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Fri, 26 April 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.

Tories Are Hopeful Rishi Sunak Can Swerve Local Elections Backlash From MPs
Political parties
Tories Are Hopeful Rishi Sunak Can Swerve Local Elections Backlash From MPs
Rishi Sunak's allies are growing increasingly hopeful that the Prime Minister will manage to avoid any serious threat to his leadership in the wake of next week's local elections, which are predicted to be bruising for the Conservatives.
Senior Tory Advisers Are 'Jumping Before They Are Pushed'
Political parties
Senior Tory Advisers Are "Jumping Before They Are Pushed"
A double whammy departure of two senior Tory advisers is the latest reason for the growing sense of general election fatalism within Conservative party ranks.
Tory MPs Want 'Security' To Dominate Their General Election Campaign
Defence
Tory MPs Want "Security" To Dominate Their General Election Campaign
A growing number of Conservative MPs want Downing Street strategists to put "security", including a major pledge to boost defence spending, at the centre of the Tory party's general election campaign.
Dozens Of Tory MPs Oppose Smoking Ban As It Clears First Commons Hurdle
Health
Dozens Of Tory MPs Oppose Smoking Ban As It Clears First Commons Hurdle
Rishi Sunak's plan to ban smoking has cleared its first House of Commons hurdle, but not without around half of Conservative MPs failing to vote for it.
Downing Street Braced For Smoking Ban Snub From Dozens Of Tory MPs
Health
Downing Street Braced For Smoking Ban Snub From Dozens Of Tory MPs
Government is braced for potentially dozens of Conservative MPs to refuse to back Rishi Sunak's smoking ban when the legislation is put to a House of Commons for the first time on Tuesday.
Defeat For Ben Houchen Is Rishi Sunak's Biggest Danger Zone
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Defeat For Ben Houchen Is Rishi Sunak's Biggest Danger Zone
Not long ago the thought of Tory mayor of the Tees Valley Ben Houchen being voted out was pretty much unthinkable. That the possibility of it happening next month is even worrying Conservatives suggests the local elections really could spell serious trouble for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Rishi Sunak Is Safe For Now But 'Chaos' Lurks Around The Corner
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Is Safe For Now But "Chaos" Lurks Around The Corner
MPs might be absent from Parliament during its three-week recess but questions over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's position — and whether he will be able to hold out for an autumn general election — have not gone away.
Tory Voters Say The 'Broken' Party Has Turned The UK Into A 'Sinking Ship'
Economy
Tory Voters Say The "Broken" Party Has Turned The UK Into A "Sinking Ship"
A broad majority of voters have described the Tory party as broken, out of touch, and lacking in credibility, in a comprehensive new study that seems to foreshadow the reckoning that likely awaits Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the next general election.
Jeffrey Donaldson Steps Down As DUP Leader Over Historic Allegations
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Jeffrey Donaldson Steps Down As DUP Leader Over Historic Allegations
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has stepped down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party after being charged with "allegations of a historic nature".
Cynical Voters Think Tax Cuts Are An Election 'Bribe', New Survey Shows
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Cynical Voters Think Tax Cuts Are An Election "Bribe", New Survey Shows
Exclusive: Almost three quarters of people believed Rishi Sunak's government has cut tax as a pre-election bribe for their vote, rather than because it feels it is the "right thing to do" for the country, in a major new opinion poll.
Nearly Half Of 2019 Tory Voters Say The Party Doesn't Deserve To Win The Next Election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Nearly Half Of 2019 Tory Voters Say The Party Doesn't Deserve To Win The Next Election
Almost two thirds of people believe the Conservative party deserves to lose the next general election, including nearly half of those who voted Tory in 2019, according to new polling.
Rishi Sunak Hopes A Benefits Squeeze Will Boost His Fortunes
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Hopes A Benefits Squeeze Will Boost His Fortunes
A focus on slicing benefits will be at the heart of Rishi Sunak's message this Spring as the bruised Prime Minister tries to shift attention away from persistent Tory party infighting and towards his economic agenda. 
