Menu
Thu, 21 November 2024

Newsletter sign-up

Subscribe now
Search

Follow us:

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.

Westminster Could Water Down Northern Ireland Brexit Checks In Bid To DUP
Brexit
Westminster Could Water Down Northern Ireland Brexit Checks In Bid To DUP
Government in Westminster is considering further reducing checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain as its negotiations with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over a return to power-sharing in Stormont ramp up.
Peter Bone Loses Tory Whip Over Bullying And Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Peter Bone Loses Tory Whip Over Bullying And Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Peter Bone MP has had the Conservative party whip removed after an independent watchdog found that he carried out acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct.
Tories Begrudgingly Admit Labour Played Conference Season Better Than They Did
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Tories Begrudgingly Admit Labour Played Conference Season Better Than They Did
The gulf between how the Conservative and Labour party conferences unfolded has crystallised in many Tory minds the scale of the challenge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces in avoiding defeat by opposition leader Keir Starmer at the next general election.
Labour MPs Are Openly Pitching For A Decade In Downing Street
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Labour MPs Are Openly Pitching For A Decade In Downing Street
Senior Labour figures including Keir Starmer have begun talking publicly about the prospect of being in power for at least a decade, in a sign of the party’s increasing confidence ahead of the next general election.
Keir Starmer Has 'Reshaped' Labour's Relationship With Businesses That Flocked To Conference
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Keir Starmer Has "Reshaped" Labour's Relationship With Businesses That Flocked To Conference
The business world flocking en masse to Labour party conference in Liverpool is one of the clearest indications that Keir Starmer is seen as the Prime Minister in waiting, but the close relationship with the private sector presents the party with some tensions, too.
Labour Shadow Cabinet Minister Thinks Nigel Farage Could End Up Tory Leader
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Labour Shadow Cabinet Minister Thinks Nigel Farage Could End Up Tory Leader
Labour's Emily Thornberry believes that former UKIP and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage could be a future Tory leader because the Conservative party is "moving to the right".
Voters Ask Keir Starmer “Now What?” At A Pivotal Moment For Labour
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Voters Ask Keir Starmer “Now What?” At A Pivotal Moment For Labour
Allies of Keir Starmer say he has reached the final "stage post” of his Labour leadership, and that he will use his party conference speech in Liverpool this week to tell a “story” about how he would govern if his party were in office.
Rishi Sunak Promises 'Change' As The Conservative Party Fights Over Its Future
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Promises "Change" As The Conservative Party Fights Over Its Future
Rishi Sunak has claimed he is the leader for "change" in a speech to Conservative party conference in a bid to boost Tory chances of avoiding defeat at the 2024 general election.
Tories Are Starkly Divided Over Suella Braverman's Rise To The Top
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Tories Are Starkly Divided Over Suella Braverman's Rise To The Top
A growing divide among Conservatives over the prospect of Home Secretary Suella Braverman being the party's next leader if they lose the next general election has spilled out into the open at the Tory conference in Manchester.
Tories Told Keeping NHS Afloat Without Tax Rises Is Not 'Plausible'
Health
By Adam Payne
Tories Told Keeping NHS Afloat Without Tax Rises Is Not "Plausible"
The author of the Conservatives' last general election manifesto has insisted it is not "plausible" for a government to give the NHS the funding it needs without raising tax, as many in the party implore Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to cut taxes.
Rishi Sunak Will Tell Tory Conference He Takes Decisions That Others Have Ignored
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Will Tell Tory Conference He Takes Decisions That Others Have Ignored
Rishi Sunak will claim he is the political leader to take the tough decisions that others have put off when he takes to the stage at Conservative party conference in Manchester next week.
Tory Moderates Are Spooked By Threats Of Leaving ECHR
Foreign affairs
By Adam Payne
Tory Moderates Are Spooked By Threats Of Leaving ECHR
There is growing concern among moderate Conservative MPs that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could shift towards a policy of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in a bid to improve his party's prospects at the next general election.
Rishi Sunak Warned Against Being 'Pulled Away' By 'Populist' Tories
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Warned Against Being "Pulled Away" By "Populist" Tories
Former Cabinet minister Amber Rudd has urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak not to drift towards the politics espoused by the "populist" Tory MPs ahead of Conservative party conference this weekend.
An Unofficial Election Campaign Has Begun And Rishi Sunak's Net Zero Gamble Is Just The Start
Political parties
By Adam Payne
An Unofficial Election Campaign Has Begun And Rishi Sunak's Net Zero Gamble Is Just The Start
An unexpectedly frenetic week in Westminster has confirmed something figures across the political spectrum have already started whispering: the general election campaign is unofficially underway, many months before an actual vote is expected to take place.
Keir Starmer Is Walking A 'Tightrope' By Fighting The Tories On Brexit
Brexit
Keir Starmer Is Walking A "Tightrope" By Fighting The Tories On Brexit
