Badenoch refuses Reform merger as she says UK ‘getting poorer’ January 16, 2025 Kemi Badenoch has said Britain is “getting poorer” and “living off the inheritance” of past generations, as she refused any suggestion of a merger between the Tories and Reform UK. The Conservative leader made her first speech of 2025 in central London on Thursday. She focused on the past mistakes of her party in what [...]
No Conservative should stand for Britain in decline January 16, 2025 With persistent inflation, Conservatives exhausted and a Labour government with no ideas, the ghosts of the 1970s have returned to haunt Britain. Now, just as then, a comprehensive reboot of the right is required, says Sir Simon Clarke We live in a time of ghosts. The spirits of the 1970s are stirring across the UK, [...]
PMQs: Starmer insists Reeves will be Chancellor for ‘many years to come’ January 15, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has insisted Rachel Reeves will be Chancellor for “many years to come” as Kemi Badenoch lambasted her for losing the confidence of the markets. During Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, the Conservative leader hit out at Reeves, arguing: “The Prime Minister claims he has full confidence in the Chancellor, [...]
Kemi Badenoch not planning to announce big policies for two years January 9, 2025 Kemi Badenoch is reportedly not planning to announce big policies for the next two years as she plans to focus on rebuilding voters’ trust. The Conservative leader is said to have told her shadow cabinet on Tuesday that she has a “three-year plan” based on transforming her party’s fortunes following the July election defeat, according [...]
The inbox from hell? Headaches and unpredictability await Starmer in 2025 January 8, 2025 New year, new Keir? Jessica Frank-Keyes looks at the pitfalls, rivals and online trolls threatening to ruin the PM’s 2025 For politicians, the dawn of a New Year can represent the opportunity for a fresh start, while avoiding that dreaded Westminster word ‘reset’. But for Keir Starmer in particular, looking ahead to the next 12 [...]
Keir Starmer less popular among UK voters than Donald Trump January 7, 2025 Keir Starmer is less popular among UK voters than Donald Trump, according to new polling. The first of a new monthly City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll found the Prime Minister had the lowest approval of all figures tested, with a majority of voters having an unfavourable view. Starmer has the lowest net approval rating of -36 [...]
Unhappy New Year? 72 per cent say UK ‘going in wrong direction’ January 7, 2025 Keir Starmer’s chances of a New Year reset have been dealt a blow with new research revealing a lack of confidence in the government’s economic policies. The first of a new monthly City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll found that 72 per cent of voters say the UK is going in the “wrong direction”, including 53 per [...]
Reform UK chair says 46,000 members joined in last half of December January 4, 2025 More than 46,000 people joined Reform UK in the last two weeks of December, the party chairman told supporters amid a spat with the Tories over membership numbers. Zia Yusuf asked party members at a Reform UK conference in Chelmsford, Essex – part of Kemi Badenoch’s North West Essex constituency – to give a “big [...]
Reform UK supporters to gather in Kemi Badenoch’s constituency as ‘gloves off’ January 4, 2025 Reform supporters will gather in Kemi Badenoch’s constituency on Saturday, after their leader promised “the gloves are off” in the next election bout against her. Nigel Farage will host a Reform UK rally at Chelmsford City Racecourse, his second this year after a similar event in Leicester. The MPs – who both represent areas of [...]
Thames Water to avoid state bailout, the FTSE 100 at 7900 and an ITV bid: my predictions for UK plc in 2025 January 2, 2025 Predictions may generally be a mug’s game, but looking back at my forecasts for the business world in 2024, I seem to have fared better than usual. Klarna, the buy now pay later giant, opted for a New York listing; Dame Alison Rose made a comeback in a senior private equity role; Unilever announced that [...]