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How To Understand Polling
Political parties
How To Understand Polling
For political parties, polling is the easiest way to find out how the public rate them without the consequences of an election, and when it's in their favour it's an easy two fingers up to their opponents. When it's not, it at least gives them a chance to know what they need to change, sharpish.

Abandoned HS2 Land In London Could Be Handed Back To The Public While Delays Continue
Transport
Abandoned HS2 Land In London Could Be Handed Back To The Public While Delays Continue
A vast plot of prime central London land outside Euston station has been left unused after the latest leg of the long-anticipated high-speed rail network, HS2, was halted. Now local politicians and developers connected to the project are working with the community to establish if any land reserved for its construction can be handed back to the public until work is resumed.
'Shy Switchers' Could Be Concealing True Scale Of Possible Tory Defeat At Next Election
Political parties
"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.
The Fraught Process Behind Who Gets To Run To Be An MP
Political parties
The Fraught Process Behind Who Gets To Run To Be An MP
With a general election due to be called in 2024, a new cohort of MPs will soon enter parliament, and the secretive, often controversial, battle for each party to decide who is in the running is already underway.
Will Government Rental Reforms Actually End “Unfair” Evictions?
Home affairs
Will Government Rental Reforms Actually End “Unfair” Evictions?
Back in April 2019, the May government announced “the end to unfair evictions”. That was just a mite premature: four years and three prime ministers later, “no fault” or Section 21 evictions remain as much a feature of the housing market as they ever did.
Falling Mental Health Waiting Lists 'Skewed' By Drop-Outs
Health
Falling Mental Health Waiting Lists "Skewed" By Drop-Outs
Therapists have accused NHS England of presenting misrepresentative data that includes hundreds of thousands of people who drop out of mental health treatment without any follow up, in order to meet waiting list and recovery rate targets.
What's Going On With The Row Over Boris Johnson's Covid Messages?
Coronavirus
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.
Restless Shadow Ministers Want Keir Starmer To Shake Up Labour's Top Team
Political parties
Restless Shadow Ministers Want Keir Starmer To Shake Up Labour's Top Team
Members of Labour's shadow ministerial team are restless to see Keir Starmer shake up his top team and are urging him to be more “ruthless” in his appointments.

Why Has UK Net Migration Reached A Record High?
Home affairs
Why Has UK Net Migration Reached A Record High?
Net migration to the United Kingdom has already reached a record high, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) expected to announce a further increase on Thursday.
Exasperated Tories Worry “Freelancing” MPs Are Damaging Fragile Party Unity
Home affairs
Exasperated Tories Worry “Freelancing” MPs Are Damaging Fragile Party Unity
Tory WhatsApp groups were "alive" this week with backbench MPs complaining that Home Secretary Suella Braverman had undermined Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when she appeared to deviate from the government approach to immigration.
How Government Hopes To Overhaul Renters' Rights
Social affairs
How Government Hopes To Overhaul Renters' Rights
Government has announced a “once in a generation” Renters' Reform Bill which they say will revolutionise the private rental market. In recent years the sector has been inundated with people paying high prices on precarious contracts as a result of the housing crisis.
Surge In MP Staff Joining Union Driven By Culture Of Sexual Harassment And Bullying
Parliament
Surge In MP Staff Joining Union Driven By Culture Of Sexual Harassment And Bullying
Exclusive: Union membership among MPs’ staff working in parliament has surged by 1,000 per cent, as allegations of bullying and sexual harassment continue to circulate in Westminster.
The Slow Death of Parliamentary Scrutiny
History
By Dr Alice Lilly
The Slow Death of Parliamentary Scrutiny
One of Parliament’s core roles is to scrutinise policy and legislation. Dr Alice Lilly from the Institute for Government finds that with a Commons that has limited time to look at bills in detail, and an overworked second chamber, it is struggling to do its job properly. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall
Tories Are Torn Between The NIMBY Faithful And Voters Who Are Desperate For Houses
Political parties
Tories Are Torn Between The NIMBY Faithful And Voters Who Are Desperate For Houses
The Conservative party has found itself at a crossroads on housebuilding, and whichever way they turn they risk alienating voters.

