Last night Vladimir Putin gave an hour-long television address to the Russian people over his decision to move troops into Ukraine. Amid international condemnation, Boris Johnson held a Cobra meeting this morning to discuss the UK's next moves. Meanwhile, Germany has put the brakes on Nord Stream 2. ‘The ball is now back in Vladimir Putin’s court. This is at the maximal end of responses that were expected' - James Forsyth. Cindy Yu speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth. Become a Spectator subsc...
Feb 22, 2022•11 min
With Boris Johnson set to announce the end of legal Covid restrictions later today, how will people respond? Will they continue to isolate, or choose to go about their life even if they have the virus? Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth, Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson about the change, as well as the continuing crisis in 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...
Feb 21, 2022•11 min
Isabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with today's guest stars including Boris Johnson, Wes Streeting and Michelle O'Neill. 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....
Feb 20, 2022•13 min
The government's Online Safety Bill could be about to hand social media giants even more powers over journalism and free speech. Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and Damian Collins, who chairs Parliament's joint committee on the bill. 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...
Feb 19, 2022•24 min
Next week is the end of recess and Boris Johnson is expected to scrap universal access to free covid tests. What will be the reaction to this? 'You do have to wonder if tests are the best use of taxpayer's money given the pressure on the NHS ' - Fraser Nelson Also on the podcast, the Met Office has told millions to stay at home as Storm Eunice battles across the UK. Could this be another sign of the times? Cindy Yu is joined by Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls Become a Spectator subscriber today to ...
Feb 18, 2022•11 min
Angela Rayner received an outburst of criticism today after her views on shooting terrorists went viral. The deputy Labour leader is known for her colourful language, but how much is this damaging Labour's branding? In her column this week, Katy Balls takes a look at the Labour Party’s strategy around Boris: ‘I think Boris Johnson staying on is now good for them because he’s mortally wounded’ - Katy Balls. Also on the podcast, what is the latest British intelligence on Russia and Ukraine? All to...
Feb 17, 2022•11 min
Joe Biden has set out his intentions to impose sanctions against Russia should Putin decide to launch an invasion against Ukraine. Are European countries that economically rely on Russia for their energy prepared for the inevitable costs that will come with these sanctions? 'There is no way you could have a set of sanctions on Russia without thinking there will be some cost to the West for imposing them' - James Forsyth Also on the podcast, what's the latest with the Partygate police probe? All ...
Feb 16, 2022•10 min
Two issues dominate the news this week. While Putin is recalling some troops back to their barracks, the situation in Ukraine is far from over. Meanwhile at home, we are in a cost of living crisis that could continue for years to come. What will the government do to resolve this crisis? All to be discussed with Katy Balls and James Forsyth on today's Coffee House Shots. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For ...
Feb 15, 2022•12 min
Over the weekend things between Ukraine and Russia seem to have gone from bad to worse. After a call between Biden and Putin failed to yield any meaningful results, the US warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could being as soon as Wednesday. Cindy Yu sits down with Katy Balls and James Forsyth to discuss whether war is truly just days away. 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,...
Feb 14, 2022•11 min
Cindy Yu rounds up the highlights from Sunday's interview shows, with Brandon Lewis, Yvette Cooper, Derek Chollet and Zoë Billingham. 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....
Feb 13, 2022•12 min
During the Cold War, the US saw Russia as global threat number one. But with China looming large on the world stage its focus is shifting. This leaves Europe to take the lead in dealing with Putin's desires on Ukraine. Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Sophia Gaston the director of the British Foreign Policy Group about the growing tensions on the continent. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spe...
Feb 12, 2022•14 min
Cressida Dick announced yesterday evening that she is stepping down as head of the Metropolitan Police. In a statement, Dick said she had been left with 'no choice' but to resign, after it was made clear to her that London mayor Sadiq Khan did not have confidence in her leadership. Who will replace her? And what does her resignation mean for the investigation into parties in No. 10? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go...
Feb 11, 2022•8 min
The Foreign Secretary's trip to Moscow today ended with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, walking out of their joint press conference. Did the trip achieve anything – and was it a mistake from the start? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth on this episode. For James, '[Lavrov's] rudeness is a sign that Liz Truss held the line in their meeting'. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcas...
Feb 10, 2022•9 min
The Prime Minister tried to start today's PMQs with an announcement to fire up the right of his base, an early end to all Covid restrictions. But the partygate scandal is the gift that keeps on giving when during the Commons session a new photo leaked of Boris Johnson at a Christmas quiz with a bottle of Prosecco and a colleague draped in tinsel. Isabel Hardman is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls to break down today's events in Westminster. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access thi...
Feb 09, 2022•9 min
A mini reshuffle has happened, but this time nobody has been fired. Is this an advertisement of Boris Johnson being strategic? Or is it more an advertisement of the little room he has to manoeuvre? Also on the podcast, James and Isabel discuss the NHS backlog. Today the Health Secretary was forced to admit to MPs that the NHS waiting list in England, which already stands at a record 6 million, will keep on growing for another two years. What are the holes in his new plan? All to be discussed as ...
