Coffee House Shots

By The Spectator

What's Coffee House Shots about?

Instant political analysis from the Spectator's top team of writers, including Fraser Nelson, Isabel Hardman, Katy Balls, James Heale and many others.

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Coffee House Shots episodes:

04.26.2024
Can Humza Yousaf hang on?
Humza Yousaf faces the biggest crisis of his leadership to date – with his fate in the hands of former SNP leadership rival Ash Regan. Will Humza step down before he is pushed? Or is there a narrow gap through...
04.25.2024
Is this the beginning of the end for Humza Yousaf?
After two and a half years in government together, Humza Yousaf has terminated the SNP’s governing pact with the Scottish Greens. The decision was rubber stamped at a hastily arranged meeting of the Scottish cabinet on Thursday morning. It preempts...
04.24.2024
Has Angela Rayner redeemed herself?
With Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer away, Oliver Dowden and Angela Rayner stepped in for PMQs today. Questions quickly turned to the long running row about Rayner's tax affairs. Did she redeem herself? Also, the prime minister has announced further...
04.23.2024
Sunak’s Rwanda Bill finally passes parliament
After eight hours of debate on the Rwanda Bill, peers finally threw in the towel shortly after midnight. And with that, the Rwanda Bill became law, pending Royal Assent from the King. The two chambers have been engaged in a...
04.22.2024
Will there be a summer election?
This morning Rishi Sunak delivered a press conference making the case that the Rwanda Bill should become law today – and the government is ready for when it does. James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson about what...
04.20.2024
Can things get worse for the SNP?
It's been quite the week for the SNP. Questions remain over the future of the Sandyford gender clinic, 'the tartan Tavistock'; the Scottish government ditched its flagship climate change target; and former party chief executive, and husband of Nicola Sturgeon,...
04.19.2024
Sunak declares a crackdown on Britain’s ‘sick note culture’
Rishi Sunak has returned to one of his pet bugbears: getting the unemployed back into work. His speech to the Centre for Social Justice this morning was peppered with his favourite facts about the post-pandemic welfare crisis embroiling Britain. Lucy...
04.18.2024
Is it smart to ban phones for teens?
Sunak's top team is considering another ban: smartphones for teens. A consultation is due to begin this month that will question whether children need a smartphone, and if social media should require age verification. Could the debate bring the party...
04.17.2024
Sunak's Truss problem
The day after her book was published, Rishi Sunak faced down questions from Keir Starmer and Labour members at PMQs about Liz Truss. While he had his replies at the ready, the questions underscored the main issue for Sunak: how...
04.16.2024
How many MPs will reject Sunak’s smoking ban?
It’s not just Britain that has a growth problem. Today’s release of the IMF’s April 2024 World Economic Outlook report argues that the global economy is following the lacklustre trend. Within this bleak picture, how does the UK look compared...
04.15.2024
Liz Truss returns - again
It's 18 months since Liz Truss left Downing Street and her new memoir, Ten Years to Save the West, is out. She gave her first interview to Fraser Nelson on Spectator TV, covering why she wants to abolish the Supreme...
04.14.2024
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 14/04/24
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. After Iran’s first direct attack on Israel, conflict in the Middle East has reached a dangerous new phase. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins confirms British military planes are in action in the region....
04.13.2024
Harold Wilson's secret Downing Street affair
On this special Saturday edition of Coffee House Shots we discuss Patrick Maguire's scoop this week about former Labour leader Harold Wilson's secret affair with his deputy press secretary. Where does this rank in the history of parliamentary affairs? And...
04.12.2024
Is Angela Rayner unsackable?
The row over Angela Rayner's tax affairs has deepened today. This morning, Greater Manchester police have announced that – following a reassessment of the case – they will open a formal investigation into Angela Rayner. What does this mean for...
04.11.2024
Has Rishi Sunak failed on the NHS?
One of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's five promises is to cut NHS waiting lists. However, even he's admitted progress is slow, with new data showing key targets on waiting lists have been missed. Can Sunak ever solve the NHS problem? Elsewhere,...
04.10.2024
What are the conclusions of the Cass Review?
Today we have had the Cass Review, a landmark report into gender services for children in England, authored by paediatrician Hilary Cass. She concludes that medical interventions were being made on the basis of 'remarkably weak' evidence and that there...
04.09.2024
Will David Cameron win over Republicans?
David Cameron is stateside meeting Republicans and Democrats as the Foreign Secretary tries to muster up support for the US to send aid to Ukraine. Before that he stopped by Mar-a-Lago to meet Donald Trump – the two haven't seen...
04.08.2024
How much trouble is Angela Rayner in?
Angela Rayner has faced fresh allegations related to her taxes. Keir Starmer and other MPs in the shadow cabinet have come to her defence. Could these accusations jeopardise her position as shadow deputy Prime Minister? Also on the podcast, what...
04.07.2024
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 07/04/2024
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. Israel is under increasing pressure to stop its military action, after an IDF strike hit an aid convoy, killing seven aid workers. Oliver Dowden and David Lammy are asked whether the UK...
04.06.2024
J.K. Rowling vs Scotland's hate monster
J.K. Rowling has been at the centre of a Twitter backlash against Scotland's new hate crime laws which came into effect on April 1st. How has the first week of this controversial legislation gone for First Minister Humza Yousaf? And...
04.05.2024
Is William Wragg a victim?
On Thursday night, Conservative MP William Wragg admitted that he handed over the phone numbers of MPs, aides and a journalist to a man he met on a dating app. William Wragg will retain the whip after apologising for his...
04.04.2024
Should Britain end arms sales to Israel?
The row over arms sales to Israel continues today, as over 600 high profile figures in the legal profession, including former Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Sumption, sign a petition arguing they believe Israel has breached international law, and more Conservative...
04.03.2024
Has Israel lost British support?
The killings of three British aid workers in Gaza has caused fury across the board in Westminster, with Rishi Sunak conducting a candid phone call with Benyamin Netanyahu last night. Today, the question is over whether the UK should ban...
04.02.2024
Could Scotland's new Hate Crime Act overwhelm the police?
The SNP's new Hate Crime Act came into effect yesterday, but already it has been met with backlash. On the episode, James Heale talks to Isabel Hardman and Lucy Dunn on why Humza Yousaf insisted on this law and whether...
03.29.2024
Will Sue Gray be running Keir Starmer’s government?
