On Tuesday the 24th of March, our speakers will debate the motion,

this House believes we should abolish the licence fee.

Spectator Chairman Charles Moore and the telegraphs Alison Pearson

will propose the motion with Spectator editor Michael Gove

and former BBC America editor John Sopel opposing.

I'm Isabel Hardman and I'll be in the chair to maintain decorum and take your pressing questions.

Join us on Tuesday the 24th of March at 7pm and book your tickets at spectator.com forward slash debate.

Hello and welcome to Coffee House Shots, the Spectator's Daily Politics Podcast.

I'm Oskredenson. I'm joined today by Tim Shipman and Gabriel Pogrant.

Now, Gabriel, we're especially excited to have you on because you are in possession of a scoop,

which appears in the paperback version of your very good book, Get In, which you co-authored

with Patrick McGuire. Could you tell us about how thin this vetting

process appears to be on Peter Mandelson as US ambassador? Well, what are great questions that animated

us approaching the paper that was, will the same personality traits and possibly defects that

characterised Starmes' time in opposition translating to the government.

And if so, what will that look like?

You know, we characterize Stama as somebody whose politics are often conspicuous by their

absence at his first leadership campaign meeting in 2019.

He didn't want to chair the discussion.

And when asked what he did wish to discuss, raised important point with adhering to campaign finance and trade union legislation.

So this is one of those moments, the appointment in Mandelson, where you see that lack of politics

made flesh in government and in, forgive the cliché, the corridors of power,

...