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What Could Labour's Government Agenda Look Like?
Political parties
What Could Labour's Government Agenda Look Like?
On Monday, Keir Starmer gave the UK a taste of what the next Labour government could look like as he launched a "Commission on the UK’s Future" report from former prime minister Gordon Brown.
Secrets of the ballot box: 150 years of voting in private
Political parties
By Lord Lexden
Secrets of the ballot box: 150 years of voting in private
Seldom can a major constitutional reform have aroused so little enthusiasm. No public meetings were held to demand it; no great demonstrations were organised in its support. After much parliamentary dithering and delay, the Ballot Act finally became law in the second half of 1872, exactly 150 years ago.
Rishi Sunak Is Already Struggling To Keep “Ungovernable” MPs In Line
Political parties
Rishi Sunak Is Already Struggling To Keep “Ungovernable” MPs In Line
The day Rishi Sunak took over as Prime Minister he was warned he was inheriting an “ungovernable” party, and the past few weeks have not seemed to prove otherwise. 
All The MPs Standing Down At The Next General Election
Home affairs
All The MPs Standing Down At The Next General Election
With the next general election less than two years away, sitting MPs are having to decide whether they want to put themselves forward again to stand for another term.
All The Strikes Happening Before Christmas
Health
All The Strikes Happening Before Christmas
Staff across multiple sectors are due to strike throughout December, as unions continue to make demands for reform of pay and conditions by employers and the government.
Where And When NHS Nurse Strikes Will Happen
Health
Where And When NHS Nurse Strikes Will Happen
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has confirmed the locations of strikes that will take place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the run-up to Christmas.
How a public inquiry into contaminated blood exposed decades of denial
Health
By Tom Sasse
How a public inquiry into contaminated blood exposed decades of denial
Earlier this month, one of the most extraordinary public inquiries in United Kingdom history held its final public evidence session.
All You Need To Know About Scotland's Legal Bid For An Independence Referendum
Parliament
All You Need To Know About Scotland's Legal Bid For An Independence Referendum
The Supreme Court’s decision to refuse the Scottish Government’s referendum bill, which would allow them to hold an Independence vote without Westminster's consent, is just one blow in a long and complex fight between Scottish nationalists and the dominant political parties in London.
As COP27 comes to an end, UK climate leadership must not
Environment
By Baroness Hayman
As COP27 comes to an end, UK climate leadership must not
As COP27 draws to a close, we should recognise the historic breakthrough made in agreeing to set up a fund to assist vulnerable nations hit by climate disasters.
Tory MPs Are Dreading The Next Election, Even If Jeremy Hunt Has Calmed Markets
Economy
Tory MPs Are Dreading The Next Election, Even If Jeremy Hunt Has Calmed Markets
Jeremy Hunt's long-awaited Autumn Statement managed to avert market panic and so far, a Tory rebellion, but Conservative MPs are still worried for their chances at the next General Election. In fact, they fear Hunt's gloomy grappling with the country's finances may have made their prospects even worse.
Drivers Are 'Fed Up' The Government Can't Make Up Its Mind On Fuel Duty
Economy
Drivers Are "Fed Up" The Government Can't Make Up Its Mind On Fuel Duty
Jeremy Hunt has insisted that no decision has been made about whether the government will raise fuel duty after a hike was teased in official treasury documents, but drivers are keen for certainty following more than a decade of frozen prices.
All The Major Announcements In Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement
Economy
All The Major Announcements In Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt promised "stability, growth and public services" in a major Autumn Statement laying out the government's spending plans, including increases to tax and cutbacks on public spending.
Rishi Sunak Says UK And Global Inflation Rates Are “Utterly Political”
Foreign affairs
Rishi Sunak Says UK And Global Inflation Rates Are “Utterly Political”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the economic shocks experienced by countries across the world are “inherently global” in his first press conference at the G20 Summit this morning as the Office For National Statistics announces record high inflation rates.
Here's What To Expect From Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement
Economy
Here's What To Expect From Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to deliver his Autumn Statement on 17 November, setting out the government’s spending plan for the year ahead. Here’s what is expected to be in it.
Environment Watchdog Cutbacks 'Could Risk Lives' This Winter
Environment
Environment Watchdog Cutbacks "Could Risk Lives" This Winter
Cutbacks to the Environment Agency, the regulator tasked with protecting the country’s environment and ecology, could "risk lives" this Winter, an insider has said.
Rishi Sunak's Fragile Authority Has Been 'Badly Damaged' By Gavin Williamson Scandal
Economy
Rishi Sunak's Fragile Authority Has Been "Badly Damaged" By Gavin Williamson Scandal
Rishi Sunak is just 19 days into his premiership, but already he is facing questions about his political judgement after another week dominated by tensions over his contentious Cabinet appointments.
The Nadine Dorries interview: 'If I didn’t have a thick skin, I would be dead by now'
Political parties
By Tali Fraser
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.
Redrawing The Map: All The Big Problems With Ripping Up Parliamentary Constituencies
Parliament
Redrawing The Map: All The Big Problems With Ripping Up Parliamentary Constituencies
The boundaries of the UK’s 650 parliamentary constituencies are up for review, but redrawing the map to please everyone is no easy task.
Dire UN climate warnings cast cloud over COP26 legacy
Environment
By Dr Joshua Wells, Political Consultant
Dire UN climate warnings cast cloud over COP26 legacy
The United Nations chief’s stark warning of impending disaster at the start of the COP27 climate summit has cast a cloud over the previous gathering hosted by the UK.
Ministers could act now to address the chaos on our railways
Transport
By Louise Haigh MP
Ministers could act now to address the chaos on our railways
This month on one of the major rail routes in the country – TransPennine Express – connecting towns and cities across the North, hundreds of services have been cancelled. For tens of thousands of people it has made rail travel next to impossible, and the cost to the regional economy is huge.
