Coffee House Shots
Daily political analysis from The Spectator's top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Tim Shipman, Isabel Hardman, James Heale and many others.
Episodes
Calum Miller on growth, Burnham & closer EU defence ties
From the hallways of the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton, the Spectator's deputy political editor James Heale speaks to foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller MP about the party’s pitch on growth, what Andy Burnham means for the Lib Dems and why Britain should pursue closer defence ties with Europe.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast witho
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 20/09/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Ed Davey talks popularity contests, and Bridget Phillipson defends the government ahead of Andy Burnham's first meeting with Donald Trump.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact
Is Burnham ready to talk about war?
Military and intelligence chiefs across Europe are sounding increasingly stark warnings about the threat posed by Russia, from cyber attacks and sabotage to drones and hybrid warfare. But is Britain taking the danger seriously enough – and are the armed forces actually ready for what might come next?Patrick Gibbons is joined by Tim Shipman and Noa Hoffman to discuss Britain’s military preparedness
Have women ever had it so good? | with Julie Bindel & Miriam Cates
In this episode, we return to a live Spectator event asking: have women ever had it so good?The Spectator’s commissioning editor Lara Brown is joined by Zoe Strimpel, author of Good Slut; Spiked assistant editor Ella Whelan; feminist writer Julie Bindel; and broadcaster and former Conservative MP Miriam Cates, as they debate women’s freedom, feminism, sexual liberation and the changing relationshi
Have we found Reform's achilles heel? – with Luke Tryl
More voters than ever before say they are willing to vote tactically at the next election, according to new polling from More in Common, and the trend is not running Reform's way – even Conservative supporters are more ready to lend their vote to the Lib Dems than to Nigel Farage. James Heale and Tim Shipman are joined by the pollster's executive director, Luke Tryl, to discuss the findings and wh
How bad is the economy, Healey?
New inflation figures – showing the highest increase for several months – have done little to insulate John Healey from the stormy weather of the British economy. James Heale is joined by Michael Simmons and Tim Shipman to unpack what the rise might mean for Labour's upcoming budget. How much worse can it get?Produced by Henry Lloyd.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast withou
The battle for (rural) Britain
Labour is facing growing criticism from rural Britain, with the Countryside Alliance calling for a ‘rural reset’ between the government and the countryside.Noa Hoffman and James Heale are joined by Tory peer and Countryside Alliance chairman Nick Herbert to discuss why Labour has lost the trust of rural communities - from the family farm tax and trail hunting to plans to licence game shooting.&nbs
Reform's £72m donation – how will they spend it?
Reform UK received a record-breaking £72 million in donations over the weekend from two crypto billionaires – meaning the party has received almost twice as much in 24 hours as all political parties combined have received in donations this year.Noa Hoffman and James Heale discuss how Reform will spend the money, the government’s plans to cap political donations from British expats, and what the pu
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 13/09/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Reform have newfound riches. What does this mean for the future of political donations in the UK?Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk
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Holy Smoke: Catholic Burnham barred – should the law change?
Andy Burnham has announced his intention to change a law which bars him from advising the King on appointments to the Church of England. The Victorian-era law explicitly bars Catholics like Burnham, as well as Jews – but doesn't prevent those of other Christian denominations, other faiths – like Hindu Rishi Sunak, or atheists like Keir Starmer. So, if the law is going to be changed to address this
Laura Trott: 'Labour are kowtowing to the unions'
England's 15-year-olds came eighth in the world for science, ninth for reading and tenth for maths in Tuesday's Pisa results, though it took the education secretary, Lucy Powell, hours to send the congratulatory message. James Heale is joined by Tim Shipman and the shadow education secretary, Laura Trott, to go through the numbers, why Labour wants to unpick the reforms behind them, and whether a
Assisted dying dead – for now
James Heale joins Patrick Gibbons to react to the news that MPs have voted against Assisted Dying. The vote was close – 286 vs 270 – but not a knife-edge, and several MPs changed their minds compared with previous votes earlier this year. What conclusions can we draw?Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree
Assisted dying is back: what does Burnham think?
