Conservative Party

When Boris Johnson announced Tier Three restrictions for the Liverpool City Region earlier this week it appeared that one of the longest running battles in British politics had been brutally re-opened: The Tory party versus Merseyside. The Region’s mayor Steve Rotheram rejected the suggestion that he had agreed with government plans to lockdown saying the […]

It has emerged the photographer behind an image of a ballerina encouraged to retrain in cyber security by the UK government was not aware the picture was being used in a “crass” advert. The advert cased controversy at the start of the week after the government was accused of undervaluing the arts by suggesting a dancer’s […]

A Conservative MP has resigned as a ministerial aide over coronavirus restrictions, saying the “attempted cure is worse than the disease”. Chris Green, who represents Bolton West, said the Greater Manchester lockdown had “failed to control the number of positive tests” within his borough. In a letter to prime minister, Green said he was resigning […]

The government’s environment secretary has insisted that protections for food and farming standards are not necessary – because it was in the Conservative Party manifesto. On Monday, MPs voted to overturn measures aimed at protecting UK food standards in future trade deals. But defending the decision of government to vote against such protections, George Eustice […]

Labour has demanded a top-level investigation into communities secretary over how government funding was allocated to his constituency over others in the UK. Robert Jenrick said he and a junior minister approved payments to towns in each other’s constituencies from a government fund earmarked for deprived areas, with his Newark constituency selected for a £25 million […]

A major Tory Party donor has been knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Tom Gallagher, a multimillionaire property developer who has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Conservative Party, is honoured for “services to land development and the property business”. The businessman is said to be part of the so-called “Chipping Norton set” […]

The Conservatives spent more than £16 million at the 2019 general election, new figures show. The Electoral Commission revealed the governing party spent £16,486,871 across the country to win its 80-seat majority. The biggest chunk of the money, £5,818,998 went on “unsolicited material to electors”, the Electoral Commission said. Marketing and canvassing cost £4,471,937, and advertising […]

Boris Johnson’s approval rating among Tory voters continues to decline as many continue to disagree with his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Less than half (45%) of 2019 Tory voters think No 10 is doing a good job managing the virus while a further quarter (25%) do not think they are, a survey by pollsters Redfield & […]

If your internal bullshit detector has been sleeping on the job lately, it’s time to wake up and smell Therese Coffey. Eyebrows were raised when the work and pensions secretary advised newly unemployed cinema workers that they had “transferrable” skills suitable for work in care homes – because scooping up a 50/50 megabucket of sweet […]

Boris Johnson has claimed that Britain is “more united than for decades”, despite the threat of a split in the United Kingdom, and Brexit divides failing to be healed.   Speaking during his big speech to Tory party conference, he said: “And I believe you will see a Britain that is more united than for decades […]

Boris Johnson is facing a sizeable Commons Tory rebellion over the government’s coronavirus restrictions – including the 10pm curfew and “rule of six”. Leading rebel Steve Baker said he does not expect to defeat the government, but instead get ministers to shift ground. MPs will vote on Tuesday, the day the prime minister addresses the […]

Rishi Sunak has declared that he does not want to take over as prime minister, laughing off claiming his own job is difficult enough. The chancellor acknowledged disagreements but spoke warmly of his relationship with Johnson after rumours of a split between the two men inhabiting Downing Street. The suggestions have largely been fuelled by […]

Former Brexit secretary David Davis has claimed the government should “shrug off” the EU threat of legal action over the Internal Market Bill which breaches international law. The Brexiteer told talkRADIO: “I don’t think it’s something we should take terribly seriously. “The first thing to understand is this was going to happen. “If the EU […]

Cultural commentator and broadcaster PETER YORK on those with the knives out for the Corporation. There is a war against the BBC. Does that sound over the top? When Paddy Barwise and I were searching for a title for our new book, back in 2018, we feared it might be. A war against the British […]

