Coffee House Shots
2,109 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 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
Why is the Speaker so cross?
October 26, 2021 15:20 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBBudget week rolls on. But today in the house the Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle voiced his displeasure at how much had been told to the press before tomorrow's unveiling in the Commons. Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman about this tension, the budget, and the sewage situation.
What can we expect from Budget Week?
October 25, 2021 11:26 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MBIt's Budget Week and Rishi Sunak has already telegraphed a lot of what we can expect from it, branding it as a good news affair including NHS spending and minimum wage reform...but who stands to feel the pinch? Katy Balls sits down with James Forsyth and Kate Andrews to discuss the Budget as well as the rising Covid numbers and the chances of the implementation of the government's Plan B.
Cindy Yu's Sunday Roundup - 24/10/21
October 24, 2021 15:18 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBCindy Yu presents the highlights from Sunday's politics shows, with Rishi Sunak, Rachel Reeves and Dr Katherine Henderson.
Is the inflationary tiger about to bite?
October 23, 2021 09:00 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MBKaty Balls talks to Kate Andrews and James Forsyth about the prediction from the Bank of England's chief economist that the UK's inflation rate could hit 5%.
What will Sunak reveal in next week's Budget?
October 22, 2021 12:31 - 10 minutes - 9.98 MBThe Chancellor is making final preparations to his Budget, announced next Wednesday. On the podcast, Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about the major themes coming up, and whether this is the moment when Rishi Sunak sees a turn in his popularity.
Who's to blame for the booster delay?
October 21, 2021 17:04 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBCompared to our extremely strong vaccine rollout, the booster numbers are not doing so well. But what is causing the slow take-up? Cindy Yu is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls to discuss this as well as the ever-rising covid figures, partisan mask wars, and a potential new trade deal with New Zealand.
Did Starmer win PMQs?
October 20, 2021 17:00 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBThere was a sombre tone as Boris Johnson faced Keir Starmer at the despatch box for PMQs. This was seen as one of the Labour leader's most successful outings as he emphasised finding common ground on tackling certain issues like online abuse, extremism and terrorism Cindy Yu is joined by Katy Balls and James Forsyth
What is the Heat and Buildings Strategy?
October 19, 2021 12:46 - 10 minutes - 10.1 MBWith COP26 fast approaching, the Heat and Buildings Strategy has been published today along with the Net Zero Strategy. But what do these papers mean for the environment, you, and your boiler? Isabel Hardman is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls to dissect these plans as well as looking at why the NHS is still so low-tech?
What have we learnt since Friday's attack?
October 18, 2021 12:26 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MBParliament meets today to pay tribute to David Amess MP who was stabbed to death at his constituency surgery last week. But what have we learnt about the suspect currently still in police custody? And going forward what can be done to keep our representatives safe? Katy Balls is joined by Isabel Hardman and James Forsyth to discuss these questions as well as the sharp rise in Covid cases.
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 17/10/21
October 17, 2021 13:59 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBIsabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with clips from Priti Patel, Lisa Nandy, Gordon Brown, and Lindsay Hoyle.
Will the energy crisis ruin Christmas?
October 16, 2021 09:00 - 17 minutes - 16 MBAs the temperature starts to fall, the question for the global economy is: how long will energy prices remain high? Industrial production has already started to feel the energy-related price pressures. Many more suppliers are unlikely to make it through the winter. But with the governement divided over bailing out businesses, who should be absorbing all of the costs? James Forsyth is joined by Fraser Nelson and Javier Blas, chief energy correspondent at Bloomberg News as they discuss how t...
Tory MP David Amess dies after constituency attack
October 15, 2021 16:58 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBDavid Amess, the MP for Southend West, has died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery. Essex Police say that a 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Amess had been an MP since 1983, and represented Southend West since 1997. Fraser Nelson speaks James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman.
How concerned should we be about the rising Covid numbers?
October 15, 2021 13:39 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBWith the R-number being higher than 1.0 for some days now, could we be seeing some of the least invasive covid restrictions being put back into place as winter approaches? Isabel Hardman is joined by Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth to discuss the figures, as well as the continuing labour shortages.
Why is Sajid Javid picking a fight with doctors?
October 14, 2021 13:16 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MBGPs have been promised £250 million to improve their services, but only if they increase face-to-face appointments. The Health Secretary must meet the demands of patients that want more face-to-face meetings. But he got a hostile reaction from doctors after a difficult two years for the healthcare service. Meanwhile, the Brexit row is still bubbling away. Lord Frost received an olive branch from the EU towards a ‘new’ Northern Ireland Protocol. But will the British government even entertain ...
