Coffee House Shots

Are we in for a 'dirty' Tory leadership contest?

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At last there is white smoke in the negotiations over the rules for the Tory leadership contest. On Monday, the 1922 committee met and agreed a timeta...

Labour's Kamala Harris problem

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last night we had the news that President Biden will not contest the election, announcing in a separate statement that he will support his vice presid...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 21/07/2024

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s politics shows.Chancellor Reeves is in the spotlight. She maintains Labour will be strict w...

What is going on with Joe Biden?

20 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Joe Biden has faced further calls to step down from some of the most senior characters in the Democratic party. The President is currently ...

Tory leadership race latest: what's going on?

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Conservatives need to choose a new leader, but first they need to agree on the process... Easier said than done. Lucy Dunn talks to Fraser Nelson ...

Keir Starmer: 'We want to reset relationships with EU'

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer is at Blenheim Palace today for the gathering of the European Political Community, the forum created by Emmanuel Macron in the wake of th...

What was missing from the King's Speech?

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Labour has set out its ambitious missions in the King's Speech to open a new parliament today. On the podcast, Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls an...

Two-child benefit cap row – Starmer’s first big test?

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer is coming under pressure to commit to scrapping the two-child benefit cap, introduced in 2017 by the Conservatives. Plaid Cymru, the Gree...

How Westminster reacted to the Trump assassination attempt

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s two days after the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump and we thought we would use this podcast to discuss some of the reaction from W...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 14/07/2024

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Donald Trump has narrowly escaped with his life after an attempted assassin...

Coffee House Shots live: election aftermath

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Fraser Nelson, Katy Balls and Kate Andrews, along with special guest Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, for a live edition of Coffee House Shots recorded earli...

Welcome to Whitehall Watch

13 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happens to staff in Whitehall when a government changes? In this Saturday edition of the podcast, Katy Balls is joined by Henry Newman, former ad...

Can Labour solve our prisons crisis?

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood has acknowledged that ‘our prisons are on the point of collapse’. She has announced that, from September, most p...

Has Nato been a success for Starmer?

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer is on his first big diplomatic trip to Washington, attending the Nato summit. He has called on member countries to increase defence spend...

Who will lead the Tories in opposition?

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a big 24 hours in Tory-world as the party tries to pick itself up after last week's defeat. We have had the first shadow cabinet meeting and...

Can Wes Streeting end the NHS strikes?

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Health Secretary Wes Streeting declared the NHS 'broken' over the weekend. With a creaking in-tray of issues, he opened up negotiations with the BMA t...

Can Labour deliver economic growth?

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This morning, Rachel Reeves made her first speech as chancellor. She announced mandatory housing targets, promising 1.5 million homes over the next fi...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 07/07/2024

07 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's politics shows.Labour win with a landslide, but their relatively small share of the vote make...

The surprises in Starmer's cabinet

06 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In his first 24 hours as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has appointed his cabinet and held a cabinet meeting. Most of his frontbench have carried over t...

Labour wins by a landslide

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Where to start with an historic election night. Keir Starmer has got his 1997 moment, winning an enormous majority. Elsewhere, eleven cabinet minister...

Exit poll predicts Labour landslide

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The polls have closed and the exit poll is in. The BBC exit poll projects that Labour will win a landslide of 410 MPs and the Conservatives will be le...

Will there be an election upset on Thursday?

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tomorrow, voters will head to the polling booth to cast their vote in the 2024 general election. Will there be any surprises in store? So far, there h...

Has Reform peaked too soon?

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The election campaign was going well for Nigel Farage's Reform... until it wasn't. A series of controversies have been difficult for the party to shak...

Starmer's Europe dilemma

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As Europe comes to terms with the fallout from Marine Le Pen's victory in the first round of their parliamentary elections, Cindy Yu talks to Freddy G...

Coffee House Shots live: election special

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Fraser Nelson, Katy Balls and Kate Andrews for this special edition of Coffee House Shots, recorded live ahead of the general election. As electi...

