Coffee House Shots

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 15/12/2024

15 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.In the final Sunday roundup of the year, we hear about immigration and Chin...

Would Brexit voters really accept the return of freedom of movement?

14 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

New research this week suggested that a majority of Brexit voters would accept the return of freedom of movement in exchange for access to the EU sing...

Is Rachel Reeves turning into George Osborne?

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Labour is supposed to be going for growth, so Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves will be disappointed with the news today that the economy unexpectedly sh...

Labour vs the NIMBYs, plus are sandwiches ‘for wimps’?

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today Downing Street has continued its reset – that is definitely not a reset – by providing more details on Labour’s plan to cut the planning r...

Have Labour got a grip of the prisons crisis?

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Labour are planning to publish a 10-year plan to get on the front foot when it comes to the prisons crisis. Shifting from the previous government’s ...

Spending review: a return to austerity?

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Preparations are stepping up for the government’s spending review, due in June. The Chancellor has taken a more personable approach to communicating...

How does the Syrian conflict affect Britain?

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Following news that President Bashar Al-Assad's regime in Syria has fallen, Natasha Feroze discusses what comes next with James Heale and Michael Step...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 08/12/2024

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts....

Are the SNP exploiting Labour woes?

07 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The SNP presented their budget this week in Holyrood with the news that all pensioners would receive a winter fuel allowance and a pledge to scrap the...

‘If anything we went too late’: exclusive interview with Sunak’s chief of staff

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Coffee House Shots Katy Balls speaks to Lord Liam Booth-Smith, Rishi Sunak’s former chief of staff.In his first interview...

Is immigration not a priority for Labour?

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There is a feeling of deja-vu in Westminster today as Keir Starmer unveiled his plan for change and six 'milestones' (not pledges) to turn the country...

Spectator Awards: Nigel Farage promises a 'political revolution'

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last night was The Spectator’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. Politicians of every stripe were in attendance, with Wes Streeting, Robert Jenric...

Is Starmer planning a foreign policy reset too?

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer is preparing to give his big reset speech on Thursday. But the more interesting address is perhaps the one he gave last night at the annu...

Is Keir Starmer turning into Rishi Sunak?

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The government is trailing a major policy speech ahead of Thursday, in which the Prime Minister will set out key 'milestones' that he wants to hit, in...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 01/12/2024

01 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.Louise Haigh has resigned as transport secretary, and Pat McFadden says he ...

Is Labour’s football regulator an own goal?

30 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Football Governance Bill is currently being considered in the House of Lords. It’s designed to establish an independent football regulator. No t...

Assisted dying bill passes second reading – what next?

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The controversial assisted dying bill has passed its second reading in the House of Commons with a majority of 55 after just hours of debate. It now h...

Louise Haigh’s resignation raises questions for Keir Starmer

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the small hours of this morning Louise Haigh resigned as Transport Secretary following the revelation that she had pleaded guilty to a criminal off...

Starmer attacks 'open border' Tories, plus Andrea Jenkyns defects

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a day of press conferences in Westminster. First to Reform UK, where Nigel Farage unveiled their newest defection: Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who ...

Boris Johnson on Covid failures, the Nanny State & his advice for ‘Snoozefest’ Starmer

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former prime minister Boris Johnson joins The Spectator’s political editor Katy Balls to divulge the contents of his new book, Unleashed. He reflect...

Kemi’s first policy proclamation

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kemi Badenoch has signalled that she could change her position on the ECHR. At a conference today, she said "we will review every policy, treaty and p...

Can Keir Starmer get Britain back to work?

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The government have announced their latest effort to get Britons back into work. A series of benefit changes intend to tackle the fact that Britain is...

Should Starmer be worried about this petition?

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today is the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference, at which Rachel Reeves has laid out her plan to 'Get Britain Working' and prove Labou...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 24/11/24

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. The vote on the Assisted Dying Bill is approaching. Work and Pensions Sec...

Is the Tory psychodrama over?

23 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Shipman, chief political commentator at The Sunday Times, joins Katy Balls to discuss his new book, Out: How Brexit Got Done and the Tories Were U...

