Coffee House Shots
Episodes
Are the Tories addicted to psychodrama?
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Isabel Hardman speaks to Katy Balls and Kate Andrews about the ongoing case of Suella Braverman's speeding saga. And now Boris Johnson has returned ...
Is the ministerial code fit for purpose?
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Goodman, editor of Conservative Home joins Katy Balls and James Heale to discuss the most recent victims accused of breaching the ministerial cod...
How much trouble is Suella Braverman in?
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman about how Suella Braverman's speeding scandal might unravel; and what to expect from Keir Starmer'...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Round-up
21 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday morning's shows. Suella Braverman is under fire again, with allegations she may have broken the min...
Is Rishi retreating from net zero?
20 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Immigration and the economy are priorities for Rishi Sunak's government. But under Boris Johnson and Theresa May, net zero was also a major policy foc...
What does Rishi want from the G7 in Hiroshima?
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rishi Sunak is in Hiroshima for the G7 summit. President Zelensky has said he'll be making a surprise appearance, and Sunak will be meeting with Presi...
Is Brexit safe under Keir Starmer?
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and Fraser Nelson about Rishi Sunak's response to the impending migration figures and whether Keir Starmer could ...
Would Starmer really build more houses?
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer promised in an interview with the Times today that as prime minister he would back the 'builders not the blockers'. But is it all bluster...
Rishi's ECHR battle at the Council of Europe
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Prime Minister has gone to Iceland today to see the Council of Europe, where he has been talking about immigration and the ECHR with other Europea...
Why did Braverman's immigration speech ruffle feathers?
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said that there is no good reason the UK can't train its own lorry drivers and fruit pickers in order to bring immigra...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Round-up
14 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the Conservative party continues to reel from the local elections results, on the Sunday shows this week Energy Secretary Grant Shapps defended Ris...
Coffee House Shots Live: Coronation special
13 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The coronation will commemorate the start of a new era, but what will this mean for the United Kingdom? How will Charles III secure his place in histo...
What will boost growth?
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The UK economy grew by 0.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year. Jeremy Hunt said that the government needed to 'stay focused on competitive tax...
Can Kemi brush off the Brexiteers on EU law?
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will Kemi Badenoch, the business and trade secretary, lose her supporters in the ERG, after the government confirmed that it would be going back on it...
Can Welby stop the Illegal Migration Bill?
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Stephen Bush about the Lord's debate on the Illegal Migration Bill. Now in its third reading, will the government...
What's the fallout from the local election?
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman about the fallout from the local elections, some of the arrests made during the Coronation and Ris...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Round-up
07 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today's Sunday shows, the fallout from the local elections dominated. Lucy Frazer defended the Conservative record while Wes Streeting argued that ...
Why is Britain so reliant on immigration?
06 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the government using mass immigration to mask failures in the welfare system?James Heale speaks to Fraser Nelson and Matthew Goodwin, author of Val...
The local elections: are we heading for a 1997 moment?
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The local election results so far paint a fairly grim picture for the Conservatives, whilst Labour and the Liberal Democrats have made big gains in ke...
The local elections: what’s happening?
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Early results from the local elections are coming in. The Conservatives were expected to perform badly, and Labour to make gains, and that's certainly...
Did the Tories 'kill the dream of homeownership'?
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today's Prime Minister's Questions, Keir Starmer accused the Prime Minister and his party of having 'killed the dream of homeownership'. With news ...
Could Sue Gray-gate backfire on Keir Starmer?
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Cabinet Office has published its written statement into the resignation of Sue Gray, stating that it has given a 'confidential assessment' to the ...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Round-up – 30/04/23
30 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Isabel Hardman hosts highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Today's shows looked ahead to next week's local elections, with both parties ke...
How bad will the local elections be for Rishi?
29 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Tories are preparing for a drubbing in the local elections next week. But just how bad will they be? Natasha Feroze speaks to Katy Balls and John ...
Sharp quits, what next?
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Richard Sharp has quit as chairman of the BBC, following an investigation into whether he properly disclosed his role in enabling an £800,000 loan to...
Could nurses still back Barclay’s pay offer?
