Katy Balls is The Spectator’s former political editor.
From our UK edition
Is Boris Johnson heading for his first Commons defeat since the election? Plans are afoot in government to bring in legislation to suspend Sunday trading laws as part of a wider effort to get the economy going again. The Prime Minister and Chancellor first thought up the idea of relaxing Sunday trading as a way to make
From our UK edition
As the coronavirus threat level moves from four to three, Boris Johnson has declared today that he is ‘sure’ all children will be able to be back in school full-time from September. Speaking at the daily press conference, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson repeated this pledge. But should Johnson hit his target, will parents comply? So far of the year groups allowed
From our UK edition
15 min listen
The government has downgraded the coronavirus alert level from 4 to 3, with the support of its scientific advisers. So is it about time to ease lockdown even further? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about this and the discovery of the magic money tree, as debt is now worth more than
From our UK edition
29 min listen
Joanna Trollope is an award-winning novelist, whose books have sold more than eight million copies worldwide. She’s known best for her novel, The Rector’s Wife, which was adapted into a TV series. On the podcast, she talks to Katy about the expectations on her as a girl growing up in the 40s, how stay at
From our UK edition
11 min listen
The government is today announcing a switch from its NHS-built contact tracing app in favour of one built by Apple and Google. On the podcast, Katy Balls asks James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson – why has it taken them so long to admit defeat?
From our UK edition
Will the UK agree a trade deal with the US? Such an agreement has long been cited by Leave campaigners as a prize for Brexit Britain. When Donald Trump became President it was seen to increase the chances of such a deal being struck. While Barack Obama had suggested the UK would be at the ‘back of
From our UK edition
21 min listen
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson cornered Keir Starmer on the Labour party’s ambivalent position on schools reopening. After a bumpy start to the week, is the Prime Minister’s luck turning? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson about this, the 1922 committee meeting, and Westminster reopening.
From our UK edition
15 min listen
After the highly publicised campaign by the footballer Marcus Rashford, the government has U-turned on the question of free school meals in the summer. Was it inevitable, and what does this move mean for public spending? Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Kate Andrews about this as well as the Foreign Office merger and
From our UK edition
This lunchtime Boris Johnson performed a U-turn on free school meals over the summer holidays. Following a campaign led by the England striker Marcus Rashford calling for the free school meal voucher system for low-income families to be extended over the summer, a ‘Covid summer food fund’ is to be set up which will see those eligible get a six-week
From our UK edition
How long will the government’s decision not to provide free school meal vouchers over the summer last? Away from arguments about the two-metre rule and allegations of lobbying, Boris Johnson has inadvertently found himself in a high profile disagreement with England striker Marcus Rashford. On Monday, Rashford, 22, called for the free school meal voucher system for
From our UK edition
Any remaining doubts where most of the Conservative party sits on the government’s two-metre rule was put to bed with today’s Commons debate on the issue. Tory MPs lined up this afternoon to criticise the social distancing policy, and in many cases call for it to go immediately. Although the government has attempted to calm the party
From our UK edition
16 min listen
As the government tries to encourage more spending with the opening of non-essential shops today, is the public still too cautious about Covid?
From our UK edition
In coronavirus, the Prime Minister faces both a public health crisis and an economic crisis. Up until now, Tory MPs feel as though Boris Johnson has prioritised the former. But with new figures from the ONS showing the UK economy shrank by a record 20.4 per cent in April and the furlough scheme being reduced in August,
From our UK edition
14 min listen
Late last night, the statue of Winston Churchill on Parliament Square was boarded up over fears the monument could again be targeted by Black Lives Matter protestors. This morning, Boris Johnson intervened saying that it is ‘shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack’. Katy Balls talks to Fraser Nelson and
From our UK edition
12 min listen
Tory MPs are increasingly concerned about the impact of the two-metre rule, with No. 10 facing pressure to relax the policy to help save businesses. Gus Carter talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
From our UK edition
13 min listen
Prime Minister’s Questions is becoming an increasingly heated affair. This week, Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson clashed over school closures, as well as the government’s response to the Black Lives Matter protests. John Connolly talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
From our UK edition
12 min listen
The government has shelved its aim of reopening primary schools before the end of term amid growing pressure from parents and unions. But how will that affect the poorest students? Katy Balls talks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
From our UK edition
Today marks the start of the government’s coronavirus quarantine policy with those arriving into the UK told to self-isolate for two weeks. To say the policy is unpopular with Tory MPs would be an understatement. It’s also been queried by scientists, many of whom point out that it would only really have an impact in
From our UK edition
17 min listen
Thousands of protesters took to the streets this weekend as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. In Bristol, a statue of the slaver Edward Colston was toppled and thrown into the city’s docks. But are we now seeing a change in the government’s response? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
From our UK edition
15 min listen
Some decision-makers have already made timelines of their actions since the start of the pandemic, James Forsyth reveals in his political column for this week’s Spectator. How does the knowledge that an inquiry is coming change the way the pandemic is dealt with?