Is Keir Starmer really going to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu?

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant as well as – ...

Starmer's Streeting problem

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A vote on assisted dying was supposed to be one of the easiest reforms for Keir Starmer’s government. To many, including the Prime Minister himself,...

Is Rachel Reeves running out of luck?

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

An unexpected rise in inflation today takes the rate to higher than the Bank of England's target, and adds to Rachel Reeves's worries. James Heale tal...

Farmers won't be quick to forgive Labour

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of farmers descended on Westminster today to protest the inheritance tax changes proposed in Labour’s Budget. Amidst a sea of tweed and we...

Labour's Trump-Xi balancing act

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer today will become the first British leader to meet China's Xi Jinping since 2018. The two leaders will meet on the sidelines of the G20 s...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 17/11/2024

17 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.Transport Secretary Louise Haigh’s defends the government’s new increas...

Taxes, tariffs and Trump: What lies ahead for Labour?

16 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Spectator's Michael Gove, Katy Balls, and Kate Andrews are joined by Paul Abberley, Chief Executive of Charles Stanley, to discuss and unpack Labo...

Making sense of non-crime hate incidents

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The government has announced a review into how to properly police non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs). This follows the experience of Allison Pearson who...

Will Reeves's pensions shake-up really boost growth?

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Chancellor is giving her first Mansion House address tonight, and she will be majoring on pensions, suggesting that public sector pension funds ne...

Labour vs Elon Musk

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As Trump announces the appointment of Elon Musk to tackle US government efficiency, James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and editor Michael Gove about the...

Justin Welby quits as Archbishop of Canterbury

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Welby has announced he is resigning as Archbishop of Canterbury over his handling of serial child abuser John Smyth. In a statement, he said ‘...

Will Trump push the UK closer to the EU?

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer is in France today to hold talks with Emmanuel Macron where they will discuss the impact of a Trump second term, and what it will mean fo...

Can Labour work with Trump?

09 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s happened. The scenario Labour politicians hoped would not come to pass is now a reality: Donald Trump is heading back to the White House. The o...

How does Starmer solve a problem like Farage?

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nigel Farage could well be the big winner in the UK from Donald Trump’s victory across the pond, with the MP for Clacton having a direct line to the...

US election: how did the polls get it so wrong?

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The post–mortem has begun on the US election with the Democrats desperately trying to figure out what just happened. To make sense of the result, Ka...

Badenoch’s Trump card

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s happened. The scenario Labour politicians hoped would not come to pass is now a reality: Donald Trump is heading back to the White House. The o...

Has Kemi Badenoch formed a unity cabinet?

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet continues to take shape: Chris Philp has been appointed shadow Home Secretary, with the biggest news being Robert Jenri...

Who will make up Kemi's shadow cabinet?

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kemi Badenoch is the new leader of the opposition, and we have an early indication of who will make up her shadow cabinet. She has already chosen her ...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 03/11/2024

03 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.New eras begin for both major parties, as Rachel Reeves' budget becomes reali...

Badenoch wins: what next?

02 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kemi Badenoch has won the Tory leadership election. She beat Robert Jenrick in a tight race, winning 53,806 votes against his 41,318. What will a Bade...

Can Labour save its Budget?

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The fallout from Labour's Budget continues. On the media round this morning, Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, admitted that it will hit ...

Reeves's Budget: the morning after the night before

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Andrews is joined by Katy Balls and the OBR's Prof David Miles to discuss the day two reactions to Rachel Reeves's Budget. Who were the losers, a...

Labour's low growth Budget

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Reeves has announced that taxes will rise by £40 billion in Labour’s first Budget for 14 years. The headlines include: an increase in employ...

The problem with Labour's 'sticking plaster politics'

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wes Streeting has been out on the airwaves this morning, giving us a better idea of what will be in the Budget when it comes to the NHS. In an attempt...

Budget week: Labour braced for backlash

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's Budget week (finally)! How this week goes will set the tone for Labour’s first year in office. It’s fair to say that expectations are relativ...

Should Britain pay reparations to Commonwealth countries?

