Coffee House Shots

What can the west do about China?

05 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As China changes its two child policy to a three child policy over fears of population decline, the west is also having to regularly change its approa...

Can Rishi Sunak get the G7 on side?

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the G7 looming the range of subjects on the agenda is vast. One of the first items up is the proposal of a global corporate tax rate which Presid...

Could travel this summer be stricter than last?

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a stressful day for those who've booked foreign holidays, as the government updated the latest countries on its various coloured travel list...

Is £1.4 billion enough for schools?

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The government's education tsar Kevan Collins resigned this afternoon, saying that the £1.4 billion pledged by the government for schools is only a t...

What difference does a wedding make?

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Now officially in June, the significance of the 21st seems even greater for the country, but with the Indian variant still on the rise how safe is the...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 30/05/21

30 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political interviews. Guests today included Nadhim Zadhawi, Mike Padgham, Edwin Poots, Maroš Šefč...

Will the DUP lose ground under Edwin Poots?

29 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Edwin Poots was formally endorsed as the DUP's new leader, in a meeting which Arlene Foster, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (Poots's rival in the lea...

Will Hancock cling on?

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Hancock defended his position at a Downing Street press conference yesterday. He told journalists that, by his 'recollection of events', he told ...

Will Hancock hit back?

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After the hanger full of Dom bombs that were dropped in yesterday's epic seven hour hearing, health secretary Matt Hancock got a sizeable chunk of Cum...

What we learnt from the Cummings evidence

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From accusing Matt Hancock of criminal incompetence, to lifting the lid on the true nature of his relationship with Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings's ...

How damaging is the Tory Islamophobia report?

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Islamophobia 'remains a problem' in the Conservative party, a report has found. Professor Swaran Singh, who analysed more than a thousand complaints o...

What will Dominic Cummings say?

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When Dominic Cummings appears in front of a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, the former aide is expected to attack Whitehall's institutional stru...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 23/05/21

23 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political shows. Featured today are Priti Patel, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Dr Jenny Harries, Andrew Morto...

What could a reformed BBC look like?

22 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Politicians have buttressed Prince William and Prince Harry's criticisms of the BBC in the wake of the Dyson report, which detailed Martin Bashir's fo...

Why is Boris optimistic about 21 June?

21 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson is increasingly confident that Britain will drop the majority of Covid restrictions on 21 June. But with the Indian variant forcing case...

Have the Lidl free marketeers won the day?

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Despite some misgivings in Cabinet, free marketeers seem to have won the argument on the Australia trade deal, one of the first major deals to be stru...

What does Sturgeon's new cabinet say about IndyRef2?

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nicola Sturgeon unveiled her new Cabinet today, reshuffling familiar faces with a clutch of new ministerial appointments. Will it be a line-up that ca...

Should Starmer let the cameras in?

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer is reportedly thinking about giving access to a camera crew in order to create a fly-on-the-wall documentary about his leadership of the ...

Could June 21 be delayed?

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As England moves into the next phase of its lockdown easing today, the Indian variant threatens to throw the final phase off schedule. Could the gover...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 16/05/21

16 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political shows. Today's guests include Matt Hancock, Yvette Cooper, Steve Reed and Sir Mark Walport...

Does Boris have a southern problem?

15 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While the local elections bore fruit for the Tories in the red wall, the party’s rebranding has had some southern shire MPs worried – does the par...

Will the India variant delay the roadmap?

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Cases of the Indian coronavirus variant have more than doubled in the last week, and Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, this morning said that jabs...

Where should prime ministers go after leaving Downing Street?

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

David Cameron is giving evidence to MPs today over his lobbying for Greensill Capital, in the latest round of embarrassment for the former prime minis...

What could surface from a Covid inquiry?

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson has announced that an inquiry into the government's Covid response will be launched next year. Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fra...

Has Angela Rayner got the upper hand?

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn Harris, a key Starmer aide, has resigned her post as his parliamentary private secretary over allegations that she was behind some of the nega...

