Coffee House Shots The Spectator
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- News
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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Is an election about to be called?
Westminster is awash with rumours today that the Prime Minister is about to call an election. On this episode, Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson about where this speculation is coming from and how seriously to take them.
Produced by Cindy Yu. -
Is there finally good news for the government?
The IMF has upgraded the 2024 economic forecast for the UK. What does this mean for the Government and could more good news follow this week? And, with speeches on tax, benefit crackdowns and tackling anti-semitism, what should we make of all this political activity? Will we see the return of 'the hot lectern guy'?
Kate Andrews and James Heale join Katy Balls to discuss.
Produced by Patrick Gibbons -
Infected blood scandal was ‘no accident’, says report
The Infected Blood Inquiry has finally concluded after a five-year investigation. This lunchtime, the inquiry’s chair Sir Brian Langstaff said thousands of deaths could have been prevented and the ‘worst ever’ NHS scandal, which saw thousands of Britons between 1970 and 1998 become infected by contaminated blood, could ‘largely, though not entirely, have been avoided’. Will the NHS change after change after this latest scandal?
James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman. -
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 19/05/2024
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.
Grant Shapps talks about defence spending and the infected blood scandal. Wes Streeting is asked about Starmer's new pledges. And Piers Morgan denies knowing anything about phone hacking.
Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill. -
The whips' office and their woes
There have been two recent defections from the Conservatives to Labour. There's lots of chatter in parliament about a potential third defector. In this Saturday edition of Coffee House Shots, Katy Balls and James Heale hear from Gyles Brandreth, former MP and broadcaster. He takes us back to what it was like working in the whips' office in the 1990s, and ask if he thinks there are more defections to come.
You can read Gyles' diary in The Spectator here: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-day-keir-starmer-cried-on-me-about-his-childhood/
Produced by Megan McElroy. -
Can Hunt answer the Reagan question?
Ronald Reagan famously asked voters: 'are you better off than you were four years ago?' At the next election, the Tories face a public thinking over the last fourteen years. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt gave a speech today defending the UK's record tax levels and attacking Labour's economic plans. But who should we trust more on tax?
Fraser Nelson and James Heale join Katy Balls to discuss.
Produced by Megan McElroy and Patrick Gibbons.