Coffee House Shots

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 fr...

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 Shriv...

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 . Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without ad...

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 . Become a Spec...

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 charge...

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 . Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcas...

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. 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 H...

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 . Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast w...

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

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'...

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 . Become a S...

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 . Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts....

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 . Become a Spectator subscriber today to access...

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 . Become a Spectator sub...

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 . Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast witho...

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.  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...

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 . Become a Spectator subscriber today to acc...

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 . Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go...

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 . 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 spe...

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 . Become a Spectator subscriber today to access t...

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. Become a Sp...

With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth. Presented by Katy Balls. Try four weeks of the Spectator for free and get a free wireless charger at here . 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...

With James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson. Presented by Katy Balls. Sponsored by 'Look Forward', the podcast from Rathbones on what the future might look like. Find out more at RathbonesLookForward.com . 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: podc...

Katy Balls presents the highlights from Sunday's interview shows, with clips from Michael Gove, Angela Rayner, Liam Fox, Carolyn Fairbairn and Paul Farmer.  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...

With Alex Massie, the Spectator's Scotland Editor, and Fraser Nelson. Presented by Katy Balls. 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/privacy for more information.