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Mon, 6 May 2024

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Adam Payne

Adam Payne

Adam is political editor at PoliticsHome. An award-nominated journalist, he previously spent five years as a political reporter at Business Insider, before joining PoliticsHome as a correspondent.

Rishi Sunak Ready To Remind MPs He's In Charge With Tough Autumn Ahead
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Ready To Remind MPs He's In Charge With Tough Autumn Ahead
Rishi Sunak will bring a bolder new approach to his leadership when Parliament returns from recess next week, in a fresh attempt to repair the party's fortunes in order to avoid catastrophic defeat at the next general election.
Grant Shapps Has Replaced Ben Wallace As Defence Secretary
Defence
By Adam Payne
Grant Shapps Has Replaced Ben Wallace As Defence Secretary
Grant Shapps has been confirmed as the the new defence secretary, replacing Ben Wallace.
Ben Wallace Has Resigned As Defence Secretary
Defence
By Adam Payne
Ben Wallace Has Resigned As Defence Secretary
Ben Wallace has confirmed his resignation as the secretary of state for defence.
Anti-Tory Vote Split Could Hurt Labour And Lib Dems In Mid Bedfordshire By-election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Anti-Tory Vote Split Could Hurt Labour And Lib Dems In Mid Bedfordshire By-election
The Conservatives could find that a split of the anti-Tory vote in the upcoming Mid Bedfordshire by-election leads to a victory for Rishi Sunak's beleaguered party, with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats planning to fight hard for Nadine Dorries' former seat.
Summer Of 'Drift' Casts Doubt Over A DUP Return To Stormont
Brexit
By Adam Payne
Summer Of "Drift" Casts Doubt Over A DUP Return To Stormont
Westminster is gearing up for the return of parliament in just over a week, but the same cannot be said for the government in Northern Ireland, where the Democratic Unionist Party's ongoing protest is causing growing frustration in Downing Street.
Ministers Confident New Anti-Fraud Unit Saved Taxpayer 'Significant' Money
Economy
By Adam Payne
Ministers Confident New Anti-Fraud Unit Saved Taxpayer "Significant" Money
The government is confident that a unit set up twelve months ago to curb fraud in the public sector will be shown to have delivered major savings.
British Art Scene Feels Brexit Bite
Culture
British Art Scene Feels Brexit Bite
The art industry is calling on ministers to reduce post-Brexit red tape that is leading to the cancellation of exhibitions and delays of over a month for pieces heading to Europe.
Keir Starmer Leans Towards Rejecting PM's New Departments In His Next Labour Reshuffle
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Keir Starmer Leans Towards Rejecting PM's New Departments In His Next Labour Reshuffle
Keir Starmer is not expected to mirror Rishi Sunak's re-organised government when he eventually reshuffles the shadow cabinet, PoliticsHome understands.
Tory Moderates Are Gearing Up For A Major Comeback
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Tory Moderates Are Gearing Up For A Major Comeback
Conservative MPs in the moderate 'One Nation' group have agreed to up their game and re-assert their influence, as concern grows at the centre of the party that Rishi Sunak's lurch toward right-wing rhetoric and policy positions could do more harm than good at the ballot box.

