Conservatives
Boris's U-turn defence
Is Boris Johnson’s government jumping from one crisis to the next or is No. 10’s agenda progressing roughly as planned? It…
Boris Johnson's majority is not as big as it first appeared
The last week has shown that Boris Johnson’s majority of 80 isn’t as big as it first appeared, I say…
Tories should listen to Farage’s warnings about Channel migrants
The idea of a flotilla of little ships crossing the English Channel from France to deposit their beleaguered human cargo…
A Brexit delay could last longer than you think
Here’s something Brexiteers might want to keep an eye on. While the country’s attention is welded to the Tesco delivery…
The three things that would have to happen to block a Tory majority
In 72 hours time, voting will be well underway. We will be talking about turnout being ‘brisk’. Right now, the…
Sunday shows round-up: Jeremy Corbyn- There will be a great deal of movement
Jeremy Corbyn – ‘I want a close relationship’ with the EU The Labour leader was Andrew Marr’s chief guest of…
What Farage’s Brexit ultimatum means for the Tories
There’s been much speculation this week about how the Brexit party will approach the incoming general election. Varying reports suggested…
Can ministers really hold their nerve on Brexit this week?
Boris Johnson is now in what’s known in cricket as the ‘Nervous Nineties’, when a batsman becomes so anxious about…
Eight reasons why I know I’m a Conservative
‘Why don’t you just join the Liberal Democrats?’ If I’ve heard that once in the past couple of years I’ve…
How much collateral damage can the Tory party take?
Amber Rudd’s resignation has clearly been a blow to the government, but it wasn’t a huge surprise that she went…
Amber Rudd quits Cabinet – and the Tory party
Amber Rudd has quit the Cabinet and resigned the Tory whip. Rudd’s departure deepens the split in the Tory party…
Rory Stewart: Am I still a Conservative?
My parents gave me a subscription to The Spectator in 1984, when I was 11. When I was 12, I…
Ex-Tory rebels threaten to stand as Conservatives in election
Rebel ex-Tory MPs are complaining of ‘unconstitutional’ treatment by their party and are planning to stand at the next election…
Tory MPs who vote for the extension legislation will be barred from standing for the party at the next election
Parliament returns on Tuesday and it is expected that anti no-deal MPs will – with John Bercow’s help – quickly…
What will the Tory and Labour election campaigns look like?
We know that the Conservatives are gearing up for an election in the next few months. Their official line is…
Johnson confirms he will prorogue parliament
Downing Street has just confirmed that the Prime Minister will be asking the Queen to prorogue parliament ahead of a…
Is the Chancellor’s cancelled speech another sign an early election is looming?
Sajid Javid has this afternoon cancelled a speech he was due to give tomorrow, and brought forward the one-year spending…
‘Never mind the backstop, the buck stops here’: Boris launches his premiership with domestic focus
Boris Johnson has just given a rather urgent-sounding, fast-paced speech in Downing Street. So fast-paced, in fact, that it almost…
Forget Brexit: Boris’s toughest task will be energising his exhausted party
Boris Johnson will now be receiving plenty of unsolicited advice about how to be Prime Minister. As his victory speech…
Johnson and Hunt try to unite the Tory party in final leadership debate
Tonight’s Sun debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt was far more relaxed than last week’s head-to-head clash. But it…
The biggest challenge for Boris isn’t this contest – it’s what comes next
Every campaign has a wobble — and Boris Johnson is getting his in early. A mix of complacency (he felt confident…
The Tory party has no choice but to bet on Boris
When Boris Johnson was appointed editor of this magazine two decades ago, an unkind soul said it was like ‘entrusting…
Tory leadership candidates start frenzied final push for support
With just a few days to go until nominations close in the Tory leadership contest, candidates are busy trying to…
The Tories are stuck in the middle with May. Here’s what they should do next
The Tories have a debate on their hands about what direction they should go in. Do they return to the…
Backing Mrs Thatcher
From ‘Be brave’, 28 April 1979: We can think of a number of reasons why voters might feel reluctant to…
