Podcasts about Whitehall

After a strong week at Labour Party conference has the Prime Minister made his first foul? Downing Street has said Manchester City are not "above the rules" after Andy Burnham was criticised for his comments about the club's breaches of Premier League financial rules. Adam, Chris and Joe are joined by the FT's Whitehall editor and host of “Political Fix” Lucy Fisher to unpack the backlash, plus Andy Burnham's big speech to conference. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Catherine and Kyle are deep in event-season chaos this week — the printed Driven by Data magazine has just gone to print, the digital edition is about to launch, and Driven by Data Live is just eight days away. Catherine recaps her (very delayed) trip to Big Data London: reconnecting with the community, a noticeably different vendor landscape stacked with new AI-era players, and "context" as this cycle's buzzword of choice. It sparks a wider conversation with Kyle about why staying visible in the market, through events, LinkedIn or simply contributing to the conversation, matters more than ever in a leadership hiring market where six months out of work is fast becoming the norm.From there, the conversation turns to AI and human oversight, prompted by the now-infamous clip of a Canadian politician reading his AI-generated speech live, chatbot suggestions and all. Catherine and Kyle use it to unpick a bigger pattern: traditional checks and review are quietly disappearing as people lean on LLM output uncritically, whether that's AI-generated pitch decks stripped of intentional choices, or candidates' CVs that increasingly sound like the job description they were lifted from. They also debrief Tuesday's episode with Aimee Smith, UK Government Chief Data Officer, covering her culture-not-technology diagnosis of Whitehall's data-sharing problem, the surprising admission from Microsoft and Amazon that government's scale may be beyond current technology, and just how subjective "success" and value become once you're operating in public service rather than the private sector.They also discuss:Why Catherine's top tip about not moaning about trains backfired within hours of giving it.Why so many familiar faces were missing from Big Data London's vendor stands, and what that says about the market.Why "context" has become this season's buzzword, and why some vendors are stretching to say yes to whatever a prospect asks for.Why stepping out of the market for 18 months, even while genuinely busy doing the day job, can leave you without a way back in when you need one.Why the days of walking straight into a new role within a few weeks of redundancy are over.Why one CDO is advising his mentees to keep six months of financial runway.Why leadership hiring is busier than ever, but so is the competition for every role.What the viral clip of a politician reading his AI-generated speech, chatbot prompts and all, reveals about eroding human oversight.Why neither Catherine nor Kyle blame the politician himself, and where they think the real failure sits.Why AI-generated pitch decks and slides are losing the intentionality that came from every element being a deliberate choice.Why candidates rewriting their CVs to mirror a job description word-for-word is backfiring on them.Why six major banks are flagging the fraud and accountability risks of AI agents transacting on people's behalf.Why B2C brands are already leaning into "handmade" and human-made marketing, and why B2B is likely to follow.Why hiring a copywriter who sounds human could become a genuine differentiator again.Why Aimee Smith's move from 25 years in policing to UK Government Chief Data Officer meant relearning how power and language actually work.Why even Microsoft and Amazon weren't confident the technology exists to handle government's scale and complexity.Why culture and risk appetite, not technology, are the real blockers to data sharing across government.Why "value" and "success" mean something fundamentally different in public service than in the private sector.Why government's federated, siloed structure makes Aimee's mandate harder than the equivalent role in the private sector.A reminder that Aimee Smith will be at Driven by Data Live next week, so bring your questions.

