Katy Balls is The Spectator’s former political editor.
With Boris Johnson considering placing England under national lockdown measures, what ever path the he chooses he will face a backlash. Sage scientists are pushing for tougher measures while anger is growing in the parliamentary party over the prospect of a further clampdown. So, what of public opinion? New polling for Coffee House by Redfield & Wilton
17 min listen
The whole of England could be put into lockdown again, reports this morning claim, as coronavirus cases continue to rise at a rate above the worst-case scenario modelled by SAGE. It comes as newly published minutes from the first week of October show the advisory group pushed the government to take action sooner. Katy Balls
Is the UK heading for a second national lockdown? That’s the question being asked in Westminster as coronavirus cases rise and SAGE members call for further measures. On Friday, the Prime Minister met with Rishi Sunak, Matt Hancock and Michael Gove to discuss how best to respond to new NHS data on the spread of coronavirus across the
15 min listen
Though there are grumblings from the left of the Labour party over Corbyn’s suspension, Keir Starmer has taken today to set the narrative in his favour. The polls, showing Labour in the lead, also help. Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth about how Starmer may have nipped a civil war in the
40 min listen
Anneliese Dodds is the shadow chancellor. On the podcast, she talks to Katy about protesting tuition fees in a university exams hall, life before politics, forcing Rishi Sunak into the Commons on his birthday, and whether the Conservatives are spending too much money.
11 min listen
Labour is truly under new leadership as Jeremy Corbyn gets suspended from the party today. The left of the party is clearly not happy – but can they do anything about the new direction of the party? John Connolly talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls. Tell us your thoughts on our podcasts and be
Over a year after the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched its investigation into anti-Semitism in the Labour party, the findings have been published. In what Sir Keir Starmer has described as a ‘day of shame for the Labour Party’, the report comes after years of allegations of anti-Semitism that dominated Jeremy Corbyn’s time as Labour leader. In the build
11 min listen
The Chancellor’s new economic package was much more generous than his previous plans, and when asked, Sunak insisted he was just reacting to the changing coronavirus situation. But could these pandemic developments really not be foreseen? Katy Balls talks to Kate Andrews and James Forsyth.
When Rishi Sunak unveiled his winter economy plan last month, the idea was that the new financial support packages would be enough to help struggling businesses through a turbulent period. So the fact that the Chancellor appeared before the Commons today just a few weeks later to announce new measures shows that events are overtaking
11 min listen
Keir Starmer seemed unable to land a definitive blow on Boris Johnson in PMQs this afternoon, after the government imposed a tier three lockdown in Manchester. Will the Labour leader be able to capitalise on their lockdown woes? John Connolly speaks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
In this evening’s press conference, Boris Johnson confirmed that Greater Manchester is to be placed under Tier 3 despite continuing opposition from local leaders. With the government previously offering £60m for the area in negotiations with metro mayor Andy Burnham – which was rejected as local leaders pushed for £65m – Johnson refused to be drawn
12 min listen
While the government has failed to strike a deal with Greater Manchester authorities to put the region into tier three, the Prime Minister is expected to announce an imposition of the restrictions in a press conference later today. But will coronavirus overwhelm Manchester’s hospitals? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
The government’s negotiations with the EU appear to be going a little better than their talks with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. While there is yet to an agreement on moving Greater Manchester into Tier 3, there has been a development on Brexit. On Friday, the Prime Minister used a video clip to warn the
14 min listen
The government is today expected to announce whether Greater Manchester will be placed into a tier three lockdown after negotiations with Andy Burnham continued over the weekend. Why have the talks been so protracted? Does the Mayor disagree with lockdown, or simply want more financial support? Cindy Yu speaks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
Is Greater Manchester about to go into tier three restrictions? That’s the hope in government following a week of negotiations, a war of words playing out in the media and internal Tory division. Metro mayor Andy Burnham — known in some parts of the internet as the ‘king of the north’ — has been resisting
11 min listen
Boris Johnson today told Brits to prepare for a no-deal Brexit, saying the European Union were ‘not willing’ to offer a Canada-style trade agreement. Is this really the end of the talks, or is progress being made behind the scenes? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
In recent months, Boris Johnson and his team have been keen to suggest there is a hard deadline when it comes to agreeing a Brexit deal. The Prime Minister argued last month that both sides ought to walk away from the talks and prepare for no deal if there was no agreement by the EU summit on October
37 min listen
Rachel Johnson is a journalist, author and broadcaster. On the podcast, she talks to Katy about what it was like to go to a boys’ boarding school, why university had been so eye-opening after her childhood, her brief foray into politics for Change UK, and the worst pieces of advice she’s ever got (both from
11 min listen
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, today slammed the government for attempting to put the region in the highest tier of Covid-19 restrictions, saying the North would not be a ‘sacrificial lamb’. Why has the three-tier system backfired on the government? John Connolly speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
This week’s Prime Minister’s Questions stood out from previous sessions. Boris Johnson appeared the most comfortable he has in recent weeks – boosted by the loud support of the Tory MPs allowed in the socially distanced Commons chamber. In a way this was strange – Conservative MPs have become grumpier with each week when it
