News and Opinion

Dominic Raab has been accused of ‘distracting’ from the Russia report contents by claiming that Jeremy Corbyn ‘amplified’ papers released by ‘Russian actors’ at the last election. The papers relating to UK and US trade talks were used by the then Labour leader to back his claims that the Conservatives were preparing to ‘sell off’ […]

Whilst attempting to reassure MPs about the flow of goods after the end of the Brexit transition period, Gove said that five sites are being considered for dealing with traffic management. During Cabinet Office questions, Labour former minister Hilary Benn raised the issue of how many sites in Kent are being considered for the building […]

Michael Gove has dismissed polling that shows increasing numbers of Scots want to leave the UK as ‘just another poll’. Gove was taking questions in the Commons when he was asked for his thoughts on why a consistent run of polls show that a majority of Scots want to leave the Union. The SNP’s Pete […]

A group of British manufacturers have warned Boris Johnson that a no-deal Brexit could decimate businesses in ‘Red Wall’ areas won by the Tories in last year’s election. Make UK, a manufacturing lobby group, and the accountancy firm BDO have advised that areas in the north of England, Midlands, and Wales could be hit with […]

Piers Morgan’s description of Boris Johnson’s senior aide as a ‘rat-faced weasel’ has attracted complaints to the television watchdog. Good Morning Britain presenter Morgan used his last appearance on-air before his summer break to slam Johnson and Cummings during another fiery rant. His remarks came as it was revealed the government was looking to force […]

The Intelligence and Security Committee has agreed it will publish its eagerly anticipated report on Russia before parliament rises for the summer next week. The newly formed committee, chaired by Julian Lewis, has reconvened and agreed the report will be published before MPs break for summer. Earlier the former Tory head of the intelligence committee […]

A civil servant in charge of an inquiry into alleged bullying by Priti Patel of her staff has been ‘moved on’ amid claims that the report will ’embarrass’ the government. Helen MacNamara will leave her post next month to take up a role as permanent secretary in an as ‘yet identified’ Whitehall department. A deputy […]

MP Julian Lewis has said that the prime minister does not have the right to choose the chairman of the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee and asking committee members to vote for his preferred candidate was an ‘improper request’. Dr Julian Lewis secured the role despite widespread expectation that Chris Grayling would receive the backing […]

Nigel Farage has appeared on a documentary discussing Rupert Murdoch, crediting the media mogul with helping making Brexit happen. The populist politician appeared on the BBC documentary to give his view on the influence of Murdoch on Tony Blair’s government. He discussed a newspaper column in the now defunct New of the World where the […]

The government has confirmed it has purchased a 27-acre site in Kent which has been dubbed a post-Brexit ‘lorry park’ and a ‘Farage Garage’ by others. The Department for Transport (DfT) was understood to be looking to buy the land near Ashford as it geared up for possible trade frictions as a result of leaving […]

Labour has pressed the government to explain why up to £830 million worth of health contracts had been awarded to close associates of senior ministers and officials. Opposition MPs allege 12 different companies were contracted to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to health services which ‘never materialised’ – three months on from when orders were […]

MICHAEL WHITE on how the cabinet minister can’t make a case for a flailing government. Michael Gove toys with his latest mask. Illustration by Martin Rowson. – Credit: Archant Brexit is finally back near the top of the Covid-infected news agenda and by happy coincidence BBC2’s launch of the mini-series, Mrs America, has introduced younger […]

The Turkish president’s decision to convert Hagia Sophia back to a mosque could backfire on him, suggests SUNA ERDEM, as she explores the politics and history of a contested site. One afternoon in May 1453, the man who would become known as Mehmed the Conqueror rode through streets running with blood, past a waterway where […]

The stage is set for the EU to finally develop from a trading bloc into a major global power, says JOHN KAMPFNER. But will it do so? China has stamped on Hong Kong’s remaining freedoms with a ferocity that is its hallmark. Russia has ‘voted’ to allow Vladimir Putin to stay in power until he’s […]

The death of Emanuel Gomes during the recent lockdown reveals much about how we live, who we value and how we are governed. JACK SHENKER tells his story. Emanuel Gomes. Picture: Submitted – Credit: Archant For Emanuel Gomes, the most striking thing about the coronavirus lockdown was that it never existed. ‘From this evening, I […]

NATASHA LINDSTAEDT on what the rise of celebrity politicians means for democracies. Without the tens of thousands of signatures needed to get on the ballot in all states or the backing of a small party, Kanye West’s chances of winning are almost zero. Yet although West won’t be entering the White House any time soon, […]