In Episode 26 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is rejoined by Aimee Smith, Chief Data Officer at the UK Government, where they discuss her move from 25 years in policing and law enforcement into government's top data role, and why she believes culture, risk appetite and misaligned investment incentives, not legislation or technology, are what's really blocking data sharing across Whitehall.They also touch on the UK's evolving position on data and AI sovereignty, the real purpose behind the National Data Library, and how Aimee is building a framework to track and prove the value of government data.They also discuss:Why Aimee left a 25-year career in policing to become the UK Government's Chief Data Officer.How she is building influence across government departments without having formal authority over them.Why she restructured the Chief Data Officer Council around a strategic data roadmap and sector-based leads.What makes data sharing across government harder than the equivalent challenge in the private sector.Why culture and risk appetite, not legislation or technology, are the biggest blockers to data sharing.How she plans to fix the incentive problem by changing how Treasury assesses technology and data investment bids.Why she wants government's most valuable data treated as critical national infrastructure.How linking investment to data assets rather than departments could unlock sharing.Why legacy technology is as much a data cataloguing problem as a modernisation one.What she believes better data sharing could unlock for citizens navigating public services.Why she thinks the data sovereignty debate currently overlooks the data itself.How she is working with cross-government commercial teams to embed sovereignty principles into procurement.What the National Data Library actually is, and the shifting priorities behind its original manifesto pledge.How the National Data Library differs from a centralised data lake.Why AI adoption depends on getting the underlying data foundations right first.How she is using AI as a way to keep data on the agenda inside government.Why she is cautious about how AI investment gets communicated to the public.What her three-part framework for tracking data value looks like (commercialisation, valuation, usage).How Treasury's new balance sheet requirement for data valuation came about.What she hopes to point to as evidence of progress in twelve months' time.Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.Data & AI Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data & AI literacy first.At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data & AI literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.They take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.Thanks to our sponsor FOIL AIFOIL are an AI consultancy, and one of the most exciting to watch right now.​Fast-growing, genuinely ambitious, and refreshingly down to earth, with a leadership team who have been doing this for years and are well respected for it.​FOIL push data leaders to claim a voice at the top table, to lead the business rather than trail behind it with a handful of AI productivity tools. They push the point that if every competitor has the same tools, productivity is not an advantage. The real prize with AI is bigger and FOIL have the expertise – both strategic and technical – to push the boundaries of what your organisation can achieve, in a practical way. ​FOIL are a lot bolder and braver that the traditional consultancy. 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This week The Rundown is coming live from Liverpool, where the team have been at the Labour party conference, Andy Burnham's first since he took over as leader of the party.Later in the episode is a fantastic interview with one of his Cabinet ministers, the environment secretary Angela Eagle, about working with Burnham again after their time together in the Blair/Brown governments, her frustrations with getting things done in Whitehall, and her plans to tackle the water industry and waste crime.But first up host Alain Tolhurst speaks to PolHome editor Adam Payne and Sienna Rodgers, deputy editor of The House magazine, just minutes after the PM came off the stage after his big speech to members, to discuss huge announcements on the triple lock, electoral reform and public ownership. To sign up for our newsletters ⁠click here⁠ Presented by Alain Tolhurst, produced and edited by Ewan Cameron and Lulu Goad for ⁠Podot

