Coffee House Shots

Isabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with Dominic Raab, Emily Thornberry, Nicola Sturgeon and Vadym Prystaiko.  Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and the Spectator's Russia correspondent Owen Matthews about the buildup of forces on the border with Ukraine.   Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

After Christian Wakeford's defection to Labour, Boris Johnson looks to be in the clear – for now. The Prime Minister's backbenchers, though, are still frustrated by the aggressive tactics used by his whips to ensure their support. Is blackmail normal in the Commons, and are their complaints a result of Parliament's generational divide? Cindy Yu speaks to James Forsyth. 'If you had turned up in Wes...

As the Prime Minister has a stay of execution after the pork pie plot came to nothing, today allegations are flying that Tory whips have been using unsavoury methods to threaten wavering MPs into line. Christian Wakeford, the newly defected Labour MP to Bury South, says that whips threatened to withdraw funding from a local school; while William Wragg claims that MPs have been blackmailed with inf...

Last night rumours were flying around Westminster that letters of no confidence from Tory MPs were pouring in and Boris might be leaving sooner rather than later. But with the surprising crossing of the aisle by MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, it appears that old party tribalism may have stayed some hands.  'While a coup against a leader is one thing defecting is quite another.' - James For...

To keep Partygate alive, Dominic Cummings has released fresh accusations on his blog about Boris Johnson, who he claims knew about the parties taking place. The former chief advisor to the Prime Minister is prepared to swear under oath on this. As divisions in the Tory party are starting to show, a no confidence motion could be expected in days.  'There is a cat and mouse game where those loyal to...

Tory MPs have just returned from their constituencies after a weekend of persuading voters to support their party in the May local elections. It’s not just the public that is angry, the local associations are equally outraged at the scandals that have marred the first month of 2022. Those around Boris Johnson are planning 'Operation Red Meat' which is a policy tactic to save the Prime Minister's p...

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with interviewees Sir Keir Starmer, Oliver Dowden, and Iain Duncan Smith and Kurt Volker. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See a...

Katy Balls, James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson discuss what happens if Boris Johnson's premiership is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Downing Street parties he may or may not have attended.  "I will eat this microphone if Steve Baker or Kemi Badenoch stand."  – Fraser Nelson Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. F...

It's been revealed that two more parties took place in No. 10 during the pandemic. This time, on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral. While the Prime Minister was not at this event, is No. 10's party culture coming straight from the top?  Max Jeffery is joined by Katy Balls and James Forsyth. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to...

After a hard PMQs for Boris Johnson which included multiple MPs calling for his resignation, the cabinet took to the media to show support for their embattled leader... though some took a bit longer than others.  'Notably, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss took quite some time. I think they both got round to it by the early evening.' - Katy Balls Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about how de...

Boris Johnson has finally commented on the accusations of a Downing Street garden party held in the first lockdown. Yet his defence – 'I believed implicitly that this was a work event' – has satisfied nobody. On the episode, James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman give their verdict. 'When I started my career I spent a lot of time in magistrates courts and I have to say, I've heard better ones from peopl...

Another day, another party scandal at No.10. ‘Bring your own booze’ said Martin Reynolds, the Prime Minster's private secretary in a leaked email to 100 staff in May 2020 inviting them to a picnic at 10 Downing Street. At the same time, the rest of the country was limited to socialising within household bubbles or one other person. 'This is the most serious party allegation yet when it comes to Bo...

With some early signs that the Omicron threat is waning, talk has begun around Westminster as to when we can get rid of the remaining Covid restrictions. To help Katy Balls, James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman make sense of the latest figures, they are joined by Editor, Fraser Nelson with an update from The Spectator 's data hub.  'When you look at the number of admissions to hospitals, that actually...

Isabel Hardman presents the first Sunday interviews roundup of the year. Highlights from today feature Nadhim Zahawi, Rachel Reeves and Dr Clive Kay.  Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

Despite a torrid time for the Prime Minister's popularity over the last few months, there may be a political revival on the horizon. His decision not to lockdown over the Omicron variant seems to have paid off and won back some of the support from his party. But will the Johnson project end up a failure? A lot of the Prime Minister’s future rests on the people who work closest him. On the podcast,...

The ‘lost’ texts sent by Boris Johnson to Lord Brownlow over his Downing Street flat refurbishment continues to dominate the headlines today. As the story unravels, it's a sign that the Tory sleaze issues hitting Boris at the end of 2021 will continue way into the new year. 'It’s not going to go down well when people are seriously thinking about the cost of their energy bills over the next few mon...

In yesterday's Cabinet debate, Jacob Rees-Mogg called on Boris Johnson to abandon the planned hike in national insurance, amid warnings of a looming cost of living crisis. This is not the first time the leader of the Commons has criticised the government following his opposition to tougher Covid restrictions. Might this be a sign that Rees-Mogg is going to jump before he is pushed? ‘After the Patt...

The first PMQs of 2022 was a little different. It was Angela Rayner’s turn to step up to the dispatch box whilst Keir Starmer is isolating having tested positive for Covid. Rayner went after Boris Johnson on inflation and the cost of living crisis looming in Britain, criticising the government for refusing to cut VAT on energy bills. Another topic that came up was the pressure on the NHS as a resu...

Keir Starmer arrived in Birmingham today to deliver his agenda-setting speech, outlining Labour's vision for the future. The opposition leader had to tread the delicate path between offering a substantial, policy-based agenda whilst holding his cards close to his chest. 'One of the challenges of opposition in the midterm is, they come up with new policy and then the government pinches it' - James...

The government has delayed making any announcements about further Covid restrictions in the face of Omicron for weeks. But with more data coming in every day about this new variant, seemingly showing it leads to a lot less hospitalisations than previous waves, will there even be any new measures at all?  'The science and the vaccines have created the situation where Britain doesn't have to lockdow...

Boris Johnson chaired a Cabinet meeting yesterday to discuss the imposition of new Covid restrictions over Christmas. After three hours, the Prime Minister emerged to announce that no new restrictions had been decided on.  These meetings are usually called for the Cabinet to rubber-stamp a decision made by Boris and his advisers, so what's changed?  Reports today suggest that the Prime Minister wa...

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from the final Sunday interview shows of the year. Today's podcast features Sajid Javid, Andrew Bridgen, Wes Streeting, Sir Ed Davey and Andrew Marr.  Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: podcast@spect...

Boris Johnson once boasted that you couldn't hold a cigarette paper between him and David Frost, the man he brought on to take Brexit over the line. Yet this key ally has resigned when the Prime Minister is at his most vulnerable. In his resignation letter, Lord Frost cites his concerns on whether the country is making the most of Brexit to cut taxes and red tape, and the direction of travel when...

Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and James Johnson, the co-founder of the J. L. Partners polling company, about what the Conservative defeat in North Shropshire means for the Prime Minister's future.  Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: p...