Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, must feel that Christmas has come early. Not only did the Scottish National Party win back a swath of seats lost to Labour and the Tories in 2017, but with Brexit now inevitable, her campaign to break-up the United Kingdom has received a major boost. We’ve had our fill of … Read more
The real Britain has just powerfully reminded us all of its existence. This is not the internet obsessed, twittering, fanciful Britain imagined by the vain, secluded elites of London. This is the Britain of normal people living in normal places and dealing with all the hard-edged problems of real life, clear-thinking and unsentimentally patriotic. It … Read more
There is a troubling new divide running through our country, but it is not the one that people like to imagine. It is best shown by the Election result in affluent Putney, West London, where, in a rare victory, the Labour party gained a seat from the Conservatives. Putney, like Kensington and Chelsea, is filled … Read more
Well, who knew? Who knew that a lifelong Brexiteer leading a party that needed to represent the half of the country that did not want to leave the EU didn’t make sense? Who knew that a man who was such an admirer of the IRA and Palestinian terrorists wouldn’t go down as well as someone … Read more
Around Thursday lunchtime, I took a break from my chilly polling-station vigil in West Auckland and nipped for a sandwich in the nearby Eden Arms. Waiting for it to arrive, I opened Twitter and began to acquaint myself with Jeremy Corbyn’s triumphant march on Downing Street. London’s polling stations were grinding to a halt in the … Read more
Many eyes are naturally fixed on Labour’s disastrous electoral performance. But the Lib Dems’ self-immolation was no less spectacular. Here was a party which began the campaign at almost level-pegging with Labour in the polls. The self-satisfied Jo Swinson, leader since July, insisted she could be Prime Minister, though some of us could not stifle … Read more
This wasn’t just a defiant reaffirmation of the EU referendum result, it was a damning repudiation of those who have spent the past three and a half years trying to Stop Brexit. It also served as a timely reminder that there is life outside the Westminster bubble, that social media is not the real world. … Read more
For hour upon hour, the nation’s airwaves were filled with the roars of the real BBC — the Big Beast Collective. Broadcasting stars jostling for supremacy during the rolling election coverage included the Andrews Neil and Marr, Sir Tom of Bradby, HRH Laura Kuenssberg, destroyer of princes Emily Maitlis, Jeremy De Vine, Robert Peston — … Read more
This was the day optimism and belief triumphed over cynicism and despair. When tolerance and moderation overcame extremism and rank bigotry. And compassionate One-Nation Conservatism vanquished the malign Labour blueprint for class war, conflict and national ruin. Defying miserable winter weather, the dauntless voters of Middle Britain turned out in force and swept Boris Johnson … Read more
He arrived here five months ago unelected. To many, he was simply a part-time occupant stubbornly claiming squatters’ rights. Not any more. Shortly after 3pm yesterday afternoon, the heavy door to 10 Downing Street slowly creaked open and the newly affirmed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland emerged to … Read more
At 10pm on Thursday, a sonic boom of gasps thundered through England and Wales as the exit poll showed the Tories set for a bigger majority than anyone predicted. A fraction of a second later, there came an echo north of the border when the SNP result was announced. In the end, the exit poll … Read more
Amid the many extraordinary moments in that febrile election campaign, one will stand out for years to come. It was the last Labour rally on Wednesday evening, and Party supporters had gathered to cheer Jeremy Corbyn. Across the road, activists protesting against the anti-Semitism that had sunk deep into Labour — both Jews and Gentiles — … Read more
There are many lessons to be learned from the election, not least that British voters are a fundamentally sensible lot who don’t take kindly to being bullied by spittle-flecked extremists. But if it’s a masterclass in how to be a successful First Lady (in waiting) you’re after, look no further than Carrie Symonds. It’s not … Read more