All articles written by Tali Fraser on PoliticsHome.com

29 Apr Home affairs

The Baroness Benjamin interview: "When you smile, you are a winner"

Arriving in Britain as a young girl from Trinidad, much-loved children’s TV presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin never expected to have any kind of relationship with the King, let alone play a key role in his coronation ceremony. She tells Tali Fraser about their connection to the Commonwealth, being let down on Windrush and why it pays to keep smiling. Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer

20 Apr Health

Health select committee chair: CAMHS failings break my heart

The chair of the commons select committee has said the state of child mental health services in the UK “breaks his heart” after an investigation by The House Magazine exposed severe delays and a de facto postcode lottery facing those seeking care.

20 Mar Communities

Octopus boss Greg Jackson: The UK is going backwards on renewables

Greg Jackson has been working 14 days straight but he is not complaining. “This is what no one tells you about trying to launch an international company,” he jokes, “but I don’t mind by the way, I love my job.”

18 Mar Economy

The Jonathan Reynolds interview: "Vulnerability could and should be a universal standard"

Jonathan Reynolds talks to Tali Fraser about a universal standard of vulnerability when it comes to energy policy – and his faith as a Christian where, he says, ‘questions of poverty and vulnerability are central’. Photography by Baldo Sciacca

04 Mar Communities

The Kwajo Tweneboa interview: "We’re meant to be in 2023. This is like Victorian slum housing”

Kwajo Tweneboa was forced to become an activist after watching his father die in a flat that was not fit to live in. He tells Tali Fraser about the pressure he’s under as he fights for a good home for all – and why he feels let down by Labour.

18 Feb Culture

The Tristram Hunt interview: "If people want to rewrite a museum label, great!"

Director of the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum and former Labour MP Tristram Hunt talks to Tali Fraser about rewriting gallery labels, turning off Netflix and the lack of tech billionaire donors.
Photography by Louise Haywood Schiefer

04 Feb Economy

The Mel Stride interview: "In a tight labour market, every worker is really important"

A core member of the Prime Minister’s leadership campaign, Mel Stride, now Department of Work and Pensions Secretary, tells Tali Fraser about his review into why so many people have dropped out of the workforce – and how to bring them back.

Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer

29 Jan Communities

Broken Britain: why Liverpool Walton is the Levelling Up frontline

Liverpool Walton spans the city’s two football clubs and is home to a myriad of problems which makes the constituency the most deprived in the country. Tali Fraser reports

21 Jan Economy

The Jonathan Ashworth interview: “We're going to shift power and resources out of Whitehall”

Following his keynote speech setting out Labour’s plans for jobs and welfare, Jonathan Ashworth tells Tali Fraser about linking together health and employment services, his childhood experience of benefits and his determination to not become addicted to work.

Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer

20 Dec 2022 Economy

The Treasury's Non-Functioning Token

When the Treasury announced plans to launch its own non-fungible token, it caused a sensation on social media. Now, however, Tali Fraser hears the scheme may have hit the buffers

10 Dec 2022 Parliament

The Nusrat Ghani interview: "It is more difficult now being an MP than it has been for a long time"

From her background as a poorly child in Kashmir, industry minister Nusrat Ghani tells Tali Fraser how technology and medical innovation can have a tangible impact on people’s lives. Photography by Baldo Sciacca

26 Nov 2022 Political parties

The Chris Bryant interview: "It is a bizarre irony that I am chair of the Committee on Standards"

Chris Bryant has been through a few political scrapes, so recognises the irony that he is now chair of the Standards Committee. He tells Tali Fraser about the recent furore in the division lobbies, trying to hold his tongue and surviving cancer. Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer.

12 Nov 2022 Political parties

The Nadine Dorries interview: "If I didn’t have a thick skin, I would be dead by now"

Newly returned to the backbenches, former culture secretary Nadine Dorries tells Tali Fraser there are plenty more political scraps to come - and that she’s still Boris Johnson’s biggest cheerleader. Photography by Baldo Sciacca.