Keir Starmer's decision to be vocal about issues caused by Brexit will provide an early indication of whether the Labour Party is ready for the pressure of a general election campaign, according to pollsters.
Northern Irish Parties Briefed On Westminster Plan To Implement The Windsor Framework
Foreign affairs
By Adam Payne
Northern Irish Parties Briefed On Westminster Plan To Implement The Windsor Framework
UK government ministers have briefed political parties in Northern Ireland on their plans to take control of implementing the Windsor framework, after deadlock in Stormont has left parts of the post-Brexit deal unworkable for months.
Westminster Draws Up Plans To Take Charge Of Windsor Framework In Northern Ireland
Brexit
Westminster Draws Up Plans To Take Charge Of Windsor Framework In Northern Ireland
The government is considering taking unilateral control of implementing the Windsor framework for Northern Ireland, as ministers are concerned that the ongoing power vacuum in Stormont is making it difficult to put parts of the post-Brexit treaty in place.
Tory MPs Fear Concrete Crisis Confirms 'Nothing In Britain Is Working'
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Tory MPs Fear Concrete Crisis Confirms "Nothing In Britain Is Working"
Downing Street's hope that Rishi Sunak would kick off the new parliamentary term on the front foot has been short-lived thanks to the unfolding concrete crisis, and Conservative MPs fear the saga plays into a fatal narrative about crumbling Britain.
More Than 80% Of UK Musicians Touring EU Have Seen Brexit Hit Their Earnings
Brexit
More Than 80% Of UK Musicians Touring EU Have Seen Brexit Hit Their Earnings
Exclusive: Eight out of ten British musicians touring Europe have said they have lost earnings as a result of Brexit, according to a new survey of the sector shared with PoliticsHome.
Labour's Planning For Government Identified Crumbling Concrete As Possible Early Pitfall
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Labour's Planning For Government Identified Crumbling Concrete As Possible Early Pitfall
The concrete crisis that has engulfed the government since Westminster's return from the summer recess had been identified by the Labour Party as a potential pitfall in the first few months of being in power if it is elected.
Rishi Sunak Told To Give Schools New Money To Deal With Concrete Crisis
Education
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Told To Give Schools New Money To Deal With Concrete Crisis
The concrete crisis that is threatening the closure of hundreds of schools nationwide is engulfing the government on Westminster's first day back from the summer recess, with Rishi Sunak under growing pressure to give extra money to headteachers dealing with the fallout.
By-Election Looms After Chris Pincher Loses Commons Suspension Appeal
Political parties
By Adam Payne
By-Election Looms After Chris Pincher Loses Commons Suspension Appeal
Independent MP Chris Pincher has lost his appeal against an eight-week suspension from Parliament, paving the way for a by-election in his Tamworth seat.
Rishi Sunak Ready To Remind MPs He's In Charge With Tough Autumn Ahead
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Ready To Remind MPs He's In Charge With Tough Autumn Ahead
Rishi Sunak will bring a bolder new approach to his leadership when Parliament returns from recess next week, in a fresh attempt to repair the party's fortunes in order to avoid catastrophic defeat at the next general election.
Grant Shapps Has Replaced Ben Wallace As Defence Secretary
Defence
By Adam Payne
Grant Shapps Has Replaced Ben Wallace As Defence Secretary
Grant Shapps has been confirmed as the the new defence secretary, replacing Ben Wallace.
Ben Wallace Has Resigned As Defence Secretary
Defence
By Adam Payne
Ben Wallace Has Resigned As Defence Secretary
Ben Wallace has confirmed his resignation as the secretary of state for defence.
Anti-Tory Vote Split Could Hurt Labour And Lib Dems In Mid Bedfordshire By-election
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Anti-Tory Vote Split Could Hurt Labour And Lib Dems In Mid Bedfordshire By-election
The Conservatives could find that a split of the anti-Tory vote in the upcoming Mid Bedfordshire by-election leads to a victory for Rishi Sunak's beleaguered party, with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats planning to fight hard for Nadine Dorries' former seat.
Summer Of 'Drift' Casts Doubt Over A DUP Return To Stormont
Brexit
Summer Of "Drift" Casts Doubt Over A DUP Return To Stormont
Westminster is gearing up for the return of parliament in just over a week, but the same cannot be said for the government in Northern Ireland, where the Democratic Unionist Party's ongoing protest is causing growing frustration in Downing Street.
Ministers Confident New Anti-Fraud Unit Saved Taxpayer 'Significant' Money
Economy
By Adam Payne
Ministers Confident New Anti-Fraud Unit Saved Taxpayer "Significant" Money
The government is confident that a unit set up twelve months ago to curb fraud in the public sector will be shown to have delivered major savings.
British Art Scene Feels Brexit Bite
Culture
British Art Scene Feels Brexit Bite
The art industry is calling on ministers to reduce post-Brexit red tape that is leading to the cancellation of exhibitions and delays of over a month for pieces heading to Europe.
Keir Starmer Leans Towards Rejecting PM's New Departments In His Next Labour Reshuffle
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Keir Starmer Leans Towards Rejecting PM's New Departments In His Next Labour Reshuffle
Keir Starmer is not expected to mirror Rishi Sunak's re-organised government when he eventually reshuffles the shadow cabinet, PoliticsHome understands.
Tory Moderates Are Gearing Up For A Major Comeback
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Tory Moderates Are Gearing Up For A Major Comeback
Conservative MPs in the moderate 'One Nation' group have agreed to up their game and re-assert their influence, as concern grows at the centre of the party that Rishi Sunak's lurch toward right-wing rhetoric and policy positions could do more harm than good at the ballot box.