There is anxiety in parts of Starmer’s circle about Sue Gray appointing jobs in a Starmer-led Downing Street. When she’s in No.10 she’ll ‘be in her natural territory and running rings around everyone’, a former colleague told Katy Balls in...
03.28.2024
Labour's pledge to 'take back control'
Labour kicked off their local elections campaign today with a joint op-ed from Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner in the Times promising to empower localities and put an end to the regional divide. This is all encompassed in their Take...
03.27.2024
Could Jonathan Gullis be another Lee Anderson?
After the resignations of two ministers last night, No. 10 carried out a mini reshuffle, which included some controversial decisions. In particular, the appointment of the outspoken Red Wall MP Jonathan Gullis had some questioning whether Rishi Sunak was making...
03.26.2024
What happened at Sunak’s Liaison Committee meeting?
Rishi Sunak appeared in front of the House of Commons Liaison Committee today. What happened? Katy Balls speaks to James Heale and Isabel Hardman.
03.25.2024
Scott Benton triggers another by-election
Former Conservative MP Scott Benton has resigned, triggering a by-election in Blackpool South. The outgoing MP had the Tory whip removed after suggesting to undercover reporters that he would be willing to break lobbying rules for money. Oscar Edmondson speaks...
03.24.2024
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 24/03/2024
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt does the rounds this week, saying the Russian government is creating a smokescreen of propaganda out of the Moscow terrorist attack. Hunt also guarantees the continuation of the pension...
03.23.2024
What is Labour’s economic plan?
In her Mais lecture in the City of London this week, Rachel Reeves set out her plan for Britain’s economy: securonomics. What does securonomics mean? Can it deliver wealth? Will it work in a high-immigration economy? Freddy Gray speaks to Kate...
03.22.2024
Should the 'Waspi women' be compensated?
The Parliamentary Ombudsman's report on raising women's state pension age in line with men's has been published. It details that women born in the 1950s hit by the state pension age change are owed compensation and has advised that the...
03.22.2024
Will Fine Gael call an election?
Leo Varadkar resigned as Ireland’s Taoiseach this week, and as Fine Gael leader. ‘Personal and political reasons’ informed his decision, he said. Will his party now call an election? Katy Balls speaks to Ben Scallen, from Dublin’s Gript Media.
03.21.2024
Will Reform overtake the Tories?
A new YouGov poll has Reform just four points behind the Conservatives. Richard Tice’s party is on 15 per cent, and Rishi Sunak’s party is on 19 per cent. What is driving the Tory decline? Max Jeffery speaks to Katy Balls...
03.20.2024
Did Jeremy Hunt reduce inflation?
Inflation has fallen to 3.4 per cent, it was announced this morning. Jeremy Hunt said it was a sign that the government’s economic plan is working. Is he right? Max Jeffery speaks to Katy Balls and Kate Andrews.
03.19.2024
What should Labour do about the Rwanda bill?
All ten of the amendments to the Rwanda bill, put in by the House of Lords, were rejected by the House of Commons last night. The bill will head back to the Lords tomorrow, where they will decide whether to...
03.18.2024
Will Penny Mordaunt be the next prime minister?
Over the weekend, speculation about a plot to oust Rishi Sunak and replace him with Penny Mordaunt circulated the papers. It came after one of the worst weeks of the Prime Minister’s premiership and the looming May elections. This morning,...
03.16.2024
Nigel Farage on Reform, the Red Wall and 14 years of Tory failure
On this special edition of Coffee House Shots, Kate Andrews interviews broadcaster, and honorary president of the Reform Party, Nigel Farage. They discuss Lee Anderson's defection to the Reform party, how Nigel won the Red Wall for Boris Johnson, and...
03.15.2024
Rishi Sunak rules out general election in May
Rishi Sunak has finally confirmed what most MPs already knew: there won’t be a May general election. Speaking to ITV News West Country on Thursday night, the Prime Minister was asked if there would be a general election at the...
03.14.2024
Will Gove’s extremism definition worsen Tory divides?
Michael Gove has unveiled the government’s new legal definition of extremism, which will decide whether organisations can receive government money. Conservative MPs, and three former Conservative home secretaries, have said doing would be a mistake. Is Gove doing more harm...
03.13.2024
Will the Tories return Hester’s £10 million?
At Prime Minister’s Questions today Rishi Sunak refused to commit to returning the £10 million donor Frank Hester gave to the Conservative party. Hester allegedly said that Diane Abbott made him ‘hate all black women.’ Sunak now says that Hester’s ...
03.12.2024
What does Boris want?
Newspapers today reported that Boris Johnson is going to campaign for the Conservatives in Red Wall seats. Responding, Nadine Dorries wrote on Twitter: ‘There’s no thawing of relations, no plans to campaign. Sunak not spoken to Johnson for over a...
03.11.2024
Lee Anderson defects: what next?
Lee Anderson has defected from the Tory party to Reform. In a press conference this morning, Anderson said ‘I want my country back’ and said that his parents had urged him to change party allegiance. How much of a headache...
03.10.2024
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 10/03/2024
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Rachel Reeves says everything in Labour's manifesto will be properly funded, but it isn't clear where that money will come from. The health secretary defends the government's new definition of extremism, and...
03.09.2024
Does Britain need new laws to tackle extremism?
Michael Gove is expected to announce a tougher definition of extremism in response to a rise in radical ideology, since the Israel-Gaza war. Are new laws really needed? Or could the current laws, if enforced properly, be the best way...
03.08.2024
Why is Theresa May standing down?
Theresa May has announced that she will not seek re-election this year. The former prime minister said that launching her global commission on modern slavery and human trafficking meant she would not be able to spend as much time as...
03.07.2024
Are Scottish Tories causing trouble for Rishi Sunak?
Lucy Dunn speaks to James Heale and Katy Balls about the slightly muted reaction to the budget. Labour has compared the announcements to Liz Truss's unfunded tax cuts and Scottish Tories have criticised the chancellor’s decision to extend the windfall tax...
03.06.2024
Jeremy Hunt’s low-key Budget
Jeremy Hunt said the government would cut National Insurance by 2 per cent, would abolish the non-dom tax status and would raise the threshold for child benefits in his Budget today. To discuss the new measures, Katy Balls speaks to...
03.05.2024
What tax cut will Hunt deliver tomorrow?
Kate Andrews speaks to James Heale and Isabel Hardman as the speculation grows over what taxes Jeremy Hunt will cut in tomorrow's budget. National Insurance is looking most likely – it's a giveaway but does it go far enough?
03.04.2024
Sunak and Hunt face a Budget dilemma
Budget day is approaching and the government has hinted that their plans for tax cutting 'giveaways' are now less likely. James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Kate Andrews about what to and what not to expect for Wednesday's Spring...