How Keir Starmer's reshuffle backfired

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After a messy and delayed reshuffle, there is more rancour in the Labour party than there was before the weekend. Has Keir Starmer taken a serious hit...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 09/05/21

09 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman takes you through the highlights from Sunday's interview shows, with clips from Michael Gove, Nicola Sturgeon, John McDonnell, Ian Murr...

No SNP majority, now what?

08 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Scotland will have a pro-independence majority at Holyrood, but the SNP has fallen short of an overall majority. What does this mean for the party, it...

What the Hartlepool loss means for Starmer

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The local election results are coming in over the weekend, but the  bombshell came early with Hartlepool going to the tories in a massive 16-point sw...

What are the Royal Navy doing in Jersey's waters?

06 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Once again it's all about the fish - following protests from French fisherman over their rights in the waters surrounding Jersey, Boris Johnson has de...

How serious would Labour losing Hartlepool be?

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A poll last night gave the Tories a 17-point lead in Hartlepool. Tomorrow's by-election in the red wall seat is to be one of the first barometers of K...

Will the G7 summit mark the end of online diplomacy?

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the key aspects of the imminent G7 summit will be the return of face-to-face meetings between politicians. What will be on the agenda, and can ...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 02/05/21

02 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows. Interviewees today include Douglas Ross, Dominic Raab and Lisa Nandy.Become a Sp...

What does the DUP shakeup mean for Northern Ireland?

01 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Arlene Foster's departure has left the DUP in a difficult place. Unionists could become disaffected if another relative moderate takes over, but young...

Why does Boris give out his phone number?

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson's mobile phone number has been available online for 15 years, it emerged last night. Why does the Prime Minister give it out so freely? ...

Has Starmer misfired on wallpaper-gate?

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer was pictured shopping for wallpaper in John Lewis today, poking fun at Boris's ongoing No. 10 refurbishment troubles. But is the Labour l...

What's next for the DUP?

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Arlene Foster has stepped down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. What's next for the party? Isabel Hardman speaks to James Forsyth and Katy ...

Will the Downing Street refurbishment cut through?

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Reports today suggest that the Conservative Party initially covered the costs of the Downing Street refurbishment. Will Conservative members, and the ...

Does Simon Case have all the answers?

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Simon Case dodged questions from MPs about his lockdown leak inquiry at a select committee appearance this afternoon, and refused to go into details a...

Where will the Downing Street psychodrama end?

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Downing Street psychodrama continues today, with the Daily Mail reporting that Boris Johnson said he would rather see the 'bodies pile high in th...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 25/04/21

25 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows. Interview clips today came from Liz Truss, Jess Phillips, Nicola Sturgeon, Anas ...

What's Putin up to?

24 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Russian troops had been building up on the Ukrainian border for weeks now, only for Putin to announce their pullback this week. Moscow claims it was o...

A new Blitz of Dom-Bombs

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After damning accusations in the papers that Dominic Cummings leaked a series of the Prime Minister's texts, the former No 10 aide has wasted little t...

Is Dom out to get Boris?

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Downing Street insiders have accused Dominic Cummings of being behind a series of lobbying leaks. But why is the Prime Minister's team turning on the ...

Can Boris Johnson's green credentials win over Joe Biden?

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Biden is hosting world leaders for a virtual summit on climate change today. In attendance was Boris Johnson, who was keen to impress the Presiden...

What is Michael Gove up to in Israel?

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Gove is on a fact-finding mission in Israel this week, studying the country's vaccine passports scheme. But are the plans not already set for ...

Can Boris really stop the super league?

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fans, players, managers and politicians have spoken out against the proposals by 12 of Europe's top football teams to form a breakaway league. Boris J...

What does Boris's India cancellation mean for vaccines?

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson's trip to India was today cancelled as the country battles a new coronavirus variant. The PM was expecting to push Modi to release Astra...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 18/04/21

18 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with George Eustice, Nicola Sturgeon, Andrei Kelin and Rachel Reeves.Become a Spec...

What is Keir Starmer doing wrong?

17 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A new YouGov poll shows that the Conservative party is 14 points ahead of the Labour party. What is Keir Starmer doing wrong? Cindy Yu talks to Katy B...

Can the UK and EU fix the Protocol?