26 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Keir Starmer has been in Samoa for a summit with delegations of the 56 nations which make up the Commonwealth. Between having to answer que...

Labour's 'working people' muddle

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who exactly are 'working people'? The Labour party's use of this phrase during the election raised questions over who they will really be levying taxe...

How many Tories will defect to Reform?

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After Nigel Farage's overture to Tory councillors to 'defect', one already has. Farage has also been on manoeuvres, piling on the criticism against La...

Trump's crusade against Labour

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has made the extraordinary move to file an official complaint against the British Labour party for their volunteers campaigning for the D...

Michael Gove on prisons: Starmer is in the position of Bane

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Another 1100 prisoners have been released today through the early-release scheme. How has this measure landed? With the news that former Conservative ...

Does Streeting’s NHS plan amount to anything?

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This morning, Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched the ‘biggest consultation in NHS history’ in a bid to get public input into how to save the ...

Labour budget: are we heading for austerity?

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Labour’s first Budget in 14 years will be delivered at the end of the month. The Prime Minister and Chancellor have already been warning that the pu...

Should bishops be booted out of the Lords?

19 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The House of Lords contains 26 Church of England archbishops and bishops who possess an automatic right to sit and vote in the House, as established b...

Tory leadership debate: who came out on top?

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch, the final two candidates for the Tory leadership, went up against each other on a special GB News show last night. K...

Did Labour make its own Budget trap?

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A scoop from Bloomberg has revealed that a number of Cabinet ministers have written formally to the Prime Minister to complain about the budgetary dec...

Starmer denies being soft on China

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Starmer and Sunak debated Labour's position on China at today's PMQs, with Starmer denying going soft on the Asian superpower. Did Sunak draw inspirat...

National Insurance: Starmer’s first big U-turn?

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Budget is not due for a fortnight, yet with every day that passes its contents seem to become clearer. This morning Keir Starmer gave an interview...

Is Labour's investment summit back on track?

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This morning is the government's big investment summit. They pledged to have the summit within their first 100 days in an attempt to hit the ground ru...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 13/10/2024

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s politics shows.Jonathan Reynolds says Transport Secretary Louise Haigh’s comments are ‘...

100 Days of Starmer: the verdict

12 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today marks Labour’s 100th day in office. But they are unlikely to be popping champagne corks in Downing Street – even if Lord Alli offered to pay...

Is Keir Starmer the new Harold Wilson?

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's another busy few days for the Prime Minister as he chairs the inaugural meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions today, marks 100 days in of...

The ‘Green Budget’ could leave Rachel Reeves red-faced

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published its yearly Green Budget, weeks ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s first fiscal event. It’s grim re...

Tory leadership: what on earth just happened?

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Westminster is reeling from the shock result that James Cleverly has been knocked out of the Conservative Party leadership race, only a day after comi...

The final three: Cleverly storms ahead

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Conservative party has narrowed down the leadership candidates to the final three, with James Cleverly taking a surprise lead over both of his mor...

Will Starmer’s No.10 reset work?

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who’s in charge in Downing Street? Until recently, the answer to that question would tend to reveal whether you were a Sue Gray or Morgan McSweeney ...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 06/10/2024

06 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.Conflict in the Middle East reaches a new crisis point as Israel bombs Leba...

Sue Gray out, Morgan McSweeney in

06 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer has not yet reached the 100 day mark but already he has lost his Chief of Staff. This afternoon, Downing Street has confirmed that Sue Gr...

Where is the Brexit dividend? Live at Conservative conference

05 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this special Saturday shots we hear from a panel discussion on Brexit, originally recorded at Conservative Party conference. Four years on there a...

Assisted dying and Chagos row overshadow Starmer’s carbon capture pledge

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What Keir Starmer wants to be talking about today is his landmark £22 billion investment into carbon capture. Flanked by Ed Miliband and Rachel Reeve...

Should we be optimistic about the next ten years?

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Loyal listeners will know that as well as our concise daily political analysis, Coffee House Shots often delves deeper into the issues of the day. We ...

Who was the winner from today’s Tory leadership speeches?