Where Are They Now? Eleanor Smith
Political parties
By Seun Matiluko
Where Are They Now? Eleanor Smith
In 1968 a man gave a speech at a Conservative Party meeting in which he warned that one day “the Black man will have the whip hand over the white man”. He was Enoch Powell, MP for Wolverhampton South West, and his infamous “Rivers of Blood” speech would stoke the fires of racism in Britain. Nearly 50 years later, Eleanor Smith became Wolverhampton South West’s first Black MP.
If the Asylum System is broken, who broke it?
Health
By Lord Dubs
If the Asylum System is broken, who broke it?
"The Home Secretary stated that the United Kingdom’s immigration system is broken. The Conservatives have been in government for 12 years. She does not appear to realise that this is an admission of Conservative failure."
Steve Baker, John Brown and the role of white Christianity in Black History
History
By Nels Abbey
Steve Baker, John Brown and the role of white Christianity in Black History
Throughout history, white Christians have proved both spectacularly malevolent and truly inspirational in the battle for Black equality. Nels Abbey sets the scene
Lord Diary: Lord Cormack
Political parties
By Lord Cormack
Lord Diary: Lord Cormack
For the first time in over two years I feel hopeful. Rishi Sunak has indeed brought a smile to my face and – after the two most memorable (and for all the wrong reasons) years in my 52 in Parliament – I have a spring in my step.
Rishi Sunak’s Honeymoon Period Could Be Very Short-Lived
Political parties
Rishi Sunak’s Honeymoon Period Could Be Very Short-Lived
Hours after Rishi Sunak was announced as the UK’s 57th prime minister on Monday, one Conservative MP walked into Strangers, the bar frequented by MPs on the parliamentary estate, and said “thank fuck for that”.
COP Out – The Alok Sharma Interview
Environment
By Isabella Kaminski
COP Out – The Alok Sharma Interview
A year ago, Alok Sharma was preparing to corral thousands of diplomats into a conference centre in Glasgow, where they would try to thrash out a way of tackling the climate crisis while furthering their own domestic ambitions – a seemingly impossible task.
What the viral 'Jerry from Lowestoft' LBC clip says about race in Britain today
Communities
By Sangita Myska
What the viral "Jerry from Lowestoft" LBC clip says about race in Britain today
It’s the moment a video clip from my LBC radio programme was used by TV host Trevor Noah to open The Daily Show, thereby beaming it into the homes of millions of Americans, that I realised my conversation with the now infamous “Jerry from Lowestoft” had morphed into a socio-political phenomenon.
Rishi Sunak's Cabinet Reshuffle: Who's In, Who's Out And Who's Keeping Their Job
Economy
Rishi Sunak's Cabinet Reshuffle: Who's In, Who's Out And Who's Keeping Their Job
Rishi Sunak has appointed his top ministerial team in a Cabinet reshuffle aimed at reuniting a warring Conservative Party.
Co-operation between the Irish and British parliaments is crucial to resolve uncertainties in Northern Ireland
Parliament
By Lord McFall
Co-operation between the Irish and British parliaments is crucial to resolve uncertainties in Northern Ireland
Ireland is one of our closest friends and most important allies. Reaching out and cementing our ties has arguably never been more important, as the United Kingdom continues to map a framework for its relationship with the country after Brexit.
Rishi Sunak Becoming First British-Asian Prime Minister Seen As 'Historic Moment”
Social affairs
Rishi Sunak Becoming First British-Asian Prime Minister Seen As "Historic Moment”
The appointment of Rishi Sunak as the first British Asian to become Prime Minister has been hailed as a “historic moment” by the Conservative Friends of India.
For The Next Tory Leader, Uniting The Party Might Be Impossible
Political parties
For The Next Tory Leader, Uniting The Party Might Be Impossible
As the Conservative party prepares to elect its third leader and Prime Minister of 2022, senior Tory figures are asking whether their party is now broken beyond repair.
Stormzy’s ‘Mel Made Me Do It’ and the Nuances of Representing Black British Communities
Culture
By Nicolas Tyrell-Scott
Stormzy’s ‘Mel Made Me Do It’ and the Nuances of Representing Black British Communities
Galvanising an instantly primed audience — both domestically and beyond borders — the music video for the rapper Stormzy’s Mel Made Me Do It, was an instant draw upon its release released on 23 September, sitting atop Twitter’s trending topics within moments of its premiere.
All The Tory MPs Calling For Liz Truss To Resign
Political parties
All The Tory MPs Calling For Liz Truss To Resign
Liz Truss's premiership is crumbling as more Conservative MPs break cover to call on her to stand down.
Here Are The Conservative MPs Who Did Not Vote With The Government On Fracking
Political parties
Here Are The Conservative MPs Who Did Not Vote With The Government On Fracking
The government has defeated a Commons attempt by Labour to force through a new law banning fracking by 326 to 230 despite a rebellion by Conservative MPs.
The UK Could Face A Complicated Disentanglement From The Commonwealth
Foreign affairs
The UK Could Face A Complicated Disentanglement From The Commonwealth
When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on 2nd June 1953, she officially became head of state of not only the United Kingdom but of dozens of Commonwealth realms across the world, including Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. But when King Charles III is crowned on 6th May 2023 — as announced early last week — he will be tasked with holding what’s left of the Commonwealth together.
Rishi Sunak Is Biding His Time As Liz Truss Clings On For Her Political Life
Economy
Rishi Sunak Is Biding His Time As Liz Truss Clings On For Her Political Life
There was a moment during Rishi Sunak’s thank you speech to leadership campaign staff on Thursday night when a member of his defeated team remarked “we were proven right”.