Dr Martin Farr

UK Politics

Reform’s threat to the mainstream parties is unique in UK political history

— Farage’s Reform party surges with left-leaning pledges, unsettling Labour and Conservatives alike, as Britain’s political landscape shifts under a first-past-the-post system unfit for a multi-party reality.

UK Foreign Aid

What are Labour governments for? Why aid budget cuts are an existential matter

— Keir Starmer’s aid cuts to boost military spending mark a pivotal moment for Labour, challenging its progressive values. Critics see it as betraying core principles, echoing past controversial decisions on global conflicts.

UK-US Relationship

How should Keir Starmer handle Donald Trump – and how is it going so far?

— Keir Starmer and Donald Trump’s overlapping terms create diplomatic uncertainty. Historical tensions suggest a strained relationship, exacerbated by past criticisms. Starmer faces transactional Trump diplomacy, challenging UK-US ties amid major global policy disagreements.

Analysis

Mandelson goes to Washington – or does he? Why neither is a good option now

— The UK faces a diplomatic dilemma as Lord Peter Mandelson’s controversial appointment as ambassador to the US clashes with Trump-era tensions. His credentials impress, but political baggage risks rejection.

UK Politics

The size of the swing to Labour in the Blackpool South by-election made this such an unpleasant night for Rishi Sunak

— Debates ponder if the upcoming general election will mirror the close 1992 or landslide 1997 outcomes. Amid significant shifts, including in Blackpool South, Labour sees unprecedented by-election success, while the Conservatives face potential annihilation, struggling even against the Reform party.

UK Politics

Six books (and one play) to read to understand British politics today

— With a general election on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to curl up with one of these expert political book recommendations.

UK Politics

Keir Starmer: Four lessons from History for an opposition trying to be the ‘government-in-waiting’

— Keir Starmer is a man on five missions, but he will need to learn from his predecessors to lead Labour back to power after over a decade out of it.

UK Politics

Liz Truss may not appoint an ethics adviser – Does that really matter?

— Having an ethics adviser is a matter of convention, not a legal requirement.

Analysis

Conservative Party – Who are the rebels and why do they want Boris Johnson gone?

— The Tory party is a ‘broad church’ with many factions. And many of them are unimpressed with the prime minister at the moment. Tory tensions are exacerbated through the ideological incoherence of Johnson himself.

Analysis

Sleaze: Why Boris Johnson is being reminded of the lurid scandals of 1990s Britain.

— There are important similarities between the current PM’s woes and John Major’s – but a very important difference, too.