[ The general election is increasingly likely to take place in the autumn rather than the summer, Conservative insiders believe. Rishi Sunak has refused to rule out going to the polls as early as July – which would coincide with the expected start of the Rwanda deportation scheme. But the Tories’ losses in the local … Read more
[ Conservative ministers are adamant that the upcoming general election is not yet a lost cause – claiming last week’s local elections show Labour is not on course for a Commons majority. But polling experts have hit back at the argument made by Rishi Sunak and his allies, pointing out it is based on only … Read more
[ Senior Tories from across the party have warned Rishi Sunak he must significantly sharpen the Conservatives’ campaign strategy or risk being destroyed at the general election. In the wake of a drubbing in the local elections, which saw the party come third behind the Liberal Democrats and lose nine out of 10 metro mayoral … Read more
[ It was shortly after 8am on Friday that Rishi Sunak knew he no longer had to worry about a leadership challenge. The first tranche of local election results were bleak for the Conservatives, with half their sitting councillors defeated and a big win for Labour in the Blackpool South by-election. But crucially – after … Read more
[ Ousting Rishi Sunak ahead of the general election would be “absolutely crazy” despite a poor showing in the local council polls, grassroots Tory activists have told i. While Mr Sunak took some solace from Ben Houchen’s victory in the Tees Valley mayoral contest, he has admitted the council results have been disappointing. Pollsters estimated … Read more
[ Reform UK leader Richard Tice has said that he “wouldn’t even answer a call” from Rishi Sunak should the Prime Minister offer his party a deal to co-operate in the forthcoming General Election. As nerves among many Red Wall Tory MPs increased after Reform destroyed the Conservative’s chances of holding onto Blackpool South in … Read more
[ Rishi Sunak on Friday appeared to have seen off the threat of a coup but rebels warned it meant the party would face ten years in the wilderness after damaging local election results. Conservative rebels plotting to oust the Prime Minister had warned of a “May Day from Hell” facing Mr Sunak after the … Read more
[ Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said that Labour will not commit to continuing the Government’s £4bn plans to expand free childcare. The plans, which saw eligible parents of one and two-year-olds offered 30 hours of free childcare a week by 2025, were first announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his 2023 spring Budget. … Read more
[ Labour will not review its general election candidates after being forced to withdraw support from two contenders over anti-Israel remarks. The party has faced turmoil this week after being forced to suspend Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali and their Hyndburn general election nominee Graham Jones after they made controversial comments at a private meeting … Read more
[ Sir Keir Starmer was forced to suspend a second Labour candidate, Graham Jones, on Tuesday after the party decided to withdraw its backing from Azhar Ali, another Labour contender for an upcoming by-election. Both men have been accused of making anti-Israel comments during the same meeting of Lancashire Labour members. But who are these … Read more
