Coffee House Shots
2,141 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★ - 134 ratingsInstant political analysis from the Spectator's top team of writers, including Fraser Nelson, Isabel Hardman, Katy Balls, James Heale and many others.
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Episodes
Welcome to Whitehall Watch
July 13, 2024 09:00 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBWhat happens to staff in Whitehall when a government changes? In this Saturday edition of the podcast, Katy Balls is joined by Henry Newman, former adviser to Michael Gove. He now runs Whitehall Watch, a project exploring who’s up, who’s out, who’s in and what’s going down across Whitehall, the corridors of power and the Civil Service.
Can Labour solve our prisons crisis?
July 12, 2024 15:26 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBJustice secretary Shabana Mahmood has acknowledged that ‘our prisons are on the point of collapse’. She has announced that, from September, most prisoners serving sentences of less than four years will be released 40 per cent of the way through their sentences instead of the halfway point, which is currently the case. The policy will ease pressure on prisons, but the question remains; could this backfire? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and Professor Ian Acheson, former prison governor a...
Has Nato been a success for Starmer?
July 11, 2024 15:21 - 17 minutes - 16 MBKeir Starmer is on his first big diplomatic trip to Washington, attending the Nato summit. He has called on member countries to increase defence spending, had a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, and enjoyed a dinner with Joe Biden - all in his first week of the job. How is the trip going, are there any tensions arising, and has it been a success for the new PM? Oscar Edmondson discusses with James Heale and Sophia Gaston, head of foreign policy at Policy Exchange.
Who will lead the Tories in opposition?
July 10, 2024 12:15 - 13 minutes - 12 MBIt'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 the 1922 committee chairman election. Where do they go from here? And who could lead them? James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Can Wes Streeting end the NHS strikes?
July 09, 2024 15:21 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBHealth Secretary Wes Streeting declared the NHS 'broken' over the weekend. With a creaking in-tray of issues, he opened up negotiations with the BMA today to try and solve one: the pay dispute with junior doctors. With ambitious reforms planned, and a workforce with low morale, how successful will Labour be? Isabel Hardman and James Heale join Cindy Yu to discuss. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Cindy Yu.
Can Labour deliver economic growth?
July 08, 2024 16:01 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBThis morning, Rachel Reeves made her first speech as chancellor. She announced mandatory housing targets, promising 1.5 million homes over the next five years, as well as an end to the onshore wind ban. What else does she have in store, and can Labour deliver the growth the country needs? James Heale discusses with Katy Balls and Kate Andrews.
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 07/07/2024
July 07, 2024 18:51 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBIsabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's politics shows. Labour win with a landslide, but their relatively small share of the vote makes this a significantly distorted election. Newly appointed Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds defends his party's performance, and says smaller parties don't receive enough scrutiny. The Tory inquest begins, while Lib Dems say they will be constructive opposition, and Reform claim they are the 'real' opposition. Produced by Joe Bedell-Bril...
The surprises in Starmer's cabinet
July 06, 2024 12:53 - 14 minutes - 13.8 MBIn 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 their shadow briefs, but there were a few surprise appointments too. Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and Times columnist Patrick Maguire. Produced by Cindy Yu.
Labour wins by a landslide
July 05, 2024 07:00 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBWhere to start with an historic election night. Keir Starmer has got his 1997 moment, winning an enormous majority. Elsewhere, eleven cabinet ministers have lost their seats, including: Grant Shapps, Gillian Keegan and Penny Mordaunt. Former prime minister Liz Truss has lost her seat, as have senior Tories Jacob Rees-Mogg and Miriam Cates. The Lib Dems have made massive gains, the SNP were decimated in Scotland and Nigel Farage is the MP for Clacton. But it's not a clean sweep for Labour...
Exit poll predicts Labour landslide
July 04, 2024 22:26 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBThe 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 left with 131 seats. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats will win 61 seats, the SNP ten seats and Reform 13 seats. This would mean a Labour majority of 170 – and would be the Tories’ worst ever result. Megan McElroy speaks to Katy Balls and Kate Andrews.
Will there be an election upset on Thursday?
July 03, 2024 10:25 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBTomorrow, 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 has been little movement when it comes to the gap in vote share between Labour and the Tories. However, there's still plenty of uncertainty across the parties as to what the exit poll will say at 10 p.m. on Thursday night. James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and James Kanagasooriam, chief research officer at Focaldata.
Is it going wrong for Reform?
July 02, 2024 17:34 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBThe 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 shake off. Will the distractions cost them votes and MPs? How will it affect their momentum - and who's to blame? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Heale.
