Best of the Spectator

James Heale, Tim Shipman and Tali Fraser record live from Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. As we pass the two year mark of Kemi Badenoch's leadership of the Tory Party, the panel discuss whether she has done enough to win voters over and whether the party is ready for an early general election. Did Kemi miss a trick in not pressuring new Prime Minister Andy Burnham for one – and could Kemi survive an election defeat?

Plus, the panel answer a variety of audience questions including: how to make Conservatism more attractive to younger people, how much the Manchester City scandal could tarnish Brand Burnham – and whether the pensions triple lock should be abolished.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

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Michael Gove is joined by novelist and former Conservative Party deputy chairman Jeffrey Archer to discuss his final novel, Adam and Eve, and a life spent close to the centre of British politics.

Jeffrey explains how the book was inspired by September 1940, when Hitler changed his mind three times about invading Britain. They also discuss class, snobbery and the House of Lords. What does he regret about the day Diana's divorce was announced, and what advice would he give to Harry and Meghan?

They also discuss Margaret Thatcher, and the Prime Minister Jeffrey thinks is most underrated, as well as whether Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage could ever reach an electoral agreement.

Finally, Jeffrey speaks about his biggest regret

Jeffrey Archer’s final book, Adam and Eve, published by HarperCollins is out on the 6th of October 2026, pre-order here…

Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Henry Lloyd

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James Heale is joined by Tim Shipman and Liam Halligan, Telegraph columnist and the new director of the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), to look ahead to Conservative party conference, which kicks off today. Kemi Badenoch’s latest attempt to draw clear dividing lines with Andy Burnham was through a tougher welfare offer aimed at the under-25s – as exclusively revealed by Tim in the Spectator this week. Will this, alongside tougher fiscal restraint and general plain speaking, appeal to the wider public?

Plus: how do the Conservatives outflank Reform while seeking to appeal to those in the centre-ground who may have turned to Labour at the next election? The panel also discuss the state of public finances, the role of think-tanks such as the CPS and what to watch for in Birmingham – from party donors and business representatives, to the mood of younger activists.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

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Michael Simmons is joined live at Labour conference by TUC general secretary Paul Nowak to discuss the state of Britain’s labour market. Are higher wages and stronger employment rights making it harder to hire, or are taxpayers subsidising too many low-paid, insecure jobs? They also discuss energy costs, social care, taxing wealth and banks, and Labour’s biggest mistakes in government.

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For this week’s Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by the Spectator’s political editor Tim Shipman, restaurant critic Angus Colwell and Telegraph associate editor Poppy Coburn.

This week: does the country want Kemi Badenoch’s tough love? Ahead of Tory party conference, Tim speaks to the Tory leader about her plans to get Britain working again. She argues that if you can work, you should; young people without a work history could be put onto a six-month ‘get to work’ scheme rather than Universal Credit. Badenoch says the Tories have spent too long worrying about being called the ‘nasty party’ and now need to plant their flag on welfare, the economy and conservative values. But while her personal fortunes have improved, has the Tory brand recovered with her?

Also: has Andy Burnham handed the Conservatives an opportunity? Badenoch believes the Prime Minister is moving Labour decisively to the left, while Burnham’s conference speech revived arguments about public ownership, devolution and Britain’s relationship with Europe. Is his attack on, what he sees as the economic consensus of the past 40 years, bold – or an opportunity for the Conservatives to open up ideological fault lines? And how realistic are Burnham’s ambitions to move Britain closer to the EU?

Plus: is AI ruining literature or just exposing bad writing? The panel discuss whether machines can produce genuinely great art, and Tim reveals how he uses AI to sift interview transcripts. And finally: are some people nostalgic for lockdown? Following a controversy over a Boston lesbian bar, Angus looks at the persistence of mask culture, while the panel reveal what they would stockpile for the apocalypse.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

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