Conservative Party
Conservative Party
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 […]
Conservative Party
Boris Johnson faces Tory rebellion over 10pm curfew
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 […]
Conservative Party
Rishi Sunak laughs off suggestion he wants Boris Johnson’s job
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 […]
Conservative Party
Former Brexit secretary says government should ‘shrug off’ EU legal threat
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 […]
Conservative Party
The war on the BBC is real.. and it’s organised
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 […]
Conservative Party
Government accused of hiding from scrutiny with longer October recess
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 […]
Conservative Party
All of the Tory MPs preparing to defeat the government over coronavirus measures
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 […]
Conservative Party
Labour MP says she’s never seen a Tory MP wear a mask in votes
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” […]
Conservative Party
Concerns over ‘missing’ Gavin Williamson during row over universities
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 […]
Conservative Party
Tories deny suggesting students could have to remain at university over Christmas
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 […]
Conservative Party
New poll gives Labour three point lead over Tories
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 […]
Conservative Party
Tory claim it is ‘standing up for the integrity of the UK’ backfires
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 […]
Conservative Party
David Cameron splashes out on luxury £50k outdoor pool as country prepares for possible second lockdown
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 […]
Conservative Party
Former Tory minister tells Liz Truss to resign
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 […]
Conservative Party
Chancellor’s claim COVID crisis is ‘on all of us’ met with criticism
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 […]
Conservative Party
Suella Braverman accused of putting ‘Brexit fanaticism’ ahead of rule of law
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 […]
Conservative Party
Tory ministers doubt Boris Johnson’s ability to last until 2024 as he loses confidence of MPs
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 […]
Conservative Party
Boris Johnson signals he could concede to Tory rebels demands over Brexit bill, reports suggest
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 […]
Conservative Party
Sensible Tory voters are now politically homeless
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 […]
Conservative Party
Fool of six – The week Boris Johnson advocated breaking the law
“Regulations….are not to be regarded as unlawful on the grounds of any incompatibility or inconsistency with any relevant domestic or international law”– Clause 45 (2) (a) on state aid in the Internal Market Bill It already seems an age ago, but when I first heard Boris “Moonshot ” Johnson used the phrase “the rule of […]
Conservative Party
ANNA SOUBRY: Boris Johnson and his pals can’t claim to be Conservatives
The fearless Tory MP says the Foreign Secretary has lost all credibility writes TIM WALKER It exasperates Anna Soubry that Theresa May has found it necessary to invite her cabinet to Chequers this week to try to bang some heads together about how exactly Britain should go about exiting the European Union. ‘We had the […]
Conservative Party
David Lammy: The Tories a dead party walking
TIM WALKER talks to Labour MP David Lammy about what he expects to happen later this year, when the full force of Brexit hits the UK. The final descent towards Brexit has begun: safety belts are tightened and prudent passengers are in brace position. At some point in the autumn, as David Lammy warns, the […]