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James Heale

James Heale

The Spectator

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Sunak makes security central to his stump speech

Rishi Sunak tonight made his first stump speech, kicking off the Tory election campaign with an appearance at the Excel Centre in the East End of...

latest 1

The Spectator

James Heale

Labour / Starmer pitches stability

Within 20 minutes of Rishi Sunak announcing plans for a July election, Keir Starmer was up delivering his response. The Labour leader’s first pitch...

yesterday 4

The Spectator

James Heale

Visa figures fall again – but far enough?

It’s a big day for stats in British politics. Following the release of ONS numbers which showed a drop in inflation to 2.3 per cent, the Home Office...

yesterday 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Gove sounds the alarm on anti-Semitism

Multiple ministers are out giving speeches today but none will be as hard-hitting as that made by Michael Gove this morning. Britain, he warned, risks...

previous day 6

The Spectator

James Heale

Welsh government in crisis after Plaid pull the plug

Throughout the last 25 years of devolution in the UK, one thing has remained consistent: Welsh Labour’s stranglehold on Cardiff Bay. But in...

17.05.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Starmer is copying the Tory small boats strategy

Today is one of those rare occasions in British politics – a day when Rishi Sunak’s government has a bit of good news. Figures released this...

10.05.2024 20

The Spectator

James Heale

Sunak’s ex-ministers demand Home Office overhaul

Eight months ago, Robert Jenrick and Neil O’Brien were serving ministers under Rishi Sunak. But both are now out of government and keen to show...

08.05.2024 80

The Spectator

James Heale

Tory MP Natalie Elphicke defects to Labour

Shortly before Prime Minister’s Questions today, Labour dropped a bombshell. Natalie Elphicke, one of the most hawkish Tory MPs on migration, has...

08.05.2024 30

The Spectator

James Heale

Andy Street defeated as Labour takes West Midlands mayoralty

In one of the closest mayoral elections ever seen, Andy Street has been defeated as mayor of West Midlands by Labour’s Richard Parker in a...

04.05.2024 8

The Spectator

James Heale

The Lib Dems are ready for a general election

‘Consolidation’ is the word on Lib Dem lips today, as the party mulls its solid, if not spectacular, progress in Thursday’s local elections. Ed...

04.05.2024 8

The Spectator

James Heale

How big is Labour’s Gaza backlash?

From Hartlepool in the red wall to true blue Rushmoor, Labour has made gains across the country. But as Keir Stramer chalks up the wins, he also...

03.05.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Harlow offers a rare bright spot for the Tories

It is a thankless morning for Tories on the media round. Faced with the loss of half of their council seats, ministers are resorting to the...

03.05.2024 30

The Spectator

James Heale

Poll shows Khan’s lead slashed in London

Could Labour really lose London? A new poll out today shows that Sadiq Khan’s lead over Susan Hall is down to just ten points, ahead of the...

01.05.2024 20

The Spectator

James Heale

The key battlegrounds to watch at the 2024 local elections

Tomorrow, voters go to the polls for the last set of local elections in this parliament. After five tumultuous years, Rishi Sunak and his party look...

01.05.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Is the Rwanda plan already working?

It is fashionable within Westminster to criticise the Rwanda plan. The likes of Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick and Reform on the right can often be...

29.04.2024 20

The Spectator

James Heale

Why Labour won’t be bounced by Sunak’s defence plans

British politics in recent years has sometimes resembled a waltz. Both main parties show little compunction in mirroring each other’s plans,...

28.04.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Tory MP Dan Poulter defects to Labour

Rishi Sunak’s good week in politics just came to an end. Buoyed by a successful defence spending announcement and the passage of the Rwanda Bill,...

27.04.2024 30

The Spectator

James Heale

Sunak’s Rwanda Bill finally passes parliament

After eight hours of debate on the Rwanda Bill, peers finally threw in the towel shortly after midnight. The two chambers have been engaged in a...

23.04.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Parliamentary researcher charged with spying for China

Chris Cash, the parliamentary aide accused of spying for China, is to be charged with espionage offences, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said...

22.04.2024 7

The Spectator

James Heale

Sunak: the Rwanda scheme is ‘ready’

The Rwanda Bill should become law today – and the government is ready for when it does. That was Rishi Sunak’s message at a No. 10 press...

22.04.2024 40

The Spectator

James Heale

Donald Trump’s U-turn could vindicate his Tory enthusiasts

Better late than never. In Washington, the House of Representatives last night voted to approve £49 billion funding in aid for Ukraine by 311 votes...

21.04.2024 20

The Spectator

James Heale

Sunak declares war on the ‘sick note culture’

Rishi Sunak has returned to one of his pet bugbears: getting the unemployed back into work. His speech to the Centre for Social Justice this morning...

19.04.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Politics / What the Mark Menzies scandal means for the Tories

You’ve got to feel for Rishi Sunak. He spends his days slaving around the clock to shave half a percentage point off inflation, only to find one of...

18.04.2024 7

The Spectator

James Heale

How many MPs will reject Sunak’s smoking ban?

A fag-end measure for a fag-end government? That’s how Labour are keen to present Rishi Sunak’s plans to stop young people born after 2008 from...

16.04.2024 20

The Spectator

James Heale

What is Liz Truss up to?

