Coffee House Shots

Is there a plot to unravel Brexit?

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Whilst the government is in recess, a group of cross-party politicians joined a private meeting to discuss 'How we can make Brexit work better with ou...

Was Liz Truss right?

11 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week has seen the return of Liz Truss, firstly with her op-ed in the Telegraph and then her Spectator TV exclusive interview. Has enough time pas...

Is our economy OK?

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

New GDP figures show that the UK economy narrowly avoided recession at the end of 2022. Between the final quarter and the third quarter of last year, ...

Is Lee Anderson No. 10's secret weapon?

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The chatter in Westminster has been dominated by comments the new deputy chairman of the Conservative Party gave to James Heale, The Spectator's diary...

Will Britain send Ukraine jets?

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

President Zelensky was in Westminster today to address Parliament. The Ukrainian leader came to London to ask MPs to give Ukraine fighter jets. Will R...

What's behind Rishi's reshuffle?

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak announced a reshuffle of his cabinet this morning. Among other changes, Greg Hands will become the Tory party chair, and Michelle Donelan ...

The Liz Truss interview: 'I didn't get everything right'

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today Liz Truss has broken her silence, giving her first broadcast interview since leaving No.10 to SpectatorTV. Was she denied a ‘realistic chance’...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday roundup – Truss returns

05 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. Featured today are interviews with Business Secretary Grant Shapps, Sharo...

Are Sweden's liberal laws incubating violent crime?

04 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In his column for the Telegraph, Fraser Nelson says that Sweden has become a gangster's paradise, with its liberal approach to criminal justice allowi...

Is Rishi about to get radical?

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In her Times column this week Katy Balls says that Rishi Sunak is about to roll his sleeves up on EU trade and small boats, potentially setting him ag...

Did Sunak ever have a political honeymoon?

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A new poll today shows that more than half of voters think that Rishi Sunak has handled the economy badly, and that a third of voters think Boris John...

Are we close to a breakthrough on the Northern Ireland Protocol?

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today the Times has reported that a partial agreement has been made over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Why are the government playing down the progre...

Can we trust the IMF's forecasts?

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The IMF report suggests Britain will be the only advanced economy to fall into recession this year – predicting the worst growth figures of any G7 c...

Is Zahawi getting his own back?

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The problem of Nadhim Zahawi may not have gone away as quickly as the Prime Minister might have hoped. Today, allies of the former Tory Chairman have ...

Isabel Hardman’s Sunday Roundup – 29/01/23

29 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. Featured today are interviews with Michael Gove, Bridget Phillipson, Mary...

Why Nadhim Zahawi was sacked

29 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This morning, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fired the Conservative party chairman Nadhim Zahawi over the scandal surrounding his tax affairs. This st...

Should politicians stick out a scandal?

28 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It emerged this week that Nadhim Zahawi was in a row last year with HMRC over tax payments, but he is currently holding onto his post as Conservative ...

Does Hunt's growth agenda add up?

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jeremy Hunt unveiled his plans to grow the economy in a speech this morning. His strategy will focus on four pillars or 'four E's': enterprise, educat...

Is No. 10 preparing to let Zahawi go?

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Over the last few days, Downing Street has been quietly distancing itself from Nadhim Zahawi, though seems unwilling to do anything until the investig...

Is Tory sleaze cutting through?

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Rishi Sunak faced another round of questioning over the two ongoing Tory sleaze scandals. What is it about these stories that infuriate voters,...

Does Zahawi have to resign?

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This morning government minister Chris Philp gave a less than convincing defence of former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi as the row over his tax affairs co...

Will Tory sleaze hurt Sunak?

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Having just recovered from his own seatbelt fine saga, Rishi Sunak spent the weekend fighting two more Tory sleaze scandals. First over the ongoing in...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 22/01/23

22 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman brings you the highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Guests featured today include James Cleverly, Nicola Sturgeon and Rach...

Why did Jacinda Ardern resign?

21 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Andrews talks to Fraser Nelson and the New Zealand based journalist and author Andrea Vance about the surprise announcement from Jacinda Ardern t...

Should Sunak be fined over seatbelt-gate?

