two-front battle against Reform and t
Keir Starmer vs the world: How the PM made his job so much harder
His own MPs are turning on him, the civil service are raging at him and, at next week’s local elections, the public will likely express their unhappiness too. All of this has made Keir Starmer’s job a lot harder.Today, we analyse how Starmer’s handling of the Mandelson vetting scandal has significantly weakened relations with the civil service, why putting a three-line whip on his own MPs is alway
Does Olly Robbins' testimony signal the end for Starmer?
Westminster watchers have had their popcorn out over the past 24 hours.On Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was grilled by MPs for two hours. A day later, Sir Olly Robbins, the sacked Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office, gave a meticulous account to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. The result: fresh doubts over Starmer’s handling of Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambass
Bonus episode: Has Keir Starmer made a huge mistake sacking Olly Robbins over Mandelson vetting?
There’s a new development in the Mandelson-Epstein-Starmer scandal – and as usual, it raises more questions over No. 10’s dealings than it answers.In this emergency broadcast Helen and Cleo break down the newest revelations about Mandelson’s failed security vetting: Why did the Foreign Office overrule it? How do these processes actually work? And could sacking Olly Robbins shape up to be Starmer’s
‘Not ready for war’: Can Starmer protect the UK?
In the midst of the US-Iran war, Lord Robertson, former Labour defence secretary and NATO chief, didn’t hold back this week. With local elections looming, the Labour grandee stepped into the defence debate, warning the UK is “not safe” and “underprepared” for war.But how much of that falls on Starmer’s government - and how much is the result of years of neglect of Britain’s core military strength:
Ceasefire: What’s next for the UK?
What happens inside government when the US President Donald Trump threatens to “destroy a whole civilisation”?As tensions spike following extraordinary comments from Donald Trump, former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson, ex-advisor to Theresa May and Boris Johnson, take you inside the rooms where officials scramble to respond to the unpredictable. From emergency calls with
Silent discos and kickabouts: Can MPs catch a break?
Whilst much of the country is enjoying a long Easter weekend, it’s far harder for MPs to switch off. And when they do, they might just end up getting lampooned for it. This week Keir Starmer was ridiculed for his 5-a-side prowess, while Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy faced criticism for posting a clip of herself dancing at a silent disco. In the midst of the US Iran war and a deepeni
Stockpiling fuel, panic buying loo roll - are we prepped for war?
This week, as Blackrock big boss Larry Fink warned we could be heading for a global recession if the US Iran war continues, we discuss whether people should be prepping for what’s to come. From whether you should have a jerry can of fuel in your garage, to why you should be jotting down your favourite radio stations. Helen and Cleo look back at Covid times, when loo roll was in short supply a
Energy crisis: Is Farage really going to pay your bills?
This week, as the war in the Middle East escalated, energy prices were soaring while the government scrambled to provide emergency support. Some £53million was announced by Ed Milliband, but is it really enough to help families who are struggling with the cost of living?In this episode we pull apart the UK’s cost of living malaise: Nigel Farage’s headline‑grabbing pledge to pay the energy bills of
Definitive guide to Mandelson files: All filler, no killer?
Last month, Parliament demanded the government release the Mandelson files. What followed was five long weeks of waiting.This week, the Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary, Darren Jones, finally stepped up to announce their release. So, what’s inside? A total of 147 pages: 10 pages of contents and introduction, 28 entirely blank pages, 30 pages of standard HR guidance. All filler, no killer?In this e
Inside Downing Street when war breaks out
A week is a long time in politics. After a crushing by-election defeat last week, the Prime Minister was hoping for a quiet week to recalibrate. Instead, he got a new war. The US and Israel’s joint attack on Iran has set in motion a whole new set of pressures on his government; navigating the ‘Special Relationship’ with the US, confronting the long shadow of Iraq hanging over the Labour Party and
Mandelson and Starmer: Is the HR process to blame?
The fallout from the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador isn’t going away. But it’s far from his only controversial hire.Former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson, former No. 10 special advisor, analyse Downing Street's hiring and firing crisis.They explain how hiding behind "process" is actively damaging Starmer’s ability to lead with integr
Starmer: Symptoms of a PM in trouble
What does it feel like to be inside Number 10 when the PM’s power is fading? With pressure mounting for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to go, former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson, ex-advisor to Theresa May and Boris Johnson, reveal the sights, sounds - and even smells - that emerge when the foundations at 10 Downing Street start to shake. They also offer up some sa
In The Room - Trailer
Two former Westminster insiders reveal how politics and power really work. Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors at No 10? Or who’s the first person on the phone when a Prime Minister lands themselves in hot water? Each week former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson, former political advisor to Theresa May and Boris Johnson, dissect the week’s biggest news,
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