Badenoch puts Tories on difficult path to the right destination October 8, 2026 Party conference season has come to an end, having barely registered for most voters beyond an extra dose of politics on the news and in their feeds. Party leaders always have to balance two audiences: their supporters in the hall and the sceptics at home. As a new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham’s conference speech was [...]
Are rolling stocks about to go off the rails? October 7, 2026 Andy Burnham’s pricey plans for nationalisation and greater public control of services have thrust Thames Water, housebuilders and the care sector under the microscope. But while public attention has centred primarily on these British heavyweights, the process of bringing the UK’s passenger rail services back into state hands has chugged along quietly, leaving the question [...]
Will anyone turn Badenoch’s looming battle into a tapestry? October 7, 2026 The Tory party has been enjoying itself in Birmingham, not least thanks to the delightful wheeze of mocking up the Bayeux Tapestry to tell the story of British politics under Labour’s first two years in power. The exhibition may well prove to be among the most popular offerings at the party conference; behind Jeremy Clarkson [...]
Huge £45m bill for Peckham Rye station upgrade branded ‘scandalous’ October 6, 2026 The huge £45m bill to give Peckham Rye station step-free access – which is backed by a top Cabinet minister – involves forcing builders to use handheld tools to carve bricks and demolishing an art centre in order to complete the works, City AM has found. On Tuesday, energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh launched a petition [...]
Reeves beats Kwarteng to ‘worst chancellor’ in new ranking October 6, 2026 Just months after her exit from Number 11, Rachel Reeves has been given the dubious honour of being voted “worst chancellor”, in a new survey. According to an AJ Bell survey, Reeves was the least popular of the last five chancellors, and even ranked below Kwasi Kwarteng, who held the role for just over a [...]
If black labradors are a far right fantasy, I guess I’m a fascist October 6, 2026 That labradors aren't a sign of fascism feels self-explanatory, yet Labour blathers on, writes James Ford's hand in today's Notebook.
The Conservative Party is losing voters on legacy, not leadership October 6, 2026 On the reasons to not vote Conservative, very few blame Kemi. Instead, legacy, and earning back trust, remains the Tories' biggest obstacle.
Jonathan Reynolds weighs Chinese EV tariffs after sales soar October 5, 2026 Jonathan Reynolds is reportedly weighing up whether to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs as the business secretary grapples with a surge in imports. Ministers are concerned that Chinese carmakers are “dumping” subsidised vehicles into the UK, the Times reported, and are considering adopting the 45 per cent tariff levied on Chinese cars by the EU. [...]
Beware the politician who promises he is different October 5, 2026 Andy Burnham has battered home that he is different, an outsider, but distinction comes from actions, not 'honest conversations'.
Badenoch says triple lock pension is ‘right policy’ as new Tory blueprint announced October 4, 2026 Kemi Badenoch has defended the triple lock pension as the “right policy” ahead of the Conservatives’ party conference this weekend. Badenoch said the triple lock, which is widely condemned as “unsustainable” across the political spectrum, ensured pensioners who had “contributed” were properly rewarded. The triple lock pension ensures that the state pension rises by whichever [...]