Sketch: That was the weak Queen's Speech that was

That's that for another year

In one of his more complex jibes against Ed Miliband, David Cameron declared in the Commons chamber this afternoon: "The weak are a long time in politics."

comments comments

On the doorstep: Ukip's two most awkward conversations

It's the supporters who are the problem

There are two types of very difficult conversations which Ukip campaigners face on the doorstep. In one, they are accused of being racist. In the other, they find the voters are more racist than themselves.

comments comments

On the doorstep: Conservatives hampered in Hemel

Hemel Hempstead, nestled in thoroughly Conservative Hertfordshire

The sun is shining on Conservative canvassers in Hemel Hempstead. They are well-organised and can afford to be cheerful – but frustrations about the coalition are threatening to dent their whopping majority.

comments comments

PMQs verdict: Cameron just couldn't care less

Just vote Conservative, whatever we've done

It was as if David Cameron was using an invisible blue rosette as his shield. No matter how grievous the problem he was confronted with, he deflected his answer and turned it into an appeal for a Tory vote.

comments comments

Sketch: Immigration hell for London's most offended ambassadors

Konstantin Dimitrov, the Bulgarian ambassador: Permanently outraged

After months of their compatriots being battered by the British press, you couldn't blame the Romanian and Bulgarian ambassadors for being a bit miffed.

comments comments

Eyewitness report: Thatcher's sterile funeral

Margaret Thatcher's coffin in St Paul's

There was no room for grief or even celebration at Margaret Thatcher's funeral - just the sterile solemnity of the Establishment.

comments comments

Sketch: The deification of Margaret Thatcher

Finchley's finest enters a new state

This was a day for the grizzled old veterans, the wrinklies of the Commons, to come out and deliver their verdicts on the politician who dominated their prime period in public life.

comments comments

Sketch: Gollum Osborne finally chokes on his own words

The Gollum chancellor: Can Osborne ever keep that frog out his throat?

The chancellor's strange combination of nervousness and indignation finally gets the better of him.

comments comments

PMQs verdict: Miliband finally trounces Cameron

Battered: Cameron had a hard day at PMQs

You can only have so many open goals before you score...

comments comments

PMQs verdict: A feelgood Commons senses spring in the air

It's actually grey outside today, but at least it's not freezing any more

Ed Miliband's humour and David Cameron's good mood made this prime minister's questions an oddly light-hearted one. MPs will have a spring in their step as they drift off for lunch this afternoon.

comments comments

Sketch: NHS chief David Nicholson brushes aside patient deaths

David Nicholson (centre) answers questions in Westminster this morning

NHS chief Sir David Nicholson has turned his removal from reality into the shield that protects him - and MPs' veneer of civility is wearing thin.

comments comments

PMQs verdict: Miliband pops Cameron's EU bubble

Popping the bubble: Miliband ends the Tory euphoria

Ed Miliband put in a predictable and unconvincing performance, but by the time he had left the Chamber, he had stuck in a pin in David Cameron's EU balloon.

comments comments

PMQs verdict: Tories unite in cheering EU-slayer Cameron home

Something changed: Europe speech has transformed mood of the Tory backbenches

David Cameron's Europe speech has had an electric effect on the Conservative party. This might just prove to be the PMQs which pushes the Tories over the line in 2015.

comments comments

Sketch: Ambassadors huff at Dave's EU referendum heresy

Cameron's audience included business chiefs, diplomats, ministers and reporters

If a grown-up baby were to hold a well-attended, much-reported speech to announce it had no choice but to throw all its toys out of the pram, and was preparing to give its teddy bears a vote on whether to leave the family unit altogether, it would look something like this.

comments comments

Verdict: Miliband picked apart the holes in Cameron's EU policy

Ed Miliband and Douglas Alexander make good headway with a problematic EU policy

Breaking every rule in British politics, Miliband showed you can make headway while defending the EU.

comments comments

Midterm review sketch: Empty document fails to hide coalition tensions

A rare event, these days: David Cameron and Nick Clegg hold a press conference, for real journalists

Whereas the Rose Garden was charming and novel, we have now grown familiar with the tedious, forced bonhomie which now prevails between these two men.

comments comments

PMQs verdict: An insufferable parade of bullies and swots

David Cameron and Ed Miliband in less childish times

This was David Cameron's first opportunity to bash Ed Balls since the shadow chancellor's autumn statement howler last week. Britain was in for a masterclass in bullying bravado.

comments comments

Autumn statement sketch: Osborne casts his spell over Britain

George Osborne: Not a dark lord of a wizard, despite his appearance

The chancellor had to apologise for being so distracting from the grim realities of Britain in 2012. But it didn't work: Tory MPs were hypnotised into adulation.

comments comments

PMQs verdict: Cameron and Miliband grinning at the heart of the storm

A moment of bonding across the despatch boxes?

Around them their respective backbenchers yelled and brayed, but the moment seemed to hold. Their eyes locked...

comments comments

Political news to your inbox

Fill in your details to receive Politics.co.uk's brand of informed, in-depth and independent coverage of Westminster to your inbox

Hot topics

Britain's great energy debate

How the power gets to Britain's homes in the next century remains a matter of deep controversy

As the next general election begins to loom over the horizon, the debate over Britain's future energy policy mix is starting to hot up - and nothing seems guaranteed.

The Heathrow third runway debate

Heathrow's third runway is just one of many options

There won't be a final decision on Britain's long-term aviation strategy until after the 2015 general election - but an aggressive national debate is already underway.

Opinion Former Events

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.