Coffee House Shots

Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman about the challenges facing the incoming Prime Minister, not least the dire forecast from the Bank of England predicting recession for 2023. 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 Bank of England's announcement to raise interest rates comes as the UK is predicted to fall into recession this year – with the lowest downturn expected since 2008. Are Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss ready for what's ahead?The two candidates went head-to-head once again last night in the Sky News studios. This time, the audience, made up of Conservative party members, grilled contenders and Kay Burley followed with some hard-hitting questions. By the end, most of the audience were persuaded by Rishi. Could the tide be turning?Katy Balls speaks to James Forysth.Produced by Natasha Feroze.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 Bank of England raised its rates by another half per cent today, as it warned that inflation will peak at 13 per cent by the end of this year. The question about the Bank of England's effectiveness arises again – should it have foreseen the inflationary crisis we are in now, and done more about it? Liz Truss has pledged to review the Bank's mandate. Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.Produced by Cindy Yu.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.

On today's podcast, Katy Balls and James Forsyth discuss a sticking point for Rishi Sunak as he meets the membership – that he led a 'coup' to overthrow Boris Johnson. Whilst travelling the country, can he persuade the membership otherwise?Also today, a new YouGov poll of Conservative members gives Liz Truss a 34-point lead ahead of Rishi Sunak. Is there enough time for him to turn the tide? How many Tory members have already made up their minds?And finally, is GCHQ at risk of being hacked? Cindy Yu is joined by James Forsyth and Katy Balls. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.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.

Liz Truss has U-turned on a public worker pay plan announced just last night – the idea being that pay would reflect the cost of living in regional areas. What made her backtrack on the announcement? And how damaging has this been to her campaign?'Any discussion of lowering pay right now is politically intolerable. Timing matters a lot here' - Kate Andrews.Also on the podcast, Kate and James discuss the political tensions behind 'fat cat' pay and windfall taxes on the day BP announce its largest profit in 14 years.Cindy Yu is joined by Kate Andrews and James Forsyth.Produced by Natasha Feroze.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.

This morning, Lisa Nandy defied party orders by joining a picket line in Wigan to support striking BT and Openreach staff. This comes after last week, Keir Starmer sacked Sam Tarry MP, who went on an unauthorised media round at an RMT picket line. Similarly, Labour’s biggest union, Unite, threatened to pull all funding from the party over the Labour leader's refusal to back strike action. Is Keir Starmer losing control over his party?Also on the podcast, what's the latest on the Liz Truss vs Rishi Sunak leadership contest?Max Jeffery is joined by Isabel Hardman and James Forsyth.Produced by Natasha Feroze.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.

Rishi Sunak sat down this evening for a 30-minute interview with Andrew Neil. They covered the economy, the NHS, immigration and the former chancellor's personal finances. Sunak knew he was taking a risk in sitting down with Neil. Was it worth it?Max Jeffery speaks to Katy Balls and Kate Andrews. Produced by Max Jeffery.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.

Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were in Leeds yesterday for the first of the leadership hustings in front of Tory members. Truss put in an assured performance, while Sunak had to defend his announcement that he would cut VAT on energy bills, after saying that tax cuts would be 'immoral'. With little time left for the former chancellor to turn things around, is Truss unstoppable?Cindy Yu speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.Produced by Max Jeffery.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.

You can always count on Labour to descend into civil war while the media is focused on the Conservative party's in-fighting. After Keir Starmer fired a junior shadow transport minister, Sam Tarry, earlier this week for his involvement in the strike action, the left of the party has hit back, raising questions over Keir Starmer's leadership and the raison d'etre of the Labour party itself. Cindy Yu talks to James Forsyth and Kate Andrews about the best line for Starmer to take, as this will not be the last strike of the summer. On the episode, they also discuss the energy crisis coming in the autumn and what Truss and Sunak plan to do about it.Produced by Cindy Yu.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.

Having spent the last four debates suggesting that tax cuts are irresponsible and immoral, Rishi Sunak says he will cut VAT on energy bills if he becomes the next prime minister. Those defending him have suggested that this particular tax cut is temporary, it is funded and will help ease the cost of living crisis. Are they right?Katy Balls is joined by Kate Andrews. Produced by Natasha Feroze.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.