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PODCAST

Coffee House Shots

Daily political analysis from The Spectator"s top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Tim Shipman, Isabel Hardman, James Heale, Lucy Dunn and many others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All Episodes

11:13

Why can't we agree on data?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/08/01

John O’Neill and Sam McPhail, the Spectator’s research and data team, join economics editor Michael Simmons to re-introduce listeners to the Spectator’s data hub. They take us through the process between the data hub and how their work feeds into the weekly magazine. From crime to migration, which statistics are the most controversial? Why can’t we agree on data? Plus – whose data is presented better, the Americans or the French?For more from the Spectator’s data hub – which may, or may not look

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12:48

Will the junior doctors regret picking a fight with Wes?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/31

The dispute between the British Medical Association (BMA) – a trade union for doctors – and the government continues, following the five-day strike by junior doctors. Doctors argue that pay is still far below relative levels from almost two decades ago, combined with the cost of study, the cost of living and housing crises, as well as challenging conditions within the NHS. Nevertheless, with an average pay rise of 5.4% for resident doctors this year, support for the strikes appears to be falling –

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18:19

Could Reform's Scottish surge provoke indyref2?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/30

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney unveiled his strategy for pursuing a second independence referendum this week, arguing that an SNP majority at next year's Holyrood elections is the only way to guarantee it. This is seen as an attempt to put Scottish independence back on the table as well as combat the rising popularity of Reform. Pollster Mark Diffley of Diffley Partnership joins Lucy Dunn to unpack the SNP's independence strategy. Mark points out that while Reform are consistently

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20:30

How much pressure is Starmer facing over Gaza?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/29

Keir Starmer says the UK will recognise a Palestinian state at a UN meeting in September unless Israel meets certain conditions. As the UN warns of famine and aid agencies are raising concern about widespread starvation, countries are coming under pressure to change their approach and influence Israel. The UK's announcement follows Emmanuel Macron’s decision that France will do so in September and after more than 200 cross-party MPs signed a letter endorsing recognition.Political editor Tim Shipman

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12:55

What should we make of the Starmer-Trump relationship?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/28

It’s often the rotator blades of Marine One that blare over Donald Trump’s voice as he stands near the helipad on the south lawn of the White House. In Turnberry,Scotland, it was bagpipes. Trump, playing host to the British Prime Minister in Britain, performed his now familiar ingratiation ritual as he welcomed Sir Keir and Lady Victoria Starmer to his golf course. “Our relationship is unparalleled,” he said, above the din. He flattered the PM’s wife and even suggested, in his delightful nonsensical

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14:16

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 27/07/2025

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/27

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Kemi Badenoch does the rounds, giving her view on the war in Gaza, immigration, and the new party on the left. And, after France officially recognises the state of Palestine, will the UK government follow suit?Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.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

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24:00

Katie Lam on immigration, benefits and the border:...

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/26

Katie Lam became an MP in 2024 after a career in finance. She's also an accomplished scriptwriter, having co-written five musicals. She's one of the most exciting new intake MPs, and she's ruffling feathers in Westminster and beyond. She joins political editor Tim Shipman to discuss everything from her vision for the country to the ECHR, and shares her political ambitions.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For

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13:27

Can the left get its act together?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/25

Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have finally launched their new party, but it's off to a bumpy start. They unveiled 'Your Party', but had to quickly clarify that was not in fact the new party's name, and that will be decided on by a member's vote. He also had to play down claims of a split already. However, if the so-called Gaza independents join forced with Sultana and Corbyn, the organisation that's not called Your Party could have enough MPs to outnumber Reform UK. What does it mean for the left

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15:13

Keir’s Indian Summer

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/24

The UK has finally signed a free-trade deal with India after three-and-a-half years of negotiation. The agreement will open up trade for cars, whisky, clothing and food products, with ministers claiming it will boost the British economy by £4.8 billion. For Keir Starmer, it offers much-needed economic and political good news. For Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, it shows that the £3 trillion Indian economy is willing to shake off its protectionist tradition and open up to international

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9:28

How to write a political sketch – with Madeline Grant

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/23

As MPs depart Westminster for parliamentary recess, The Spectator's political sketch writer Madeline Grant joins Natasha Feroze and economics editor Michael Simmons to talk about how to sketch PMQs and why Keir Starmer makes for the best sketches. Also on the podcast, Michael Simmons looks at the promising FTSE at record high following Trump's trade deal with Japan and the gloomy national debt figures announced yesterday. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go

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15:15

What's left of the Tories?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/22