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A judge has ruled that strikes by the Royal College of Nursing be cut short by a day, because the six-month mandate for strike action will have passed...
Will Xi really bring peace to Ukraine?
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Xi Jinping said he will send diplomats to help broker peace in Ukraine after he had a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky. But are China’s aims reall...
How did Beattie miss a £100,000 motorhome?
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Colin Beattie, the SNP’s former treasurer, said today that he ‘didn't know’ about the party’s purchase of a motorhome worth £100,000, the veh...
Could Diane Abbott return to Labour?
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Katy Balls, Fraser Nelson and Isabel Hardman discuss Diane Abbott's suspension from the Labour party. Given her hasty apology, could Keir Starmer allo...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Round-up – 23/04/23
23 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Isabel Hardman hosts highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Today's shows focussed heavily on Dominic Raab's resignation from Rishi Sunak's...
Why is the Troubles being glorified now?
22 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As world leaders gathered to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, is violence glorified when it comes to remembering the Troubles? ...
Dominic Raab resigns over bullying report
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This morning Dominic Raab has resigned from Rishi Sunak's government following the findings of an investigation into bullying claims against him. Raab...
Does Raab have to go?
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today was meant to be judgement day for Dominic Raab as we learnt the outcome of Adam Tolley's investigation into historic bullying claims made agains...
Is Keir Starmer soft on crime?
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Prime Minister's Questions was a punchy affair today. Rishi Sunak fought back against accusations that the Conservatives have failed on tackling crime...
How much does the investigation into Sunak matter?
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The investigation into Rishi Sunak leads several papers today, but how much does it really matter? On the episode, James Heale talks to Katy Balls and...
Coffee House Scots: can Humza save the SNP after treasurer's arrest?
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The arrest of the SNP's treasurer Colin Beattie in relation to the probe into the party's finances has overshadowed Humza Yousaf's relaunch speech sch...
Does Sunak's maths plan add up?
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Parliament is back from the Easter break and Rishi Sunak has taken the opportunity to reiterate his commitment to improving maths literacy in the coun...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup – 16/04/23
16 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. This morning’s shows heavily focussed on the crisis in the NHS, after t...
What junior doctors really earn
15 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Striking junior doctors are demanding a 35 per cent pay rise. Is that realistic? And are junior doctors really underpaid? Lucy Dunn is joined by econo...
Are Suella Braverman's critics right?
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Home Secretary, Suella Braverman has come under fire from senior Conservatives who have accused her of 'racist rhetoric', but are these accusations fa...
Is Starmer worried about Sunak?
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fraser Nelson speaks to Katy Balls and Stephen Bush from the Financial Times about the two party leaders as Britain starts to think about the next yea...
Rishi meets Biden: bi-latte or bi-lateral?
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale is joined by Katy Balls and Talk Radio political editor, Peter Cardwell who has been in Belfast for Biden's state visit. A symbolic time a...
Will public support for junior doctors wane?
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On the day that junior doctors begin a four-day strike over pay and working conditions, Lucy Dunn, The Spectator's social media editor and qualified d...
Is Labour using Dominic Cummings's tactics?
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Keir Starmer has doubled down on Labour Party adverts attacking the Conservative's record on crime, and which seemingly accuse Rishi Sunak of no...
Why don't Brits love Starmer?
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rishi Sunak's personal poll ratings are on the up, by why don't the public love Starmer? We talk through the latest polling. And Mark Spencer, now the...
The arrest of Peter Murrell
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicola Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, has been arrested today in connection with an investigation into the SNP’s finances. James Heale talks to ...
What can we learn from Nigel Lawson?
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nigel Lawson, former chancellor and Spectator editor, passed away yesterday aged 91. How did he affect conservative economic thinking? And have the le...
Channel crossings have fallen. Why?
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Channel crossings were down 17 per cent in the first three months of 2023, compared with 2022. Why? And a new poll of Tory members from Conservative H...
Sunday shows round-up: Braverman blames 'cultural sensitivities' for grooming scandal
02 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Katy Balls hosts the highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. The Home Secretary Suella Braverman stands by her Rwanda immigration policy d...
