Coffee House Shots

Will the 'whack-a-mole' approach of local lockdowns work?

June 29, 2020 17:11 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB

Leicester is set to lock down locally. It's an approach that the Prime Minister has dubbed 'whack-a-mole', referring to clampdowns on local clusters that will inevitably arise in the coming months. All eyes are on Leicester's experience now as it signals whether or not the national lockdown is a thing of the past. Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson. Also on the podcast: the government's schools funding and socially distanced weddings. Click here to try 12 weeks of the Spect...

What Sedwill's departure means for No 10's civil service reform

June 28, 2020 20:56 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MB

The Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill has announced that he will be stepping down in September, though his resignation letter suggests that it wasn't necessarily his decision. This move comes as Michael Gove makes a wide-ranging speech on reform of the civil service. The government looks to be gearing up its Whitehall reform, and on the podcast, Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about how these events are all linked. Click here to try 12 weeks of the Spectator for £12 and get a fr...

Cindy Yu's Sunday Interviews Roundup - 28/06/20

June 28, 2020 14:40 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MB

Cindy Yu presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with Priti Patel, Jonathan Reynolds and Ed Miliband.

Has Keir Starmer upset Labour's fragile unity?

June 27, 2020 09:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MB

Throughout the leadership contest, Keir Starmer was careful not to upset the delicate balance between the hard left and the moderates in the party. But with the sacking of Rebecca Long Bailey, he has risked the wrath of the Corbynites and unambiguously moved the party on from the era of Corbyn. Has he triggered a new Labour civil war? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and the New Statesman's Stephen Bush. Click here to try 12 weeks of the Spectator for £12 and get a free £20 Amazon gift vou...

The government's dilemma on reopening

June 26, 2020 13:54 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MB

The government wants the country to head back out and boost the economy, but scenes at Bournemouth beach and elsewhere reflect the government's dilemma - how much reopening is enough to keep the economy afloat, but without triggering a second wave of infections? John Connolly speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth. Click here to try 12 weeks of the Spectator for £12 and get a free £20 Amazon gift voucher.

Will Long Bailey's sacking trigger a Corbynite backlash?

June 25, 2020 17:35 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MB

After retweeting an interview with Maxine Peake in which the actress voiced an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, Rebecca Long Bailey has been sacked as the shadow education secretary. On the podcast, Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about whether or not this will trigger a Corbynite backlash. The Spectator is looking for the UK's brightest entrepreneurs for our Economic Innovator of the Year Awards, sponsored by private bank Julius Baer. If you run a business that brings radical...

Can Keir Starmer get under Boris's skin?

June 24, 2020 16:31 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth. Presented by Katy Balls. The Spectator is looking for the UK's brightest entrepreneurs for our Economic Innovator of the Year Awards, sponsored by private bank Julius Baer. If you run a business that brings radical positive change and is capable of achieving national or international impact, we want to hear from you. Apply by 1 July at www.spectator.co.uk/innovator.

The new common sense phase of lockdown

June 23, 2020 16:10 - 13 minutes - 12 MB

Boris Johnson has announced further measures to ease the lockdown, and from the 4th July, more venues will be open than not, including restaurants, pubs, and galleries. It also marks a new phase in the lockdown, when social distancing will be guidelines, not law. But does the public actually want the lockdown to be eased? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson. The Spectator is looking for the UK's brightest entrepreneurs for our Economic Innovator of the Year Awards, sponsored...

What's behind the brewing Sunday trading Tory rebellion?

June 22, 2020 17:02 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MB

There's a rebellion brewing on the backbenches - MPs claim that there are over 50 backbenchers who oppose the government's proposal to loosen Sunday trading laws. On the podcast, Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about whether there might be more to this rebellion than initially meets the eye. The Spectator is partnering with private bank Julius Baer to find the UK's brightest entrepreneurs for our Economic Innovator of the Year Awards. If you run a business that brings ra...

Katy Balls' Sunday Interviews Roundup - 21/06/20

June 21, 2020 15:39 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MB

Katy Balls hosts the highlights from Sunday's interviews. With Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock, Rachel Reeves and Shaun Bailey.

