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 a candidate for the Makerfield by-election, and a likely candidate for 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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