I’ve tried to give a totally honest, and fair appraisal as to why a centrist Labour friend and myself have the same view as one publicly shared by the leader of Reform, that Keir Starmer is simply not up to the job. We don’t hate him, we just think there’s nothing there.
The test for Starmer is whether his government resolve that the humiliation of not having a single deployable Navy ship is not repeated. We must start spending on defence. By starting a war for which we were pitifully unprepared, Trump has at least taught us that lesson.
The word from many of the more senior Conservative Party officials campaigning across the country is that in some areas the loses could be pretty bad, but in others – London gets mentioned a lot – there could be brighter news.
It’s just that the Americans and Israelis are fighting it for us.
Easter had always been more central to the Christian church than Christmas since 380 AD. The thing is, the messages we’ve had broadcast to us this year – minus one from the King – have been less doctrines of faith, and more dockyard fighting.
ConservativeHome’s round-up of ten of our best articles from the preceding week.
It is the third Shadow Cabinet League Table in a row in which she has come first. The first time she reached pole position was shortly before Robert Jenrick’s defection to Reform UK. It underlines the marked shift from her earlier performances.
Whether any politician, and any party, have the verve and ambition to match the ethos and motivation within a moon mission, to get actual delivery and without standing up and offering hollow monologues, really remains to be seen.
It should be obvious to the government, as it is to the general public, that the North Sea still has resources to exploit that could help to strengthen Britain’s energy security. The thing is that Miliband, and hence Labour’s, net-zero ideology gets in the way.
81.2 per cent of responders back Badenoch in saying she’d have granted use of our bases from the start of operations. 62.3 per cent say they backed the US and Israel striking the Iranian regime. 92.8 per cent back the UK spending more on defence, and faster.
Sure, ministers can claim that Britain is on “war footing”, but how can it really be when the money remains theoretical.
ConservativeHome’s round-up of ten of our best articles from the preceding week.
There’s a shift in the debate, for those in Reform and Conservatives, who are willing to have it. More are, and mercifully without the wearisome ‘screaming’ at each other that marked the start of hostilities. It’s not a deal, it might mark a ceasefire.
In the House of Commons chamber, Sir Keir Starmer seemed not just comfortable with the idea that he is a member of Miliband’s government – he was almost eager to admit it.
The Chancellor should have seized the initiative by declaring that we cannot go on with the public finances in such a parlous condition.