Episodes
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Kemi’s welfare crackdown
Kemi Badenoch has today set out plans to slash £36 billion from the welfare bill, as the Conservatives seek to get ahead of the government’s much-anticipated welfare review. But are the Tories offering anything new? And can Andy Burnham succeed where Labour has previously struggled to deliver...
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Labour’s EU reset is a ‘deeply incoherent mess’
The government is gearing up for another EU reset, but does Burnham know what he wants from Brussels? And has Lisa Nandy's Remembrance Sunday blunder exposed divisions within the Cabinet over closer ties with Europe? Tim Shipman and James Heale discuss the upcoming EU summit, the potential…
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'We need to get real' – Claire Ainsley on Starmer, Burnham and Labour’s future
Labour has a new leader, but does Andy Burnham have a plan to give voters back control? In this episode of Coffee House Shots, Noa Hoffman speaks to Claire Ainsley, Keir Starmer’s former director of policy, about her new book, Control: How We Lost It and How to Take It Back. They discuss whether...
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Why does everyone hate inheritance tax? | Dan Neidle
This episode was originally posted on our Reality Check channel. To watch, head over to our YouTube Inheritance tax is one of Britain's most unpopular taxes – but is it really as unfair as people think? Our Economics Editor Michael Simmons speak to tax expert Dan Neidle about why inheritance tax...
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Kim Darroch: ‘Trump was conned by Netanyahu’ over Iran
Donald Trump’s midterm defeat has thrown fresh uncertainty over the future of his presidency – and his foreign policy. On today’s Coffee House Shots, Tim Shipman speaks to Lord Kim Darroch, former British ambassador to Washington, about what happens next. With JD Vance already positioning himself...
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Blue tsunami: what does it mean for Britain?
Donald Trump has suffered a generational defeat in the US midterms, with Democrats making sweeping gains across the country. Has the Trump coalition finally fallen apart? And what does the result mean for the future of the Republican Party? James Heale is joined by US Editor Freddy Gray and...
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The King schools Burnham | with Robert Tombs
Has King Charles shown Andy Burnham how to handle the row over slavery reparations? Following the Commonwealth summit, historian Robert Tombs joins James Heale to discuss why the King’s carefully worded speech struck the right tone – and whether Burnham’s intervention risks opening the door to...
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Goodbye to hardline immigration reforms
Shabana Mahmood has unveiled her long-awaited reforms to immigration rules, including on indefinite leave to remain, and with them the partial climbdown briefed over the past few days. Noa Hoffman is joined by Tim Shipman and James Heale to examine what has and has not changed in the new plans....
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 01/11/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. The Budget is here. And the prime minister is open to an apology for slavery. This episode is brought to you by Raymond James. Combining deep insights into who you are with our financial expertise, that’s the power of...
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Can Netanyahu cling on? Inside Israel’s election deadlock
In this Saturday edition of Coffee House Shots, James Heale is joined by Noa Hoffman, who has been reporting on the election from Israel, and former Foreign Office special adviser Ben Judah to unpack the results. They discuss the historic turnout among Arab Israeli voters, the growing influence…
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The OBR's verdict on Healey
John Healey’s budget on Wednesday contained 98 measures, the most since 2010, and yet the OBR appears to be questioning the extent of his £15 billion in headroom. Tim Shipman speaks to the OBR’s David Miles about a tax take heading for a post-war high, the cuts pencilled in for the end of the...
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The Spectator's post-Budget briefing
The Spectator’s editor Michael Gove, political editor Tim Shipman, economics editor Michael Simmons, economist and CEO of the Great British Business Council Catherine McBride and Harry Bell, director of financial planning at Raymond James, will give their insights into the autumn Budget, just…
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Healey's 'breathing space' budget – was that it?
Chancellor John Healey has just delivered his first Budget of the Burnham premiership – but has he done enough to turn the economy around? In this special edition of Coffee House Shots, Economics Editor Michael Simmons and Deputy Political Editor James Heale unpack the Budget, from £100 energy...
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Kwasi Kwarteng: what could go wrong for Burnham's budget
Former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng joins Tim Shipman and James Heale to discuss the challenges facing the government ahead of tomorrow’s Budget. How close is the relationship between Number 10 and Number 11? And how much influence has Andy Burnham had on the Chancellor’s plans? How are Labour MPs...
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Burnham's first budget – trick or treat?
Budget week is finally here but it's also the week of Hallowe'en so Patrick Gibbons asks James Heale and Michael Simmons: will Burnham's first budget be one of tricks or treats? There have been a drip-feed of announcements over the weekend, from pensions to rough sleeping, so what have we learnt...
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 25/10/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. The Budget is fast approaching, and Andy Burnham wants to talk about freedom of movement. This episode is brought to you by Raymond James. Combining deep insights into who you are with our financial expertise, that’s the...
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SAS witch hunt: is Britain betraying its own special forces?