The topic of assisted dying returns to Parliament today, with a vote scheduled in the Commons this afternoon. Labour MP Lauren Evans has used her private member's bill to reintroduce it, after Kim Leaderbeater's attempt failed, running out of time during the last parliamentary session. Then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer voted for the Bill; now, Andy Burnham has pledged to abstain, saying that –
The most powerful woman in Britain
After plans emerged for the Cabinet Secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, to consolidate power across the civil service this week, Oscar Edmondson is joined by James Heale and Tim Shipman, to discuss this week's political column, in which Tim unpacks the potentials motives behind the new alpha at the very top of Whitehall.Produced by Henry LloydBecome a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast w
Burnham’s BIG blunder
It's only Burnham's second PMQs and he's already dropped a clanger. He may have handed the Conservatives their next election slogan after declaring that ‘national security cannot come at the expense of social security’. Has the Prime Minister exposed the fault line at the heart of his government?Noa Hoffman is joined by Isabel Hardman and Tim Shipman to discuss Burnham’s approach to welfare and de
Why Ed Miliband is taking on Israel
Ed Miliband has made his first major intervention as Foreign Secretary, with Britain set to announce a trade ban on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The move comes amid increasingly strained relations between London and Jerusalem – and marks Andy Burnham’s first big foreign policy fight.Oscar Edmondson is joined by James Heale and Michael Stephens to discuss whether the sanctions will have an
‘Andy Burnham did the Tories a huge favour’ | Sir Malcolm Rifkind
Sir Malcolm Rifkind joins Tim Shipman and James Heale to discuss the future of the conservatism and tells The Spectator why Kemi Badenoch is the person to bring the Conservative Party back from the brink. He explains why he thinks Reform is already losing momentum, why Nigel Farage is ‘not fit to govern’, and why Andy Burnham could actually help the Conservatives at the next election.He also
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 06/09/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Nigel Farage is on the defence again, after two senior Reform officials are forced to step down. James Orr and Dan Jukes were filmed arranging to break rules on foreign donations with journalists pretending to have access to money from an American businessman.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast wit
LIVE | Reform conference round-up – everything you need to know
Noa Hoffman, James Heale and Tim Shipman host a special live recording of Coffee House Shots from Reform conference. They discuss whether a damaging 48 hours for the party have breached the walls of Birmingham’s NEC, whether Nigel Farage can weather serious questions over Reform’s funding, and whether Zia Yusuf should throw his phone in the nearest river and get off Twitter.Produced by Oscar Edmon
Reform in crisis after Channel 4 sting
There are grey clouds over day two of Reform UK’s conference after a Channel 4 investigation caused heads to roll. The party announced this morning that Dan Jukes, Nigel Farage’s right-hand man, and James Orr, Reform’s head of strategy, have stood down and left the conference. ‘They have left the building and they won’t be coming back,’ chairman Lee Anderson said.Footage broadcast by Channel 4 on
Chris Philp: mass immigration is making Britain ‘ungovernable’
Chris Philp joins James Heale to discuss what the Conservatives got wrong on immigration – and how they plan to fix it. The shadow Home Secretary argues that mass immigration risks making Britain ‘ungovernable’, says the last Tory government made a ‘catastrophic mistake’ after 2020 and explains why he thinks Reform still lacks a credible plan for government.He also lifts the lid on his time inside
Burnham's 'new politics' is much the same as the old
After his first PMQs Andy Burnham came away relatively unscathed, although his dream of a 'new politics' may be rapidly falling apart. To dissect what went on in the chamber, James Heale is joined by Tim Shipman and Isabel Hardman to go over today's more feisty exchanges.Produced by Oscar EdmondsonBecome a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adf
Politics returns: Tories reshuffle & Starmer slopes off
Politics is back – and it’s a bumper day in Westminster. Kemi Badenoch got ahead of the field yesterday by reshuffling her top team a day earlier than expected, and the changes are much more comprehensive than first thought. James Cleverly is off to run for the London mayoralty, while Priti Patel and Mel Stride have both been given the boot. Katie Lam takes over Cleverly’s housing brief, while And
Reality Check: who's left to tax?
