Whitehall Sources
By Shortbread Media
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.
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Latest episode
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Tony Blair’s Brutal Reality Check and Alun Milburn on NEETs
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… -
A Government in Crisis Mode: Sanctions and Gemma Collins
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 anythi… -
Sources Crossover: The GB election results
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… -
The Labour Leadership Crisis Continues
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 conti… -
Election Results 2026: Labour’s "Blue Wall" Moment & The Reform Surge
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 Wa… -
Golders Green Attacks & UK Politics: Lord Stuart Polak on the Rise of Antisemitism
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… -
Keir Starmer's Week from Hell and London Decides 2026
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 Robbi… -
Another Mandelson Scandal; plus Defence and Welfare Spending
In this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner, and NEW FULL-TIME HOST, former No. 10 policy deputy James Nation react to the breaking news of yet another scandal involving former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson. Mid-rec… -
Can Starmer’s Gulf Visit Save the UK Economy?
As a ceasefire in the Middle East teeters on the edge, Prime Minister Keir Starmer heads to the Gulf. But is this a diplomatic masterstroke or a "smoothing over exercise" after the UK was left on the back foot by Donald Trump?In this ep… -
Is an Emergency Budget Coming?
As UK energy costs soar, industry leaders are calling for an Emergency Budget to prevent mass deindustrialisation. In this episode of Whitehall Sources, we dive into the brewing cabinet split between Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband over North Sea oi…