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Sun, 31 August 2025
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Kate Proctor

Kate Proctor

@Kate_M_Proctor

Political Editor of PoliticsHome and The House magazine.

Andy Burnham Accused Of 'Overplaying His Hand' At Labour Party Conference
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Andy Burnham Accused Of "Overplaying His Hand" At Labour Party Conference
From selfies with young fans to policy speeches and pub karaoke, Andy Burnham was never far from the limelight at this year’s Labour’s party conference.
Senior Labour MPs Celebrate The Return Of 'Mainstream' After Left Voices Sidelined
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Senior Labour MPs Celebrate The Return Of "Mainstream" After Left Voices Sidelined
Senior Labour MPs were celebrating the return of “mainstream” voices to the party after the left lost influence on key Labour party groups.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves Won Over Sceptics With Green Spending And Tax Reforms
Economy
By Kate Proctor
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves Won Over Sceptics With Green Spending And Tax Reforms
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves' multi-billion pound green spending promise and commitment to reforming the tax system won over sceptical Labour party members in what is being billed as a “refreshing” first conference speech.
Louise Haigh: a Labour MP to watch
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Louise Haigh: a Labour MP to watch
At one of Louise Haigh’s infamous birthday parties pre-pandemic, one guest observed that when it came to Labour Party movers and shakers, “everyone was there”.
Lisa Nandy: 'I'm desperate to have a woman lead the Labour party'
Foreign affairs
By Kate Proctor
Lisa Nandy: "I'm desperate to have a woman lead the Labour party"
Lisa Nandy found the experience of running for the Labour leadership a bruising one — to the extent she rules out standing again. But as shadow foreign secretary she's found her voice, convinced that as a champion for internationalism she can play a part in healing a divided party. Kate Proctor meets her ahead of Labour's party conference in Brighton.
Five Big Battles To Watch For At Labour Party Conference
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Five Big Battles To Watch For At Labour Party Conference
Keir Starmer’s first in-person party conference since he was elected leader in 2020 hasn’t even begun and the party is already arguing about a number of explosive issues.
Five Big Battles To Watch For At Labour Party Conference
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Five Big Battles To Watch For At Labour Party Conference
Keir Starmer’s first in-person party conference since he was elected leader in 2020 hasn’t even begun and the party is already arguing about a number of explosive issues.
Andy Burnham: 'I'm not hatching any plans to get back to Westminster any time soon'
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Andy Burnham: "I'm not hatching any plans to get back to Westminster any time soon"
After Andy Burnham's Covid spat with Boris Johnson, the pair did not speak for nearly a year. With a new vision of how 'levelling up' could work in Greater Manchester, the metro mayor tells Kate Proctor his plans for his second term, how Keir Starmer must set out his stall, and why he isn't planning a Westminster return... yet
Boris Johnson Has Promised The Energy Crisis Is 'Short Term' As Government Intervenes In CO2 Shortages
Economy
By Kate Proctor
Boris Johnson Has Promised The Energy Crisis Is "Short Term" As Government Intervenes In CO2 Shortages
Boris Johnson said the energy crisis is short term and the government is taking direct steps to make sure there is CO2 available in the country.
One-In-Five Food Orders Are Not Arriving At Restaurants And Hotels Because Of Labour Shortages
Brexit
One-In-Five Food Orders Are Not Arriving At Restaurants And Hotels Because Of Labour Shortages
Exclusive: Industry bosses have warned that hotels and restaurants are struggling to get hold of catering supplies, with one-in-five orders reportedly failing to turn up.
UK, US and Australia Announce New Defence Pact Amid Growing China Concerns
Defence
By Kate Proctor
UK, US and Australia Announce New Defence Pact Amid Growing China Concerns
Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison have revealed a new security pact, which will allow the countries to share nuclear submarine secrets at a time of growing concern over China.
Less Than A Third Of The Public Think The Tories Are A Low Tax Party
Economy
By Kate Proctor
Less Than A Third Of The Public Think The Tories Are A Low Tax Party
Just one in three members of the public think the Conservatives are currently a party of low tax, revealing the potential scale of the battle ahead to regain their fiscal reputation.
Boris Johnson Won't Rule Out Future Tax Rises After Announcing New Health And Social Care Levy
Health
By Kate Proctor
Boris Johnson Won't Rule Out Future Tax Rises After Announcing New Health And Social Care Levy
Boris Johnson failed to rule out future tax rises over the course of this Parliament as the country continues to battle with a “radically different” economy from his election in December 2019.
Tories Are Confident Boris Johnson Will Get Social Care National Insurance Hike Through On A Rapid Vote
Health
By Kate Proctor
Tories Are Confident Boris Johnson Will Get Social Care National Insurance Hike Through On A Rapid Vote
Boris Johnson will get his social care plan through the Commons, allies believe, despite deep concerns from his own backbench over the manifesto-breaking National Insurance increase that will pay for it.
Disgruntled Tory MPs Are Pitching Alternatives To National Insurance Rise To Fund Social Care
Health
By Kate Proctor
Disgruntled Tory MPs Are Pitching Alternatives To National Insurance Rise To Fund Social Care
Alternatives to a National Insurance hike to pay for social care are being suggested by Tory backbenchers, who appear horrified by reports government is considering a manifesto-breaking tax increase.
Children Left Behind In Afghanistan Face Food And Medicine Shortages, Government Warned
Foreign affairs
By Kate Proctor
Children Left Behind In Afghanistan Face Food And Medicine Shortages, Government Warned
Thousands of Afghan children unable to flee the country are at severe risk of missing out on humanitarian support unless the UK and other governments secure safe access to aid, global charities have warned.
Former Military MP Says UK Has 72 Hours To Avert Humanitarian Catastrophe In Afghanistan
Foreign affairs
Former Military MP Says UK Has 72 Hours To Avert Humanitarian Catastrophe In Afghanistan
The UK must “salvage its reputation” after failing to convince the US to extend the deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan at today’s G7 summit, former soldier and MP Dan Jarvis has said.
Priti Patel To Ask English Councils For Help In Housing Afghan Refugees
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
Priti Patel To Ask English Councils For Help In Housing Afghan Refugees
Priti Patel is to write to councils across England to ask if they can take in Afghan families fleeing the country after its fall to the Taliban.
Keir Starmer Accuses Government Of 'Appalling Complacency' Over The Fall Of Afghanistan
Foreign affairs
By Kate Proctor
Keir Starmer Accuses Government Of "Appalling Complacency" Over The Fall Of Afghanistan
Keir Starmer has criticised Boris Johnson and foreign secretary Dominic Raab's handling of the response to the fall of Aghanistan to the Taliban for taking holidays and for not speaking to regional ambassadors, leaving the UK unprepared.
UK Will Take 20,000 Afghanistan Refugees – Prioritising Women, Girls And Those Facing Persecution
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
UK Will Take 20,000 Afghanistan Refugees – Prioritising Women, Girls And Those Facing Persecution
The Home Office has said 20,000 Afghan refugees will be given a home in the UK, with 5,000 people permitted to come to the country in the first year of a new resettlement scheme.
Government Is Facing Urgent Calls To Expand Afghan Relocation Scheme As Thousands Flee From The Taliban
Foreign affairs
By Kate Proctor
Government Is Facing Urgent Calls To Expand Afghan Relocation Scheme As Thousands Flee From The Taliban
Pressure is growing on the Home Office to expand their Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme (ARAP) to get more people out of the country following its fall to the Taliban.
Labour Staff Fear Party Will Struggle To Win Another Election With 'Corporate Style' Jobs Plan
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Labour Staff Fear Party Will Struggle To Win Another Election With "Corporate Style" Jobs Plan
Labour staff have claimed they are moving further away from voters than ever over fears the party's restructuring and major job losses will put them at the back-foot at the next election.
Scientists Call Government 'Reckless' Over Lack Of Covid-19 Measures In Schools
Coronavirus
Scientists Call Government "Reckless" Over Lack Of Covid-19 Measures In Schools
Independent Sage scientists have said the government's decision to remove Covid-19 mitigation measures from schools in September is “reckless”, and risks causing more cases and hospitalisations among the young.
Human Rights Organisation Says Home Office Risks Losing Public Backing Over 'Cruel' Deportation Flights
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
Human Rights Organisation Says Home Office Risks Losing Public Backing Over "Cruel" Deportation Flights
A Home Office deportation flight to Jamaica this week was a “watershed” moment for the UK’s approach to removing foreign-born criminals, according to human rights campaigners who say the public got to see the cruelty and chaos of this strategy played out in real time.
