Katy Balls

Katy Balls is Diary Editor at The Spectator.

Johnson's 'last throw of the dice' in Brexit talks

6 December 2020 11:28 pm

The UK’s chief negotiator David Frost has arrived in Brussels for last-minute talks with the EU’s Michel Barnier. After a phone…

Brexit talks resume despite 'critical issues'

6 December 2020 6:00 am

Brexit talks are back on between the UK and EU after a brief break. After both sides paused talks due…

Brexit negotiations paused ahead of crunch talks

5 December 2020 6:53 am

Those hoping for white smoke in the Brexit negotiations tonight will be left disappointed. After a week of intense negotiations,…

Boris Johnson suffers his biggest Tory revolt since the election

2 December 2020 6:56 am

When Boris Johnson addressed MPs this evening on a Zoom call ahead of the Commons vote on his new tier…

Is a no-deal Brexit underpriced?

30 November 2020 8:15 pm

As Brexit talks enter what is expected to be the last full week of substantive negotiations, opposition leaders are blasting the government…

Meet Boris Johnson’s new chief of staff

27 November 2020 1:28 am

Boris Johnson’s search for a chief of staff to bring order to 10 Downing Street has proved so difficult that…

Boris in a spin: can the PM find his way again?

21 November 2020 9:00 am

With Cummings gone, which way will the PM turn now?

Boris Johnson's 'reset' week gets off to a bad start

16 November 2020 8:29 am

After a weekend of torrid headlines over infighting in 10 Downing Street, Boris Johnson had hoped to use this week…

Dominic Cummings leaves the building

14 November 2020 6:15 am

After a week of infighting in Downing Street which saw the resignation of Director of Communications Lee Cain and senior aide Dominic…

Will Tory MPs back Boris's lockdown plan?

1 November 2020 7:38 am

Boris Johnson did not want to give a Downing Street press conference this evening. The Prime Minister had hoped to present his…

Is the UK heading for a second national lockdown?

31 October 2020 9:51 am

Is the UK heading for a second national lockdown? That’s the question being asked in Westminster as coronavirus cases rise…

Number 10: EU must go further to restart Brexit talks

20 October 2020 4:07 am

The government’s negotiations with the EU appear to be going a little better than their talks with Greater Manchester mayor…

Inside Boris Johnson's Zoom call with Tory MPs

14 October 2020 4:23 am

As Tory MPs vent over the government’s new three-tier coronavirus system, Boris Johnson appeared this evening before his party for an…

Johnson tightens Covid rules

13 October 2020 3:19 am

After weeks of speculation over the government’s new Covid restrictions grading system, the Prime Minister today announced the details. Addressing…

How Thérèse Coffey plans to help millions back to work

10 October 2020 9:00 am

Thérèse Coffey on stemming the unemployment tide

Rishi lays the groundwork for tougher Covid restrictions

10 October 2020 3:22 am

There was a time when the announcement of new Treasury spending tended to spell good news. However, these days it…

Boris Johnson warns of turbulence ahead

4 October 2020 9:22 pm

As Conservative party conference gets underway online, Boris Johnson used an appearance on the Andrew Marr show to warn of the…

Johnson turns up pressure on EU for a deal

3 October 2020 2:17 am

Hopes of agreeing a Brexit deal have increased among ministers in recent weeks, but today the UK’s chief negotiator Sir David Frost offered…

Sweden's virus expert briefs No. 10

23 September 2020 11:10 pm

One of the questions regularly asked by Tory MPs on the libertarian wing of the party: why isn’t the UK…

Boris defends new Covid rules

23 September 2020 5:20 am

Boris Johnson addressed the nation this evening to update the public on his government’s coronavirus strategy. After announcing the broad…

Faith in the government is wearing thin

18 September 2020 2:37 am

As the government tightens coronavirus restrictions across swathes of the north east, Boris Johnson is facing his worst polling on the…

Inside Boris Johnson's Brexit call with Tory MPs

12 September 2020 3:19 am

This evening Boris Johnson used a video call to address Conservative MPs following unease over No. 10’s Brexit tactics. With…

UK agrees 'historic' trade deal with Japan

11 September 2020 7:39 pm

The UK and Japan have this morning agreed a new free trade deal between the two countries. With International Trade Secretary…

Boris's latest coronavirus crackdown is a sign of things to come

10 September 2020 8:44 pm

Boris Johnson confirmed in his coronavirus press conference yesterday that gatherings will be restricted to a maximum of six people from Monday onwards.…

Starmer sketches out a Brexit position

9 September 2020 3:09 am

As Boris Johnson comes under fire from his own MPs over his potentially unlawful Brexit plans, Keir Starmer has made his…