To listen to more from the Reality Check podcast, go to spectator.com/reality-checkWith two months to go until Andy Burnham and John Healey’s first Budget, speculation about tax rises is already beginning. But how much should we believe?Michael Simmons looks at five facts about Britain’s tax system that should shape the debate – from a tax burden heading towards post-war highs to the surprising re
How to write about Farage
Reform has spent the summer taking lumps out of itself, with the battles leaking into public view, and it's position in the polls slipping to around 25 percent. Just in time for conference season, James Heale is joined by Nick Tyrone, whose new book The Rise of Reform is the product of 18 months trailing the party's candidates and activists, to discuss whether Nigel Farage can get the show back on
Is Burnham ready for the world stage?
Andy Burnham's first overseas trip as Prime Minister took him to Ukraine this week, offering the first real glimpse of what his foreign policy might look like. But with a budget and a party conference ahead, how much time can a PM elected on a domestic agenda really give to the world stage? Oscar Edmondson is joined by James Heale and the foreign policy analyst, Sophia Gaston, to assess Ed Miliban
Al Carns: we are failing Northern Ireland veterans – and why I quit government
Former veterans minister Al Carns joins James Heale to discuss the government’s handling of Northern Ireland legacy cases – and why the issue helped drive him to resign.Writing in The Spectator this week, Al attacks the ‘two-track approach’ to legacy cases, which he says could cost taxpayers billions, and warns against allowing the history of the Troubles to be ‘rewritten through the courts’. He a
Shadow cabinet reshuffle: what to expect | with Lord Goodman
With Parliament returning next week, the Conservatives are in a much stronger position than they were this time last year. That said, questions remain – not least when it comes to Kemi Badenoch’s top team. A reshuffle is apparently scheduled and, while it won’t be a total overhaul, there could be a few surprises.James Heale and Lord Goodman join Oscar Edmondson to discuss Badenoch’s improving posi
Is Reform right to prioritise ‘British-born’ citizens?
Lee Anderson and Richard Tice fronted another Reform presser yesterday, this time on their plans for council housing, should they be elected to government. Included in the announcement was the desire to prioritise council housing for married couples with children, as well as 'British-born' citizens. To analyse this fresh distinction, Oscar Edmondson and James Heale are joined by Ameer Kotecha to g
Burnham gifts missile blueprints to Zelenskyy
After spending his Saturday afternoon watching Everton win at home, Andy Burnham showed up in Kyiv this morning to hand a gift to President Zelenskyy in the form of missile blueprints. To dissect the PM's trip to the eastern Europe, James Heale is joined by Mark Galeotti to discuss the impact of the Storm Shadow plans, both for Kyiv, and for Moscow.Produced by Henry LloydBecome a Spectator subscri
Reviewing Andy's report card | with Baroness Debbonaire
One month on from Andy Burnham entering Downing Street and a lot has changed at the top of government. Starmer's old guard have been reshuffled or replaced, and Burnham's government have announced dozens of new projects, but the big challenges that he faces are largely the same. Noa Hoffman is joined by Baroness Thangam Debbonaire, the former shadow culture secretary, to review Andy's report card.
Does anyone in Burnham’s government understand economics?
There’s more gloomy economic news for Andy Burnham as unemployment disappoints, inflation rises and the public finances take another hit. With welfare spending and debt interest climbing, how much room does the government really have to deliver on its promises?Meanwhile, Burnham has pledged to be the ‘cost of living’ Prime Minister – but one Treasury insider tells Michael Simmons that there is ‘no
Zia vs Shippers – and Sue Gray breaks her silence
It continues – thankfully – to be an interesting summer: there’s devolution news, Reform taking lumps out of each other and Sue Gray has broken her silence.But first, Andy Burnham is shifting the machinery of government north, promising to put growth at the heart of his new Manchester operation. Will moving power out of Whitehall actually make a difference?Elsewhere, tensions inside Reform spill i
Has the Green civil war finally begun?
There was never an expectation that Zack Polanski's alliance between the progressive left, the ecological environmentalists, and the conservative muslim factions of the Green Party would last forever, but today it seems that the war of dissolution may have finally begun. Noa Hoffman is joined by Andrew Gilligan to discuss what has been going down inside the Greens under Polanski, and how a boiling
Reform suspends Tim Montgomerie after Spectator interview
After saying that Zia Yusuf needed to 'become a team player' in an interview on Coffee House yesterday, Reform UK responded, and decided that they would rather Tim Montgomerie were not in their squad at all. After the story broke this morning that Montgomerie had his membership of the party suspended, Noa Hoffman is joined by Tim Shipman and James Heale to react to the latest developments on the r
EXCLUSIVE | 'Zia needs to be a team player' – Tim Montgomerie
Reform UK's Zia Yusuf spent last week putting a few noses out of joint, not least by calling the former Conservative defence secretary, Sir Ben Wallace, a traitor, a tweet Nigel Farage took the unusual step of criticising in public and which Yusuf declined to take down. Tim Shipman and James Heale are joined by Tim Montgomerie, founder of Conservative Home and now a Reform UK member, to ask whethe
One year of Polanski: more continuity than change?
