The mood at Conservative conference has been surprisingly jubilant considering the turmoil that the party finds itself in. Labour's misfortunes may have contributed to this, but there seems to be a genuine optimism around the four candidates vying for the leadership of the party. What's the latest? Have Kemi Badenoch's comments on maternity pay impacted her position with the members? Also on the podcast, this evening will see the Vance vs Walz vice presidential debate. They go head to head in an...
Oct 01, 2024•39 min
Jeremy Hunt is one of the few Tories at Conservative Party Conference willing to take the fight to Labour. In the second day, he sat down for an on-stage interview where the former Chancellor spoke about the winter fuel allowance, freebies, but also made some polite suggestions about where the Conservative party should go, and dropped a few hints about the former Prime Minister, Liz Truss. Natasha Feroze speaks to Kate Andrews and Isabel Hardman about Hunt's speech and some of the best bits from...
Sep 30, 2024•14 min
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. Tory leadership candidates set out their visions for the party at the Conservative Party Conference. Badenoch says ‘not call cultures are equally valid’, and congratulates Netanyahu. Jenrick suggests immigration doesn’t make the country richer, and defends a £75,000 donation from a mysterious company. Rosie Duffield resigns from Labour, attacking Starmer on the way out. And Pat McFadden defends the prime minister, saying t...
Sep 29, 2024•16 min
The final four leadership candidates have arrived at Conservative Party Conference to make their final pitches. However, day one and Kemi Badenoch has found herself in an online row over comments made about maternity pay. Katy Balls, Kate Andrews and Fraser Nelson take a look at what was really said, and whether there is a clear frontrunner to lead the Tory party at conference.
Sep 29, 2024•15 min
Decarbonising power by 2030 is one of the flagship policies for Keir Starmer’s government. Whether this is achievable and how we go about the green transition will impact ten of thousands of jobs and everybody's energy bills. So just how do they plan on reaching this ambitious target? Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB, argues that there is a fundamental dishonesty about the route to net zero, with communities being hollowed out and the working class left behind. All of this has resulted i...
Sep 28, 2024•30 min
The political equivalent of the Rumble in the Jungle happened last night when Starmer sat down for a two-hour dinner with Donald Trump, following the Prime Minister’s speech at the UN General Assembly. Details of what Trump and Starmer talked about are scant: the official read-out merely says they discussed the ‘longstanding friendship’ between Britain and America. Is this good politics from the prime minister? Elsewhere, the Tory party conference kicks off in Birmingham this weekend and with it...
Sep 27, 2024•16 min
Events have moved on fast since Labour conference with the mounting prospect of ‘all out war’ in the Middle East. This comes after reports that Israel are preparing a ground invasion of Lebanon to push back Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. What levers are at the disposal of the international community to de-escalate this very volatile situation? Also today, Keir Starmer’s impressive performance on the international stage risks being undermined by the freebies story which continues to rumble...
Sep 26, 2024•12 min
We've had quite the day at 22 Old Queen Street. All Westminster politics seem small in comparison to the news that Fraser Nelson will step down as editor of this publication, with Michael Gove taking charge on October 8th. Hear Fraser's thoughts on what this new chapter will mean for The Spectator, on the podcast. Elsewhere, Labour conference has wrapped up in Liverpool and this has coincided with an update on growth from the OECD. Having predicted in May that the economy would grow by 0.4 per c...
Sep 25, 2024•13 min
Sir Keir Starmer has declared 'change has begun' in Liverpool. He defended the cuts to the winter fuel payments, announced a Hillsborough Law, and saw off a heckler. But did we learn anything from the speech in terms of policy? Is he leaving conference in a better or worse position than he entered? Isabel Hardman is joined by James Heale and Katy Balls.
Sep 24, 2024•14 min
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has just finished her speech at Labour conference. After a brief interruption by hecklers, she addressed austerity, the pandemic, and winter fuel payments. How was the speech received, and who does it really speak to? Elsewhere, Sue Gray's lack of appearance in Liverpool hasn't done anything to slow down discussion of recent controversy. James Heale is joined by Katy Balls and John McTernan, formerly Tony Blair's Political Secretary.
