Coffee House Shots13 Okt 2025

Spy scandal: what is Labour's policy on China?

It’s a ‘great and beautiful day’, as Donald Trump wrote in the guestbook at the Knesset, where he will address the Israeli parliament after the final hostages were handed back to Israel. It is, of course, a historic piece of diplomacy, and the conversation in Westminster has turned to the extent to which the UK was involved. Bridget Phillipson claimed over the weekend that Britain played a ‘key role’ in bringing about peace – much to the chagrin of Mike Huckabee, the US Ambassador to Israel, who called her ‘delusional’. Is she?

The government have more pressing issues, however, with the collapsed China spy case – the sudden abandonment of a case brought against two men (Chris Cash, a parliamentary researcher, and Chris Berry, an academic). National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell appears to be central to this decision, but the current government line is that Powell had no role in the ‘substance or the evidence’ of the case – a formulation which smacks of legalese. Will he be the next to go?

Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale.

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.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(3329)

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 Jul 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 Jul 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 Jul 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 Jul 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 Jul 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 Jul 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 Jul 14min

Inside Reform's by-election masterplan

Nigel Farage’s Clacton by-election gamble has not gone quite to plan: the major parties have called his bluff and refused to stand. Is this now a Potemkin by-election – or has Farage still succeeded i...

8 Jul 17min