Tories must get out of their bubble and listen to business October 2, 2024 To those outside the bubble of true blue believers, Conservative party conference looked deranged. As violence exploded in the Middle East, delegates in Birmingham were battling over novelty merchandise and queuing for selfies with election losers. Fringe events debating the meaning of conservatism were packed while corporate sponsors and business lobbyists were conspicuous by their [...]
Carlton Club: A year of ‘successes and challenges’ for London private members’ club September 13, 2024 The Carlton Club has described facing both “successes and challenges” in its latest financial year as it battled high inflation, rising energy costs, train strikes and wage increases. The private members’ club said “unwelcome challenges” impacted its financial performance in 2023 but that it still managed to increase its surplus before tax by almost £200,000. [...]
Labour’s miserable mood music comes with its own risks August 27, 2024 The last time a Labour government replaced an unpopular Tory administration it did so to the sound of Things Can Only Get Better, by D:Ream. Now, 27 years later, Keir Starmer is changing the tune with a warning that “things are going to get worse.” This stark contrast will be set out in a speech [...]
‘Untenable’ that average Conservative voter is 63 years old, Mel Stride admits August 14, 2024 The average Conservative voter being 63 years old is “completely untenable,” leadership hopeful Mel Stride has admitted. The shadow work and pensions secretary was asked by Times Radio about a poll which showed three in five people in the UK do not care who the next Conservative leader is. He told the broadcaster: “The way [...]
The Tories can come back stronger, but only if they stop chasing Reform August 7, 2024 Reform’s surge was a consequence of Tory failure, not its cause, writes William Atkinson
The £22bn black hole row: Who’s telling the truth? July 31, 2024 Rachel Reeves and Jeremy Hunt are slinging accusations at each other about the state of the public finances. But who is right?
What next for the Conservatives? July 5, 2024 After a sobering defeat, the Conservatives must find their soul again. How? By Thatcher’s advice: being for things, not just against them.
Election 2024: What are Tories, Labour and Lib Dems pledging on sport? July 3, 2024 With the General Election just a matter of days away, we assess the approach that the major parties have taken when it comes to sport in their respective manifestos and what the potential consequences may be for the future of sport. Football Governance Bill The Football Governance Bill was one of the major legislative casualties [...]
Let’s be honest, all regulation – even hedgehog holes – costs public money June 27, 2024 All the parties have pledged additional regulations, but the costs of these largely go unchecked, writes Matthew Lesh.
Labour lacks the ambition to boost the City’s potential June 26, 2024 While Labour will raise businesses taxes, only the Conservatives understand that it’s entrepreneurs that create growth, wealth and opportunity, says Bim Afolami Elections are about a choice informed by a reflection on the past to make a crucial judgement about our future. Over the past 14 years, the UK, with London at its heart, has [...]