Labour's women problem

29 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The gender debate has become increasingly difficult for the Labour Party as the election campaign has rumbled on. JK Rowling has now agreed to meet wi...

Will Biden survive his debate implosion?

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Democrats wanted and needed a compelling performance from Joe Biden last night: a rebuttal to the concerns about his age and ability. Instead, his...

Should we ban polls?

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Some countries, like Canada and France, have bans on polling close to the election. Many figures on both sides of the campaign have been frustrated at...

Sunak vs Starmer round two - who won?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman and Katy Balls speak to Patrick Gibbons following the second, and final, debate between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak. With a week to go...

Has 'gamblegate' become ridiculous?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We are now two weeks into the political betting saga. Since our last episode, Keir Starmer has suspended a Labour candidate who bet on himself losing....

Who will survive?

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's another bad day for the Conservatives. Rishi Sunak has withdrawn support for the Tory candidates involved in the general election betting scandal...

Is Nigel Farage drawing from the Trump playbook?

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a speech this afternoon, Nigel Farage doubled down on controversial comments he made about the West provoking the war in Ukraine. Is the Reform lea...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 23/06/24

23 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. The election date betting scandal engulfs the Conservatives, while James ...

Is Brexit safe under Labour?

22 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Writer, trade unionist and Labour Brexiteer Paul Embery joins James Heale on Spectator TV to discuss Labour's plans for the EU should they get into go...

Question Time special – who came out on top?

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last nights election Question Time programme was probably the best of the campaign in that it gave space for proper discussion while making all the le...

Sunak's campaign derailed by betting claims — again

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Another allegation over betting with insider knowledge has transpired today, this time involving the Conservative candidate Laura Sanders, who is marr...

Have the Tories given up on the Red Wall?

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Yet another three MRP polls landed today – and none of them look pretty for the Conservative party. This comes as Boris Johnson rules out helping on...

Is Boris back to save the day?

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you're a Twitter user, you might have seen more of Boris Johnson than usual. He's been making videos to endorse selected candidates from his holida...

Does Nigel Farage have the cure for Britain?

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nigel Farage has unveiled Reform UK's manifesto. Except, it's not a manifesto, because he says the word is synonymous in voters’ minds with ‘lies’...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 16/06/24

16 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s politics shows. Election campaigns are ramping up, and we hear from the Conservatives, the...

What could Starmer's first year in power look like?

15 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Picture the scene: it's July 5th and a triumphant Keir Starmer arrives at Downing Street after achieving a supermajority and the Tories have only narr...

Who is the real opposition to Labour?

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nigel Farage tried to claim at the start of Thursday’s TV debate that Reform was the real threat to Keir Starmer, given it has just passed the Conse...

What wasn't included in Labour's manifesto

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer launched Labour's manifesto today, but how much did we actually learn about their plans for government? And with no rabbits pulled out of...

Sunak vs Starmer – who came out on top?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Katy Balls and Kate Andrews speak to Natasha Feroze after the Battle for No.10 leadership interviews. The two leaders gave their pitch to a live audie...

Why are Tories talking about a Labour Super Majority?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Grant Shapps has been speaking to media this morning and warning that a Labour landslide would be 'very bad news' for the country. Is the acknowledgem...

Is Sunak's cautious manifesto a mistake?

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Conservatives hoping to turn their fortunes around with the publication of the party's manifesto have been disappointed. The document contained little...

Why has Douglas Ross resigned as Scottish Tory leader?

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just when you thought this election campaign couldn’t get any more tumultuous, Douglas Ross has announced he will resign as Scottish Conservative le...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 09/06/2024

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Mel Stride defends the prime minister after his D-Day gaffe. Farage criticise...

Nigel Farage's Conservative manifesto

08 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last night, leaders and senior representatives from seven political parties went head to head in the latest TV debate. But who came out on top? Katy B...

Will Labour's manifesto contain a surprise?

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Overnight, details of Labour's manifesto were leaked. There are several new policies, but how surprising are they, and how will they land with voters?...

