Coffee House Shots

The Sun broke the news this morning that Health Secretary Matt Hancock has seemingly been up to some extra-marital exploits with his aide Gina Coladangelo, possibly breaking many of the Covid restrictions that he himself put in place. What will be the consequences of his hypocrisy? Cindy Yu is joined by James Forsyth, Isabel Hardman and another special appearance from Fraser Nelson. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daily new cases are just under 17,000 today, and Angela Merkel has advised other EU leaders to make British tourists quarantine upon entry to the bloc. So even if the British government allows a more liberal green list, would British tourists be welcomed abroad? Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls. Katy points out that this bodes well for July 19:'So I wouldn't be surprised if you get some scientists used to commenting on this sounding the alarm in the coming days if it keeps going up at this rate. But I think from Boris Johnson's perspective, ultimately deaths and hospitalisations are the most important things and also you've got people like Patrick Vallance saying, you've got to have an exit wave at some point'With a week to go until the Batley and Spen by-election, we also discuss how Labour's chances of holding the seat look. James points out that the stakes are higher for Starmer:'Hartlepool they could almost say, look this is the vaccine rollout, the government are getting a big boost from that... The problem is that because the Lib Dems won in Chesham and Amersham, I think that will be a harder excuse to pull off this time around'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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the five year anniversary of when the UK decided to leave the European Union and while the opposition are looking to try and put the referendum behind them, the government still seems keen to put any UK success squarely on the shoulders of Brexit. But with nationalist sentiment rumbling on in both the north and west are the Conservatives ignoring the battles to come? And also are the prospects of vaccine passports looking better?  James Forsyth and Katy Balls discuss... with another surprise visit from Fraser Nelson.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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While Labour are shuffling people round yet again and the DUP are getting ready to welcome in their third leader in less than a month, a new report seems to show that in education, the group seemingly most negatively effected by the idea of 'white privilege' are white, working class children. Katy Balls discusses the day's events with Isabel Hardman, James Forsyth and a special appearance from Fraser Nelson. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Conservatives still taking stock after their loss in the recent by-election, it seems the governments ambitions for planning reform are now firmly under the microscope. And on what would have been 'freedom day', there are reports that the powers at be don't think they'll have to extend restrictions again (we've heard that one before). Isabel Hardman is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isabel Hardman rounds up the highlights from Sunday's interview shows. Today's guests included John Bercow, Robert Buckland, Andy Burnham, Sir Ed Davey and Steve Reed. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The surprise result of Friday's Chesham and Amersham by-election has led to questions over why the Conservative lost just so badly - and why no one saw it coming. On today's Coffee House Shots, Conservative Home's Paul Goodman warns against over-reading the situation:'When it comes to by-elections, the golden rule should be, why not presume that voters will kick the establishment? ...  I really think, as I'm looking around at these Remainers coming out of their various holes and lairs, indulging these pathetic fantasies, that they have this out of proportion'James Forsyth adds that the result isn't so much a problem for the Conservative party, as it is symptomatic of the future problems in party management.  Tory MPs of various stripes have analysed the results through the lens of their personal cause, and for southern MPs, the issue stems from a tilt away from the traditional Tory base to appease the new Red Wall seats:'Every rebel with a cause is going to say that that cause has been demonstrated by this result, and all of it will just make party management more complex.'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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a political upset the Liberal Democrats have won the by-election in Chesham and Amersham in a massive poll swing from the Tories. And in other political the new DUP leader Edwin Poots has resigned, leaving his party to figure out what to do next. To dissect what happened, Cindy Yu is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New DUP leader Edwin Poots faces his first challenge today as he tries to push through a controversial candidate for First Minister. How much trouble is the party in, just weeks after the ousting of Arlene Foster? Isabel Hardman talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another day another Dom Bomb. In Cummings latest release, a number of WhatsApp messages reveal communications between himself and the Prime Minister, with the latter describing the health secretary Matt Hancock's performance as 'fucking hopeless'. To discuss the new revelations and its potential fallout Katy Balls is joined by James Forsyth, Isabel Hardman with a surprise appearance by Fraser Nelson. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.