Sep 23, 2024•11 min
Labour's first party conference since entering government has opened under the shadow of the 'Frockgate' scandal. James Heale and Katy Balls report from Liverpool on what the mood is like – and the big topics for the party this week. Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Cindy Yu.
Sep 23, 2024•11 min
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. The Labour conference begins with the party’s honeymoon period seemingly over. Angela Rayner says Labour are being transparent and aren’t breaking rules over donations. Shadow House of Commons Leader Chris Philp disagrees. Meanwhile Keir Starmer is facing conflict with the unions as Sharon Graham calls the winter fuel allowance decision ‘cruel’. And Israeli President Herzog claims Israel do not want war with Lebanon. Produ...
Sep 22, 2024•14 min
It's easy enough to keep both business and the unions on side when you are vague about your policies – and when your opponent is messing up so badly. That was Labour's position going into the election. But now that it's in government, can it keep that balancing act up? Next week's Labour party conference will be the government's first real test. James Heale talks to Kate Andrews and Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress. Produced by Cindy Yu.
Sep 21, 2024•15 min
Party conference season continues as Reform UK’s kicks off today in Birmingham. Katy Balls has been at the NEC hearing from Richard Tice, Lee Anderson and leader Nigel Farage, amongst others. What’s been the mood? And, after a remarkable few months, what could be next for the party? With Labour conference starting at the weekend, how worried will Starmer be about Farage? Also, what's been the latest on the PM's 'donations for clothes' row? Patrick Gibbons speaks to Katy Balls and James Heale. Pr...
Sep 20, 2024•14 min
It's been a sticky week for Labour. Whilst they will have hoped to spend the run up to this weekend's conference talking about the policy wins of their first 100 days in power, Labour MPs are instead having to defend the Prime Minister for accepting freebies and talk down speculation of a rift at the heart of government. Is there a power struggle in Number 10? James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and John McTernan, former political secretary to tony Blair. Produced by Oscar Edmondson....
Sep 19, 2024•14 min
We have some new inflation figures today. Inflation rose 2.2 per cent in the 12 months to August. This is pretty much in line with the Bank of England's target and should be good news for Labour, so why do they persist with this doom and gloom narrative? Elsewhere, Labour's awkward week has got more awkward with the news that Sue Gray, Keir Starmer's chief of staff, is paid more than him. Surely they could have seen this news story coming? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Kate Andrews and James Heale. ...
Sep 18, 2024•11 min
Liberal Democrat Conference wraps up today in Brighton. It could well be the happiest conference we visit this season with the party riding high after winning 72 seats at the election. The challenge that they face now is improving on that number, providing some opposition to the Labour party and protecting their new Surrey MPs once the new Tory leader is decided. We have heard Ed Davey speak passionately on social care, but can they carve a distinct position on other big policy issues, such as E...
Sep 17, 2024•11 min
This weekend we had another twist in the story involving Labour donor Lord Alli, who was caught up in a 'cash for access' scandal a couple of weeks back. It now seems he has forked out the thick end of 20k on clothes and glasses for Keir Starmer and his wife. Foreign sec David Lammy was on the Sunday media round and gave a less than convincing defence of the prime minister and Lady Victoria. Has the PM broken the rules already? Also today, Keir Starmer is in Rome meeting Italian prime minister G...
Sep 16, 2024•12 min
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. The foreign secretary talks up support for Ukraine, but won’t comment on whether they will be granted long-range missiles. David Lammy and James Cleverly disagree over the severity of Keir Starmer’s potential rule breaking. Cleverly calls Labour ‘arrogant and inexperienced’. And Ed Davey defends his party’s ability to effectively criticise the government. Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill....
Sep 15, 2024•14 min
Last week, there was a surprise visitor to the Treasury: Gordon Brown. The former prime minister and chancellor secretly returned to his old digs for the first time since he left office 14 years ago. According to onlookers, Brown visited his old office as he caught up with the new chancellor – and his friend – Rachel Reeves. What was discussed? Many have speculated that among the topics on the agenda was the winter fuel allowance, a policy ushered in by Brown and now amended by Reeves. Elsewhere...
