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Labour Figures Fear More Gaza Independent Gains At The Local Elections
Labour Figures Fear More Gaza Independent Gains At The Local Elections
Political parties
Muslim voters have been part of Labour's voter coalition for decades. However, with war in Gaza raging and high levels of disillusionment in Muslim communities, many turned to independent candidates at last year's general election. Some Labour figures fear this phenomenon isn't going away anytime soon.
Tories Criticise 'Outrageous' Choice Of Football Regulator Chair Who Donated £75,000 To Labour MPs In Two Years
Culture
Tories Criticise "Outrageous" Choice Of Football Regulator Chair Who Donated £75,000 To Labour MPs In Two Years
Tory Chairman: We Need To Brace For A Challenging Local Election Night
Political parties
Tory Chairman: We Need To Brace For A Challenging Local Election Night
The Rundown Podcast: What Can We Learn From These Local Elections?
Political parties
The Rundown Podcast: What Can We Learn From These Local Elections?
Council Leaders Say Reform's Cost Cutting Plans Are Detached From Reality
Communities
Council Leaders Say Reform's Cost Cutting Plans Are Detached From Reality
Security Stepped Up For Local Election Candidates In Wake of 'Unacceptable' Rising Abuse
Political parties
Security Stepped Up For Local Election Candidates In Wake of "Unacceptable" Rising Abuse
How Keir Starmer Keeps His Massive Parliamentary Party In Line
Political parties
How Keir Starmer Keeps His Massive Parliamentary Party In Line
Opinion
The Professor Will See You Now: Chips
Political parties
By Professor Philip Cowley
The Professor Will See You Now: Chips
We cannot deny Reform’s appeal – but these fake patriots do not stand for British values
Political parties
By Mike Tapp MP
We cannot deny Reform’s appeal – but these fake patriots do not stand for British values
The Professor Will See You Now: Canvassing
Political parties
By Professor Philip Cowley
The Professor Will See You Now: Canvassing
Most read
Former Defence Minister Says Homes Must Stockpile Candles, Radios And Iodine Tablets To Prepare For Attacks
Former Defence Minister Says Homes Must Stockpile Candles, Radios And Iodine Tablets To Prepare For Attacks
Communities
MPs Say They Will Not Be Intimidated By New Russian Sanctions
MPs Say They Will Not Be Intimidated By New Russian Sanctions
Foreign affairs
Labour Figures Fear More Gaza Independent Gains At The Local Elections
Labour Figures Fear More Gaza Independent Gains At The Local Elections
Political parties
It’s time to consider stockpiling – a grey-zone attack on the UK is likely
It’s time to consider stockpiling – a grey-zone attack on the UK is likely
By Tobias Ellwood
Defence
Mark Francois: I Hope Trump Will Now See Putin For The Murderous Tyrant He Is
Mark Francois: I Hope Trump Will Now See Putin For The Murderous Tyrant He Is
Defence
Council Leaders Say Reform's Cost Cutting Plans Are Detached From Reality
Council Leaders Say Reform's Cost Cutting Plans Are Detached From Reality
Communities
Editor's choiceAll
How Keir Starmer Keeps His Massive Parliamentary Party In Line
Political parties
How Keir Starmer Keeps His Massive Parliamentary Party In Line
How do you keep a large parliamentary party in line? Sienna Rodgers digs into Labour's job creation scheme for back benchers. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall
Recipes For Disaster: The Bacon Sandwich
Political parties
Recipes For Disaster: The Bacon Sandwich
To launch a new column on politicians making a meal of it, there was only one place to start.
Victoria Atkins: I’ve Cross-Examined Gun-Toting Drug Lords – Labour MPs Don't Worry Me
Environment
Victoria Atkins: I’ve Cross-Examined Gun-Toting Drug Lords – Labour MPs Don't Worry Me
Sienna Rodgers talks to shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins who aims her fire at ‘City Steve’, ‘showman’ Nigel Farage and the government’s ‘Marxist’ policy on compulsory purchase
Political Parties news
Dan Poulter MP Quits The Tories And Joins Labour
Political parties
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".
Tory Hopes Are Hanging On The West Midlands Mayoral Race
Political parties
Tory Hopes Are Hanging On The West Midlands Mayoral Race
Conservative nerves are on a knife-edge ahead of the local elections this week, and those still hoping their party might have a fighting chance of avoiding obliteration at the next general election will be paying particularly close attention to the West Midlands.
Tories Are Hopeful Rishi Sunak Can Swerve Local Elections Backlash From MPs
Political parties
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.
Rural voters are trusting Labour again – we must not let them down
Environment
By Keir Mather MP
Rural voters are trusting Labour again – we must not let them down
It’s no secret that, over the last decade and a half, the Labour Party has struggled to connect with rural communities. Labour went from 170 rural seats in 1997 to just two in 2019 – a 90 per cent loss in a single generation.
North West Could Become A 'Sea Of Red' At General Election
Political parties
North West Could Become A "Sea Of Red" At General Election
The North West could be transformed into a “sea of red” at the General Election as Labour looks set to dominate in the region of “bellwether” seats, according to electoral experts.
Abuse of councillors is growing – they shouldn't have to publish their home addresses
Political parties
By Marianne Overton
Abuse of councillors is growing – they shouldn't have to publish their home addresses
Being a councillor is one of the most unique and rewarding roles you can have.
