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In The Room

In The Room

The Independent / Next Chapter Studios 24 Episodes Jul 24, 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

Andy Burnham week one: promises, pitfalls and the prison problem
Andy Burnham week one: promises, pitfalls and the prison problem Jul 24, 2026 35:46 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?
Andy Burnham is Prime Minister. Now what? Jul 21, 2026 34:57 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
Inside Andy Burnham’s No 10 takeover Jul 17, 2026 31:36 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?
Can Andy Burnham succeed where Keir Starmer failed? Jul 14, 2026 34:38 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?
Will Andy Burnham make you richer? Jul 10, 2026 39:05 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
The real reason Nigel Farage fired himself Jul 7, 2026 32:54 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?
Has Nigel Farage lost his Midas touch? Jul 3, 2026 38:43 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
Andy Burnham wants to be Britain’s least powerful PM Jun 30, 2026 49:30 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
Why Andy Burnham might not be ready for No 10 Jun 23, 2026 38:13 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?
Makerfield by-election: Has Andy Burnham united the left? Jun 19, 2026 33:58 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
Starmer activates legacy mode while Farage activates Substack Jun 16, 2026 33:06 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
Inside the by-election that could change UK politics Jun 10, 2026 40:32 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

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