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Best of the Spectator — News & Politics
Best of the Spectator

Home to the Spectator’s best podcasts on everything from politics to religion, literature to food and drink, and more. A new podcast every day from writers worth listening to.

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Latest Episodes:

Can Aukus shift the balance in the Pacific? Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

Liz Truss has spoken about an axis of liberty becoming the basis of Britain’s foreign policy. The Aukus alliance is a cornerstone of new security architecture. Join The Spectator’s Cindy Yu and special guests as they explore what this means, what’s to come, and whether the alliance is an effective basis for containing China.

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74 Years of the NHS: Can its crisis be cured? Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

As the NHS turns 74, the service has never been under so much strain. The pandemic has created record waiting lists of almost seven million in England alone. Every month, tens of thousands of accident and emergency patients are left to wait for more than 12 hours with ambulances queuing up outside. Other long-term challenges such as an ageing population are coming to a head.
On this podcast, Isabel Hardman, The Spectator’s, assistant editor and her guests take a look back at the history of the NHS to talk about what the service was founded for, and why it is in crisis now. Isabel is joined by a panel of specialists; Alan Milburn, the former secretary of state for health from 1999 to 2003; Anne Milton, former minister for health from 2010-2015, and deputy chief whip for the Conservative party; and Philip Schwab, Abbvie’s regional director for government affairs in Europe.
This podcast is kindly sponsored by Abbvie.

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Chinese Whispers: a look ahead to the 20th Party Congress Oct 03, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of Chinese Whispers, we look ahead to the 20th National Party Congress, where senior members will gather to review the future direction of the party and unveil new leaders. What should China-watchers expect? Will Xi be able to fill the standing committee with those loyal to him?
To discuss this important moment in the communist calendar is author of the Sinocism substack Bill Bishop and Professor Victor Shih, expert in Chinese elite politics and author of the new book Coalitions of the Weak.
If you enjoy this podcast, you can now register your interest for an upcoming Chinese Whispers newsletter, at www.spectator.co.uk/whispers.

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Spectator Out Loud: Jenny McCartney, Dan Hitchens and Gus Carter Oct 01, 2022

Show notes

This week on Spectator Out Loud, Jenny McCartney argues that tomorrow belongs to Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland. What could this mean for reunification (00:55)? Then, Dan Hitchens asks why Oxford killed a much loved catholic college (11:44) before Gus Carter reads his notes on the tabletop game Warhammer (20:12).
Produced and presented by Oscar Edmondson.

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Podcast special: Britain in the global fight against Covid Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

The UK was the first country in the world to begin its formal vaccine rollout, starting with the 91 year old Margaret Keenan. In the years since, the pandemic has been almost entirely routed in this country (though its impact on the economy, on healthcare, on the criminal justice system, continue to be suffered). But the British vaccine – developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca – was a key part of the global fight against the pandemic. What was it like to be on the inside during those crucial first months? The Spectator has brought together politicians, advisors and scientists who played key roles during that time, to reveal a picture of dealing with unprecedented crisis in smart ways.
On this episode: Kate Andrews, The Spectator's economics editor, talks to Nadhim Zahawi (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who had been the first Vaccines Minister during the pandemic); Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, head of UK Music who was a special advisor to then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock; Professor Andrew Pollard, chief investigator for the clinical trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine; and Isabel Hardman, The Spectator's assistant editor.
This episode is the first of a mini-series taking a look at Britain in the world, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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The Edition: What crisis? Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

On this week's podcast:
For the cover of the magazine Kate Andrews assesses the politics of panic, and the fallout of last week's so-called fiscal event. She is joined by Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies think tank to discuss where the Conservatives go from here (00:57).
Also this week:
Does the future belong to Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland?
This is the claim that Jenny McCartney makes in this week's Spectator. We speak with journalistMelanie McDonagh and politician Mairia Cahill about what this could mean for Irish reunification (15:58).
And finally:
Are red kites magnificent or a menace?
Paul Sargeanton says in his article for The Spectator that red kites should have never been reintroduced back into the UK. His claim is contested by naturalist and author of The Red Kites Year, Ian Carter (28:19).
Hosted by Lara Prendergast and William Moore.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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The Book Club: Lawrence Freedman Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

In this week's Book Club podcast my guest is the doyen of war studies, Lawrence Freedman. His new book Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine takes a fascinating look at the interplay between politics and conflict in the post-war era. He tells me why dictators make bad generals, how soldiers are always playing politics, how the nuclear age has changed the calculus of conflict and gives me his latest read on the progress of the war in Ukraine.

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Americano: Has conservatism been misunderstood? Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

This week Freddy is joined by political theorist Yoram Hazony. They discuss Yoram's new book Conservatism: A Rediscovery, the origins of American conservatism and whether the family unit will be the defining feature of the modern conservative movement.

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Table Talk: With Andy Burnham Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

Andy Burnham has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. Before this he held prominent positions in Gordon Brown's cabinet, including health secretary and culture secretary.
On the podcast he recalls Friday night 'chippy teas' as a child, the oddity of having food items named after him and discusses his work tackling food insecurity in Greater Manchester.

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The Week in 60 Minutes: Hitchens on nukes & Truss's gas gamble Sep 25, 2022

Show notes

Katy Balls, The Spectator's deputy political editor, is joined by journalist Peter Hitchens; Spectator contributor Paul Wood; The Spectator's economics editor Kate Andrews; political editor James Forsyth; assistant editor Isabel Hardman; news editor John Connolly; and assistant online editor Lisa Haseldine.
On the episode:
00:00 – Welcome from Katy Balls
01:21 – Would Putin use a nuclear bomb? With Paul Wood and Peter Hitchens
15:39 – The politicians speaking out against Putin, with Lisa Haseldine
27:41 – Why does Truss want to be unpopular? With James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman
40:58 – What's behind the violence in Leicester? With John Connolly
46:04 – Could Truss's gas price freeze cost less than planned? With Kate Andrews

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