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak may be facing a fine from the police for not wearing a seatbelt in the backseat of a car on his tour around the country yesterday. Is this...

What's behind the Tory rift on levelling up?

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak faces the fury of Red Wall MPs and other Tories today as he announced the distribution of the second round of the government's levelling u...

Can Keir Starmer be trusted?

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Prime Minister's Questions, Rishi Sunak went heavy on accusations that Keir Starmer cannot be trusted, having flip-flopped on various polic...

Will the Scottish trans row go to court?

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Westminster and Holyrood are going head to head on Scotland's newly passed Gender Recognition Bill. Last night, the UK government blocked the legislat...

What will be on the agenda at Davos?

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's looking like a busy week in Westminster. So busy in fact that prime minister Rishi Sunak will not be attending the annual Davos meeting, organise...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 15/01/23

15 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with interviews from Sir Keir Starmer, Mark Harper, and John Bercow.  Become a...

Is Boris on manoeuvres?

14 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson's potential comeback has been dominating headlines for several months now. As Rishi struggles to unite the party, Katy Balls, Fraser Nel...

Should Sunak unleash Kemi Badenoch?

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak is in Scotland meeting with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and said today that he is concerned about new gender laws in Scotland which w...

SNP: do you attract more flies with honey or vinegar?

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welfare reform is back on the agenda. Today there have been reports of how the Tories plan to reform welfare benefits in this country. What is Mel Str...

Why did Sunak change tack on private healthcare?

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has finally answered questions over his healthcare arrangements with a statement in Prime Minister's Questions, stating that he is current...

Is No. 10 trying to ban strikes?

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Business Secretary, Grant Shapps has introduced a bill proposing a minimum level of public sector work during strike action for six key industries. La...

Should Sunak use an NHS GP?

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In an interview on Sunday, Rishi Sunak refused to tell Laura Kuenssberg whether he has a private GP. Could this question come back to haunt him amid a...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 08/01/23

08 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting. Become a Spectator subscr...

Is Trussonomics really dead?

07 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and James Heale about the former Prime Minister's lunch with her loyalists at Ma La Sichuan, and whether her ideas might ...

What is Prince Harry thinking?

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Prince Harry describes losing his virginity, taking drugs, and scrapping with his brother in his upcoming book, Spare. Will Buckingham Palace have any...

Why did Starmer steal 'take back control'?

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer said this morning that communities would 'take back control' under a Labour government. In a speech delivered just down the road from whe...

Are Sunak's five pledges enough to sort Britain out?

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak made five pledges to fix Britain in a speech in London today. Inflation will halve, the economy will grow, debt will fall, NHS waiting lis...

Will Brits shun trains?

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of Britons will forever shun trains because of the ongoing strikes, a government sources told the Times today. Are the strikes proving as eff...

What's on Sunak's New Year agenda?

24 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This year in politics has ended with a row over nurses pay. Will the government be able to resolve the dispute in the New Year? Meanwhile, in Scotland...

Was Zelensky's visit to the US a success?

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this special podcast, Cindy Yu speaks to Svitlana Morenets, author of The Spectator's Ukraine in Focus newsletter.Whilst Zelensky's visit to the US...

Ambulance strikes: who will blink first?

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today tens of thousands of ambulance workers are on strike over a pay dispute. The government is calling on people to stay safe, avoid doing anything ...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 18/12/22

18 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. The final guests highlighted from 2022 are Oliver Dowden, Yvette Cooper...

2022: The year in review

17 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls, Isabel Hardman and James Heale review the political maelstrom that was 2022, a year with more Prime Ministers than some decades have manag...

What's Jake Berry up to?

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The nurses' strike is well underway and there seems to be no sign of an agreement over pay any time soon. The government seems to be receiving fiercer...

Nurses strike: will there be a resolution?

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are on strike today in search of a 19 per cent pay rise. Chief Nursing Officer Dame Ruth May appeared ou...

Did Starmer flop at PMQs?

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer put in a weak performance in today's Prime Minister's Questions, Isabel Hardman says on today's podcast. Is Labour's fence sitting and va...

Will Rishi's immigration plan work?

