2025 has been one of the most turbulent years in modern UK politics. In this end-of-year special episode, we look back at the key political moments of 2025, the leaders who rose and fell, and what lies ahead in 2026.

From Keir Starmer’s challenges in Number 10, the bungled handling of Labour rebellions, and the growing conversation about Labour leadership succession, to the rise of Reform UK and the Greens, this episode explores how British politics is fragmenting into a true multi-party system.

We discuss:

• Labour’s post-election wobble and internal rebellions
• Wes Streeting’s growing influence and leadership speculation
• Nigel Farage, Reform UK, and whether they’ve peaked
• Zack Polanski and the Greens’ surge on the populist left
• Kemi Badenoch’s recovery as Conservative leader
• Why May 2026 elections could be a watershed moment
• Why the economy may improve even as politics worsens
• What the Conservatives, Labour and Reform do next
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We also close with Christmas political book recommendations, including Tony Blair, Ezra Klein, China’s economic model, and the structural causes behind rising populism.

📅 Recorded as our final episode of the year, this is essential listening for anyone interested in UK politics, Labour strategy, Conservative recovery, Reform UK.

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💬 Let us know your predictions for 2026 in the comments

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Two weeks on from Rachel Reeves’ first budget, the headlines have moved on — but the politics definitely hasn’t. In this episode of Political Business, Kevin and Nathan unpack the shifting dynamics inside Labour and the Conservatives as both parties prepare for a turbulent 2026 election cycle.

We break down:

🔴 Labour’s internal anxiety despite a “successful” budget

🔴 Why Treasury insiders think the politics of the budget are done

🔴 Angela Rayner’s dramatic return to the Commons — and what it really means

🔴 The truth behind the “non-existent” Labour leadership contest

🔴 Starmer’s strategy to scare MPs out of triggering a contest

🔵 Kemi Badenoch’s resurgence and improving Tory morale

🔵 Why Reform UK may have plateaued — and whether Farage’s controversies help or hurt

🟡 Why 2026 will be shaped by a new era of five-party politics

We also look ahead to the May local elections, where both parties fear major losses — and both sides believe the real leadership battles begin.

If you work in business, policy, or politics, this is your weekly guide to what’s really happening in Westminster.

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One week after Rachel Reeves delivered Labour's Budget, the polls suggest 48% of people consider it a “bad budget.” In today’s episode of Political Business, Nathan and Kevin dissect the political fallout inside the Labour Party, the economics behind Reeves’ choices, and whether Keir Starmer’s position is as safe as it looks.

We also break down reports that Nigel Farage has privately told donors he expects a Reform UK–Conservative deal at the next general election — despite publicly denying it. What would a reform–Tory pact mean for 2029?

Finally, we analyse the rapidly shifting London political landscape heading into the 2025 local elections:

• the rise of the Greens,
• fears inside Labour about losing Hackney,
• the decline of the hard-left independent projects,
• and how Reform UK actually performs on the ground in London.

If you work in politics, campaigns, public affairs or business engagement with local government, this episode provides the clearest guide yet to the post-May 2025 world — and how to prepare for it.

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Rachel Reeves has delivered her second Budget — and it’s one of the most politically significant moments of Labour’s new government. In this episode, we break down every major measure, from the 24 tax rises to the abolition of the two-child benefit cap, the mansion tax, frozen income tax thresholds, and the new pay-per-mile charge for EVs.

We analyse:

• How Labour MPs reacted in the chamber
• What the markets think (and whether that lasts)
• Whether this is a politically risky “tax to fund welfare” moment
• How the public will respond
• Growth strategy concerns… and the lack of a long-term economic story
• Kemi Badenoch’s budget response — and whether she just saved her leadership chances
• What happens next: reform, migration, growth and the road to the May elections

This is your full breakdown of what the Budget means for Labour, for the Conservatives, for the markets — and for you.

If you enjoy political analysis, hit subscribe and join us for weekly episodes covering UK politics, government strategy, policy and power.