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The UK and EU are holding talks over how to fix the Northern Ireland Protocol and stop the continuing violence on the island. Cindy Yu speaks to Katy ...

Could the South Africa variant stunt the vaccine rollout?

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A number of cases of the South African variant have been detected around parts of London, leading to surge testing of those neighbourhoods this week. ...

Will the Greensill scandal hurt Boris?

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A civil servant advised Greensill Capital while still working in government, it emerged yesterday evening. Is the scandal hurting Boris Johnson, or ju...

Why is Boris talking down vaccines?

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson today said that the fall in coronavirus hospitalisations and deaths 'has not been achieved by the vaccination programme'. After pubs, re...

What's next in the David Cameron scandal?

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

David Cameron finally issued a statement over the weekend on the ongoing Greensill scandal. Gordon Brown also waded in this morning, telling the Today...

Have we almost achieved herd immunity?

10 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The government's vaccination plan is clearly to achieve herd immunity. So why won't anyone say that? Katy Balls talks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsy...

Could Cameron's Greensill lobbying damage Rishi Sunak?

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Treasury has released text messages that the Chancellor sent to David Cameron, in response to the latter's repeated lobbying. While Labour is tryi...

The complicated background to the Belfast unrest

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last night violence in Belfast escalated - petrol bombs were thrown, a bus was hijacked and children as young as 13 were reportedly getting involved. ...

Will AstraZeneca slow down the UK's reopening?

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Under-30s should be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, the UK's vaccine regulator said this afternoon. What does this mean for the ...

Is Boris being 'honest' on vaccine passports?

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The government needs to be 'honest' about vaccine passports, Labour's shadow health minister Jonathan Ashworth said today. Boris Johnson yesterday sai...

Is the exit roadmap still what it seemed?

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The next stage of lockdown easing is going as planned, but some caveats around international travel and vaccine passports are being floated for furthe...

Does vaccinated Britain really need mass testing?

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Brits will be offered two lateral flow tests a week, it was announced last night. The expansion of testing, the government say, will allow those who h...

Does Sadiq Khan deserve a second term?

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about London's upcoming mayoral election. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast w...

Is Starmer really against vaccine passports?

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer said that needing a vaccine passport to go to the pub would go against 'British instinct', in an interview today. But is he really agains...

Does 'BAME' still make sense?

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's report from the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities has made waves for its rejection of the existence of 'structural racism' in the UK, ...

Did police 'act appropriately' at the vigil?

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A report on the Met Police's handling of Sarah Everard's vigil has concluded that the force 'acted appropriately'. Was the conclusion a surprise, and ...

Will Salmond's new party help independence?

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alex Salmond has been building his new Alba Party over the weekend. Two SNP MPs have defected to the former party leader's side - is he helping furthe...

Katy Balls' Sunday Roundup - 28/03/21

28 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls rounds up the highlights from Sunday's political programmes. Highlights today come from Oliver Dowden, Mark Drakeford, Nick Thomas-Symonds,...

Is Britain turning into a 'bio-security state'?

27 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After ruling out vaccine passports for most of this year, the government seems to be moving the goalposts with little discussion. Fraser Nelson writes...

What should the government do about China's sanctions?

26 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

China has sanctioned nine Brits and four British entities in retaliation to sanctions imposed by the West earlier this week. What should the governmen...

Will Covid restrictions really end in June?

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today Matt Hancock refused to rule out not bringing the government's Covid emergency powers back for another renewal vote in September, while the Prim...

Are summer holidays abroad off the table?

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What's the point of vaccinating the population, if fear of new strains will prevent a return to normality when it comes to air travel? That's the ques...

Can Anas Sarwar stop the SNP?

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nicola Sturgeon today survived a confidence vote brought forward by the Scottish Conservatives. Newly elected Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said ...

How will Boris respond to the EU's vaccine threats?

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Overnight the European Commission's rhetoric on vaccine export bans hotted up. In the run up to Thursday's meeting between European leaders to discuss...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 21/03/21

21 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday's interview shows, with clips from Steve Baker, Ben Wallace, Mairead McGuinness, Lisa Nandy and Jo...

Should Britain engage in vaccine diplomacy?

