Podcast
Instant political analysis from The Spectator’s top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Isabel Hardman, James Heale, Lucy Dunn and many others.
Instant political analysis from The Spectator’s top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Isabel Hardman, James Heale, Lucy Dunn and many others.
Coffee House Shots
At PMQs today, Boris Johnson said the public would need to ‘get used to the idea of vaccinating and then revaccinating in the autumn, as we come to face these new variants.’ The government’s contract with the Wrexham factory that helps make the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been extended to August 2022 at the earliest, so
Play 10 mins
Coffee House Shots
The government has managed to delay a backbench rebellion on the so-called ‘genocide amendment’ today, using what Iain Duncan Smith called ‘arcane procedural games’. The Trade Bill amendment, which would have seen courts given the power to designate abuses as a genocide, was expected to have a significant number of Tory backers. Katy Balls discusses
Play 15 mins
Coffee House Shots
Latest research from the University of Oxford shows that their vaccine has ‘minimal protection’ against the South African variant of the coronavirus. Should the government be doing more to protect UK borders? Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and James Forsyth.
Play 13 mins
Coffee House Shots
Sensing an opportunity after the EU triggered Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the British government is in talks with the EU over compromises to the agreement. Will this gamble pay off, or could it backfire to stoke tensions on the island of Ireland? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Denis Staunton, London
Play 14 mins
Coffee House Shots
Some Sage scientists have broken rank to suggest that the falling infection rates mean that schools in England should go back at the end of this month, like in Scotland. Will the government cave from their March 8th promise? Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
Play 13 mins
Coffee House Shots
It’s been weeks since the idea of a quarantine system was floated, yet nothing has been forthcoming on that front. Isabel Hardman asks James Forsyth and Katy Balls – what’s the hold up in government?
Play 11 mins
Coffee House Shots
At PMQs today, Keir Starmer denied Boris Johnson’s claims that he wanted the UK to remain in the EU’s vaccine procurement scheme. Could a successful domestic rollout, away from the bloc’s programme, be seen by the public as an upside of Brexit and cause the opposition problems? Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and James
Play 13 mins
Coffee House Shots
Another day, another dig from across the channel on the UK’s vaccine reliability. Isabel Hardman talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about how this rhetoric could backfire.
Play 12 mins
Coffee House Shots
Joanna Cherry was sacked from the SNP’s Westminster frontbench today. The former justice spokesperson, who is an ally of Alex Salmond, was dropped as the party continues to row over transgender rights. Has the move strengthened leader Nicola Sturgeon’s position? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Stephen Daisley.
Play 13 mins
Coffee House Shots
The EU’s row with AstraZeneca came to a head on Friday, with the bloc publishing its contract with the pharmaceutical giant and introducing vaccine export controls. With the UK’s rollout continuing at pace, where will the vaccine debate go next? Isabel Hardman speaks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
Play 10 mins
Coffee House Shots
Novavax’s vaccine has shown 89 per cent efficacy in UK trials. The government has bought 60 million doses of the jab, and it’s expected that production will begin in Teesside later this year. But, as the EU’s rollout languishes and their row with AstraZeneca escalates, should Britain consider giving away its vaccines? Katy Balls speaks
Play 13 mins
Coffee House Shots
Boris Johnson visits Scotland today. To nobody’s surprise, Nicola Sturgeon has criticised the visit coming at this moment in the pandemic; while Keir Starmer has defended the PM’s right to do so as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth about the visit and whether or
Play 14 mins
Coffee House Shots
In his statement to the Commons today, Boris Johnson suggested March 8 as a date for schools to return. This is earlier than some predictions but certainly later than many were expecting when schools were shut earlier this month. Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman about what this tells us about when
Play 16 mins
Coffee House Shots
In the last 24 hours, the EU has threatened to place export controls on vaccines manufactured in the EU; while a German paper has been corrected by Berlin for misreporting that the German government thought the Oxford-Astrazeneca jab was only eight per cent effective in over-65s. Isabel Hardman talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth
Play 10 mins
Coffee House Shots
The government’s Covid-O group will be making a decision on the UK’s border restrictions imminently. On the podcast, Isabel Hardman talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about what is being considered and why now.
