Coffee House Shots

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...

Does Liz Truss have any regrets?

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls and James Forsyth discuss from the rooftop of Parliament the key takeaways from Liz Truss' departure speech. How does she reflect on her ti...

Can Rishi steady the ship?

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have a new leader of the Conservative party. After Penny Mordaunt dropped out of the race just seconds before the deadline, Rishi Sunak will become...

Ready for Rishi?

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After Boris pulled out of the leadership race last night, all eyes are on Rishi Sunak who could be Prime Minister by lunchtime. Can Rishi rescue the C...

Why did Boris pull out?

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Andrews, James Forsyth and Katy Balls discuss the surprise withdrawal of Boris Johnson from the Conservative leadership race. Become a Spectator...

Katy Balls' Sunday Roundup - 23/10/22

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows. Featured today's Conservative leadership special are interviews with Steve Baker, Pe...

Will there be a new PM by tomorrow?

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls, James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson discuss the latest party leader endorsements by MPs and the likelihood that the next Prime Minister will b...

Are the Conservatives ungovernable?

22 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

James Heale, James Forsyth and Katy Balls discuss whether the Tories are an impossible coalition to preside over. Become a Spectator subscriber today...

Will Boris get the numbers he needs?

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whilst no candidate has officially declared their candidacy for the Tory leadership race, speculation is rife about a possible Boris Johnson return. C...

Liz Truss resigns

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Forty-four days into her premiership, Liz Truss said she was resigning as Prime Minister. There will now be a week-long race to elect a new leader. Wh...

Coffee House Shots Live: Another winter of discontent?

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fraser Nelson, James Forsyth, Katy Balls and Kate Andrews discuss plans to stop spiralling inflation – and a spiralling government.Become a Spectato...

Braverman out. Has the great resignation begun?

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Suella Braverman has resigned as Home Secretary over a row on immigration measures. Grant Shapps has been selected to replace her. Will more follow?I...

Will there be resignations?

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Another day, another u-turn. Liz Truss met with her Cabinet today and is reportedly considering u-turning on the pensions triple lock. Are ministers h...

Was Truss hiding under a desk?

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This afternoon Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt stepped in for Liz Truss to field an urgent questions called by the Leader of the Opposition. What c...

Trussonomics is dead

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt gave a statement this morning in which he outlined plans to scrap 'almost all' the tax measures announced by his predecessor, K...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 16/10/22

16 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows. Featured today are Jeremy Hunt, Matt Hancock, Robert Halfon and Crispin Blunt. ...

How long has Liz Truss got left?

15 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman, James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson discuss the appropriate units of time in which to measure the remainder of the Prime Minister’s tenu...

Can Truss calm the markets?

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Truss has delivered an 8-minute long press conference confirming the latest corporation tax U-turn and insisting she will stay on as Prime Ministe...

Truss sacks Kwarteng. What next?

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Liz Truss has sacked her Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and replaced him with Jeremy Hunt. By removing her closest ideological ally. Can she...

What will Kwasi do?

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's one of those flight tracker days here in Westminster as Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is about to land from a trip to the IMF in Washington, cut shor...

Will Truss be gone by Christmas?

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After a day of speculation, the rumours that Liz Truss was about to U-turn on more areas of the mini-budget proved untrue. Conservative MPs had a tens...

Is Truss ruling out spending cuts?

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Did Liz Truss misspeak or did she mean it when she said that she wouldn't go ahead with spending cuts, as promised in her leadership campaign? On the ...

What is the way out for Kwasi?

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Parliament is back today and Kwasi Kwarteng is facing questions from the opposition as well as from those within his party. How much pressure is he un...

Can Truss heal the divisions within her party?

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This morning the Chancellor has announced that the government will bring forward both its medium term fiscal event and the accompanying Office for Bud...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 09/10/22

09 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the best bits from Sunday morning's political interview shows, with highlights today coming from Nadhim Zahawi, Nicola Sturgeo...

How will this end?

08 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Max Jeffery, Katy Balls and James Forsyth discuss Liz Truss's premiership and walk through the various options being cooked up to replace her.Become a...

Are Truss and Macron now 'bons amis'?

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Truss attended the European Political Community summit in Prague, where her frosty relations with Macron came to a head. Rather than 'frenemies', ...

Has Team Boris turned on Truss?