Rishi Sunak's Net Zero 'Vibe Shift' Could Backfire At The Ballot Box
Environment
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak's Net Zero "Vibe Shift" Could Backfire At The Ballot Box
Rishi Sunak seems to have found a new dividing line with Labour on climate policy, but it's a high-risk strategy that could backfire if he is seen by voters to be uninterested in urgent environmental issues.
Small Boats Next On Rishi Sunak's Hit List Of Summer Attacks
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Small Boats Next On Rishi Sunak's Hit List Of Summer Attacks
Westminster may be on its summer break but Rishi Sunak and his government are busy showing glimpses of how they will try to rebuild Tory support and attack the Labour Party between now and the general election.
Tory Moderates Plan To Fight 'Very Damaging' Shift From Net Zero
Environment
By Adam Payne
Tory Moderates Plan To Fight "Very Damaging" Shift From Net Zero
Moderate Conservative MPs are planning an organised pushback against growing calls from elsewhere in the Tory party for the government to dilute its net zero agenda.
Tories Will Keep Fighting Labour On ULEZ Despite High Court Defeat
Environment
By Adam Payne
Tories Will Keep Fighting Labour On ULEZ Despite High Court Defeat
The Conservatives will continue to attack the Labour Party over the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) despite the High Court ruling on Friday morning that London Mayor Sadiq Khan's plan to expand the daily charge to the outer reaches of the capital is legal.
Rishi Sunak Warned Watering Down Net Zero 'Will Not Help' Tory Party Prospects
Environment
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Warned Watering Down Net Zero "Will Not Help" Tory Party Prospects
A co-author of the Conservative party's 2019 manifesto has urged Rishi Sunak to stick with the government's net zero pledge, warning that watering it down and indulging sceptics will not be a vote winner at the general election.
Scottish Tories Urge Home Office To Listen To Them On Migrant Housing
Home affairs
By Adam Payne
Scottish Tories Urge Home Office To Listen To Them On Migrant Housing
Conservative party politicians in Scotland have privately raised concerns with the Home Office that the government is overlooking the impact small boats crossings are having on their communities north of the border.
Tory MPs Demand A 'Fresh Vision' From Rishi Sunak After Sobering By-Elections
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Tory MPs Demand A "Fresh Vision" From Rishi Sunak After Sobering By-Elections
Two crushing defeats and a tight win with a slashed majority proved to be sobering by-election results for the Conservative party on Friday morning, putting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak under renewed pressure to serve up a fresh vision to avoid electoral wipeout.
Conservatives Hold Boris Johnson's Former Uxbridge Seat In By-Election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Conservatives Hold Boris Johnson's Former Uxbridge Seat In By-Election
The Conservatives have held onto Boris Johnson's former seat of Uxbridge and Ruislip with a wafer-thin majority in a by-election characterised by the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) debate.
Rishi Sunak Warned Hiking Migrant Visa Cost Will Send Food Prices Higher
Economy
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Warned Hiking Migrant Visa Cost Will Send Food Prices Higher
Government has been warned that plans to make visas more expensive for foreign workers will fuel food inflation by exacerbating an "unholy mess" of high costs already faced by businesses.
ULEZ Curveball Is Threatening To Derail A Labour By-Election Victory In Boris Johnson's Uxbridge
Political parties
By Adam Payne
ULEZ Curveball Is Threatening To Derail A Labour By-Election Victory In Boris Johnson's Uxbridge
The Labour Party is hopeful it can take Boris Johnson's former seat in a symbolic victory at the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election on Thursday, but the salience of Sadiq Khan's contentious Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has made the Tories believe they might still have a fighting chance.
Tory Rebels Say There's Still 'Deals To Be Done' On Illegal Migration Bill Concessions
Home affairs
By Adam Payne
Tory Rebels Say There's Still "Deals To Be Done" On Illegal Migration Bill Concessions
Rebel Conservative MPs are continuing talks with the government over the Illegal Migration Bill in a last-ditch attempt to shape the controversial legislation after failing to secure certain concessions in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Rishi Sunak Hopes Hog Roast Will Help Lift Tory Spirits
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Hopes Hog Roast Will Help Lift Tory Spirits
Rishi Sunak will host a Downing Street barbeque for Conservative MPs on Wednesday night as the Prime Minister tries to rally his troops ahead of three key by-elections this month and another two looming.
Gloomy Tory MPs Are Already Plotting Life After Rishi Sunak
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Gloomy Tory MPs Are Already Plotting Life After Rishi Sunak
Conservative MPs have already begun discussing who will replace Rishi Sunak if the party loses the next election – a fate many in the parliamentary party are increasingly resigned to.
Police Re-Open Conservative Headquarters Partygate Investigation
Coronavirus
Police Re-Open Conservative Headquarters Partygate Investigation
The Metropolitan police have re-opened their investigation into a party held in Conservative party HQ during lockdown after a new video of the gathering raised potential new evidence.
Post-Brexit Push For Imperial Measurements Could Be Revived
Brexit
Post-Brexit Push For Imperial Measurements Could Be Revived
Ministers are considering reviving plans to bring back imperial measurements as part of the legislative agenda to be set out in the King's Speech this Autumn.
Downing Street Is Weary Of Tory MPs Challenging Rishi Sunak On Immigration
Economy
By Adam Payne
Downing Street Is Weary Of Tory MPs Challenging Rishi Sunak On Immigration
Irritation has emerged in Downing Street after a group of Conservative MPs launched yet another public challenge against the government on its record in bringing down net migration.
Labour Believes 'Tectonic Plates' For A Scottish Comeback Have Shifted
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Labour Believes "Tectonic Plates" For A Scottish Comeback Have Shifted
Confidence is growing among Labour figures that there are signs a major electoral comeback in Scotland that could be crucial to delivering an overall majority at the 2024 general election is increasingly possible.
Senior Tory Says 'Right-Thinking' MPs Know More Overseas Workers Are Needed In UK
Economy
By Adam Payne
Senior Tory Says "Right-Thinking" MPs Know More Overseas Workers Are Needed In UK
Politicians need to speak with more "honesty and openness" about the importance of foreign workers to the economy, according to former Cabinet minister Stephen Crabb, who said that Britain "needs more workers from overseas and will carry on doing that".
Soaring Mortgages Could “Define” Tory Election Defeat
Economy
By Adam Payne
Soaring Mortgages Could “Define” Tory Election Defeat
Spooked Conservative MPs fear soaring mortgage rates will "define" the rest of this parliament and represent the final nail in the coffin for their party's chances of retaining power at the next general election.
Little Sign Of A Labour-Lib Dem Truce In The Race To Succeed Tory Nadine Dorries
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Little Sign Of A Labour-Lib Dem Truce In The Race To Succeed Tory Nadine Dorries
Neither Labour nor the Liberal Democrats are showing signs of making way for one another as campaigning gets underway in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election, setting up a three-way contest to succeed the outgoing former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries.
Rishi Sunak's 'Shine' Is Fading And Tories Are Divided On How To Revive it
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak's "Shine" Is Fading And Tories Are Divided On How To Revive it
Tory MPs are now broadly united in their acceptance that Rishi Sunak will lead them into the next general election with the Boris Johnson show diminished to a passing circus.

