Podcast

Coffee House Shots

Daily political analysis from The Spectator’s top team of writers, including Tim Shipman, James Heale, Michael Gove, Isabel Hardman and many others.

Daily political analysis from The Spectator’s top team of writers, including Tim Shipman, James Heale, Michael Gove, Isabel Hardman and many others.

Coffee House Shots

Why has Truss u-turned?

The Prime Minister has abandoned her plan to scrap the top 45 per cent rate of income tax. Why? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth. Produced by Max Jeffery.

Play 13 mins

Coffee House Shots

Did Gove just torpedo Truss?

Michael Gove this morning said that Liz Truss’s plans to scrap the top 45 per cent tax rate are a ‘display of the wrong values’. It comes as Jake Berry, the Tory party chairman, confirmed that MPs who vote against the budget would lose the Conservative whip. Has Gove just ruined Truss’s conference? James Heale

Play 14 mins

Coffee House Shots

Liz Truss’s mea culpa moment

Despite rejecting the Office for Budget Responsibility’s offer of a forecast to accompany last week’s so-called fiscal event, this morning it appears that the government have u-turned. What can we expect from the OBR’s statement ahead of the November budget? Also on the podcast, after last night’s YouGov poll put Labour ahead by 33 points,

Play 11 mins

Coffee House Shots

Could Truss axe Kwarteng?

Liz Truss broke her silence this morning and embarked on a pre-Tory conference media round of regional stations across the UK. In a brutal set of interviews, the Prime Minister faced questions on tax cutting the rich at the expense of the poor, fracking and bankers’ bonuses. With conference just three days away, what will be

Play 23 mins

Coffee House Shots

Why is the Bank of England buying gilts?

The Bank of England has today announced a major intervention into gilts to prevent a ‘material risk’ to financial stability as a result of government policy. How unprecedented is this move? Will Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng break their silence? Are we heading for another leadership election? Kate Andrews speaks with Fraser Nelson and James

Play 18 mins

Coffee House Shots

Is Starmer ready for No.10?

Keir Stamer took centre stage for his speech at the Labour party conference today. Unlike last year, there were several standing ovations and loud cheers from the audience. Was his speech one to remember in Labour’s history? And has he secured his position as the man to lead Labour back into government? James Heale speaks

Play 10 mins

Coffee House Shots

Is Labour on the cusp of victory?

It’s day two of Labour Conference and the party appear upbeat and confident of their chances at the next election. But are they being too reactionary in their narrative? What do they have to offer other than not being the Conservative party?From Liverpool, James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Play 13 mins

Coffee House Shots

How worrying is the falling pound?

Following Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng’s ‘mini’ budget, the pound has fallen to a record low against the dollar, fueling speculation that the Bank of England will hike interest rates. How worrying are these figures? ‘I think the pound falling is a bit of a distraction from the real problem’ – James Forsyth Katy Balls speaks to Kate

Play 19 mins

Coffee House Shots

Kwarteng’s audacious budget

Kwasi Kwarteng has today announced what has been dubbed as his mini-Budget, but looking at the scale of the package it is far from small. The Coffee House Shots team take us through what has been revealed. Who are the winners and who are the losers? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson, James Forsyth and

Play 17 mins

Coffee House Shots

NI rise scrapped: how much further will Kwasi go?

With hours to go till the Chancellor’s fiscal statement, we’ve heard today that the National Insurance hike will be scrapped, as promised during Liz Truss’s leadership campaign. This comes as the Bank of England increases the base rate to 2.25 per cent. How much further will Kwasi Kwarteng go, and just how willing is the

Play 16 mins

Coffee House Shots

What’s behind Putin’s mobilisation?

Vladimir Putin warned the West that, if pushed, Russia would use a nuclear weapon. How seriously should we take his threat? And reports emerged overnight that Liz Truss will cut stamp duty to increase demand for housing. But will that help more people get onto the housing ladder? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and

Play 15 mins

Coffee House Shots

Why is Liz Truss ruling out a US trade deal?

Liz Truss is in New York today on her first foreign visit as prime minister. On the flight across the Atlantic, Truss said that a trade deal with the United States was unlikely in the ‘short to medium term’. Why has the PM, who was so vocal about a free trade agreement with the US

Play 14 mins

Coffee House Shots

How will Queen Elizabeth II be remembered?

Today was the state funeral of Britain’s longest reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II. From Westminster, we evaluate the day’s proceedings. Also on the podcast, as the period of mourning ends and politics resumes, can Liz Truss hit the ground running? Will we get some clarity on how much her energy plan will cost? Katy Balls

Play 12 mins

Coffee House Shots

How did the Queen change the world?

Cindy Yu, James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson discuss the impression Queen Elizabeth II made during her 70 years as a head of state.

Play 16 mins

Coffee House Shots

Can the Met fix London’s spiralling crime problem?