Is the Foreign Office DfiD merger a mistake?

June 20, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MB

The plans for a merger between the two departments has united three former prime ministers in their criticism. Andrew Mitchell, Tory MP and former International Development Secretary, certainly thinks it's a disastrous idea, and claims that Boris Johnson promised to his face that this would not happen. Andrew joins Katy Balls and Jame Forsyth on the podcast, together with David Lidington, former Cabinet minister and previously at the Foreign Office, who thinks that it's actually a good idea....

What the new alert level means for lockdown easing

June 19, 2020 13:31 - 14 minutes - 13 MB

The government has downgraded the coronavirus alert level from 4 to 3, with the support of its scientific advisers. So is it about time to ease lockdown even further? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about this and the discovery of the magic money tree, as debt is now worth more than British GDP. The Spectator is partnering with private bank Julius Baer to find the UK's brightest entrepreneurs for our Economic Innovator of the Year Awards. If you run a business that bring...

Why did the government persist with its doomed app?

June 18, 2020 14:48 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MB

The government is today announcing a switch from its NHS-built contact tracing app in favour of one built by Apple and Google. On the podcast, Katy Balls asks James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson - why has it taken them so long to admit defeat? The Spectator is partnering with private bank Julius Baer to find the UK's brightest entrepreneurs for our Economic Innovator of the Year Awards. If you run a business that brings radical positive change and is capable of achieving national or internation...

Is Boris Johnson's week starting to look up?

June 17, 2020 14:42 - 20 minutes - 19 MB

At Prime Minister's Questions, Boris Johnson cornered Keir Starmer on the Labour party's ambivalent position on schools reopening. After a bumpy start to the week, is the Prime Minister's luck turning? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about this, the 1922 committee meeting, and Westminster reopening. The Spectator is partnering with private bank Julius Baer to find the UK's brightest entrepreneurs for our Economic Innovator of the Year Awards. If you run a business that b...

Was the government's free meals U-turn inevitable?

June 16, 2020 16:23 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MB

After the highly publicised campaign by the footballer Marcus Rashford, the government has U-turned on the question of free school meals in the summer. Was it inevitable, and what does this move mean for public spending? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Kate Andrews about this as well as the Foreign Office merger and the Oxford drug breakthrough. The Spectator is partnering with private bank Julius Baer to find the UK's brightest entrepreneurs for our Economic Innovator of the Year Awa...

Will the government's lockdown easing work?

June 15, 2020 12:42 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MB

As the government tries to encourage more spending with the opening of non-essential shops today, is the public still too cautious about Covid? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson. The Spectator is partnering with private bank Julius Baer to find the UK's brightest entrepreneurs for our Economic Innovator of the Year Awards. If you run a business that brings radical positive change and is capable of achieving national or international impact, we want to hear from you. Apply ...

Katy Balls' Sunday Interviews Roundup - 14/06/20

June 14, 2020 15:44 - 9 minutes - 8.91 MB

Katy Balls hosts today's essential interviews roundup, which today features Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, Nick Thomas-Symonds and David Lammy.

Is toppling a statue an act of performance art?

June 13, 2020 09:00 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MB

Has the statue of Churchill been improved by being enclosed in a protective casing? Was Colston's toppling one of the greatest acts of performance art? Or is this all a sad indictment of the state of British politics? Fraser Nelson talks to The Spectator's arts editor Igor Toronyi-Lalic and Coffee House contributor and writer Claire Fox.

The Tory fightback against identity politics

June 12, 2020 12:11 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MB

Late last night, the statue of Winston Churchill on Parliament Square was boarded up over fears the monument could again be targeted by Black Lives Matter protestors. This morning, Boris Johnson intervened saying that it is 'shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack'. Katy Balls talks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth about the looming Tory fightback against identity politics. Get a subscription to The Spectator as well as a copy of Lionel Shriver's book, all ...

How long can the two-metre rule last?

