<![CDATA[Inside Whitehall]]>
jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/podcastSubstackSun, 07 Jun 2026 01:08:46 GMThttps://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/6834635.rssInside WhitehallMy personal SubstackepisodicInside Whitehalljamesstarkie@substack.comNo<![CDATA[Inside the by-election Makerfield and is Wes Streeting yesterday's man?]]>Jonathan talks about his recent trips to Makerfield for the by-election and the conversations he’s had with local residents, including one voter who was shocked to find out they had to go out to vote again so soon after the recent local elections.

James and Jonathan also look at the latest twists and turns in the Labour leadership saga, and ask whether former Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, and has missed his chance at the top job and is now yesterday’s man.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-the-by-election-makerfieldsubstack:post:200124871Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:01:53 GMTInside WhitehallNo3132<![CDATA[Inside Labour chaos: It's the end for Starmer, but what next?]]>This week marked the, by now, inevitable end of Starmer. However, there is still no clear leadership timetable, nor has any Labour pretender confirmed they will actually run. Therefore the country faces weeks, if not months, of stasis.

James and Jonathan look at how we got here and what next for Labour and the country.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-labour-chaos-its-the-end-forsubstack:post:197969712Sat, 16 May 2026 11:08:24 GMTInside WhitehallNo2886<![CDATA[Election day special!]]>James and Jonathan dive into what the potential outcomes of the local and devolved elections might be. Will Keir Starmer face a leadership challenge? Would a new leader even help the Labour party current plight?

Jonathan talks about his own experience as a Conservative MP of replacing the leader, and provides some advice for the Labour plotters…



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/election-day-specialsubstack:post:196764521Thu, 07 May 2026 11:38:26 GMTInside WhitehallNo3402<![CDATA[Inside the latest revelations about the Mandelson appointment ]]>James and Jonathan dissect a dramatic end to the week with the revelation that Peter Mandelson, Starmer’s former ambassador to the USA, failed his security clearance but was appointed to the top position anyway. Can the PM survive this? Is his leadership now doomed anyway, and what does this mean for the local and devolved elections? Listen to find out.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-the-latest-revelations-aboutsubstack:post:194519506Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:01:20 GMTInside WhitehallNo3276<![CDATA[Inside Reform Canada and a look ahead to the local elections]]>James and Jonathan talk this week about James’ recent review of a book on the Canadian Reform party and specifically what lessons can, and can’t, be learnt here in the UK from the experience of the Canadian right.

The duo also look at the game of expectation management in the local elections and ask whether Ed Davey will be the party leader most in trouble come mid-May.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-reform-canada-and-a-look-aheadsubstack:post:192725137Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:15:57 GMTInside WhitehallNo2963<![CDATA[Inside the Gorton and Denton by-election]]>James and Jonathan discuss the fallout from the Gorton and Denton by-election, which was nothing short of a political earthquake.

Is this the end of the two party system? What does the result tell us about tactical voting? And how long can Prime Minister Starmer last now?

The duo dissect a massive week in politics.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-the-gorton-and-denton-by-election-885substack:post:189467811Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:53:38 GMTInside WhitehallNo3444<![CDATA[Inside the Gorton and Denton by-election]]>James and Jonathan discuss the fallout from the Gorton and Denton by-election, which was nothing short of a political earthquake. Is this the end of the two party system? What does the result tell us about tactical voting? And how long can Prime Minister Starmer last now?



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-the-gorton-and-denton-by-electionsubstack:post:189463163Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:41:32 GMTInside WhitehallNo3444<![CDATA[Inside Reform's Shadow Cabinet]]>James and Jonathan discuss Reform’s newly announced Shadow Cabinet, looking at what this means for Reform as a party and why it’s being presented now. Who are the winners and losers, does this mean Reform is no longer a one man band and an announcement you may have missed!



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-reforms-shadow-cabinetsubstack:post:188519004Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMTInside WhitehallNo3034<![CDATA[Inside Reform's Shadow Cabinet]]>James and Jonathan discuss Reform’s newly announced Shadow Cabinet, looking at what this means for Reform as a party and why it’s being presented now. Who are the winners and losers, does this mean Reform is no longer a one man band and an announcement you may have missed!



