Writer, trade unionist and Labour Brexiteer Paul Embery joins James Heale on Spectator TV to discuss Labour's plans for the EU should they get into government. Paul highlights the need for Labour to deliver on its promises and avoid alienating working-class voters. Will Rachel Reeves appease the Red Wall? And how tough will Labour be on immigration? 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...
Jun 22, 2024•19 min
Last nights election Question Time programme was probably the best of the campaign in that it gave space for proper discussion while making all the leaders uncomfortable. None of the four men questioned over the two hour programme – Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Ed Davey and John Swinney – did badly. There were some good revelatory comments, but Fiona Bruce's questioning exposed each leaders key weakness. Did anyone manage to shift the dial? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Isabel Hardman and Katy Balls. ...
Jun 21, 2024•13 min
Another allegation over betting with insider knowledge has transpired today, this time involving the Conservative candidate Laura Sanders, who is married to the party's director of campaigns, Tony Lee. Lee has now taken a leave of absence as the Gambling Commission carries out an investigation. On the episode, Cindy Yu talks to Kate Andrews and James Heale about how this derails an already wobbly campaign. Produced by Cindy Yu. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without a...
Jun 20, 2024•12 min
Yet another three MRP polls landed today – and none of them look pretty for the Conservative party. This comes as Boris Johnson rules out helping on the campaign trail as reports say that the party has given up on the Red Wall. On the episode, James Heale talks to Katy Balls and conservative commentator Paul Goodman about why the Tories will continue to struggle to close the poll gap given the roles played by the Liberal Democrats and Reform. Produced by Cindy Yu. Become a Spectator subscriber t...
Jun 19, 2024•13 min
If you're a Twitter user, you might have seen more of Boris Johnson than usual. He's been making videos to endorse selected candidates from his holiday in Sardinia. Might he make a bigger return to the election campaign? Is he the man that could save the Tories from Farage - and does he want to? James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and 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 podca...
Jun 18, 2024•12 min
Nigel Farage has unveiled Reform UK's manifesto. Except, it's not a manifesto, because he says the word is synonymous in voters’ minds with ‘lies’. It promises a freeze on non-essential immigration, a patriotic curriculum, leaving the European Court on Human Rights, and cutting taxes by £88 billion. Is this contract more of a wish list? How much damage can Nigel Farage do to the Conservatives? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Heale. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this ...
Jun 17, 2024•10 min
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s politics shows. Election campaigns are ramping up, and we hear from the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Plaid Cymru. Mark Harper is asked why some Tory candidates are avoiding official Conservative branding, and Wes Streeting is asked whether Labour’s manifesto amounts to real change. Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to f...
Jun 16, 2024•15 min
Picture the scene: it's July 5th and a triumphant Keir Starmer arrives at Downing Street after achieving a supermajority and the Tories have only narrowly prevented the Lib Dems becoming official party of opposition. Whilst this may sound far fetched, it is the likely result when you take an average of the last week's polls. What would those first 100 days of Labour look like? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and John McTernan, former political secretary to Tony Blair. Produced by Oscar Edmond...
Jun 15, 2024•19 min
Nigel Farage tried to claim at the start of Thursday’s TV debate that Reform was the real threat to Keir Starmer, given it has just passed the Conservatives in the polls (more on that here ). Are they the new party of opposition? And what sort of tactics will the Tories use to try and claw back voters they are haemorrhaging to Reform? Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and Chris Hopkins, director of Savanta. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spect...
Jun 14, 2024•14 min
Keir Starmer launched Labour's manifesto today, but how much did we actually learn about their plans for government? And with no rabbits pulled out of the proverbial hat, how do they plan to achieve growth? Kate Andrews and Starmer's biographer Tom Baldwin joined Katy Balls to discuss. Tom also provided some insight into Angela Rayner's election bus, including a surprising admission about a lettuce... Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Join the Coffee House Shots team for a post-election live recordin...
Jun 13, 2024•12 min
Katy Balls and Kate Andrews speak to Natasha Feroze after the Battle for No.10 leadership interviews. The two leaders gave their pitch to a live audience and viewers at home. But who came out on top? 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....
Jun 12, 2024•14 min
Grant Shapps has been speaking to media this morning and warning that a Labour landslide would be 'very bad news' for the country. Is the acknowledgement that Labour could seriously damage the Tories a slip of the tongue, or a new strategy for the Tories? Elsewhere, the interview that Rishi Sunak left D Day commemorations for is airing tonight. In a controversial moment, when asked what he had to go without as a child, he says Sky TV... Megan McElroy speaks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls. Join ...
Jun 12, 2024•11 min
Conservatives hoping to turn their fortunes around with the publication of the party's manifesto have been disappointed. The document contained little by way of surprises or rabbits, and despite Sunak's pledge that the Conservatives are the party of tax cutting, the new costings show that the tax burden will continue to rise. Katy Balls talks to James Heale and Kate Andrews. Join the Coffee House Shots team for a live recording on Thursday 11 July. Get tickets at spectator.co.uk/live . Produced ...
Jun 11, 2024•13 min
Just when you thought this election campaign couldn’t get any more tumultuous, Douglas Ross has announced he will resign as Scottish Conservative leader. He had lost the support of his colleagues – particularly those in Holyrood – following his decision to effectively take over a Westminster colleague’s constituency when that MP was seriously ill in hospital. Why now? Michael Simmons speaks to Isabel Hardman and Katy Balls. The Spectator will be hosting a special Live edition of Coffee House Sho...
