Coffee House Shots

The results are in. 211 Tory MPs expressed confidence in the Prime Minister, while 148 said they had no confidence in Boris Johnson continuing to lead the Conservative party. While this is technically a win, it is a narrower victory than Theresa May (who looked splendid in her ball gown tonight) got in her no-confidence vote which lead to her resignation only months later. Is this the beginning of the end for Boris?Isabel Hardman is joined by Katy Balls and James Forsyth on the roof of Parliament to discuss.

Boris Johnson will face a confidence vote tonight. Announcing the news this morning, the chair of the 1922 committee Sir Graham Brady said in a statement: 'The threshold of the 15% of the parliamentary party seeking a vote of confidence in the leader of the Conservative Party has been exceeded.' Will he win? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman.

Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday morning’s political programmes, with contributions coming from Grant Shapps, Sadiq Khan and Sir Howard Morrison QC. 

As this week marks the Queen's platinum jubilee, we take a look back at her greatest political achievements in her role as head of state. How important is the relationship between the monarch and the Prime Minister? 'I think there is a restraining act on the behaviour of Prime Ministers, that they will have to explain themselves to the Queen at some point - James Forsyth.Since her reign, she has served 14 Prime Ministers, one of whom was Margaret Thatcher. What was her relationship like with the Iron Lady? Lord Charles Moore, former editor of The Spectator who also wrote a biography on Mrs Thatcher spoke of the mutual respect the Queen and Margaret Thatcher had for one another. Also on the podcast, the Queen has always made clear that her son, Prince Charles is the next in line to the throne. What kind of King will he be?All to be discussed as Cindy Yu speaks to James Forsyth and Charles Moore.Produced by Natasha Feroze.

There is a lot of news to cover on Coffee House Shots before the celebrations for the Jubilee begin. First in Westminster with Lord Geidt threatening to resign over Boris Johnson's handling of partygate. Then more internationally to the fraying of the alliance to defend Ukraine. And finally, has Scotland found its Margret Thatcher in Kate Forbes? Cindy Yu talks with James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson. 

The government wants to cut the civil service by over 90,000 people to 2016 levels. Part of the plan is to suspend the Fast Stream recruitment scheme, which hires high-achieving graduates out of university. Why is the government so set on the cut, and is this really the best way to do it? Cindy Yu speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.James Forsyth: 'If these graduates go and work in the private sector instead, frankly the civil service won't be able to afford them in three, five or seven years time.'Subscribe to The Spectator's Evening Blend, Britain's most-read politics email, to get an update on the day's politics every weeknight: https://www.spectator.co.uk/blendAnd subscribe to The Spectator magazine too. To celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, you can subscribe to 10 weeks of The Spectator, in print and online, for just £1. We'll also send you a commemorative tea towel to commemorate the occasion. To claim the offer, which ends on Monday, go to: https://www.spectator.co.uk/jubilee

The Sue Gray report came in last week, but we haven't seen a coordinated effort to either stand behind the Prime Minister, or kick him out. Instead, there has reportedly been a drip of letters of no confidence letters coming in from individual Tories, rather than an organised group. Could we finally see the 54 letters needed to trigger a vote on Johnson's leadership?Cindy Yu, Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth discuss.

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. This podcast contains clips featuring Andrei Kelin, Brandon Lewis, Anneliese Dodds and Mick Lynch. 

Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson, James Forsyth, and Kate Andrews about Rishi Sunak's latest support package to aid with the cost of living, including the windfall tax on energy companies. 

There have been mixed opinions following Rishi Sunak's plans to help the cost of living crisis. The £15 billion budget is targeted to help the whole country with a particular emphasis on those most in need - but has it gone far enough? Or will we pay the price for the Chancellor's handouts in the future?Kate Andrews speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth. 

Rishi Sunak has announced a new tranche of economic measures designed to help ease the cost of living crisis in the UK. The new payments will be funded by a windfall tax on energy companies, which comes as the government U-turns on its previous opposition to the policy. On the episode, Katy Balls talks to James Forsyth and Kate Andrews about these measures – and especially the windfall tax.Kate doesn't mince her words, arguing that 'This tax grab is possibly going to be a nail on the coffin for a Tory party that has been hiking taxes for the last two years'.Produced by Natasha Feroze and Cindy Yu.

The long-awaited Sue Gray report is finally published today. It included new photographs (including of the birthday bash, though James Forsyth describes the photo as looking more like 'an enforced office socialising occasion' than a party), colourful details (one staffer was threw up at one drinks) and some unsavoury revelations (Sue Gray was damning about some of the staffers' treatment of cleaners and security staff). But amidst all this, has the report really worsened the situation for Boris Johnson? Katy Balls talks to Isabel Hardman and James on this episode.Produced by Natasha Feroze and Cindy Yu.

Sue Gray's report into Downing Street parties during lockdown is set to be released on Wednesday morning. The tone Boris Johnson takes will be vital to his political future. What will he say?Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman.

It's finally happening! This is the week the infamous Sue Gray report into partygate will be released. Details are few and far between, although we do know that the Prime Minister will be mentioned by name in the document. Mutterings from Tory HQ are that this is not going to be a good week for the government but not the end of Boris Johnson. Only time will tell.Isabel Hardman talks with Katy Balls and James Forsyth.

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Today's best bits come from Nadhim Zahawi, Pat McFadden and Michael Lewis. 

Some Tories want to lose the next election. Conservative policies and ideologies are stale, they say, and the party could do with a period in opposition. Is this really a good idea? And could a Labour, SNP and Liberal Democrat coalition find a way to keep the Tories out of government for decades?'If anyone is thinking that way, they don't deserve to be in power.' – Fraser NelsonKaty Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.

Given that Boris Johnson escaped the latest and final set of party fines from the police yesterday, does this mean partygate is over? Sue Gray's report is still yet to be published, where she intends to name and shame those in her report. Could this take some of the pressure off the Prime Minister?Also on the podcast, there is a growing divide within the Conservative party between those who want a windfall tax and those that don't. But where does Boris stand on this?All to be discussed as Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson.

The Met police have today announced that their investigation into No. 10 parties is now over, and No. 10 have confirmed that neither the Prime Minister nor his wife have received more fines. Is Boris Johnson out of the woods? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman.James points out the fortunate timing of the Met police's announcement – at a time when the Durham police are investigating Keir Starmer for his potential breach when he was having a beer and curry, leaving the Labour party handicapped when the Sue Gray report comes out next week.'The Gray report, though, I think is still very dangerous for Johnson, because it will highlight a lot of cultural and leadership problems within No. 10', Isabel says. Conservative MPs may yet have another wobble.

With the cost of living crisis looming large, pressure is on the government to come up with effective solutions. With Labour snapping at their heels for an emergency budget and a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, will the Conservatives eventually bend to this pressure? And if they do, will these solutions even work?Katy Balls talks to Isabel Hardman and Kate Andrews.

Liz Truss made a speech in the House of Commons today laying out the government's plans to scrap parts of the Northern Ireland protocol. James Forsyth first broke this story in last week's Spectator magazine. How will the EU react to the news? And could this spark a trade war with the EU?Moving onto the cost of living crisis, Labour have put forward an amendment to the Queen's Speech asking for a windfall tax. Having once dismissed the idea, the Conservatives are under pressure from some of their backbench MPs to go ahead with the tax. Could this be a big win for Labour?All to be discussed as Isabel Hardman speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth.