Coffee House Shots

With Reform leading in the polls, Nigel Farage is determined to ensure that nothing can impede its growth. This morning he sought to bolster his credibility on an area that the Tories think could be his Achilles heel: the economy.Reform’s £90 billion programme of tax cuts promised at the last election has been constantly used as a stick with which to beat its leader. So today, Farage took to the stage in the City, to – once again – formally bury ‘Our Contract with You’ – the platform on which he was elected in July last year. This morning’s speech was all about Reform claiming the mantle of fiscal conservatism and claiming that the party can be trusted with the nation’s savings. Who will win the battle to be the party of fiscal credibility? Michael Simmons speaks to James Heale and James Nation, former deputy head of the Prime Minister's policy unit and Treasury special adviser to Rishi Sunak. Produced by Oscar Edmondson 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.

The podcast dives into the intriguing question of whether the wealthy are leaving Britain. It examines conflicting data on millionaire migration while discussing calls for wealth taxes aimed at reducing inequality. The hosts highlight the implications of losing high earners and the challenges of relying on surveys for migration trends. Notably, they analyze tax receipts and market signals indicating capital flight, emphasizing the significant financial impact of wealthy individuals departing from the UK.

Tim Shipman, Political Editor of The Spectator, shares insights on Kemi Badenoch's tumultuous first year as Tory leader. He reveals her peculiar choices on election day after a setback for the Tories and discusses her improved performances in PMQs. Shipman also examines the internal dynamics of the Conservative Party and whether these enhancements have impacted polling numbers. Additionally, he addresses the challenges faced by Labour’s Rachel Reeves and the changing landscape of tactical voting in a multi-party system.

Rachel Reeves finds herself in hot water over a rental licence issue in Dulwich, raising questions about accountability for politicians. As the Prime Minister supports her, the implications of his backing loom large. Meanwhile, the royal family makes headlines as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is stripped of his titles, a decision influenced by the King's authority. The discussion also touches on the political dynamics of budget leaks and the broader issues surrounding ministerial support and public image in the wake of these scandals.

Last night’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards sparked lively debate and humor. Lucy Powell's speech was rife with witty barbs aimed at colleagues, while Nigel Farage faced mixed reactions. Labour speakers, especially Shabana Mahmood, charmed the crowd with humor and sharp jibes. Newcomer Katie Lamb made an impressive mark. Amidst playful banter, award-winners like Marie Tidball and Lord Hermer stood out for their impactful contributions. It was a night of celebration, laughter, and political insight!

Tim Shipman, the political editor at The Spectator, and Michael Simmons, an economist and host of the Reality Chick podcast, dive into the current economic debates. They discuss Kemi Badenoch's increasing confidence at PMQs and her questioning of Labour's tax pledges. Michael forecasts that the public might face potential tax increases, while both explore the implications of the UK's productivity shortfall and growing support for wealth taxes. The duo also critiques Labour's definition of a 'working person' and evaluates the Conservatives' economic strategies.

There are reports that the OBR will downgrade Britain’s productivity growth forecasts, increasing the size of the black hole facing the Chancellor at the end of the month. This continues the spate of bad news for the Chancellor on the economy – but can we trust the figures? James Heale and Michael Simmons join Patrick Gibbons to talk about what this means ahead of the budget, whether anger over the money wasted on asylum hotels can be linked to the cost-of-living crisis and what Rachel Reeves is doing in Saudi Arabia this week.Plus: is a debate over the customs union really what Britain wants right now?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.

With the news that the Home Office has spent billions of taxpayers' money on asylum hotels – and following the accidental release of the Epping sex offender – Tim Shipman and James Heale discuss this most shambolic of government departments. Is it fit for purpose? Can Shabana Mahmood fix the cursed department? And, if not, who will voters turn to instead?Produced by Megan McElroy and 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.

We thought when we organised this podcast that there would just be the newly announced deputy Labour leader to discuss – Lucy Powell beat Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson by 87,407 votes to 73,536. But instead we also have evidence the Prime Minister may have lied to Parliament over the collapse of the China spy case, and there is a manhunt under way to recapture a dangerous criminal released by mistake.Bad news clearly comes in threes for No. 10: Lucy Powell was not their pick for the job; lying to Parliament is the kind of thing that the ministerial code is quite clear on; and the criminal in question is the Epping migrant hotel sex offender.Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and the Sunday Times’ Gabriel Pogrund.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.

On the face of it, the Caerphilly by-election result is a disaster, a drubbing and a humiliation for Keir Starmer’s Labour party. A once secure bastion of the Welsh Labour heartlands fell without a squeak from the governing party. Their vote collapsed to a miserable 11 per cent, while Plaid Cymru won with 47 per cent and Reform surged to second place with 36 per cent. The result suggests Labour is on course to surrender a boatload of seats at the 2029 general election, both to Reform and to whatever protest party is best suited to beat the government around the head – be it Plaid, the Greens, the Corbynites, the Islamist independents or the SNP. But is there good news for the PM beyond the headlines? Lucy Dunn speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale. 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.