the brutal truth today is that there is no money left for anything but, at best, the most growth focused tax cuts. Here is a test for the Conservative Party at next week’s party conference.  Be better...

If Farage goes – and it remains an ‘if’ - the threat to the Conservative Party from its right will be diminished. It is a great opportunity but also creates a crucial strategic dilemma. The Conservati...

If Farage goes – and it remains an ‘if’ - the threat to the Conservative Party from its right will be diminished. It is a great opportunity but also creates a crucial strategic dilemma. The Conservati...

No 10 North would inevitably reflect the instincts of its founder.  I fear it would be statist, prioritising reducing regional inequality over aggregate growth, and it would be suspicious of technolog...

Burnham is a Prime Minister who demonstrably tries, and the public will appreciate that for a while.  But it is ultimately not good intentions that matter.  Trying must be followed by succeeding, and ...

Burnham is a Prime Minister who demonstrably tries, and the public will appreciate that for a while.  But it is ultimately not good intentions that matter.  Trying must be followed by succeeding, and ...

Burnham’s decision to pause early releases is good politics but bad policy

Burnham’s decision to pause early releases is good politics but bad policy

Burnham’s decision to pause early releases is good politics but bad policy

Look at the drivers of the decline of the Conservatives’ popularity: there was always likely to be a moment when Johnson’s lack of integrity was likely to cause a political crisis; there was always li...

Look at the drivers of the decline of the Conservatives’ popularity: there was always likely to be a moment when Johnson’s lack of integrity was likely to cause a political crisis; there was always li...

This, I repeat, is not an argument against devolution. But it is an argument for a hard-headed devolution that considers local responsibility to be more important than regional equality, and makes the...

This, I repeat, is not an argument against devolution. But it is an argument for a hard-headed devolution that considers local responsibility to be more important than regional equality, and makes the...

In the context of Kemi Badenoch’s improving personal rating (now the least unpopular party leader in the country) and the growing evidence that the air is leaving the Reform balloon, in the gains of 1...

In the context of Kemi Badenoch’s improving personal rating (now the least unpopular party leader in the country) and the growing evidence that the air is leaving the Reform balloon, in the gains of 1...

It is time for political parties to be brave and honest. Our welfare spending is not sustainable.

Contrary to his parents' wishes, the murder has become a political – and divisive – issue.  Naturally there is close scrutiny of how the police acted and about wider police culture. But it has also re...

At some point tough decisions on public spending are going to have to be made, and neither Burnham nor his party are reconciled to that. He can kick the issue of EU membership into the long grass, but...

The strategic challenge for the Tories is that it has been losing support to both its right and left.  Move decisively to the right and more votes get lost to left-wing parties, move decisively to the...

The strategic challenge for the Tories is that it has been losing support to both its right and left.  Move decisively to the right and more votes get lost to left-wing parties, move decisively to the...

We know now that the country got out of its 1970s malaise thanks to a government committed to fiscal discipline and a market economy.  Were matters worse in the seventies compared to today? Yes.  Will...

For all the hope of bringing renewed dynamism to the British economy, Reform UK will not have assembled a pro-growth electoral coalition. The country may well need a brave and radical government, but ...

For all the hope of bringing renewed dynamism to the British economy, Reform UK will not have assembled a pro-growth electoral coalition. The country may well need a brave and radical government, but ...

The Government – hoping to change the subject from scheduled fuel duty rises – accused fuel retailers of “price gouging” or“profiteering” despite no evidence to support that. Tory opposition is smart ...

The Government – hoping to change the subject from scheduled fuel duty rises – accused fuel retailers of “price gouging” or“profiteering” despite no evidence to support that. Tory opposition is smart ...

Wanting the US action against Iran to replace an evil regime with something much better is one thing, but the odds were always that is not going to be the case.  In such circumstances, reticence in su...

Wanting the US action against Iran to replace an evil regime with something much better is one thing, but the odds were always that is not going to be the case.  In such circumstances, reticence in su...

This was a by-election that showed political support is fragmenting.  Neither of the two traditional parties finished in the top two. The Greens got over 40 per cent of the vote but we're now in a wor...

This was a by-election that showed political support is fragmenting.  Neither of the two traditional parties finished in the top two. The Greens got over 40 per cent of the vote but we're now in a wor...

A move to the left will mean that more centrist voters will be up for grabs.  It is a huge opportunity that the Conservative Party cannot afford to miss.

A move to the left will mean that more centrist voters will be up for grabs.  It is a huge opportunity that the Conservative Party cannot afford to miss.