Play 12 mins
Coffee House Shots
In his upcoming book, the historian Robert Tombs writes that Brexit may not be the historically significant event we think it is. On the podcast, Katy Balls speaks to him and James Forsyth about just how history will remember Brexit, and what are the future events that can still change our memory of it.
Play 25 mins
Coffee House Shots
The Guardian reported today that the Department of Health is considering offering a £500 isolation fee to encourage more people with symptoms to get tested. But the Treasury hit back fast saying that they had not seen these proposals and that the idea was ‘bonkers’. Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about
Play 11 mins
Coffee House Shots
No 10 refused to rule out the possibility today, and the Health Secretary has also refused to be drawn on whether or not the vaccinating the most vulnerable would provide the roadmap out of lockdown. Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about the possibility that England’s lockdown will last into the summer.
Play 12 mins
Coffee House Shots
Timed with the inauguration of Joe Biden, Theresa May has written an op-ed in the Daily Mail criticising her successor for his ‘abandon of our global moral leadership’. Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson about what this former prime minister will do from the backbenches.
Play 17 mins
Coffee House Shots
Today the Commons debates the ‘genocide amendment’ to the Trade Bill, which would allow judges to restrict the government’s ability to sign trade deals with countries deemed guilty of genocide. It’s a clear swipe at China and its treatment of the Uyghur minority, and on the podcast, Katy Balls discusses with James Forsyth and Isabel
Play 14 mins
Coffee House Shots
The Commons will today see a debate over extending the universal credit uplift. While Thérèse Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, wants the weekly increase to remain, Rishi Sunak wants to replace it with a one-off £500 payment. Isabel Hardman talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about the Tory split.
Play 12 mins
Coffee House Shots
The new chairman of the BBC has been announced. It’s not Charles Moore, or Paul Dacre, but a low-profile former banker called Richard Sharp. On the podcast, Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about what Sharp’s appointment reflects about the government’s war on the BBC.
Play 12 mins
Coffee House Shots
A leaked Scottish government document suggested that all over-50s could be vaccinated by the end of March, and that UK has capacity to deliver 3.8 million jabs next week. Has the government been underselling its efforts? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
Play 15 mins
Coffee House Shots
Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the backbench Covid Recovery Group, has warned that Boris Johnson’s leadership will be ‘on the table’ unless he gives a path out of lockdown. But is the PM really under threat? Cindy Yu speaks to James Forysth and Katy Balls.
Play 12 mins
Coffee House Shots
Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, has said today that a national voucher scheme for free school meals would return on Monday, after pictures of the food packages being given to children were widely circulated online. Footballer Marcus Rashford said the Prime Minister promised ‘that he is committed to correcting the issue’. Katy Balls speaks to
Play 13 mins
Coffee House Shots
Boris Johnson has been criticised for taking a bike ride in the Olympic Park, seven miles away from Downing Street. Should the government make the Covid rules clearer? Isabel Hardman speaks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
Play 11 mins
Coffee House Shots
Chris Whitty said that hospitals will face ‘the worst weeks of this pandemic’ in a broadcast round this morning, as he implored Brits to keep social contact ‘to an absolute minimum’. It comes as the government is considering even stricter restrictions to improve compliance. Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and James Forsyth.
Play 13 mins
Coffee House Shots
Brexit is done, but Nigel Farage may well remain an influential force in British politics. With his rebranding of the Brexit Party to ‘Reform UK’ approved this week, Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Patrick O’Flynn, former Ukip MEP, about whether or not Sinoscepticism and lockdown-scepticism are enough for Farage to build a new
Play 17 mins
Coffee House Shots
Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said yesterday that 800 new patients are admitted to London hospitals with Covid-19 every day. Could pressure on the health service force them to delay the vaccine distribution? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
Play 13 mins
Coffee House Shots
Last night’s events in Washington DC has sent shockwaves around the world. Trump’s obvious disregard for democracy was on show, leading to a normally diplomatic British government to condemn the President in strong language. Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth about how the government sees its past and future relationship with Trump
Play 13 mins