Boris Johnson Is Standing Down As An MP Triggering Second By-Election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Boris Johnson Is Standing Down As An MP Triggering Second By-Election
Boris Johnson is quitting as a Conservative MP with immediate effect, throwing a second difficult by-election for Rishi Sunak into the mix after Nadine Dorries stood down earlier on Friday.
Kemi Badenoch Tells Brexit Detractors She's 'Not An Arsonist'
Brexit
Kemi Badenoch Tells Brexit Detractors She's "Not An Arsonist"
Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch has told staunch Brexiteers in the Tory party "I am not an arsonist, I'm a Conservative" in a lively committee session focused on the government's recent watering down of plans to do away with thousands of European Union laws by the end of the year.
Rishi Sunak Insists No 10 Is Delivering But Tory MPs Doubt He Can Stop The Boats
Home affairs
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Insists No 10 Is Delivering But Tory MPs Doubt He Can Stop The Boats
Rishi Sunak tried to wrestle back control of the narrative with a trip to Kent on Monday where he insisted the government was delivering on his 'stop the boats' pledge.

'Shy Switchers' Could Be Concealing True Scale Of Possible Tory Defeat At Next Election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
"Shy Switchers" Could Be Concealing True Scale Of Possible Tory Defeat At Next Election
Conservative MPs are starting to fear that "shy switchers" – voters who appear sympathetic to their party on the surface, but are likely to turn on them at the ballot box – could produce a general election defeat in 2024 that is even more devastating than many Tories are currently prepared for.
Boris Johnson Will Hand Unredacted WhatsApps Directly To The Covid Inquiry
Coronavirus
Boris Johnson Will Hand Unredacted WhatsApps Directly To The Covid Inquiry
Boris Johnson has told the Covid inquiry he will give them his unredacted WhatsApp messages directly as the government remains steadfast in their refusal to hand over the materials.
What's Going On With The Row Over Boris Johnson's Covid Messages?
Coronavirus
By Adam Payne
What's Going On With The Row Over Boris Johnson's Covid Messages?
A row has exploded between the government and the inquiry into its response to the Covid pandemic in recent days over how much access inquiry chair Baroness Hallett should have to Boris Johnson's private messages and diaries from the time.