Almost one year on from his election as leader of the Green Party, has Zack Polanski broadened its appeal? Communications strategist and Green Party insider Russell Warfield joins Noa Hoffman to discuss his new book The Green Socialist: Zack Polanski & the Battle for Britain’s Future. In it, Warfield makes the argument that Polanski marks more of a continuum for the modern British Green Party – a
Farage beats the bin! – Clacton results unpacked
Shock horror: Nigel Farage has won the by-election in Calcton. Although you may be shocked by the scale of the victory. The Reform leader received 22,239 votes – 1,000 more than his total at the 2024 general election. His main rival, Count Binface – the ‘uniparty candidate’ as Farage says – secured a respectable 9,455 votes, a 26.7 per cent share.Turnout stood at 44.37 per cent, the constitue
‘This is not a war!’ – why politicians are turning on the media | with Gabriel Pogrund
Politicians are increasingly turning on the journalists who scrutinise them. After investigations into Nigel Farage’s finances, Reform figures have accused reporters of waging a political ‘war’ – while Arron Banks has hired private investigators to look into Times journalist Gabriel Pogrund. Is hostility towards the media becoming a feature of modern politics? And is the relationship between polit
Andy's migration muddle & can he fix the High Street?
Andy Burnham's summer bonanza continues as he announces plans to empower local councils and hopefully improve Britain's High Streets. The government wants to make it easier for councils to refuse certain types of businesses – but is the plethora of vape shops, betting shops and barbers a cause of Britain's High Street decline, or just a symptom? If there are no businesses to replace those, will th
Clacton by-election: what you need to know
Nigel Farage is heading back to the polls in Clacton after resigning to trigger a by-election over questions surrounding his £5 million gift. With the main parties refusing to stand, Farage looks set for a comfortable victory – but will his popularity in Clacton translate to the rest of the country? And have voters simply stopped caring about the controversy?Meanwhile, Andy Burnham is facing the f
What does Lowe actually want from Farage?
Nigel Farage is trying to seize the summer agenda with a new crackdown on crime and immigration. Reform wants to send foreign national prisoners to countries such as El Salvador, deploy the Navy in the Channel and leave the ECHR – but how much of the plan could actually work?Meanwhile, hopes of a reconciliation between Reform and Rupert Lowe’s Restore appear to be fading. Farage has ruled out a de
'The Tories remain the existential threat to Labour' – interview with Jonathan Ashworth
Jonathan Ashworth is a former Labour MP and shadow cabinet minister. On today's podcast James Heale and Jonathan discuss Andy's first few weeks as Prime Minister, how he's changed since the Blair-Brown era, whether Burnham's promises in devolution stack up and they discuss whether Morgan McSweeney is right to change his mind on the Conservatives, rather than Reform being the greatest threat to Lab
Can Burnham make the tough calls on pensions & social care?