Jun 10, 2024•11 min
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Mel Stride defends the prime minister after his D-Day gaffe. Farage criticises Sunak, and Amber Rudd criticises Farage. Meanwhile, Labour's Shabana Mahmood and the SNP's Stephen Flynn speak about their own parties' priorities. 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.c...
Jun 09, 2024•14 min
Last night, leaders and senior representatives from seven political parties went head to head in the latest TV debate. But who came out on top? Katy Balls speaks to James Heale and 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 . Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 08, 2024•12 min
Overnight, details of Labour's manifesto were leaked. There are several new policies, but how surprising are they, and how will they land with voters? Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak has denied he planned to skip D Day events altogether since our episode this morning. Can the row get any worse? James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and John McTernan, former political secretary to Tony Blair. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find ou...
Jun 07, 2024•13 min
It's yet another gaffe for Rishi Sunak. At yesterday’s D Day anniversary celebrations when it came time for official photographs with Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron, it was Lord Cameron, not Rishi Sunak, who did the honours for Britain. With the prime minister reportedly leaving early to do a pre-recorded political interview with ITV. He has since apologised, but can he bounce back from this one? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Be...
Jun 07, 2024•13 min
Conservative grassroots are up in arms over the installment of Tory party chairman, Richard Holden, as the candidate for Basildon and Billericay, a safe seat. The local association was given a shortlist of one by CCHQ. Katy Balls talks to James Heale and commentator and Conservative peer, Paul Goodman. Produced by Cindy Yu. 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/...
Jun 06, 2024•14 min
Last night, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer went head-to-head in the first TV debate of the campaign. They clashed on a variety of topics, including housing, the NHS, and immigration. But who came out on top? Katy Balls speaks to Kate Andrews and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Megan McElroy. 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@spectato...
Jun 05, 2024•17 min
Some Conservatives have put their hopes on tonight's TV debate as a breakthrough moment for the lacklustre and disorganised Tory campaign, but will it really be a gamechanger? James Heale talks to Isabel Hardman about why she's sceptical, and to the pollster Chris Hopkins at Savanta about why the Tories just aren't closing that poll gap. Produced by Megan McElroy and Cindy Yu. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out mor...
Jun 04, 2024•13 min
This afternoon a wildcard was thrown into the election – the return of Nigel Farage. He will be standing for the Reform party at Clacton, the one parliamentary seat that Ukip had held. What will this mean for the Conservatives? James Heale talks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls. Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Cindy Yu. 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/podca...
Jun 03, 2024•13 min
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Division in the Labour Party as Keir Starmer belatedly approves Diane Abbott as a candidate, while others in Labour claim they were offered seats in the House of Lords to stand aside for different candidates. Meanwhile, Victoria Atkins talks up her Pharmacy First initiative, Yvette Cooper wants migration to come down (we're not sure by how much), Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay is asked about meat rationing, and Trump's lawy...
Jun 02, 2024•15 min
The news that Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies meant that the Labour leader faced questions about the former president on Friday morning, rather than the Diane Abbott selection storm. On his visit to Scotland, Starmer told the BBC that a Labour government would be willing to work with ‘whoever’ was elected in November’s presidential contest. But how would Starmer deal with Trump? James Heale speaks to Kate Andrews and Freddy Gray. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this ...
Jun 01, 2024•12 min
Keir Starmer has began a purge of pre-existing candidates and MPs who risk frustrating their election campaign. There is an ongoing row about whether Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary, will be barred from standing. Angela Rayner has now weighed in saying she 'sees no reason why Diane Abbott can't stand for Labour'. Could this become a problem for Keir Starmer? James Heale speaks to Fraser Nelson and Paul Goodman. Produced by Natasha Feroze and Oscar Edmondson. Become a Spectator sub...
May 31, 2024•18 min
Keir Starmer is now putting the final touches to this with a last minute purge of pre-existing candidates and MPs who risk frustrating their election campaign. There is an ongoing row about whether Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary, will be barred from standing, but who else might join her? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and James Heale. Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find...
May 30, 2024•12 min
The drama in Westminster never seems to end. Last night the Times reported that the Labour party would not allow veteran MP Diane Abbott to represent the party at the upcoming general election. Abbott has reportedly been given the Labour whip back as a middle way, causing something of a backlash. Seeking to clarify the situation, Keir Starmer has today insisted that, 'no decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbot' and that 'she is a member of the parliamentary Labour party.' What's going on? Wil...
May 29, 2024•11 min
Days into the election campaign and parties are scrambling to get their message out on social media. With both Labour and the Conservatives joining TikTok, who has a stronger message? Katy Balls speaks to Sean Topham, co-founder of Topham Guerin who ran the Conservative's 2019 social media campaign. 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: po...
May 28, 2024•12 min
The Conservatives have unveiled a new pensions policy: the 'Triple Lock Plus'. What does it mean and what's the thinking behind it? Will it help shore up the Tories' core vote? Katy Balls and Focaldata's James Kanagasooriam join Natasha Feroze to discuss. Produced by Natasha Feroze and Patrick Gibbons. 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:...
May 28, 2024•12 min
Keir Starmer set out his first major speech to kick of Labour's general election campaign. The Labour leader prioritised national security, a strong economy and the borders. But with a 'policy light' campaign – has he done enough? Kate Andrews speaks to Katy Balls and 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 . Contact us: podcast@spectator.c...
May 27, 2024•16 min
