Podcast

Coffee House Shots

Instant political analysis from the Spectator‘s top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Katy Balls, James Heale, Isabel Hardman, Cindy Yu, Kate Andrews and many others.

Instant political analysis from the Spectator‘s top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Katy Balls, James Heale, Isabel Hardman, Cindy Yu, Kate Andrews and many others.

Coffee House Shots

Will the French really veto a Brexit deal?

In the last days of the negotiations, the pressure is ramping up as reports began to surface on Thursday evening that the talks were not going as well as hoped. This morning, allies of Emmanuel Macron have warned that France could unilaterally veto a Brexit deal. What will the next days bring and could Macron

Play 15 mins

Coffee House Shots

Is a Brexit deal imminent?

The promising sign of late night negotiation pizza has caused some optimism in Westminster that a Brexit deal may be just around the corner. On the podcast, James Forsyth and Katy Balls discuss what to look out for in the coming days.

Play 10 mins

Coffee House Shots

Will the vaccine rollout end Tory division?

The UK is the first western country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine, it was announced today. The first doses of Pfizer’s jab will be distributed from next week, and the news has renewed hopes that restrictions could soon be lifted. But after last night’s vote saw 55 Tory MPs reject the new

Play 14 mins

Coffee House Shots

Has Boris Johnson’s optimism backfired?

The government looks set to win today’s Commons vote on the return of the tiers system for England, but tens of Tory backbenchers are unhappy. For them, the Prime Minister’s reassurances have lost credibility, so on today’s podcast, Isabel Hardman discusses with Katy Balls and James Forsyth whether or not Boris’s optimism has backfired.

Play 11 mins

Coffee House Shots

Is a no-deal Brexit underpriced?

Brexit negotiations are continuing this week, with fisheries and the level playing field remaining key sticking points. But with the deadline for an agreement edging closer, is no-deal more likely than anticipated? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.

Play 20 mins

Coffee House Shots

Are the Lib Dems too soggy?

In this week’s Spectator, Matthew Parris asks why the Lib Dems have lost their ideological backbone. On the podcast, he discusses this ‘soggification’ of the party with Katy Balls and Polly Mackenzie, former special adviser to Nick Clegg and now chief executive of the think tank Demos.

Play 17 mins

Coffee House Shots

Can the government appease disgruntled Tory MPs?

The return to the tier system will be voted on in the Commons next week, but from the grumblings in the Conservative party, it sounds like the government may need Opposition votes in order to get the legislation through. That’s never a comfortable position for a government, so on the podcast, Katy Balls discusses with

Play 14 mins

Coffee House Shots

Will Tory MPs rebel over the Tier system?

England’s tier system returns today. With some areas in a stricter tier than they were before the lockdown, as well as a general mistrust amongst Tory lockdown sceptics for the government, many MPs are not happy. But is there anything they can do about it? Katy Balls and James Forsyth discuss.

Play 15 mins

Coffee House Shots

Why is Rishi Sunak going back on a manifesto pledge?

Pandemic finances are different to normal finances, as seen by today’s new figures from the OBR which show that the UK’s economy will not be back to pre-pandemic levels until 2022. In today’s spending review, the Chancellor broke a manifesto pledge by cutting the overseas aid budget. Is this a taste of things to come?

Play 20 mins

Coffee House Shots

Will there be a Tory revolt over Tier 3 restrictions?

The Prime Minister announced yesterday that the nationwide lockdown would come to an end on December 2. In the updated tier system, pubs and restaurants will be closed at the highest level of restrictions, but gyms and non-essential shops will remain open. Isabel Hardman speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth about whether Conservative MPs

Play 13 mins

Coffee House Shots

Will Oxford’s vaccine bring back normality?

Oxford University’s vaccine could be up to 90 per cent effective, data from phase III trials shows today. With the UK government ordering 100 million doses of the jab, could it mean a return to normality is on the horizon? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.

Play 13 mins

Coffee House Shots

Is there a case for Scottish independence?

Polls consistently show a majority of Scots are in favour of independence – do they have a case? Fraser Nelson speaks to Andrew Wilson, former MSP and founding partner of Charlotte Street Partners.

Play 32 mins

Coffee House Shots

Why Priti Patel is staying put

Sir Alex Allen, a top civil servant in charge of the report into allegations of bullying at the Home Office, has resigned, but the Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is at the centre of it all, has not. Why is the Prime Minister so keen to ‘stick with Prit’? Fraser Nelson talks to James Forsyth

Play 13 mins

Coffee House Shots

Will new defence money solve the MoD’s spending blackhole?

The government has announced a £16.5 billion increase in defence spending, far more generous than previously expected. Will this new budget signal an end to the MoD’s spending blackhole? John Connolly talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.

