Whitehall Sources

Welcome to Shuffling the Shambles. On this week's episode of Whitehall Sources, as we take you behind the door of Number 10 Downing Street with those in the know: Suella Braverman's "trojan horse" resignation as Home Secretary; the staff comings and goings at Number 10 and, crucially, what they tell us about Liz Truss's leadership and authority. We introduce a new feature: Chequers and Balances where we hear from an opposition adviser. Today, Tom Hamilton who was head of research for the Labour Party and helped to prepare Ed Miliband, Harriet Harman and Jeremy Corbyn for PMQs between 2010 and 2016. He casts his eye over PMQs, while Kirsty and Oscar remember what it was like to advise a weakened Prime Minister who was going up against an emboldened Leader of the Opposition.

Also, viral sensation Kirsty reveals who Mr X was - a guest on Question Time that Liz Truss tried - and failed - to avoid encountering when she was Justice Secretary. You've been guessing all week online: was it Owen Jones, Julia Hartley-Brewer or David Dimbleby himself perhaps? Kirsty reveals all.

Plus, we open the doors to The Correspondence Unit. We read your emails and comments on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, answering your questions and assessing the accuracy of your predictions. As you listen, send us a note of what you predict will have happened by our next episode - what will we be talking about? Email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode 1 of Whitehall Sources. This week, in our first charm offensive, Calum Macdonald, Kirsty Buchanan and Oscar Reddrop discuss a horrifying 1922 Committee meeting for Prime Minister Liz Truss which - it seems - is indicative of the turning of the parliamentary Conservative party - which Kirsty describes as Liz Truss's "most immediate threat." Also, we stretch a car metaphor to its limit as we discuss U-turns. Why is communication strategy so bad that no-one knows what growth means, and no-one can think of a good name for economic announcements? 

Kirsty and Oscar give us unique insights into their time working with Liz Truss, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, and tell us what PM Truss could learn from her predecessors. Welcome to the political cul-de-sac. 

Email us your analysis and your feedback - what did you like, what didn't you like? Our email address is [email protected]. Find us online: whitehallsources.com or search for Whitehall Sources on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Whitehall Sources, you hear from those who have lived every second of politics. Two top advisers to our most recent prime ministers analyse the successes and failures of today's politicians, sharing their experiences of working behind the world's most famous door. They are your Whitehall Sources. Kirsty Buchanan worked with Theresa May as PM, and Liz Truss when she was Secretary of State. Oscar Reddrop advised Boris Johnson through crises of our times, including the war in Ukraine and throughout his ultimate downfall. Journalist and broadcaster Calum Macdonald manages their in-tray of talking points, U-turns and crises. 

Other politics podcasts don't bring you close enough to the action. Whitehall Sources brings you onto Whitehall, and inside Number 10 Downing Street every week as politics implodes around us. Subscribe now, and to become one of our "sources" - offering your analysis and hot take on what we're talking about, email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.