Katy Balls is The Spectator’s former political editor.
From our UK edition
31 min listen
This week: William Moore recalls the 1953 coronation with those that were there (01:02), Katy Balls reads her politics column (10:13), Dan Hitchens discusses the art of coronation (16:20) and Ysenda Maxtone Graham reads her review of The Seaside by Madeleine Bunting (25:20). Produced and presented by Oscar Edmondson.
From our UK edition
The Conservatives have suffered 1000 councillor losses – and the count is not over yet. This was the figure Tory aides used when they were attempting to manage expectations in advance. That the party is on course to exceed it shows that the result is worse than many in Tory circles had expected. Meanwhile, Labour are now the largest party in local government for the first time since 2002. The Liberal Democrats also have plenty to cheer about – gaining control of 12 councils. So, how much trouble are the Tories in? The fact that the party has been losing seats to the Liberal Democrats in traditional Tory heartlands while Labour have been making gains in parts of the red wall means MPs across the party have cause to be anxious.
From our UK edition
15 min listen
The local election results so far paint a fairly grim picture for the Conservatives, whilst Labour and the Liberal Democrats have made big gains in key areas. With Starmer in the advantage position ahead of the next general election, how will No. 10 respond? Is there a path for the Tories in 2024? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and pollster James Johnson. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
From our UK edition
15 min listen
Early results from the local elections are coming in. The Conservatives were expected to perform badly, and Labour to make gains, and that's certainly happened. But, if Labour were to replicate these results in a general election, would they win? And are the Liberal Democrats the ones really doing well? Max Jeffery speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Max Jeffery.
From our UK edition
36 min listen
Sam McAlister is a producer and author of Scoops: The BBC's Most Shocking Interviews from Prince Andrew to Steven Seagal. When she worked for Newsnight, she was the producer who secured the infamous interview with Prince Andrew, conducted by Emily Maitlis. This interview eventually led to Prince Andrew being suspended from public duties and stepping back from all of his patronages. McAlister is now being portrayed by the actress Billie Piper in a coming Netflix adaptation of the Prince Andrew interview. On the episode, she tells Katy about coming from a 'grafting, entrepreneurial' family and how that informed her competitiveness; her brief career in law; and the behind-the-scenes story of how she secured the interview. Produced by Natasha Feroze and Cindy Yu.
From our UK edition
Rishi Sunak wakes to warnings that the Tories could lose 1,000 seats in the local elections. What had been talked up as expectation management is now viewed as a possibility as the party finds itself squeezed by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Keir Starmer's party is showing signs of progress in some so-called red wall areas while the Tories are losing support in traditonal strongholds in the south. It's worth noting of course that it is still early days, with results due to come through well into Saturday. But the early signs are not particularly encouraging for the Conservatives.
From our UK edition
11 min listen
In today's Prime Minister's Questions, Keir Starmer accused the Prime Minister and his party of having 'killed the dream of homeownership'. With news this week that Rishi Sunak is considering reintroducing 'Help to Buy' while Michael Gove is sued for blocking a new housing development in Kent, does Starmer actually have a point? Katy Balls talks to Kate Andrews and Fraser Nelson. Produced by Cindy Yu.
From our UK edition
When Boris Johnson appointed Simon Case to the Cabinet Office, he believed that the youngest cabinet secretary in a century (just 41 when he accepted the role) would be more malleable than his more experienced rivals. Case was appointed in September 2020, when Dominic Cummings was, in effect, running No. 10 and had big ideas about rewiring Whitehall. ‘Simon was picked to be Dom’s stooge,’ says one former Johnson aide. ‘His role was to let Dom be Dom.
From our UK edition
17 min listen
The Cabinet Office has published its written statement into the resignation of Sue Gray, stating that it has given a 'confidential assessment' to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) about whether she broke civil service rules in taking up a job from Keir Starmer while still a senior civil servant. On the episode, Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and the UK In A Changing Europe's Jill Rutter, who is also a former civil servant, about the implications for the civil service if Gray is found to have broken the rules. Produced by Cindy Yu.
From our UK edition
16 min listen
The Tories are preparing for a drubbing in the local elections next week. But just how bad will they be? Natasha Feroze speaks to Katy Balls and John Curtice. Produced by Natasha Feroze and Max Jeffery.
From our UK edition
11 min listen
Richard Sharp has quit as chairman of the BBC, following an investigation into whether he properly disclosed his role in enabling an £800,000 loan to Boris Johnson before his appointment. What will happen next? Cindy Yu speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Cindy Yu and Max Jeffery.
