Normal voters who are not regularly engaged in politics struggle to recognise the six candidates vying to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader, despite the party being in government for 14 years. Only former home secretary Priti Patel was recognisable to more than half of people on 10 focus groupsContinue Reading
Foreign secretary David Lammy has announced that the UK government is to suspend 30 of the 350 arms export licences to Israel. Mr Lammy made the announcement as he updated MPs in the Commons on the first day after recess. The decision has been made after the new Labour governmentContinue Reading
Jeremy Corbyn is among five independent MPs to have formed an Independent Alliance group opposing inequality and war. The former Labour leader joined four other independents elected in July forming the group, which is the fifth biggest block in parliament. The other members include Shockat Adam, who defeated Labour frontbencherContinue Reading
Kemi Badenoch has officially launched her Tory leadership campaign with a promise to “not shut up”, reigniting a row with Doctor Who actor David Tennant. The shadow housing secretary railed against the “cultural establishment trying to keep Conservatives down” and promised to “take the fight to Doctor Who or whoeverContinue Reading
The Tories are set to enter a crucial phase of their leadership contest with a warning that they will need to do a lot more than just criticise Labour “even if it is fun”. At one of two leadership bids officially launched today [Monday], Kemi Badenoch will claim that theContinue Reading
Crispin Blunt’s drug policy group that sought to reclassify magic mushrooms and cannabis owes thousands of pounds to the taxpayer after closing down. The former justice minister, who lost the Conservative whip on his arrest for suspected rape last year, launched the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group (CDPRG). But itContinue Reading
One of Sir Keir Starmer’s most senior ministers has denied that his government is “attacking the hospitality industry” with plans to ban smoking in pub beer gardens. But in the Sunday morning broadcast round, Commons leader Lucy Powell appeared to double down on Labour’s plans to end smoking warning thatContinue Reading
Reform UK’s ruthless pursuit of putting Nigel Farage into Downing Street by 2029 has seen them already move on from their “contract with the people” at the general election just two months ago, the party’s new chairman has admitted. Businessman Zia Yusuf was brought in by Farage to reorganise ReformContinue Reading
Rishi Sunak is set to defy the record electoral humiliation he inflicted on his party and give a final keynote speech at his party’s conference in October. The former prime minister has been criticised for “letting Labour get away with murder” over the summer with an extended absence from theContinue Reading
Cabinet minister Lucy Powell has insisted that a Labour MP who rents out properties with black mould and ant infestations should not resign. The Leader of the House defended Jas Athwal, who was leader of Redbridge Council before being elected as the MP for Ilford South at the last election.Continue Reading