Just days after The Sunday Times revealed that five SAS soldiers were sent back into the war zone while under a three-year murder investigation, MPs passed the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which the SAS Regimental Association has threatened to challenge in the High Court. To understand it's...
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EXCL: Andy Haldane turns on Burnham’s Budget plans
Andy Burnham’s first Budget as Prime Minister is approaching – but have higher borrowing costs already made the sums more difficult for the Prime Minister and his Chancellor, John Healey? Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane joins Michael Simmons to warn that Britain has little…
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24 hours with Nigel Farage
On today’s Coffee House Shots, James Heale reports back after spending 24 hours with Reform leader Nigel Farage. It’s a fascinating time to get access to Reform HQ: the party has been rocked by a succession of sting operations, they await the verdict on the £5 million gift from Christopher...
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Drill Andy drill! – Burnham's small victory
A week before the budget, and hours after ministers approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field, Andy Burnham faced off with Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions in what James Heale reckons was the PM’s first win in the Commons since taking office. James and Isabel Hardman join Tim Shipman…
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The Tories are back in the conversation
Kemi Badenoch has delivered a major speech on the economy ahead of next week's Budget, calling for welfare cuts to fund higher defence spending. But with some encouraging economic figures, is her attack on Labour landing? Meanwhile, new polling suggests the Conservatives are reclaiming their...
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LIVE: Who won conference season? | with Scarlett Maguire
For this live edition of Coffee House Shots, James Heale and Lara Brown are joined by pollster and strategist Scarlett Maguire at the Battle of Ideas Festival to unpack the party conference season and look ahead to the Budget. Who emerged from conference season in the strongest position, and why...
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 18/10/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Ministers react to Donald Trump's latest interventions in the war Russia-Ukraine conflict. And Zack Polanski is unapologetic in his reaction to the Green Party's 'Zionism is racism' motion. Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.…
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Does Britain still have free speech? | with Jonathan Sumption & Kellie-Jay Keen
This week, The Spectator hosted a debate on the motion: This house believes Britain no longer has free speech. Chaired by The Spectator’s Assistant Editor Isabel Hardman, the debate saw former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie and women’s rights campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen propose the motion, with…
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Will John Healey tax the banks?
With the Budget fast approaching, is Labour about to pick a fight with the City? Could a new bank tax help John Healey plug the fiscal black hole – or would it risk damaging one of Britain’s most successful industries? Meanwhile, the SNP party conference in underway in Aberdeen, and John Swinney…
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Does Burnham have a foreign policy?
As Andy Burnham rolls out the red carpet for Volodymyr Zelensky in Downing Street, he has publicly sided with Kyiv against the Trump administration, days after the US President called for Zelensky to be replaced. Noa Hoffman is joined by James Heale and Tim Shipman to weigh up the politics, and…
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Ed Davey sees off a coup
After last night’s botched coup against the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, and a rather temperate Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons today, James Heale is joined by Isabel Hardman and Tim Shipman to review the events of the last 24 hours. Produced by Henry Lloyd This…
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Where are all the ‘Waitrose women’?
The IMF has upgraded its forecast for UK growth – but is the good news all it seems? Michael Simmons explains why the assumptions underpinning Britain’s economic outlook may be far shakier than they first appear, as the government prepares for another difficult Budget. Meanwhile, a new YouGov…
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Russian interference: what really happened with Brexit
On this episode of Coffee House Shots, James Heale and Tim Shipman examine claims of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum. What do we actually know about Moscow’s attempts to influence the vote – and did they make any difference to the result? Plus: they discuss Andy Burnham’s foreign...
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LIVE: Why aren't Britain's young people working? | with Laura Trott
For this special edition of Coffee House Shots, economics editor Michael Simmons hosts a panel from Conservative Party conference on Britain’s growing NEETs crisis: the hundreds of thousands of young people not in education, employment or training. He is joined by shadow education secretary Laura...
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Is Polanski finished? – Labour crushes Green challenge in North London
Labour has held Holborn and St Pancras in the first major electoral test of the post-Starmer era – but what does the result tell us about the state of the left? James Heale is joined by Tim Shipman and More in Common’s Luke Tryl to discuss Andy Burnham’s appeal, Zack Polanski’s problems and…
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What makes a great politician? | Thérèse Coffey & Michael Gove
What does it take to become a successful political leader – and are Britain’s politicians getting the training they need? At Conservative Party Conference, Michael Gove was joined by former deputy PM Thérèse Coffey to ask how Britain can develop politicians fit for the future. The conversation…
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REACTION: Kemi’s conference speech – has she found ‘the right way’?
Kemi Badenoch has just delivered her conference speech, bringing Conservative Party Conference 2026 to a close. She very nearly almost announced the inheritance tax policy many had expected – instead beefing up the Tory offer to homeowners with a pledge to abolish inheritance tax on the family...
