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The announcement by Reform UK that they will “restore Britain’s Christian heritage” and that the nation must “uphold its Christian values” captures the contradictory essence of modern populist politics. Politicians of various faiths and none scrambling to weaponise a religious identity that the British public themselves have left behind and show no sign of wanting... Read more » The post Governing by nostalgia: Reform’s crusade for ‘Christian values’ offers false comfort appeared first on Pol

We are at a critical juncture marked by growing global uncertainty. The institutions and mechanisms that once sustained the post war era are being weakened or dismantled, with consequences that are no longer distant or abstract but increasingly felt by our constituents here at home. But responding to this upheaval means recognising that today’s national... Read more » The post Olivia Blake: ‘Can climate adaptation strengthen UK national security?’ appeared first on Politics.co.uk.

The leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar, has moved first. Declaring that he had to do “what is right for my country”, Sarwar called on the prime minister to resign in a scathing statement. In a press conference this afternoon, Sarwar proclaimed: “It is not easy and not without pain, but my first... Read more » The post Reaction to Sarwar suggests Labour isn’t ready to depose Starmer appeared first on Politics.co.uk.

Keir Starmer has vowed to fight on as prime minister following the resignations of two top aides.  Morgan McSweeney, one of the prime minister’s longest-serving and closest lieutenants, resigned as Downing Street chief of staff on Sunday. In a statement, McSweeney said he took “full responsibility” after personally advising Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as... Read more » The post ‘We go forward from here’, Starmer declares after two top aides resign in 24 hours appeared first on Politics.co.uk.

Keir Starmer has entered the stay of execution phase of his premiership.  On Wednesday, the prime minister instructed Labour MPs to support a government amendment to a humble address tabled by Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party. The official opposition called for the release of documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s ambassador to the US;... Read more » The post Starmer leadership crisis will test the Labour herd appeared first on Politics.co.uk.

There are at least two ostensible explanations for the Labour national executive committee’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The official narrative was delivered in the form of a lengthy press notice this afternoon. The “statement from the Labour Party” explained that Burnham’s candidacy would have precipitated an... Read more » The post Blocking Burnham will not stop the psychodrama appeared first on Politics.co.uk.

Reform’s decision to welcome Robert Jenrick tells us far more about what kind of political project it really is than any speech, slogan or rally ever could. This is not the behaviour of a serious insurgent movement preparing for government. It is the behaviour of a party more interested in Punch and Judy politics than... Read more » The post Reform isn’t building a party of government. It’s building a retirement home appeared first on Politics.co.uk.

The first reaction to Nadhim Zahawi’s defection to Reform UK revolves around the political baggage he brings with him. The former chancellor’s political career was inextricably intertwined with the Conservative Party’s spiral toward electoral disaster at the 2024 general election.  Zahawi, whose prominence in the Conservative psychodrama elevated him to ‘big beast’ status, did not... Read more » The post Nadhim Zahawi and the pitfalls in Farage’s defection strategy appeared first on Politics.co.uk.

There is a particular kind of panic that takes hold in British politics roughly a year into a Parliament. It is the panic of people who have discovered that governing is harder than campaigning, and begun to wonder whether the problem might be the person at the top. We are there again now, and the... Read more » The post The rush to panic tells us more about Westminster than Starmer appeared first on Politics.co.uk.

Although it may have been lost amid the doom-laden headlines emerging after COP30 in Brazil, something genuinely hopeful did emerge from the UN Climate Conference: a game-changing global plan to safeguard the planet’s remaining tropical forests. The Tropical Forests Forever Facility, or TFFF, is an innovative finance mechanism that would become one of the largest... Read more » The post Pippa Heylings MP: ‘Is the Treasury sabotaging Britain’s climate leadership?’ appeared first on Politics.co.uk.