Former Conservative MP Duncan Baker joins journalist Charlie Walden to unpack one of the most turbulent weeks in Westminster since the general election.

A cascade of resignations inside Downing Street — from Morgan McSweeney to Tim Allan — has fuelled a growing narrative that Number 10 is losing control. The crisis deepened when Anas Sarwar publicly called for the Prime Minister to stand aside ahead of the Holyrood election, triggering open fractures within Labour’s ranks.

Meanwhile, Wes Streeting’s decision to publish private WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson prompted Cabinet Office warnings and intensified the briefing war engulfing the party. Is this transparency — or escalation?

As Sir Chris Wormald steps down as Cabinet Secretary during the storm, the drama moves beyond party politics into questions about the stability of the state itself.

They also debate:

• Whether the government’s growth strategy can survive the chaos

• Streeting vs Rayner — is a leadership contest quietly taking shape?

• Claims that Ed Miliband has privately fired shots at Streeting

• Whether calling Israel’s actions “genocide” changes leadership calculus

• The rise of Restore Britain and polling suggesting a potential 10% insurgent vote share

• And whether donating a Prime Ministerial salary to charity is principled leadership — or political theatre

Is this a government in temporary turbulence — or the start of a structural unravelling?

Blending insider political experience with sharp reporting, Duncan and Charlie dig beneath the headlines to explain what’s really happening inside the Labour machine — and what it means for the future of British politics.

Former Conservative MP Duncan Baker joins journalist Charlie Walden to break down the biggest stories shaking Westminster. Blending insider political experience with sharp reporting, they dig beneath the surface of the week’s headlines to explain what’s really going on behind closed doors. This episode covers Andy Burnham’s clash with Labour’s NEC, the uncertain state of the Conservative Party, fresh defections to Reform, and the growing debate over whether the UK should remain part of the ECHR. From party infighting to constitutional questions, it’s a candid look at the power, personalities, and pressures shaping British politics today.

In the first episode of Two Mates. No Mandates., journalist Charlie Walden is joined by former Conservative MP for North Norfolk Duncan Baker to unpack a turbulent moment in British politics.

They discuss Duncan’s experience of losing his seat at the general election — including his private conversation with Rishi Sunak — and reflect on life after party politics. The conversation then turns to the wider picture: Reform defections, the future of the Conservative Party, and who could emerge as the next leader of the Labour Party.

With insider insight and straight-talking analysis, this episode offers a candid look behind the curtain of Westminster at a time of major political change.