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. 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.
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Latest episode
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The King's Speech
In this conversation, Calum and Kirsty discuss various topics including the King's speech, the challenges of delivering on government promises, and the European political community meeting at Blenheim Palace. They highlight the importance of… -
Election Eve
The conversation discusses the upcoming general election and the expectations for the results. It highlights the lack of excitement and momentum in the campaign, as well as the messaging and strategies of the different parties. The conversation also … -
Polling, Kids' Takes and Energy... with Adam Bell
Calum Macdonald and Kirsty Buchanan discuss various topics related to the upcoming election. They talk about the length of the campaign, the impact of polling, and the challenges faced by the Conservative Party. Kirsty also shares her experi… -
Economy Pledges... with Giles Wilkes
The conversation discusses the recent TV moment where Beth Rigby questioned Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak individually. It explores the lack of inspiration and vision from both leaders and the sense of distrust and cynicism among the public. The conve… -
Housing... with Sir Brandon Lewis
The first TV debate between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak is in the books, but what did we learn? Nigel Farage is firmly back in the UK political fray: what does this mean for the Conservatives? And former MP and housing minister Sir Brandon Lewis CBE… -
The Ming Vase Strategy and lack of policy
The conversation covers various aspects of the ongoing election campaign, including the performance of the Conservative and Labour parties, the impact of policy announcements, the handling of key issues such as Brexit and the economy, and th… -
The Election is On
Jo Tanner joins Kirsty and Calum. The conversation discusses the announcement of the general election and the strategy behind it. It explores the mishaps and challenges faced by the Conservative Party, including the timing of the announcemen… -
Analysing Sir Keir Starmer's Six Pledges
Kirsty Buchanan, former special advisor to Theresa May, and Calum Macdonald discuss the prison system in the UK, and Sir Keir Starmer's six pledges for the next general election. The conversation touches on the challenges of the prison syste… -
The Month of Own Goals
Defection, Swinney and Antisemitism on Campus -
The Local Elections wash up
We discuss the local elections in the UK and their implications for the Conservative Party and Rishi Sunak. We consider the impact of immigration on the elections, the performance of Sadiq Khan in the mayoral election in London, the role of personali…