03 Nov 2022 Social affairs

How disabled people face broken air travel - and broken wheelchairs

The shine has come off air travel for most of us since the pandemic, but for disabled people wishing to take to the skies, flying is increasingly a frustrating ordeal. Tali Fraser reports.

31 Oct 2022 Political parties

Ed Davey interview: ‘I made my priority very clear and it is to beat Conservative MPs’

As both leader of the Liberal Democrats and a carer to his son, Ed Davey has a lot on his plate. But, he tells Tali Fraser, he’s ready for a general election any time. Photography by Baldo Sciacca.

28 Oct 2022 Parliament

Lord McFall first Lord Speaker to visit Irish parliament

Lord McFall has become the first Lord Speaker to make an official visit to the Irish parliament and address their senate, the Seanad Éireann.

25 Oct 2022 Parliament

Parliament to host stem cell drop-in

The blood cancer and disorder charity Anthony Nolan is holding a parliamentary drop-in as part of its drive to recruit stem cell donors.

02 Oct 2022 Political parties

Penny Mordaunt interview: 'Other people are confused about what I think about things, but that's their affair'

She ran for the Conservative leadership, announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II to the Privy Council and proclaimed the new monarch King Charles III. Penny Mordaunt looks back on a whirlwind few months – and tells Tali Fraser what comes next. Photography by Baldo Sciacca.

25 Sep 2022 Books & culture

Liverpool guide: What to do outside Labour Conference

Liverpudlians love their city – and it is easy to see why. Having been crowned City of Culture in 2008, Liverpool’s cultural heritage has gone from strength to strength, with even more restaurants, bars and activities adding to its city’s offering. Tali Fraser presents some of the highlights.

21 May 2021 Home affairs

British Jews should not be expected to answer for the Israeli government’s actions

I should not be made to feel responsible for the Israeli government because I am a Zionist and want a Jewish state to exist.

30 Nov 2019 Home affairs

Voters in marginal seats have significantly more influence than average voter says new research

Voters across 25 constituencies will have 16 times more power on average in the General Election than the rest of the UK, according to new research.

30 Nov 2019 Foreign affairs

Donald Trump won't intervene in UK election after request from Boris Johnson

Donald Trump has agreed not to interfere in the general election when he visits the UK next week after a plea from Boris Johnson.

21 Sep 2019 Brexit

European Commission believes Boris Johnson's Brexit backstop plans 'fall short'

A leaked European Commission memo has said the latest draft proposals from the UK for a new Brexit deal “fall short of satisfying all the objectives of the Irish backstop”.

21 Sep 2019 Political parties

John McDonnell shuts down prospect of Labour backing Boris Johnson's Brexit deal

John McDonnell has dampened hopes of Labour supporting any Brexit deal signed off by Boris Johnson.

21 Sep 2019 Brexit

Labour MPs vow to revive Commons push for a second referendum in bid to end Brexit 'crisis'

Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson will today promise to bring back a Commons plan to amend any future Brexit deal with a second referendum.

27 Jul 2019 Foreign affairs

Boris Johnson talks 'substantial' post-Brexit trade deal with Donald Trump in first call as PM

Boris Johnson and Donald Trump have agreed to start post-Brexit trade talks "as soon as possible" in their first call since Mr Johnson became Prime Minister.

27 Jul 2019 Political parties

Boris Johnson 'absolutely' rules out election before 31 October Brexit deadline

Boris Johnson has “absolutely” ruled out a general election before the latest Brexit deadline of 31 October.

27 Jul 2019 Economy

Jacob Rees-Mogg orders staff to use imperial measures and double spacing in leaked memo

Jacob Rees-Mogg has issued a new style guide to his staff demanding all non-titled males be called Esquire and ordering them to use imperial measurements.

27 Jul 2019 Home affairs

Labour demands probe into whether Priti Patel has breached ministerial code again

Labour has hit out at new Home Secretary Priti Patel amid claims she may have broken the ministerial code for a second time.