At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the mood is jubilant. They have a popular leader who can speak fluently in public. Andy Burnham's speech on Tuesday will be a big moment and it's expected to be full of announcements. Whitehall and cabinet ministers are trying to keep up. The problem, as always, is making the sums add up. The prime minister has made social care the main topic of conversation. We discuss whether he is ready to ditch the triple-lock on pensions to pay for social care reform and whether he could fight an election promising tax rises.In Rachel Reeves's first budget, taxes went up more than £30 billion, and then she had to come back for more. The Treasury wanted to avoid a third tax-raising budget but the numbers are moving against them. Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesBen Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPictures: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Whitehall Sources, we explore the upcoming Labour Party conference, the impact of recent polling data, and the strategic considerations for political parties in the UK. The House Magazine's Sienna Rodgers and James Nation, share insights on party dynamics, electoral strategies, and the current political landscape.-- Whitehall Sources is a podcast which takes you behind the door of Number 10 Downing Street. Senior advisers to our most recent Prime Ministers share their experiences and analyse current events. 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. James Nation OBE is the former Deputy Head of Policy Unit to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. 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. Listen here: https://podfollow.com/1649210131 Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: search for Whitehall Sources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bigfoot needs a perfect hiding place, right? Adirondack Park covers an area of over 9,000 square miles and contains 2,800 lakes, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, and has 46 "high peaks" - mountains that exceed 4,000 feet. Perfect habitat for a large, bipedal cryptid that wants to remain undiscovered. This week I'll be looking at some strange encounters in the forever wild wilderness of New York, including a witness who had two frightening encounters 4 years apart. High strangeness in the High Peaks, plus a Bigfoot Conference next week in the foothills of the Adirondacks, coming up right now...Chapters:0:00 - Bigfoot and the Adirondacks: A Perfect Match2:00 - Man has two Bigfoot encounters years apart in Essex County13:00 - Sasquatch Sighting near Paul Smith's College and Gabriels17:25 - Spooky howls while camping in Franklin County, New York22:55 - Woman confronted by angry Bigfoot in the Adirondacks30:02 - Boys shooting arrows spot three Bigfoot creatures walking in an ADK field34:50 - Campers find large footprints in Keene Valley37:19 - New York Bigfoot Conference with Loren Coleman, Doug Hajicek, Mireya Mayor, Ken Gerhard, and Darby Orcutt40:37 - Question Everything#bigfoot #newyork #cryptozoologyLinks!Follow us on Social media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oddanduntold/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oddanduntoldWebsite: https://www.oddanduntold.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/oddanduntold/membershipMerch Store: https://oddanduntold-shop.fourthwall.com/Email me! : jason@oddanduntold.comBigfoot Sightings Near Lake Placid, NY: https://youtu.be/2nYWmAzmLLQ?si=Lb6XaV1QZoUEY8KvBigfoot Sightings in Whitehall, NY | Washington County: https://youtu.be/MSzJjEmLcDc?si=N4XOuYgc1VOZCqS0Bigfoot in the Adirondacks | Shaker Mountain Wild Forest: https://youtu.be/fajvGIXJlek?si=4KcI_94QiWHf7qVgBigfoot in the Adirondacks: https://youtu.be/B_uUXWbftPY?si=AuMzNSyF2wjqua2xNew York Bigfoot Conference 2026: https://nybigfootconference.com/BFRO New York Sightings: https://www.bfro.net/GDB/state_listing.asp?state=NYReddit Bigfoot Stories: https://www.reddit.com/r/bigfoot/comments/1fdsu8e/anyone_have_any_bigfootsasquatch_encounters/?utm_source=chatgpt.comReddit Cryptid Stories: https://www.reddit.com/r/cryptids/comments/1f7kebk/possible_bigfoot/?utm_source=chatgpt.comCheck out Riversend, the band behind "Moonlight," our awesome theme music!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1yIwfeu2cH1kDZaMYxKOUe?si=NIUijnmsQe6LNWOsfZ2jPwRiversend Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiversendbandRiversend Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riversendband/

Delegate Guy Ward, R-Marion, 74, on serious problems affecting homes and businesses at an abandoned mine site near White Hall. General Chairman of the 84th Buckwheat Festival Mike Shaffer President of the state Association of Addiction and Treatment Professionals, Jonathan Dower on Save a Life Day. 

Iain Dale interviews the director of the Civil Exchange think tank, and former civil servant, Caroline Slocock about her new book BAD GOVERNMENT (AND HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER). They speak about the relationship between civil servants and ministers, how civil servants are held to account, and what Caroline thinks is going wrong in Whitehall!

Andy Burnham will meet Donald Trump in person for the first time today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Top of the agenda are the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, North Sea drilling, trade deals and AI. So who wants what? Will there be any curveballs? And can the PM charm his opposite number in this first face-to-face?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Ben Clatworthy, Whitehall editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Olivia Case, Robyn Simon. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Andy Burnham is set to meet Trump: here are the potential flashpointsFurther listening: Has space become the final frontier for war?Clips: Sky, BBC, Channel 4, The Guardian, GB News, AP, Parliament.live, United Nations / YouTube. NBC, France24. Photo: Getty Images and Wikimedia Commons.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1642 HOUSES DURING CHARLES IRoyal Arrest Attempt Triggers English WarJonathan Healey, Part Two: On January 4, 1642, King Charles I attempted to arrest five MPs and Lord Mandeville for treason. Pushed by Queen Henrietta Maria, Charles personally entered the House of Commons with armed cavaliers. However, Lady Carlisle had leaked the plot, enabling the members to escape by boat down the Thames into London. Hostile crowds surrounded Charles's coach, throwing pamphlets with the biblical call "To your tents, O Israel." Fearing for their safety, Charles and Henrietta Maria fled Whitehall for Hampton Court. The Queen departed for continental Europe to raise funds and troops, while Charles established a royalist court in York. Parliament passed the radical Militia Ordinance without royal assent, claiming sovereign control over the military. When the governor of Hull barred Charles from accessing his armory, both sides began mobilizing armed forces, plunging England into civil war. (2)

