Shows / In The Room
In The Room
Two former Westminster insiders reveal how politics and power really work.
Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors at No 10? Or who’s the first person on the phone when a Prime Minister lands themselves in hot water?
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…
Episodes
In The RoomIs Andy Burnham about to reignite the Brexit wars?
Ten years after the Brexit referendum, Europe is back at the centre of Westminster politics. Andy Burnham is preparing for major EU summits in Dublin and…
In The RoomLaura Kuenssberg: Inside Westminster's decade of chaos
Laura Kuenssberg has interviewed every living UK prime minister. In this special episode, she joins us to reveal how politicians attempt to control the…
In The RoomHas Shabana Mahmood gone soft on immigration?
While Andy Burnham was playing cricket in Antigua, a storm was brewing at the top of the Labour Party. This week, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood found herself…
In The RoomBurnham’s first Budget: Will this really save our economy?
Cheaper gherkins, £100 towards energy bills, higher taxes on banks and billions for defence. John Healey’s first Budget had something for everyone. But was…
In The RoomWhy France is rioting – and is Britain next?
France is reeling after a weekend of unrest that escalated dramatically. Hundreds of thousands marched peacefully, but elsewhere shops were looted, cars…
In The RoomDoes Andy Burnham want to reverse Brexit?
In Andy Burnham’s Makerfield constituency, 65% of voters backed Leave. During the recent by-election campaign, Burnham said he did not want to reopen the old…
In The RoomCan Kemi Badenoch save the Tories with Thatcherism 2.0?
Conference season is in full swing - and this week, it unfolded across two very different political stages. In Birmingham, the Conservatives came to town. As…
In The RoomAndy Burnham waited his whole life to deliver this speech – here's how it landed
In The Room hits Liverpool for Labour Party Conference. Cleo heads into the hall, fringe events, protests and the media pen, talking to delegates, campaigners…
In The RoomBurnham’s Trump test – and the Lib Dems' identity crisis
The Liberal Democrats are the third-largest party in the Commons, but where do they fit into Andy Burnham’s Britain? Following Ed Davey’s Brighton conference…
In The RoomReform’s £72m war chest - and how real are AI doomsday warnings?
Reform’s money trail is still dominating the headlines, with two billionaire donors handing the party £72m in just 48 hours. Meanwhile, the Representation of…
In The RoomFarage’s scandal-hit conference and Burnham’s next big test
Westminster is back, and so is conference season, beginning with Reform’s scandal-hit gathering in Birmingham. Helen was there, and gives her verdict on…
In The RoomLessons from No 10: What happens when the PM meets Trump and Putin | Peter Hill
Being prime minister can be a lonely job. Everyone wants your attention, your approval and a say in the decisions you make. But when the fanfare dies down…
In The RoomLessons from No 10: When government comms go badly wrong | Lee Cain
“It's a comms problem” is the diagnosis politicians, pundits and the public often reach for whenever a prime minister flounders. It was arguably Keir Starmer’s…
In The RoomCount Binface vs Farage: Flakes, Ferraris and the Clacton by-election
With the Clacton by-election just days away, In The Room welcomes perhaps Nigel Farage’s most unusual opponent: Count Binface. The intergalactic candidate…
In The RoomLessons from No 10: When the world's most powerful CEOs enter Downing Street | Jimmy McLoughlin
When Apple chief executive Tim Cook visited No 10, he stopped to admire David Bailey’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Jimmy McLoughlin, then Downing Street’s…
In The RoomWho's winning the summer? Burnham, Badenoch and Farage assessed
As Andy Burnham's second week in power draws to a close, his rivals are scratching their heads and plotting their summer challenges – with mixed results. Green…
In The RoomToo much Manchester? Andy Burnham's first big interview unpacked
Andy Burnham finally sat down to face some old school scrutiny this week. After weeks of winning praise for his social-first approach to communications –…
In The RoomAndy Burnham week one: promises, pitfalls and the prison problem
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…
In The RoomAndy Burnham is Prime Minister. Now what?
After weeks of speculation, Andy Burnham finally unveiled his first cabinet late on Tuesday, with John Healey the surprise choice as chancellor, Ed Miliband…
In The RoomInside Andy Burnham’s No 10 takeover
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…
In The RoomCan Andy Burnham succeed where Keir Starmer failed?
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…
In The RoomWill Andy Burnham make you richer?
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…
In The RoomThe real reason Nigel Farage fired himself
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…
In The RoomHas Nigel Farage lost his Midas touch?