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak today revealed a plan he says will tackle illegal immigration. 'Enough is enough', he said. The asylum backlog of 150,000 will be cleared ...

Is the Tory party undemocratic?

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has now served as prime minister longer than his predecessor Liz Truss, but that doesn't mean that it's all plane sailing. Former Home Sec...

Katy Balls' Sunday Roundup - 11/12/22

11 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls presents the highlights from Sunday morning's politics shows. Featured on today's podcast are Sir Stephen Powis, James Cleverly, Wes Street...

Can Labour retain their lead on the economy?

10 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

James Heale asks Katy Balls and Stephen Bush about whether Labour can maintain the public's confidence on tax and spending decisions now that the mini...

Will Hunt’s ‘Brexit freedoms’ kickstart Britain’s economy?

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

James Heale speaks to Kate Andrews and Katy Balls about Jeremy Hunt's latest proposals to reform the banking system. Will the 'Edinburgh Reforms' kick...

Are Harry and Meghan bad for Global Britain?

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A number of measures are under discussion as Christmas looks like it will be dominated by strike action. What measures will the government put in plac...

Is Rishi Sunak a blancmange Prime Minister?

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Shots were fired at PMQs today as Keir Starmer referred to Rishi Sunak as a 'blancmange Prime Minister'. The line came after Rishi Sunak conceded on t...

Can Sunak grip the Tory coalition?

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The government has backed down in the face of the planning rebellion, watering down their targets for housebuilding. At the same time, another revolt ...

Why is Labour so keen to reform the House of Lords?

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today former prime minister Gordon Brown has released a review which includes recommendations to overhaul the constitution and replace the House of Lo...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 04/12/22

04 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday's political programmes. Featured today are Nadhim Zahawi, Bridget Phillipson and Iain Duncan Smith....

Is Rishi Sunak going soft on China?

03 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls speaks to Cindy Yu, James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about the Prime Minister’s attitudes towards China and how to deal with the challenge...

Are the Tories in terminal decline?

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sajid Javid has announced that he won't be standing for re-election, while also today, the Chester by-election saw the Conservative party suffered the...

Who could replace Ian Blackford?

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ian Blackford will stand down as SNP leader. After five years in the role, it is time for 'fresh leadership', Blackford says. But who will take over? ...

How effective is Labour's class war?

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Prime Minister's Questions, Keir Starmer went in on Rishi Sunak's privileged background. Starmer detailed the various facilities available ...

Does Sunak see China as a threat?

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has signalled the end of the 'golden era' of relations between Britain and China, warning of Xi Jinping's creeping authoritarianism. In hi...

Can Sunak get a grip on his party?

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As MPs mull over whether they would like to stand in the next general election, the cracks in the party widen. Notable MPs like Chloe Smith and Dehenn...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 27/11/22

27 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows. Today's interviewees include Mark Harper, Lisa Nandy, Jake Berry and Theresa Vil...

Is the SNP juggernaut slowing down?

26 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls, Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth discuss the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on the SNP and the union. Become a Spectator subscriber to...

How will the NHS cope this winter?

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today the nurses' union have announced that they will strike this winter as they seek a pay rise of 5 per cent above inflation. How do the government ...

Can the government get a grip on immigration?

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

New migration numbers out today show that, for the first time ever, net migration have exceeded 500,000 a year. Is this a problem for the government, ...

What does the Supreme Court ruling mean for the SNP?

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Starmer and Sunak have today come up against each other at PMQs for the first time since the Autumn Statement. It was an occasion dominated by questio...

Can Rishi weather his first Tory rebellion?

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak is facing his first Tory Commons rebellion on the issue of UK house building targets. Could this be game over? Also on the podcast, after...

Is the government trying to soften Brexit?

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Over the weekend, government briefings that they will be looking towards a Swiss-style arrangement with the EU reignited the Brexit rows. Dormant Brex...

Isabel Hardman’s Sunday Roundup - 20/11/22

20 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday morning’s politics shows. Featured today are Steve Barclay, Gary Smith, Kwajo Tweneboa and Chloe...

Austerity 2.0: is all the pain really necessary?