Two police officers were stabbed this morning near Leicester Square in central London. What can new Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley do to fix the capital’s crime epidemic? And the pound today fell to a 37-year low against the dollar. What can the government do to give the markets confidence? Max Jeffery speaks to Fraser

Play 10 mins

Coffee House Shots

Who will be at the Queen’s funeral?

Preparations are well under way for the Queen’s funeral next week, but which world leaders will be in attendance? Will they all be able to behave themselves?  Also on the podcast, as the new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng works quietly in the background, is his idea to scrap caps on banker’s bonuses a risk worth taking? 

Play 15 mins

Coffee House Shots

What will happen while the Queen lies in state?

The Queen’s coffin has been taken from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. Mourners will pay their respects for the next four days before the funeral on Monday. Also on the podcast, James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson discuss the latest news in the Ukraine conflict.

Play 12 mins

Coffee House Shots

What was the message behind King Charles’s visit to Belfast?

King Charles arrived in Belfast where he was met by the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris. The King has pledged to follow the ‘shining example’ set by his mother during her life of public service. Tonight, the Queen’s body will be moved from Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace where her body will lie-in-state

Play 12 mins

Coffee House Shots

King Charles III addresses parliament

This morning, surrounded by the lead, oak and stone of Westminster Hall, King Charles III addressed parliament. Lindsay Hoyle, speaker of the Commons, introduced him, and said that he knew the new King would ‘bear those responsibilities which fall to you’. King Charles said that he was resolved to follow his mother’s ‘selfless duty’.  Katy

Play 16 mins

Coffee House Shots

Queen Elizabeth II: coronation, reign and succession

Freddy Gray, The Spectator‘s deputy editor, is joined by our former editor Charles Moore, and our political editor James Forsyth, to discuss the Queen’s death. What was her coronation like? Should unionists be concerned? How important was the Queen’s faith to her? What do we miss about the Queen?

Play 12 mins

Coffee House Shots

Queen Elizabeth II, our remarkable monarch

Fraser Nelson, James Forsyth and Katy Balls pay tribute to and reflect upon the life and reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Play 12 mins

Coffee House Shots

How much will Truss’s energy plan cost?

Today Liz Truss has announced in parliament an energy price cap to tackle rising bills. As of October, the average household energy bill will be frozen at £2,500 for the next two years. How effective will this be? And how have her free market allies reacted to her use of price controls?  James Forsyth and

Play 10 mins

Coffee House Shots

Have Labour underestimated Truss?

It’s Liz Truss’s first full day as prime minister and, backed by a fully assembled cabinet, she has conducted her first Prime Minister’s Questions with Labour leader Keir Starmer. Who came out on top?  Cindy Yu speaks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.  Produced by Cindy Yu and Oscar Edmondson.

Play 12 mins

Coffee House Shots

Truss’s cabinet: Who’s in? Who’s out?

Liz Truss has appointed her cabinet. Allies of Rishi Sunak are out, and the former foreign secretary’s closest allies are in. What does this mean for her government? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman. Britain after Boris: Coffee House Shots Live, with Andrew Neil, Fraser Nelson, Katy Balls, James Forsyth and Kate

Play 11 mins

Coffee House Shots

Was it a fond farewell for Boris Johnson?

Boris Johnson finally departed Downing Street early this morning, but left the door slightly ajar on the prospect of a comeback. What will this mean for Liz Truss?  Also on the podcast, as Truss makes her way to Balmoral to meet with the Queen, what will the rest of the day look like for the

Play 10 mins

Coffee House Shots

Liz Truss wins. What next?

Liz Truss has won the Conservative leadership race, and will become Britain’s prime minister tomorrow. In a speech in Westminster this morning, after finding out the result, Truss paid tribute to Boris Johnson, promised to ‘govern as a conservative’ and said she would ‘deliver, deliver, deliver’. What should we expect from the first days of

Play 17 mins

Coffee House Shots

Will the next PM be a good one?

James Forsyth speaks to Anthony Seldon, historian and biographer, about how the incoming PM can make their mark before the next general election.

Play 13 mins

Coffee House Shots

Can Boris get off the hook from partygate?

Boris Johnson has released legal advice that he received from Lord Pannick about the Commons investigation into partygate, where the lawyer said the investigation in its current form would be ‘unlawful’ if it were taking place in the courts. Can Boris really get off the hook? Max Jeffery speaks to James Forsyth and James Heale.

Play 16 mins

Coffee House Shots

Can Boris leave a nuclear legacy?

Despite a relatively quiet summer from the government, Boris Johnson has waded finally waded into the energy crisis, announcing £700 million of funding for Sizewell C, the nuclear plant. On the podcast, Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman about what’s behind this development (and whether it could be anything to do with

Play 16 mins

Coffee House Shots

Is Labour in trouble again with the rail strikes?

Today rail union leaders announced another round of strikes, this time to coincide with the Labour party conference. Is there a message here that they are trying to send to Kier Starmer? Should we expect similar disruption during the Conservative Party Conference? Also on the podcast, after the death of the last leader of the

Play 11 mins