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A bonfire of regulations & Kemi's iron dome
James Heale is joined by Tim Shipman, Michael Simmons and Lara Brown from the second day of Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. They discuss shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith’s pitch for a low-tax, low-regulation economy, Kemi Badenoch’s new ‘Britannia Shield’ defence proposal and…
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LIVE: Antisemitism, Man City & abolishing the Triple Lock
James Heale, Tim Shipman and Tali Fraser record live from Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. As we pass the two year mark of Kemi Badenoch's leadership of the Tory Party, the panel discuss whether she has done enough to win voters over and whether the party is ready for an early general...
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 04/10/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Andy Burnham wants to scrap the pensions triple lock, and he's reopening the Brexit debate. This episode is brought to you by Raymond James. Combining deep insights into who you are with our financial expertise, that’s the...
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Can Kemi win the battle for the right?
James Heale is joined by Tim Shipman and Liam Halligan, Telegraph columnist and the new director of the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), to look ahead to Conservative party conference, which kicks off today. Kemi Badenoch’s latest attempt to draw clear dividing lines with Andy Burnham was through…
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Can the Greens survive Burnham?
James Heale reports from Green Party conference in Brighton, joined by More in Common’s Luke Tryl and Noa Hoffman. After a year in which the Greens appeared to be challenging Labour on the left, has their momentum begun to stall – and how much of that is down to Zac Polanski himself, compared to...
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Suella Braverman on imposter syndrome, 'breaking up' with the Tories and why she’ll never go back
Suella Braverman joins Tim Shipman to discuss her new memoir Patriot, from growing up with imposter syndrome to her battles inside the Conservative Party and eventual defection to Reform. She reflects on immigration, Brexit and patriotism, her clashes with Rishi Sunak, and explains why she…
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EXCLUSIVE: work or face benefits ban, Kemi tells under-25s
Tim Shipman has interviewed Kemi Badenoch ahead of Tory party conference this weekend. In the interview, the Conservative party leader exclusively reveals the Tories plan to ban benefits to under 25s who have never worked before. For this special episode of Coffee House Shots, here is an extract...
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Can Andy keep up with his promises?
Andy Burnham delivered his first conference speech as Prime Minister in Liverpool yesterday, promising a sweeping expansion of public services and a fresh look at Brexit, to warm reviews from the hall. Patrick Gibbons is joined by Isabel Hardman and Claire Ainsley, Sir Keir Starmer's former...
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Hope again: do you buy Burnham's big pitch?
Andy Burnham has used his Labour conference speech to set out his clearest vision yet for the country and it was a strikingly ambitious one. Noa Hoffman is joined in Liverpool by Tim Shipman and Michael Simmons to unpack a speech that ranged from a new National Care Service and reform of the...
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Can Labour really reindustrialise Britain?
Noa Hoffman is joined from Labour conference in Liverpool by James Heale and economics editor Michael Simmons to discuss Chancellor John Healey’s keynote speech. They discuss his attempt to sell fiscal discipline in distinctly Labour language, whether the government’s reindustrialisation plans…
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Immigration, Europe and tax: the questions Burnham is avoiding | LIVE
Live from Labour conference in Liverpool, Noa Hoffman is joined by Tim Shipman and James Heale to discuss the questions Andy Burnham still needs to answer. Can Labour tighten immigration controls while edging closer to Europe? How will Burnham pay for his social care ambitions? And is the party...
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Labour conference day 1 – what's the mood in the bar?
It’s Labour conference day one, and Oscar Edmondson and James Heale report live from the Pullman hotel bar. What’s the mood of conference so far? Will it be a dour affair like previous years, or will new measures to shorten the beer queues do anything to quell the gossip and plotting? Andy…
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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 27/09/2026
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. At the Labour conference, Andy Burnham has big plans for social care. But how will he pay for it? This episode is brought to you by Raymond James. Combining deep insights into who you are with our financial expertise…
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'The return of the prodigal son'? – Labour conference lookahead | with Jonathan Ashworth
Ahead of Labour Party conference, Tim Shipman is joined by former shadow cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth to discuss the mood inside the party, Andy Burnham’s growing authority and whether he could be tempted to call an early general election. They also consider the pressures facing Burnham on...
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Is the AI dream over for Andy?
Andy Burnham pitched Britain to the UN this week as an 'honest broker' on artificial intelligence, only for Washington to ask OpenAI and Anthropic to make Britain's AI Security Institute wait its turn. Michael Simmons is joined by James Heale and Tim Shipman to discuss James's column on the...
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Can Kemi hoover up votes with benefits reform?
After fresh polling from YouGov put the Tories ahead of Reform UK today, the leader of the opposition has set out plans to get people off of unemployment benefits, and limit what successful claimants can spend it on. James Heale is joined by Tim Shipman and Michael Simmons to weigh up the policy...
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Chagos U-turn: has Burnham seen sense?
Donald Trump has forced a rethink of the Chagos deal, after publicly criticising the agreement during his meeting with Andy Burnham. Is Labour preparing to abandon one of Keir Starmer’s most controversial foreign policy decisions? And, with Labour conference approaching, could Burnham be tempted…
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