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Sun, 1 September 2024

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Adam Payne

Adam Payne

Adam is Editor of PoliticsHome. An award-nominated journalist, he was a UK politics reporter at Business Insider for five years before joining PoliticsHome as a correspondent in 2021, before later becoming Political Editor and then Editor. Adam regularly appears on TV and radio like BBC, Sky News, LBC and Times and sometimes features on weekly PoliticsHome podcast The Rundown.

Teachers And NHS Staff To Get Above Inflation Pay Rise
Health
Teachers And NHS Staff To Get Above Inflation Pay Rise
The Government has agreed a pay rise worth 5.5 per cent for teachers and some NHS staff, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed.
Tories 'Deserved' To Lose General Election, Says Former Conservative MP
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Tories 'Deserved' To Lose General Election, Says Former Conservative MP
A former Conservative MP who lost his seat earlier this month believes his party deserved to lose.
Voters Feel More Optimistic After Labour's Election Win
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Voters Feel More Optimistic After Labour's Election Win
A major survey carried out following the Labour party's victory at the General Election has found a significant rise in public optimism.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Promises To 'Rebuild' Britain In Downing Street Speech
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Promises To "Rebuild" Britain In Downing Street Speech
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to lead a Government that "serves" the whole nation in a speech outside 10 Downing Street.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps Loses Seat
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps Loses Seat
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has lost his seat to Labour at the General Election.
Election Diaries: PoliticsHome To Track 5 Key Battlegrounds
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Election Diaries: PoliticsHome To Track 5 Key Battlegrounds
PoliticsHome in partnership with Thinks Insight & Strategy will be tracking reactions from swing voters in five key battlegrounds throughout the general election campaign.
Labour Strategists Are Already Writing 'Story' For First Months In Power
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Labour Strategists Are Already Writing "Story" For First Months In Power
Senior Labour figures have spent recent weeks devising a "story" to tell the public during what could turn out to be a tricky first few months in government if, as expected, they win the general election on 4 July.
Rishi Sunak Calls General Election For 4 July
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Calls General Election For 4 July
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that a general election will take place on Thursday, 4 July.
Why Rishi Sunak Has Gambled On A Summer General Election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Why Rishi Sunak Has Gambled On A Summer General Election
Downing Street has quietly been weighing up whether to take a gamble on a summer general election, or hold out until the autumn as had been widely expected, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has now confirmed he will go in July.
'Untested' Keir Starmer Is Ready For The 'Presidential' Spotlight
Political parties
By Adam Payne
"Untested" Keir Starmer Is Ready For The "Presidential" Spotlight
Labour's decision to put Keir Starmer at the centre of a presidential-style campaign reflects the party's growing confidence as the general election grows nearer, but this strategy is not without serious risks.
Keir Starmer Pledges 'First Steps' For Labour Government
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Keir Starmer Pledges "First Steps" For Labour Government
At a major speech in Essex on Thursday, Labour leader Keir Starmer will announce the first "steps" he would take in as prime minister if Labour is elected into Government at the next general election.
Former Education Secretary Derides 'Self-Defeating' Foreign Student Curbs
Education
Former Education Secretary Derides "Self-Defeating" Foreign Student Curbs
Justine Greening, a Conservative former education secretary, has urged Rishi Sunak to drop the "self-defeating" idea of further restrictions on international students after a major new report recommended that Government retains the graduate route.
Right Wing Tories Dare Rishi Sunak To 'Fish' In Reform's 'Pond'
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Right Wing Tories Dare Rishi Sunak To "Fish" In Reform's "Pond"
Rishi Sunak remains under pressure to move further to the right in order to stem the leak of votes to Reform UK, and it looks likely to intensify with the polling gulf between the Conservatives and Labour as wide as ever.