Andy Burnham has made it clear that social care is at the top of his agenda, as are pensions. Michael Simmons is joined by James Heale and Spectator contributor James Kirkup to discuss so called 'death tax', cross party efforts on tackling social care, and whether the government can get round the thorny issue of who will pay for this.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast witho
Kemi and the Crewkerne debacle
Kemi Badenoch found herself in warmer water this week after backing a former neo-Nazi to stand as a local council candidate, before he subsequently pulled out – he has now been appointed as an anti-extremism advisor to the Conservative Party's Culture and Integration Commission. Natasha Feroze is joined by The Spectator's William Atkinson, and the former Editor of Conservative Home, Paul Goodman,
Why Burnham's borrowing bonanza won't work
The Treasury has plans to kick start the economy with a £9bn borrowing bonanza – something Michael Simmons wrote about in The Spectator in June. Could this reveal something about Burnaham and Healey's plans for the upcoming budget? Also Ed 'Miliwatt' heads to Washington. How will he get on with his American counterparts? James Heale speaks to Michael Simmons and Isabel Hardman. Become a Spectator
Burnham buckles on early prisoner release
The government has revised its early prisoner release scheme – now 1000 fewer prisoners with convictions related to rape or child sexual abuse will be let out early. Controversially, PC Harper's killers will be released this year under the new plan, despite calls for manslaughter cases to remain in custody. Natasha Feroze speaks to James Heale and the journalist Danny Shaw about the details of the
Reform's plan to stop the small boats – the Royal Navy
After some weeks on the periphery of British politics, Nigel Farage and Reform UK are back in the spotlight with the debut of 'Operation Fortess' – their plan to deploy the Navy to stop the small boat crossings in the channel. Is it just a headline-grabbing gimmick or will it actually work – and is it even a new idea? To answer the important questions, James Heale is joined by Christian Calgie, Se
Britain's First Catholic PM? — with Patrick Maguire
Is Andy Burnham the country's first catholic Prime Minister, and how might it influence his leadership? Despite his faith drawing him to Labour, he doesn’t attend mass and rarely emphasises his religion publicly. To unpack his faith and where it might take him, Lara Brown, The Spectator's commissioning editor, is joined by the chief political commentator at The Times, Patrick Maguire, and The Spec
Chris Philp: French police 'under orders not to intervene'
After appearing to have been fired on by the French coastguard, and having objects thrown at him by an alleged people smuggler, the shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, sat down with Noa Hoffman to talk about his recent trip across the channel. In today's episode, Noa asks Chris why the French gendarmes refused to intervene while migrants set off from their beaches, and what he would do differently
Why Burnham's policy bonanza may be coming to an end
Continuing his tour across the country, Andy Burnham has been in Barrow-in-Furness backing Starmer's investment plan into nuclear submarines. This ties together with a commitment to reindustrialise Britain and promise more apprenticeships for NEETs. But despite policy pledges on employment, the economy and social care this week – small boats have been a story dominating the headlines. Natasha Fero
Andy's care plan
It's Wednesday, which means there's another announcement from Downing Street. Yes, another one. Today, Andy Burnham is talking social care, and this time, he wants to build a 'cross-party consensus' to fix the broken system. Unfortunately neither Kemi Badenoch nor Sir Ed Davey were able to attend in person, but in a far more successful assemblage, James Heale, Tim Shipman, and Isabel Hardman have
Will Burnham find a NEET solution?
It's a day dedicated to the NEETs (again) with the Prime Minister announcing his plans to prevent swathes of future NEETs coming to the fore. With proposals to widen the participation and provenance of his Manchester Baccalaureate, and giving more powers to Mayors over education, Andy Burnham is seeking to break with Blair, as he pushes vocational skills over academia. Natasha Feroze is joined by
Andy's intervention on defence
A week on from the start of Andy Burnham's premiership, and Westminster is bracing for another innings of announcements from the government. Among them, after meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyy today, the PM will be announcing fresh decisions on defence spending on Thursday. The government are also plotting out their plans for changes to adult social care this week, while Whitehall is still suffering fro
Nick Clegg: my biggest coalition regrets
Tim Shipman is joined by Sir Nick Clegg, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, as part of The Spectator's new event series, Tim Shipman Meets the Party Leaders. Tim challenges Sir Nick on the decisions that defined his political career, from his passionate support for Europe to the failed referendum on an alternative voting system, and those famous coalition years.
How Reform and the Tories plan to fight Andy Burnham
In the magazine this week, James Heale writes that Kemi Badenoch was in an upbeat mood when she addressed her troops last week. ‘This time last year,’ she told the 1922 Committee, ‘people said Jenrick was taking over the party, Starmer was steady and Farage would be the next prime minister. A year later, Rob is under police investigation, Starmer has resigned and Farage is not even an MP.’It is a
Andy’s promises – who’s paying?
