Conservative Leadership Contest

Tory MPs have accidentally knocked out their own man – and reminded voters why they lost the last election

— The Conservatives’ leadership ballot has unexpectedly ousted favourite James Cleverly, leaving right-wing candidates Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick in contention. This outcome underscores party disunity and risks alienating centrist voters.

Conservative Leadership Contest

Can Kemi Badenoch claim to have ‘become working class’ while working in McDonald’s – and why would she want to?

— Tory MP Kemi Badenoch recently sparked debate by claiming she “became working class” while working at McDonald’s – despite her middle-class roots, seemingly to resonate with working-class voters and reflect Britain’s shifting class perceptions.

UK Politics

What Tory leadership candidates should learn from the mistakes of Boris Johnson – and Silvio Berlusconi

— The Conservative leadership candidates face challenges akin to those of Silvio Berlusconi and Boris Johnson, whose media-driven, populist approaches ultimately yielded limited progress and lasting controversy.

Right-Wing Media

Michael Gove, Spectator editor: The long relationship between Westminster and the media

— Michael Gove, ex-Tory MP, will soon edit The Spectator, reinforcing its right-wing conservative stance under new owner Sir Paul Marshall. This move underscores enduring press-politics links in British media.

Conservative Party

The Tories who are fit to serve have no wish to do so – Why the party conference should have been a moment to reflect on that

— The Conservative Party’s annual conference saw hopeful leadership contenders, despite past failures and internal divisions. While invoking past leaders like David Cameron, who once advocated modernisation, today’s focus remains immigration, with little “compassionate conservatism” in sight.

UK Politics

Dominic Grieve questions Robert Jenrick’s fitness for office over misinformation

— Dominic Grieve has sharply criticised Robert Jenrick’s video on the European Convention on Human Rights, accusing him of misleading the public, misrepresenting legal principles, and promoting dangerous rhetoric that should disqualify him from high office.

UK Politics

Kemi Badenoch questions maternity pay – Here’s what new mothers are actually entitled to

— Kemi Badenoch’s comments on UK maternity pay sparked debate, with critics highlighting its relative inadequacy compared to European standards. UK parental leave offers low, flat-rate payments and minimal gender equality outcomes.

UK Politics

Why Rachel Reeves can’t seem to make her ‘£22bn black hole’ narrative convincing

— Rachel Reeves, as chancellor, faced backlash for accusing former chancellor Jeremy Hunt of lying about UK finances. Labour aims to challenge the Conservative Party’s long-standing economic credibility, but struggles to shift entrenched narratives.

UK Politics

Tory leadership contenders would be wise to become the ‘heir to Keir’

— They are already tacking to the right but the six Tory leadership contenders would be better off copying Keir Starmer’s playbook.

Legitimisation of the Far-Right

Refusing to call out Islamophobia has emboldened the far-right – and the current violence is the result

— The recent riots, triggered by misinformation and targeting Muslims, highlight deep-seated Islamophobia in the UK. Despite clear evidence, politicians avoid labelling it as such, instead calling it far-right thuggery or anti-immigration protests.

UK Politics

Keir Starmer’s first prime minister’s questions: Four things we learnt

— In his first PMQs as PM, Keir Starmer criticised his predecessors and rival parties, while Rishi Sunak focused on Ukraine, avoiding direct attacks, and the SNP challenged Starmer on Labour’s internal issues, revealing ongoing tensions.

UK Politics

Suella Braverman: “I want Trump to be president.”

— Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has thrown her support behind Donald Trump’s presidency, citing global stability and peace as her reasons. An endorsement coming at a pivotal moment in her own turbulent political career in the UK.

Long-Read

The day the country turned on the Tory Party

— Brexit, barely discussed during the general election campaign yet ever-present, catalysed the Tory downfall, culminating in a significant vote share drop. The new Labour government faces challenges, but now is a moment to celebrate the defeat of a damaging political ethos.

2024 General Election

Tory downfall is democracy rectifying its mistakes

— Democracies, despite their mistakes, excel at correcting them. The 2024 British general election’s defeat of the Conservatives highlights democracy’s power to renew. New Prime Minister Keir Starmer must now restore government integrity and address national damage.

2024 General Election

After a historic defeat, what will Rishi Sunak’s legacy be?

— After the defeat, will Rishi Sunak be remembered as a failure, a PM who inherited a mess... or just not at all?

2024 General Election

Grieving and unheard, the British public has voted for change – in weariness more than in hope

— The 2024 General Election was defined by a public mood of loss and anger over deteriorating public services and political scandals. Voters felt neglected, seeking significant change amid fears of rising illiberalism.