Coffee House Shots

Kemi Badenoch takes a sharp jab at Keir Starmer, raising questions about Peter Mandelson's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Her focused questioning targets Starmer's judgment and the implications of appointing Mandelson as ambassador amidst growing controversies. The conversation highlights political accountability and the potential fallout for Labour's leadership under Starmer. As the debate heats up, the dynamics of political maneuvering and the significance of women voters loom large in upcoming elections.

Dive into the political drama within the Labour Party as key leadership changes unfold. Explore the implications of new appointments and the controversies surrounding dismissals, highlighting unique voices and challenges faced by figures like Shabana Mahmood. Delve into the broader themes of identity politics versus economic issues, questioning how personal narratives affect voter perceptions. Plus, consider the alarming possibility of Britain drifting towards revolutionary sentiments reminiscent of France.

The discussion heats up over Shabana Mahmood's ability to manage immigration as the government hints at stricter policies. The Labour Party's deputy leadership race takes center stage with notable candidates like Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell, prompting speculation about their chances. Amid economic strife, the Conservative Party grapples with public sentiment and internal challenges. Additionally, shocking ties between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein surface, complicating the interplay of politics and celebrity.

James Heale from The Spectator shares insights fresh from Reform UK's lively conference. He highlights the energetic atmosphere, notably Andrea Jenkyns’ quirky performance and Nigel Farage’s attempt to unify the coalition. The conversation dives into internal tensions within the party and questions their ability to govern seriously. The discussion shifts to the Labour Party, exploring Shabana Mahmood’s significant new role and the implications of Starmer’s reshuffle on immigration policy and party dynamics.

A chaotic week in UK politics sees contrasting fortunes for the Reform party versus ongoing crises in Labour. Key discussions include a deputy prime minister's tax scandal and its implications for government integrity. Furthermore, a major political reshuffle raises questions about leadership effectiveness. The complexity of new immigration laws sparks intense debate, especially regarding small boat arrivals. Lastly, the Conservative Party grapples with a shift towards fiscal responsibility amid economic turmoil, highlighting the evolving political landscape.

Zia Yusuf, Head of the department of government efficiency for Reform UK and former tech entrepreneur, chats with Michael Gove about a range of pressing issues. They explore Labour's governance record and Zia’s personal journey into politics. The conversation delves into controversial immigration policies and fiscal reforms aimed at enhancing public services. They also examine the transformative potential of AI in society and the UK's capacity to lead in this field, wrapping up with a fast-paced critique of current and past political leaders.

Lucy Dunn catches up with Tim Shipman at Reform's party conference, taking place in Birmingham, to get his reaction to Labour's reshuffle. The reshuffle took place following Angela Rayner's resignation from government. Tim argues that it's clear the reshuffle centred around getting Shabana Mahmood into the Home Office, where she can tackle some of the biggest issues for Labour – small boats and asylum hotels. They also round up the goings on at Reform including leader Nigel Farage's speech, who claimed Labour's reshuffle proved an election could be sooner than we think...Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy. 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.

Angela Rayner has resigned following the ethics probe into her tax affairs. What impact will this have on Starmer's government? And does this hinder her chances of succeeding Starmer one day?The Coffee House Shots team react live from day one of the Reform party conference, which is taking place in Birmingham. What's the mood in the conference hall? And, after Nadine Dorries joined Reform last night, could more former Conservatives follow?Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.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.

24 hours after Angela Rayner admitted underpaying tax, the pressure remains on the deputy prime minister as Westminster now waits the outcome of the probe by the Prime Minister’s standards adviser. The Spectator’s political editor Tim Shipman and the Sunday Times’s Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund join Patrick Gibbons to discuss whether Rayner can retain her briefs. As Gabriel points out, regardless of the outcome of the ethics probe, Rayner was seen as Labour’s ‘sleaze-buster in chief’. So how damaging is this to ‘brand Ang’?Produced by Patrick Gibbons.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.

Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch faced off in the first Prime Minister’s Questions following summer recess. With the date of the Budget announced that morning, the economy was expected to dominate – which it did, to the surprise of most MPs, who expected Badenoch to attack over the Angela Rayner tax row. The deputy prime minister had admitted that morning she underpaid stamp duty on her flat in Hove. The leader of the opposition did question Starmer on it initially, but as political editor Tim Shipman says she more than missed an open goal. Tim joins Isabel Hardman and Lucy Dunn to discuss how damaging the row is for Rayner – and how damaging PMQs was for Badenoch.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.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.