Nigel Farage has spent decades turning political setbacks into opportunities. Parties have risen and fallen around him, controversies have come and gone, and…
In The RoomAndy Burnham wants to be Britain’s least powerful PM
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…
In The RoomWhy Andy Burnham might not be ready for No 10
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…
In The RoomMakerfield by-election: Has Andy Burnham united the left?
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…
In The RoomStarmer activates legacy mode while Farage activates Substack
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…
In The RoomInside the by-election that could change UK politics
Next week will see one of the most consequential by-elections in UK political history. Journalists, pollsters and politicians are swamping the small market…
In The RoomMandelson files: 1,504 pointless pages?
After 83 days of waiting, the government has finally released the second tranche of files on the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador to Washington…
In The RoomEx-SNP chief’s embezzlement scandal and the shady role of money in politics
A Dyson floor lamp, a £4,000 fountain pen, boxsets of Scandi noir TV dramas. These are just a handful of the items that former SNP Chief Executive Peter…
In The RoomBurnham or Brexit 2.0: Inside the leadership contest latest
With the writing seemingly on the wall for Keir Starmer, two contenders have already thrown their names into the ring for his job. Former Health Secretary Wes…
In The RoomBonus episode: Burnham's long path to power
It’s hotting up in the bid to become Labour leader. Angela Rayner’s tax affairs are cleared up, Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary and Andy Burnham…
In The RoomStreeting, Burnham, Rayner: Coming for Starmer's job?
Keir Starmer is still clinging to power. But when this morning’s 9:30am cabinet meeting began, that outcome looked far from certain. More than 81 MPs have now…
In The RoomLocal elections: Reform's big day out spells more trouble for Starmer
Labour is losing votes to the Greens and seats to Reform. Across England, Scotland and Wales, the electoral map is shifting in ways not seen for years. The…
In The RoomLocal elections: Green vs Reform heats up as Starmer comes out swinging
Local elections are often a stick used to beat the government with. That’s never been truer than in this Thursday’s contests. Across the country, voters are…
In The RoomKeir Starmer vs the world: How the PM made his job so much harder
His own MPs are turning on him, the civil service are raging at him and, at next week’s local elections, the public will likely express their unhappiness too…
In The RoomDoes Olly Robbins' testimony signal the end for Starmer?
Westminster watchers have had their popcorn out over the past 24 hours. On Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was grilled by MPs for two hours. A day…
In The RoomBonus episode: Has Keir Starmer made a huge mistake sacking Olly Robbins over Mandelson vetting?
There’s a new development in the Mandelson-Epstein-Starmer scandal – and as usual, it raises more questions over No. 10’s dealings than it answers. In this…
In The Room‘Not ready for war’: Can Starmer protect the UK?
In the midst of the US-Iran war, Lord Robertson, former Labour defence secretary and NATO chief, didn’t hold back this week. With local elections looming, the…
In The RoomCeasefire: What’s next for the UK?
What happens inside government when the US President Donald Trump threatens to “destroy a whole civilisation”? As tensions spike following extraordinary…
In The RoomSilent discos and kickabouts: Can MPs catch a break?
Whilst much of the country is enjoying a long Easter weekend, it’s far harder for MPs to switch off. And when they do, they might just end up getting lampooned…
In The RoomStockpiling fuel, panic buying loo roll - are we prepped for war?
This week, as Blackrock big boss Larry Fink warned we could be heading for a global recession if the US Iran war continues, we discuss whether people should be…
In The RoomEnergy crisis: Is Farage really going to pay your bills?
This week, as the war in the Middle East escalated, energy prices were soaring while the government scrambled to provide emergency support. Some £53million was…
In The RoomDefinitive guide to Mandelson files: All filler, no killer?
Last month, Parliament demanded the government release the Mandelson files. What followed was five long weeks of waiting. This week, the Prime Minister’s Chief…
In The RoomInside Downing Street when war breaks out
A week is a long time in politics. After a crushing by-election defeat last week, the Prime Minister was hoping for a quiet week to recalibrate. Instead, he…
In The RoomMandelson and Starmer: Is the HR process to blame?
The fallout from the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador isn’t going away. But it’s far from his only controversial hire…
In The RoomStarmer: Symptoms of a PM in trouble
What does it feel like to be inside Number 10 when the PM’s power is fading? With pressure mounting for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to go, former Deputy…
In The RoomIn The Room - Trailer
Two former Westminster insiders reveal how politics and power really work. Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors at No 10? Or who’s the first person…