500 episodes

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

Coffee House Shots The Spectator

    • News
    • 4.4 • 1.9K Ratings

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

    What could Starmer's first year in power look like?

    What could Starmer's first year in power look like?

    Picture the scene: it's July 5th and a triumphant Keir Starmer arrives at Downing Street after achieving a supermajority and the Tories have only narrowly prevented the Lib Dems becoming official party of opposition. Whilst this may sound far fetched, it is the likely result when you take an average of the last week's polls. What would those first 100 days of Labour look like?

    Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and John McTernan, former political secretary to Tony Blair. 

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

    The Spectator will be hosting a special Live edition of Coffee House Shots in the aftermath of the election. Taking place on Thursday the 11th July - a week after the election - at 7pm here in Westminster, you can join Fraser Nelson, Katy Balls and Kate Andrews as they try to dissect the election results, a new government, and what comes next. 

    Tickets are £35, or £25 for subscribers. If you’re interested, you can book online at spectator.co.uk/shotslive   

    • 18 min
    Who is the real opposition to Labour?

    Who is the real opposition to Labour?

    Nigel Farage tried to claim at the start of Thursday’s TV debate that Reform was the real threat to Keir Starmer, given it has just passed the Conservatives in the polls (more on that here). Are they the new party of opposition? And what sort of tactics will the Tories use to try and claw back voters they are haemorrhaging to Reform? 

    Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and Chris Hopkins, director of Savanta. 

    • 14 min
    What wasn't included in Labour's manifesto

    What wasn't included in Labour's manifesto

    Keir Starmer launched Labour's manifesto today, but how much did we actually learn about their plans for government? And with no rabbits pulled out of the proverbial hat, how do they plan to achieve growth? Kate Andrews and Starmer's biographer Tom Baldwin joined Katy Balls to discuss. Tom also provided some insight into Angela Rayner's election bus, including a surprising admission about a lettuce...

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

    Join the Coffee House Shots team for a post-election live recording and debrief on Thursday 11 July. Get tickets at spectator.co.uk/live

    • 12 min
    Sunak vs Starmer – who came out on top?

    Sunak vs Starmer – who came out on top?

    Katy Balls and Kate Andrews speak to Natasha Feroze after the Battle for No.10 leadership interviews. The two leaders gave their pitch to a live audience and viewers at home. But who came out on top?

    • 14 min
    Why are Tories talking about a Labour Super Majority?

    Why are Tories talking about a Labour Super Majority?

    Grant Shapps has been speaking to media this morning and warning that a Labour landslide would be 'very bad news' for the country. Is the acknowledgement that Labour could seriously damage the Tories a slip of the tongue, or a new strategy for the Tories?

    Elsewhere, the interview that Rishi Sunak left D Day commemorations for is airing tonight. In a controversial moment, when asked what he had to go without as a child, he says Sky TV... 

    Megan McElroy speaks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls.

    Join the Coffee House Shots team for a live recording on Thursday 11 July. Get tickets at spectator.co.uk/live.

    • 11 min
    Is Sunak's cautious manifesto a mistake?

    Is Sunak's cautious manifesto a mistake?

    Conservatives hoping to turn their fortunes around with the publication of the party's manifesto have been disappointed. The document contained little by way of surprises or rabbits, and despite Sunak's pledge that the Conservatives are the party of tax cutting, the new costings show that the tax burden will continue to rise. Katy Balls talks to James Heale and Kate Andrews.

    Join the Coffee House Shots team for a live recording on Thursday 11 July. Get tickets at spectator.co.uk/live.

    Produced by Cindy Yu.

    • 12 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
1.9K Ratings

1.9K Ratings

zxzxzxzxzxzxz ,

Essential listening

I always enjoy listening. Maybe I’ve missed the episode where they discuss this… but why is James Forsyth never mentioned? Isn’t he supposed to be advising Sunak? I would love to hear the Spectator’s views on how their former colleague is doing.

One Careful Lady Owner ,

Becoming more biased

I am unsubscribing as I used to enjoy listening to a balanced argument but this is becoming more left wing by the day. They can barely contain their support for Labour in the run up to the election.

sslondon101 ,

Informative, Concise and Entertaining

I always enjoy Coffee House Shots. It covers interesting subjects, with excellent presenter’s and well informed guests. I also like that unlike some other podcasts it doesn’t take itself too seriously and nor make themselves part of the story. In my humble opinion it is ‘Best in Class’.
Long may it last.

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