It is day three of Andy Burnham’s premiership, and we have had a tranche of policy announcements and funding commitments. A VAT cut for energy bills, £2 bus fares, and today a business rate cut for pubs and hospitality businesses. But are any of them actually funded?Michael Simmons joins Tim Shipman and Oscar Edmondson to walk through the promises made, and how, if at all, they will be funded by B
Iain Dale: Standing for Parliament was a 'humiliating experience'
In a busy week for British politics, LBC’s Iain Dale joins Tim Shipman and James Heale to discuss his new book, Have I Said Too Much? Iain speaks frankly about standing as a Conservative candidate at two general elections – and his fateful attempt to fight a third. James asks what makes a good political book, while Tim delves into the 2005 Conservative leadership election and Iain’s role in approv
Burnham's northern queens
Appointment into Andy Burnham's new cabinet went late into the evening: Wes Streeting to defence, plus the comeback queens – Louise Haigh, Lucy Powell and Angela Rayner all into senior posts in government. Noa Hoffman, James Heale and Tim Shipman discuss the new appointments and Andy Burnham's morning policy announcements. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts.
Burnham, Healey, Miliband & Mahmood become the big four
Andy Burnham has continued to announce his new cabinet: John Healey as Chancellor, Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary and Shabana Mahmood remains in the Home Office. Now ten of Starmer's most trusted ministers have either been sacked or quit. What could come of Angela Rayner? And what could be the consequences of having some of the most powerful people in Labour on the backbenches? Natasha Feroze sp
Labour's new cabinet – who's in & who's out?
As Andy Burnham unveils his first Cabinet, join Tim Shipman and James Heale for a special live edition of Coffee House. Who’s in, who’s out? What do the appointments reveal about Burnham’s priorities, and might they hint at the likely direction of his premiership? Along with a panel of familiar faces and special guests, get the only analysis you’ll need as the political implications begin to unfol
Why MPs must be whipped | Simon Hart
Andy Burnham has promised to turn the whips’ office into an ‘HR department’ – but the former chief whip Simon Hart warns that the approach is ‘naive’ and could leave the new prime minister unable to control his party.Hart explains why large majorities can be harder to manage than small ones, what Keir Starmer got wrong and why Burnham will begin making enemies as soon as he appoints his first cabi
Happy Coronation Day!
Andy Burnham will today be crowned Labour leader, before entering Downing Street on Monday. His first speech is expected to argue that Labour has lost touch with the working-class communities it was founded to represent – and to promise a new era of devolution, economic intervention and northern political power.Meanwhile, the shape of Burnham’s government is beginning to emerge. Ed Miliband now ap
Reeves out, Shabana in?
Rachel Reeves has delivered what is likely to be her valedictory Mansion House speech, defending her record on growth, borrowing and the public finances. But with businesses counting the cost of higher employers’ National Insurance and Labour preparing for a change of government, what will her legacy be?Meanwhile, the race to become Andy Burnham’s chancellor appears to be shifting. Ed Miliband was
Farewell, Sir Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer has delivered his final PMQs. It was a more cordial occasion compared to most weeks, with Kemi Badenoch exchanging jokes with the outgoing Prime Minister over their previous clashes amid a more sombre tone given the murder of Ann Widdecombe. But will this final speech go down in history? And how will Andy Burnham do things differently?Noa Hoffman speaks to James Heale and Tim Shipman.
Kemi wages war on the 'Tory wets'
Kemi Badenoch has declared war on the Tory wets, removing the whip from Gavin Barwell after Theresa May’s former chief of staff criticised her leadership and opposed the party’s positions on net zero and the ECHR. Her allies insist this is not a purge, but proof that the Conservatives have changed. Is Badenoch finally imposing discipline on her party – or narrowing a broad church that is already s
Is Ann Widdecombe’s murder being politicised?
The murder of Ann Widdecombe has sent shockwaves through Westminster and reignited the debate over politicians’ security. But with questions still unanswered about the motive for the attack, Reform’s response has already become politically charged. Is Nigel Farage right to argue that threats against him and his party have not been taken seriously – or is he ‘weaponising’ Widdecombe’s death for pol
How we plan to beat Reform | Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative chairman
The Tories will not stand a candidate against Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election – and on today’s podcast Conservative party chairman Kevin Hollinrake explains why.Hollinrake also reveals what is behind the turnaround in the Conservatives’ fortunes and their bump in the polls, as well as how the party plans to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past: namely, talking right but governing left.
