Should we believe Rishi Sunak’s hint that the election will be in October? What the evidence tells us: So now we know. After weeks of speculation, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is “working on the assumption” that a general election will take place in the second half of this year. That’s just a …
Why David Cameron’s past and present relations with China could be Rishi Sunak’s first big political headache of 2024: Almost immediately after being appointed as foreign secretary, David Cameron’s ties with China generated difficult headlines for Rishi Sunak’s government. Cameron’s warmth towards China during his own time as prime minister prompted Luke de Pulford, the …
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill: how much trouble is the prime minister really in as MPs threaten a parliamentary rebellion?: The legislative process in Britain consists of a series of discrete stages, each with its own purpose and function. A bill’s second reading is the discussion of, and vote on, the principle of the legislation. As …
Rishi Sunak’s decision to bring back David Cameron has distracted us all for now, but the long-term strategy is flawed: Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND Former prime minister David Cameron’s return as foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak’s government was surprising, to say the least. Only four former prime ministers have gone on to serve again in …
Sunak’s climate shift is out of touch with the demands of the UK’s workforce – here’s why: UK workers have a high degree of concern about the climate crisis. MNBB Studio/Shutterstock Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to introduce a bill aimed at granting new oil and gas drilling licences in the North Sea. The proposal …
Advanced British Standard: Sunak’s proposed replacement for A-levels and T-levels could make education less divisive: Ground Picture/Shutterstock Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to scrap A-levels and the recently introduced T-levels. He unveiled proposals for young people to instead study the new Advanced British Standard (ABS) at the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The …
Political leaders need a grand narrative – Rishi Sunak’s is a story of decline: During a January 2023 speech on “building a better future” the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, insisted that “we can change our country’s character. We can reverse the creeping acceptance of a narrative of decline.” Months later, this narrative has manifested in …
How Sunak’s back-pedalling on net zero could damage efforts to decarbonise Britain’s homes: Clare Louise Jackson/Shutterstock Rishi Sunak, the UK prime minister, has announced his government will scrap or delay a number of measures designed to help the UK reach net zero by 2050, with a particular focus on housing. This includes getting rid of …
Rishi Sunak’s green backtracking contrasts strongly with previous prime ministers’ efforts: UK prime minister Rishi Sunak appears to be wavering on “net zero by 2050” that Theresa May successfully passed through parliament with barely a cough of disapproval in 2019. Sunak is now talking about more “proportionate and pragmatic” government climate policies, while also announcing …
Why learning to smile like Boris Johnson should be top of Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak’s to-do lists: Alamy/PA/Jordan Pettitt Personality is not everything in politics, but it can go a long way. The UK’s next general election, set to take place in 2024, is already shaping up to be a “battle of the dull”. …
Local elections: what does a good night look like for Keir Starmer’s Labour or Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives?: Thursday May 4 sees one of the biggest English local elections in recent memory. These are huge contests, covering 237 councils, of which 151 are holding all-out elections, with every seat up for grabs. In the other 86, …
Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal: how the Stormont brake could block new EU laws from Northern Ireland: After years of tensions and negotiations, the EU and the UK have announced their proposed solution to the problem of trade barriers between Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the EU. The Windsor framework is a political agreement which sets …
Northern Ireland protocol: why Tory backbenchers are rebelling over Rishi Sunak’s revised Brexit deal: Long-running talks between the UK government and the EU over Northern Ireland may be coming to an end. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently travelled to Belfast in hope of reaching a deal to ensure smoother trade between Northern Ireland and its …
Rishi Sunak’s reorganisation: history shows creating government departments in response to short-term problems is rarely a good idea: UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has announced a major reorganisation of Whitehall, creating a new department dedicated to energy and another for science and innovation as well bringing various business and trade portfolios under one roof. Reorganisations …
Rishi Sunak’s new law could force workers to break strikes: Amid ongoing strikes across multiple sectors, Rishi Sunak’s government has announced plans to introduce new legislation that would dramatically tighten restrictions on unions in England, Scotland and Wales. The strikes (minimum service levels) bill, currently being debated in parliament, would mean that people working in …
Autumn statement 2022: what Sunak’s first big announcement tells us about how he will lead the country: Understandably, much of the focus on the autumn statement – the plan for the UK’s finances outlined by chancellor Jeremy Hunt on November 17 – is on its economic impact. But all economic policy making has considerable political …
Rishi Sunak’s £15 billion cost-of-living package and windfall tax: four experts respond: Rishi Sunak, the UK chancellor of the exchequer, has unveiled a £15 billion package of measures to help households with the cost of living, after energy watchdog Ofgem announced it would probably be increasing the price cap on energy bills by over £800 …
What is a non-dom? An expert answers our questions about the tax status claimed by Rishi Sunak’s wife and other wealthy people: It has emerged that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, claims non-domicile (or “non-dom”) tax status, meaning that she does not have to pay UK taxes on income earned elsewhere. This revelation has …