Risk Of Tory Mayor Defeats Raises The Heat On Rishi Sunak
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Risk Of Tory Mayor Defeats Raises The Heat On Rishi Sunak
The prospect of Conservative party mayors Andy Street and Ben Houchen losing their seats at the May local elections is the latest addition to a long list of Tory worries, with concern it could create a major flashpoint for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's fortunes.
The Penny Has Dropped For Many Tory MPs After A 'Bleak' Week
Political parties
By Adam Payne
The Penny Has Dropped For Many Tory MPs After A "Bleak" Week
Many Conservative MPs will remember this "bleak" week as the moment when they truly gave up any hope of avoiding defeat to Labour at the next general election.
Tory Backed Report Says Closer Ties With The EU Will Help Boost Growth
Brexit
By Adam Payne
Tory Backed Report Says Closer Ties With The EU Will Help Boost Growth
Senior Conservative figures have called on the Government to soften the post-Brexit relationship with the European Union, arguing that pushing for closer ties with the UK's most important trading partner is "not some assault on sovereignty".
Liz Truss Is Trying To Shore Up Support With Prospective Tory MPs
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Liz Truss Is Trying To Shore Up Support With Prospective Tory MPs
Former prime minister Liz Truss has been inviting Tory general election candidates to meet her as she looks to play a key role in influencing the direction of the party following the next general election.
Experts Say Government Plans For Public Spending Cuts Are 'Laughable'
Economy
Experts Say Government Plans For Public Spending Cuts Are "Laughable"
The "fictional" cuts to public spending that underpinned Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget mean voters are not getting a true picture of the choices facing the next Government, experts have said.
Furious Scottish Tories Warn They Won't Be 'Sacrificial Lambs' On Windfall Tax
Energy
Furious Scottish Tories Warn They Won't Be "Sacrificial Lambs" On Windfall Tax
A major row is brewing between Downing Street and Tories in Scotland after the Government confirmed on Tuesday that it is extending the windfall tax on energy companies as part of the Budget.
Tory 'Furore' Looms If Spring Budget Doesn't Shift the Dial
Economy
By Adam Payne
Tory "Furore" Looms If Spring Budget Doesn't Shift the Dial
Conservative backbench "furore" awaits Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt if next week's Spring Budget does not go far enough to satisfy their long-standing desire for tax cuts.
Jeremy Hunt Wrestles With Major Tax Compromise Ahead Of Spring Budget
Economy
By Adam Payne
Jeremy Hunt Wrestles With Major Tax Compromise Ahead Of Spring Budget
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt faces the major decision of whether to cut National Insurance or income tax at the Spring Budget as he hopes to regain favour with voters and restless MPs.
Bewildered Tories Want Fellow Conservative MPs To Leave Lindsay Hoyle Alone
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Bewildered Tories Want Fellow Conservative MPs To Leave Lindsay Hoyle Alone
Yet another divide has emerged among fractious Conservative MPs – this time over puttering efforts to remove Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker of the House of Commons after his contentious approach to last week's Gaza ceasefire motion.
Furious Tories Complained To No.10 En Masse About Lee Anderson
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Furious Tories Complained To No.10 En Masse About Lee Anderson
A growing row over perceived Islamophobia in the Conservative Party threatens to engulf the Government after a deluge of complaints from Tory MPs led to Rishi Sunak suspending the whip from the party's former chair Lee Anderson.
Former Tory Minister Is Helping Labour Prepare For Power
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Former Tory Minister Is Helping Labour Prepare For Power
Exclusive: A former Conservative minister is advising Labour Party shadow ministers as part of their ongoing preparations for government.
'Grim' By-Election Defeats Leave Rishi Sunak Battling Crushed Tory Morale
Political parties
By Adam Payne
"Grim" By-Election Defeats Leave Rishi Sunak Battling Crushed Tory Morale
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will return from parliamentary recess to a restless and despondent Conservative party after another disastrous set of by-election results further diminished Tory hopes of electoral recovery in 2024.