ALASTAIR CAMPBELL on why we need a Lord Michael Nolan, the first chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, now more than ever. If I say the word ‘Nolan’, what comes to mind? The Anthony Nolan Trust maybe? For football fans it might be Kevin Nolan; for pop fans of a certain age […]

BONNIE GREER says the 2020 election in America could make it the year of the ‘third party candidates’. Section One of Article Two of the United States Constitution sets forth the eligibility requirements for serving as president of the United States: ‘No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, […]

ANDREW ADONIS argues the opposition leader needs to repair economic wounds in the Labour heartlands. Maybe the most significant thing to happen in Keir Starmer’s first 100 days as Labour leader, almost precisely on the 100th day, was the announcement that John Lewis’s flagship store above Birmingham New Street station is closing for good. John […]

Both sides in the cancel culture debate are misrepresenting each other and taking pot shots at straw men, says JAMES BALL. If you’re unfortunate enough to spend much time on the internet – and in the era of coronavirus that’s almost all of us – furious rows about ‘cancel culture’ have been all but unavoidable […]

Boris Johnson has removed the Tory whip from one of his MPs who successfully outmanoeuvred Downing Street to take the role of chair of the House of Commons Intelligence committee over Chris Grayling. Dr Julian Lewis secured the role despite widespread expectation that Grayling would receive the backing of the Conservative-dominated Intelligence and Security Committee. […]

Former cabinet minister Chris Grayling has missed out on the chairmanship of parliament’s intelligence watchdog, in a blow to Number 10’s authority. Former minister Grayling had been widely expected to be elected chair of the Conservative-dominated Intelligence and Security Committee after winning Boris Johnson’s support and urging Tory MPs to back him. The ex transport […]

A former Tory MP has highlighted a huge flaw in a post by Rishi Sunak on his official Twitter account. Rory Stewart pointed out that a face mask used in a picture of the chancellor leaving a Pret a Manger store was not up to government standards. Sunak tweeted a photo of himself wearing a […]

Downing Street has issued a statement saying it cannot back up claims Boris Johnson made over the UK’s track and trace programme at Prime Minister’s Questons (PMQs). Johnson claimed the UK’s test and trace service was ‘as good as or better than’ other system around the world. He was taking questions on a published report […]

The Andrew Neil Show is one of the casualties of the BBC cuts, it has been confirmed. The political programme, which has been off air during the coronavirus crisis, will not return to screens. A BBC spokeswoman said: ‘We remain committed to Andrew Neil’s in-depth interviews (as well as the Budget, US Election and other […]

The leader of the opposition should use results day as one of his first opportunities to connect with young voters, argues MARTYN SLOMAN. Mainstream Labour members have every reason to be delighted with the Party’s direction of travel. Keir Starmer’s thoughtful and intelligent approach, and the absence of evidence of any past indiscretions on his […]

A Commons committee has called it ‘troubling’ that Priti Patel could not detail how many people with coronaivrus have entered the UK since March 23. The home secretary was fronting a home affairs committee when she told panellists her department did not keep tabs on the number of infected people entering the UK from abroad. […]

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of spurting ‘rhetorical nonsense’ over a question on the government’s plans to save jobs during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). Prime minister Boris Johnson criticised the Labour leader for scrutinising his government’s policy to keep employed through the coronavirus crisis. Taking a question on why Downing Street had not […]

Boris Johnson has suggested he hasn’t read the report detailing a report commissioned by his own chief scientific adviser warning about the risks of a second wave of coronavirus this winter. Asked at Prime Minister’s Questions if he had read the report which shows a ‘reasonable worst-case scenario’ of 120,000 deaths, Johnson said he was […]

The business secretary has faced a new ‘cash for favour’ accusation after he met influential Tory donors whose planning application needed the minister’s consent. Alok Sharma sat next to two Russian businessmen at a Tory fundraising dinner this year where it is understood the pair discussed a plan to build a £1.2 billion pipeline under […]

So precipitous has been the government’s fall in popularity that Boris Johnson would lose an election held tomorrow, says expert pollster PETER KELLNER. Boris Johnson would lose an election held today. Despite holding a steady four-point lead in recent polls, the Conservatives would lose around 70 seats. They would remain the largest party in parliament, […]

A report has found that government ‘shortsightedness’ over Brexit could lead to a long-term export slump for UK businesses. The findings, made by the National Audit Office – which audits parliament spending, shows government departments lack a long-term plan for Britain’s export market after Brexit. MPs who have read the study said the Department for […]