Coffee House Shots

About the podcast Coffee House Shots

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

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2022
Did Tory whips blackmail Red Wall MPs?
As the Prime Minister has a stay of execution after the pork pie plot came to nothing, today allegations are flying that Tory whips have been using unsavoury methods to threaten wavering MPs into line. Christian Wakeford, the newly defected Labour MP to Bury South, says that whips threatened to withdraw funding from a local school; while William Wragg claims that MPs have been blackmailed with information about their private lives. But how much of this is true, and how much, as some in SW1 are saying today, is this just a part of being a whip? On the podcast, James Forsyth points out how some of this comes down to 'the fact that some of the new intake of Tory MPs have been quite shocked at how aggressive the "flush-out" tactics have been', when it comes to using newspaper headlines to publicly name rebels (for example the pork pie-ers earlier this week). Meanwhile, Katy Balls tells Isabel Hardman that this will be a troubling development if more revelations come up: 'Any piece of news that can fit into the general narrative of Boris under pressure on party-gate and... give it a fresh lease of life, is a problem'.
January 20, 2022
10 min
Is Boris safe for now?
Last night rumours were flying around Westminster that letters of no confidence from Tory MPs were pouring in and Boris might be leaving sooner rather than later. But with the surprising crossing of the aisle by MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, it appears that old party tribalism may have stayed some hands. 'While a coup against a leader is one thing defecting is quite another.' - James Forsyth Katy Balls talks with James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman about all of today's political drama, from Keir Starmer's 'very good' jokes to David Davis's public call for Johnson to 'in the name of God go!' Subscribe to The Spectator's Evening Blend email, from Isabel Hardman and Katy Balls, for analysis of the day's political news and a summary of the best pieces from our website. Go to www.spectator.co.uk/blend to sign up.
January 19, 2022
15 min
Will Red Wall MPs turn on Boris?
To keep Partygate alive, Dominic Cummings has released fresh accusations on his blog about Boris Johnson, who he claims knew about the parties taking place. The former chief advisor to the Prime Minister is prepared to swear under oath on this. As divisions in the Tory party are starting to show, a no confidence motion could be expected in days. 'There is a cat and mouse game where those loyal to the leader are trying smoke out potential rebels' - James Forsyth All eyes are on Keir Starmer for PMQs tomorrow. Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth.
January 18, 2022
11 min
Will Operation Red Meat work?
Tory MPs have just returned from their constituencies after a weekend of persuading voters to support their party in the May local elections. It’s not just the public that is angry, the local associations are equally outraged at the scandals that have marred the first month of 2022. Those around Boris Johnson are planning 'Operation Red Meat' which is a policy tactic to save the Prime Minister's premiership. Nadine Dorries has announced her plans to cut the budget of the BBC. It has also been announced that the military is stepping in to try to stop migrants crossing the English Channel. But is it a little too late? ‘They’ve been telling us they are going to sort this [migrant crisis] out but for two years the problem has got worse' - James Forsyth. Even by the government’s own admission, the solution rests on finding somewhere to host an offshore processing centre. But most of the countries the government is looking towards are unlikely to be suitable partners. All of this on the podcast as Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and James Forsyth.
January 17, 2022
10 min
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 16/01/22
Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday's political shows, with interviewees Sir Keir Starmer, Oliver Dowden, and Iain Duncan Smith and Kurt Volker.
January 16, 2022
14 min
After Boris, who?
Katy Balls, James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson discuss what happens if Boris Johnson's premiership is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Downing Street parties he may or may not have attended. "I will eat this microphone if Steve Baker or Kemi Badenoch stand." - The potentially immortal last words of Fraser Nelson, 15th January 2022.
January 15, 2022
20 min
Is Boris to blame for No.10’s party culture?
It's been revealed that two more parties door place at No.10 during the pandemic. This time, a lockdown party took place on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral. Whilst the Prime Minister was not at this particular party, is this No.10 'party culture' coming straight from the top? 'YouGov polls show that Boris Johnson is now more unpopular than Theresa May as PM and is closing in of Corbyn’s lowest points' - Katy Balls. As Tory associations are beginning their campaigns for May's local elections. How might this series of scandals swing the voters? And how should the local councillors prepare themselves for an onslaught of criticism when canvassing? Also on the podcast. Who’s Christine Lee? Reports reveal a Chinese agent has infiltrated Parliament acting as a lobbyist who has been handing out donations to various politicians. Barry Gardiner MP, for whom her son worked, received more than £500,000 from Christine Lee over a period of six years. Max Jeffery is joined by Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
January 14, 2022
13 min
Is the cabinet really behind Boris?
After a hard PMQs for Boris Johnson which included multiple MPs calling for his resignation, the cabinet took to the media to show support for their embattled leader... though some took a bit longer than others. 'Notably, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss took quite some time. I think they both got round to it by the early evening.' - Katy Balls Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls about how deep the senior Tories' loyalties lie.
January 13, 2022
11 min

About the podcast Coffee House Shots

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

Coffee House Shots

About the podcast Coffee House Shots

Categories

Did Tory whips blackmail Red Wall MPs?

Is Boris safe for now?

Will Red Wall MPs turn on Boris?

Will Operation Red Meat work?

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 16/01/22

After Boris, who?

Is Boris to blame for No.10’s party culture?

Is the cabinet really behind Boris?

About the podcast Coffee House Shots

Categories