Recession Marks The Start Of A Difficult Weekend For Rishi Sunak
Economy
By Adam Payne
Recession Marks The Start Of A Difficult Weekend For Rishi Sunak
Confirmation that the UK has entered a recession brought what felt like a brief period of renewed Tory momentum to a halt as voters went to the polls in two by-elections for the party on Thursday.
Iceland Boss Accuses Rishi Sunak Of 'Neo-Trumpian' Climate Politics
Environment
By Adam Payne
Iceland Boss Accuses Rishi Sunak Of "Neo-Trumpian" Climate Politics
A former Tory donor and supermarket boss who recently switched his support to Labour has accused Rishi Sunak of a "neo-Trumpian" approach to climate politics, but defended Keir Starmer's decision to scrap the £28bn figure from the green investment pledge as "entirely sensible".
Labour Operation Faces Fury After 'Absolute Mess' Of Rochdale By-Election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Labour Operation Faces Fury After "Absolute Mess" Of Rochdale By-Election
Labour's handling of the Rochdale by-election, which culminated in Keir Starmer's party cutting ties with the candidate chosen by local members, has triggered fresh criticism of the opposition's political operation.
Tories Fear Slower 4G Rollout Would Be Nail In The Coffin For Ailing Rural Voters
Communities
By Adam Payne
Tories Fear Slower 4G Rollout Would Be Nail In The Coffin For Ailing Rural Voters
Conservative MPs have expressed concern that a proposed merger of two of the country's four mobile networks could result in bigger phone bills and rural areas waiting longer for 4G coverage, and are calling for thorough scrutiny of the deal. 
Mental Health Leaders Warn Half Of Students Are Losing Out On School Support
Health
By Adam Payne
Mental Health Leaders Warn Half Of Students Are Losing Out On School Support
Nearly 30 mental health charities and organisations have written to the Government calling for more funding in mental health services in schools.
Quitting Tory MPs Asked To Stagger Their Announcements
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Quitting Tory MPs Asked To Stagger Their Announcements
Figures in Conservative Party headquarters have urged Tory MPs to stagger when they announce that they are not standing at the next general election, in order to avoid a deluge of public statements coming out at the same time.
Weary Tories Sense PopCon Is An 'Early Marker' In Battle For The Party's Soul
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Weary Tories Sense PopCon Is An "Early Marker" In Battle For The Party's Soul
The launch of a new, right-wing Conservative movement on Tuesday laid bare the struggle for the heart of the Tory party that potentially awaits after the next general election, expected to take place this year.
PopCon Tories Say They Do Not Want To Oust Rishi Sunak
Political parties
By Adam Payne
PopCon Tories Say They Do Not Want To Oust Rishi Sunak
Senior Conservative MPs will stress that the new Popular Conservatism movement being launched on Tuesday does not aim to attempt to oust Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as Tory leader.
Labour Is Making Its 'Slowest U-Turn' On £28bn Green Spending
Environment
By Adam Payne
Labour Is Making Its "Slowest U-Turn" On £28bn Green Spending
Labour insiders say the party has made a rod for its own back over the £28bn green spending pledge as a long internal debate over whether Keir Starmer should jettison the headline figure rumbles on.
DUP Leader Says Deal To Restore Northern Ireland Power Sharing Shows 'Real Change' But Battle Isn't Over
Brexit
By Adam Payne
DUP Leader Says Deal To Restore Northern Ireland Power Sharing Shows "Real Change" But Battle Isn't Over
Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted that his deal with the UK Government to restore power sharing can "sell itself" as the DUP remains on course to rejoin the region's political institutions in the coming days.
What Must Still Happen To Restore Northern Ireland Power Sharing
Brexit
By Adam Payne
What Must Still Happen To Restore Northern Ireland Power Sharing
Northern Ireland's political institutions are on the cusp of being restored after two years dormant, but there is some nervousness within UK Government about the days ahead.
DUP Green Lights Return To Power Sharing In Northern Ireland
Home affairs
By Adam Payne
DUP Green Lights Return To Power Sharing In Northern Ireland
The Democratic Unionist Party has agreed to return to power sharing in Northern Ireland after a post-Brexit boycott lasting nearly two years.