Andrew Wood: We need a strong defence in an uncertain world
18
Nov
As a new manifesto is being finalised, it is time to review how our 2017 commitments on defence have worked out.
Category Archives: Europe
Stephen Booth: An independent UK must decide swiftly on its preferred place in the world
12
Nov
Politicians are so uncomfortable talking seriously about our international role and relationships that instead we constantly engage in proxy battles.
Farage’s decision sends a signal to Leave voters in marginal seats: vote Conservative
11
Nov
His shift on candidates now acknowledges that a hung Parliament would be a bad thing. It follows that pro-Brexit voters in tight contests should back the Tories.
Rojava Under Attack: links between Turkish state and Jihadist Groups
8
Nov
Bella has been contacted by a whistle-blower in Kurdistan with details of the role of Turkey in arming and supporting proxy-armies and remnants of ISIS. This follows similar allegations from sources on the ground. The Rojava Information Centre has rele…
The authoritarian Spanish nationalism of Pedro Sánchez
7
Nov
On Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the immortal words, sure to seal his fate: a vote for Sánchez was a vote for “strong and stable” government. Sánchez has more than just rhetoric in common with Theresa May. Like the former British p…
Jeff King and Stephen Tierney: The Constitution Committee Reports on the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill
7
Nov
The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill will make no further progress before the general election. The Bill is […]
Garvan Walshe: Nobody except the Catalan separatists will gain from Spain’s second election of the year
7
Nov
The PSOE hoped to reunite the Left. Instead, rising tensions have fuelled extreme parties.
Anthony Arnull: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill
4
Nov
The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is intended to give effect in the UK to the Withdrawal Agreement […]
Matt Kilcoyne: The Conservative manifesto. Wooing Labour heartlands with socialist policy is a doomed strategy.
4
Nov
The first piece of a series this week about what the Conservative Manifesto should look like.
Farage’s greed is Johnson’s opportunity. Why Conservatives should rejoice at the absence of a pact.
1
Nov
The two parties have different Brexit policies, and it would therefore be impossible for them to project a united appeal.
Nadine Dorries: Thuggery. Abuse. Threats. Unacceptable everywhere. But no-one came to Brexiteers’ defence when we were victims.
1
Nov
The abuse became so bad that I felt the need to stop giving media interviews, writing articles and to remove myself from the public arena.
Nigel’s Nightmare
30
Oct
As we steel ourselves for the wretched purgatorial misery of (at least) the next six weeks, we’ve been sitting up late trying to think of a positive aspect of the coming election campaign, and the best we’ve come up with is this: if it̵…
Why the second referendum campaign is failing
28
Oct
It is as if it had become a vehicle to help Blair redeem his reputation and popularity, lost after the Iraq War.
David Gauke: When your bell rings in December, you expect to be sung a carol – not asked how you’re going to vote
28
Oct
The result of a general election next month would by no means be a foregone conclusion.
Sheila Lawlor: Ultimately, as the EU’s leaders recognise, the momentum is with Johnson
28
Oct
The big prize will be that the UK’s economic and trade freedom will be restored, something May’s backstop would have prevented, potentially indefinitely.
Three days in politics
27
Oct
It’s a long time, apparently. Because while a general election on 12 December would be a “barking mad” idea according to the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford on Thursday, having one on 9 December instead is genius. So in a…
On a dark desert highway
26
Oct
Karen Bradley: Why I’ve doubts about an autumn election – and want the Withdrawal Bill brought back now
25
Oct
I fear that we would lose too many good colleagues to a Remain coalition in the south, and would not pick up enough Leave-voting seats in the midlands and the north.
Adam Tucker: A First Critical Look at the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill
24
Oct
In this post, I make a preliminary attempt at assessing the provision made in the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) […]
Push, Varadkar, push. How he can now get Johnson over the line – and make Brexit happen
23
Oct
This is Ireland’s deal as much as the UK’s. So the Taoiseach has an interest in assisting the Prime Minister over extension.
Robert Halfon: How Labour flicked two fingers at 17.4 million people
22
Oct
Plus: The disaster zone is in the way that children with special educational needs are educated.
Mike Gordon: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill: Parliamentary Sovereignty, Continuity and Novelty
22
Oct
The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is a highly complex piece of draft legislation. It interacts with the […]
The unbreakable lock
21
Oct
It’s Monday morning, readers, so welcome once again to the world’s favourite situation comedy, the United Kingdom. The current position is that absolutely nobody has the slightest idea what’s going to happen this week, or today, or by…
Nicky Morgan: Now is the time for Conservatives to trust each other over Brexit
21
Oct
The Malthouse Amendment experience of different people coming together shows that unity is possible.
WATCH: Letwin promises there will be no more amendments
20
Oct
Sir Oliver Letwin pledges his support to the government’s Brexit deal when it comes to a vote.
The ultimate Scotlanding
20
Oct
So, almost a third of you are bloody idiots and we’ll just have to deal with that. The good news is that at least there couldn’t be any unforeseen consequences. But oh no! What’s this? And let’s just spell it out, because some p…
Statement from CUP on the Situation in Catalonia
19
Oct
Eulàlia Reguant from the CUP calls for the international community to recognise Catalonia’s right to self-determination and to demand an end to the state repression and police violence – and calls for journalists and lawyers to come to Cata…
Our guestimate of today’s numbers. Letwin’s amendment should pass. But if Johnson’s deal were voted on, it is too close to call.
19
Oct
On a straight up, straight down vote on the deal, our calculation is that the Government will lose by two – though that bypasses abstentions. But such a vote is very unlikely today,
Are you being served?
19
Oct
Brooks Was Here
18
Oct
As we write, Boris Johnson’s new Brexit deal appears to hang in the balance. According to Sky News this morning the arithmetic is poised on a knife-edge. The four “in play” groups down the middle of the graphic are, from top: three To…