Long running public sector strikes settled, race riots quashed, an uplift in the minimum wage, NHS waiting lists cut, NHS England scrapped, breakfast clubs introduced in schools, 100,00 extra kids entitled to free school meals, renationalisation of the railways, the establishment of GB Energy, British steel saved, record numbers of immigrants deported, inflation down, interest rates falling, a trade deal with India, a trade deal with the United States, a trade reset with the EU, Britain's reputation on the world stage restored, the unveiling of an industrial strategy and the launch of a trade strategy. If you had told Keir Starmer that his government would achieve all of this in its first year, I’m sure he’d have been delighted. However, his personal ratings have tumbled, as have that of the Labour Party. Do we have a government that is good at getting things done- but bad at politics?

Welcome to the latest episode of The Downtown Den Politics Podcast.

The government is launching a ten year industrial strategy this week, will Labour get any credit for its longer term approach to the country’s problems- and might a certain mayor from Manchester be able to help them tell their story more positively?

Welcome to the latest Downtown Den Politics Podcast

View Frank's most recent blog HERE

Donald Trump decided to bomb Iran. Was the President simply pissed off with his TACO reputation- Trump Always Chickens Out- or has he got a longer term plan for the Middle East- and where does the unilateral action from the States and Israel leave international institutions? Are NATO and the UN now simply moribund, outdated, talking shops?

I’m Frank McKenna and this is the Downtown Den Politics Podcast.