This week the team take a look at the upcoming local elections, the impact of those results on the national picture and Jonathan's new role as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party. Follow and comment on Twitter @WhitehallPodUK

Jonathan goes inside the budget process with Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury [EST] Gareth Davies MP. Gareth entered Parliament in 2019 after a stellar career in the City and has quickly risen through the ranks, and he's sure to play a big part in the future of the Conservative Party.As EST he plays a key role in the budget process and takes listeners through that process. Follow and comment on Twitter @WhitehallPodUK

The Greater London Authority [GLA] is the body that governs London, the capital city of the United Kingdom, and home to 9 million people with a GDP of over £500 billion. The eventual successor to the Greater London Council, it came about to a backdrop of a wider push towards devaluation. To discuss the GLA and wider London politics we were joined by Gareth Bacon MP. Gareth is the current Minister for Sentencing and Member of Parliament for Orpington. He previously served as the leader of the Conservative party in the London Assembly as well as a Councillor in Bexley. Gareth also Chaired the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority during Boris Johnson’s time as Mayor.Follow and comment on Twitter @WhitehallPodUK

They are the people who provide advice to ministers, provide consistency as Government’s change and run departments on a day to day basis. It is impossible to understand how Whitehall works without an understanding of the civil service. We were delighted to be joined by Sir David Bell, former Permanent Secretary of the Department for Education. His time there spanned 6 years, a change of government and 4 Secretaries of State, covering both Ed Balls and Michel Gove's time as Education Secretary. Sir David is a giant in the world of education, having started as a school teacher and working his way to through various senior roles, including Director of Education and Libraries with Newcastle City Council, to become the Chief Inspector of Schools for almost 4 years. He is now Vice Chancellor of the University of Sunderland. Follow and comment on Twitter @WhitehallPodUK

The first episode of our podcast was Jonathan's journey to becoming an MP, here he gets to turn the tables on James and grill him about how he ended up inside Whitehall. From Baghdad to the bright lights of Westminster, hear how James ended up working on the Vote Leave campaign and onto his time as Special Advisor with Michael Gove and Priti Patel. Follow and comment on Twitter @WhitehallPodUK

Pippa Crerar has reported on all there is to in politics, general elections, referendums as well as breaking some of the biggest stories over the past decade. Pippa also covered London for almost a decade, throughout Boris Johnson’s time as mayor, for the London Evening Standard. Pippa is now the Political Editor of the Guardian newspaper, having moved there after 4 years at the Daily Mirror. Pippa takes us inside the daily print and online lobby, and the Scottish press mafia! Hear about her journey into journalism and life covering Whitehall. We look at how digital news has changed the traditional print lobby and the nature of the changing media landscape. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

There are few buildings as iconic as the Houses of Parliament. A UNESCO world heritage site, the Gothic style building is around 150 years and for many is the image that comes to mind with even the mention of the word Parliament. Parliament is home to the UK legislature, both the House of Commons and House of Lords with around 3, 000 people supporting the working of the place daily. Running this iconic institution is a mammoth task and one made harder by the restoration needed to a building that hasn’t seen a major refurbishment for over 80 years. Joining us to discuss the upkeep of such a special building we have Nigel Evans MP. Nigel is a familiar face to many in Westminster having represented Rible Valley for more than 30 years. Nigel became Deputy Speaker in 2020 and second deputy chairman of the ways and means committee, having also previously held this role for 3 years. Nigel is also chairman of the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Programme Board which made him the perfect guest to understand more about this crucial process. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

Can you guess your favourite guest? As we take a break over parliamentary recess tune in to this special 'Best of Inside Whitehall' episode, featuring highlights from:  • Michael Gove • Matt Warman • Priti Patel • Eleni Courea • David Linden • Sir Robert Buckland • Cat Smith • Sam CoatesA big thank you to all the wonderful guests who have come on so far. Follow and comment on Twitter: @WhitehallPodUK

In this episode we look at the point business and politics meet. How can that relationship work best? Do great businessmen make great politicians?Our guest Saqib Bhatti MP, is the Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy. Saqib was the youngest President of the Birmingham chamber of commerce, and also the first Muslim to hold that office. Previously the Conservative Vice Chair for Business, as well as PPS for Sajid Javid MP during his time as Health Secretary. Saqib talks to us about his own experience as a businessman, and representing businesses as well as how he now interacts with businesses as a Minister. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

