Rishi Sunak warns ‘mob rule is replacing democratic rule’ in Britain
Rishi Sunak has said that Britain is descending into “mob rule” as he gave a fresh warning to police that they must crackdown on protests. The prime minister pledged to do “whatever it requires to protect our democracy and our values that we all hold dear”. During a meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon, […]
PMQs verdict: Starmer guns for Sunak’s likely successor
Prime minister’s questions was never going to be the highest point of parliamentary drama today. The low-energy exchanges were, in essence, an admission that attention would soon turn to the more substantively significant commons event this afternoon: the debate on the SNP’s opposition day motion calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. Perhaps in knowledge […]
Conservative Party donor says Rishi Sunak is not ‘right as a prime minister, full stop’
Conservative Party donor Lady McAlpine has said she would not vote for Rishi Sunak at the next election, saying he is not “right as a prime minister”. Lady McAlpine, a Boris Johnson loyalist who recently commissioned a poll indicating the former prime minister would perform better at an election than Sunak, was asked yesterday if […]
Week-in-Review: Rishi Sunak is stuck in a political doom loop
If this was a bad week for Keir Starmer, then what might a good one look like? With Westminster occupied by Labour’s £28 billion travails and closely scrutinising the electoral ramifications of its Rochdale debacle, Starmer found himself at the centre of an unremitting, even escalating crisis. His political and moral judgement was questioned anew; […]
What’s at stake in the Kingswood and Wellingborough by-elections?
Two more by-elections for Westminster to digest — and potentially more misery for the beleaguered prime minister, Rishi Sunak. This isn’t the first time Sunak has faced a brace of by-elections on the same day, of course. The PM lost two seats simultaneously twice last year: first in Selby and Ainsty, and Somerton and Frome […]
PMQs verdict: Rishi Sunak lost with a single, crass quip
In an otherwise low-energy session, Rishi Sunak lost prime minister’s questions today with a single, ill-judged quip.
NI leaders must ‘deliver for families and businesses’ after Stormont return, says Sunak
Rishi Sunak has travelled to Northern Ireland to mark the restoration of power-sharing at Stormont. The prime minister hailed a “special opportunity” at the beginning of his visit after Stormont returned on Saturday to establish a new power-sharing executive. Having arrived in Belfast on Sunday, the prime minister is scheduled to meet new first minister […]
Rishi Sunak and the long shadow of Conservative psychodrama
When Rishi Sunak was gushed into Downing Street in October 2022, surrounded by the rumble of Liz Truss’ collapsed premiership, he faced a profound dilemma. As he acknowledged on the steps of No 10, the terms of his accession meant he was forced to assume the role of “fix it” prime minister: he was tasked […]
PMQs verdict: Rishi Sunak stumbled as he vied for ‘Phil from Iceland’s’ vote
Prime minister’s questions began today with a sober appeal from Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who urged MPs to stop their shouting, put away the props and banish their bad language. Week after week, Sir Lindsay warns rowdy MPs he’ll send them out the chamber “for an early cup of tea” — so this was a […]
‘Lecturing’ Rishi Sunak rebuked as House of Lords votes to delay Rwanda treaty
The House of Lords voted 214-171 last night in favour of delaying Rishi Sunak’s flagship UK-Rwanda immigration treaty. The votes centred on delay motions from Labour peer Lord Goldsmith, who serves as chairman of the chamber’s International Agreements Committee. Lord Goldsmith’s committee previously presented a report identifying ten sets of issues where “significant additional legal […]