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The final day of the party conference saw all four candidates take to the stage in a bid to have a David Cameron moment. Back in 2005, Cameron managed...

Coffee House Shots live: the struggle for the future of conservatism

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The mood at Conservative conference has been surprisingly jubilant considering the turmoil that the party finds itself in. Labour's misfortunes may ha...

Have the Tory leadership candidates got a Truss problem?

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jeremy Hunt is one of the few Tories at Conservative Party Conference willing to take the fight to Labour. In the second day, he sat down for an on-st...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 29/09/2024

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.Tory leadership candidates set out their visions for the party at the Conse...

Did Kemi Badenoch really call maternity pay ‘excessive’?

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The final four leadership candidates have arrived at Conservative Party Conference to make their final pitches. However, day one and Kemi Badenoch has...

Is Labour's 2030 clean power target achievable? Live at Labour conference

28 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Decarbonising power by 2030 is one of the flagship policies for Keir Starmer’s government. Whether this is achievable and how we go about the green ...

Inside Starmer's dinner with Donald Trump

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The political equivalent of the Rumble in the Jungle happened last night when Starmer sat down for a two-hour dinner with Donald Trump, following the ...

Are we on the brink of ‘all out war’ in the Middle East?

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Events have moved on fast since Labour conference with the mounting prospect of ‘all out war’ in the Middle East. This comes after reports that Is...

Michael Gove is the new editor of The Spectator

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We've had quite the day at 22 Old Queen Street. All Westminster politics seem small in comparison to the news that Fraser Nelson will step down as edi...

What did we learn from Keir Starmer's speech?

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Keir Starmer has declared 'change has begun' in Liverpool. He defended the cuts to the winter fuel payments, announced a Hillsborough Law, and saw...

Who was the real audience for Rachel Reeves’s speech?

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has just finished her speech at Labour conference. After a brief interruption by hecklers, she addressed austerity, the pande...

Is Labour going through its own Partygate?

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Labour's first party conference since entering government has opened under the shadow of the 'Frockgate' scandal. James Heale and Katy Balls report fr...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 22/09/2024

22 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.The Labour conference begins with the party’s honeymoon period seemingly ...

Will Starmer clash with the unions?

21 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy enough to keep both business and the unions on side when you are vague about your policies – and when your opponent is messing up so badly...

Farage's next move

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Party conference season continues as Reform UK’s kicks off today in Birmingham. Katy Balls has been at the NEC hearing from Richard Tice, Lee Anders...

What the Sue Gray row is really about

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a sticky week for Labour. Whilst they will have hoped to spend the run up to this weekend's conference talking about the policy wins of thei...

Should Labour ditch the ‘doom and gloom’ narrative?

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We have some new inflation figures today. Inflation rose 2.2 per cent in the 12 months to August. This is pretty much in line with the Bank of England...

Where do the Lib Dems go next?

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Liberal Democrat Conference wraps up today in Brighton. It could well be the happiest conference we visit this season with the party riding high after...

Do the Starmers need a personal shopper?

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This weekend we had another twist in the story involving Labour donor Lord Alli, who was caught up in a 'cash for access' scandal a couple of weeks ba...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 15/09/2024

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.The foreign secretary talks up support for Ukraine, but won’t comment on ...

Is Gordon Brown back?

14 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, there was a surprise visitor to the Treasury: Gordon Brown. The former prime minister and chancellor secretly returned to his old digs for ...

Will Starmer call Putin’s bluff?

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer and David Lammy are in the Washington for a planned foreign policy summit with Joe Biden. They will principally be talking about a new de...

Keir Starmer: the NHS will get 'no more money without reform'

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Prime Minister has described the NHS as in 'critical condition' in a speech this morning after the release of Lord Darzi's damning independent rep...

Trump vs Harris debate: who won?

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last night saw the first Trump vs Harris debate and the consensus seems to be that Harris came out on top. She managed to avoid sticky issues about he...

Tory leadership latest: 'Melmentum' runs out

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a busy day in Westminster today. Labour avoided a large scale rebellion on the winter fuel allowance and Mel Stride was eliminated from the ...