Rishi Sunak's Net Zero 'Vibe Shift' Could Backfire At The Ballot Box
Environment
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak's Net Zero "Vibe Shift" Could Backfire At The Ballot Box
Rishi Sunak seems to have found a new dividing line with Labour on climate policy, but it's a high-risk strategy that could backfire if he is seen by voters to be uninterested in urgent environmental issues.
Small Boats Next On Rishi Sunak's Hit List Of Summer Attacks
Political parties
By Adam Payne
Small Boats Next On Rishi Sunak's Hit List Of Summer Attacks
Westminster may be on its summer break but Rishi Sunak and his government are busy showing glimpses of how they will try to rebuild Tory support and attack the Labour Party between now and the general election.
Tory Moderates Plan To Fight 'Very Damaging' Shift From Net Zero
Environment
By Adam Payne
Tory Moderates Plan To Fight "Very Damaging" Shift From Net Zero
Moderate Conservative MPs are planning an organised pushback against growing calls from elsewhere in the Tory party for the government to dilute its net zero agenda.
Tories Will Keep Fighting Labour On ULEZ Despite High Court Defeat
Environment
By Adam Payne
Tories Will Keep Fighting Labour On ULEZ Despite High Court Defeat
The Conservatives will continue to attack the Labour Party over the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) despite the High Court ruling on Friday morning that London Mayor Sadiq Khan's plan to expand the daily charge to the outer reaches of the capital is legal.
Rishi Sunak Warned Watering Down Net Zero 'Will Not Help' Tory Party Prospects
Environment
By Adam Payne
Rishi Sunak Warned Watering Down Net Zero "Will Not Help" Tory Party Prospects
A co-author of the Conservative party's 2019 manifesto has urged Rishi Sunak to stick with the government's net zero pledge, warning that watering it down and indulging sceptics will not be a vote winner at the general election.