Coffee House Shots Are the Greens repeating Corbyn's mistakes?
8 snips
May 6, 2026 
James Heale, Deputy political editor at The Spectator, offers sharp analysis of party movements. Tim Shipman, The Spectator’s political editor, dissects leadership strategy and election tactics. They debate Greens’ vetting and social media scrutiny compared with past Labour controversies. They also examine leadership readiness, narrative-building, and the tension between populist energy and party discipline.
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Green Surge Exposed Vetting And Social Media Risks
- The Greens' rapid rise brought social media risks and vetting failures into the spotlight.
- James Heale cites Zach Polanski's prolific posts and likes of disparaging content plus the Times' questions about his charity claims as triggers.
Take The Leader's Phone Away
- Take leaders' phones away to prevent damaging social-media likes and unvetted posts.
- James Heale recommends tighter control after comparing Zach Polanski's likes to repeated controversies and Karen Badenock's past errors.
Gorton Denton By-Election Echoed Early UKIP
- The Greens' by-election performance resembled early UKIP dynamics.
- James Heale recalls the Gorton Denton by-election where the Greens won but showed signs of the same issues UKIP faced in 2013.