20 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

America has belatedly joined the vaccine diplomacy arena, the progress of which by Russia and China has been covered by The Spectator. On this episode...

What's next for Sturgeon?

19 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nicola Sturgeon misled the Scottish Parliament, a special Holyrood committee concluded yesterday. In a defiant response, the First Minister said that ...

Will the EU go through with its threat of blocking vaccines?

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The European Medicines Agency has announced that the Oxford-Astrazeneca jab is safe after all. In light of this, will the European Commission go throu...

What’s behind the EU’s vaccine flip flop?

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ursula von der Leyen today said that the EU could block vaccine shipments to the UK if it doesn't export AstraZeneca jabs to the bloc. The Commission'...

Is Boris being too soft on China?

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Starting 'a new Cold War on China' would be 'a mistake', Boris Johnson said today as he set out the government's integrated defence review. The milita...

Will Tories kickback on new police powers?

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick is facing calls to resign after women were forcibly removed from Saturday's vigil for Sarah Everard. It...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 14/03/21

14 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with Victoria Atkins, Jess Phillips, Diane Abbott and Sir Ian Diamond. Become a Sp...

Life as a Lobby journalist

13 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Lobby refers to the group of political journalists with access to the Palace of Westminster. On this episode, three former Lobby hacks - Fraser Ne...

What’s behind the UK’s EU export slump?

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Britain's exports to the EU fell by 40 per cent in January 2021, new figures from the ONS show. Are the numbers a real reflection of post-Brexit trade...

Why Scottish independence is not inevitable

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A number of polls in recent days have shown a majority support for Scotland staying in the UK. Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about ho...

Was that Keir Starmer's best PMQs?

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer pushed the PM on the 1 per cent pay rise for nurses at PMQS today. Did shorter, snappier questions bring results for the Labour leader? I...

Sunak's NHS pay rise headache

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

NHS chief Simon Stevens today confirmed that the health service budgeted for a 2.1 per cent pay rise this year (rather than the 1 per cent being recom...

Will the government respond to Harry and Meghan interview?

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The government has so far kept quiet about Harry and Meghan's shocking interview with Oprah, in which - among other revelations - the couple claimed t...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 07/03/21

07 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman rounds up the best bits from Sunday's interview shows, with Gavin Williamson, Jonathan Ashworth, Lisa Nandy and Dr Susan Hopkins.  Be...

Is an early election on the cards?

06 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With economic growth of over seven percent forecast for 2022, could 2023 be an election year? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth abo...

Is a one per cent pay rise fair?

05 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Unions are threatening strike action after the government recommended a one per cent pay increase for nurses in England. Will the backlash force a U-t...

Budget Day Two: Has Rishi survived the scrutiny?

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Day Two is sometimes when the budgets come unravelled. But Rishi Sunak's Budget seems to have survived the scrutiny of the polls, pundits and papers. ...

Will Rishi Sunak's budget give Britain a boost?

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged a further £65bn in today's budget, bringing the government's total spending during coronavirus to more than £400bn. B...

Will Brand Rishi take a hit?

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has been a popular Chancellor, mainly because he's responsible for pandemic giveaway after giveaway. But with tomorrow's Budget, the tone ...

Can the government contain the Brazilian variant?

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Contact tracers are trying to find a person infected with the Brazilian variant of coronavirus, after they incorrectly returned their testing form. Ho...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 28/02/21

28 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman rounds up the best bits from Sunday's interviews shows, with highlights coming from Rishi Sunak, Anneliese Dodds and Anas Sarwar. Beco...

What did we learn from Alex Salmond's evidence?

27 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls, James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson discuss Alex Salmond's appearance before the Holyrood inquiry into how the Scottish government handled com...

Tory nerves grow over Sunak's budget

26 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Chancellor is expected to announce tax hikes in next week's budget as he looks to bolster the public purse and reassure markets. With capital gain...

Will teacher assessed grades work?

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Teachers will assess pupil's grades next year, the Education Secretary said today. Has the decision come too late, and will it disadvantage students? ...

Will Gove greenlight immunity passports?

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Gove will lead a government review into immunity passports. Does his appointment make IDs a foregone conclusion, what will they look like, and...