Who will replace Dominic Cummings?
15 min listen
Boris Johnson’s chief aide has said that he’ll be gone by Christmas – so what does that mean for Downing Street operations? Katy Balls is joined by Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
Katy Balls
Katy Balls is The Spectator’s former political editor.
Friday
Thursday
Has Vote Leave lost control?
14 min listen
Downing Street has seen a day of backstabbing and counter-briefings after Dominic Cummings ally Lee Cain resigned as Boris Johnson’s director of communications. John Connolly talks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls.
Inside the Downing Street power struggle
Downing Street is a divided place this morning after the resignation of Lee Cain. No. 10’s Director of Communications handed in his resignation last night after a day of briefings and counter briefings between the various factions in Downing Street. The drama began after the Times ran a story on Tuesday evening suggesting the Vote Leave alumnus
Wednesday
What the latest Downing Street row is about
The clock may be ticking when it comes to the Brexit talks but the news dominating Westminster today relates not to legal texts but personnel changes in Downing Street. Overnight the Times and Daily Mail both ran reports suggesting Number 10’s Director of Communications Lee Cain was in line for a promotion to Chief of Staff. However, shortly
Could the vaccine trigger another Tory divide?
13 min listen
Backbench Tory MPs are questioning the government’s plan for rolling out the vaccine. Meanwhile, rumours over a new Downing Street chief of staff have triggered a spat inside No. 10. Gus Carter talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
Tuesday
Boris gets Biden's first European call
Although there has been much speculation of late that Boris Johnson will struggle to forge ties with Joe Biden, the pair’s relationship has got off to a promising start. After making his first phone call to America’s neighbour Canada, the president-elect shared a phone call with the UK Prime Minister. A Downing Street spokesperson says Johnson used
Why is No. 10 so cautious about a Covid vaccine?
14 min listen
The Pfizer vaccine is being lauded by many as the silver bullet that could end the Covid crisis. Meanwhile, the UK has seen a record number of redundancies. Also, No. 10 suffered serious defeat in the Lords last night over its controversial Brexit bill. Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Kate Andrews.
Monday
Boris Johnson's sobering press conference
Although the Prime Minister is known to be an optimist, he was at pains to play down reports of a vaccine breakthrough in Monday’s coronavirus press conference. After early findings from stage three of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine trial suggested it could prevent more than 90 per cent of people from getting Covid-19, Johnson
Are we on the brink of a Covid vaccine?
14 min listen
The drugs firm Pfizer has announced that its vaccine — currently in stage three trials — is 90% effective. Meanwhile, Britain and the EU are entering the final stage of trade negotiations. Finally, No. 10 is ramping up its inquiry to discover who leaked news of England’s second lockdown. Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson
Number 10 are cautiously optimistic about the Pfizer vaccine
There’s been a rare case of Covid-19 good news today with the announcement that the Pfizer vaccine could be 90 per cent effective. Citing early results from the phase 3 trials of the vaccine, the pharmaceutical company said the initial findings marked ‘a great day for science and humanity’. While it’s still early days and the trial
Saturday
Boris congratulates Biden
After days of government ministers declining to take a public stance on the US election, Boris Johnson has congratulated Joe Biden on his victory. The Democrat’s lead in Pennsylvania prompted several US networks to call the election for Biden and the Prime Minister then released a statement on social media: https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1325133262075940864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Johnson’s message of congratulations came after
Friday
Was the three tier system working all along?
14 min listen
As Liverpool begins it’s mass testing trial, ONS figures published today show that the coronavirus infection rate was fell in the week ending October 31. So was the tiered system working all along, meaning the new lockdown is unnecessary? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth about the new data, Scottish independence, and
Thursday
Has Rishi Sunak lost the argument?
14 min listen
The Chancellor announced new furlough measures today, something that he has long been opposed to. Katy Balls speaks to Kate Andrews and James Forsyth about whether or not Rishi Sunak has lost the argument.
Has Rishi Sunak lost the argument?
These days Rishi Sunak’s appearances before the House of Commons tend to mark changes to pre-existing economic support schemes. His proposed winter economy plan didn’t survive a month before alterations had to be made. But even by recent standards, today’s statement marks a big shift for the Chancellor. Not only is the furlough scheme back — despite
Wednesday
Should the government take a stance on the US election?
13 min listen
Dominic Raab refused to comment on Donald Trump’s claims of election ‘fraud’ this morning, after the President said he planned to contest the result in the Supreme Court. Boris Johnson also refrained from being drawn into a conversation about the race, saying at PMQs that the UK would not comment ‘on the democratic processes of
Tuesday
Douglas Ross's criticism of Boris is no mistake
It’s not uncommon for Conservative politicians to complain privately that Nicola Sturgeon has proven herself to be a better communicator than Boris Johnson during the pandemic. However, it is unusual for a Tory to say so publicly. This is what Douglas Ross did this week in an interview for ITV News. On top of saying that ‘most objective people’
Is mass testing the way out of lockdown?
16 min listen
As England heads into a second lockdown, today brings a glimmer of hope. Liverpool will be the first UK city to undergo mass testing, including a fast turnaround saliva test. John Connolly talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth about whether Moonshot, this time around, is more realistic. Tell us your thoughts on our podcasts
Monday
Why Labour are focusing their attacks on Rishi Sunak
Which Tory politician is Labour most afraid of? While it’s Boris Johnson who Sir Keir Starmer most regularly goes up to bat against at the despatch box, these days Her Majesty’s Opposition appear most focused on criticising Rishi Sunak. Take Starmer’s speech this lunchtime to the Confederation of British Industry. While the Labour leader criticised the Prime Minister for
Why a Tory lockdown rebellion should worry Boris
18 min listen
After Boris Johnson announced that England would be put into another nationwide lockdown this Thursday, backbench Tory MPs quickly made their opposition known. Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee, said the restrictions would be denounced ‘as a form of evil’ if enforced in a totalitarian state. But with Labour’s backing meaning the measures
Farage's anti-lockdown party spells trouble for Tories
As the Tory rebellion over the government’s lockdown plan grows, Nigel Farage has entered the fray. The former Ukip leader is to relaunch the Brexit Party as a new force in the coronavirus debate. The outfit will be renamed Reform UK and promises to provide a counter-voice to the two main parties’ support for lockdown as