14 h. ago Kemi Badenoch's masterstroke? ANDREW PIERCE on how the Tories could make a BIG comeback

Kemi Badenoch's barnstorming speech at party conference may have just turned the tide for the Conservative Party.

Politics

40 h. ago Labour deputy leader battle turns nasty as Bridget Phillipson allies warn Corbynites want win for 'anti

Supporters of Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary and Starmerite candidate, have warned that the remaining rump of Corbynistas in the party are lining up behind her rival Lucy Powell.

Events

60 h. ago Tory plan to abolish stamp duty ‘will benefit London and the wealthiest the most’ – UK politics live

The Social Market Foundation thinktank says council tax reform and a property-based tax would be more sustainable and fairerVoting in the Labour deputy leadership election opens today. Lucy Powell, the former Commons leader, is seen as the favourite and, as Jessica Elgot reports, Powell told supporters yesterday that, if she is elected, she will use the post to argue for changes in the way the government is operating. “We can’t sugarcoat the fact that things aren’t going well,” she said.Powell is no longer a government minister and, if she is elected deputy leader, she will do the job from the backbenches. In an interview on Newsnight last night, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary standing against Powell, said a Powell victory would be “destabilising” for the party. She said:[Electing Powell] risks destabilising the party we best achieve what we need to do together when we have those fierce conversations, including disagreements, behind closed doors.Members need to understa...

Politics

63 h. ago Tories would abolish stamp duty, Badenoch tells party conference – UK politics live

Party leader says measure is a ‘bad tax’ and scrapping it would free up the housing market and improve social mobilityVoting in the Labour deputy leadership election opens today. Lucy Powell, the former Commons leader, is seen as the favourite and, as Jessica Elgot reports, Powell told supporters yesterday that, if she is elected, she will use the post to argue for changes in the way the government is operating. “We can’t sugarcoat the fact that things aren’t going well,” she said.Powell is no longer a government minister and, if she is elected deputy leader, she will do the job from the backbenches. In an interview on Newsnight last night, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary standing against Powell, said a Powell victory would be “destabilising” for the party. She said:[Electing Powell] risks destabilising the party we best achieve what we need to do together when we have those fierce conversations, including disagreements, behind closed doors.Members need to understand tha...

Politics

65 h. ago Frontrunner to be Starmer's Labour deputy admits 'things aren't going well' under his leadership and says the party cannot 'sugarcoat' failure

Lucy Powell, who was sacked as a minister by Sir Keir last month, hit out as voting opened in the race to become the party's deputy leader, saying his record should not be 'sugar-coated'.

Politics

66 h. ago Phillipson accuses Powell of ‘energising our opponents’ as voting begins

Ballots opened on Wednesday for members and affiliates in the Labour deputy leadership race.

Politics

3 d. ago Labour ‘can’t sugarcoat fact things aren’t going well’, Lucy Powell says

The deputy leadership contender said the party needs to start telling ‘a stronger story’.

Politics

3 d. ago Lucy Powell vows to talk tough with No10 and says Labour can't 'out

Labour deputy leadership hopeful Lucy Powell called for a 'course correction' after a bumpy first year - but said she won't be 'throwing bricks' at Keir Starmer if elected

Politics

5 d. ago ANDREW PIERCE: Starmer's security chief Jonathan Powell is a shadowy figure with more influence than any minister

Buried in the depths of No 10, on the desk of national security adviser Jonathan Powell, sits a special phone for secure communications with his White House counterpart, writes ANDREW PIERCE.

Politics

5 d. ago Neil Kinnock backs Lucy Powell in Labour deputy leadership race

The result of the contest to replace Angela Rayner will be announced on October 25.

Politics

5 d. ago Neil Kinnock endorses Lucy Powell ahead of crunch Labour deputy leader vote

Lord Kinnock threw his weight behind 'outstanding' Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell, saying she would ensure the whole Labour movement was heard if she became deputy leader

Politics

5 d. ago Lucy Powell dismisses ‘ridiculous’ claims she would bring division to Labour

Labour needs to ‘tell a much stronger story’ about the purpose of this Government, the deputy leadership hopeful said.

Politics

5 d. ago Alan Johnson backs Bridget Phillipson in Labour’s deputy leadership race

He said she would help bring back voters drifting away from Labour.

Politics

7 d. ago ANDREW PIERCE reveals Starmer's fatal mistake which 'raised Nigel Farage to the status of a martyr'

Sir Keir Starmer made Nigel Farage the focus of his keynote speech at the Labour Conference in Liverpool, repeatedly taking aim at the Reform UK leader's policies and politics.

Events

8 d. ago Dudes review – do teenage girls really tell their dads to have prolific sex?

This dismal German comedy about middle-aged men features plots so utterly ridiculous you feel sorry for the actors. It’s crass, dull and utterly lacking in actual jokesA fortysomething alpha male, a sad sack, a playboy and an intellectual walk into a German sitcom. Eight episodes of Dudes ensues. I do not speak German and can only hope it plays better in the original. In fact, the original-original is a Spanish comedy called Machos Alfa. That is now into its third season, which suggests it at least had a charm that has become lost in translation.The alpha here is Ulf (Tom Beck). He is tall, dark, handsome, high-earning, married to an increasingly influential influencer, and he and his immaculate facial hair are on the verge of promotion to CEO of the magazine publishing company he has worked at for the last 20 years. But what’s this? He is denied his dues by the advent of Vanessa (Jaëla Probst), a hot-in-all-senses businesswoman brought in from outside by the boss to shake things up...

Politics

9 d. ago 'It's like being at Glastonbury and I've just not been at the Pyramid stage'

Manchester MP Lucy Powell, a close friend of Andy Burnham, is standing to be deputy leader of the Labour Party

Politics

9 d. ago Powell and Phillipson vie for votes as Labour conference draws to a close

The pair displayed little disagreement during a hustings at the end of Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool on Wednesday.

Politics

9 d. ago Frontrunner to become Keir Starmer's deputy demands he stop 'trying to out

Lucy Powell, who was in Sir Keir's Cabinet until earlier this month, hit out as she campaigned for the senior party post vacated by Angela Rayner.

Politics

1 week ago MAFS UK star Rebecca reveals what procedures she's had done after fans question age

Married At First Sight UK star Rebecca, who wanted an 'alpha male' husband, hit back at trolls who questioned her age in a video shared on Instagram

Politics

1 week ago How panicking Labour bosses tried to airbrush disgraced Angela Rayner from glossy conference brochure like Stalin's propagandists, reveals ANDREW PIERCE

Angela Rayner may have resigned in disgrace from the Cabinet - but her spirit is stalking this conference.

Economics