GCSE Inequality Between State, Selective And Private Schools Is 'Baked In', Keir Starmer Says
Education
GCSE Inequality Between State, Selective And Private Schools Is "Baked In", Keir Starmer Says
Enduring inequality between pupils at state, selective and private schools, and those on free school meals, has been brutally exposed in this year’s GCSE results, Labour has claimed.
Top GCSE Grades Have Risen For A Second Year Despite Pandemic Exam Disruption
Education
Top GCSE Grades Have Risen For A Second Year Despite Pandemic Exam Disruption
The number of GCSE students getting the top grades has risen across the country. It is the second year that teacher assessed marks have been used in place of exams as a result of pandemic disruption.
Sajid Javid Is Under Pressure To Explain Why Genomic Sequencing Of PCR Tests Has Dipped
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Sajid Javid Is Under Pressure To Explain Why Genomic Sequencing Of PCR Tests Has Dipped
Health secretary Sajid Javid is facing tough questions over why the level of genome sequencing of costly PCR tests for Brits returning from abroad has been so low in the last six months.
'Unconscious Bias' Could Have Widened A-Level Attainment Gap Between Black and White Pupils
Education
"Unconscious Bias" Could Have Widened A-Level Attainment Gap Between Black and White Pupils
A widening gap between top A-level grades for Black students and those of their white peers could be because of unconscious bias during this year's teacher assessed system, an education policy expert has told PoliticsHome.
South Of England Should Expect More Flooding, According To UN Climate Report Scientist
Environment
By Kate Proctor
South Of England Should Expect More Flooding, According To UN Climate Report Scientist
Southern England will be hit by more flooding unless there is a limit to global warming while all of Northern Europe can expect extreme rainfall if temperatures exceed 1.5 degrees.
Gavin Williamson Accused Of Downplaying His Pledge For A Level Students To Repeat A Year Amid Covid Disruption
Coronavirus
Gavin Williamson Accused Of Downplaying His Pledge For A Level Students To Repeat A Year Amid Covid Disruption
Students receiving their A-level results next week can request to repeat the school year if they feel they were adversely affected by Covid-19, an opportunity critics say has barely been advertised by the Department for Education.
Fears Grade Inflation Could See Disadvantaged A Level Students 'Fall Through Cracks' In Scramble For Uni Places
Education
Fears Grade Inflation Could See Disadvantaged A Level Students "Fall Through Cracks" In Scramble For Uni Places
The scramble for higher education places next week due to anticipated A-level grade inflation could see the most disadvantaged pupils left behind, Labour has warned.
Ministers Should Consider Capping Price Of PCR Tests For Holiday-Makers, Tory Claims
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Ministers Should Consider Capping Price Of PCR Tests For Holiday-Makers, Tory Claims
The government could be heading towards another row with backbenchers over foreign holidays as it was suggested today the cost of PCR tests for travelers should be capped.
A Second Teaching Union Has Called On The Government To Pay For Ventilation In Schools
Coronavirus
A Second Teaching Union Has Called On The Government To Pay For Ventilation In Schools
Pressure is mounting on the government to provide a cash fund for schools that need to buy CO2 monitors and ventilation units for classrooms to avoid another spike in coronavirus cases in the autumn term.
Independence Of Standards Watchdog At Risk After Bullingdon Club Appointment, Labour Claims
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Independence Of Standards Watchdog At Risk After Bullingdon Club Appointment, Labour Claims
The independence of a committee that advises Boris Johnson on ethical standards in public life is now at risk after it appointed one of his Bullingdon Club associates as a member, Labour has claimed.
Teachers' Union Calls For Government To Follow US and Fund Ventilation Units For Classrooms
Coronavirus
Teachers' Union Calls For Government To Follow US and Fund Ventilation Units For Classrooms
Classrooms should be fitted with ventilation units in time for the return to school in September, a leading education union has said today.
More Than 170 People Applied For Watchdog Job That Went To Boris Johnson's Bullingdon Club Acquaintance
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
More Than 170 People Applied For Watchdog Job That Went To Boris Johnson's Bullingdon Club Acquaintance
Labour has described the appointment of one of Boris Johnson’s Bullingdon Club acquaintances to a government anti-sleaze watchdog as an “utter joke” after it was revealed 173 people applied for jobs on the committee.