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-reforms-shadow-cabinet-ffdsubstack:post:188523781Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:40:10 GMTInside WhitehallNo3034<![CDATA[McSweeney resigns and what it's like inside No10 during a crisis]]>With Morgan McSweeney’s resignation, James and Jonathan look at what comes next for the Prime Minister, who might replace McSweeney and if this is the beginning of the end for Starmer.

Jonathan also discusses what it was like during times of crisis when he, as an MP, attended meeting’s at No10 including discussions with then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/mcsweeney-resigns-and-what-its-like-30fsubstack:post:187322395Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:46:13 GMTInside WhitehallNo3108<![CDATA[McSweeney resigns and what it's like inside No10 during a crisis]]>With Morgan McSweeney’s resignation, James and Jonathan look at what comes next for the Prime Minister, who might replace McSweeney and if this is the beginning of the end for Starmer.

Jonathan also discusses what it was like during times of crisis when he, as an MP, attended meeting’s at No10 including discussions with then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/mcsweeney-resigns-and-what-its-likesubstack:post:187317859Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:53:36 GMTInside WhitehallNo3108<![CDATA[The Peter Mandelson Files]]>How will the Mandelson scandal impact Starmer’s future?

Jonathan reports back from a visit to the Gorton and Denton by-election after a day spent canvasing with Reform.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/the-peter-mandelson-filessubstack:post:186952784Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:11:07 GMTInside WhitehallNo3781<![CDATA[What does the MANDELSON affair mean for Starmer?]]>How will the Mandelson scandal impact Starmer's future?

Jonathan reports back from a visit to the Gorton and Denton by-election after a day canvassing with Reform.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/what-does-the-mandelson-affair-meansubstack:post:186833605Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:21:53 GMTInside WhitehallNo3781<![CDATA[Suella Braverman defection to Reform and who will win the Gorton by-election]]>James and Jonathan discuss the Prime Minister’s decision to block Andy Burnham from running in the upcoming by-election plus the duo cover the defection of Suella Braverman to Reform.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/suella-braverman-defection-to-reformsubstack:post:186062509Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:04:28 GMTInside WhitehallNo3214<![CDATA[Suella defection and who will win in the Gorton by-election]]>James and Jonathan discuss the Prime Minister’s decision to block Andy Burnham from running in the upcoming by-election plus the duo cover the defection of Suella Braverman to Reform.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/suella-defection-and-who-will-winsubstack:post:186023077Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:00:00 GMTInside WhitehallNo3214<![CDATA[Defection week - Jenrick and Zahawi defect to Reform]]>



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/defection-week-jenrick-and-zahawi-9d3substack:post:185104113Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMTInside WhitehallNo3157<![CDATA[Defection week - Jenrick and Zahawi defect to Reform]]>James and Jonathan discuss the defections, looking at how they may impact their respective parties as well as what it means for Labour.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/defection-week-jenrick-and-zahawisubstack:post:185100358Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMTInside WhitehallNo3157<![CDATA[Inside Whitehall Returns]]>The Inside Whitehall podcast returns, also available on YouTube. In the opening episode, James and Jonathan look ahead to the political year.

The duo discuss whether or not Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, will face a leadership challenge? How safe is Kemi Badenoch? And what Nigel Farage needs to do in order to prepare Reform to be a party of Government?



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-whitehall-returns-33bsubstack:post:184213445Sun, 11 Jan 2026 15:41:32 GMTInside WhitehallNo3088<![CDATA[Inside Whitehall Returns]]>The Inside Whitehall podcast returns as both a podcast and video channel, also available on YouTube. In the opening episode, James and Jonathan look ahead to the political year.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesstarkie.substack.com]]>https://jamesstarkie.substack.com/p/inside-whitehall-returnssubstack:post:184198452Sun, 11 Jan 2026 14:27:53 GMTInside WhitehallNo3088