Have US-UK relations improved with Rishi Sunak?
01 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Natasha Feroze speaks to Katy Balls and Freddy Gray about Biden's upcoming visit to the UK. Given the President's proud Irish roots, how much will he ...
Does CPTPP make it harder to reverse Brexit?
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Britain has agreed to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a £9 trillion trade bloc with 11 member...
Will the locals be a horror show for Rishi?
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The first day of Easter recess is a chance to reflect on the last couple of months in politics and look at the challenges that lie ahead. As Keir Star...
Was Yousaf wrong to snub Forbes?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Forbes has quit the government after turning down an offer to be rural affairs minister in Humza Yousaf's cabinet. With some suggesting the new F...
Will exiling Corbyn backfire on Starmer?
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Labour has voted to block Jeremy Corbyn from running as a Labour candidate in the next general election. For the podcast, Natasha Feroze speaks to Kat...
Coffee House Scots: Humza wins – what's next?
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Humza Yousaf has been announced as the new leader of the SNP after a narrow victory over second placed Kate Forbes. What will this mean for the cause ...
How are Tories split on small boats?
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tory party divisions over the small boats policy are starting to appear. Although the bill sailed through its second reading in parliament, now Rishi ...
Sunday shows round-up: MPs caught in sting operation
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. Michael Gove was quizzed by Laura Kuenssberg on the sting operation by Le...
Is it time to stop changing the clocks?
25 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this special Saturday edition of Coffee House Shots, The Spectator’s James Heale, journalist Peter Hitchens and the IEA’s Christopher Snowdon a...
What's going on in France?
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This morning Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles's State visit to France has been cancelled as the country struggles with nationwide str...
What's behind Starmer's trans U-turn?
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer today seemed to change his party's stance on self-identification for transgender people. Before, Starmer said Labour would update the Gen...
The trial of Boris Johnson
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Boris Johnson sat through a grueling four-hour hearing into whether the former Prime Minister deliberately misled parliament. Katy Balls and Fra...
Who wants Boris back?
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Boris Johnson has today made his defence of partygate, before he is questioned by the Privileges Committee tomorrow. He accepts that he misled the Hou...
Is the DUP's protocol verdict a blow for Sunak?
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the vote on Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the DUP has said he will not back the key parts of the Windsor Fram...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup – 19/03/23
19 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. Oliver Dowden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, defended it taki...
Coffee House Scots: should the SNP be worried about falling membership?
18 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The SNP has confirmed that its membership has fallen to 72,000 – a loss of over 30,000 since 2021. This has prompted an open letter from leadership ...
Will Boris vote on the NI Protocol?
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A look ahead to next week where MPs will vote on parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol. What would a win look like for the government? The vote has b...
Are NHS strikes about to end?
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The day after Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget has been fairly muted compared to recent Budget hangovers. What has been the overall reaction? On the global...
Budget special: what did we learn?
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor has unveiled his spring Budget, which was accompanied by forecasts predicting that the UK will avoid recession this year a...
Coffee House Scots: is the SNP establishment worried by Forbes?
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a tumultuous two weeks, voting is now open for the SNP leadership elections until 27 March. But are members any closer to knowing who they’ll ...
Has small boats united the Tories?
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
MPs voted through the second reading of the Illegal Migration bill last night with a 62-vote majority. There was a handful of Tory MPs that abstained ...
Is Rishi right about China?
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Rishi Sunak's diplomacy is taking centre stage. He is currently in San Diego for talks with President Biden and the government has just released...
Does the triumph of Gary Lineker spell disaster for the BBC?
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two stories dominated the news agenda over the weekend, one concerning a household name and the other involving a bank which – before Sunday – few...
Should Sunak block Boris Johnson's honours list?
11 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Boris Johnson is reportedly cutting the number of names on his honours list from 100 to 60 (still much higher than the average honours list for former...
Will Sunak’s charm offensive with Macron work?
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rishi Sunak was in Paris today meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. The pair unveiled a new deal to stop the Channel crossings as part of the first...
Is Labour saying anything new on childcare?
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson is giving a speech to centre-right think tank Onward today, all about childcare. But is the party ac...