This week, an email that seems to echo through history to a younger Mr & Mrs Whitehall. A newly married DL has been in touch, asking if Mrs Whitehall has any advice after she married a man who might possibly be another Mr Whitehall... Once you've heard about some of his outbursts, you might well agree.The Wittering Whitehalls is a Global Production.✉️ You can email your questions, thoughts or problems to TheWitteringWhitehalls@gmail.com

How seriously should world leaders take warnings of rogue AI models? Should people be allowed to bet on the trials of new medicines? Why did Ed Sheeran drop his support act, Macklemore, from his tour?Giles Whittell is joined by Cat Neilan, the Observer's Whitehall editor, Caitlin Macdonald, social media editor and James Tapper, Observer reporter, as they battle it out to pitch the top story of the day. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Giles WhittellProducer: Poppy BullardExecutive Producer: Jasper CorbettTo find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan Judd talks to SpyMasters about his new spy thriller No. 1 St James Park, John le Carré, W Somerset Maugham, Mansfield Cumming, Christopher Marlowe, Jane Archer and women spies of WWI. No. 1 St James Park: At the height of the First World War, Emily Grey finds herself far away from the action, collating Swiss rubber imports in a hut in the middle of St James' Park. Summoned to MI6's Whitehall headquarters, Emily learns that her talent for languages is needed elsewhere and she is despatched to Bern to debrief Fritz the Ritz, an agent reporting on the wartime activities of German industry. However, when she discovers that Fritz the Ritz may not be all he claims to be, she is led to the door of an import-export dealership in Lausanne and the unassuming couple who run it. Could they really be at the heart of a network that threatens the lives of millions of Allied soldiers? And, if they are, can Emily, and her ever-eager partner Nigel Nisbet, stop them before they go too far? With a matchless flair for historical accuracy, psychological acuity and breathtaking adventure, Judd's latest historical thriller demonstrates once again that he is one of the finest spy novelists writing today and that this series of novels about the origin of MI6 bears comparison with John Le Carre, Patrick O'Brien and Joseph Conrad. Alan Judd is the author of the Charles Thoroughgood series, The Kaiser's Last Kiss, A Fine Madness and his latest series featuring Emily Grey. Recommended Elizabeth Howard The Cazalets, Robert Galbraith, Displacement: Zweig, Roth and Banjamin. Paul Burke is the editor of Aspects of Crime. His first book Spies on Screen will be published on 20 October. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The wait is OVER! Carlos King, Dustin Ross and Mandii B are breaking down the explosive Love & Marriage: Huntsville Season 12 premiere — and Arianne Curry is officially ARI-ON THE SHOW! After years of being talked about but never seen, Martell Holt’s girlfriend and the mother of his son finally steps in front of the cameras, and the crew has PLENTY to say about their relationship. Plus, the Scotts lose Whitehall, Destiny and Kimmi go head-to-head, and Martell has everybody questioning what’s really going on with him and Destiny. Huntsville is back, and the mess has only just begun! Tune in now! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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TRIGGER WARNING: If you don't like graphic injury detail, please approach with caution!This week, a story from Canada that is hilarious and harrowing in equal parts!! Plus, Mr Whitehall once again questions whether the production team are leading everyone down the wrong road and Mrs Whitehall caught a couple coming out of a restaurant bathroom... TOGETHER!The Wittering Whitehalls is a Global Production.✉️ You can email your questions, thoughts or problems to TheWitteringWhitehalls@gmail.com

