Whitehall Sources
By Calum Macdonald
Top advisers to our significant political leaders analyse the successes and failures of today's politics, sharing their experiences of working in Whitehall. They are your Whitehall Sources. Kirsty Buchanan worked with Theresa May as PM, and Liz Truss when she was Secretary of State. Frankie Leach advised Jeremy Corbyn when he was Labour Leader. 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.
Latest episode
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Zahawi, Marshmallows and Team (un)Bonding
Kirsty and Frankie assess the state of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer's "political capital." Where does it come from, where's it going? Will the Prime Minister have any left by the time the Nadhim Zahawi furore is cleared up? Kirsty tells us a… -
Handling shock resignations & cliquey MPs
Kirsty and Frankie discuss how to handle shock resignations from your party, as Jacinda Ardern announces she's standing down as Prime Minister of New Zealand. Kirsty tells us about being on resignation watch when she was "Head of the Weekend… -
Welcome to The Tunnel
Welcome to a brand new year on Whitehall Sources! (12th January is also Frankie's birthday). Calum Macdonald, Kirsty Buchanan (Former Special Adviser to Theresa May) and Frankie Leach (former adviser to Jeremy Corbyn) are refreshed and rarin… -
Biggest Hits of 2022
Join Calum Macdonald to relive some of our podcast's biggest moments of the year on social media. After 15 episodes and more than one million hits online, it's time to relive what went viral which, very helpfully, tells the story of the unra… -
Whitehall's Christmas Parties
We're old enough to remember when parties in Downing Street were still legal. On this festive episode, Kirsty Buchanan, Special Adviser to Theresa May when she was Prime Minister, and Frankie Leach - adviser to Jeremy Corbyn when he was Lead… -
Jaw-dropping Moments of 2022
Join Calum, Kirsty and Frankie to review some of the most jawdropping moments of 2022. Also on this episode: Chris Mason (BBC Political Editor), Robert Peston (ITV Political Editor), Lucy Fisher (Times Radio Chief Political Commentator), Pip… -
Strikes, Immigration - and a new co-host
This week's episode is a special one - we're joined by a new co-host, our new third person. Who is it? There's drama and suspense galore. Listen in to find out. Also this week: strikes and immigration. Nurses have walked out on strike. We di… -
The Government's Advent Calendar
On every day until Christmas, someone, somewhere is on strike. That, combined with colder weather and the need for more heating making the cost of living crisis very real for many thousands of us, means the Government's advent calendar is li… -
Hellish Honeymoon
Nope, not the name of Matt Hancock's memoir - but a reflection on Rishi Sunak's first month as Prime Minister. Calum Macdonald hosts; Kirsty Buchanan, who used to advise Theresa May as PM, is joined by Frankie Leach who was an adviser to Jer… -
IndyRef2 and Britzerland
This week on Whitehall Sources, we take you behind the door of Number 10 Downing Street and discuss Britzerland. It's Brexit-related and it's all about The Chequers Deal: what is it, what does it mean, why is it back four years after it was …