MYSTERIOUS: 2 | Mind Blowing Facts

Keir Starmer ‘threw Olly Robbins under the bus’ in wake of Mandelson vetting row

Exclusive: Helen MacNamara calls Starmer’s decision to sack Olly Robbins ‘unacceptable’

The Independent UK · Apr 17

Voices: The government’s in big trouble – here are the 5 things I’d do to fix it

COMMENT: From farming to fuel, the warning signs are already here, says ‘In the Room’ co-host Helen MacNamara. What we need is crisis planning, which is about imagination, not optimism. Right now, the UK risks lacking in both

The Independent UK · Apr 14

Voices: Morgan McSweeney and the classic mistake he made with his mobile phone

COMMENT: A petty theft – of the kind that happens every day on Westminster streets – has prompted an outbreak of conspiracy theories and added to public mistrust. But the loss of the former chief of staff’s work device has also shone an unflattering light on those who should be…

The Independent UK · Mar 31

‘You try to identify how much trouble you will personally be in’: Inside government at a time of crisis

Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson from The Independent’s ‘In the Room’ podcast lift the lid on life inside government

The Independent UK · Mar 12

Former deputy cabinet secretary reveals the inner workings of Cobra meetings

As the US-Iran war rumbles on, Keir Starmer will be spending his days dashing in and out of lots of important meetings, including Cobra (which actually stands for ‘cabinet office briefing rooms’ – the origins of the ‘A’ remains a bit of a mystery).

The Independent UK · Mar 10

The good, the bad and the tour bus: Inside the not so glamorous world of by-elections

Ministers, MPs and campaigners from all parties have been trawling Gorton and Denton ahead of the by-election

The Independent UK · Feb 26

5 new podcasts to listen to this week

These are our top podcast picks.

The Independent UK · Feb 26

‘Dread ekes out of the walls’: How it feels to work in No 10 during a crisis

In this clip from The Independent’s In The Room podcast, hosts Helen and Cleo reflect on their memories of how ominous No 10 can feel when the government is in crisis.

The Independent UK · Feb 23

The quiet, matter-of-fact takeover of women holding senior economist roles

From Rachel Reeves to the MPC, and thinktanks to unions and lobby groups, many of the authoritative voices we hear discussing economics are female

The Guardian - UK · Jul 20, 2025

Out by Tim Shipman review: An epic political saga draws to a close

At the launch of the final part of his magisterial Brexit quartet, author Tim Shipman offered three reasons why differing political groups should read it. The first were those still reeling from the Out result. The second were those who passionately wanted to get Out and blamed everyone else for…

Evening Standard · Nov 30, 2024