June 11, 2020 16:40 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MB

Tory MPs are increasingly concerned about the impact of the two-metre rule, with No. 10 facing pressure to relax the policy to help save businesses. Gus Carter talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls. Get a subscription to The Spectator as well as a copy of Lionel Shriver's book, all for free here.

PMQs: Johnson and Starmer clash on schools

June 10, 2020 14:01 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

John Connolly discusses Prime Minister's Questions with James Forsyth and Katy Balls.

Why aren't schools reopening?

June 09, 2020 16:47 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MB

The government has shelved its aim of reopening primary schools before the end of term amid growing pressure from parents and unions. But how will that affect the poorest students? Katy Balls talks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth. Get a subscription to The Spectator as well as a copy of Lionel Shriver's book, all for free here.

The politics of toppling a statue

June 08, 2020 15:37 - 17 minutes - 16.6 MB

Thousands of protesters took to the streets this weekend as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. In Bristol, a statue of the slaver Edward Colston was toppled and thrown into the city's docks. But are we now seeing a change in the government's response? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth. Get a subscription to The Spectator as well as a copy of Lionel Shriver's book, all for free here.

Katy Balls' Sunday Interviews Roundup - 07/06/20

June 07, 2020 14:47 - 10 minutes - 9.24 MB

Katy Balls presents the highlights from Sunday's political interviews. Today's clips come from Professor John Edmunds, Matt Hancock, Lisa Nandy, John Barnes and Margaret Hodge.

How the government is preparing for the inevitable Covid inquiry

June 06, 2020 09:00 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MB

Some decision-makers have already made timelines of their actions since the start of the pandemic, James Forsyth reveals in his political column for this week's Spectator. How does the knowledge that an inquiry is coming change the way the pandemic is dealt with? John Connolly talks to James and Katy Balls. Get a subscription to The Spectator as well as a copy of Lionel Shriver's book, all for free here.

Is it time for the government to admit its mistakes?

June 05, 2020 12:41 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB

With an NHS tracing app not fully up and running until autumn, contact tracing seems like the latest in a series of events where the government has over-promised and under-delivered. Is it time for the government to admit the mistakes it has made in dealing with the pandemic? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson. Get a subscription to The Spectator as well as a copy of Lionel Shriver's book, all for free here.

Why has the government U-turned on face masks?

June 04, 2020 17:16 - 9 minutes - 9.08 MB

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that face masks will be compulsory on public transport from mid-June. Until recently, that was explicitly not the government advice. What's changed? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth. Get a subscription to The Spectator as well as a copy of Lionel Shriver's book, all for free here.

The end of Keir Starmer's 'constructive opposition'

June 03, 2020 13:00 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MB

The time for constructive opposition is over, as Keir Starmer picks up a new tone in his interview to the Guardian, which he continued in PMQs. Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about this strategy; and other issues of proxy voting, Scottish care homes, the BAME impact, and a new testing target. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Does Rees-Mogg's plan for a socially distanced parliament work?

June 02, 2020 13:44 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MB

MPs are back in the House of Commons this week, and Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg wants them to vote physically, but socially distanced. This means a meandering queue through the Palace of Westminster for MPs to file through the lobbies. Will it work? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson in the Spectator's garden. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Will MPs rebel over No. 10's quarantine plan?

June 01, 2020 12:35 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MB

From the speed of easing lockdown, to quarantine for international travellers, to the return of MPs to parliament - the government is fighting battles on many fronts. Has it made things more difficult for itself? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Katy Balls' Sunday Interviews Roundup - 31/05/20

May 31, 2020 16:54 - 10 minutes - 10 MB

Katy Balls presents the best bits from Sunday's political shows. Today's clips come from Dominic Raab, Nicola Sturgeon, Anneliese Dodds, Professor Devi Sridhar and Mary Bousted.

How will a socially distanced House of Commons work?

