Coffee House Shots - podcast cover

Coffee House Shots

The Spectatoraudioboom.com
Instant political analysis from The Spectator's top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Isabel Hardman, James Heale, Lucy Dunn and many others.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

Sunak vs Starmer round two - who won?

Isabel Hardman and Katy Balls speak to Patrick Gibbons following the second, and final, debate between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak. With a week to go until the general election, who came out on top and did we learn anything? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 26, 202416 min

Has 'gamblegate' become ridiculous?

We are now two weeks into the political betting saga. Since our last episode, Keir Starmer has suspended a Labour candidate who bet on himself losing. How damaging is 'gamblegate' - and has it gone too far? Cindy Yu speaks to Katy Balls and Stephen Bush, columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 26, 202417 min

Who will survive?

It's another bad day for the Conservatives. Rishi Sunak has withdrawn support for the Tory candidates involved in the general election betting scandal. What has led to the timing of this decision? Also on the podcast, James Kanagasooriam, Chief Research Officer of Focaldata, explains their latest poll that suggests a 250-seat Labour majority. He joins Katy Balls and James Heale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 25, 202419 min

Is Nigel Farage drawing from the Trump playbook?

In a speech this afternoon, Nigel Farage doubled down on controversial comments he made about the West provoking the war in Ukraine. Is the Reform leader taking inspiration from Trump? And could this be a small win for the Tories who are seeking to claw back Reform votes? Also on the podcast, James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson about the latest in the election date betting scandal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 24, 202412 min

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 23/06/24

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. The election date betting scandal engulfs the Conservatives, while James Cleverly also has to contend with a Tory aide calling the Rwanda policy ‘crap’. There's controversy also in the Scottish National Party, with allegations that staff may have used public money on the election campaign. Bridget Phillipson is asked to clarify Labour’s position on gender identity in schools, and Unite’s Sharon Graham suggests Labour voter...

Jun 23, 202414 min

Is Brexit safe under Labour?

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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 22, 202419 min

Question Time special – who came out on top?

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, 202413 min

Sunak's campaign derailed by betting claims — again

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 20, 202412 min

Have the Tories given up on the Red Wall?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Jun 19, 202413 min

Is Boris back to save the day?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 18, 202412 min

Does Nigel Farage have the cure for Britain?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Jun 17, 202410 min

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 16/06/24

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 16, 202415 min

What could Starmer's first year in power look like?

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, 202419 min

Who is the real opposition to Labour?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 14, 202414 min

What wasn't included in Labour's manifesto

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, 202412 min

Sunak vs Starmer – who came out on top?

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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 12, 202414 min

Why are Tories talking about a Labour Super Majority?

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, 202411 min

Is Sunak's cautious manifesto a mistake?

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, 202413 min

Why has Douglas Ross resigned as Scottish Tory leader?

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, 202411 min

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 09/06/2024

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 09, 202414 min

Nigel Farage's Conservative manifesto

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 08, 202412 min

Will Labour's manifesto contain a surprise?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 07, 202413 min

Why did Sunak leave the D-Day commemorations early?

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. Ho...

Jun 07, 202413 min

Has there been a CCHQ candidates stitch up?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 06, 202414 min

Who won the first leaders' debate?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 05, 202417 min

What would it take for Sunak to have a breakthrough?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 04, 202413 min

Could Farage crush the Tories?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 03, 202413 min

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 02/06/2024

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, 202415 min

Can Keir handle Trump?

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Jun 01, 202412 min

Can Keir Starmer control the Labour left?

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. Hosted on Acast. See a...

May 31, 202418 min
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