Why did Sunak leave the D-Day commemorations early?

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's yet another gaffe for Rishi Sunak. At yesterday’s D Day anniversary celebrations when it came time for official photographs with Joe Biden, Ola...

Has there been a CCHQ candidates stitch up?

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Conservative grassroots are up in arms over the installment of Tory party chairman, Richard Holden, as the candidate for Basildon and Billericay, a sa...

Who won the first leaders' debate?

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last night, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer went head-to-head in the first TV debate of the campaign. They clashed on a variety of topics, including hous...

What would it take for Sunak to have a breakthrough?

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Some Conservatives have put their hopes on tonight's TV debate as a breakthrough moment for the lacklustre and disorganised Tory campaign, but will it...

Could Farage crush the Tories?

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This afternoon a wildcard was thrown into the election – the return of Nigel Farage. He will be standing for the Reform party at Clacton, the one pa...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 02/06/2024

02 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Division in the Labour Party as Keir Starmer belatedly approves Diane Abbott ...

Can Keir handle Trump?

01 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The news that Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies meant that the Labour leader faced questions about the former president on Friday morning...

Can Keir Starmer control the Labour left?

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer has began a purge of pre-existing candidates and MPs who risk frustrating their election campaign. There is an ongoing row about whether ...

Starmer purges the Corbynites

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer is now putting the final touches to this with a last minute purge of pre-existing candidates and MPs who risk frustrating their election ...

Is Diane Abbott in or out?

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The drama in Westminster never seems to end. Last night the Times reported that the Labour party would not allow veteran MP Diane Abbott to represent ...

Who's winning the TikTok election battle?

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Days into the election campaign and parties are scrambling to get their message out on social media. With both Labour and the Conservatives joining Ti...

The Dunkirk Strategy

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Conservatives have unveiled a new pensions policy: the 'Triple Lock Plus'. What does it mean and what's the thinking behind it? Will it help shore...

Does Keir Starmer have enough to say?

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer set out his first major speech to kick of Labour's general election campaign. The Labour leader prioritised national security, a strong e...

Sunak: let’s bring back national service

26 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The first big new policy announcement of the election campaign is in from the Tories, and it’s likely to be a talker. Where Keir Starmer appears to ...

What does a July election mean for the SNP?

25 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We have spoken a lot on the podcast this week about how a July election could be disastrous for the Conservatives, but what about the SNP? With arrest...

What‘s behind the Tory exodus?

25 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's day four of the election campaign, and Michael Gove has joined the growing Tory exodus and announced he's standing down at the election. What's b...

Is the Labour lead as big as it seems?

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Both major party leaders are hitting the road today and campaigning in Scotland, which will be a major battleground in the coming election. Labour loo...

Why has the election been called now?

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Less than 24 hours after Rishi Sunak's surprise election announcement, we look ahead to the parties' campaigns. What has been the fall out? How have L...

Sunak's biggest gamble yet: a July election

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has called a general election on July 4. A new parliament will be summoned on 9 July and the state opening will be on 17 July. Is a summer...

Is an election about to be called?

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Westminster is awash with rumours today that the Prime Minister is about to call an election. On this episode, Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and Fraser...

Is there finally good news for the government?

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The IMF has upgraded the 2024 economic forecast for the UK. What does this mean for the government and could more good news follow this week? And, wit...

Infected blood scandal was ‘no accident’, says report

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Infected Blood Inquiry has finally concluded after a five-year investigation. This lunchtime, the inquiry’s chair Sir Brian Langstaff said thous...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 19/05/2024

19 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Grant Shapps talks about defence spending and the infected blood scandal. Wes...

The whips' office and their woes

18 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There have been two recent defections from the Conservatives to Labour. There's lots of chatter in parliament about a potential third defector. In thi...

Can Hunt answer the Reagan question?

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ronald Reagan famously asked voters: 'are you better off than you were four years ago?' At the next election, the Tories face a public thinking over t...

Has Starmer scaled down his pledges?