What's Coffee House Shots about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Coffee House Shots episodes:

Can Humza Yousaf hang on?

Is this the beginning of the end for Humza Yousaf?

Has Angela Rayner redeemed herself?

Sunak’s Rwanda Bill finally passes parliament

Will there be a summer election?

Can things get worse for the SNP?

Sunak declares a crackdown on Britain’s ‘sick note culture’

Is it smart to ban phones for teens?

Sunak's Truss problem

How many MPs will reject Sunak’s smoking ban?

Liz Truss returns - again

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 14/04/24

Harold Wilson's secret Downing Street affair

Is Angela Rayner unsackable?

Has Rishi Sunak failed on the NHS?

What are the conclusions of the Cass Review?

Will David Cameron win over Republicans?

How much trouble is Angela Rayner in?

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 07/04/2024

J.K. Rowling vs Scotland's hate monster

Is William Wragg a victim?

Should Britain end arms sales to Israel?

Has Israel lost British support?

Could Scotland's new Hate Crime Act overwhelm the police?

Will Sue Gray be running Keir Starmer’s government?

Labour's pledge to 'take back control'

Could Jonathan Gullis be another Lee Anderson?

What happened at Sunak’s Liaison Committee meeting?

Scott Benton triggers another by-election

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 24/03/2024

What is Labour’s economic plan?

Should the 'Waspi women' be compensated?

Will Fine Gael call an election?

Will Reform overtake the Tories?

Did Jeremy Hunt reduce inflation?

What should Labour do about the Rwanda bill?

Will Penny Mordaunt be the next prime minister?

Nigel Farage on Reform, the Red Wall and 14 years of Tory failure

Rishi Sunak rules out general election in May

Will Gove’s extremism definition worsen Tory divides?

Will the Tories return Hester’s £10 million?

What does Boris want?

Lee Anderson defects: what next?

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 10/03/2024

Does Britain need new laws to tackle extremism?

Why is Theresa May standing down?

Are Scottish Tories causing trouble for Rishi Sunak?

Jeremy Hunt’s low-key Budget

What tax cut will Hunt deliver tomorrow?

Sunak and Hunt face a Budget dilemma