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.