Coffee House Scots: can the SNP stop the infighting?
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We had the first televised hustings for the leadership of the SNP last night, and it was a fiery affair to say the least. Will the lack of party unity...
Is time running out for Simon Case?
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's been reported that more damaging messages sent by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case during the pandemic will surface in the Daily Telegraph's Lockdown...
Will Sunak's small boats plan make any difference?
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Suella Braverman unveiled the Illegal Migration Bill today in the Commons. The Home Secretary said that Britain had been 'taken for a ride', as she re...
Can Rishi stop small boats?
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tomorrow the government is set to deliver its plan the tackle small boats, legislation Rishi Sunak has been promising since before Christmas. Is Rishi...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup – 05/03/23
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. Matt Hancock's leaked WhatsApp messages dominated the interviews as Chris...
Coffee House Scots: what did we learn from this week's hustings?
04 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's been an interesting week in the race for the leadership of the SNP. Kate Forbes's campaign has been plunged into fresh doubt by the news that her...
Sue Gray defects
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cindy Yu speaks to Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson about Sue Gray's new role as Keir Starmer's chief of staff and what happened on the Tory MP's away day...
Does Boris have a point on the Protocol?
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Boris Johnson delivered his first speech since leaving No.10 and told the audience he would not be able to back Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal. Although th...
Coffee House Scots: is the SNP shifting right?
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the first of The Spectator's special Coffee House Scots series, Michael Simmons speaks to Isabel Hardman, Katy Balls and Stephen Daisley about the ...
What we learned from the lockdown files
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Daily Telegraph has splashed on over 100,000 WhatsApp messages to and from Matt Hancock during his time as Health Secretary. Altogether they show ...
Has Rishi Sunak pulled this off?
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and Katy Balls about some of the key points in the Windsor Framework. Having reached an agreement with the EU, ca...
Northern Ireland Protocol: is this a 'breakthrough' deal?
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Rishi Sunak has reached a revised agreement with the EU on Northern Ireland, and hailed it a 'turning point' for the people of Northern Ireland....
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup – 26/02/23
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says there's 'quiet confidence' about the ...
How is the government helping Ukrainians in Britain?
25 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today marks one year since Putin sent the Russian army into Kyiv. Since then, what has been the experience of the Ukrainians who fled their homes and ...
Could Kate Forbes still win?
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A poll of the SNP membership puts Kate Forbes as the frontrunner. Despite becoming embroiled in a row over her religious views, Forbes enjoys the supp...
Was there anything Labour about Labour's five missions?
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer has set out Labour's five missions for government in a speech today, but was there anything Labour about them? Cindy Yu talks to Katy Bal...
Will there be resignations over Northern Ireland?
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rishi Sunak continues to try to get his MPs onside when it comes to the government's deal with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Some Euroscept...
Is Rishi Sunak repeating May's mistakes?
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today was meant to be the day that Rishi Sunak presented his Northern Ireland Protocol plans to parliament, instead he told the cabinet that intensive...
Is there a campaign to stop Forbes?
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Scotland's finance secretary, Kate Forbes has formally declared her campaign to be leader of the SNP. Currently the bookies' favourite – what direct...
Is Scottish independence dead?
18 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After the news this week that Nicola Sturgeon will step aside as leader of the Scottish National Party, can the cause of Scottish independence survive...
Will the DUP accept Sunak’s deal?
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As it looks like the government is about to agree a new deal with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol, Rishi Sunak is in Belfast today...
How powerful is Keir Starmer?
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With Labour nearly 30 points ahead in the polls, Keir Starmer is consolidating his position at the top. He said yesterday that Jeremy Corbyn will not ...
Is Sunak making a mistake on the NI protocol?
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Conservative Home editor Paul Goodman about the union. Both in terms of Nicola Sturgeon's sudden decision to resi...
Nicola Sturgeon resigns – why now?
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicola Sturgeon has announced her resignation as First Minister of Scotland. James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman about her decision to...
Is Rishi Sunak tough enough on China?
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for defence has launched a security review in the wake of Chinese spy balloons entering Western airspace. This acc...