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. Kirsty Buchanan worked with Theresa May as PM, and Liz Truss when she was Secretary of State. Jo Tanner is a political adviser and strategist who's worked with politicians from all parties. 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
British politics is entering a new and unstable era.
In this Whitehall Sources New Year special, we're joined by Luke Tryl of More in Common.
Calum Macdonald, political strategist Jo Tanner and former No.10 adviser Kirsty Buchanan, to break down the biggest polling stories of 2025 and what they mean for 2026’s critical elections.
🔍 In this episode:
- Why Reform UK is leading the polls – and whether Nigel Farage has peaked
- Labour’s hi...
The Whitehall Sources Christmas Special takes a hard look back at one of the most turbulent years in British and global politics — and asks what comes next.
Calum Macdonald, former No.10 adviser Kirsty Buchanan and political strategist Jo Tanner unpack the defining moments of 2025:
- The Labour welfare rebellion that exposed Keir Starmer’s leadership weaknesses
- Rachel Reeves’ emotional Commons moment and what it revealed about press...
Is Keir Starmer heading for another reset in January — and will it work?
In this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, former No.10 special adviser Kirsty Buchanan and political strategist Jo Tanner examine the growing pressure on the Labour leadership as 2026 looms.
The panel breaks down:
- Why Labour MPs are rebelling over proposals to restrict jury trials
- Whether Starmer has lost his political narrative — and public trust
- ...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brexit is back on the agenda — and this week’s Whitehall Sources dives deep. Former No10 adviser Kirsty Buchanan, political strategist Jo Tanner, and Calum Macdonald break down whether Keir Starmer is quietly preparing the UK for a new customs arrangement with the EU – and what that actually means.
We analyse:
🔹 Starmer’s recent speeches hinting at closer EU ties
🔹 Whether Labour is shifting towards a customs union
🔹 How “th...
Two days after Rachel Reeves delivered her first budget, Calum Macdonald and former No.10 special adviser Kirsty Buchanan break down what really happened — from the OBR leak, to the tax rises, to the political strategy behind one of the most controversial fiscal events in years.
Economist Simon French (Panmure Liberum) joins to assess:
• Why the markets didn’t panic
• Whether this budget really “clobbers working people”
• Why busine...
Calum and Kirsty are joined by James Chapman, who was an adviser to Chancellor George Osborne; and Karim Palant who was an adviser to Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, to take you behind the scenes of budget day. James tells us how the budget is even decided - including one measure that was kept secret from the Cabinet - they only found out about it when it was announced to the Commons. Plus, he discusses leaks that caused headaches for ...
Join us live from central London for an unmissable deep-dive into Rachel Reeves’ upcoming Budget — with business leaders, MPs and political strategists unpacking what’s really happening behind the scenes.
Recorded at the Make UK headquarters and sponsored by Rud Pedersen, this Whitehall Sources Live special brings together an expert panel to explore the most turbulent pre-budget period in years.
🔥 What we cover in this episode:
...
Join the Whitehall Sources podcast as we dive deep into Westminster politics. This week, Calum, Kirsty, and Jo, with a special guest appearance from James Nation, ex-Special Advisor to Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
We discuss:
The shocking mistaken release of a migrant sex offender and the fallout at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).
David Lammy’s handling of the situation and the questions it raises about accountability in gov...
This week on Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Kirsty Buchanan (former No.10 special adviser), and political strategist Jo Tanner dissect an explosive week in Westminster — from the Home Office’s “not fit for purpose” report to Keir Starmer’s looming tax U-turn.
👉 Part 1: The Home Office is back in crisis — migrant release blunders, asylum chaos, and Labour’s struggle to get control of small boats.
👉 Part 2: Labour’s credibility...
This week on Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Kirsty Buchanan, and Jo Tanner unpack the political crisis surrounding the Grooming Gangs Inquiry — after victims resigned and its chair Jim Gamble stepped down. With Jess Phillips under pressure and Baroness Louise Casey drafted in, can the government restore trust?
Then: the rise of the Green Party. New leader Zack Polanski has lifted the Greens to record polling numbers. Pollst...
In this week’s Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald and Kirsty Buchanan are joined by Lord Walney (John Woodcock) — former extremism adviser to the government — for a deep dive into two major stories shaking Westminster.
👉 First, the China spying scandal: Why did the case against alleged spies collapse? Did the government withhold key evidence? And is the UK’s economic relationship with China compromising national security?
👉 Then, a...
🎙️ Whitehall Sources takes you inside Westminster for an unfiltered debrief on the Conservative Party Conference 2025 — and asks: Can Kemi Badenoch save the Tories from collapse?
Calum Macdonald plus Kirsty Buchanan, former adviser to Theresa May, and Jo Tanner, political strategist, unpack:
- Kemi Badenoch’s leadership test after the Manchester conference
- Her new economic pitch — scrapping stamp duty and business rates
- Whether the ...
Sir Keir Starmer leaves Labour’s party conference in Liverpool with a bold new strategy: frame the fight as Labour vs Reform UK. But is calling Nigel Farage’s immigration policies “racist” a huge political risk?
On this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Kirsty Buchanan (former No.10 adviser to Theresa May) and Jo Tanner (political strategist) break down:
- What really happened at Labour conference – and why the media n...
The latest Whitehall Sources episode is packed with political drama. 🚨
👉 Keir Starmer’s government drops a bombshell: Digital ID cards could soon be mandatory to work in the UK. Is this about immigration, security—or just a desperate attempt to change the headlines?
👉 A mega poll (MRP) of 10,000 voters puts Reform UK on the brink of a parliamentary majority—yes, you read that right. Could Labour really be swept away just months af...
Donald Trump’s UK state visit dominates Westminster this week — and the Whitehall Sources team take you inside the drama.
🎙️ Calum Macdonaldm, former No.10 adviser Kirsty Buchanan and political strategist Jo Tanner break down:
- The pageantry of Windsor Castle and how the royals played a key role in shaping Trump’s mood.
- Trump’s joint press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers — including clashes over immigration...
In this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Kirsty Buchanan (former adviser to Theresa May) and political strategist Jo Tanner unpack a turbulent week in Westminster and beyond.
🔹 Russian drones breach Polish airspace – NATO faces its biggest test in decades as Donald Tusk invokes Article 4.
🔹 Israel & Gaza tensions – Keir Starmer hosts Israeli President Isaac Herzog amid escalating violence, Doha strikes, and growi...
🚨 Angela Rayner has resigned as Labour’s Deputy Leader after controversy over her stamp duty payments — a dramatic twist that could reshape the party’s future. In this episode, we dig into what her departure means for Sir Keir Starmer, the challenges it poses for his authority, and how Labour might respond in the months ahead.
📰 We unpack the immediate fallout inside Westminster and across the media, and look at how the reshuffle ...
Angela Rayner is under fire after admitting she underpaid £40,000 in stamp duty on her Hove flat. With questions over her legal advice, whether she misled colleagues, and the optics of multiple homes, will Sir Keir Starmer be able to save his Deputy Prime Minister?
In this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Kirsty Buchanan (former adviser to Theresa May) and Jo Tanner (political strategist) debate:
- Is Angela Rayner’s ...
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