Coffee House Shots
Episodes
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 09/07/23
09 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Allegations involving the sexual misconduct of a BBC presenter. The US agrees to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine. The Conservative view on UK debt and...
Humza Yousaf's first 100 days
08 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to John Ferry and Iain Macwhirter about Humza Yousaf's first 100 days in Holyrood. Plagued by Sturgeon's arrest, does the Scottish ...
Was booting Boris a mistake?
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It is one year since Boris Johnson announced his resignation as prime minister. That day, Labour held an 11 point lead in the polls but new YouGov pol...
Chris Pincher’s suspension spells more trouble for Rishi Sunak
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A year on from allegations that Chris Pincher groped two young men at the Carlton Club (allegations that ultimately triggered the downfall of Boris Jo...
Did the NHS need a service at Westminster Abbey?
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The NHS marks its 75th anniversary today, and in Westminster, both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer attended a service at Westminster Abbey in honour of t...
Rishi Sunak’s Tory approval ratings turn negative
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rishi Sunak’s personal approval rating among Tory members has turned negative for the first time in his premiership. Why is the Prime Minister becom...
Who are the New Conservatives?
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A group of 25 Tory MPs, calling themselves the New Conservatives, have launched a plan that they say will cut net migration from 606,000, last year's ...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 02/07/23
02 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The government unveils its plans for the future of the NHS. But its progress on the healthcare problems of today is called into question. Can the NHS ...
Why is the NHS in such a bad way?
01 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Next week is the NHS's 75th birthday. Why is the health service in such a poor state? Are the Tories selling it off? And is there any hope for its fut...
Does Zac Goldsmith's resignation matter?
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zac Goldsmith has resigned as a minister, and says he quit because Rishi Sunak is 'simply uninterested' in the environment. It comes a day after Golds...
Is Rishi's Rwanda plan dead?
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It never rains but it pours for Rishi Sunak, as the Court of Appeal has today ruled against his Rwanda plan, raising concerns about the safety of asyl...
Korski drops out after groping claims. Now what?
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Korski, the former David Cameron aide who was standing to be the Conservative candidate for London mayor, has dropped out of the race after a w...
What happened at Hancock’s Covid grilling?
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Hancock gave evidence at the Covid inquiry today. The former health secretary said that ‘the doctrine was wrong’, care home preparation was ‘...
Is the economy wearing Rishi Sunak down?
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As mortgage rates surge and a new Opinium poll finds Labour’s lead has jumped to 18 points, Rishi Sunak appeared on Laura Kuenssberg’s BBC show to...
The Wagner coup: what we know so far
24 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fraser Nelson is joined by Svitlana Morenets and Mark Galeotti as Vladimir Putin faces an armed insurrection from the Wagner mercenary group – what ...
The case for capitalism
24 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Andrews is joined by Fraser Nelson and Johan Norberg, author of The Capitalist Manifesto: why the global free market will save the world. On the ...
Do Brits regret Brexit?
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today is the seven years' anniversary of the Brexit referendum, and new polls find that a majority of Brits would prefer a closer relationship with th...
Shock as interest rates hiked to 5 per cent
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and Kate Andrews as the Bank of England announced it has hiked interest rates to 5 per cent. Faced with inflation...
Could Britain turn into a stagflation nation?
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Natasha Feroze speaks to Kate Andrews and Katy Balls about today's inflation figures, stuck at 8.7 per cent despite predictions it would fall. As a fl...
Parliament votes to ban Boris
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In last night's vote on the Privileges Committee's report into whether Boris Johnson misled parliament, just six MPs backed the former prime minister....
How bad is the mortgage time bomb?
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Katy Balls speaks to Kate Andrews and Fraser Nelson about the developments in the mortgage markets and how Tory MPs are expected to vote on Partygate....
Will Ulez be the undoing of Sadiq Khan?
17 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In his politics column for The Spectator this week James Heale profiles the three candidates that the Tories have shortlisted for London mayor. With t...
