UK Politics

Why Labour will resist calls for electoral alliances, even when facing the prospect of a hung parliament

— Forming a pact with the Liberal Democrats to form a ‘Progressive Alliance’ would make electoral sense in England – but Keir Starmer does not see it as a risk worth taking.

UK Politics

Will Keir Starmer lead Labour back into government?

— There’s a mountain to climb but there are positive signs for the opposition in the first few weeks of Liz Truss’s government.

Brexit

How might Labour’s Brexit policy be made to work?

— Professor Chris Grey’s analysis on how Keir Starmer's timid policy could become less constipated, the implications of his foolish stance on post-election cooperation and the best/worst scenarios that follow.

Analysis

What ethical standards should we hold politicians to?

— Is a “good” politician one who is good at making dirty deals and engages in sleazy behaviour only in their personal life, or is unethical behaviour in personal life likely to translate into bad ethical character in public life?

Analysis

What Keir Starmer could learn from Neil Kinnock to capitalise on Boris Johnson’s woes.

— Kinnock lost two elections as Labour leader. Starmer could learn a lot from his successes and failures.

UK Local Elections

Local elections 2022: Your complete guide to the votes happening across the UK.

— What to expect for Labour and Conservatives in England and Wales, as the pressure keeps mounting on Boris Johnson? What about Northern Ireland where Sinn Féin are favourite to become the largest party?

COMMENT

Every ‘journalist’ pushing the Starmer Beergate story must know it to be false.

— What are the media and journalists pushing the Starmer Beergate story distracting their readers from just a few days before the local elections?

UK Politics

Boris Johnson’s bad behaviour: How declining trust in the prime minister affects trust in British democracy.

— A new survey shows a strong link between trusting the prime minister and trusting the government, Parliament and political parties.

Brexit

Mugged by reality.

— Professor Chris Grey’s Brexit analysis on Brexiters demanding concrete results while their slogans get exposed by reality. With discussion of financial services, gene editing, CE marks, alcohol duties, ‘Making Brexit Work’, and lashings of Jacob Rees-Mogg.

OPINION

“Make Brexit Work” is the only way forward right now.

— I want to be in the EU, but I tend to think Keir Starmer is right that there is no way to do it (for the foreseeable future) and that therefore it is a pointless fight – especially as waging that fight is playing right into the hands of the Tories.

Brexit

Will Truss press the re-set button?

— As the false claims made about the benefits of Brexit are gradually being found out, Brexit isn’t suffering from a failure to control the narrative. It’s suffering from failure, Professor Chris Grey writes.

Downing Street Parties

Boris Johnson’s Downing Street party apology: Three key takeaways.

— Boris Johnson is sort of sorry – but the caveats are key. There is little doubt that his apology only occurred because the PM had no other choice – the evidence was too strong. But we can be sure that he will stick to this argument like glue.

Analysis

Labour reshuffle: Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet exudes confidence – but the party’s left has been shut out.

— What’s behind the appointments to Labour’s front bench?