Conservative radicalism: who should the Tories target? with Jack Rankin MP

Conservative radicalism: who should the Tories target? with Jack Rankin MP

Author: The Spectator April 3, 2026 Duration: 26:56

Can the Conservatives win back voters' support through a new kind of 'conservative radicalism'?


Jack Rankin, Conservative MP for Windsor, joins James Heale to explain why he believes a focus on aspiration and wealth creation, paired with political courage to combat 'short-termism and stakeholderism', would enhance the Party's appeal and energise its supporter base. Jack argues that Conservative politicians need to be more honest about the country's problems, including with immigration and integration – where the expectation of a minimum level of British values should be set. He doesn't shy away from discussing the Tories' challenging record too, reflecting on political unity, the need for party reform and the flaws of 2019 election winner Boris Johnson.


Plus: as the former PPS to Robert Jenrick, what does he make of the challenge posed by Reform?


Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

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.


Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk


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


For a clear-eyed take on the day’s political developments, Coffee House Shots delivers concise, sharp discussion straight from the heart of Westminster. This daily podcast from The Spectator gathers the magazine’s most astute political observers-voices like Michael Gove, Tim Shipman, Isabel Hardman, and James Heale-around a virtual table for the kind of frank, insider conversation that happens away from the cameras. Each episode cuts through the noise of the 24-hour news cycle to examine the real forces shaping policy, elections, and power struggles. Listeners get more than just a recap of headlines; they’re offered analysis of the strategic calculations, the personal rivalries, and the underlying trends that the major bulletins often miss. The tone is informed and direct, reflecting the depth of experience within The Spectator’s team. It’s designed for anyone who wants to understand not just what is happening in British politics, but why it matters and what might happen next. Tune in for a regular dose of perspective that feels less like a formal briefing and more like overhearing a crucial chat in the corridors of influence. This podcast provides that essential context, making sense of the rapid flow of daily news with authority and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Coffee House Shots
Podcast Episodes
The end of the peer show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
Hereditary peers have left their red leather benches for the final time. The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act became law earlier this year, which removes all hereditary peers' right to speak and vote in Parliament b…
Starmer vs the basics of politics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:07
Does Keir Starmer have confidence in Rachel Reeves? Kemi Badenoch pressed the Prime Minister on his Chancellor’s future at PMQs – and he declined to answer, twice. Westminster (and Twitter) is now awash with reshuffle ru…
Morgan McSweeney faces the music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:59
It’s a blockbuster day in parliament today. To kick things off, we had Philip Barton pleading ignorance; to close the proceedings tonight we have a vote on a possible Privileges Committee probe. But in between we have Mo…
Can the King handle Trump? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:45
King Charles is about to travel to Washington to visit President Trump. The brief? Fix the strained relationship. No pressure! Can royal diplomacy steady relations? Will the trip be awkward given Trump's recent words on…
Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 26/04/2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:22
Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.President Trump survives another potential assassination attempt, as shots ring out at the White House correspondents' dinner. Become a Spectator s…
'I used to be Labour. No more.' – who will win Wales? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:15
Is Labour about to lose Wales? That’s what the polling suggests. After 27 years, Wales is seeking change. The beneficiaries look to be the outsiders, Plaid Cymru and Reform UK. Why is it this moment in particular that pe…
Is Lord Hermer fit to be Attorney General? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:41
The long-debated assisted dying bill is expected to fail in the House of Lords today – described by the bill's leading advocate Lord Falconer as failing 'not on its merits' but 'due to procedural wrangling'. Natasha Fero…
'When, not if' – who will move against Starmer? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:58
It will come as no surprise that Keir Starmer appears to have heard a very different evidence session from Sir Olly Robbins to the one everyone else thought the ex Foreign Office mandarin gave yesterday. The Prime Minist…
Why Olly Robbins testimony is 'quietly devastating' for Starmer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:38
'The most gripping testimony' since Dominic Cummings which could prove 'extraordinary and quietly devastating' for Keir Starmer. That's the verdict of the Spectator's political editor Tim Shipman following sacked Foreign…