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The Backwoods Cryptid Road Trip rolls into New York and follows the western shore of Lake Champlain, home to one of America's oldest and most enduring lake-monster legends.Across the water, Vermont may have the famous photograph, but Port Henry, New York has spent generations embracing Champ. A hand-painted sightings board records reports dating back more than two centuries, a highway sign welcomes visitors to the "Home of Champ," and every August the town celebrates a creature no one has ever managed to catch. The journey begins on the lake with strange encounters reported from a Port Henry dock, Crown Point, Westport, the Valcour channel, and the ferry landing at Essex. From there, Brian digs into the history behind the legend—from Indigenous traditions and Samuel de Champlain's often-misquoted 1609 account to Captain Crum's enormous creature, the famous 1873 sightings, P. T. Barnum's reward, Sheriff Nathan Mooney's report, and the controversial 1977 Sandra Mansi photograph.The episode also follows researcher Joseph Zarzynski's decades of investigation, the unusual laws passed by New York and Vermont to protect Champ, mass sightings, sonar contacts, recordings, and videos that have kept the mystery alive into the modern era.Then the road turns south to Whitehall, New York, where a series of dramatic August 1976 sightings involving local residents and police became one of the most famous Bigfoot cases in the state.From there, the trip pushes into the Adirondacks, the hills around Fort Ann, Allegany State Park, the Catskills, and the Tug Hill Plateau for frightening Sasquatch encounters involving hunters, hikers, fishermen, loggers, and families who found themselves face-to-face with something they never expected to see in the New York wilderness.Lake monsters, Bigfoot, and more than two centuries of unexplained encounters—this stop on the Backwoods Cryptid Road Trip belongs to New York.Have a sighting of your own? Send it to brian@paranormalworldproductions.com.Email BrianJoin Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteHave you experienced a Bigfoot sighting, Sasquatch encounter, Dogman experience, UFO sighting, or any unexplained cryptid or paranormal event deep in the woods? We want to hear your story.Email your encounter to brian@paranormalworldproductions.com for a chance to be featured on a future episode of Backwoods Bigfoot Stories.Backwoods Bigfoot Stories is a paranormal storytelling podcast featuring real Bigfoot encounters, Sasquatch sightings, Dogman reports, cryptid experiences, and true scary stories from the backwoods.Follow the show and turn on automatic downloads so you never miss a chilling encounter from the forest. Listen with the lights off… if you dare.

