Plus, we break down the government's massive New Towns announcement: where are the 7 new sites, and will they actually solve the housing crisis before the May elections?

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We also dive deep into the newly announced New Homes Accelerator and Atlas program. We give essential updates for anyone in the London housing and development sector.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Energy Crunch: Why UK gas prices soared 150% and what the Bank of England’s 3.75% rate hold means for your mortgage.
• Labour’s Internal Battle: Is Angela Rayner rolling the pitch for a leadership bid? We analyse the "Rayner-Khan-Burnham" axis.
• London Housing Reform: A breakdown of the £12 billion New Homes Accelerator package and the end of late-stage review mechanisms.
• The Mais Lecture: Rachel Reeves’ "Big Bet" on AI and Quantum Computing.

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In this special episode of Political Business, we consider the intersection of international conflict, UK defence preparedness, and the "Golden Age" of the Square Mile.

We dive deep into the City of London’s "Golden Age" with two exclusive interviews:

1.⁠ ⁠Chris Hayward (Policy Chair, City of London Corporation) on the "concierge service" for global investors and the challenge of viability.

2.⁠ ⁠Tom Sleigh (Planning & Transportation Chair) on why the City approves 98% of applications and the secret to a "can-do" planning department.

Today, we’re discussing:

•⁠ ⁠Geopolitics vs. Growth: How the current situation in the Middle East is reshaping investment flows and defence spending in the UK.

•⁠ ⁠The City’s Renaissance: Chris Hayward explains why technology has become the City's fastest-growing sector.

•⁠ ⁠Predictability is King: Tom Sleigh shares why a 98% planning approval rate isn't "dodgy.” Rather, it's a sign of a high-functioning, enabling democracy.

•⁠ ⁠The Retrofit Revolution: Why half of all London's retrofits are happening in the Square Mile.

Whether you're an investor, a developer, or a political observer, this episode provides a unique temperature check on the UK’s standing on the global stage.

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In this episode of Political Business, Nathan and Kevin talk through a historic week. We examine Keir Starmer’s "legalistic" defiance of Donald Trump regarding Middle East strikes and why the Prime Minister is avoiding a "forever war."

We also break down the shock by-election results in Gorton and Denton.

Has Labour lost its grip on the left to the Greens?

Finally, we dive into the "labor-on-labor" friction within the new Oxford Street Development Corporation and what it means for the future of London planning.

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In this week’s episode of Political Business, Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever dive into a week of high-stakes political maneuvering and industry-shaking news.

What we’re unpacking:

📍 The By-Election Briefing Wars: Why are Labour, the Greens, and Reform all claiming they can win? We look at the "Andy Burnham factor" and why the ground game in Greater Manchester might be the only thing keeping Labour in the race.

🎓 Kemi Badenoch’s New Deal: The Conservatives are pivoting to the next generation. By promising to scrap the interest on Plan 2 student loans, are they finally addressing the generational divide—or is it a tactical response to a polling crisis?

🏗️ The Fall of Global Council: A story hitting close to home for the public affairs and comms industry. How does a thriving, profitable firm go into administration overnight? We discuss the human impact of the "Mandelson association" and what happens when the Cabinet Office issues a direction against your agency.

Whether you're in Westminster or the City, this episode is a deep dive into how reputation, policy, and ground-game operations intersect.

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In this week's episode of Political Business, Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever dive into the seismic shifts occurring during the Westminster recess. We analyse the appointment of Robert Jenrick as Reform UK’s Shadow Chancellor (Treasury Spokesperson) and what it means for the party's attempt to shed its "protest movement" image.

We also break down the government’s major U-turn on delaying 30 local elections - a massive legal and political win for Nigel Farage - and the grim reality of London’s housing starts falling by over 70%.

In this episode:

Reform’s Economic Pivot: Can Robert Jenrick avoid a "Liz Truss moment" for the party?

The Election Shambles: Why the government folded on delaying 30 local council votes.

Labour’s By-Election Hopes: Why the Gorton and Denton result might surprise Keir Starmer’s critics.

London Housing Crisis: Why "Accelerator Packages" are failing and the truth about flat-lining house prices.

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We examine the fast-moving story surrounding Peter Mandelson, the Epstein files, and allegations of historic cabinet leaks — and what this means for Keir Starmer, Number 10, and Labour’s judgement in government.

We also analyse the Gorton and Denton by-election campaign so far, discussing

• Labour’s ground operation in Greater Manchester
• Reform’s decision to stand Matt Goodwin
• The Green Party’s campaign, and what message they might have for voters

Finally, we turn to policy, discussing the government’s proposed overnight visitor levy, what it could mean for high streets, tourism, and local government funding — and how business groups are responding.

We unpack the strategy, the politics, and the real-world business implications behind the headlines.

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🔹 Keir Starmer’s trade delegation to China — the first UK PM visit in 8 years. Is Britain charting a new economic path between the US and China? What does this mean for British exporters, investors and global trade strategy?

🔹 Andy Burnham blocked from returning to Parliament — and what it reveals about Labour leadership tensions, party control, and the post-election future of Keir Starmer.

🔹 Conservative defections to Reform UK — why the Tory coalition is fracturing and how that reshapes the political landscape ahead of May’s elections.

🔹 The Government’s pubs U-turn — a 15% business rates cut for pubs after political pressure. But does it fix the deeper problems facing hospitality, retail and high street businesses?

We unpack the strategy, the politics, and the real-world business implications behind the headlines.

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We explore:

• Trump’s tariff threats and the real risk to UK growth
• What Davos 2026 reveals about power, business, and geopolitics
• The impact on British industries like automotive manufacturing and pharmaceuticals
• Whether the UK can survive between the US and the EU
• Growing fractures on the UK right: Reform vs Conservatives
• Why London politics is becoming more volatile ahead of May elections
• The collapse of London housebuilding and why sales — not planning — are the real problem
• What government may do next to kick-start the housing market

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

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In this episode, Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever unpack:

Why Jenrick was seen as a leadership threat to Badenoch

Whether Reform UK benefits from ex-Tory defectors

The political theatre behind the timing of the sacking

What this tells us about the state of the Conservative Party

The conversation then turns to Labour’s growing leadership anxiety, with MPs increasingly talking about a post-Keir Starmer era. We explore:

Why Starmer’s authority appears to be fading

Wes Streeting’s leadership positioning

The significance of the Progress anniversary dinner

Whether Labour has a clear vision beyond cost-of-living messaging

Finally, we assess what the Labour government is actually delivering in early 2026, including:

New economic growth figures

The Northern Powerhouse Rail recommitment

Infrastructure, cost of living and the road to the May elections

🎧 Subscribe for weekly analysis on politics, power and policy — and how it all impacts business.

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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
• 
  

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.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly insider political analysis

💬 Let us know your predictions for 2026 in the comments

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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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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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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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🔹 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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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.

👉 Subscribe for weekly insider analysis on UK politics, budgets, and leadership battles.

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📊 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 local elections.

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

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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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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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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.

👉 Subscribe for more weekly analysis that bridges politics, business, and strategy.

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

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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?
• 
  

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

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