Katy Balls

Katy Balls

Katy Balls is The Spectator’s former political editor.

Tuesday

Katy Balls

Will Nadhim Zahawi be a tax cutting Chancellor?

Just over three hours after Rishi Sunak resigned as Chancellor, Boris Johnson appointed his successor. Downing Street confirmed on Tuesday evening that Nadhim Zahawi will take on the role – leaving his job as Education Secretary to enter No. 11. It comes after Zahawi spent over an hour in Downing Street following speculation he could step down. There were reports that Zahawi had said he would only stay if Johnson moved him to the Treasury, though allies of Zahawi query this version of events. What is certain is that this is a big promotion for Zahawi, who only joined the Cabinet last autumn in the September reshuffle. Prior to that role, he had impressed as vaccines minister where he earned a reputation for delivery.

Katy Balls

Johnson’s loyalists try to steady the ship

MPs and aides in Westminster are on tenterhooks this evening as to whether more ministers will follow in the footsteps of Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak and resign. Yet while some ministers are for now maintaining a vow of silence when it comes to their plans (most notably Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi), others have come out to make clear that they continue to back Boris Johnson as Prime Minister in a bid to stabilise him.

Katy Balls

Sunak and Javid resign. Now what?

11 min listen

Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid have resigned from government. In letters to the Prime Minister this evening, Sunak said the government 'cannot continue like this', while Javid told the PM that 'the situation will not change under your leadership.' Will more ministers now resign? And is this the end of Boris Johnson's premiership?Isabel Hardman speaks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.

Katy Balls

How can Boris Johnson survive this?

This evening Boris Johnson has attempted to get a grip on the crisis engulfing his government. Only after two senior members of his cabinet resigned, it appears to be a case of too little, too late. In an interview with the BBC, the Prime Minister said that he had made a mistake in appointing Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip – following allegations over his inappropriate behaviour. It's a clear change in tack from Downing Street's initial response to the allegations whereby senior members of the No. 10 team implied that Pincher, too, was a victim. Johnson also did not deny that he once joked 'Pincher by name, Pincher by nature'. Ultimately the Prime Minister tried to use the interview to express his regret in order to draw a line under the incident.

Katy Balls

Have Tory MPs reached breaking point?

10 min listen

Boris Johnson was briefed 'in person' on a formal Whitehall complaint into Chris Pincher, a former Foreign Office official said today, despite No. 10 saying yesterday that the Prime Minister was unaware of specific allegations against the MP. With the government having to explain itself once again, how much more will Tory MPs take?Max Jeffery speaks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.Subscribe to Isabel Hardman's Evening Blend newsletter at spectator.

Monday

Katy Balls

What did Boris know about Chris Pincher?

12 min listen

Boris Johnson knew of media reports about Chris Pincher's conduct when he invited him to join the government, it emerged today. How serious a crisis is this for the government? And as the Prime Minister today returned from three international summits, was he able to put his domestic problems behind him in the Commons? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman.

Friday

Katy Balls

The Anne-Marie Trevelyan Edition

33 min listen

Anne-Marie Trevelyan is the Secretary of State for International Trade and the MP for Berwick-Upon-Tweed. In the episode, she tells Katy about what it was like to join the City in the 90s, what she calls 'the mysterious management by the civil service of its ministers' and what she makes of the rumours that she could be sacked in an upcoming reshuffle. Produced by Natasha Feroze and Oscar Edmondson.

Thursday

Katy Balls

Is the privileges committee a kangaroo court?

11 min listen

After an eight-day world tour, Boris Johnson is back on British soil to face Tory MPs for the first time since the two by-election defeats. Meanwhile, the privileges committee begins with Harriet Harman as its chair. Critics have suggested this inquiry into whether the Prime Minister misled parliament over partygate risks becoming a 'kangaroo court'. Will this allow Downing Street to disregard the outcome of the inquiry?Also on the podcast, food tariffs might be cut in order to curb the cost of living crisis. But what difference will this make?'You'll have to eat an awful lot of olives for this to make a difference' - James Forsyth.Cindy Yu is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls.Produced by Natasha Feroze.

Wednesday

Katy Balls

Does Nicola Sturgeon really want an independence referendum?

14 min listen

The campaign for a second independence referendum is well and truly on, as Nicola Sturgeon tours the airwaves this week. But can the SNP will Indyref2 into existence, given Boris Johnson is very unlikely to allow it? Natasha Feroze speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth on the podcast, in which James suggests that, perhaps, Sturgeon doesn't even want an independence referendum right now.

Tuesday

Katy Balls

Why did Tory rebels abstain from the NI Protocol Bill?

10 min listen

The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill passed its second reading last night with a majority of 74 votes. A number of Tory rebels voiced their opposition to the bill including former Prime Minister, Theresa May, Simon Hoare and Andrew Mitchell. However, despite vocal opposition, not one Tory MP voted against the bill – opting to abstain instead. Did the Whips office play a part in this?Also on the podcast, Nicola Sturgeon unveils her plans to have a second independence referendum, with or without Boris Johnson’s consent. What chance has she got?Katy Balls is joined by Isabel Hardman and James Forysth.

