2024 General Election

Rishi Sunak fires election starting gun with a damp whimper – but Labour will want to play down talk of a landslide

— Rishi Sunak’s election prospects look grim after a poorly executed speech in the rain outside Downing Street. Labour leads in polls, but internal issues and voter apathy threaten their potential victory.

2024 General Election

UK election called for 4 July – what happens next?

— Rishi Sunak has announced a general election for 4 July, surprising many, including his own MPs. He argues only the Conservatives can lead through current challenges, despite criticism over their role in creating them. Polls suggest a Labour lead, potentially ending the Conservatives’ long tenure.

UK Politics

Natalie Elphicke defection: Keir Starmer risks feeding the perception that politics is ‘all just a bit of a game’

— Natalie Elphicke, a pro-Brexit Tory right-winger, defected to Labour, sparking controversy and highlighting Labour’s shift under Keir Starmer. The move targeted disaffected Tory voters but drew criticism from the left, questioning Labour’s principles.

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.

OPINION

How right-wing do you need to be not to be welcome in the Labour Party?

— Marking a continuation of notable Tory defections to Labour, Natalie Elphicke, a staunch right-wing Conservative MP, has defected to Labour this week, highlighting shifts in party ideologies and stirring questions about Labour’s embrace of centre-right values under Keir Starmer’s leadership.

UK Politics

Rishi Sunak claims the UK is heading for a hung parliament — let’s check his maths

— In recent local elections, the Conservative Party lost 478 councillors, suggesting a hung parliament may loom, despite Labour’s strong performance and a 10% swing in their favour.

UK Politics

Labour plans to nationalise rail network within five years

— Labour’s plan to nationalise UK rail services within five years promises to revolutionise railways with affordable fares and improved passenger benefits. By cutting inefficiencies and shareholder dividends, Labour aims to save £2.2 billion annually.

UK Politics

Angela Rayner’s housing scandal: Storm in a teacup or nightmare scenario for Keir Starmer?

— Should Angela Rayner have to stand down over a housing scandal, the Labour Party would have to run a distracting internal election.

UK Politics

Angela Rayner: Which election law has she been accused of breaking, and is her promise to resign a mistake?

— Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner faces a police probe over potential electoral law breaches linked to her address from a decade ago. The issue also underscores Labour’s ethical scrutiny amid political risks highlighted by Keir Starmer’s governance strategy.

Long-Read

Britain’s Brexit drift

— The UK government’s new ‘common user charge’ on EU imports adds significant costs, affecting particularly small firms and highlighting the ongoing economic and political instability post-Brexit, with broader impacts on sectors like agriculture and financial services.

UK Politics

Labour’s leadership crisis: Angela Rayner’s tax probe casts shadow on Labour’s security agenda

— Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner is under scrutiny as a police probe into her tax affairs overshadows Keir Starmer’s defence rhetoric.

UK Politics

Jeremy Hunt’s budget: The problem for Labour explained

— Jeremy Hunt’s pre-election budget prioritises short-term political gains, aiming to appease voters with key measures. However, this strategy delays crucial investment, sparking concerns about potential public service cuts. The budget also contains multiple traps for Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves.

UK Politics

What George Galloway’s win ‘for Gaza’ means for Labour’s standing with Muslim voters

— Labour’s loss in the Rochdale by-election to George Galloway, amidst candidate withdrawals and controversy, has had an impact on Muslim voter support. Galloway’s emphasis on Gaza raises concerns about Labour’s relationship with Muslim voters, sending a message to Keir Starmer.

COMMENT

Rochdale: How a special election in the UK became really special

— The by-election in Rochdale became noteworthy due to candidates’ controversies and its proxy for the Israel-Gaza debate, revealing societal divisions and neglect in the deprived area.

UK Politics

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle sparks chaos: Five steps to understanding why MPs stormed out of Parliament during Gaza vote

— Chaos unfolded in the House of Commons as Conservative and SNP MPs walked out during a Gaza ceasefire debate due to the Speaker’s decision to accept a Labour amendment – a procedural issue that eventually overshadowed the discussion on the conflict in Gaza.

Post Office Horizon IT Scandal

Post Office scandal: What the lack of action tells you about Britain’s polarised politics

— The Post Office scandal, where over 700 sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted, reveals a systemic failure. Political inaction stemmed from the victims lacking a political constituency and now fuels opportunistic party warfare.