UK Politics

Helicopter rides and electoral annihilation: Rishi Sunak’s expensive commute

— Rishi Sunak’s use of a taxpayer-funded helicopter to Southampton on Tuesday, costing around £6,000 to the taxpayers, has been criticised as wasteful and environmentally damaging. Number 10 defends it as necessary for effective time management.

OPINION

From crown to clowns: King Charles III’s coronation and the Tory distraction parade

— The lavish crowning of King Charles III has triggered backlash over privilege, police response against peaceful demonstrators, and assault on civil rights by a Tory Government that gained much from the distraction from their defeat at the local polls.

UK Local Elections

Labour gains in local elections suggest the tide has turned in many marginal constituencies

— Labour has gained control of crucial areas during the local elections but still has work to do to win outright. It's not yet clear if the swing from the Conservatives would be enough for Labour to win outright in a general election.

OPINION

The English local elections and the Tories’ voter suppression tactics

— England’s local elections are expected to cause heavy losses for the Conservative Party on Thursday, potentially pushing backbench Tory unrest. Meanwhile, voter ID requirements will affect non-Conservative supporters, with up to two million voters lacking the necessary ID.

UK Politics

Can Rishi Sunak save the Tories? Voting behaviour over time suggests it will take more than personal appeal to win the next election

— The prime minister is popular, his party is not. Which is more important as we head towards the next election?

UK Local Elections

What does a good night look like for Keir Starmer’s Labour or Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives?

— There’s a lot to play for in the final big electoral test before the next national vote, especially in northern regions where Labour hopes to make a comeback.

UK Politics

Revealed: Government to legalise ‘hazardous’ accommodation for asylum seekers

— Housing and migrants charities blast ‘shameful’ plan to relax licensing rules around HMOs for people fleeing danger.

Voting Rights

The Good Law Project takes on the Government’s ID requirements

— The Good Law Project has expressed concern over the new voting rules, which they fear may lead to the disenfranchisement of certain groups, especially young people.

Illegal Migration Bill

Illegal migration bill: Can the government ignore the European Court of Human Rights?

— The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that interim measures are legally binding under international law.

Brexit

Britain’s Brexit degradation

— The British government is becoming more realistic about Brexit, evident in the Windsor Framework and Integrated Review. Brexit remains central yet marginal, adversely impacting the UK but no longer a major political issue.

UK Politics

Behind the mess: A tragicomedy of power struggles in Downing Street

— A new book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos and downfall of Boris Johnson’s premiership, including how the former PM’s indecisiveness and knack for pointing fingers led to his downfall, and how Dominic Cummings and Carrie Johnson influenced decision-making in Downing Street.

UK Politics

Dominic Raab is right that the government has set a ‘dangerous precedent’ – but not for the reasons he thinks

— A report found the deputy PM to have been abrasive and intimidating to civil servants who have waited months for action to be taken. Dominic Raab’s case leaves current and future victims of ministerial bullying unsure if their grievances will be taken seriously.

Investigation

Tory MPs accept £20,000 from director of climate science denial group

— Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt is among those to have received funds from a firm owned by a former chair of the Global Warming Policy Foundation.

UK Politics

‘Cracking down’ on antisocial behaviour is a classic pre-election strategy – But this government owes young people better

— After a pandemic and over a decade of public spending cuts, young people need investment, not punishment.

COMMENT

Racism and the ugliness of Britain’s increasingly diverse politics

— Baroness Warsi condemned Home Secretary Suella Braverman for using extreme and divisive language about British Pakistani men, cautioning that this could fan the flames of racism and invite attacks. Warsi recommends that one should be more cautious with words, especially if highly trained in law.

Voter ID

Voter ID: Conservative MPs gave weak justification for law that could stop people voting

— The UK government has changed the law, requiring people in England to show ID when voting. The opposition claims the move is an attempt by the Tories to sway future elections by preventing certain demographics from voting, particularly those unlikely to vote Conservatives.