Can Frost renegotiate the protocol?
October 13, 2021 14:05 - 10 minutes - 9.61 MBIn an attempt to save the Northern Ireland Protocol, the EU has promised ‘very far reaching’ changes which are due to be revealed tomorrow. Dominic Cummings has also piled into the debate, suggesting that Boris ‘never had a scoobydoo what the deal he signed meant’. He also claimed that it was ‘always the plan’ to tear up the Brexit deal, which has grown tensions with Ireland. Meanwhile, Matt Hancock has a new job. But will he be invited back into the cabinet soon? To discuss this, Katy Bal...
What did we learn from the Covid report?
October 12, 2021 14:45 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBKaty Balls and James Forsyth dissect the Covid report to see if anyone came out smelling like roses. They also look at the ongoing gas crisis and how the government is planning to proceed.
Will manufacturing shut down due to the energy crisis?
October 11, 2021 12:02 - 10 minutes - 9.52 MBWith the energy crisis showing no signs of improving, many industries warned over the weekend that they may have to shut down some manufacturing points due to the rising costs. This has lead to tensions between the Treasury and the Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng about how to proceed. Isabel Hardman is joined by Katy Balls and James Forsyth to discuss.
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 10/10/21
October 10, 2021 15:57 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBIsabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with Kwasi Kwarteng, Jonathan Reynolds, Lord Heseltine and Dr Jenny Harries.
How did Liz Truss become the star of Tory conference?
October 09, 2021 09:00 - 13 minutes - 12 MBKaty Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about the rise of 'Trussmania' that seemed to be sweeping the Conservative party conference in Manchester.
Will the housing U-turn hurt the Tories?
October 08, 2021 12:22 - 11 minutes - 11 MBThe former housing secretary, Robert Jenrick delivered a warning to his former colleagues in government yesterday that a failure to build new homes will cost the Conservatives down the line. Cindy Yu is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls to discuss this, as well as the update to Covid holiday restrictions and the sad passing of James Brokenshire.
Is Boris back in business?
October 07, 2021 17:00 - 10 minutes - 9.33 MBAlthough Boris won over the audience during his conference speech, the opinion polls might say otherwise. Starmer's voice of reason could be starting to resonate with the public as the cost of living continues to rise. Underlying tensions with businesses are also still bubbling. Are they really to blame for labour shortages? And what now is the biggest threat facing the Tories? Cindy Yu speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
What was the point of Boris’s speech?
October 06, 2021 16:15 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MBMarking the end of the conference, Boris Johnson gave what James Forsyth describes as ‘the most Boris speech possible’. The Prime Minister set out his ambition for ‘radical and optimistic conservativism' and won over the crowd with his characteristic jokes. The Conservatives are in a strong position, but was the speech enough to retain support across the country amid a fuel crisis and labour shortages? And was the lack of concrete policies a problem? Isabel Hardman speaks to Katy Balls and...
Tories tussle over working from home
October 05, 2021 18:00 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBIt is day three at the Conservative party conference and, as Isabel says on the podcast, Boris Johnson started the day a ‘little tetchy’ on his morning media round-up. After being told by Nick Robinson to ‘stop talking’ on Radio 4, the Prime Minister clashed with the host when asked about rising wages and inflation. Where the Tories stand on working from home has also been up for debate throughout the conference. With some ministers eager to get Britons back to their desks, there are whisper...
LIVE at Conservative Party Conference
October 04, 2021 15:44 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBKaty Balls, James Forsyth, Isabel Hardman and Fraser Nelson are joined by special guest, the American pollster Frank Luntz, in this episode of Coffee House Shots, recorded in front of a live audience at Conservative Party Conference. They discuss what it means to be a Conservative these days, whether 'levelling up' means anything and who should be the next Tory party leader.
What's the mood at Tory conference?
October 03, 2021 16:42 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBThe Conservative party conference is underway, and Boris Johnson appeared on The Marr Show this morning to talk about the petrol crisis, the shortage of HGV drivers, and Wayne Couzens. James Forsyth and Katy Balls discuss the weekend's events.
What's this EFFing crisis about?
October 02, 2021 09:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBMinisters are bracing for the ‘EFFing crisis’ - that’s energy, fuel and food. As shortages are set to continue for months ahead, the knock-on effects of the EFFing crisis have started to snowball. Will families have a turkey for Christmas? Will inflation cause the costs of living to spiral out of control? Can businesses cope with labour shortages? Katy Balls is joined by James Forsyth and Kate Andrews to discuss.
