Coffee House Shots
The Spectator
300 episodes
Daily political analysis from The Spectator's top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Tim Shipman, Isabel Hardman, James Heale and many others.
More about the show
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Episodes page 5 of 6
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 12/04/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. No end in sight to the conflict in the Middle East, as negotiations in Pakistan between the US and Iran end without an agreement. Become a…
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Will Labour lose Wales?
With one month to go until the local and regional elections, Megan McElroy and James Heale have hit the road with Luke Tryl and Louis O'Geran of More in Common. They report back from the focus groups they've been…
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Left turn: who should Reform target?
Gawain Towler, Reform UK board member and their former director of communications, sits down with James Heale to talk about Reform's appeal ahead of the local elections. Gawain argues that Reform needs to broaden its…
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The 'Anglo-Gaullism' debate | Ben Judah
In the magazine this week, Ben Judah – former adviser in the Foreign Office – makes the case for ‘Anglo-Gaullism’. He says that Britain should learn the lessons of France’s Charles de Gaulle when carving out its place…
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Antonia Romeo takes on the civil service
The new cabinet secretary, Antonia Romeo, has published a list of objectives setting out her vision for what the civil service will look like under her. Many have interpreted it as her tightening control over…
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Iran deadline: is it too late for Trump to back down?
We are hours away from Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the strait of Hormuz. The President has ‘chickened out’ many times before and offered an extension of some kind, but the threats and posturing ahead of…
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Hero voters: who should Labour target? with Chris Curtis MP & Deborah Mattinson
Labour won the 2024 general election in part by focusing on ‘hero voters’ – so called because they may have voted Labour in the past but felt the party had abandoned them. Now they risk losing them again – so how does…
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Why is Starmer so unpopular? with Lewis Goodall
Opinion polls consistently show Keir Starmer as one of the most unpopular Prime Ministers in history. His critics point to inertia and a lack of vision, while his supporters argue that media spin is harming the image…
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Conservative radicalism: who should the Tories target? with Jack Rankin MP
Can the Conservatives win back voters' support through a new kind of 'conservative radicalism'? Jack Rankin, Conservative MP for Windsor, joins James Heale to explain why he believes a focus on aspiration and wealth…
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EU déjà vu: the emergency brake is back!
Charles Grant from the Centre for European Reform and Tim Shipman join James Heale to reflect on the rumours about Britain's latest set of negotiations with the European Union. There are reports that the EU may be…
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Will Trump pull the US out of NATO?
Donald Trump has said he is 'strongly considering' pulling the US out of NATO, in comments made to the Telegraph – and it doesn't appear to be an April Fool. This isn't the first time he has rallied against the…
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Why is Britain so exposed to rising energy prices?
The IMF has warned Britain is particularly vulnerable to another spike in energy prices, and is more exposed than many of its European neighbours. Why is that the case? And does the government have any real plan to…
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Where does Labour's centre of gravity lie?
Patrick Maguire, chief political writer at The Times, sits down with Tim Shipman for a reflection on Labour's odd year so far. From potential leadership challengers, like Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner, to cabinet…
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 29/03/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. The Iran conflict has reached its second month. Figures from across the political spectrum debate how best to respond to a leap in energy…
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LIVE: Should we defund or defend the BBC? | Michael Gove & Jon Sopel v Charles Moore & Allison Pearson
Should we defund – or defend – the BBC? Live from London, the Spectator hosted a debate on the future of this iconic British institution, compered by associate editor Isabel Hardman. The Spectator’s chairman – and…
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Energy crisis: are we in 1973 territory?
The panic has set in around the cabinet table about this energy crisis, and fears of history repeating itself. Tim Shipman writes in the magazine about the comparisons being made to 1973 and the Opec oil shock, with…
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The curious case of Morgan McSweeney's missing phone
Questions are being asked about Morgan McSweeney's missing phone, which he reported stolen to police last year. What might seem like a minor case of petty theft actually has serious implications for the investigation…
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To drill or not to drill, that is the question
In the final Prime Minister's Questions before Easter recess, Kemi Badenoch pushed Keir Starmer to commit to new oil & gas drilling licences. The Conservatives spot an easy win here – cost of living concerns are rising…
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Should we brace for another financial shock?
Britain’s response to the conflict in Iran is dominating Westminster – but is Keir Starmer really keeping the country out of war? After a tense Liaison Committee appearance exposed divisions over defence spending,…
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It’s Ed Miliband’s world – and we’re living in it
Three big stories are on the agenda this morning: the war in Iran has dominated over the weekend, with Trump now failing to conceal his feelings towards Keir Starmer; Ed Miliband is also rising in profile, with those…
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On the road with Nigel Farage
This week James Heale and Tim Shipman share a byline to tell the story of Reform since the 2024 election, and where they are going. Nigel Farage reveals he is talking to potential Blue Labour defectors, shifting his…
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LIVE: is it time for a Tory-Reform pact?
As Reform chips away at the Tory vote, the Conservatives face a stark choice – join forces with Nigel Farage or fight alone. James Heale, The Spectator’s deputy political editor, will be joined by Conservative peer…
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Britain’s decline – and how to reverse it | with John Bew
In this special edition of Coffee House Shots, our political editor Tim Shipman is joined by historian, biographer and foreign policy adviser to four different prime ministers, John Bew. In his 7,000-word essay…
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Is Angela Rayner staging a coup?
Angela Rayner has entered the chat. Last night she gave a speech to Labour members which many are reading as the soft launch of her leadership bid. She told the room that Labour needs to be more ‘bold’ – echoing Gordon…
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Net Zero vs AI: can Reeves convince Miliband?