19 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's no doubt a depressing time for the British economy, but how much that is the fault of the government, either for getting us to this stage and/or ...

Will Hunt's budget survive scrutiny?

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The front pages are almost universally bad today, but the government is more concerned with the reaction from the markets, which, so far, have not tur...

Will the Autumn Statement break the Tory truce?

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Conservative party is still digesting Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement, a far cry from the last fiscal statement from this party. Ha...

What do we know about the Polish missile tragedy?

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Last night there were fears of a direct attack from Russia on a NATO country, after a missile struck two Polish nationals on the border with Ukraine. ...

Why is the workforce shrinking?

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Figures released today show that the number of people in employment has dropped by 50,000 since September, despite a national worker shortage of 1.25 ...

What can we expect from the G20 summit?

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The G20 summit kicked off as world leaders arrived in Bali overnight. Ahead of the summit, Biden and Xi met to discuss tensions over trade, tech and h...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 13/11/22

13 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Featured today are Jeremy Hunt, Rachel Reeves, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin ...

Was Lord Wolfson right?

12 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Natasha Feroze hosts as Fraser Nelson and Kate Andrews debate Lord Wolfson’s recent BBC interview in which he called for the UK to import more low s...

Is the UK on the brink of recession?

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The ONS forecasts reveal that UK output fell by 0.2 per cent between July-September. Whilst not a recession yet, it is increasingly likely the next qu...

Nurses on strike: how can the NHS cope?

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time in history, nurses have voted to go on strike. As the NHS grapples with record wait lists and excess deaths, how will it cope this ...

How much has the Williamson row damaged Rishi Sunak?

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Though Gavin Williamson has now resigned, Rishi Sunak still had to fend off a number of questions on the disgraced minister at today's Prime Minister'...

Will Hunt protect the pensions triple lock?

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of the Autumn Statement next week, questions remain over whether the government intends to protect the pensions triple lock. With pensioners bei...

Does Westminster have a whipping problem?

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gavin Williamson is in trouble, again. This time the reveal of some expletive-laden texts he sent to then-chief whip Wendy Morton has raised questions...

Isabel Hardman’s Sunday Roundup – 06/11/22

06 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday’s interview shows. Today’s guests include Oliver Dowden, Ed Miliband and Paul Blomfield.Become...

What will Rishi Sunak be able to achieve in two years?

05 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson, James Forsyth and opinion pollster James Johnson, about how the Conservatives can carve a path back to electoral r...

Why have the RMT cancelled the strikes?

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today the planned rail strikes have been cancelled at the 11th hour. Is this an indication that a deal may be soon reached to end the months of disrup...

Are we heading for a recession?

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Alongside an interest rate hike of 3 per cent, the Bank of England have today warned the economy will 'be in recession for a long period'. How much of...

Why is Rishi now going to Cop?

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has said that he will now attend the Cop 27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, which begins on Sunday. What's behind the U-turn, and should we exp...

What is Matt Hancock up to?

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Hancock has signed up to be a contestant on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! What's behind the former health secretary's move into reality...

How much trouble is Suella in?

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Suella Braverman is under attack for sharing confidential documents with other members of parliament, and has admitted to sending official documents t...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 30/10/22

30 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with Michael Gove, Yvette Cooper, Jeffrey Donaldson and Caroline Lucas. Become a S...

How will Starmer attack Sunak?

29 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A poll in the i on Friday showed that Rishi Sunak is more trusted with the economy than Keir Starmer. How will Labour break down that support? Max Je...

Will Rishi take the difficult decisions?

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Reports today suggest the government is planning to pledge £50 billion to close the fiscal black hole. Are they laying the groundwork for a combinati...

What will Rishi do on education?

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has completed ministerial appointments to the Department for Education. Now led by Gillian Keegan, who left school at 16 to become an appr...

Did Rishi win at PMQs?

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak faced up against Keir Starmer in his first Prime Minister's Questions today, and rallied the Conservative backbenches to a more enthusiast...

What happened in Rishi's reshuffle?

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has spent his first day in office appointing his new Cabinet. As the Prime Minister vowed to fix the 'mistakes' of his predecessor's admin...