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.