Whitehall Sources
Top advisers to our significant political leaders analyse the successes and failures of today's politics, sharing their experiences of working in Whitehall. Jo Tanner is a political adviser and strategist who's worked with politicians from all parties - she's Managing Partner at Rud Pedersen UK. James Nation was Deputy Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit, Special Adviser to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and is now Managing Director at Forefront Advisers. Journalist and broadcaster Calum Macdonald manages their in-tray of talking points, U-turns and crises. From parties in Westminster to the tactics of SpAds, this is your exclusive insight into how politics is done and how politicians work. We welcome insiders and analysts to join the conversation each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Labour takes a lead in the polls, but is the "Burnham Bounce" here to stay?
In this episode of the Whitehall Sources podcast, the team dissects a massive week in UK politics:
The Burnham Factor: Why Labour defenestrated Keir Starmer, whether Andy Burnham’s strong approval ratings (+20) can hold up, and what happens when tough spending choices arrive.
Opposition Struggles: How Conservatives, Reform UK, and the Lib Dem...
In this episode of the Whitehall Sources Podcast, Callum McDonald, James Nation and Jo Tanner are joined and special guest Charlotte Pickles (CEO of ReState).
Together, they unpack Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s landmark announcements on fiscal devolution—giving local mayors control over income tax and business rates—and his bold strategy to finally fix adult social care in England.
What wou...
Andy Burnham has officially become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, marking the country’s 7th PM since 2016.
Join host Calum Macdonald live from Downing Street on this special episode of The Sources Podcasts as we break down every moment of this historic handover of power. From Keir Starmer’s departure speech to Andy Burnham’s note-free address to the nation, we cover the immediate reactions, pol...
Is Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s economic vision realistic, or is a fiscal reckoning waiting in John Healey's autumn budget?
In this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner, and James Nation discuss Andy Burnham's new cabinet... what will his new top-team mean for the country?
Later they welcome Ben Zaranko, Economics Editor at The Observer, to break down the fiscal realities facing the new...
As Andy Burnham prepares to enter Downing Street on Monday, the Whitehall Sources team goes behind the scenes of yet another transfer of power in Westminster.
In this episode, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner, and James Nation break down the high-stakes chess game of Burnham’s upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Will Shabana Mahmood be named Chancellor?
Is Ed Miliband a massive risk or an indispensable domestic policy visionary?...
On today's episode of the Whitehall Sources podcast, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner and James Nation discuss the fallout to Nigel Farage's triggering a by-election in his own seat of Clacton.With most parties not standing his main challenger seems to be Count Binface....
Does this by-election even matter and should it get media attention, or is it a political stunt from the Reform UK leader that is best left alone?
Later, the tr...
As Andy Burnham prepares for a potential move into Downing Street, the team breaks down his massive devolution speech in Manchester. Is "Number 10 North" a stroke of political genius or just rearranging deckchairs?
In this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner, and James Nation dive into the intense speculation surrounding Burnham’s upcoming cabinet. Will Ed Miliband grab the Chancellor spot? Is Angela R...
Is Andy Burnham destined to be the next Prime Minister? In this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Maconald, Jo Tanner, and James Nation break down the imminent "coronation" of the former Greater Manchester Mayor as the potential next leader of the Labour Party.
We are joined by Financial Times Northern England Correspondent Jennifer Williams to unpack what a decade of covering Burnham reveals about his leadership style, his we...
Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is standing down as Prime Minister. In this emergency episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, political strategist Jo Tanner, and former No. 10 deputy policy chief James Nation take you inside the room for one of the most shocking days in modern Westminster history.
How did Starmer’s authority evaporate just two years into his premiership? From the catastrophic fallout of the budget...
FEED SWAP: We introduce you to the Political Business podcast, hosted by Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever
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Andy Burnham has secured a historic landslide victory in the Makerfield by-election, taking 55% of the vote and delivering a massive blow to Reform UK. Is this the end of the road for Prime Minister Keir Starmer?
In this episode of Political Business, hosts Nathan Parsad-Wyatt and Kevin McKeever bre...
In this Whitehall Sources special, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner and James Nation
are joined by Adam Dunlop (CEO of Carents) and Dr. Jackie Gray (Carents Founder) to pull back the curtain on the UK's adult carer crisis.
They dive deep into the economic, emotional, and structural battles facing 4 million adult children in the UK today.
Over 70% of carents are forced to leave the workforce or downplay their responsibilities...
On today’s episode of the Whitehall Sources podcast, Calum Macdonald, James Nation and Jo Tanner react to the breaking news that John Healey has resigned as Cabinet Secretary.
In a bombshell revelation, Healey’s resignation letter claimed that the government has been unwilling to “commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country”.
What does this shock announcement mean for U...
On today's episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner and James Nation discuss a week in UK politics that was dominated by only one story.
The tragic murder of 18-year-old student Henry Novak and the subsequent release of harrowing police bodycam footage has sparked political reaction from party leaders, police men and women and members of the public.
Calum, Jo and James discuss the tragedy and the political fa...
This week, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner and James Nation dive into another week of political drama.
We dissect Sir Tony Blair’s explosive 5,700-word essay critiquing the current administration's lack of a coherent plan for a fast-changing world.
Why has Downing Street stayed completely silent and Is Starmer's stubborn leadership style costing the party its grip on power?
We also break down former Health Secretary Alan Mi...
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?
Also on the show today:
- Why did the UK quietly loosen sanctions on ...
On this special edition of Stormont Sources, Calum Macdonald and Andy Maciver from the Whitehall Sources and Holyrood Sources podcasts join David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan to discuss how the results of the Welsh, Scottish and English elections will impact the UK as a whole and Northern Ireland.
- What will 3 nationalist First Ministers do for the state of the union... and is that statistic misleading?
- Where do Reform ...
On today's episode of Whitehall Sources: Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner and James Nation react in real time to the Labour leadership crisis on the day Wes Streeting resigned as Health Secretary.
Recording on Thursday evening as events continue to unfold, they discuss the possibility of a Labour leadership contest and who might run.
- Why hasn't Wes Streeting triggered a leadership contest?
- Who could the dark horses for Labour lea...
The UK political landscape has just been permanently altered. In this emergency episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner and James Nation deconstruct a seismic set of local election results.
From Labour losing power in Wales for the first time in history to Reform UK gaining over 1,400 councillors, the "two-party system" is under fire. We analyse:
- The Welsh Upset: Why the First Minister lost her seat and what ...
Inside the "Pandemic" of Antisemitism: A Whitehall Sources Special.
In this week's episode, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner, and James Nation reflect on a harrowing week in London following the antisemitic stabbings in Golders Green. With the UK threat level raised to "severe," the team investigates whether the political response is one of genuine solidarity or mere opportunism.
We are joined by Lord Stuart Polak, Honorary Preside...
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. ...
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