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer has unveiled his six election pledges. In a nod to Tony Blair's 1997 election card, the Labour leader has announced key promises to the p...

Starmer fluffs his lines at PMQs

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There were no defections today at Prime Minister’s Questions, which probably put Keir Starmer in a slightly stronger position, ironically, given the...

Is Natalie Elphicke an unlikely hero?

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lucy Dunn speaks to Katy Balls and former Blair advisor John McTernan about the one vote that won plans to exclude MPs from parliament arrested on sus...

Will Sunak's fighting talk work?

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak delivered a pre-election speech this morning setting out the dividing lines at the next election: security with the Tories or risk with La...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 12/05/24

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Natalie Elphicke's defection to Labour is another blow to the Tories, but cou...

Can John Swinney turn it around for the SNP?

11 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Swinney, newly inaugurated First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the SNP, has been in the job for a week. What have we learnt since he took up...

The UK leaves recession – but is it too late for the Tories?

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed this morning that the UK confined its technical recession to 2023. The economy grew by 0.6 per cent...

Can Lammy charm Trump?

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy is stateside, meeting with senior advisors to Donald Trump and hoping to charm them. Meanwhile, David ...

Why does Labour want Natalie Elphicke?

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke, has shocked MPs and pundits across the political spectrum by defecting to the Labour party today. In her resignati...

Will there really be a hung parliament?

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's the first day back after the local elections. Following Thursday's results, some polling suggests that if the votes were replicated in a general ...

What does Andy Street's defeat mean for Rishi Sunak?

05 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The local elections results are in, and the Conservatives have lost more than 450 council seats. After a full recount, Labour’s Richard Parker beat ...

Have the Tories avoided a local election catastrophe?

03 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak can breathe a (small) sigh of relief. Ben Houchen, the so-called ‘patron saint of the red wall’, has won a third term as Tees Valley m...

Labour triumphs in Blackpool as Tories suffer heavy losses

03 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's looking like the worst night for the Conservatives in 40 years. The prediction – that the Tories will lose about half of the council seats they...

Can Ben Houchen save Rishi Sunak?

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tomorrow, voters go to the polls for the last set of local elections in this parliament, alongside 11 mayoral elections in England, 37 police and crim...

Will the Tories' mental health focus backfire?

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As figures now show there are 2.8 million people claiming out-of-work benefits, Rishi Sunak gave a speech looking at welfare reform. But with more and...

Humza Yousaf quits – what next?

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has just announced his intention to resign. Lucy Dunn speaks to Katy Balls and Spectator contributor Iain Macwh...

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 28/04/2024

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.The prime minister is in a frustrated mood as he bats away questions about th...

Can Starmer do patriotism?

27 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It was St George's Day this week, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he has 'no time' for those who 'flinch' at the St George's flag. But how aut...

Can Humza Yousaf hang on?

26 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Humza Yousaf faces the biggest crisis of his leadership to date – with his fate in the hands of former SNP leadership rival Ash Regan. Will Humza st...

Is this the beginning of the end for Humza Yousaf?

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After two and a half years in government together, Humza Yousaf has terminated the SNP’s governing pact with the Scottish Greens. The decision was r...

Has Angela Rayner redeemed herself?

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer away, Oliver Dowden and Angela Rayner stepped in for PMQs today. Questions quickly turned to the long running row ab...

Sunak’s Rwanda Bill finally passes parliament

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After eight hours of debate on the Rwanda Bill, peers finally threw in the towel shortly after midnight. And with that, the Rwanda Bill became law, pe...

Will there be a summer election?

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This morning Rishi Sunak delivered a press conference making the case that the Rwanda Bill should become law today – and the government is ready for...

Can things get worse for the SNP?

20 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's been quite the week for the SNP. Questions remain over the future of the Sandyford gender clinic, 'the tartan Tavistock'; the Scottish government...

Sunak declares a crackdown on Britain’s ‘sick note culture’

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has returned to one of his pet bugbears: getting the unemployed back into work. His speech to the Centre for Social Justice this morning w...