Whitehall Sources
A Government in Crisis Mode: Sanctions and Gemma Collins
Published: 22 May 2026 at 05:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
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 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 refined Russian oil and diesel behind Europe's back? We break down the late-night technical notice that left ministers fumbling for answers.
- 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?
- 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?
- 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?
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