Episoder
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What Keir Starmer wants to be talking about today is his landmark £22 billion investment into carbon capture. Flanked by Ed Miliband and Rachel Reeves, his speech was an unusually personal one where he spoke about the impacts of deindustrialisation. But how new is this policy? And what does this huge investment mean for the £20 billion black hole?
What Westminster seems more interested in talking about is the news that assisted dying is back on the agenda and the fallout of the deal to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Is there a degree of inevitability about these two stories resurfacing?
Oscar Edmondson speaks to Isabel Hardman and James Heale.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson. -
Loyal listeners will know that as well as our concise daily political analysis, Coffee House Shots often delves deeper into the issues of the day. We don’t shy away from fierce debates on controversial issues. The most legendary of these debates have been between our former editor Fraser Nelson and economics editor Kate Andrews.
As a parting gift to listeners before Fraser passes on the editors pen, Cindy Yu hosts a final contest between these two worthy debaters on whether we should be optimistic about the next ten years.
Has there ever been a better time to be alive, as Fraser argues? Or should we be concerned about the growing threat to civil liberties, volatile markets and foreign policies, the failure to grapple with migration and the looming birth rate crisis?
Produced by Cindy Yu and Oscar Edmondson. -
Mangler du episoder?
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The final day of the party conference saw all four candidates take to the stage in a bid to have a David Cameron moment. Back in 2005, Cameron managed to gain momentum at the party conference with an assured speech (no notes) and get one over on his main rival – the then frontrunner – David Davis. So, did anyone managed a similar feat in Birmingham?
James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson. -
The mood at Conservative conference has been surprisingly jubilant considering the turmoil that the party finds itself in. Labour's misfortunes may have contributed to this, but there seems to be a genuine optimism around the four candidates vying for the leadership of the party. What's the latest? Have Kemi Badenoch's comments on maternity pay impacted her position with the members?
Also on the podcast, this evening will see the Vance vs Walz vice presidential debate. They go head to head in an increasingly tight election. What does Trump vs Harris say about the state of American politics? And can any of these candidates – on either side of the pond – expect to be fighting future elections for their parties?
The Spectator's Fraser Nelson speaks to Katy Balls, Kate Andrews and Sarah Elliott from Republicans Overseas UK. -
Jeremy Hunt is one of the few Tories at Conservative Party Conference willing to take the fight to Labour. In the second day, he sat down for an on-stage interview where the former Chancellor spoke about the winter fuel allowance, freebies, but also made some polite suggestions about where the Conservative party should go, and dropped a few hints about the former Prime Minister, Liz Truss. Natasha Feroze speaks to Kate Andrews and Isabel Hardman about Hunt's speech and some of the best bits from Liz Truss's own interview at conference.
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Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.
Tory leadership candidates set out their visions for the party at the Conservative Party Conference. Badenoch says ‘not call cultures are equally valid’, and congratulates Netanyahu. Jenrick suggests immigration doesn’t make the country richer, and defends a £75,000 donation from a mysterious company. Rosie Duffield resigns from Labour, attacking Starmer on the way out. And Pat McFadden defends the prime minister, saying there is no equivalence between Labour controversy and the behaviour of the Tory government.
Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill. -
The final four leadership candidates have arrived at Conservative Party Conference to make their final pitches. However, day one and Kemi Badenoch has found herself in an online row over comments made about maternity pay. Katy Balls, Kate Andrews and Fraser Nelson take a look at what was really said, and whether there is a clear frontrunner to lead the Tory party at conference.
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Decarbonising power by 2030 is one of the flagship policies for Keir Starmer’s government. Whether this is achievable and how we go about the green transition will impact ten of thousands of jobs and everybody's energy bills.
So just how do they plan on reaching this ambitious target? Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB, argues that there is a fundamental dishonesty about the route to net zero, with communities being hollowed out and the working class left behind. All of this has resulted in fertile ground for the far right.
The Spectator's editor Fraser Nelson sat down with Gary Smith at Labour conference last week, to give an alternative take on the net zero debate. -
The political equivalent of the Rumble in the Jungle happened last night when Starmer sat down for a two-hour dinner with Donald Trump, following the Prime Minister’s speech at the UN General Assembly. Details of what Trump and Starmer talked about are scant: the official read-out merely says they discussed the ‘longstanding friendship’ between Britain and America. Is this good politics from the prime minister?
Elsewhere, the Tory party conference kicks off in Birmingham this weekend and with it the beauty contest for the next Conservative leader. What should listeners expect?
Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Kate Andrews.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson. -
Events have moved on fast since Labour conference with the mounting prospect of ‘all out war’ in the Middle East. This comes after reports that Israel are preparing a ground invasion of Lebanon to push back Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. What levers are at the disposal of the international community to de-escalate this very volatile situation?
Also today, Keir Starmer’s impressive performance on the international stage risks being undermined by the freebies story which continues to rumble on. What’s the latest?
Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Michael Stephens, senior fellow at RUSI.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson. -
We've had quite the day at 22 Old Queen Street. All Westminster politics seem small in comparison to the news that Fraser Nelson will step down as editor of this publication, with Michael Gove taking charge on October 8th. Hear Fraser's thoughts on what this new chapter will mean for The Spectator, on the podcast.
Elsewhere, Labour conference has wrapped up in Liverpool and this has coincided with an update on growth from the OECD. Having predicted in May that the economy would grow by 0.4 per cent this year, the policy organisation now expects the economy to grow by 1.1 per cent. This lifts the UK from the bottom of the pack of advanced economies and ties it in second place – alongside France and Canada – for the fastest growth in the G7. Britain is growing. Can Rachel Reeves start spending?
Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and Kate Andrews.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
And if you would like to submit a topic for Kate and Fraser to debate, please email: [email protected] -
Sir Keir Starmer has declared 'change has begun' in Liverpool. He defended the cuts to the winter fuel payments, announced a Hillsborough Law, and saw off a heckler. But did we learn anything from the speech in terms of policy? Is he leaving conference in a better or worse position than he entered? Isabel Hardman is joined by James Heale and Katy Balls.
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has just finished her speech at Labour conference. After a brief interruption by hecklers, she addressed austerity, the pandemic, and winter fuel payments. How was the speech received, and who does it really speak to?
Elsewhere, Sue Gray's lack of appearance in Liverpool hasn't done anything to slow down discussion of recent controversy. James Heale is joined by Katy Balls and John McTernan, formerly Tony Blair's Political Secretary. -
Labour's first party conference since entering government has opened under the shadow of the 'Frockgate' scandal. James Heale and Katy Balls report from Liverpool on what the mood is like – and the big topics for the party this week.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Cindy Yu. -
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.
The Labour conference begins with the party’s honeymoon period seemingly over. Angela Rayner says Labour are being transparent and aren’t breaking rules over donations. Shadow House of Commons Leader Chris Philp disagrees. Meanwhile Keir Starmer is facing conflict with the unions as Sharon Graham calls the winter fuel allowance decision ‘cruel’. And Israeli President Herzog claims Israel do not want war with Lebanon.
Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill. -
It's easy enough to keep both business and the unions on side when you are vague about your policies – and when your opponent is messing up so badly. That was Labour's position going into the election. But now that it's in government, can it keep that balancing act up? Next week's Labour party conference will be the government's first real test. James Heale talks to Kate Andrews and Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress.
Produced by Cindy Yu. -
Party conference season continues as Reform UK’s kicks off today in Birmingham. Katy Balls has been at the NEC hearing from Richard Tice, Lee Anderson and leader Nigel Farage, amongst others. What’s been the mood? And, after a remarkable few months, what could be next for the party? With Labour conference starting at the weekend, how worried will Starmer be about Farage? Also, what's been the latest on the PM's 'donations for clothes' row?
Patrick Gibbons speaks to Katy Balls and James Heale.
Produced by Patrick Gibbons. -
It's been a sticky week for Labour. Whilst they will have hoped to spend the run up to this weekend's conference talking about the policy wins of their first 100 days in power, Labour MPs are instead having to defend the Prime Minister for accepting freebies and talk down speculation of a rift at the heart of government. Is there a power struggle in Number 10?
James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and John McTernan, former political secretary to tony Blair.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson. -
We have some new inflation figures today. Inflation rose 2.2 per cent in the 12 months to August. This is pretty much in line with the Bank of England's target and should be good news for Labour, so why do they persist with this doom and gloom narrative?
Elsewhere, Labour's awkward week has got more awkward with the news that Sue Gray, Keir Starmer's chief of staff, is paid more than him. Surely they could have seen this news story coming?
Oscar Edmondson speaks to Kate Andrews and James Heale.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson. -
Liberal Democrat Conference wraps up today in Brighton. It could well be the happiest conference we visit this season with the party riding high after winning 72 seats at the election.
The challenge that they face now is improving on that number, providing some opposition to the Labour party and protecting their new Surrey MPs once the new Tory leader is decided. We have heard Ed Davey speak passionately on social care, but can they carve a distinct position on other big policy issues, such as Europe? Or the NHS?
Katy Balls speaks to James Heale and Stephen Bush, associate editor of the Financial Times. - Se mer