Has Reform peaked too soon?
July 02, 2024 17:34 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBThe 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 shake off. Will the distractions cost them votes and MPs? How will it affect their momentum - and who's to blame? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Heale.
Starmer's Europe dilemma
July 01, 2024 16:25 - 12 minutes - 12 MBAs 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 Gray and Katy Balls about what it all means for Keir Starmer. If he does win the UK's own election on Thursday, he faces a European landscape that could be harder to navigate. What do the results mean for the UK and what reaction has there been? Produced by Cindy Yu and Patrick Gibbons.
Coffee House Shots live: election special
June 30, 2024 08:00 - 57 minutes - 52.7 MBJoin Fraser Nelson, Katy Balls and Kate Andrews for this special edition of Coffee House Shots, recorded live ahead of the general election. As election day draws closer, Fraser talks through some myth-busting statistics and the team answer questions from the audience. Could this election increase support for proportional representation? What policy does the panel think has been the most interesting? And was there ever a probable path to victory for Rishi Sunak? Produced by Natasha Feroze a...
Labour's women problem
June 29, 2024 09:00 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBThe gender debate has become increasingly difficult for the Labour Party as the election campaign has rumbled on. JK Rowling has now agreed to meet with Labour to discuss gender transition policy, after writing in The Times that she'd struggle to vote for the party after feeling dismissed by them. After the election, will gender become an increasingly difficult issue for Keir Starmer? Megan McElroy speaks to Katy Balls and Sonia Sodha, chief leader writer and columnist at the Observer
Will Biden survive his debate implosion?
June 28, 2024 10:30 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBThe Democrats wanted and needed a compelling performance from Joe Biden last night: a rebuttal to the concerns about his age and ability. Instead, his performance was disastrous. Is there any way he can survive this performance? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and Sarah Elliott, director of the UK-US special relationship unit at the Legatum Institute.
Should we ban polls?
June 27, 2024 16:57 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBSome 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 how the media is consuming polling. What is a polling blackout, and why do some people want one? Megan McElroy speaks to Katy Balls and Chris Hopkins, polling expert and political research director at Savanta. Elsewhere, David Tennant has taken aim at Kemi Badenoch. She has, to little surprise, responded. With one week to go, does the elector...
Sunak vs Starmer round two - who won?
June 26, 2024 21:51 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBIsabel 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 until the general election, who came out on top and did we learn anything?
Has 'gamblegate' become ridiculous?
June 26, 2024 16:26 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBWe 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. How damaging is 'gamblegate' - and has it gone too far? Cindy Yu speaks to Katy Balls and Stephen Bush, columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times.
Who will survive?
June 25, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBIt's another bad day for the Conservatives. Rishi Sunak has withdrawn support for the Tory candidates involved in the general election betting scandal. What has led to the timing of this decision? Also on the podcast, James Kanagasooriam, Chief Research Officer of Focaldata, explains their latest poll that suggests a 250-seat Labour majority. He joins Katy Balls and James Heale.
Is Nigel Farage drawing from the Trump playbook?
June 24, 2024 12:41 - 11 minutes - 11 MBIn a speech this afternoon, Nigel Farage doubled down on controversial comments he made about the West provoking the war in Ukraine. Is the Reform leader taking inspiration from Trump? And could this be a small win for the Tories who are seeking to claw back Reform votes? Also on the podcast, James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson about the latest in the election date betting scandal.
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 23/06/24
June 23, 2024 18:05 - 14 minutes - 13 MBIsabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. The election date betting scandal engulfs the Conservatives, while James Cleverly also has to contend with a Tory aide calling the Rwanda policy ‘crap’. There's controversy also in the Scottish National Party, with allegations that staff may have used public money on the election campaign. Bridget Phillipson is asked to clarify Labour’s position on gender identity in schools, and Unite’s Sharon Graham suggests Labour...
Is Brexit safe under Labour?
June 22, 2024 09:00 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBWriter, 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 government. Paul highlights the need for Labour to deliver on its promises and avoid alienating working-class voters. Will Rachel Reeves appease the Red Wall? And how tough will Labour be on immigration?
Question Time special – who came out on top?
June 21, 2024 10:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBLast nights election Question Time programme was probably the best of the campaign in that it gave space for proper discussion while making all the leaders uncomfortable. None of the four men questioned over the two hour programme – Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Ed Davey and John Swinney – did badly. There were some good revelatory comments, but Fiona Bruce's questioning exposed each leaders key weakness. Did anyone manage to shift the dial? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Isabel Hardman and Katy...
