Share
Coffee House Shots
Does Britain still have free speech? | with Jonathan Sumption & Kellie-Jay Keen
•
This week, The Spectator hosted a debate on the motion: This house believes Britain no longer has free speech.
Chaired by The Spectator’s Assistant Editor Isabel Hardman, the debate saw former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie and women’s rights campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen propose the motion, with former Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Sumption and politician and commentator Ed Vaizey arguing against it.
In this episode, we hear Jonathan Sumption and Kellie-Jay Keen set out their cases before the panel goes head-to-head on cancel culture, the role of the police, overzealous lawyers and the responsibility of the press.
To find out more about upcoming Spectator events, visit events.spectator.co.uk.
Produced by Abigail Brierley.
This episode is brought to you by Raymond James. Combining deep insights into who you are with our financial expertise, that’s the power of personal. Investment involves risk.
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
More episodes
View all episodes
Why does everyone hate inheritance tax? | Dan Neidle
20:12|This episode was originally posted on our Reality Check channel. To watch, head over to our YouTube Inheritance tax is one of Britain's most unpopular taxes – but is it really as unfair as people think? Our Economics Editor Michael Simmons speak to tax expert Dan Neidle about why inheritance tax inspires such hostility, who really ends up paying it, and whether it needs reforming.With the Conservatives proposing to abolish inheritance tax on family homes, Dan explains why the policy could have unintended consequences for the housing market, why the wealthiest can often avoid the tax altogether, and how the current system disproportionately affects the upper middle class.
Kim Darroch: ‘Trump was conned by Netanyahu’ over Iran
18:16|Donald Trump’s midterm defeat has thrown fresh uncertainty over the future of his presidency – and his foreign policy.On today’s Coffee House Shots, Tim Shipman speaks to Lord Kim Darroch, former British ambassador to Washington, about what happens next. With JD Vance already positioning himself for 2028, could the MAGA movement be starting to fracture? And how much damage has Trump’s approach to Iran done to his standing at home?They also discuss whether Andy Burnham can turn the crisis into an opportunity for Britain, who might succeed Trump in the White House, and why a deal to end the war in Ukraine still looks a long way off.Produced by Abigail Brierley.
Blue tsunami: what does it mean for Britain?
12:02|Donald Trump has suffered a generational defeat in the US midterms, with Democrats making sweeping gains across the country. Has the Trump coalition finally fallen apart? And what does the result mean for the future of the Republican Party?James Heale is joined by US Editor Freddy Gray and Political Editor Tim Shipman to discuss the fallout. Is this a vote against Trump rather than an endorsement of the Democrats? And could the result pave the way for a 2028 presidential run by Ron DeSantis or JD Vance?Plus: could Trump's response to the defeat reignite tensions with Iran, and what might that mean for Britain? And in Westminster, who came out on top at PMQs, as Alex Burghart faced Louise Haigh?Produced by Abigail Brierley.
The King schools Burnham | with Robert Tombs
14:50|Has King Charles shown Andy Burnham how to handle the row over slavery reparations? Following the Commonwealth summit, historian Robert Tombs joins James Heale to discuss why the King’s carefully worded speech struck the right tone – and whether Burnham’s intervention risks opening the door to billions in compensation claims.They also discuss Britain’s role in abolishing the slave trade, the growing demands for reparations and whether the Commonwealth still has a future.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Goodbye to hardline immigration reforms
15:51|Shabana Mahmood has unveiled her long-awaited reforms to immigration rules, including on indefinite leave to remain, and with them the partial climbdown briefed over the past few days. Noa Hoffman is joined by Tim Shipman and James Heale to examine what has and has not changed in the new plans.Produced by Henry Lloyd
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 01/11/2026
13:42|Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.The Budget is here. And the prime minister is open to an apology for slavery.
Can Netanyahu cling on? Inside Israel’s election deadlock
20:17|In this Saturday edition of Coffee House Shots, James Heale is joined by Noa Hoffman, who has been reporting on the election from Israel, and former Foreign Office special adviser Ben Judah to unpack the results. They discuss the historic turnout among Arab Israeli voters, the growing influence of ultra-Orthodox parties and why, despite the failures of October 7, Netanyahu continues to command support.Plus: could an unlikely alliance between Jewish and Arab parties reshape Israeli politics? Produced by Abigail Brierley
The OBR's verdict on Healey
27:47|John Healey’s budget on Wednesday contained 98 measures, the most since 2010, and yet the OBR appears to be questioning the extent of his £15 billion in headroom. Tim Shipman speaks to the OBR’s David Miles about a tax take heading for a post-war high, the cuts pencilled in for the end of the parliament, and why, by his reckoning, Britain is 25% poorer than it expected to be in 2008.Produced by Henry Lloyd
The Spectator's post-Budget briefing
29:17|The Spectator’s editor Michael Gove, political editor Tim Shipman, economics editor Michael Simmons, economist and CEO of the Great British Business Council Catherine McBride and Harry Bell, director of financial planning at Raymond James, will give their insights into the autumn Budget, just hours after it is announced.