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The budget is one week away — and speculation inside government is spiralling. In this episode, we break down:

🔹 Rachel Reeves’ abandoned income tax rise

🔹 Treasury leaks and “smorgasbord” tax increases

🔹 Market reaction & OBR forecast surprises

🔹 Why local authorities may lose planning powers

🔹 The real factions organising inside Labour

🔹 Whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader

🔹 Steve Reed’s radical changes to housing and planning

🔹 The 1.5 million homes target — and whether government can hit it

We also unpack who holds real power inside the Labour Party today: the old right, the Blairite modernisers, the soft left, and the socialist campaign group — and what these groups mean for the next Labour leadership contest.

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Is Sir Keir Starmer facing a real leadership challenge — or just Westminster gossip gone wild? In this episode of Political Business, hosts Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever go inside the explosive week that’s rocking Downing Street.

After Number 10’s extraordinary move to brief against Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Starmer’s inner circle is scrambling to project unity. But with rumours swirling around Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood, and even Ed Miliband, the question is whether the Labour leader can hold his Cabinet — and his authority — together.

We unpack the real political strategy behind the chaos:

• Why Downing Street is briefing against its own Cabinet ministers
• What the “scorched earth” comms from Morgan McSweeney tells us about Starmer’s fears
• Why Wes Streeting’s broadcast round may have backfired on Number 10
• How the Budget — and Rachel Reeves’ plans for tax rises — could determine Starmer’s fate

Plus, we dive into what business actually wants from the Budget:

• Tax, energy prices, and the Employment Rights Bill
• Whether Labour’s fiscal rules risk strangling growth
• The tension between business confidence and political ideology

And finally, we head to London’s local elections, with inside insights from Southwark leader Sarah King on Labour’s shrinking dominance, the rise of the Greens and Lib Dems, and how it could reshape housing and development policy across the capital.

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In this episode of Political Business, hosts Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever unpack a week dominated by economic speeches and shifting political strategies.

📊 Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has set the scene for what’s being called “the most significant Budget in a generation.” With a £40 billion gap to fill, Reeves is preparing the public for tax rises across all demographics — a politically risky move that could breach Labour’s key 2024 manifesto pledges. Nathan and Kevin explore how the Treasury’s new “no surprises” communications strategy is designed to reassure markets while managing expectations across Westminster.

💷 Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has made a surprising pivot — stepping back from populist spending promises and moving towards a Thatcher-style focus on fiscal discipline and pro-business reforms. From City briefings to a renewed focus on credibility, Reform UK is repositioning itself as the new voice of the centre-right.

🏙️ And in London, Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Oxford Street Development Corporation takes a major step forward with the appointment of Scott Parsons as Chair. The hosts explain what this means for businesses, investors and developers — and why this apolitical, delivery-focused appointment signals a new phase for regeneration in the West End.

Plus, they discuss the rise of the populist left following Zohran Mamdani’s shock victory in New York, and what it could mean for London’s 2026 mayoral race.

🎧 Subscribe to Political Business for sharp insights and actionable advice on how politics, policy and business intersect in modern Britain.

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Labour has fallen to its lowest ever level of support in a new YouGov poll — just 17%. The Green Party, under new leader Zack Polanski, has now overtaken the Liberal Democrats.

In this week’s Political Business, Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever break down what the numbers really mean for the Labour government, the opposition, and the shape of politics in 2025.

We also unpack the government’s emergency intervention in London’s housing crisis, cutting affordable housing requirements to kick-start development — and debate whether this move helps or hurts Labour ahead of next May’s local elections.

Plus:

💷 How public affairs professionals can actually influence the Budget

🏗️ What Labour’s new housing measures mean for developers and councils

🌿 Can the Greens sustain their surge — or is this a temporary protest vote?

📉 Why 50% of last year’s Labour voters now say they’d switch sides

Stay tuned for our “Three Points of Advice” on how to navigate the political and corporate landscape this week.