Play 11 mins

Coffee House Shots

What’s behind Boris’s green agenda?

Boris Johnson has today announced a raft of new environmental policies, following the departure of Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain last week. Will it reset the direction of Number 10, or are more comprehensive changes needed? Cindy Yu speaks to Fraser Nelson, James Forsyth and Katy Balls.

Play 18 mins

Coffee House Shots

Has devolution been a disaster?

Boris Johnson told northern MPs last night that he thought Scottish devolution had been a ‘disaster’, a comment that was immediately disowned by the Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross. Katy Balls talks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.

Play 13 mins

Coffee House Shots

Can a self-isolating Boris reset his premiership?

Boris Johnson has been told to self-isolate by contact tracers after meeting with a Covid positive MP last week. It comes just as the PM was expected to reset his premiership following the departure of Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain. Gus Carter is joined by Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls.

Play 15 mins

Coffee House Shots

What do special advisers actually do?

Dominic Cummings walked out of No. 10 Downing Street last night – but what did he actually do in there? Katy Balls is joined by Fraser Nelson and Peter Cardwell, a former SpAd and author of The Secret Life of Special Advisers.

Play 24 mins

Coffee House Shots

Who will replace Dominic Cummings?

Boris Johnson’s chief aide has said that he’ll be gone by Christmas – so what does that mean for Downing Street operations? Katy Balls is joined by Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.

Play 15 mins

Coffee House Shots

Has Vote Leave lost control?

Downing Street has seen a day of backstabbing and counter-briefings after Dominic Cummings ally Lee Cain resigned as Boris Johnson’s director of communications. John Connolly talks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls.

Play 14 mins

Coffee House Shots

Could the vaccine trigger another Tory divide?

Backbench Tory MPs are questioning the government’s plan for rolling out the vaccine. Meanwhile, rumours over a new Downing Street chief of staff have triggered a spat inside No. 10. Gus Carter talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.

Play 13 mins

Coffee House Shots

Why is No. 10 so cautious about a Covid vaccine?

The Pfizer vaccine is being lauded by many as the silver bullet that could end the Covid crisis. Meanwhile, the UK has seen a record number of redundancies. Also, No. 10 suffered serious defeat in the Lords last night over its controversial Brexit bill. Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Kate Andrews.

Play 14 mins

Coffee House Shots

Are we on the brink of a Covid vaccine?

The drugs firm Pfizer has announced that its vaccine — currently in stage three trials — is 90% effective. Meanwhile, Britain and the EU are entering the final stage of trade negotiations. Finally, No. 10 is ramping up its inquiry to discover who leaked news of England’s second lockdown. Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson

Play 14 mins

Coffee House Shots

Can the NHS cope with Covid?

At Thursday’s coronavirus press conference, Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, said a second wave ‘is real and it’s serious’, as he warned that 11,000 people were already in hospital with the virus. Is the NHS able to cope with another spike in infections, and has the government adequately prepared for winter? Kate

Play 25 mins

Coffee House Shots

Was the three tier system working all along?

As Liverpool begins it’s mass testing trial, ONS figures published today show that the coronavirus infection rate was fell in the week ending October 31. So was the tiered system working all along, meaning the new lockdown is unnecessary? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth about the new data, Scottish independence, and

Play 14 mins

Coffee House Shots

Has Rishi Sunak lost the argument?

The Chancellor announced new furlough measures today, something that he has long been opposed to. Katy Balls speaks to Kate Andrews and James Forsyth about whether or not Rishi Sunak has lost the argument.

Play 14 mins

Coffee House Shots

Should the government take a stance on the US election?

Dominic Raab refused to comment on Donald Trump’s claims of election ‘fraud’ this morning, after the President said he planned to contest the result in the Supreme Court. Boris Johnson also refrained from being drawn into a conversation about the race, saying at PMQs that the UK would not comment ‘on the democratic processes of

Play 13 mins

Coffee House Shots

Is mass testing the way out of lockdown?

As England heads into a second lockdown, today brings a glimmer of hope. Liverpool will be the first UK city to undergo mass testing, including a fast turnaround saliva test. John Connolly talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth about whether Moonshot, this time around, is more realistic. Tell us your thoughts on our podcasts

Play 16 mins

Coffee House Shots

Why a Tory lockdown rebellion should worry Boris

After Boris Johnson announced that England would be put into another nationwide lockdown this Thursday, backbench Tory MPs quickly made their opposition known. Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee, said the restrictions would be denounced ‘as a form of evil’ if enforced in a totalitarian state. But with Labour’s backing meaning the measures

Play 18 mins

Coffee House Shots

Isabel Hardman’s Sunday Interviews Roundup – 01/11/20

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday’s political shows, with Michael Gove, Sir Keir Starmer, David Miliband and Dame Carolyn Fairbairn.

Play 11 mins