Road Warriors: The Inside Story Of Oxford's LTN Wars
Transport
By Stuart McGurk
Road Warriors: The Inside Story Of Oxford's LTN Wars
Over the last couple of years, the row over Oxford’s traffic restrictions has grown in prominence from a local skirmish to become the target of global far-right conspiracy theories. Stuart McGurk travels to the dreaming spires to find a city at war with itself. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall
Tory MPs Told To Get Out More And Win Back Voters
Political parties
Tory MPs Told To Get Out More And Win Back Voters
Conservative MPs will be urged to spend more time campaigning in their constituencies after the bruising local election results left senior Tory figures worried that the party's ground game could be a "weakness" at the next general election.
Everyone In The Mix To Be The Conservatives' London Mayoral Candidate
Political parties
Everyone In The Mix To Be The Conservatives' London Mayoral Candidate
The Conservative Party has formally kicked off its search for a candidate to challenge Sadiq Khan for the role of London Mayor in next year’s London mayoral election, and a number of high profile names are already in the mix.
Challenge For Charles To Take On His Mother’s Mantle As UK’s Top Diplomat
Parliament
Challenge For Charles To Take On His Mother’s Mantle As UK’s Top Diplomat
As Charles prepares to be crowned, the new King faces the challenge of not only emulating his mother Queen Elizabeth II as a head of state, but as the UK’s biggest diplomatic asset.
Labour Predicted To Win Next General Election Based On Local Election Results
Political parties
Labour Predicted To Win Next General Election Based On Local Election Results
Pollsters and elections experts believe the Conservative hammering in the local elections results indicate Labour is on track for success at the next general election.
Local Elections Are Liberal Democrats' Time To Shine
Political parties
Local Elections Are Liberal Democrats' Time To Shine
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey hailed his party’s “ground breaking” night after delivering a “hammer blow” to the Conservatives in the local elections, polls which in recent years have delivered a significant windfall of seats for the party.
Key Councils That Changed Hands At The Local Elections
Political parties
Key Councils That Changed Hands At The Local Elections
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have so far made major gains at the expense of the Conservatives at this year’s local elections, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has described as "disappointing".
MPs Warn Against 'Sleepwalking' Into AI Danger Without Rapid Regulation
Technology
MPs Warn Against "Sleepwalking" Into AI Danger Without Rapid Regulation
Conservative and Labour MPs have called on the government to “act now” on regulating rapidly advancing AI technology, as a new think tank report recommends the UK establishes itself as a leader in the "global AI race".
How To Follow The Local Elections
Communities
How To Follow The Local Elections
Labour and the Conservatives face a significant test of public opinion on Thursday when voters across England decide who will run their councils – often seen as a barometer for how major parties might perform at the next general election.
What The Coronation Means
History
By Andrew Gimson
What The Coronation Means
Andrew Gimson takes us on a tour of coronations past and reveals how, far from being an affront to democracy, the ceremony will act as an affirmation of it
MPs Accused Of Leaving Lords To Pick Up Flack On Scrutinising New Laws
Parliament
MPs Accused Of Leaving Lords To Pick Up Flack On Scrutinising New Laws
Frustration has emerged that MPs in the House of Commons are increasingly bouncing the brunt of responsibility for scrutinising government legislation to the House of Lords.
The Baroness Benjamin interview: 'When you smile, you are a winner'
Home affairs
By Tali Fraser
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
What You Need To Know About Government's Gambling Crackdown
Social affairs
What You Need To Know About Government's Gambling Crackdown
The Government has proposed a once in a generation white paper to clean up the gambling sector.
BBC Chair Broke Rules In Boris Johnson Loan Row – Here's What You Need To Know
Culture
BBC Chair Broke Rules In Boris Johnson Loan Row – Here's What You Need To Know
Richard Sharp has resigned from his role of BBC Chair after an independent report concluded he was found to have broken the Governance Code over his relationship to former prime minister Boris Johnson's finances.
Is Northern Ireland's Political Deadlock Running Out Of Road?
Brexit
Is Northern Ireland's Political Deadlock Running Out Of Road?
There is a growing feeling on both sides of the Irish Sea that an unavoidable moment of truth is fast approaching the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) as the party appears to be running out of road in its ongoing boycott of Northern Ireland's political institutions.
Tory MPs Have 'Lots Of Sympathy' For Dominic Raab After Bullying Report Resignation
Political parties
Tory MPs Have "Lots Of Sympathy" For Dominic Raab After Bullying Report Resignation
Conservative MPs have expressed “lots of sympathy” for Dominic Raab, after the former Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister resigned from Government over bullying allegations.
The professor will see you now - female politicians
Political parties
By Professor Philip Cowley
The professor will see you now - female politicians
What if I were to tell you about recently published research which demonstrated that voters judged female politicians negatively compared to their male counterparts?
Beaver Bounceback
Environment
By Chris Chafin
Beaver Bounceback
The reintroduction of beavers to the United Kingdom has been met with excitement from ecotourists and animal lovers – but some are worried it could come at a price. Chris Chafin reports. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall
Revealed: the postcode lottery in child and adolescent mental health care
Health
By Justine Smith
Revealed: the postcode lottery in child and adolescent mental health care
An FOI investigation by The House has uncovered a postcode lottery in child and adolescent mental health care, with some desperate young people waiting up to four years for help.
Parliamentary Staff Could Face “Corporate Manslaughter Charges” If Crumbling Palace of Westminster Claims A Life
Parliament
Parliamentary Staff Could Face “Corporate Manslaughter Charges” If Crumbling Palace of Westminster Claims A Life
As MPs continue to delay plans to renovate the crumbling Palace of Westminster a leading Parliamentary expert says staff would be the ones to face “charges of corporate manslaughter” if someone dies before it is fixed.
I fight every day to care for my patients – but junior doctors are at breaking point
Health
By Anonymous junior doctor
I fight every day to care for my patients – but junior doctors are at breaking point
One family told me their mum had only been waiting six hours on the floor for an ambulance. Only six hours. For a moment I thought this was a positive outcome. A patient in their 80s, lying on a cold hard floor for the equivalent of three quarters of my shift and I felt this was good patient care.
Local Elections Comedown Could Hit A Tory Party High On Hope
Political parties
Local Elections Comedown Could Hit A Tory Party High On Hope
Conservative MPs are increasingly optimistic that thanks to a series of recent successes by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, that they will be forgiven for the last year of Tory chaos when people go to the polls for May's local elections.