Sep 14, 2024•14 min
Keir Starmer and David Lammy are in the Washington for a planned foreign policy summit with Joe Biden. They will principally be talking about a new deal regarding the use of UK long range missiles in Russia, a move which Putin has warned would constitute an escalation of the war and the formalisation of NATO's involvement. Also up for discussion is support for Israel after the foreign secretary announced a partial embargo on arms. Is the UK diverging from the US on foreign policy? James Heale sp...
Sep 13, 2024•10 min
The Prime Minister has described the NHS as in 'critical condition' in a speech this morning after the release of Lord Darzi's damning independent report. Lord Darzi had only nine weeks to conduct his investigation into –and assessment of – the National Health Service. But this truncated timeline does not appear to have led to any watering down of his verdict. The independent peer has delivered a damning diagnosis of the state of the NHS, which is described as failing both its staff and its pati...
Sep 12, 2024•15 min
Last night saw the first Trump vs Harris debate and the consensus seems to be that Harris came out on top. She managed to avoid sticky issues about her political past and goaded Trump into some rambling and – at times – outrageous remarks. What did we learn? Also today, we have had new figures on the economy with GDP flatlining for the second month in a row. Does this vindicate Rachel Reeves' tough decision on the winter fuel allowance? Katy Balls speaks to Kate Andrews and John McTernan. Produc...
Sep 11, 2024•14 min
It's been a busy day in Westminster today. Labour avoided a large scale rebellion on the winter fuel allowance and Mel Stride was eliminated from the Tory leadership race – not to mention the sale of a certain weekly politics magazine. Oscar Edmondson discusses with Katy Balls and James Heale. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Sep 10, 2024•13 min
Tomorrow MPs will vote on Rachel Reeves’ decision to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners who aren’t eligible for pension benefits. We spoke on this podcast on Friday about the pressure that Labour is under from all sides on this, but the temperature has increased over the weekend with the trade unions getting involved. What's the latest? Also on the podcast, there have been some allegations of 'dark arts' during the first round of voting in the tory leadership contest, and possible vote shar...
Sep 09, 2024•14 min
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. Keir Starmer says his government will ‘have to be unpopular’ and take tough decisions. He also denies there is any anger from the US at the UK’s decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel. Health Secretary Streeting sets out Labour’s ambitions for improving the NHS. And the Tory leadership race heats up. Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.
Sep 08, 2024•13 min
Join Fraser Nelson, Katy Balls and Kate Andrews, along with special guest Jonathan Ashworth, for a live edition of Coffee House Shots recorded earlier this week. They dissect the first few weeks of the new Labour government and look ahead to the policies autumn, and the budget, might bring. Having surprisingly lost his seat at the election, how blunt will Ashworth be? The team also answer a range of audience questions, including: how big of a welfare crisis is the government facing? Would – and ...
Sep 07, 2024•47 min
Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls join James Heale to look ahead to a crucial week for Labour. On Tuesday, Parliament will hold a binding vote on the changes to winter fuel allowance - how are Labour expected to deal with this? Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls, and husband of the current home secretary Yvette Cooper, has argued that Labour need an 'escape route' from the policy. What can we read from this intervention? And how influenced are the government by the spectres of George Osborne and Liz T...
Sep 06, 2024•13 min
The first round of the Conservative leadership race has seen Dame Priti Patel eliminated with the fewest votes. Robert Jenrick came out on top but, with a second vote taking place on Tuesday, where could Patel's supporters go? Who could get eliminated next? Will 'Melmentum' build? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and James Heale. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.
Sep 04, 2024•14 min
Seven years after the tragedy, the inquiry into the Grenfell fire has published its report. What did we learn from it and who bears responsibility? And, with thousands of buildings still believed to contain flammable cladding, what should happen next? With such important lessons to be learnt, why do British inquiries take so long? Also on the podcast, a look at the first PMQs following summer recess and the Tory leadership election. James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and Liam Halligan, Telegra...
Sep 04, 2024•16 min
