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Political Business
Is Farage Losing Control of Reform UK? And The New Tourist Tax Explained
In this week’s episode of Political Business, Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever dissect a chaotic week in UK politics following the Reform UK conference in Birmingham. From internal power struggles and donation scandals to the physical assault of a protester, is Nigel Farage’s leadership on fragile ground—and is Zia Yusuf quietly preparing a shadow leadership bid?
Plus, the hosts break down the Chancellor’s latest growth speech on business regulation, Ed Miliband’s foreign policy maneuvers, and the newly announced England tourist tax (overnight levy) powers for regional mayors.
Stay tuned until the end for an exclusive sneak peek of our upcoming interview with Nabil Khan, Chief Executive of the Oxford Street Development Corporation, on the future vision for London’s iconic high street.
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37. Is Political Instability Ruining UK Foreign Investment? (Live from NYC)
27:03||Season 2, Ep. 37In this episode of Political Business, Kevin joins Nathan from One World Trade Center in New York during UNGA week to share exclusive insights on how US investors view the UK’s shifting political landscape—and why a "delivery problem" is stalling transatlantic business.Back in London, Nathan breaks down the massive £72 million funding package for Reform UK from mega-donors Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne. Is this a game-changer for Nigel Farage, or will it create hidden pitfalls? Plus, an in-depth preview of the high-stakes Holborn and St Pancras by-election following Keir Starmer's departure.
36. The Future of Oxford Street: Pedestrianisation, and the huge transformation
30:20||Season 2, Ep. 36In this episode, we take an exclusive look into the massive transformation planned for London’s iconic Oxford Street. With the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) stepping in as the local planning authority, major changes are coming to one of the world's most famous retail and commercial hubs, with Nabeel Khan of the Oxford Street Development Corporation.From closing the street to vehicle traffic by the end of the year to creating a mixed-use, experiential destination, learn how local authorities, businesses, and global inspirations (from New York to Tokyo) are shaping the future of the West End.Key Topics Covered in This Episode:The 2028 Vision: Moving Oxford Street from a high-traffic transit route to a high-dwelling experiential destination.Fast-Tracking Planning Powers: How OSDC built a Local Planning Authority (LPA) function in just six months.Traffic-Free Phasing: The strategy behind closing the street to vehicles, live "test and learn" trials, and managing complex underground infrastructure.Accessibility & Servicing: Nuanced approaches to disabled access, local bus routes, and store delivery logistics.Global Inspiration: Lessons learned from Times Square (NYC), Tokyo, Bordeaux, and Lyon.The Next Generation of Retail: Attracting major flagships (Liverpool FC, Warner Bros. Harry Potter, Pinterest) and balancing retail with F&B/leisure.
34. What Reform does next... with Laila Cunningham
29:46||Season 2, Ep. 34In this episode of Political Business, Nathan sits down with Reform UK's candidate for the 2028 London Mayoral Election, Laila Cunningham, at the party's annual conference in Birmingham. Laila reflects on her ambitions for mayoralty, outlines her pitch to the capital's businesses and voters and addresses the recent controversy surrounding the party's donations. Nathan and Kevin also discuss the political landscape surrounding the upcoming by-election in Holburn and St Pancras, how Reform's leadership might navigate the donations controversy engulfing the party, and the damage it could inflict politically.
33. Westminster Council Leader on the Oxford Street Plan & Spending Challenges
33:31||Season 2, Ep. 33In this episode of Political Business, Nathan sits down on the 17th floor of City Hall with Councillor Paul Swaddle, Leader of Westminster City Council.Paul reflects on his journey in Conservative Party politics—from joining during the 1997 general election defeat to serving on the party board and earning an OBE. Now over 100 days into his leadership, he addresses the massive challenges facing Westminster, including a £160M budget gap driven by government funding cuts, proposed council tax increases of 75% to 100%, and the crackdown on dockless bikes.He also sets the record straight on the recent "vertical drinking" media storm, outlines his stance against Sadiq Khan’s Oxford Street Development Corporation, and explains his vision for bringing a fast-paced, private-sector ethos to local government.
32. The End of the Summer Recess: What's in Store for the Political Parties?
32:19||Season 2, Ep. 32Welcome back to Political Business! After a couple weeks off, Kevin McKeever and Nathan Parsad-Wyatt look at the changing UK political landscape following a high-stakes summer.From Andy Burnham’s first weeks in office and Labour’s strategy to Kemi Badenoch strengthening the Conservatives and the internal battles facing Reform UK, we break down where every major UK political party stands heading into party conference season.Plus, we preview what’s next for the budget, the government's 10-year plan. Where do both the Left and the Right of British politics sit as the summer recess ends and parliament gets set to return?
31. Right-Wing Fractures and Badenoch Gaffes
21:53||Season 2, Ep. 31Are Reform UK starting to fracture from within? In this week's episode of Political Business, hosts Kevin McKeever and Nathan Parsad-Wyatt dive into the shifting dynamics of the British right wing, Kemi Badenoch’s recent leadership missteps, and whether prime ministers should actually take summer breaks.In this episode:• Reform UK & Rupert Lowe: Is Nigel Farage losing control as Restore Britain pushes the party further to the right? • The Clacton By-Election & Farage’s Future: Is Farage an electoral asset or an emerging liability?• Kemi Badenoch’s Controversial Week: Assessing the Conservative leader's political judgment after a council candidate backlash and her "bins" comments.• Summer Recess Debate: Why media attacks on politicians taking holidays (like Andy Burnham & David Cameron) are missing the point.🎙️ ABOUT POLITICAL BUSINESSBringing you insider analysis on UK politics, party strategy, and political comms every week. #UKPolitics #ReformUK #KemiBadenoch #NigelFarage #ConservativeParty #PoliticalBusiness #UKNews
30. Understanding the Burnham Administration
27:21||Season 2, Ep. 30Andy Burnham’s First 14 Days as PM: Poll Bounces, No. 10 North & Strategic Masterplans Has Andy Burnham completely flipped UK politics in just two weeks? Join Nathan Parsad-Wyatt (from Southwold) and Kevin McKeever (from Manchester) as they break down the turbulent first fortnight of the new administration.In this episode of Political Business, we take a deep dive into:The "Burnham Bounce": How Labour's polling is shifting and why favorability ratings are up 19 points.Number 10 North: Symbolic branding or real decentralization?Policy Blitz: Electricity VAT cuts, bus caps, and the battle over adult social care.The Greater Manchester By-Election: Why Reform UK activists shifted focus and what Bev Craig's campaign signals for Labour's northern footprint.Summer Reading List: Must-read political books (featuring Head North and Lee Kuan Yew’s From Third World to First).
29. Burnham's New Cabinet and Ending Political Violence
39:08||Season 2, Ep. 29Prime Minister Andy Burnham has arrived in Downing Street, and has unveiled his top team. What does this massive political shift mean for UK business?Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever break down the figures at the forefront of Burnham's cabinet, what kind of administration will they help shape? They also examine reaction from opposition parties and wonder where UK politics stands following such a change.Finally they discuss the importance of political security and safety, having experienced, how do we keep public servants safe?