Feb 08, 2022•15 min
On Saturday night, No. 10 announced two new appointments: Steve Barclay would become chief of staff, and Guto Harri would become director of communications. Will Downing Street's reshuffle improve the mood of Tory MPs? And what else does Boris Johnson have to do? Katy Balls talks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth about the new faces inside No. 10. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcast...
Feb 07, 2022•14 min
Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political shows. Featured today are Kwasi Kwarteng, Iain Duncan Smith, David Lammy, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, and Gavin Barwell. 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....
Feb 06, 2022•13 min
Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about what happens if and when Graham Brady receives 54 letters of no confidence in Boris Johnson's leadership. 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....
Feb 05, 2022•11 min
Five members of Boris Johnson's team have now resigned from No. 10. This led Downing Street to bring forward changes to Johnson's top team – announcing the resignations of chief of staff Dan Rosenfield, director of communications Jack Doyle and Martin Reynolds, his principal private secretary (who sent the now notorious BYOB email). How will the PM fill the vacuum they leave in No. 10? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcas...
Feb 04, 2022•14 min
Munira Mirza, Downing Street's head of policy, has resigned over Boris Johnson’s Jimmy Savile attack on Keir Starmer. Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about how the defection of one of Johnson's oldest allies will affect an already turbulent No. 10. 'This does look terminal.' – Fraser Nelson 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 . Con...
Feb 03, 2022•17 min
While Westminster politicians and journalists alike continue to predict exactly how many letters of no confidence in Boris Johnson have been officially filed. Michael Gove's levelling up white paper has finally arrived. A bizarre document that references many ancient cites and how they 'levelled up', but does it propose any tangible solutions on how to achieve its goal in present-day Britain? Isabel Hardman is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls to dissect the document. Become a Spectator sub...
Feb 02, 2022•15 min
While Boris Johnson's performance in the Common's yesterday was seen broadly as tone deaf – thanks to comments about Jimmy Savile and drug-taking on the Labour front bench – he was given a chance to redeem himself at a private meeting with his party yesterday evening. 'One of my favourite questions was when one 2019 MP asked if they could reschedule the Parliamentary away day. This received a number of groans from politicians . ' – Katy Balls. Today, the Prime Minister leaves the Westminster dra...
Feb 01, 2022•13 min
The long anticipated Sue Gray report was finally published today albeit lacking significant chucks of details. Following the report Boris Johnson made a statement in the Commons addressing Partygate. Though he apologised at the beginning, his tone did not seem particularly apologetic which clearly riled a number of MPs across party lines. 'The discomfort among the Tory benches today was striking' - James Forsyth But what will be the aftermath of the debate? And can Boris Johnson still come back ...
Jan 31, 2022•14 min
Isabel Hardman showcases the best bits from Sunday's interview shows. In the spotlight today are Liz Truss, Lisa Nandy and Sir Ed Davey. 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....
Jan 30, 2022•13 min
Boris Johnson has come out fighting, but that doesn't mean he's in the clear. Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about the Prime Minister's efforts to keep himself inside No. 10. 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....
Jan 29, 2022•12 min
Today the Met Police requested that Sue Gray's report makes 'minimal reference' to the events in her inquiry, whilst there is an ongoing police investigation. ' I think it puts the government in a difficult position. If you publish the report with minimal reference to the alleged parties being investigated by the police you’ll be accused of a whitewash report' - Katy Balls. As a consequence of the police investigation, there are also rumours that others in Whitehall might be fined over parties i...
Jan 28, 2022•10 min
Whilst everyone waits for the Sue Gray report, all eyes turn to the next scandal: Pen Farthing's animal rescue operation out of Afghanistan. It has been revealed that Boris Johnson's parliamentary private secretary, Trudy Harrison contacted a jet hire company in an attempt to secure a plane to evacuate the pets. The PM has responded to these allegations saying they are 'total rhubarb' - but what does that mean? 'You don’t seem to get the impression that Downing Street feels as if they are under ...
Jan 27, 2022•16 min
The view on the Tory benches at the moment seems to be consistently ‘wait for Gray’ before they decide whether or not they will send a letter of no confidence. The 54 letters required is now more likely since the announcement of the police probe into Downing Street parties, but it is still by no means a certainty. Boris Johnson gathered a surprising amount of support at PMQs today. Helped in part. by opposition MPs calling on him to resign: ' Richard Burgon, a former member of Jeremy Corbyn's sh...
Jan 26, 2022•14 min
The latest in the scandal of Downing Street parties points to the Prime Minister’s own birthday, where a gathering took place in the Cabinet Office. Whilst this has been played off by a Downing Street spokesperson as being on ‘the edges of a work event’. Cressida Dick announced this morning that events at No.10 during lockdown have now been deemed serious enough to deserve a police investigation. How long does this now go on for? It could make the May election results terrible for the Tories, pr...
Jan 25, 2022•16 min
Over the weekend the MP Nusrat Ghani accused the government of sacking her because allegedly her Muslim faith was an issue, and they thought she didn't defend the Conservative party's charges of Islamophobia more. In the week of the release of the infamous Sue Gray report into Partygate how are the Tories dealing with these two scandals? 'The whip's office is caught between Sandhurst and a HR department.' - James Forsyth Cindy Yu is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls to unpack the weekend's ...
Jan 24, 2022•16 min
