• Should he stay, or should he go? | with Maurice Glasman
    May 9 2026

    As the full picture of the local elections emerges, Labour faces a dilemma: stick with Keir Starmer, or put forward an alternative.

    Calls for Starmer to resign have intensified, and we are braced for MPs to stick their heads above the parapet this weekend. The message from the Prime Minister is that he ‘will not go’ and will not set out a path for his resignation either.

    So where does Labour go from here? Lord Glasman joins Tim and James to discuss the battle for the soul of the Labour party. Should they return to their traditions, or continue to ‘limp along in a state of paralysis’?

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    11 mins
  • The local elections winners & losers, in 10 mins
    May 8 2026

    This is your evening local elections update delivered by James Heale, Tim Shipman and Noa Hoffman – all in just 10 minutes.

    As results come in across the country, they take each party in turn. Have the Greens done as well as we all thought they would? Is this proof that Reform have not reached their peak? Can Labour recover from this total drubbing? And should the Tories be – quietly – pleased with themselves?

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    11 mins
  • Local elections briefing: what you need to know as Reform sweeps the country
    May 8 2026

    It’s results day, and Nigel Farage is the local elections winner – again. A wave of teal has swept the country, stealing Labour seats from Hartlepool to Havering.

    This election was sold by insurgent parties as a referendum on Keir Starmer and the story of Labour’s election so far is that they’re haemorrhaging votes on all sides – including to the Tories in Westminster. So what can we interpret so far? Will Starmer get the message and will the herd move against him?

    Michael Gove speaks to Tim Shipman, James Heale and Charlotte Pickles, chief executive of thinktank Re:State, at this morning’s Coffee House Shots breakfast briefing.

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    33 mins
  • The greatest political books ever: how many have you read?
    May 7 2026

    It’s polling day! Tim and James take the opportunity to go through their favourite political books ever, fiction and non-fiction. They discuss the books that have shaped their understanding of politics and make the case for the top spot.


    Is your favourite on the list? Have you read their number one? And which rankings would you dispute? They discuss with Megan McElroy.


    If you enjoy Coffee House Shots, you can join Tim Shipman and James Heale live as the election results roll in. Will Starmer survive the night? Are Reform and the Greens about to redraw the political map? And what happens next? Along with a panel of familiar faces and special guests, get the only analysis you’ll need as the political fallout begins. Watch live on Friday at 3 p.m. here, and tap the bell now to be notified in advance.

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    38 mins
  • Are the Greens repeating Corbyn's mistakes?
    May 6 2026

    As voters prepare to go to the polls in a set of local elections that could redraw the political map, we examine the ‘outsiders’ on today’s episode – starting with the Greens. After Zack Polanski’s grilling on the Today programme, are the Greens facing the same scrutiny that once engulfed Labour under Jeremy Corbyn?


    Also on the podcast: Tim writes a letter to Britain’s aspiring prime ministers. What does Keir Starmer still lack? Does Andy Burnham have a plan beyond Manchesterism? And why do so many politicians seem to hate politics?


    Noa Hoffman discusses with Tim Shipman and James Heale.


    If you enjoy Coffee House Shots, you can join Tim Shipman and James Heale live as the election results roll in. Will Starmer survive the night? Are Reform and the Greens about to redraw the political map? And what happens next? Along with a panel of familiar faces and special guests, get the only analysis you’ll need as the political fallout begins. Watch live on Friday at 3 p.m. here, and tap the bell now to be notified in advance.

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    18 mins
  • Who will survive the local elections?
    May 5 2026

    The local elections are nearly upon us. Political editor Tim Shipman and deputy political editor James Heale bring you the one-stop shop podcast with everything you need to know ahead of the day. What could happen to Keir Starmer, what will a really bad day look like for Labour, and is the political map about to be redrawn?



    If you enjoy Coffee House Shots, you can join Tim Shipman and James Heale live as the election results roll in. Will Starmer survive the night? Are Reform and the Greens about to redraw the political map? And what happens next? Along with a panel of familiar faces and special guests, get the only analysis you’ll need as the political fallout begins. Watch live on Friday at 3 p.m. here, and tap the bell now to be notified in advance.



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    12 mins
  • Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 03/05/2026
    May 3 2026

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


    Politicians react to potential bans on Palestine marches, in the wake of the Golders Green stabbings.

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    14 mins
  • LIVE: The Fight for the Right | Nick Timothy & Claire Coutinho vs Danny Kruger & Matt Goodwin
    May 1 2026

    The Conservative party was once the natural political home for those on the right. No longer. The Tories’ vote share collapsed at the 2024 general election and the party, under new leadership, has since been outflanked by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

    Earlier this week, The Spectator pitted the Conservatives, represented by Nick Timothy and Claire Coutinho, against Reform UK, represented by Matt Goodwin and Danny Kruger, for the definitive debate on which party truly represents the future of the right. Listen to an excerpt of that debate here, and for more The Spectator events go to spectator.com/events

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    28 mins