Labour MP Cath Smith takes us inside the petitions committee. This is a part of Parliament that the public get to play a direct role in. The petitions committee is a function of Parliament that perhaps has the most obvious direct public engagement and receives thousands, even hundred of thousands, of signatures from members of the public every week. So what is the petitions committee and what does it do? Join us to find out. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

In this episode we look into the world of political polling with Anthony Wells. Anthony is one of the leading political pollsters in the country, having work at YouGov, the countries best known polling company, for two decades. He has covered general elections, referendums as well as a range social and political issues. In this episode we look at the methodological changes that have taken place to keep track with changing political attitudes, the data science behind MRP polling and what to look out for when viewing opinion polls. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

In this episode we look at political parties, and specifically how they’re run. Behind the leader, and elections there is a whole organisation dedicated to its members, supporting the party leader, raising money and ultimately - fighting and winning elections.There is no one better for that than our guest for this episode - Sir Brandon Lewis MP. Brandon is one of the most respected people in Westminster, having been in government across a range of portfolios and know as one of the most competent ministers of recent times. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

The One Nation Conservative group has played a leading role in many of the major political debates in recent years. From Brexit, to leadership elections and more recently issues around the ECHR and immigration the One Nation group have played a major part in shaping Conservative Party policy. Inside Whitehall is joined by leading member of the group, Matt Warman MP, to discuss the history of the group, its current make up and aims and what the future may hold as we head into an election year. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

Parliamentary group's are not new but have risen in prominence in recent years. Most notably perhaps with the European Research Group [ERG] during the Brexit battles in Parliament during Theresa May's time as Prime Minister. The latest such group is the New Conservatives, set up by MPs Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates, comprising Conservative MPs who joined Parliament during the 2017 and 2019 elections, including the pod's own Jonathan Gullis. In this episode, Danny and Miriam talk to Jonathan and James about this new group and what they hope to achieve. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

James and Jonathan talk to Eleni Courea, Deputy Editor of Politico's Playbook. Playbook is the daily email that act's as the parish newsletter for Westminster, covering the day's events and news and is read keenly by Westminster watcher's and those inside Whitehall itself. Eleni tells Inside Whitehall how Playbook is put together and the tricks of the trade. Follow and comment on Twitter: @WhitehallPodUK

We all consume political news and the most common way is via TV news channels such as Sky News. With rolling 24hour news, much of it clipped for social media, people like Sam Coates of Sky are, to many, the face of politics in the UK. In this episode, Sam takes Jonathan and James inside the broadcast lobby describing how it really works behind the scenes. With two decades of experience covering politics he brings us tales of scoops, interviewing PM's and how the news is really made. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

The gang are joined by Sir Robert Buckland KC to talk about the UK's membership of the European Convention on Human Rights [ECHR]. There has been a renewed focus on the UK's membership of the ECHR amid claims it prevents Parliament from dealing with the small boats issue. Would leaving make it easier? How has the UK Government dealt with issues with the ECHR before? And what should Rishi Sunak now do to ensure the Rwanda policy is delivered? Find out with Sir Robert as Inside Whitehall helps you understand the terminology, history and what options the Government has in the coming weeks. Follow and comment on Twitter: @Whitehallpoduk

Welcome back to Series 2 of Inside Whitehall! Thank you all for your support and comments over the past few weeks. Inside Whitehall talks to the people who matter about how Government and Whitehall really works, hosted by former government Special Advisor James Starkie and former Minister Jonathan Gullis MP. Join our hosts as they lift the lid on the inner workings of Whitehall, with the help of a host of special guests. Follow us on Twitter@WhitehallPodUK

In this finale episode of season 1, James and Jonathan review the discussion with Tim Shipman on political book writing and look back on this season's topics and guests.Follow and comment on Twitter: @WhitehallPodUK

James and Jonathan talk to Tim Shipman, author of ‘All out war’ and ‘Fall out’, two of the top political books of the past decade, about the art of writing a political book. Tim shares his motivation and experience for writing, as well as a sneak preview of his forthcoming book to complete the trilogy.Follow and comment on Twitter: @WhitehallPodUK