Coffee House Shots

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Daily political analysis from The Spectator's top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Tim Shipman, Isabel Hardman, James Heale and many others.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

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Hero voters: who should Labour target? with Chris Curtis MP & Deborah Mattinson

<p>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 …

Apr 06, 2026 · 30m
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Why is Starmer so unpopular? with Lewis Goodall

<p>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 …

Apr 04, 2026 · 28m
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Conservative radicalism: who should the Tories target? with Jack Rankin MP

<p>Can the Conservatives win back voters' support through a new kind of 'conservative radicalism'? </p><br><p>Jack Rankin, Conservative MP for Windsor, joins James Heale to explain why he believes a focus …

Apr 03, 2026 · 26m
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EU déjà vu: the emergency brake is back!

<p>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 …

Apr 02, 2026 · 12m
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Will Trump pull the US out of NATO?

<p>Donald Trump has said he is 'strongly considering' pulling the US out of NATO, in comments made to the <em>Telegraph – </em>and it doesn't appear to be an April Fool. …

Apr 01, 2026 · 14m
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Why is Britain so exposed to rising energy prices?

<p>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 …

Mar 31, 2026 · 10m
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Where does Labour's centre of gravity lie?

<p>Patrick Maguire, chief political writer at <em>The Times</em>, sits down with Tim Shipman for a reflection on Labour's odd year so far. From potential leadership challengers, like Wes Streeting and …

Mar 30, 2026 · 30m
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 29/03/2026

<p>Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.</p><br><p>The Iran conflict has reached its second month. Figures from across the political spectrum debate how best to respond to a leap …

Mar 29, 2026 · 15m
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LIVE: Should we defund or defend the BBC? | Michael Gove & Jon Sopel v Charles Moore & Allison Pearson

<p>Should we defund – or defend – the BBC?</p><br><p>Live from London, the&nbsp;<em>Spectator</em>&nbsp;hosted a debate on the future of this iconic British institution, compered by associate editor Isabel Hardman. The&nbsp;<em>Spectator</em>’s chairman …

Mar 28, 2026 · 59m
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Energy crisis: are we in 1973 territory?

<p>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 …

Mar 27, 2026 · 9m
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The curious case of Morgan McSweeney's missing phone

<p>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 …

Mar 26, 2026 · 19m
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To drill or not to drill, that is the question

<p>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 …

Mar 25, 2026 · 14m
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Should we brace for another financial shock?

<p>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 …

Mar 24, 2026 · 14m
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It’s Ed Miliband’s world – and we’re living in it

<p>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 …

Mar 23, 2026 · 22m
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On the road with Nigel Farage

<p>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 …

Mar 21, 2026 · 30m
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LIVE: is it time for a Tory-Reform pact?

<p>As Reform chips away at the Tory vote,&nbsp;the Conservatives face a stark choice – join forces with Nigel Farage or fight alone.&nbsp;James Heale<em>, The Spectator</em>’s deputy political editor, will be …

Mar 20, 2026 · 51m
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Britain’s decline – and how to reverse it | with John Bew

<p>In this special edition of <em>Coffee House Shots</em>, our political editor Tim Shipman is joined by historian, biographer and foreign policy adviser to four different prime ministers, John Bew. In …

Mar 19, 2026 · 48m
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Is Angela Rayner staging a coup?

<p>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 …

Mar 18, 2026 · 11m
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Net Zero vs AI: can Reeves convince Miliband?

<p>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 …

Mar 17, 2026 · 16m
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Is Labour sleepwalking back to the EU?

<p>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 …

Mar 16, 2026 · 17m
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 15/03/2026

<p>Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.</p><br><p>As the queue of stationary oil tankers builds up around the Strait of Hormuz, leaders brace for an economic shockwave. </p><p>Become a …

Mar 15, 2026 · 15m
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Is the government right to restrict jury trials?

<p>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 …

Mar 14, 2026 · 22m
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The Mandelson scandal exposes Starmer’s greatest flaw | with Gabriel Pogrund

<p>Today we are delighted to be joined by the <em>Sunday Times</em>’ Gabriel Pogrund, whose book – <em>Get In, </em>which details Starmer’s rise to power – is out now in paperback …

Mar 13, 2026 · 14m
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How will the Iran war end? | with Shashank Joshi

<p>In this special edition of <em>Coffee House Shots</em>, Tim Shipman is joined by defence editor at the <em>Economist, </em>Shashank Joshi. Two weeks in to the conflict in Iran, they give …

Mar 12, 2026 · 26m
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Starmer should be honest about why he picked Mandelson

<p>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 …

Mar 11, 2026 · 14m
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Is the special relationship over?

<p>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 …

Mar 10, 2026 · 9m
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Is Keir Starmer good in a crisis?

<p>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 …

Mar 09, 2026 · 19m
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 08/03/2026

<p>Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.</p><br><p>Is the UK already too implicated in an illegal war? Or does Keir Starmer’s cautious indecision represent a dereliction of duty to …

Mar 08, 2026 · 15m
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Why we left the Foreign Office | Ben Judah & Ameer Kotecha

<p>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 …

Mar 07, 2026 · 35m
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Green surge: could Labour lose London?

<p>Deputy political editor James Heale and deputy editor of <em>The House </em>magazine Sienna Rodgers join Patrick Gibbons to discuss the challenge the Greens pose to Labour in London. James's political …

Mar 06, 2026 · 14m
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