OPINION

The Conspiracy Party conference

— The Conservative Party conference has revealed the Tories’ embrace of conspiracy theories, extremism, and threats to democracy. The Tory party is moving towards far-right ideologies, attacking trans people and migrants, posing a significant danger to democracy.

UK Politics

Rishi Sunak packages U-turns as challenges to consensus politics – an improbable effort to rebrand as the candidate for change

— A prime minister who has been an MP for nearly a decade now wants to challenge 30 years of ‘vested interests’.

Food

No UK politician is calling for a meat tax – but maybe they should

— Misinformation is a challenge, but the success of the UK’s sugar tax suggests the feasibility of a tax on food. If implemented effectively, a meat tax could tackle health and environmental issues.

15-Minute Cities

What is the 15-minute cities conspiracy theory?

— At the Conservative Party Conference, Mark Harper voiced criticism against the concept of ‘15-minute cities’, hinting it is a local authority ploy to control citizens. Some conspiracy theories even link it to oppressive rules and ‘climate lockdowns’.

HS2

What Rishi Sunak scrapping HS2 – and promising a new ‘Network North’ – means for the north of England

— Infrastructure development in Northern England has been increasingly muddled in recent years. Few will be convinced by Rishi Sunak’s new pledge to fix this.

Immigration

Suella Braverman warns of ‘unmanageable’ numbers of asylum seekers – The data shows we hardly take any

— The current government is the most aggressively anti-refugee administration in British history, with laws threatening to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and language used to discuss refugees linked to increasing unrest. Yet, Suella Braverman warns that millions more people will come to Britain, “uncontrolled and unmanageable”. A migration “hurricane” is

Long-Read

Brexit: Unsettled and still not settleable

— Brexit has failed to secure public support for its current form, with the latest opinion poll showing roughly half of the population would vote to rejoin the EU, and a clear majority thinks it was a mistake to leave the EU.

UK Politics

Political leaders need a grand narrative – Rishi Sunak’s is a story of decline

— The prime minister has acknowledged that a narrative of national decline is setting in – but he has been unable to disentangle himself from it.

UK Politics

The government debunked a 15-minute city conspiracy... then endorsed it

— The Levelling up Department’s own guidance contradicts comments by Transport Secretary Mark Harper at the Conservative Conference.

Immigration

Suella Braverman is wrong about the UN refugee convention being ‘not fit for purpose’

— Suella Braverman has criticised the Refugee Convention, arguing that it is not “fit for our modern age” and should be renegotiated, even though it is thanks to the Convention that people are able to access their human rights and rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.

OPINION

Rishi Sunak has ripped up decades of cross-party consensus on climate change

— The prime minister’s decision to delay or scrap green measures will make it harder for the UK to keep its climate commitments.

Long-Read

It’s limited, but Labour’s post-Brexit policy does offer voters a choice

— The domestic political landscape is shaping up with Labour offering a closer and more harmonious relationship with the EU, while the Tories maintain a more distant approach. Time is running out to address the economic and geopolitical consequences of Brexit.

HS2

Rising costs and delays don’t necessarily mean HS2 is failing

— Economists do not have the analytical tools to properly measure the full value of a megaproject. Deciding on whether to pull the plug or not is always a political matter.

UK Politics

Age, not class, is now the biggest divide in British politics

— The latest findings from the British Social Attitudes survey suggest younger voters appear to have little faith that public spending will be directed their way.

Climate Policy

How Sunak’s back-pedalling on net zero could damage efforts to decarbonise Britain’s homes

— The government’s unpredictable approach to energy-efficiency has cost progress to net zero before.

COVID-19 VIP Lane

UK Government: Unveiling secret dealings and hidden payments during the Pandemic

— The Department of Health and Social Care has made undisclosed payments totalling £137 million to a company owned by healthcare tech magnate Frank Hester, who donated £5 million to the Conservative Party.