How will MPs vote on the Partygate report?
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The release of The Privileges Committee's report into whether Boris Johnson knowingly misled parliament has caused a war of words in the press. Severa...
How damning is the Privileges Committee's report?
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We have finally got the results of the Privileges Committee's report into whether Boris Johnson deliberately misled parliament, and it doesn't make fo...
Nadine's revenge
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Having said she'll step down, Nadine Dorries has now said that she won't formally resign as an MP until later this year... It's hard to see this as an...
Are 'sinister forces' conspiring against Nadine Dorries?
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nadine Dorries has hit out on various platforms saying that 'sinister forces' stopped her from receiving her peerage, as promised to her by former pri...
Sunak comes out fighting over Boris honours row
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This morning Rishi Sunak has delivered a direct rebuke of Boris Johnson over the resignation honours row, during an interview at London Tech Week. Is ...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup
11 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Boris Johnson's resignation provokes contrasting reactions. The honours system is called into question. Nigel Farage claims an insurgency could be on ...
Nicola Sturgeon arrested in SNP finance investigation
11 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in connection with the probe into SNP finances.A spokesperson for Nicola Sturgeon confirmed: ‘Nicola Sturgeon has ...
What's behind Labour's green U-turn?
10 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Natasha Feroze speaks to Katy Balls and former Labour advisor John McTernan about Labour's announcement that they are watering down their green invest...
Is this the end of Boris Johnson?
10 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Andrews, Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson react to the news that Boris Johnson has decided to stand down as an MP. Will the former Prime Minister go ...
Is Boris's honours list a lesson in cronyism?
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Boris Johnson has published his resignation honours list, proposing a number of supporters, long time loyalists and even young staffers to be given pe...
How far can the Green Party go without Caroline Lucas?
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Green Party's first and only MP, Caroline Lucas, has announced today that she'll be stepping down at the next election. On the episode, Katy Balls...
Should Rishi be worried about Covid inquiry messages?
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It was prime ministers questions today and while Rishi Sunak is away in the US Oliver Dowden stood in. The Covid inquiry was a hot topic of debate. Ri...
Can Sunak and Biden crack AI regulation?
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Prime Minister will be flying stateside tonight to visit Joe Biden. Top of the agenda will be AI regulation (they may also talk about Ben Wallace'...
Is Andy Burnham a problem for Starmer?
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale is joined by Isabel Hardman and Katy Balls to discuss Rishi Sunak's visit to Dover in a bid to tackle small boats. Also, following a clash...
Who will be on the candidates list?
03 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Lord Stewart Jackson, regional chairman of the Conservative Democratic Organisation. On the podcast they discuss ...
Is the government heading for a court defeat?
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Cabinet Office has officially triggered a judicial review against the Covid Inquiry – but is this a misstep, if eventually they will lose their ...
When will Pestminster end?
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Natasha Feroze speaks to Isabel Hardman and James Heale about Geraint Davies, a Labour MP who has been suspended from the party amid allegations of se...
Do the Tories really hate 'the Blob'?
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Boris Johnson's team today suggested that they would be happy to hand over his WhatsApp messages from during the pandemic to help the Covid enquiry. W...
Should Rishi Sunak ban vapes?
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Natasha Feroze is joined by James Heale and Fraser Nelson to discuss the Covid inquiry's requested release of Boris Johnson's unredacted Whatsapp mess...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup
28 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Russian Ambassador has his own opinions about the war in Ukraine. Kuenssberg questions the Health Secretary over the government's pledge to build ...
What's wrong with lots of immigration?
27 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week's net migration figures were lower than expected, but still far higher than the 'tens of thousands' first promised by David Cameron. What's ...
Why are borrowing costs surging?
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Fraser Nelson and Kate Andrews about the news that borrowing costs are back to being the highest since last Autumn. Are markets ...
What's behind the latest migration figures?
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Heale speaks to Fraser Nelson and Robert Colvile from the Centre for Policy Studies about today's migration figures, which hit a record high yet...
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 ...