Coffee House Shots25 Syys 2025

Starmer's make-or-break conference

Labour conference kicks off this weekend in Liverpool – but the mood going in is far from triumphant.

On today's Coffee House Shots, Lucy Dunn is joined by Tim Shipman and More in Common’s Luke Tryl to take the temperature ahead of Labour’s big set-piece. They discuss why some voters already see Starmer as ‘just as bad as the lot that came before’, and whether Labour can turn things around with new policies aimed at revitalising local communities – from saving libraries and pubs to giving residents more power over development.

There is also a fascinating hypothetical poll in which an Andy Burnham-led Labour party outpaces Reform UK, turning a deficit into a narrow lead. Luke explains how Burnham’s appeal lies less in his own charisma than in Labour’s ability to win back disillusioned supporters from the Lib Dems and the undecided.

But if Labour is struggling to meet expectations, Reform faces its own dilemmas. Farage’s recent flirtation with fringe debates – from vaccine-sceptic speakers to entertaining Trump's edict on paracetamol – risks alienating the mainstream voters. As Tim and Luke point out, Reform’s future depends on whether it can stay focused on bread-and-butter issues like immigration and the cost of living, or whether it strays into conspiratorial territory.

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.

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

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(3330)

Happy Coronation Day!

Andy Burnham will today be crowned Labour leader, before entering Downing Street on Monday. His first speech is expected to argue that Labour has lost touch with the working-class communities it was f...

17 Heinä 13min

Reeves out, Shabana in?

Rachel Reeves has delivered what is likely to be her valedictory Mansion House speech, defending her record on growth, borrowing and the public finances. But with businesses counting the cost of highe...

16 Heinä 14min

Farewell, Sir Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer has delivered his final PMQs. It was a more cordial occasion compared to most weeks, with Kemi Badenoch exchanging jokes with the outgoing Prime Minister over their previous clashes amid ...

15 Heinä 15min

Kemi wages war on the 'Tory wets'

Kemi Badenoch has declared war on the Tory wets, removing the whip from Gavin Barwell after Theresa May’s former chief of staff criticised her leadership and opposed the party’s positions on net zero ...

14 Heinä 15min

Is Ann Widdecombe’s murder being politicised?

The murder of Ann Widdecombe has sent shockwaves through Westminster and reignited the debate over politicians’ security. But with questions still unanswered about the motive for the attack, Reform’s ...

13 Heinä 20min

How we plan to beat Reform | Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative chairman

The Tories will not stand a candidate against Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election – and on today’s podcast Conservative party chairman Kevin Hollinrake explains why.Hollinrake also reveals what is...

10 Heinä 14min

The definitive guide to 'Manchesterism'

Everyone in Westminster is trying desperately to peer inside Andy Burnham’s head and work out what ‘Manchesterism’ really is – and in the magazine this week, Tali Fraser offers the definitive take. Ra...

9 Heinä 10min

Labour is one big happy family | with Chris Curtis MP

Nominations openned today for the next Labour leader and – spoiler alert – it looks as though Andy Burnham might clinch it. We strongly suspect he will be the only person to put his name forward, afte...

9 Heinä 14min