Senior Tory Advisers Are 'Jumping Before They Are Pushed'
Political parties
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.
Growth Of Smaller Parties Could Encourage Rethink Of Parliament Rules
Political parties
Growth Of Smaller Parties Could Encourage Rethink Of Parliament Rules
The growth in the number and influence of smaller parties across the UK could encourage officials to look again at the rules which govern parties’ influence in the Commons, a parliamentary expert has said.
Veteran Tory Fears A 'Desert Period' Awaits The Conservatives Post-Election
Political parties
Veteran Tory Fears A "Desert Period" Awaits The Conservatives Post-Election
Conservative MP Tim Loughton, who plans to stand down at the next election after 27 years in the Commons, predicts his party is about to enter a “desert period" if Labour enters government with as big a majority as expected.
The winner of the next election must deal with the costs of botched and delayed projects
Education
By Meg Hillier MP
The winner of the next election must deal with the costs of botched and delayed projects
For the past twelve years I have questioned senior civil servants directly accountable to Parliament for spending taxpayers’ money. Much of that time has been examining projects gone awry and vast sums of taxpayers’ money wasted.
Conservative MP Campaigning To Be Mayor Is Distancing Himself From Tarnished Tory Image
Communities
Conservative MP Campaigning To Be Mayor Is Distancing Himself From Tarnished Tory Image
Tory MP Ben Bradley, who is also the Conservative candidate for the East Midlands mayoralty, has said he is trying to separate his own campaign from the image of his party, as there is "clearly not a brilliant national picture".
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.
Why a Labour government may champion citizens' assemblies
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers and Sophie Church
Why a Labour government may champion citizens' assemblies
With Keir Starmer’s right-hand woman Sue Gray causing a stir with her public support of citizens’ assemblies, Sophie Church and Sienna Rodgers explore why a Labour government might champion deliberative democracy
Dozens Of Tory MPs Oppose Smoking Ban As It Clears First Commons Hurdle
Health
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
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.
Liz Truss Doubts Slowing Down Would Have Saved Her From 'Establishment Forces'
Political parties
Liz Truss Doubts Slowing Down Would Have Saved Her From "Establishment Forces"
Former prime minister Liz Truss has been left wondering whether she should have bothered enacting her radical economic reforms, because she believes that even if she had taken more time over it, the "fundamental forces" of the establishment would have found a way of derailing her.

Lords Diary: Lord Bishop of Leeds
Political parties
By Bishop of Leeds
Lords Diary: Lord Bishop of Leeds
A time of reflection on language, integrity – and joy
Vaughan Gething Hints Wales Wants Cash Boost Under Labour Government
Economy
Vaughan Gething Hints Wales Wants Cash Boost Under Labour Government
First Minister of Wales Vaughan Gething has said that the biggest challenge he expects to face as the Labour leader of the devolved government will be how to increase the scale of budgets to boost public services.
Are Tories Deliberately Posting Terrible Social Media?
Political parties
Are Tories Deliberately Posting Terrible Social Media?
It’s difficult to decide what the most ridiculous aspect of the Conservative party’s now-deleted twitter ad actually was. It could have been the presence of the England football team, or a Canadian car and US jet, which suggested several ways the party was ignorant about which country they are actually governing.
Doom And Disgruntled Tories Are Costing Whips Control Of MPs
Political parties
Doom And Disgruntled Tories Are Costing Whips Control Of MPs
A sense of impending doom and loyalties fractured by a revolving door of prime ministers has left the Conservative party difficult for the party whips to govern, according to MPs who are growing increasingly frustrated with their unruly colleagues.
Labour Could Risk Repeating Mistakes Of 2010 Tory Government
Political parties
Labour Could Risk Repeating Mistakes Of 2010 Tory Government
Senior political figures have warned that a potential new Labour government could risk making similar mistakes to the Conservatives when they made the transition to power in 2010, as a new report has highlighted lessons that Labour should take forward.
A tale of two Tories: the by-election that made Churchill weep
Political parties
By Lord Lexden
A tale of two Tories: the by-election that made Churchill weep
By trying to parachute an ex-Liberal cabinet minister called Winston Churchill into a safe seat, the Conservatives split a local party and set off one of the most rancorous by-elections in history. A hundred years later, Lord Lexden tells a tale of fighting, dirty tricks and flying turnips
MP Hopefuls Have The 'Luxury' Of Not Knowing Everything
Political parties
MP Hopefuls Have The "Luxury" Of Not Knowing Everything
Parliamentary candidates hoping to become MPs at the next general election still have the “luxury” of being able to “admit that you don’t know everything about everything,” according to a Conservative MP who will be standing down.
Reform UK's Success Hinges On Surpassing National Polling At Local Elections
Political parties
Reform UK's Success Hinges On Surpassing National Polling At Local Elections
A successful night at the local elections for Reform UK will be achieving "well above 15 per cent" in the areas they are standing, as the insurgent right wing party threatens to eat into the Tory vote.
EventsAll
Illicit Trade: The Growing Crime in the UK
2025
Thames Pavillion, House of Commons
Illicit Trade: The Growing Crime in the UK
Journey to Safety: Combatting Disability Hate Crime on Public Transport
2025
Surveyor's House, 12 Great George Street, SW1P 3AD
Journey to Safety: Combatting Disability Hate Crime on Public Transport
Net Zero Week 2025
2025
Virtual
Net Zero Week 2025