Is the petrol crisis good for the government?
October 01, 2021 15:28 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBA shortage of HGV drivers has led to empty petrol pumps and talk that supermarket shelves could be empty come Christmas. Delivery firms want the government to ease immigration rules to fill the gap, but, aside from allowing a small number of emergency visas, they have refused to step in. Why? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
Should Cressida Dick go?
September 30, 2021 17:13 - 14 minutes - 13 MBAs Wayne Couzens receives his sentence today, Harriet Harman has called for Cressida Dick to resign over the Met's handling of the death of Sarah Everard. It's not the first time Dick has faced pressure to resign (not even this year), but her tenure as police chief was renewed only earlier this month. So will she - should she - go? Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
Did Starmer’s speech save Labour conference?
September 29, 2021 16:15 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBAfter a rocky few days, Sir Keir Starmer has delivered his first in person speech as Labour leader to conclude the 2021 Labour Party Conference. The 90-minute speech featured hecklers, multiple references to ‘tools’ and 17 standing ovations. But was it enough to win over the country or even his party? Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and James Forsyth.
Why is Labour ignoring the fuel crisis?
September 28, 2021 17:51 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBWith petrol and gas supply issues still continuing Labour doesn't seem to be focusing on this important issue gripping the nation. Instead, though Starmer had a victory in pushing through his changes in regards to Labour leadership voting, his parade was rained on by the resignation of Andy McDonald over disputes about the minimum wage. Isabel Hardman and Katy Balls join us from the conference in Brighton along with James Forsyth in London.
Does Labour have a message?
September 27, 2021 15:57 - 9 minutes - 9.1 MBWith images of long queues at the petrol station dominating social media this weekend, not due to lack of petrol but lack of drivers, the Labour party conference continues in Brighton. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves made more of an impact with her speech than some others, but Labour's real problem at this conference seems to be finding a distinct message to rally the party loyal. Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman.
Starmer distances himself from Rayner
September 26, 2021 14:23 - 10 minutes - 9.37 MBAngela Rayner said the government were 'homophobic, racist, misogynistic... scum' at a Labour party conference event this weekend. Responding to the remarks on the Andrew Marr Show, Keir Starmer said he and Angela 'take different approaches', and that it is 'not language that I would use'. How serious is the fracture in Labour's leadership? Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and the New Statesman's Stephen Bush.
Will the energy crisis leave Britons cold?
September 25, 2021 09:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBFor this week's Saturday Coffee House Shots, Katy Balls, Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth sit down with John Kemp, senior energy analyst at Reuters to discuss the energy crisis. How long will this continue? How high will prices go? What will the government do in response? And is there a possibility of blackouts during the winter months?
What's causing the petrol shortage?
September 24, 2021 12:45 - 10 minutes - 9.93 MBFirst gas, now petrol. The strange thing is there is no actual lack of petrol just a dearth of drivers to bring it to the stations. There are differing thoughts as to the reason for this, some say Brexit, others that this is a wider issue. Katy Balls, Isabel Hardman and James Forsyth discuss this as well as what we can expect from this weekend's Labour conference.
What was the point of Starmer's essay?
September 23, 2021 17:23 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBKeir Starmer released a nearly 12,000-word essay about what he stands for as the Labour leader. But who was it for? And while Starmer braces himself for his party's conference this weekend, should we be bracing ourselves for this gas crisis to worsen? Max Jeffery talks with Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
How did Dominic do at PMQs?
September 22, 2021 17:27 - 10 minutes - 9.51 MBWith Boris Johnson still on his American trip, it was up to the deputies to cross swords in PMQs today. Dominic Raab, the newly-minted deputy prime minister went up against Labour's Angela Rayner, but who came out on top? Also on the podcast, Katy Balls, James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman discuss the Boris and Biden meeting and how Kier Starmer is fairing with the unions?
What do Boris and Biden want?
September 21, 2021 18:36 - 9 minutes - 8.6 MBThe Prime Minister is in America to meet Joe Biden and discuss COP26 and the new Aukus security pact. But what do the two leaders hope to achieve? Also, the Labour party conference is this weekend. can Keir Starmer get the left of his party to heel or will his leadership be brought even more into question? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman.
What will be the impact of the gas crisis?
September 20, 2021 11:16 - 10 minutes - 9.21 MBWith many smaller energy companies already folding due to the steep rise in the cost of gas, how long will it be before the bigger ones turn to the government to help them cover the shortfall? And just how long will this crisis last? Will it have a sizeable effect on the British public? Or will continuously rising wages help soften the blow? Katy Balls talks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
Why does the gas crisis matter so much?
