Coffee House Shots

Latest Episodes:

Peter Mandelson haunts Labour Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

Overnight, Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

He has not commented publicly in recent weeks, though he has previously denied any wrongdoing.

How long will this row continue to haunt Labour? With more documents due to be released relating to his appointment as US ambassador, can the party contain the damage — or is this just the beginning?

Elsewhere, Keir Starmer has made an unexpected visit to Gorton and Denton. Is this a show of confidence — or a last-ditch attempt to shore up support?

Tim Shipman and John McTernan, former political secretary to Tony Blair, join Megan McElroy to discuss.

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SEND plans: 'cost-cutting or reform'? Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Bridget Phillipson has unveiled Labour’s long-awaited overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities system – a £4 billion reform designed to rein in spiralling costs and bring order to what MPs across the House describe as a broken model. Ministers insist this is reform, not retrenchment – but with councils under intense financial pressure and families fearful of losing hard-won support, Labour backbenchers are watching closely. Is this a genuine attempt to fix an unsustainable system, or just a cost-cutting exercise?

Tim Shipman speaks to Isabel Hardman.

Produced by Megan McElroy and Oscar Edmondson.

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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 22/02/2026 Feb 22, 2026

Show notes

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.

The Jeffrey Epstein fallout continues, Trump rebukes the Supreme Court with new global tariffs, and the government prepares to announce its new plan for schools.

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Why by-elections matter – with Iain Dale & Jon Craig Feb 21, 2026

Show notes

Two titans of broadcasting – LBC’s Iain Dale and Sky's Jon Craig – join deputy political editor James Heale for a whistle-stop tour of British by-elections. From Oxford City in 1938 to Chesterfield in 1984 right up to Runcorn in 2025, why do by-elections matter? When have they been most significant? And are longer vote counts the product of fractured politics in the modern age?

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

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Andrew's arrest spells trouble for Labour Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been released under caution after he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office – the image of him sat slumped in the back of a car while leaving Norfolk police station on his 66th birthday splashes all the morning papers. Focussing on the politics, his could throw up lots of difficult questions for Labour and Keir Starmer – and governments famously don’t much like talking about the Royals. What problems will this cause Starmer?

In other news, it is not shaping up to be an easy return after recess, not least with Donald Trump’s latest intervention on the Chagos deal. How many more setbacks can the plan endure?

Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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How prepared is Britain for war? – with Gen Sir Nick Carter Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

General Sir Nick Carter, former chief of the defence staff, joins Tim Shipman to discuss Britain's military preparedness – or rather, lack thereof. While a friendlier US presence at the Munich Security Conference may have provided some relief, the military threats to the UK and to Europe presented are still stark. So what choices need to be addressed to ensure that Britain is equipped to deal with these threats? Is the government doing enough to address the awareness gap with the public? And how could AI change warfare?

Tim's cover piece, Defenceless: the grim truth about Britain's military, can be found here.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

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Is Reform now part of the ‘orthodoxy’? Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

It is Robert Jenrick’s big day out today. The newly-minted Reform ‘shadow chancellor’ made his first speech this morning, where he had the chance to show what kind of chancellor he would be and – sporting a snazzy pair of specs – he had plenty of soothing words to calm the jitters of the bond markets.

The top news lines from his presser was his decision to kill Reform’s two-child benefit cap – Nigel Farage’s big offer to Labour voters last summer – and the announcement that he he would support the independence of the OBR and the Bank of England. Is this a missed opportunity for Reform UK?

Oscar Edmondson speaks to Michael Simmons and Tim Shipman.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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Nigel Farage unveils his shadow cabinet Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

Reform UK is no longer a one-man band. Nigel Farage has unveiled Reform's four spokesmen for the “great offices of state” at a press conference in Westminster. Recent Tory defector Robert Jenrick has been given the Chancellor brief, Zia Yusuf is in charge of home affairs, Suella Braverman is responsible for education and Richard Tice will look after business and energy. The format resembled a game show like the ‘Weakest Link’ or ‘Take Me Out’. Each of the quartet was introduced, given a spotlight and then had it turned out when their time was up.

Is this new 'shadow cabinet' ready for No. 10, or just Tory 2.0? Tim Shipman, James Heale, and Megan McElroy discuss.

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Can Starmer protect the country (and himself)? Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

Following a weekend at the Munich Security Conference, there have been reports that the Prime Minister is set to sign off on a huge increase in defence spending. While this comes at a time of increasing threats to Britain, it isn't just the UK's position that's under threat but Keir Starmer himself – who continues to face questions about his leadership. Defence secretary John Healey has been talked about as a potential 'unity' candidate between the left and right flanks of the Labour party. But Labour's internal problems continue to grow, with reports that journalist – and friend of Coffee House Shots – Gabriel Pogrund was the subject of a malicious investigation by Starmerite think-tank Labour Together. Tim Shipman joins James Heale to discuss all the developments.

Produced by Megan McElroy and Patrick Gibbons.

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For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.

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Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 15/02/2026 Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.

European allies say Russia is responsible for Alexei Navalny's death. And the government's Palestine Action ban is ruled unlawful by the High Court.

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For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.