Sunak's campaign derailed by betting claims — again
June 20, 2024 15:52 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBAnother allegation over betting with insider knowledge has transpired today, this time involving the Conservative candidate Laura Sanders, who is married to the party's director of campaigns, Tony Lee. Lee has now taken a leave of absence as the Gambling Commission carries out an investigation. On the episode, Cindy Yu talks to Kate Andrews and James Heale about how this derails an already wobbly campaign. Produced by Cindy Yu.
Have the Tories given up on the Red Wall?
June 19, 2024 17:18 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBYet 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 the campaign trail as reports say that the party has given up on the Red Wall. On the episode, James Heale talks to Katy Balls and conservative commentator Paul Goodman about why the Tories will continue to struggle to close the poll gap given the roles played by the Liberal Democrats and Reform. Produced by Cindy Yu.
Is Boris back to save the day?
June 18, 2024 16:41 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBIf 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 holiday in Sardinia. Might he make a bigger return to the election campaign? Is he the man that could save the Tories from Farage - and does he want to? James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and Fraser Nelson.
Does Nigel Farage have the cure for Britain?
June 17, 2024 15:38 - 9 minutes - 8.86 MBNigel 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’. It promises a freeze on non-essential immigration, a patriotic curriculum, leaving the European Court on Human Rights, and cutting taxes by £88 billion. Is this contract more of a wish list? How much damage can Nigel Farage do to the Conservatives? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Heale.
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 16/06/24
June 16, 2024 13:48 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBIsabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s politics shows. Election campaigns are ramping up, and we hear from the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Plaid Cymru. Mark Harper is asked why some Tory candidates are avoiding official Conservative branding, and Wes Streeting is asked whether Labour’s manifesto amounts to real change. Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.
What could Starmer's first year in power look like?
June 15, 2024 08:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBPicture the scene: it's July 5th and a triumphant Keir Starmer arrives at Downing Street after achieving a supermajority and the Tories have only narrowly prevented the Lib Dems becoming official party of opposition. Whilst this may sound far fetched, it is the likely result when you take an average of the last week's polls. What would those first 100 days of Labour look like? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and John McTernan, former political secretary to Tony Blair. Produced by Osca...
Who is the real opposition to Labour?
June 14, 2024 12:30 - 14 minutes - 13 MBNigel 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 Conservatives in the polls (more on that here). Are they the new party of opposition? And what sort of tactics will the Tories use to try and claw back voters they are haemorrhaging to Reform? Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and Chris Hopkins, director of Savanta.
What wasn't included in Labour's manifesto
June 13, 2024 16:39 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBKeir 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 the proverbial hat, how do they plan to achieve growth? Kate Andrews and Starmer's biographer Tom Baldwin joined Katy Balls to discuss. Tom also provided some insight into Angela Rayner's election bus, including a surprising admission about a lettuce... Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Join the Coffee House Shots team for a post-election live r...
Sunak vs Starmer – who came out on top?
June 12, 2024 21:49 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBKaty 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 audience and viewers at home. But who came out on top?
Why are Tories talking about a Labour Super Majority?
June 12, 2024 14:01 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MBGrant Shapps has been speaking to media this morning and warning that a Labour landslide would be 'very bad news' for the country. Is the acknowledgement that Labour could seriously damage the Tories a slip of the tongue, or a new strategy for the Tories? Elsewhere, the interview that Rishi Sunak left D Day commemorations for is airing tonight. In a controversial moment, when asked what he had to go without as a child, he says Sky TV... Megan McElroy speaks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls...
Is Sunak's cautious manifesto a mistake?
June 11, 2024 13:38 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MBConservatives hoping to turn their fortunes around with the publication of the party's manifesto have been disappointed. The document contained little by way of surprises or rabbits, and despite Sunak's pledge that the Conservatives are the party of tax cutting, the new costings show that the tax burden will continue to rise. Katy Balls talks to James Heale and Kate Andrews. Join the Coffee House Shots team for a live recording on Thursday 11 July. Get tickets at spectator.co.uk/live. Prod...
Why has Douglas Ross resigned as Scottish Tory leader?
June 10, 2024 11:38 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBJust when you thought this election campaign couldn’t get any more tumultuous, Douglas Ross has announced he will resign as Scottish Conservative leader. He had lost the support of his colleagues – particularly those in Holyrood – following his decision to effectively take over a Westminster colleague’s constituency when that MP was seriously ill in hospital. Why now? Michael Simmons speaks to Isabel Hardman and Katy Balls. The Spectator will be hosting a special Live edition of Coffee ...
