Coffee House Shots

By The Spectator

Instant political analysis from The Spectator's top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Isabel Hardman, James Heale, Lucy Dunn and many others.

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4.4

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FAQs about Coffee House Shots:

How many episodes does Coffee House Shots have?

The podcast currently has 3,026 episodes available.

Coffee House Shots episodes:

May 28, 2025 How to do a spending review
Labour’s spending review is expected on the 11th of June, when we will find out which government departments face cuts and which costs have been ringfenced. This can set the tone for politics for months to come as it gives a clue to which priorities matter most – especially in times of fiscal restraint – and which ministers are up, and which are down. But how is a spending review conducted? How does His Majesty’s Treasury balance the negotiations with those competing for its attention? And, following the leaked Angela Rayner memo, do we know which economic arguments are winning out?

James Nation, formerly a SpAd at the Treasury, and then Number 10, for Rishi Sunak – now an MD at Forefront Advisers – joins James Heale to take us through the process, the personalities and the politics behind a spending review. Plus – a year on, was Rishi Sunak proven right?

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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21min
May 27, 2025 Is the welfare state about to expand?
James Heale and Michael Simmons join Patrick Gibbons to discuss the speculation that Labour could scrap the two-child benefit cap. Is this just red meat for the left of the party or is it a sign that public opinion around welfare has shifted? And, with mixed messages on the economy, can the country afford to scrap it?

This comes just a week after Labour’s partial U-turn over the winter fuel allowance so, with pressure also increasing from Reform, is the welfare state about to expand?

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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18min
May 26, 2025 Why is antisemitism so pervasive? Irving v Lipstadt 25 years on
This spring marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark judgment in the infamous Irving v Lipstadt Holocaust denial case. David Irving sued American academic Deborah Lipstadt after she had described him as a Holocaust denier in her 1994 book, for his claims that Jews had not been systematically exterminated by the Nazis. Given the burden of proof in English libel law being on the defence, it was up to Lipstadt and her publisher Penguin to prove her claims were true that Irving had deliberately misrepresented evidence. In 2000, the Judge found in her favour.

Deborah Lipstadt and the lawyers that represented her, Anthony Julius and James Libson, join Michael Gove for this special edition of Coffee House Shots to provide their reflections: on the trial, on what it’s like to go to court over something that’s widely accepted as settled historical truth, and to discuss why they think antisemitism flourishes in so many forms. They also talk about why the principles of the case are ever more important today as they were 25 years ago.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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31min
May 25, 2025 Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 25/05/2025
This week, Michael Simmons presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.

Rayner defends Labour's winter fuel payments U-turn, and fends off suggestions that her leaked memo has anything to do with a future leadership bid. Meanwhile, as Nigel Farage prepares to outflank Labour on the left, Kemi Badenoch says Reform supporters don't know what they're voting for.

Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.
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15min
May 24, 2025 Michael Gove on Starmer vs the workers: why Labour needs to learn to love Brexit
Spectator editor Michael Gove joins Natasha Feroze to talk about his cover article this week: 'Starmer vs the workers', the real Brexit betrayal. Michael puts forward his arguments for why Labour should learn to love Brexit, should take back control to protect British jobs and industries, and could use Brexit as an opportunity to harness AI and science & technology. Plus, has the UK-EU deal brought back 'happy memories' for the former prominent Brexiteer?

Produced by Natasha Feroze and Patrick Gibbons.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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20min
May 23, 2025 David Gauke on prisons, probation & the political reaction to his review
Former Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor David Gauke joins James Heale to talk about his review into prison sentencing. The former Tory minister was appointed by the current Labour Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, but says there is a clear centre-right argument for prison reform.

He talks James through his policy proposals and the political reaction to them, the thinking behind expanding chemical castration for sex offenders and why deportation is complicated when dealing with the very worst foreign criminals. Ultimately his review is designed to reduce what is currently the highest incarceration rate in Europe.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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18min
May 22, 2025 Live by the rule of law, die by the rule of law
The Independent Sentencing Review chaired by former Lord Chancellor David Gauke has today announced its suggested reforms which sees a major shift from imprisonment to community-led sentencing. Measures include the recommendation that convicted criminals leave prisons after serving around one-third of their sentence, that short prison sentences of up to 12 months are drastically reduced and – the attention grabbing – expansion of chemical castration for paedophiles. What are the political ramifications of these policies, and will they work?

Danny Shaw, former advisor to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and James Heale discuss with Lucy Dunn. Also on the podcast, they discuss a last minute obstacle to resolving the Chagos deal and the news that net migration dropped dramatically in 2024.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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11min
May 21, 2025 Winter fuel U-turn and a rift at the heart of government
After sustained speculation and a local elections drubbing, Keir Starmer announced today at PMQs that the government will be softening their policy on winter fuel. Whilst it won’t come into effect for some time, they have agreed to ensure that ‘more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payment.’

This comes hours after a memo was mysteriously leaked to the Telegraph. It contains an extensive list of recommendations from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to the Treasury, including a set of eight tax rises such as reinstating the pensions lifetime allowance and altering dividend taxes. This amounts to a direct challenge to Rachel Reeves’s fiscal approach and preference for spending cuts.

The bigger story, of course, is what this says about feelings within Labour – it’s clearly not a happy family. Sources suggest that Angela Rayner is uneasy with the direction of travel in the Treasury and speaks for a silent majority in the Labour party who are fed up with defending controversial measures such as winter fuel. So who leaked this memo? Could Rayner be leading a mutiny? And will the U-turn on winter fuel placate the rebels?

Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Isabel Hardman.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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13min
May 20, 2025 What has reaction been to the UK-EU deal?
Fallout continues from yesterday's summit and the announcement of a deal between the UK and EU – or is it fair to call it 'fallout' as, despite criticism over the deal from Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch, has the public got Brexit fatigue?

James Heale and Michael Simmons join Patrick Gibbons to talk about the reaction to the deal. Fisheries has taken up most discussion but Michael points out a lesser talked about commitment to energy policy. And, with the government keen to talk about it in tandem with recent deals with India and the US – and Gulf states soon, according to Rachel Reeves this morning – what's the political narrative around the summit?

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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19min
May 19, 2025 UK-EU reset: ‘brexit betrayal’?
As EU leaders arrive in London for a summit hosted by Keir Starmer, there has been an announcement that the UK and EU have reached a deal. The UK has extended its agreement on EU fishing boats in British waters, while in return fewer checks on British food exports are expected. There have also been discussions about a defence pact, reduced tuition fees for EU students and access to electronic passport gates for British holiday-makers.

While we await further details, deputy political editor James Heale and director of the Centre for European Reform Charles Grant join Lucy Dunn to unpack what we know so far. Will the deal be an easy sell, or does it risk being seen as a ‘brexit betrayal’? And, does it lack ambition or is it an important first step in restoring trust between two allies? Charles points out that there are important implications: on a future US trade deal; for Northern Ireland; and, in setting precedent; while James highlights the tight-rope Labour have to walk in constructing a narrative around the deal – particularly around avoiding being seen as selling out the ‘somewheres’ in favour of the ‘anywheres’.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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15min

FAQs about Coffee House Shots:

How many episodes does Coffee House Shots have?

The podcast currently has 3,026 episodes available.

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