The definitive guide to 'Manchesterism'
Everyone in Westminster is trying desperately to peer inside Andy Burnham’s head and work out what ‘Manchesterism’ really is – and in the magazine this week, Tali Fraser offers the definitive take. Rather than being a mixture of vibes and ‘business-friendly socialism’, it's roots lie in the 'Manchester liberalism' of Richard Cobden and John Bright, from which a direct line can be drawn to Margaret
Labour is one big happy family | with Chris Curtis MP
Nominations openned today for the next Labour leader and – spoiler alert – it looks as though Andy Burnham might clinch it. We strongly suspect he will be the only person to put his name forward, after Al Carns pulled out and rowed in behind the MP for Makerfield.In the background, Burnham’s preparations for government are continuing, including a surprise intervention on foreign affairs and an ema
Inside Reform's by-election masterplan
Nigel Farage’s Clacton by-election gamble has not gone quite to plan: the major parties have called his bluff and refused to stand. Is this now a Potemkin by-election – or has Farage still succeeded in changing the narrative on Reform’s funding row?Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale about whether Farage is returning to what he does best: insurgency, grievance and a fight with th
Nigel Farage rage quits
Nigel Farage has resigned as an MP to force a by-election in Clacton, where he intends to stand again.It comes as scrutiny mounts over Reform UK’s funding, the £5 million gift Farage received from the businessman Christopher Harborne and his association with the convicted criminal George Cottrell. So rather than wait for a ruling from the parliamentary standards commissioner, Farage will be out on
Has Farage blown it?
Nigel Farage is facing fresh questions over his finances, after reports about George Cottrell – ‘Posh George’ – and his role in funding staff and security for Reform before the 2024 election. The party says this was personal, not political – but could the row yet become a problem for Farage? And if he is suspended from parliament, would a recall petition be a disaster, or the perfect rallying cry?
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 05/07/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.Nigel Farage is in the spotlight again over his finances. And Labour back Andy Burnham to deliver change.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk
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Anthony Scaramucci on Trump, Corruption & America at 250
As Americans mark the 250th anniversary of the 1776 Declaration of Independence, Anthony Scaramucci joins the Spectator to provide his assessment of the health of the nation. As we approach the halfway point of the second Trump presidency, what's his impact been on America's reputation? Will the Democrats' attempts to emulate Trump help or hinder them? And why are American conservatives so obsesse
REVEALED: Treasury abandons numeracy to boost diversity
A scoop by The Spectator’s news editor has taken Westminster by storm this week, after it emerged that the Treasury had ditched the numerical reasoning test for its high-flying graduate scheme. Oscar Edmondson speaks to the story’s author, John Connolly, and Ameer Kotecha, a former senior diplomat and now chief executive of the Centre for Government Reform, about how deeply anti-meritocratic hirin
Reform is right to fear the return of Boris
Boris is (sort of) on manoeuvres, as Tim Shipman reports in this week’s magazine. There are signs that the former Conservative prime minister and one-time editor of this magazine could emerge from his frontline political hiatus to throw his weight behind the Tory cause. He has already been advising Kemi Badenoch and is said to be driven, in part, by a ‘hatred’ of Nigel Farage. Should Reform fear t
The secrets of the Spectator summer party
As the nation holds its breath to see if England will be progressing in the World Cup, the bottles of Pol Roger are on ice for the post-match after party: the Spectator's summer party, taking place this evening. Opening the doors of the Spectator to listeners of Coffee House Shots, James Heale, Freddy Gray, Noa Hoffman and Tim Shipman talk about their favourite memories, how to survive events like
Defence Investment Plan – a looming problem for Burnham
The Defence Investment Plan is published today in Parliament. All eyes are on how much Dan Jarvis managed to secure (£15 billion), given the dramatic resignations of Al Cairns and John Healey over funding. Noa Hoffman speaks to James Heale and Tim Shipman about the plans, plus a scoop from The Spectator's John Connolly – its been revealed that DEI has taken precedence over number counting in the T
The Burnham agenda: who will pay for it?
Andy Burnham has set out his big pitch to the country: a ten-year plan for devolution, reindustrialisation and a new ‘Number 10 of the North’. But, as he prepares to enter Downing Street, does he have anything like the ten years he wants to deliver it? And who will pay? Is Middle England about to be squeezed to fund Burnham’s vision?James Heale speaks to Tim Shipman.Become a Spectator subscriber t
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