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 09/06/2024
June 09, 2024 16:04 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBIsabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Mel Stride defends the prime minister after his D-Day gaffe. Farage criticises Sunak, and Amber Rudd criticises Farage. Meanwhile, Labour's Shabana Mahmood and the SNP's Stephen Flynn speak about their own parties' priorities. Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.
Nigel Farage's Conservative manifesto
June 08, 2024 11:11 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MBLast 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 Balls speaks to James Heale and Fraser Nelson.
Will Labour's manifesto contain a surprise?
June 07, 2024 15:17 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBOvernight, details of Labour's manifesto were leaked. There are several new policies, but how surprising are they, and how will they land with voters? Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak has denied he planned to skip D Day events altogether since our episode this morning. Can the row get any worse? James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and John McTernan, former political secretary to Tony Blair.
Why did Sunak leave the D-Day commemorations early?
June 07, 2024 08:30 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBIt's yet another gaffe for Rishi Sunak. At yesterday’s D Day anniversary celebrations when it came time for official photographs with Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron, it was Lord Cameron, not Rishi Sunak, who did the honours for Britain. With the prime minister reportedly leaving early to do a pre-recorded political interview with ITV. He has since apologised, but can he bounce back from this one? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Oscar Edmon...
Has there been a CCHQ candidates stitch up?
June 06, 2024 12:01 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBConservative grassroots are up in arms over the installment of Tory party chairman, Richard Holden, as the candidate for Basildon and Billericay, a safe seat. The local association was given a shortlist of one by CCHQ. Katy Balls talks to James Heale and commentator and Conservative peer, Paul Goodman. Produced by Cindy Yu.
Who won the first leaders' debate?
June 05, 2024 16:36 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBLast 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 housing, the NHS, and immigration. But who came out on top? Katy Balls speaks to Kate Andrews and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Megan McElroy.
What would it take for Sunak to have a breakthrough?
June 04, 2024 14:43 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBSome Conservatives have put their hopes on tonight's TV debate as a breakthrough moment for the lacklustre and disorganised Tory campaign, but will it really be a gamechanger? James Heale talks to Isabel Hardman about why she's sceptical, and to the pollster Chris Hopkins at Savanta about why the Tories just aren't closing that poll gap. Produced by Megan McElroy and Cindy Yu.
Could Farage crush the Tories?
June 03, 2024 18:29 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBThis 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 parliamentary seat that Ukip had held. What will this mean for the Conservatives? James Heale talks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls. Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Cindy Yu.
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 02/06/2024
June 02, 2024 16:41 - 15 minutes - 14 MBIsabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Division in the Labour Party as Keir Starmer belatedly approves Diane Abbott as a candidate, while others in Labour claim they were offered seats in the House of Lords to stand aside for different candidates. Meanwhile, Victoria Atkins talks up her Pharmacy First initiative, Yvette Cooper wants migration to come down (we're not sure by how much), Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay is asked about meat rationing, and Trump's...
Can Keir handle Trump?
June 01, 2024 08:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBThe news that Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies meant that the Labour leader faced questions about the former president on Friday morning, rather than the Diane Abbott selection storm. On his visit to Scotland, Starmer told the BBC that a Labour government would be willing to work with ‘whoever’ was elected in November’s presidential contest. But how would Starmer deal with Trump? James Heale speaks to Kate Andrews and Freddy Gray.
Can Keir Starmer control the Labour left?
May 31, 2024 06:00 - 18 minutes - 16.5 MBKeir Starmer has began a purge of pre-existing candidates and MPs who risk frustrating their election campaign. There is an ongoing row about whether Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary, will be barred from standing. Angela Rayner has now weighed in saying she 'sees no reason why Diane Abbott can't stand for Labour'. Could this become a problem for Keir Starmer? James Heale speaks to Fraser Nelson and Paul Goodman. Produced by Natasha Feroze and Oscar Edmondson.
Starmer purges the Corbynites
May 30, 2024 11:30 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBKeir 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 campaign. There is an ongoing row about whether Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary, will be barred from standing, but who else might join her? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and James Heale. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Is Diane Abbott in or out?
May 29, 2024 12:15 - 10 minutes - 9.72 MBThe 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 the party at the upcoming general election. Abbott has reportedly been given the Labour whip back as a middle way, causing something of a backlash. Seeking to clarify the situation, Keir Starmer has today insisted that, 'no decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbot' and that 'she is a member of the parliamentary Labour party.' What's going on?...