Coffee House Shots

Labour is facing growing criticism from rural Britain, with the Countryside Alliance calling for a ‘rural reset’ between the government and the countryside.

Noa Hoffman and James Heale are joined by Tory peer and Countryside Alliance chairman Nick Herbert to discuss why Labour has lost the trust of rural communities - from the family farm tax and trail hunting to plans to licence game shooting.

They ask whether Labour’s new approach under Andy Burnham can repair the relationship, and examine why politicians need to stop treating rural Britain as the enemy.

Produced by Abigail Brierley.
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Reform UK received a record-breaking £72 million in donations over the weekend from two crypto billionaires – meaning the party has received almost twice as much in 24 hours as all political parties combined have received in donations this year.
Noa Hoffman and James Heale discuss how Reform will spend the money, the government’s plans to cap political donations from British expats, and what the public makes of the party’s massive cash injection.
They also examine Kemi Badenoch’s plans to potentially abolish inheritance tax, and how the policy could help the Conservatives distinguish themselves from Reform. Plus, what does Labour’s ambitious housing target mean for Angela Rayner and the party?
Produced by Abigail Brierley.
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Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.

Reform have newfound riches. What does this mean for the future of political donations in the UK?

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Andy Burnham has announced his intention to change a law which bars him from advising the King on appointments to the Church of England. The Victorian-era law explicitly bars Catholics like Burnham, as well as Jews – but doesn't prevent those of other Christian denominations, other faiths – like Hindu Rishi Sunak, or atheists like Keir Starmer. So, if the law is going to be changed to address this anomaly, should it allow all Prime Ministers of any faith to provide advice – or should all non-Anglicans be barred? And what does Burnham's interest in the power tell us about his relationship with his faith – and his approach to the job?

The Spectator's James Heale and William Moore join Damian Thompson to discuss. This was originally broadcast on the Spectator's Holy Smoke channel.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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England's 15-year-olds came eighth in the world for science, ninth for reading and tenth for maths in Tuesday's Pisa results, though it took the education secretary, Lucy Powell, hours to send the congratulatory message. James Heale is joined by Tim Shipman and the shadow education secretary, Laura Trott, to go through the numbers, why Labour wants to unpick the reforms behind them, and whether a vocational route at 14 would help the pupils it is aimed at.

Produced by Henry Lloyd.
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.