👉 Subscribe to Political Business for weekly insight, strategy and straight-talk on the intersection of politics, policy and public affairs.

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The UK government’s borrowing has hit record levels — £99.8 billion in just six months — while inflation holds steady at 3.8%. With the Budget looming, Rachel Reeves is trying to frame the economic challenge by blaming Brexit and promising a £6 billion blitz on red tape.

In this episode, Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin unpack the numbers, the politics, and the strategy:

– Why borrowing is spiralling — and what it means for the Treasury.

– Whether Reeves’ “Brexit blame” approach can work politically.

– The real impact of the West Midlands Investment Summit.

– What the Caerphilly by-election tells us about Reform UK’s rise and Labour’s struggles.

– Is Britain heading for another age of austerity?

– Can Rachel Reeves rebuild fiscal credibility while blaming Brexit?

– Has Labour already lost the communication war to Reform UK and Nigel Farage?

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Political Business with Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever breaks down this week’s biggest political and business stories — from Westminster to the housing market.

This episode covers:

• Why neither Labour nor the Conservatives got a conference bounce.
• Major changes inside Number 10 Downing Street — is this a “grown-ups back in charge” moment for Keir Starmer?
• A deep dive into London’s housing crisis as new Molior data shows housing starts collapsing.
• The latest planning reforms, Treasury moves, and whether Rachel Reeves can deliver growth.
• And what Reform UK’s rise in by-elections means for both Labour and the Conservatives.

Nathan and Kevin — both former political advisors — explain what these developments mean for business, policy, and the road to the next general election.

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📢 Comment, and tell us where you think the next big political shift is coming from.

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In this week’s Political Business, Nathan Parsad-Wyatt reports from Manchester as the Conservative Party Conference 2025 wraps up - and it’s not all rosy for Kemi Badenoch.

With polling sliding into the high teens and Robert Jenrick waiting in the wings, is her leadership already on borrowed time? Nathan and Kevin McKeever break down:

• 🔥 Kemi Badenoch’s leadership challenge — has she bought time or lost control?
• 🤝 Reform UK’s growing power — could there be a deal or even a merger on the right?
• 💼 Tories’ new pitch to business — can they reclaim economic credibility from Labour?
• 🏘️ The housing question — the “Build Baby Build” message that has cross party support.
• 👔 Should businesses still engage with the Tory Party?
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From the bars of the Midland to the boardrooms of Westminster, Nathan and Kevin explore whether the Conservatives can rebuild, and what that means for business and politics in Britain.

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📍 Find us online: https://hedry.co.uk/

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In this episode of Political Business, Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever bring you exclusive insights direct from the Labour Party Conference 2025 in Liverpool.

We unpack:

• What Keir Starmer’s landmark speech means for Labour’s future.
• Whether Andy Burnham’s influence has peaked after clashing with the Cabinet.
• The Deputy Leadership race and why it failed to make waves.
• Why the upcoming budget is the real battleground for Labour, with tax rises, VAT expansion, and capital gains reforms on the horizon.
• Steve Reed’s “Build, Baby, Build” housing push – but can Labour really deliver?
• Exclusive reactions from London council leaders (Lambeth, Southwark, Westminster) on growth, business, and local politics.
• The risks Labour faces in the 2025 local elections across London, Wales, and Scotland.

For businesses, investors and political insiders, we share 3 key takeaways:

1. Labour is the government to engage with for the next 4 years.
2. Push for delivery on housing, infrastructure and growth.
3. Keep your eyes firmly on the budget – it will define Labour’s economic credibility.

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes where politics meets business.

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At Lowick Hedry, we help our clients make sense of a complex world - and get things done. Whether it’s shaping policy, delivering major projects or managing your reputation, we bring together deep experience and fresh thinking to get results that matter. Now, you hear it every week on our podcast. Subscribe on Apple, on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts - and we’ll drop into your feed every week.

Join Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever every week as they consider politics, policies and the realities for business.

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