The Political Breakdown
The Political Breakdown examines the changes we are seeing across British politics since Labour's 2024 general election landslide victory.
Hosted by former BBC journalists - Simon Thomson and Douglas Beattie - both of whom have decades worth of inside knowledge of Westminster politics and the Labour Party in particular.
In each episode we’ll take one big political story and pull it apart — not just the headline, but the machinery underneath. British politics isn’t just having a bad week - something deeper is happening. The system itself feels like it’s… breaking down.
Douglas Beattie is the author of How Labour Wins and Victory at the Ballot Box - a book looking at Labour's general elections since 1900. He has worked for BBC News, Scottish Television and the Press Association.
Simon Thomson is an award winning former BBC journalist who now works in communications and campaigning. He's a lifelong Labour Party member and critical friend, who has twice stood as a Labour Parliamentary Candidate.
The Political Breakdown
The Political Breakdown: Episode 2 - Makerfield and Beyond
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode Simon Thomson and Douglas Beattie examine the forthcoming Makerfield by-election, explaining how this extraordinary contest might shape British politics in the years ahead.
Who might win, and if Andy Burnham triumphs for Labour does that spark an immediate leadership bid?
For an on the ground perspective Douglas and Simon are joined by Yakub Qureshi – journalist, editor and editorial executive who lives in Greater Manchester and has covered the city region for many years.
This is a dive into polling, the performance of the parties, as well as the history of by-elections. We examine the ‘Burnham factor’ in the constituency and ask what he might do differently were he to become Prime Minister.
Not only that - how might Reform and the Conservatives perform when voting takes place on the 18th of June - with the eyes of the political world on Makerfield.
New episodes dropping regularly. Follow The Political Breakdown for sharp insight, honest analysis, and the stories behind the headlines shaping British politics.