Jacob Rees-Mogg has announced plans for a week-long Commons recess, raising concerns over how the government’s coronavirus measures can be properly scrutinised. The extra-long break has been introduced because of fears over the spread of coronavirus, but prompted criticism from social media users who claimed the government was hiding from scrutiny. It comes at a […]

At least 52 Tory MPs have signalled they are willing to back Graham Brady’s amendment to the Coronavirus Act which could lead to a fresh government defeat. The amendment demands that “parliament has an opportunity to debate and to vote upon any secondary legislation with effect in the whole of England or the whole United Kingdom […]

A Labour MP has said that Tory MPs are guilty of following tactics of Donald Trump after she claimed to have never seen any of the politicians wearing face masks during votes in the House of Commons. Emily Thornberry, the shadow international trade secretary, said that “so many rules don’t seem to apply in parliament” […]

Social media users have expressed concerns for education secretary Gavin Williamson, who appears to have gone “missing” during a row over the government’s handling of universities. Williamson, who was criticised for his approach to A-Level and GCSE results, has not given a single interview since university students were forced to self-isolate in their halls at […]

The Conservatives have hit out at those trying to score “political points” by claiming that students could have to remain at university over Christmas – despite their own MPs refusing to rule it out. Reports appeared to surface after health secretary Matt Hancock himself did not deny the possibility.It followed the release of Scientific Advisory […]

A new poll has given Labour a three-point lead over the Conservatives for the first time since Boris Johnson took power. Opinium polling found the opposition has increased its share of support by three points to 42% of support, compared to the Tories, which saw a drop in backing by three points. It means the […]

The latest Conservative attack lines over Brexit have backfired, after it tried to accuse Labour of taking the side of “the EU” in parliament by voting against Boris Johnson’s bill. Moments after the Internal Market Bill passed its second reading – designed to override the Withdrawal Agreement bill and international law – the Tories claimed […]

David Cameron is adding a luxurious heated swimming pool to his £1.5 million family home in the Cotswolds. The former prime minister, an architect of modern-day Tory austerity, has reportedly applied for planning permission for a 45 by 13 foot outdoor pool. West Oxfordshire District Council officials are yet to approve the build, after a complaints from a […]

A Tory former minister has called for Liz Truss to resign from her women and equalities minister role. Truss was criticised after she ruled out changes for people to be able to self-identify their gender and change their birth certificates without a medical diagnosis. The Gender Recognition Act currently requires transgender people to go through a lengthy […]

Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s claim that the Coronavirus crisis is “on all of us” has been met with criticism. Sunak made the remarks while announcing his winter economy plan which aims to support jobs and the economy during the pandemic. He told the commons earlier: “The government has done much to mitigate the effects of the […]

Attorney general Suella Braverman has defended the controversial internal market bill which will give the government the power to breach the withdrawal agreement after being accused of putting “Brexit fanaticism” ahead of the rule of law. The government’s top legal adviser has faced calls to resign as she told MPs it is “entirely proper, entirely constitutional […]

Tory ministers have joined backbenchers in predicting that Boris Johnson will not last the full parliament through until 2024. Tory ministers doubt Boris Johnson’s ability to last until 2 BBC Newsnight reports that ministers have joined disgruntled backbenchers in doubting Johnson’s ability to lead the UK through until 2024, saying he is now in a […]

Boris Johnson could be preparing to concede to amendments to his Brexit bill being proposed by Tory rebels, reports have suggested. The FT is reporting the prime minister could concede to a demand by Tory MP Bob Neill that would force the government into seeking parliamentary consent before breaking the Withdrawal Agreement. It is reported […]

Your correspondents and letters pages rightly focus on the future challenges for Labour and the Liberal Democrats, shell-shocked by the election. “Is Starmer more Major than Blair?”, asks Peter Kerr – but is Starmer more John Smith, perhaps?Recovery is not enough now; inspiring vision is also needed. Harold Wilson, another exemplar, also ran the modernisation vision […]