<p>A week is a long time in politics. After a crushing by-election defeat last week, the Prime Minister was hoping for a quiet week to recalibrate. Instead, he got a new war. The US and Israel’s joint attack on Iran has set in motion a whole new set of pressures on his government; navigating the ‘Special Relationship’ with the US, confronting the long shadow of Iraq hanging over the Labour Party and keeping the domestic ship afloat.</p><br><p>In this episode, former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson, former Special Advisor to Boris Johnson, reveal the reality of Number 10 on a war footing. What’s it like inside COBR meetings? Does the ‘boys club’ mentality take over? And how the hell do you keep the country running?</p><br><p>Timecodes:&nbsp;</p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>01:28 Iran War: recap of the week’s events</p><p>04:41 Domestic backdrop: Spring statement</p><p>07:01 The strange geography of 10 Downing Street this week</p><p>09:45 How to spot the signs of war in Number 10</p><p>12:45 History lesson: Gordon Brown’s COBR meetings</p><p>16:51 Why Boris Johnson didn’t like COBR meetings</p><p>19:40 The ‘Boys Club’ mindset at a time of war</p><p>24:03 Party politics during war</p><p>26:30 Why the Conservatives haven’t backed Labour</p><p>30:15 The importance of a US ambassador</p><p>31:50 Bizarre phone calls with POTUS</p><p>33:10 Theresa May holding hands with Trump</p><p>35:28 What should Starmer do next?</p><br><p>Cover image: PA</p><p>Find the best clips from the podcast and more from Helen and Cleo on the show's Instagram page <a href="https://instagram.com/intheroom.pod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><br><p>This podcast is part of The Independent Podcast Network and is produced in association with Next Chapter Studios</p><br><p>Executive Producers: Olivia Foster and Carrie Rose</p><p>Producer: Sam Durham</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

In The Room

The Independent

3. Inside Downing Street when war breaks out

MAR 6, 202642 MIN
In The Room

3. Inside Downing Street when war breaks out

MAR 6, 202642 MIN

Description

<p>A week is a long time in politics. After a crushing by-election defeat last week, the Prime Minister was hoping for a quiet week to recalibrate. Instead, he got a new war. The US and Israel’s joint attack on Iran has set in motion a whole new set of pressures on his government; navigating the ‘Special Relationship’ with the US, confronting the long shadow of Iraq hanging over the Labour Party and keeping the domestic ship afloat.</p><br><p>In this episode, former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson, former Special Advisor to Boris Johnson, reveal the reality of Number 10 on a war footing. What’s it like inside COBR meetings? Does the ‘boys club’ mentality take over? And how the hell do you keep the country running?</p><br><p>Timecodes:&nbsp;</p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>01:28 Iran War: recap of the week’s events</p><p>04:41 Domestic backdrop: Spring statement</p><p>07:01 The strange geography of 10 Downing Street this week</p><p>09:45 How to spot the signs of war in Number 10</p><p>12:45 History lesson: Gordon Brown’s COBR meetings</p><p>16:51 Why Boris Johnson didn’t like COBR meetings</p><p>19:40 The ‘Boys Club’ mindset at a time of war</p><p>24:03 Party politics during war</p><p>26:30 Why the Conservatives haven’t backed Labour</p><p>30:15 The importance of a US ambassador</p><p>31:50 Bizarre phone calls with POTUS</p><p>33:10 Theresa May holding hands with Trump</p><p>35:28 What should Starmer do next?</p><br><p>Cover image: PA</p><p>Find the best clips from the podcast and more from Helen and Cleo on the show's Instagram page <a href="https://instagram.com/intheroom.pod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><br><p>This podcast is part of The Independent Podcast Network and is produced in association with Next Chapter Studios</p><br><p>Executive Producers: Olivia Foster and Carrie Rose</p><p>Producer: Sam Durham</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>