 
MP Natalie Elphicke Defects To Labour From Tories
Political parties
By Adam Payne
MP Natalie Elphicke Defects To Labour From Tories
Natalie Elphicke has become the latest MP to leave the Conservatives and defect to the Labour party.
'High Energy' Rishi Sunak Prepares Pep Talks For Gloomy Tory MPs
Political parties
By Adam Payne
"High Energy" Rishi Sunak Prepares Pep Talks For Gloomy Tory MPs
Rishi Sunak will launch his latest bid to lift the spirits of despondent Conservative MPs this week after a dispiriting set of local elections left them with only one Tory mayor and around half the council seats they started with.
Rebel Plot To Oust Rishi Sunak Fizzles Out Despite Ominous Local Election Results
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rebel Plot To Oust Rishi Sunak Fizzles Out Despite Ominous Local Election Results
Rishi Sunak is expected to avoid a Tory rebel bid to oust him as party leader and Prime Minister despite an ominous picture emerging from Thursday's local elections.
Tory Ben Houchen Wins Tees Valley Mayoral Election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Tory Ben Houchen Wins Tees Valley Mayoral Election
The Conservative party's Ben Houchen has been re-elected as Mayor of the Tees Valley.
London And Dublin Insist Rwanda Row Is A 'Storm In A Teacup'
Foreign affairs
London And Dublin Insist Rwanda Row Is A "Storm In A Teacup"
A row between the UK Government and the Republic of Ireland over illegal migration has been dismissed as being "blown out of proportion" by diplomatic sources on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Dan Poulter MP Quits The Tories And Joins Labour
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Dan Poulter MP Quits The Tories And Joins Labour
Dan Poulter MP has quit the Conservatives and joined the Labour Party, accusing the Tories of becoming "a nationalist party of the right".
Tories Are Hopeful Rishi Sunak Can Swerve Local Elections Backlash From MPs
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Tories Are Hopeful Rishi Sunak Can Swerve Local Elections Backlash From MPs
Rishi Sunak's allies are growing increasingly hopeful that the Prime Minister will manage to avoid any serious threat to his leadership in the wake of next week's local elections, which are predicted to be bruising for the Conservatives.
Senior Tory Advisers Are 'Jumping Before They Are Pushed'
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Senior Tory Advisers Are "Jumping Before They Are Pushed"
A double whammy departure of two senior Tory advisers is the latest reason for the growing sense of general election fatalism within Conservative party ranks.
Tory MPs Want 'Security' To Dominate Their General Election Campaign
Defence
Tory MPs Want "Security" To Dominate Their General Election Campaign
A growing number of Conservative MPs want Downing Street strategists to put "security", including a major pledge to boost defence spending, at the centre of the Tory party's general election campaign.
Dozens Of Tory MPs Oppose Smoking Ban As It Clears First Commons Hurdle
Health
By Adam Payne
Dozens Of Tory MPs Oppose Smoking Ban As It Clears First Commons Hurdle
Rishi Sunak's plan to ban smoking has cleared its first House of Commons hurdle, but not without around half of Conservative MPs failing to vote for it.
Downing Street Braced For Smoking Ban Snub From Dozens Of Tory MPs
Health
By Adam Payne
Downing Street Braced For Smoking Ban Snub From Dozens Of Tory MPs
Government is braced for potentially dozens of Conservative MPs to refuse to back Rishi Sunak's smoking ban when the legislation is put to a House of Commons for the first time on Tuesday.
Defeat For Ben Houchen Is Rishi Sunak's Biggest Danger Zone
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Defeat For Ben Houchen Is Rishi Sunak's Biggest Danger Zone
Not long ago the thought of Tory mayor of the Tees Valley Ben Houchen being voted out was pretty much unthinkable. That the possibility of it happening next month is even worrying Conservatives suggests the local elections really could spell serious trouble for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Rishi Sunak Is Safe For Now But 'Chaos' Lurks Around The Corner
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Is Safe For Now But "Chaos" Lurks Around The Corner
MPs might be absent from Parliament during its three-week recess but questions over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's position — and whether he will be able to hold out for an autumn general election — have not gone away.
Tory Voters Say The 'Broken' Party Has Turned The UK Into A 'Sinking Ship'
Economy
By Adam Payne
Tory Voters Say The "Broken" Party Has Turned The UK Into A "Sinking Ship"
A broad majority of voters have described the Tory party as broken, out of touch, and lacking in credibility, in a comprehensive new study that seems to foreshadow the reckoning that likely awaits Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the next general election.
Jeffrey Donaldson Steps Down As DUP Leader Over Historic Allegations
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Jeffrey Donaldson Steps Down As DUP Leader Over Historic Allegations
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has stepped down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party after being charged with "allegations of a historic nature".
Cynical Voters Think Tax Cuts Are An Election 'Bribe', New Survey Shows
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Cynical Voters Think Tax Cuts Are An Election "Bribe", New Survey Shows
Exclusive: Almost three quarters of people believed Rishi Sunak's government has cut tax as a pre-election bribe for their vote, rather than because it feels it is the "right thing to do" for the country, in a major new opinion poll.
Nearly Half Of 2019 Tory Voters Say The Party Doesn't Deserve To Win The Next Election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Nearly Half Of 2019 Tory Voters Say The Party Doesn't Deserve To Win The Next Election
Almost two thirds of people believe the Conservative party deserves to lose the next general election, including nearly half of those who voted Tory in 2019, according to new polling.
Rishi Sunak Hopes A Benefits Squeeze Will Boost His Fortunes
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Hopes A Benefits Squeeze Will Boost His Fortunes
A focus on slicing benefits will be at the heart of Rishi Sunak's message this Spring as the bruised Prime Minister tries to shift attention away from persistent Tory party infighting and towards his economic agenda. 
Risk Of Tory Mayor Defeats Raises The Heat On Rishi Sunak
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Risk Of Tory Mayor Defeats Raises The Heat On Rishi Sunak
The prospect of Conservative party mayors Andy Street and Ben Houchen losing their seats at the May local elections is the latest addition to a long list of Tory worries, with concern it could create a major flashpoint for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's fortunes.
The Penny Has Dropped For Many Tory MPs After A 'Bleak' Week
Political parties
By Adam Payne
The Penny Has Dropped For Many Tory MPs After A "Bleak" Week
Many Conservative MPs will remember this "bleak" week as the moment when they truly gave up any hope of avoiding defeat to Labour at the next general election.
Tory Backed Report Says Closer Ties With The EU Will Help Boost Growth
Brexit
Tory Backed Report Says Closer Ties With The EU Will Help Boost Growth
Senior Conservative figures have called on the Government to soften the post-Brexit relationship with the European Union, arguing that pushing for closer ties with the UK's most important trading partner is "not some assault on sovereignty".
Liz Truss Is Trying To Shore Up Support With Prospective Tory MPs
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Liz Truss Is Trying To Shore Up Support With Prospective Tory MPs
Former prime minister Liz Truss has been inviting Tory general election candidates to meet her as she looks to play a key role in influencing the direction of the party following the next general election.
Experts Say Government Plans For Public Spending Cuts Are 'Laughable'
Economy
By Adam Payne
Experts Say Government Plans For Public Spending Cuts Are "Laughable"
The "fictional" cuts to public spending that underpinned Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget mean voters are not getting a true picture of the choices facing the next Government, experts have said.