Rebellion
The hardcore Tory rebels and their new friends
There is now a hardcore of rebels in the Conservative party who have defied the government on three key votes. The 37 MPs below have rebelled on the EU referendum… Continue reading
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Don’t blame the whips for the EU budget revolt: the problem is higher up
What is striking about this evening’s revolt on the EU budget is that it was organised at lightning speed by the rebel camp. Mark Reckless and Mark Pritchard only tabled… Continue reading
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EU budget: MPs warned revolt ‘could undermine coalition’
It was inevitable that the new team of whips was going to be rather unsettled by tomorrow’s vote on the EU budget: it’s the first challenge the team has had… Continue reading
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The real rebel problem
The post-match analysis of last night’s vote on the House of Lords Reform Bill shows the Prime Minister has a bigger rebel problem on his hands than he might have… Continue reading
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Cameron’s leadership is bruised by Lords rebellion
‘Shouldn’t we just go home?’ the SNP’s Pete Wishart asked Sir George Young this evening after the Leader of the House revealed the government was dropping its programme motion on… Continue reading
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Get set for rebellion number 248
The coalition’s backbenchers have already proven the most rebellious of any government. There have already been — by my count, adding the 239 rebellions up to the end of April… Continue reading
7 CommentsCameron needs a new management style
There seem to be three schools of thought among those close to the leadership about last night’s rebellion. One even now maintains that the issue was handled as well as… Continue reading
53 CommentsCameron’s strategy is better than it looks
The number of Tory MPs set to defy the government in the vote on an EU referndum tomorrow now stands at around 90, and numerous backbenchers – including John Redwood and David… Continue reading
53 CommentsEustice: If the government won’t back my amendment, I’ll vote for the EU referendum motion
George Eustice’s comments just now that if the government doesn’t support his amendment to the EU referendum motion, then he’s "minded" to vote for the original motion is a sign… Continue reading
43 CommentsA day in NATO’s wars
It was a classic gaffe. Andrew Mitchell’s briefing notes have been photographed outside Downing Street and, according to Sky, they say that the government "welcomes the fact that Hamid Karzai… Continue reading
18 CommentsA weekend in Libya
There’s no respite in Libya, where there have been significant developments this weekend. There have been reports (and harrowing images) of mass graves being uncovered in Tripoli, the latest suggestion… Continue reading
11 CommentsCameron winning over the Libya doubters
"They’ll like us when we win," the West Wing’s Toby Ziegler said of the Arab world. David Cameron might have said the same when public opinion was turning against the… Continue reading
24 CommentsWinning the peace
The sight of rebel troops kicking a statue of Gaddafi round the colonel’s compound is another sign that the rebels are taking control of the capital. But the whereabouts of… Continue reading
22 CommentsThe end of Gaddafi?
Pictures across the world’s news channels currently show hundreds of Libyan rebels standing in the first perimeter of Gaddafi’s compound at Bab al Aziziya. A statute of the colonel has been pulled… Continue reading
11 CommentsA victory for the Libyan rebellion, and for NATO
The regime of Colonel Gaddafi appears to be over. In a matter of hours, we hope, the Libyan dictator will be located and captured, assuming he does not flee Libya.… Continue reading
22 CommentsThrough the gates of Tripoli
After a summer of discontent, David Cameron must be counting his blessings this morning. He has broken his holiday because Colonel Gaddafi is about to fall. Rebel forces swept into… Continue reading
7 CommentsAt the gates of Tripoli
The end is nigh for the Mad Dog, or so reports suggest. After what Alistair Burt described as ‘substantial’ NATO bombing overnight, rebel ground forces began to lay siege to… Continue reading
15 CommentsReversal of fortune in Libya, but the old questions remain
There has been a dramatic turnaround in the military situation in Libya. The rebels are now within 30 miles of Tripoli and the consensus is that Colonel Gaddafi’s days are… Continue reading
12 CommentsIs al Qaeda in Libya?
This is one of the key questions about the Libya intervention. The Libyan Fighting Islamic Group was once one of the largest jihadist groups in the world and many Libyans… Continue reading
21 CommentsBrown faces another backbench revolt
Despite protesting to the contrary, it turns out the government have been cutting all along. The Times reports that, buried in the small print of the budget, there is a… Continue reading
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