Katy Balls

Boris’s most important election

When Boris Johnson suggested over the weekend that he was actively thinking about a third term as Prime Minister, it met a robust response from his MPs. Given many don't want him to lead them into the next election – let alone the one after – Conservative MPs were quick to brand the comments as delusional. As one put it to me: 'To say that comment is tin-eared and the wrong thing to say to Conservative MPs right now is the bloody understatement of the year to date'. But putting aside the Prime Minister's general election plans, it's a vote that comes before even 2023 that could decide the his fate.

Monday

Katy Balls

Truss outlines plan to override the Northern Ireland Protocol

There's a general consensus that the government's Northern Ireland Protocol bill will result in a fight – the question: who with? When news of the Foreign Secretary's plan to unilaterally override parts of the protocol agreement first broke, it led to a number of Tory MPs on the One Nation wing speaking out and members of the European Research Group pushing more. There was also concern in Washington and outright rejection in Brussels. Today the bill has its second reading in the House of Commons giving MPs a chance to air their grievances. Labour were quick to go on the attack: shadow foreign secretary David Lammy accused Liz Truss of reneging on an international agreement and called for the government to focus on negotiation rather than unilateral legislation.

Katy Balls

Is Boris being too bullish?

12 min listen

After a bruising few days, Boris Johnson remains bullish suggesting his intentions to stay in Downing Street for a third term. Is this rattling Tory MPs?Also on the podcast, a Cabinet reshuffle may be approaching. Who is under threat and why? Isabel Hardman is joined by Katy Balls and James Forsyth.Produced by Natasha Feroze.

Sunday

Katy Balls

Is tactical voting unravelling before it has even begun?

Since the Tories lost not one but two by-elections on Friday, ministers have been rather quiet on the issue of Boris Johnson's leadership. Where they have been more forthcoming, however, is tactical voting. Sajid Javid told the Daily Mail that Labour and the Liberal Democrats must 'come clean' over whether they have an electoral pact – arguing tactical voting had been on an ‘industrial scale’ when it came to the Tories' heavy losses in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton. It's the prospect of mass tactical voting that is increasing nerves among Tory MPs who had thought they had relatively safe seats.

Friday

Katy Balls

Is Boris Johnson heading for a 1997 moment?

10 min listen

In a major blow, the Conservatives have lost two seats in the Tiverton and Wakefield by-elections. Immediately after, the Conservative party chairman, Oliver Dowden resigned citing 'a deeply personal decision' following a 'run of very poor results for our party'. The Lib Dems overturned a huge Tory majority in Tiverton and Honiton, Devon, their third by-election victory over Boris Johnson's party in a year. What does this suggest about the public mood towards their current government?

Katy Balls

Why Oliver Dowden’s resignation matters

Boris Johnson has been clear that he will not resign in the face of by-election losses. But his party chairman just has done, saying someone needs to take responsibility for losses in both and Tiverton & Honiton. Tory chairman Oliver Dowden announced he is quitting as ‘we cannot carry on with business as usual’. In his resignation letter, he says ‘our supporters are distressed and disappointed by recent events and I share their feelings’. Dowden does not offer an endorsement of the Prime Minister – instead saying he remains loyal to the Conservative party.

Katy Balls

The by-elections are a disaster for Boris

Boris Johnson is suffering a further blow to his leadership this morning after the Conservatives lost two by-elections overnight. Labour took Wakefield from the Tories by 4,925 votes – a swing of 12.7 per cent. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats managed to overturn a Tory majority of 24,239 in Tiverton and Honiton – beating the Conservatives by 6,144 votes, with a swing of nearly 30 per cent. Tory MPs with seats where the Lib Dems are the second largest party will be particularly nervous The opposition leaders have been quick to herald their successes.

Thursday

Katy Balls

Can the government prevent a ‘bummer summer’?

10 min listen

Today, British Airways staff have voted have a strike of their own, adding to the government's woes as rail workers continue to strike throughout this week. On the podcast, James Forsyth adopts a term from the Americans and asks: can the government prevent a 'bummer summer', where nothing quite works? Cindy Yu also talks to Katy Balls, who gives the low down on the risks the Prime Minister is taking on with his eight days foreign trip at a time of two by-elections back home. Produced by Cindy Yu.

Katy Balls

What counts as a bad result for Boris in the by-elections?

The polls are open for the Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton by-elections. The results are due in the early hours of Friday – with the Tories at risk of losing both of them. The votes have long been seen as a crunch point for Boris Johnson's premiership – even though the fact that there was a confidence vote just weeks ago means that it is unlikely to lead to another. To hold another vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, MPs would have to change the rules and no-one expects them to try to do this so soon after the last one.

Wednesday

Katy Balls

Are the latest inflation figures worrying for the government?

9 min listen

The latest figures suggest that inflation has risen at the highest rate in 40 years. Now at 9.1 per cent, it's not all bad because the rate at which inflation is increasing has in fact slowed down. However, on the podcast, our economics editor, Kate Andrews suggests we are nowhere near the peak yet. How worried should the government be over these figures?Also on the podcast, the strikes took centre stage at PMQs today, how much trouble is Keir Starmer in with Labour over the strikes?