Andy Burnham wants to change who holds the power in Britain, taking the levers of government out of Whitehall's hands. Plenty of his predecessors have tried – and failed – to make their vision stick. So, can the PM's model survive contact with reality? Veteran journalist Phil Tinline joins us to weigh in.  Plus: poor old Tommy Robinson is apparently skint, de-banked and has “nothing to hide”. So how did a brand-new Channel 4 investigation allegedly find a live bank account, a Portuguese shell company and £250,000-worth of questions? And in the Extra Bit... does nicking a pint glass make you a criminal or just British? • Read Phil's piece in Prospect Magazine, Andy Burnham's theory of power. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Ros has been watching the third series of Colin from Accounts on BBC iPlayer • Jason immersed himself in tunes and pints of ale at the annual Faversham Hop Festival • Phil has been listening to Bassvictim, the Polish rap, electroclash duo • Zoë went to the screening of Sky's upcoming docudrama, The Wargame – WHICH SHE'S IN! • Listen to Terror Century, The Bunker's three-part mini-series marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11 • Find out if you're owed on car finance at refundclub.co.uk/OGWN   • Refund Club is a trading style of Sandsford Law Limited, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA no. 8008114). Checking is free. A fee is payable only if your claim is successful. Eligibility: car finance taken out in the UK between 2007 and 2021. The average claim is around £829 per agreement; this is an average and not a guarantee of the amount you will receive. You can also claim yourself for free by contacting your lender or the Financial Ombudsman Service. refundclub.co.uk/OGWN www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Jason Hazeley, Ros Taylor and Phil Tinline. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MI6 and the First World War – The Birth of the Secret StateIn this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we explore the origins of MI6 – the Secret Intelligence Service – during the First World War, drawing on Keith Jeffery's official history of the organisation.Intelligence history matters, not because of the romantic glamour of espionage, but because of the place secret organisations occupy in the social and political history of the twentieth century. Britain's secret state did not emerge fully formed. It was improvised, contested, and shaped by the crises of global war – and by the personal tragedy of the man who built it.In this episode, we examine the earliest years of the Secret Intelligence Service under Commander Mansfield Cumming – the original "C" of spy fiction fame. When the First World War broke out, the Secret Service was a fledgling organisation, born in a period of anti-German hysteria and fears about spies and infiltration. It had no clear place in the hierarchy of Whitehall. Cumming spent the first months of the war navigating between the War Office, the Admiralty and the Foreign Office – briefing each in turn, seeking approval for spending, and defending his institutional autonomy against successive military attempts to absorb his service.We trace the chaotic, fluid movements of personnel in the opening months of the war, as the pressures of total war moved men around "like counters." We also examine Cumming's own tragedy – a motor accident in France that killed his only son and cost him part of a leg. The story grew, as stories do, into legend: Compton Mackenzie's embellished account of Cumming hacking off his own foot with a penknife to free himself. The reality was more prosaic – but the consequences were not. Cumming's incapacity brought the Secret Service more closely under War Office control and prompted GHQ in France to establish its own independent intelligence service.**Topics covered:**- The origins of MI6 and the Secret Intelligence Service- Mansfield Cumming, the first "C"- The interdepartmental battle for control of intelligence- The War Office, Admiralty and Foreign Office- The chaos and flux of wartime Whitehall- Cumming's motor accident and the death of his son- The growth of the secret state in wartime- The mythology of intelligence work---*Keith Jeffery's official history of MI6 is available from all good bookshops. Please consider buying from an independent retailer.**If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting us – we are migrating from Patreon to Substack. Details in the show notes.*Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI promises major opportunities, but also significant risks – for the economy, employment, security and perhaps even human civilisation. But in Westminster, AI is far from a priority. In addition, fears that the UK's AI Security Institute could be cut out of testing future frontier models before their release is fuelling alarm in Whitehall. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT's AI editor Madhumita Murgia to discuss how developments in Silicon Valley are affecting UK politics. Plus UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and deputy opinion editor Miranda Green join the pod to unpack foreign secretary Ed Miliband's trade ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The panel also examine the new Met police investigation into Reform's finances, and Burnham's latest devolution plans for a tourist tax. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher; Robert: @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Miranda: @greenmirandaWant more? Anthropic withheld latest AI model from UK testing agencyAI hasn't gone rogue, it's worse than thatGrowth in every postcode: good politics, dubious economicsIsrael's hapless British defendersIsrael retaliates after UK bans trade with Israeli settlements in the West BankUK set to announce trade ban on Israeli settlements in the West BankThe five financing scandals facing ReformSign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free.Our email address is politicalfix@ft.comPresented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Richard Topping. The FT's head of audio is Flo Phillips. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After plans emerged for the Cabinet Secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, to consolidate power across the civil service this week, Oscar Edmondson is joined by James Heale and Tim Shipman, to discuss this week's political column, in which Tim unpacks the potentials motives behind the new alpha at the very top of Whitehall.Produced by Henry LloydBecome a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first days and weeks of Andy Burnham's premiership have seen the prime minister promise to accelerate the devolution agenda, with the launch of Number 10 North demonstrating his commitment to take power away from London. But what can the prime minister do to make his devolution agenda succeed? How will No.10 North work constructively with the new Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet and other Whitehall departments? What does devolution mean for the government's public service agenda? And how will the rest of the country benefit from Burnham's plan to send more power from London to Manchester? The event brought together an expert panel, including: Thomas Pope, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government Luke Raikes, Deputy General Secretary at the Fabian Society Jennifer Williams, Northern Correspondent at the Financial Times The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government.

Michael Gove is joined by Reform UK MP Danny Kruger to discuss the party's plans for government and why he believes Britain is in a ‘revolutionary moment'.Kruger sets out how Reform would overhaul Whitehall, including replacing the Cabinet Secretary, reforming the civil service and taking a ‘torch' to parts of the quango state. He also argues for major changes to the way judges are appointed and says Parliament must ultimately remain sovereign over the courts.They also discuss immigration, welfare and the NHS, as Kruger explains why Reform wants to accelerate deportations, cut benefit entitlements for those who could work and introduce more private-sector discipline into public services.And turning to the future of the right, Kruger argues that the Conservative party can no longer win, says Britain risks ‘falling apart' without radical change, and predicts that one day conservatives will be united under the leadership of Nigel Farage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mrs Whitehall is no stranger to corralling a moody teenager... She had three to deal with in close succession, after all. Plus, how Mr Whitehall's life could have taken a VERY different turn and why the Princess of Wales gets called the wrong name ALL the time.The Wittering Whitehalls is a Global Production.✉️ You can email your questions, thoughts or problems to TheWitteringWhitehalls@gmail.com