UK Politics

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorWatch as chancellor Rachel Reeves sets out her plan for the economy in a speech on Monday 8 July.The UK’s first female chancellor will make kickstarting economic growth a “national mission” with major changes to speed up infrastructure projects and unlock private investment.In her first major speech, Ms Reeves will vow to take “difficult decisions” because there is “no time to waste”.Labour will “fix the foundations” of the British economy, she will say, arguing that 14 years of Tory rule had cost £140 billion in lost growth.Sir Keir Starmer’s administration has made faster economic growth, and the tax revenues that would flow from it, a key plank of its strategy to fund public services which are struggling for cash.The Labour manifesto committed to wholesale planning reforms to make it easier to build and a greater focus on driving through key infrastructure projects which have become mired in delays and boost housebuilding.The manifesto pledged to “immediately” update the National Policy Planning Framework to undo changes made by the Conservatives, including restoring mandatory housing targets.The party also plans to allow building on some greenbelt land, promising to take a “more strategic approach” to “build more homes in the right places”. More

Rachel Reeves has vowed Labour will repay trust from voters through actions – not slogans or gimmicks. The UK’s first female chancellor delivered her first major speech on Monday 8 July, insisting that economic growth will be the government’s “national mission”. “We face the legacy of 14 years of chaos and economic irresponsibility,” she said, taking aim at the Conservative Party.“I know that voters’ trust cannot be repaid through slogans or through gimmicks. Only through action, only through delivery.”Ms Reeves added that the Government will make the “tough” and “hard choices” to fix the UK’s economy. More

Kwasi Kwarteng refuses to rule out Tory comeback from himself or Liz TrussSupport trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorThe race to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader is unofficially underway in the wake of the Conservative Party’s wipeout at the general election.With some frontrunners casting the contest as a battle for the soul of the Conservative Party – after Nigel Farage’s hard-right Reform UK inflicted losses for the Tories in scores of seats – ex-minister Kevin Hollinrake is among those to suggest the race could last until the end of the year, adding: “I don’t think there is any rush”.While no candidate has yet formally launched a bid, Suella Braverman’s hopes were dealt an early blow, as one source described the twice-sacked home secretary’s campaign to The Times as “dead before it even started”, accusing her of “going too hard, too soon”.It came as multiple reports suggested right-wing MP Danny Kruger would support Robert Jenrick, further diminishing Ms Braverman’s hopes of being the flagbearer of the Tory right.Other possible Tory leadership race contenders on the party’s right include Kemi Badenoch and Priti Patel, while James Cleverly, Jeremy Hunt, Tom Tugendhat and Victoria Atkins are among more moderate figures who could launch bids.Show latest update 1720449116Scottish Tory justice spokesperson signals he could run in leadership raceScottish Tory justice spokesperson Russell Findlay has signalled that he is considering a run at the party leadership north of the border.Mr Findlay, a former journalist who prior to entering Holyrood was attacked with acid while investigating organised crime in Glasgow, said: “Tories across the UK have taken a beating – although our success in Scotland in holding constituencies shouldn’t be overlooked.“Everyone should take time to reflect on the message we have been sent.“Scotland needs to play a big part in rebuilding an election-winning conservative movement and, along with many others, I’ll be taking careful consideration of the new circumstances we are in and of how I can best contribute to that task.”Russell Findlay is considering a bid to replace Douglas Ross More

A political commentator has suggested Donald Trump will use Nigel Farage as his “UK link” following the general election result.Speaking to GB News about the new Labour government, Theo Usherwood claimed that new foreign secretary David Lammy will find it “very difficult” to work with Mr Trump if he wins the US presidency in November.“I think it’s going to be very, very difficult for Labour, and I think it’s going to cause real friction,” he said.“Especially with the election of Nigel Farage, Donald Trump doesn’t care about formalities. He doesn’t do the playbook that Whitehall in London will want. He won’t go through No 10.” More

Kwasi Kwarteng has refused to rule out a comeback from himself or Liz Truss.The former chancellor, who last week appeared to take the blame for the Tory general election defeat, admitted he has “exchanged one or two Whatsapps” with the former prime minister in recent days.Ms Truss – who lost her seat in the vote – is best known for her short-lived tenure in No 10, when she devised the disastrous mini-budget with Mr Kwarteng.Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday 8 July, Mr Kwarteng suggested a comeback could be on the cards.“Let’s see… can’t rule anything in or out,” he said. More

A former Tory minister has suggested there was “little appetite” for a Labour government at the general election.Kevin Hollinrake, the former postal affairs minister, told Good Morning Britain that the Conservatives will be “in good shape” to challenge Sir Keir Starmer come 2029.“One very good thing for us, in terms of the result from last week, was that there was very little appetite for a Labour government,” he said.“There is very little appetite for Keir Starmer.”GMB host Susanna Reid suggested Mr Hollinrake’s claim was “remarkable” as she pointed out Labour won a huge landslide. More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSuella Braverman’s Tory leadership hopes have suffered an early blow as a key backer reportedly prepares to back Robert Jenrick instead.Although no-one has formally launched a campaign to replace Rishi Sunak following the disastrous 4 July election result, Ms Braverman is expected to be a front runner. However, the former home secretary’s expected campaign has been described as “dead before it has even started” as right-wing MP Danny Kruger is said to support Mr Jenrick.In an indication of how long the contest could drag on, former business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said on Monday a leadership race could last until the end of the year, adding that “I don’t think there is any rush”.Former home secretary Suella Braverman is expected to be preparing a Tory leadership bid (Andrew Matthews/PA) More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorThe new education secretary has pledged to recruit thousands of teachers just days after Labour took power in a landslide victory. Bridget Phillipson announced on Monday that the Department of Education (DfE) will begin work on delivering the government’s pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers. As one of her first steps in post, the education secretary will write to all sector workforces to “make clear the valuable role” they will play in the Labour government’s agenda. Ms Phillipson will hold a reception with key education stakeholders later this week, as well as making it a priority to meet with teaching unions in the coming days.Bridget Phillipson is the new education secretary More