September 20, 2021 11:16 - 10 minutes - 9.21 MBWith many smaller energy companies folding because of a steep rise in the cost of gas, how long will it take before the bigger firms turn to the government for help, and will continuously rising wages help soften the blow? Katy Balls talks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 19/09/21
September 19, 2021 13:22 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBIsabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with Alok Sharma, Sir Ed Davey, Caroline Lucas and Gerard Araud.
Can Gove remake conservatism?
September 18, 2021 09:00 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBMichael Gove has been tasked with transforming levelling up from a soundbite to an agenda. What will this look like? And what Michael Gove will we get, the liberal reformer or big state lockdown supporter? Katy Balls is joined by Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth to discuss.
Boris chairs the new Cabinet - what's next?
September 17, 2021 14:10 - 10 minutes - 9.44 MBAs Boris Johnson today chairs the first meeting of his new cabinet, he's focused on delivering on his levelling up agenda. What's the plan? To discuss this, the ongoing junior ministerial appointments and the Liberal Democrat conference this weekend, Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman.
Will the reshuffle lead to a successful 'levelling up'?
September 17, 2021 14:10 - 10 minutes - 9.44 MBAs Boris Johnson chairs his first meeting with his fresh new cabinet, the critical question now is - in what ways will the party achieve their goals of ‘levelling up’? With Michael Gove now holding the position of Housing Secretary, will his planning policies be implemented and reflect his previous track record? To discuss this, as well as the ongoing junior ministerial appointments and the Liberal Democrats conference, Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman.
What the Aukus pact says about Britain’s foreign policy
September 16, 2021 16:41 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBWith the Commons still reeling from the reshuffle, the UK, US, and Australia have formed a new security alliance, the Aukus pact. Many have seen this as early preparation for a more aggressive China, as the US nuclear submarines being gifted to Australia will be able to reach territories like Taiwan without refuelling. To discuss the pact, and the fallout from yesterday's reshuffle, Isabel Hardman talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
What does the Aukus pact mean for the future of international relations?
September 16, 2021 16:41 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBWith the Commons still reeling from this week’s massive reshuffle, internationally the UK, US, and Australia have formed a new security alliance, the Aukus pact. Many have seen this as early preparation for a possibly more aggressive China, as the US nuclear submarines being gifted to Australia will be able to reach territories such as Taiwan without refuelling. To discuss this new pact, along with the fallout from the reshuffle, Isabel Hardman talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
What to make of the reshuffle?
September 15, 2021 16:53 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBBoris Johnson has reshuffled his cabinet. Gavin Williamson is gone. Dominic Raab is no longer Foreign Secretary, but is now the Deputy Prime Minister, with Liz Truss taking over his former position. These changes and many more are dissected by Katy Balls and James Forsyth on today's Coffee House Shots.
What are Javid's winter Covid plans?
September 14, 2021 13:48 - 13 minutes - 12 MBHealth Secretary Sajid Javid today laid out his two plans for dealing with Covid this winter. The first, Plan A, proposes a booster shot for everyone over 50, combined with the flu jab. This would also see contact tracing continue, along with self-isolation for the infected and financial support for those isolating. Plan B proposes vaccine passports and mask mandates in certain settings. To discuss how this was received in the Commons, Katy Balls is joined by Isabel Hardman, James Forsyth an...
What are Sajid's plans?
September 14, 2021 13:48 - 13 minutes - 12 MBToday Health Secretary Sajid Javid laid out his two plans for dealing with Covid going forward. Plan A proposes a booster shot for everyone over 50, combined with the flu jab. Plan A would also see contact tracing continue, along with self-isolation for the infected and financial support for those isolating. Then there's Plan B, which proposes vaccine passports and mask mandates in certain settings. To discuss how these plans were received by the Commons, Katy Balls is joined by Isabel Har...
Why did the government backtrack on vaccine passports?
September 13, 2021 10:02 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBOver the weekend, the Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced that the government would be scrapping their plans for a vaccine passport system...at least for now. But what lead to this change of mind? Did they not have the numbers? Are they more focused on the upcoming social care vote? Do they think the country is looking stable in regards to Covid? To discuss all these questions are Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
Why has the government ditched vaccine passports?
September 13, 2021 10:02 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBOver the weekend, the Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced that the government would be scrapping plans for a vaccine passport system - at least for now. But what led to this change of mind? Did they not have the numbers? Have fears about Covid dissipated? Katy Balls and James Forsyth discuss.