She’s back. Liz Truss is in the headlines once more this week ahead of tomorrow’s publication of her book Ten Years to Save the West. Part memoir,...

15.04.2024 30

The Spectator

James Heale

Sunak set for final game of Rwanda ping pong

Parliament’s return from recess this week means the Rwanda Bill is now back in the Commons for the final game of ping pong. Rwanda has previously...

15.04.2024 8

The Spectator

James Heale

Rishi Sunak loses another minister

Graham Stuart has this afternoon quit the government, saying he wishes to focus on local issues after service in various ministerial posts. The...

12.04.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Reform’s best bet could be in Wales

The great schism on the right of British politics was aptly displayed last week. On Wednesday night, as the Prime Minister attended a ‘pretty...

12.04.2024 20

The Spectator

James Heale

Why has Will Wragg resigned the Tory whip?

Six days after his involvement in the honeytrap sexting scandal was revealed, Will Wragg has now resigned the Tory whip. It follows his decision on...

10.04.2024 40

The Spectator

James Heale

Cameron prefers charm to offensive in Blinken love-in

‘I come here with no intention to lecture anybody’. David Cameron’s line mid-press conference summed up the Foreign Secretary’s approach on...

09.04.2024 6

The Spectator

James Heale

Where will the Westminster honeytrap scandal go next?

The circle of those caught up in the Westminster honeytrap scandal continues to expand, with at least 15 figures now believed to be involved. These...

08.04.2024 5

The Spectator

James Heale

Reform: scrap Net Zero to fund the NHS

Richard Tice spent this morning fulfilling a role well-known to leaders of smaller parties: defending their vetting procedures amid criticism of...

08.04.2024 8

The Spectator

James Heale

Honeytrap / Will the Tories remove the whip from Will Wragg?

Who else was caught up in the sexting honeytrap? That’s the question Westminster is asking today. It follows last night’s revelation that...

05.04.2024 30

The Spectator

James Heale

Politics / Could Sadiq Khan lose London?

James Heale has narrated this article for you to listen to. With Labour 20 points ahead in the national polls, a lot of Tories have already written...

04.04.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Sunak ‘appalled’ by British deaths in Israeli strike

The death of three British citizens in an Israeli strike has prompted fierce condemnation from the UK government. In a phone call on Tuesday night,...

03.04.2024 30

The Spectator

James Heale

Northern Ireland / DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigns after sex offence charges

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has this afternoon quit as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party after he was charged over historical sexual allegations. A...

29.03.2024 20

The Spectator

James Heale

War on independents

As Labour edges closer to power, any hindrance to that goal is being ruthlessly removed. The £28 billion pledge in green spending has been dropped;...

14.03.2024 6

The Spectator

James Heale

UAE media deal hangs in the balance

The next three days could have major consequences for the British media landscape. On Monday, Ofcom will deliver its findings to Lucy Frazer, the...

10.03.2024 6

The Spectator

James Heale

Peers back vote on foreign state press ownership

Rishi Sunak has tonight been urged to support an amendment in the House of Lords which would give parliament a veto on foreign states owning UK media...

08.03.2024 5

The Spectator

James Heale

Hunt’s Budget sparks mixed reaction among Tory MPs

Labour are keen to depict the Budget as a flop Having completed his speech to the House, Jeremy Hunt spent the afternoon doing the usual post-Budget...

06.03.2024 7

The Spectator

James Heale

The key announcements in Hunt’s Budget

This afternoon Jeremy Hunt delivered his second Budget as Chancellor. Much of his speech had been trailed over the previous days. The headline measure...

06.03.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

MPs demand veto on foreign state press ownership

More than 100 MPs have tonight backed an amendment in the House of Lords which would give parliament a veto on foreign states owning UK media outlets....

06.03.2024 5

The Spectator

James Heale

Post Office ex-chairman hits back at Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch emerged from this morning’s Commons evidence session strengthened by the testimony of one of her top officials. But this afternoon a...

27.02.2024 3

The Spectator

James Heale

Officials back Kemi Badenoch in Post Office row

The row over compensation for wrongly convicted postmasters returned to parliament again today. Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, is currently...

27.02.2024 30

The Spectator

James Heale

Hoyle helps Starmer by selecting Labour ceasefire amendment

Sir Keir Starmer can breathe a sigh of relief this afternoon. The Speaker has selected his party’s amendment on a Gaza ceasefire, after an hour of...

21.02.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Home Office sacks immigration inspector after border claims

James Cleverly has tonight sacked the independent borders inspector after he voiced concerns about ‘high-risk’ aircraft landing in Britain...

20.02.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Labour triumph in by-election brace

Labour has won both the Kingswood and Wellingborough by-elections in another bad night for Rishi Sunak. Keir Starmer’s party were able to overturn...

16.02.2024 20

The Spectator

James Heale

Politics / Can Sunak find the common touch?

A former Tory minister likes to tell the tale of a recent charity dinner in his constituency. The organiser began by stressing that the occasion had...

15.02.2024 3

The Spectator

James Heale

Labour forced to pull its Rochdale candidate

12.02.2024 10

The Spectator

James Heale

Keir Starmer’s by-election bind

It’s the nightmare scenario Labour dreads. A triumphant George Galloway, carried aloft on his supporters’ shoulders, hailing a shock by-election...

12.02.2024 8

The Spectator

James Heale

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