From our UK edition
Richard Sharp has resigned as BBC chairman following a report into the circumstances of his appointment after claims that he had helped to facilitate a £800,000 loan for Boris Johnson while he was in 10 Downing Street. The report - by Adam Heppinstall KC - found that he had breached the code on public appointments by failing to declare his connection to the loan, which his acquaintance Sam Blyth (a distant cousin of Johnson’s) guaranteed for the former prime minister. The whole affair is leading to questions over the role performed by Simon Case Announcing his resignation this morning, Sharp said that he accepted he had breached the ‘governance code’.
From our UK edition
11 min listen
A judge has ruled that strikes by the Royal College of Nursing be cut short by a day, because the six-month mandate for strike action will have passed. Two more unions are still to vote on Health Secretary Steve Barclay’s pay offer. If they support it, could the RCN change their mind on the deal? James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Max Jeffery.
From our UK edition
43 min listen
This week: In her cover piece for the magazine, The Spectator’s political editor Katy Balls writes that as Labour prepares for government, Keir Starmer is rooting out the far left sections of his party and replacing them with moderates. She is joined by John McTernan, former political secretary to Tony Blair, to discuss the return of the Blairites (01:06). Also this week: The Spectator’s Russia correspondent Owen Matthews writes about Putin's three most prominent political prisoners. He joins the podcast alongside The Spectator’s assistant online editor Lisa Haseldine to consider the cost of speaking up against the regime (17:50).
From our UK edition
On a cloudy Saturday in March, a group of unlikely characters gathered in an office near London’s Old Street for political training. A scientist, a prison officer, an army veteran and four economists were among them and they all hope to be elected as Labour MPs at the next election. A great many of them are expected to succeed. If today’s polls were to become tomorrow’s election result, there would be an influx of more than 200 new Labour MPs, doubling Keir Starmer’s parliamentary contingent to 450. The quality of those politicians will decide the nature of the next Labour government. As the moderates return, the money is close behind them They are, very much, Starmer’s people.
From our UK edition
10 min listen
Colin Beattie, the SNP’s former treasurer, said today that he ‘didn't know’ about the party’s purchase of a motorhome worth £100,000, the vehicle at the centre of an ongoing police probe into SNP finances. What’s going on? And as the military begins to evacuate British citizens from Sudan, did the Foreign Office react fast enough? James Heale speaks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls.
From our UK edition
17 min listen
Katy Balls, Fraser Nelson and Isabel Hardman discuss Diane Abbott's suspension from the Labour party. Given her hasty apology, could Keir Starmer allow such a key figure to Labour's left back into the party? Also on the podcast, what has been the fallout from Dominic Raab's resignation? And how is Rishi Sunak trying to woo business leaders? Produced by Natasha Feroze.
From our UK edition
It's the fate of Labour MP Diane Abbott rather than former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab that is dominating the news this afternoon. Although the Sunday papers are filled with details of the series of events that led Raab to tender his resignation following the report into allegations of bullying against him, it's a letter from the former shadow home secretary – and key Jeremy Corbyn ally – sent in to the Observer that is now making waves. As Steerpike documents, Abbott said in response to a comment piece from last week's paper suggesting 'Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from racism', that prejudice is not 'interchangeable' with racism.
From our UK edition
What does Rishi Sunak’s mini-reshuffle reveal? When Nadhim Zahawi was sacked as party chairman, the Prime Minister took his time in deciding who would succeed him – eventually appointing Greg Hands. This time around Sunak has moved quickly in the wake of the report into bullying allegations that led to Dominic Raab’s resignation. Sunak hopes to move the news agenda on with a string of ministerial appointments. As James Heale reports on Coffee House, Alex Chalk – a one nation Tory who backed Sunak in the leadership contest – is the new Justice Secretary. On top of this, Oliver Dowden takes on Raab’s deputy prime minister brief – while keeping his current role in the Cabinet Office. This is an unsurprising appointment, with Dowden one of Sunak’s closest political allies.
From our UK edition
10 min listen
This morning Dominic Raab has resigned from Rishi Sunak's government following the findings of an investigation into bullying claims against him. Raab has been one of Sunak's closest allies, serving as deputy PM and justice secretary. Where does this leave the prime minister? Natasha Feroze speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Natasha Feroze and Oscar Edmondson.