Inside Politics

Starmer has convinced people of the dire challenge but he must respond with action

Labour hopes to exceed people’s rock-bottom expectations, but recent poll suggests it must do more to win confidence

Thursday, 12 September, 2024

National Health Service

Labour’s NHS reform conundrum

Need to raise funding for institution could sharply limit government’s capacity to improve other public services

Wednesday, 11 September, 2024

Tory party conference gives leader candidates chance to upend fight

David Cameron’s 10-minute pitch at the 2005 event was enough to secure him a strong following

Tuesday, 10 September, 2024

BBC still dominates as news consumption shifts from TV to online

Public service broadcaster allows the public access to a decent set of agreed facts, no matter your politics

Monday, 9 September, 2024

Starmer faces his biggest rebellion yet, but it won’t matter in the long run

More important is whether Labour can revive public services amid an ageing population and spending cuts

Friday, 6 September, 2024

The four Ps Labour needs to get right to stay in power

The state of ‘patients, policing, potholes and prosperity’ will determine its legacy, but Starmer’s inheritance is bad across the board

Thursday, 5 September, 2024

What makes this Tory leadership race hard to predict

Also in this newsletter, systemic failures were spotted decades before Grenfell fire and the UK still lacks adequate regulatory regime

Wednesday, 4 September, 2024

Starmer’s test is whether UK will make genuine progress after Budget pain

PM hopes his bold decision-making as Labour leader will translate into a revival of public services in office

Tuesday, 3 September, 2024

UK schools

My worries about the end of Ofsted’s one-word grading

Unclear whether Labour government’s new report card system will answer concerns raised following Ruth Perry’s death

Monday, 2 September, 2024

Scottish National party

SNP goes back to basics as it charts path to recovery

Scottish government agenda to focus on ‘people’s priorities’ as party fears its independence campaign is losing momentum

Friday, 30 August, 2024

Kemi Badenoch’s appeal to Tories is a double-edged sword

Former business secretary shows courage, but has never demonstrated any desire to add new people to her tent

Thursday, 29 August, 2024

Robert Jenrick diagnosed Tory party’s ails, but can he follow through on recovery?

His sacking by Boris Johnson may overshadow his career and he lacks expertise in winning MPs over

Wednesday, 28 August, 2024

Starmer lays ground for unpopular moves, though pay-off is uncertain

Labour’s options for tax rises and spending cuts in Budget risk public hardship and political difficulty

Tuesday, 27 August, 2024

Reader Q&A: Labour’s self-denying tax pledges mean hard medicine to come

Plus, why do politicians avoid talking about our ageing population?

Friday, 23 August, 2024

Reader Q&A: Lessons from 2017, Labour’s recipe for re-election and Reform’s potential

The first part in a series tackling subscribers’ questions

Thursday, 22 August, 2024

Cleverly should be Tory party’s obvious pick for leader

But shadow home secretary appears reluctant to press for much-needed tough changes within the opposition

Wednesday, 21 August, 2024

Tory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat looks the part but would he be ready?

Ex-soldier appeals to former Lib Dem voters, a key asset if Tories are to regain territory at next election

Tuesday, 20 August, 2024

Priti Patel’s Tory leadership bid won’t get past her deep unpopularity

Opposition leaders win elections by showing they have changed their party for the better

Monday, 19 August, 2024

UK labour disputes

Hopes of stopping strikes clash with Labour’s public sector reform agenda

On-and-off industrial action by trade union Aslef presage rolling disputes not just over pay but also job reforms

Friday, 16 August, 2024

Tory leadership contender Mel Stride ‘good on paper’ but his timing is off

Former UK work and pensions secretary has a strong grasp of the party’s weaknesses, but his own judgments are questionable

Thursday, 15 August, 2024

How Liberal Democrats should reap the fruits of Labour

With electoral fortunes of the two parties tied, Ed Davey must seize the opportunity and highlight former coalition’s achievements

Wednesday, 14 August, 2024