Whitehall Sources

In this episode of the Whitehall Sources podcast, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner, and James Nation dissect the "week from hell" for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.Following explosive testimony from former Foreign Office Head Sir Olly Robbins, the team explores allegations of "constant and dismissive pressure" from the Prime Minister’s inner circle to bypass security vetting for Lord Mandelson’s Washington appointment. We look ahead to next week’s high-stakes evidence from Sir Philip Barton and Morgan McSweeney, and ask the ultimate question: With the local elections just two weeks away, is Keir Starmer still in control of his government?Later, Nathan Parsad-Wyatt from the Political Business podcast and part of the team from London Decides 2026, joins Calum, Jo and James to look ahead to the London elections, with just two-weeks to go!

In this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner, and NEW FULL-TIME HOST, former No. 10 policy deputy James Nation react to the breaking news of yet another scandal involving former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson. Mid-recording, the team reacts to the bombshell report that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting, only for the decision to be overruled by the Foreign Office. Did Keir Starmer mislead Parliament? Who knew what, and when?Also on the show: With Wes Streeting calling for more defence spending and Lord Robertson warning that Britain is "underinsured," the panel explores the Treasury’s secret "stack"—the spreadsheet that controls the country's finances. Can the government find billions for the military without gutting the welfare budget?

As UK energy costs soar, industry leaders are calling for an Emergency Budget to prevent mass deindustrialisation. In this episode of Whitehall Sources, we dive into the brewing cabinet split between Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband over North Sea oil drilling.Emergency Budget 2026: Why Make UK’s Verity Davidge says the government must intervene now to save British manufacturing.Energy Security: The "screeching U-turn" on Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields.Business at Risk: How record-high energy bills and business rates are forcing UK firms to the brink.

Is Ed Miliband actually the most powerful man in the UK government? 🇬🇧In this episode of the Whitehall Sources podcast, Calum Macdonald and Jo Tanner sit down with Will Lloyd, Deputy Editor at the New Statesman, to discuss his explosive deep-dive into the "Milibandism" taking over Westminster.While the headlines focus on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, it’s the Energy Secretary who is quietly reshaping the British economy. We explore:The Gordon Brown Connection: How Miliband’s 10 years as a Treasury advisor shaped his "steely core."The "Millie-Fan" Renaissance: Why he is the most popular cabinet minister among Labour members.The Energy Gamble: Is his 2030 Net Zero target a visionary move or a political suicide mission?The Battle with Trump & Farage: Why Labour wants a fight over green energy.

Is Ed Miliband actually the most powerful man in the UK government? 🇬🇧In this episode of the Whitehall Sources podcast, Calum Macdonald and Jo Tanner sit down with Will Lloyd, Deputy Editor at the New Statesman, to discuss his explosive deep-dive into the "Milibandism" taking over Westminster.While the headlines focus on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, it’s the Energy Secretary who is quietly reshaping the British economy. We explore:The Gordon Brown Connection: How Miliband’s 10 years as a Treasury advisor shaped his "steely core."The "Millie-Fan" Renaissance: Why he is the most popular cabinet minister among Labour members.The Energy Gamble: Is his 2030 Net Zero target a visionary move or a political suicide mission?The Battle with Trump & Farage: Why Labour wants a fight over green energy.

In this episode of the Whitehall Sources podcast, Calum Macdonald and Jo Tanner dive into the sudden turmoil hitting the energy markets. With oil and gas prices jumping to four-year highs following escalations between Israel, Iran, and the US, what does this mean for your back pocket?RSM UK Chief Economist Thomas Pugh joins the show to explain the "K-shaped" recovery, the truth about UK gas storage, and why those predicted interest rate cuts have suddenly vanished. Plus, we discuss the controversial new data-harvesting tactics from Nigel Farage and Reform UK.

We dive deep into the "Mandelson Files" with Chief Political Commentator Kitty Donaldson to uncover how Peter Mandelson was fast-tracked for the US Ambassador role and what it means for Keir Starmer’s integrity. Plus, we meet Innes Morgan, the 21-year-old appointed to the UK’s new Civil Society Council.From secret vetting processes to "subterranean" rebellions within the Labour Party, this week’s Whitehall Sources explores the friction between old-school political manoeuvring and the new government's promise of ethics.In this episode:The Mandelson Files: Kitty Donaldson (The i Paper) explains the "enhanced vetting" process and why Number 10 jumped over every hurdle to get their man in Washington.Starmer’s "Sticky Wicket": Jo Tanner analyses the Prime Minister’s apology and the growing frustration among female MPs.A New Voice in Number 10: Innes Morgan shares his journey from a rural Scottish community to advising the PM on civil society.Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: search for Whitehall Sources

On today's episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald and Jo Tanner reflect to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East following US action against Iran. They also react to the news that a British military base in Cyprus was attacked by a drone strike, and the fact that a British warship designated to patrol Cyprus waters is set to take 8 days to reach the Mediterranean island.Calum and Jo are joined by former No.10 policy advisor in the Sunak administration, James Nation as they discuss all this alongside The Chancellor of the Exchequer's Spring Statement.They will ask:Is Britain truly ready for conflict?Has underinvestment in defence left the UK exposed?Will oil prices push energy bills higher again?Later in the episode Calum and Jo are joined by psychotherapist Lucy Beresford to discuss the psychology behind the headlines, in a particularly uncertain time. They'll discuss the science of emotion behind politics. 📩 Got a question? WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 (start with “Whitehall”)👍 Like, comment & subscribe for insider political analysis every week.