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nadine Dorries, a loyalist to Boris Johnson, has a front-page piece in the Times today, accusing the new Liz Truss government of lurching too far towa...

Is Truss back on track?

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Truss has today delivered her speech to the Conservative Party Conference where she set out the vision for her government. It was arguably the bes...

Is Truss facing another rebellion?

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Truss is coming under pressure over another of her policies. Should she increase benefits payments in line with inflation, or in line with earning...

Are the Tories in the business of managing decline?

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kwasi Kwarteng has just spoken at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham defending his mini-Budget, despite having u-turned on the cut to the...

Why has Truss u-turned?

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Prime Minister has abandoned her plan to scrap the top 45 per cent rate of income tax. Why?Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.Pr...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 02/10/22

02 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday morning's political shows as the Conservative party conference enters the spotlight. Featured in to...

Did Gove just torpedo Truss?

02 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Gove this morning said that Liz Truss's plans to scrap the top 45 per cent tax rate are a 'display of the wrong values'. It comes as Jake Berr...

Is Tory conference going to be a meltdown?

01 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman, James Forsyth and Katy Balls discuss whether Liz Truss will be able to recover her authority after several opinion polls show the Cons...

Liz Truss's mea cupla moment

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Despite rejecting the Office for Budget Responsibility's offer of a forecast to accompany last week's so-called fiscal event, this morning it appears ...

Will Truss axe Kwarteng?

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Truss broke her silence this morning and embarked on a pre-Tory conference media round of regional stations across the UK. In a brutal set of inte...

Why is the Bank of England buying gilts?

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Bank of England has today announced a major intervention into gilts to prevent a 'material risk' to financial stability as a result of government ...

Is Starmer ready for No.10?

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Stamer took centre stage for his speech at the Labour party conference today. Unlike last year, there were several standing ovations and loud che...

Is Labour on the cusp of victory?

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's day two of Labour Conference and the party appear upbeat and confident of their chances at the next election. But are they being too reactionary ...

How worrying is the falling pound?

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Following Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng's 'mini' budget, the pound has fallen to a record low against the dollar, fueling speculation that the Bank of En...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 25/09/22

25 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday's political shows as the Labour party conference begins. Highlights this week come from Sir Keir S...

How will Labour react to the mini-budget?

24 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Andrews speaks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about how Labour will position themselves in response to Friday’s statement, as they prepare for...

Kwarteng's audacious budget

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kwasi Kwarteng has today announced what has been dubbed as his mini-Budget, but looking at the scale of the package it is far from small. The Coffee H...

NI rise scrapped: how much further will Kwasi go?

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With hours to go till the Chancellor's fiscal statement, we've heard today that the National Insurance hike will be scrapped, as promised during Liz T...

What's behind Putin's mobilisation?

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Vladimir Putin warned the West that, if pushed, Russia would use a nuclear weapon. How seriously should we take his threat? And reports emerged overni...

Why is Liz Truss ruling out a US trade deal?

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Truss is in New York today on her first foreign visit as prime minister. On the flight across the Atlantic, Truss said that a trade deal with the ...

How will Queen Elizabeth II be remembered?

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today was the state funeral of Britain's longest reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II. From Westminster, we evaluate the day's proceedings.Also on the ...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 18/09/22

18 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Today's podcast features Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Jacinda Ardern, Shei...

How did the Queen change the world?

17 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Cindy Yu, James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson discuss the impression Queen Elizabeth II made during her 70 years as a head of state. Become a Spectator s...

Can the Met fix London's spiralling crime problem?

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two police officers were stabbed this morning near Leicester Square in central London. What can new Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley do to...

Who will be at the Queen's funeral?

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Preparations are well under way for the Queen's funeral next week, but which world leaders will be in attendance? Will they all be able to behave them...

What will happen while the Queen lies in state?

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Queen's coffin has been taken from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. Mourners will pay their respects for the next four days before the funer...

What was the message behind King Charles's visit to Belfast?

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

King Charles arrived in Belfast where he was met by the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris. The King pledged to follow t...

King Charles III addresses parliament

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This morning, surrounded by the lead, oak and stone of Westminster Hall, King Charles III addressed parliament. Lindsay Hoyle, speaker of the Commons,...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 11/09/22

11 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with Anthony Albanese, Gordon Brown, Gabriel Gavin, Dr Mike Martin and David Camero...