Tory leadership
May blossoms
The question about Theresa May has always been what does she believe? Well, today in the widest-ranging speech of her political career she went a long way to answering that.… Continue reading
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More Tory splits and plots
David Cameron arrived back in the UK this morning to newspapers full of talk of Conservative splits and plots. The moment of unity that followed his Europe speech has well… Continue reading
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Polls suggest Boris as leader could be worth an extra 50 Tory MPs
In their first poll conducted fully after all the party conferences, YouGov once again tested what difference replacing David Cameron with Boris Johnson would have on the Conservatives’ poll rating.… Continue reading
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Conservative conference: Boris refuses to say if Cameron’s doing a better job than he would
Speaking to John Pieenar on Five Live, Boris Johnson said he wished to deal with the leadership speculation, shoot it down with “six inch guns”. He did so by repeatedly… Continue reading
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Gove for leader?
Michael Gove’s name is being muttered in parliamentary tea rooms, figuratively at least. The leak of his plans to replace GCSEs with a rigorous exam is opium to many Tories.… Continue reading
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Shapps leading a reshuffled pack?
The wettest drought on record has made work for idle thumbs on Twitter this afternoon. There is a smattering of reshuffle chatter about, prompted by the ‘omnishambles’ as much as… Continue reading
22 CommentsLiddington: EU vote should follow a new treaty
David Liddington, the Europe Minister, has just told the Murnaghan Show that the moment for a referendum on the European Union is once a treaty change has been agreed. Liddington… Continue reading
29 CommentsThe Tories await Boris
In just over an hour, Boris will make his first appearance in Manchester. The Tory hierarchy is acutely aware that for at least the next 18 hours or so this… Continue reading
25 CommentsBoris or Dave?
Schoolboy rivalries never quite go away – just look at the ongoing competition between Boris Johnson and David Cameron. Even though it was Cameron who held up Johnson’s arm in… Continue reading
21 CommentsBoris comes out against high-speed rail
The news, via a leaked letter, that Boris Johnson now opposes high-speed rail will come as little surprise to the government. Boris has been moving to this position for quite… Continue reading
33 CommentsBoris versus Osborne
One of the staples of the Westminster summer party season is speculation about future leadership contests and so I rather suspect that Ben Brogan’s piece on the coming George Osborne… Continue reading
18 CommentsCameron needs to tread with care
David Cameron’s Oxford gaffe is refusing to die down. Whenever I’ve called Tory MPs or other members of the Conservative family in the last few days, it has been the… Continue reading
48 CommentsHunt’s rising star
The decision on News Corp’s take-over of BSkyB has thrust Jeremy Hunt into the spotlight. The culture secretary is many Tories’ bet to be the next leader of the party.… Continue reading
21 CommentsThe Tories take the train to war
Philip Hammond should be wary of the ladies of Cranford. The advent of the railways was met with considerable disquiet in rural England, depicted by Elizabeth Gaskell in both Cranford… Continue reading
52 CommentsAll across the political spectrum
Yesterday’s polls may seem like yesterday’s news – but it’s actually worth returning to YouGov’s effort from, erm, yesterday. It contained some distinctive questions, and results, all set around the… Continue reading
11 CommentsDave v Boris wars: a prequel?
David Cameron was on sparkling form last night, at our Parliamentarian of the Year awards. He joked about his photographer – saying he didn’t arrive for dinner because he saw… Continue reading
17 CommentsDon’t forget the Party, David
Days, perhaps only hours away from the expected announcement of a Con-Lib deal, the Tory party rank-and-file is getting increasingly restive. Many MPs and party activists do not feel that… Continue reading
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