The Commons is closing down for the summer, but Kemi Badenoch has treated us to a shadow cabinet reshuffle. At the beginning of the year, Badenoch’s team were keen to stress stability, dismissing talk of an early reshuffle. But, as so often in politics, events have forced her hand. Ed Argar, the shadow health secretary, had a health scare earlier this summer. He has today stepped back from the frontbench to focus on his recovery. Badenoch is therefore using his departure as the chance to make what

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11:09

Reform turns tough on crime

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/21

Nigel Farage has unveiled the party's policy proposals for tackling crime should they get into government. The Reform leader said that his entire policy platform would cost £17.4 billion, and suggested that a Reform government would introduce a 'three strikes' system for repeat serious offenders. Lucy Dunn speaks to James Heale and Tim Shipman about the policy pledges, how the Tories should respond and what Britain can do about its failing water industry. Become a Spectator subscriber today to

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15:27

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 20/07/2025

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/20

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.Today, it’s all eyes on the water sector, as Labour announce plans to halve sewage pollution by 2030. Nigel Farage advocates for partial nationalisation, although he’s vague on the numbers.Farage also says net zero targets are defrauding tax payers, but Ed Davey says we actually need more renewable energy to protect industry from rising energy bills.Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this

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1:13:02

Are the Tories toast? with Michael Gove, Tim Shipman...

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/19

The strange death of Tory England has been predicted before. But never has the ‘natural party of government’ faced a greater challenge to survive. The Conservatives are facing attacks on all fronts from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK. Kemi Badenoch’s six-month anniversary as leader was marked by the loss of nearly 700 councillors, with a stern test awaiting next year in Scotland and in Wales. She promises change with her long-awaited policy commissions, ahead of a make-or-break party

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16:42

Will 16 year olds vote Labour?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/18

Lots to discuss today, between Diane Abbott being suspended (again) and Labour handing the vote to 16-year-olds just before we head into recess.Abbott’s suspension comes after she was accused of ‘doubling down’ on previous claims that Jewish people experience racism differently from black people. She is the latest Labour troublemaker to be left out in the cold, with seven MPs punished this week for voting against the government – four of them suspended from the party. Is Starmer confusing toughness

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16:51

Confessions of a new intake Labour MP: 'We're not...

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/17

Keir Starmer has struck again. Compounding his reputation as a ruthless operator – like Michael Corleone – he is settling all family business by removing the whip from a number of troublemaking MPs, including Neil Duncan Jordan, Chris Hinchcliff, Brian Leishman and Rachel Maskell. This comes after each led respective revolts on winter fuel, planning reform, Grangemouth and the welfare changes. Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin have all lost their trade envoy roles too.Many of

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12:27

Mel Stride: 'what I would do differently'

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/16

Last night, Rachel Reeves was the headline act at the Mansion House dinner. In her speech, she made the case that ‘Britain is open for business’ and that we must ‘stay competitive in the global economy’. Critics would say it is hard to claim to be open for business while having also overseen a £25 billion national insurance tax raid that is now known to be costing thousands of jobs.She began by stressing that, despite what recent reporting might suggest, she is ‘okay’ – the economic indicators,

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12:32

Why does Trump like Starmer so much?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/15

It can now be revealed that a Ministry of Defence data leak has cost the UK some £7 billion and put thousands of Afghans at risk of death. A dataset containing the details of nearly 19,000 people who applied to move to the UK following the Taliban takeover was released in error by a British defence official in February 2022. Ministers were informed of the debacle in August 2023; since then, an unprecedented super-injunction has been in place to stop the press from reporting details. What does this

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9:37

Are you a 'working person'?

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/14

Tomorrow Rachel Reeves will deliver her big speech in the City. The annual Mansion House address is a chance for the Chancellor to set out her vision for the British economy. But amid a gloomy set of economic indicators (including two consecutive monthly GDP contractions) it is difficult to see what good news she can offer.Westminster would be alive with speculation about what she might announce – initially, there was talk of reforms to cash ISAs; now, attention has turned to the prospect of Reeves

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15:49

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 13/07/2025

Coffee House Shots ·

2025/07/13

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander faces questions over the shrinking economy, possible autumn tax rises, and the migrant deal with France. Plus, the Ofcom CEOsays new regulations are a big moment for online safety, and Chris Philp says Reform don't have the answers, after more Conservatives defect to the party.Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.We are hosting a Coffee House Shots live tomorrow (15th July) at The Emmanuel Centre in

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3,056 results

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