{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/643d5b443617130011878af9/6a0f28ecd7997e788c5f782f?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"A Government in Crisis Mode: Sanctions and Gemma Collins","description":"<p>In this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner, and James Nation pull back the curtain on another busy week at Westminster. After Andy Burnham was confirmed as a candidate for the Makerfield by-election, and a likely candidate for Prime Minister, are the government now in crisis mode and will anything they do increase their approval ratings?</p><p><br></p><p>Also on the show today:</p><ul><li>Why did the UK quietly loosen sanctions on refined Russian oil and diesel behind Europe's back? We break down the late-night technical notice that left ministers fumbling for answers.</li><li>Bridget Phillipson called criticism of a social media video with Gemma Collins \"snobbery,\" but why did the Department for Education’s collaboration with her leave Special Educational Needs (SEND) parents and campaigners absolutely furious?</li><li>Rachel Reeves announces a summer VAT holiday on theme parks, cinemas, and zoos while the government fights off rumours of supermarket food price caps. Is this smart cost-of-living policy or sheer desperation?</li><li>And a brutal text exchange between Jonny Reynolds and suspended Labour MP Karl Turner goes viral on X. Is this sending completely the wrong message on mental health?</li></ul>","author_name":"Shortbread Media"}