The Chancellor will deliver the annual Mais lecture today and is expected to focus on closer alignment with the EU, AI and improving Britain's economic geography ('levelling up' in all but name). While her comments on…
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Is Labour sleepwalking back to the EU?
Two big topics on the agenda today as Keir Starmer has his pitch – again – on the cost of living. He told us towards the start of the year that every minute not spent tackling the cost of living was a minute wasted, so…
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 15/03/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. As the queue of stationary oil tankers builds up around the Strait of Hormuz, leaders brace for an economic shockwave. Become a Spectator…
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Is the government right to restrict jury trials?
The government's plan to restrict jury trials passed its first parliamentary hurdle this week. It is one measure, amongst many, in a Bill designed to reduce the huge backlog currently facing the Courts. Labour MP Karl…
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The Mandelson scandal exposes Starmer’s greatest flaw | with Gabriel Pogrund
Today we are delighted to be joined by the Sunday Times’ Gabriel Pogrund, whose book – Get In, which details Starmer’s rise to power – is out now in paperback with new revelations on the Peter Mandelson vetting…
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How will the Iran war end? | with Shashank Joshi
In this special edition of Coffee House Shots, Tim Shipman is joined by defence editor at the Economist, Shashank Joshi. Two weeks in to the conflict in Iran, they give the definitive take on where we are at, the range…
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Starmer should be honest about why he picked Mandelson
This afternoon we have had the first tranche of documents released by the government relating to the process by which Peter Mandelson was chosen to be US ambassador. Whilst we have got a clearer picture on the big…
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Is the special relationship over?
The US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said today will be the most intense day yet of American strikes on Iran. Over the weekend, Donald Trump claimed the war could soon be over – and suggested the US has already…
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Is Keir Starmer good in a crisis?
Tim Shipman is joined by Isabel Hardman to discuss the domestic fallout from the conflict in Iran – from oil prices surging past $100 a barrel to renewed pressure on Britain’s cost-of-living crisis. They examine how…
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 08/03/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Is the UK already too implicated in an illegal war? Or does Keir Starmer’s cautious indecision represent a dereliction of duty to help our…
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Why we left the Foreign Office | Ben Judah & Ameer Kotecha
Does Britain still have a coherent foreign policy? James Heale and Tim Shipman are joined by Ben Judah, former special adviser to David Lammy, and Ameer Kotecha, who recently resigned from the Foreign Office. Together…
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Green surge: could Labour lose London?
Deputy political editor James Heale and deputy editor of The House magazine Sienna Rodgers join Patrick Gibbons to discuss the challenge the Greens pose to Labour in London. James's political column this week explains…
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Iran: has Starmer alienated Britain's allies?
As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, the British government continues to face questions about its response. Was the UK too slow to act, and if so – why? Tim Shipman reveals in the Spectator today that Keir…
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Labour humiliated by Chinese spy arrests
It was a bad tempered PMQs today – Kemi Badenoch attacked Starmer over his involvement, or lack thereof with the Iran conflict. And Starmer hit back at Badenoch over her questions. Not the type of unity you'd want to…
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Spring statement: everything you need to know
Rachel Reeves has today delivered her much anticipated spring statement, her opportunity to address the looming energy crisis, the uncertainty in the Middle East and the crashing Labour market … unfortunately, she did…
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Iran: is Starmer doomed to repeat Blair's mistake?
The fallout from America's audacious attack on Iran continues, and there are a whole host of questions for Keir Starmer. The prime minister has been accused of being slow to react, having initially confirmed that ‘the…
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 01/03/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, as the US and Israel continue to strike targets across Iran. It is a seismic moment for the Middle East and the…
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LIVE: The Spectator’s Alternative Covid Inquiry
As the official Covid Inquiry comes to an end, the Spectator has convened a panel of our own experts to ask the questions that the Inquiry didn’t – or wouldn’t – answer. The Spectator’s commissioning editor Lara Brown…
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How Gorton & Denton changed British politics | with Luke Tryl
In the end, it was not even that close. The Green party has stormed to victory in Gorton and Denton, winning their first ever parliamentary by-election by more than 4,000 votes. The result changes everything: the Lib…
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Green victory in Gorton and Denton
The Greens have taken Gorton and Denton, defeating both Labour and Reform in the early hours of this morning. Hannah Spencer’s victory marks the first ever Green by-election gain – but the real shock is Labour’s…
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Spring statement: Reeves' last throw of the dice?
Polls are open in Gorton and Denton for the by-election but as we eagerly await the result we thought we’d discuss economics, because looking ahead to next week we’ve got the spring statement. It’s not a major fiscal…
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Badenoch rattles Starmer – but are they as bad as each other?
Megan McElroy unpacks a rowdy PMQs with Tim Shipman and Isabel Hardman. Kemi Badenoch made Keir Starmer uncomfortable over student loans but – at a time when trust in the Conservative brand is low – could some of her…
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Peter Mandelson haunts Labour
Overnight, Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has not commented publicly in recent weeks, though he has previously denied any wrongdoing.…
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SEND plans: 'cost-cutting or reform'?
Bridget Phillipson has unveiled Labour’s long-awaited overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities system – a £4 billion reform designed to rein in spiralling costs and bring order to what MPs across the…
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 22/02/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. The Jeffrey Epstein fallout continues, Trump rebukes the Supreme Court with new global tariffs, and the government prepares to announce its new…
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Why by-elections matter – with Iain Dale & Jon Craig
Two titans of broadcasting – LBC’s Iain Dale and Sky's Jon Craig – join deputy political editor James Heale for a whistle-stop tour of British by-elections. From Oxford City in 1938 to Chesterfield in 1984 right up to…
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