May 30, 2020 09:40 - 12 minutes - 11 MB

MPs are returning to parliament next week, marking an end of the hybrid model that saw most MPs Zooming into parliamentary debates. On the podcast, John Connolly talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about the challenges in a socially distanced House of Commons. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

How the furlough scheme will be rolled back

May 29, 2020 19:30 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MB

Cindy Yu talks to Kate Andrews and Katy Balls about Chancellor Rishi Sunak's announcements on phasing out the furlough scheme.

Is it really 'case closed' on the Cummings affair?

May 28, 2020 18:07 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MB

Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance refused to give their opinions on the Dominic Cummings affair at today's press conference; while Durham police indicated that they will not be investigating the Barnard Castle trip any further, after announcing that it might have been a minor breach. Downing Street says it's 'case closed' - is it really? Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

What did Boris's evidence to MPs reveal?

May 27, 2020 18:02 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MB

The Prime Minister appeared for the first time in his premiership in front of the Liaison Committee today. The group, formed of select committee chairs, grilled him on a range of issues from Dominic Cummings to pandemic support, and more. John Connolly talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about what we learnt. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

What does the slump in the polls mean for Conservatives?

May 27, 2020 11:28 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MB

The latest polling shows that even a majority of Conservative voters want Dominic Cummings out; and the Prime Minister's own standing has taken a dramatic hit. Cindy Yu speaks to pollster James Johnson and our own Katy Balls about what this means. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Could public opinion make Cummings's position untenable?

May 26, 2020 18:14 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

The latest polling shows a drastic change in the Prime Minister's popularity because of the Cummings affair. Though the government is still sticking behind the adviser, will the sheer force of public opinion change things? John Connolly speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Has Cummings done enough to calm Tory MPs?

May 25, 2020 21:47 - 11 minutes - 11 MB

In an unprecedented press conference today, Dominic Cummings explained the circumstances in which he took his family to Durham, and the exact timeline. He struck a sincere tone, but stopped short of apologising. Has he said enough to stem the backlash? Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Boris Johnson's political gamble over Cummings

May 24, 2020 18:20 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MB

Boris Johnson gave an unambiguous defence of Dominic Cummings at today's press conference. In so doing, the government is gambling that this is a storm they can weather. On the podcast, Kate Andrews discusses their thinking with Katy Balls and James Forsyth. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Katy Balls' Sunday Interviews Roundup - 24/05/20

May 24, 2020 15:48 - 10 minutes - 9.4 MB

Katy Balls presents the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with interviews coming from Grant Shapps, Steve Baker, Nick Thomas-Symonds and Sir Venki Ramakrishnan.

The Dominic Cummings imbroglio

May 23, 2020 19:39 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MB

The government has come out in defence of Dominic Cummings's decision to travel to Durham during lockdown. On the podcast, two Spectator writers give their opposing views on whether or not he made the right decision. With Alex Massie and Melanie McDonagh. Presented by Katy Balls. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Has Starmer put Tories on the backfoot?

May 23, 2020 09:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MB

Keir Starmer is off to a good start in his first 50 days as Labour leader. But has he done enough to start bringing back former Labour voters? With Stephen Bush, the New Statesman's Political Editor, and James Forsyth. Presented by Katy Balls. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Can the government bring back the economy?

May 22, 2020 12:04 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MB

New figures from the ONS today show the extent of damage done to the economy. Is this recoverable? With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth. Presented by Katy Balls. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Why the government U-turned on the NHS surcharge

May 21, 2020 18:12 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

Within 24 hours of refusing to scrap the NHS surcharge for migrant healthworkers, the government has U-turned. We discuss why; as well as Scotland's lockdown easing and the new civil servant at No 10, Simon Case. With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth. Presented by Katy Balls. Get a month's free trial of The Spectator and a free wireless charger here.

Can the government get contact tracing up and running by June?

May 20, 2020 14:04 - 13 minutes - 12 MB

Boris Johnson pledges to get track and trace up by June 1, but is it possible? Plus, how is the government handling the new Opposition Leader, Keir Starmer, and how is the UK going to implement its Northern Ireland agreement with the EU? With Katy Balls and James Forsyth. Presented by Fraser Nelson. Click here to try four weeks of the Spectator for free and get a free wireless charger.

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