Recent articles
May 21, 2026
Manchester Messiah Burnham anointed to fix Westminster politics
King of the North searches for the hero inside himself to an Oasis backing track to change politics for the better It must be exhausting being the King of the North. Just watching Andy Burnham’s fo...
www.theguardian.com
May 20, 2026
From fuel duty to sanctions, Kemi wants to make it clear how little she understands | John Crace
Why would Tory leader bother to look into national or global politics? That time would be better spent picking fightsBeing assertive and sounding confident is always a good start. No leader of the ...
www.theguardian.com
May 19, 2026
Delusional, desperate and mostly called David, Brexiters gather to lament the Great Betrayal | John Crace
The Freedom Association’s Brexit Unleashed conference in Westminster was largely untroubled by reality Those we haven’t loved. It’s been nearly a decade since the Brexit referendum and the main arc...
www.theguardian.com
May 18, 2026
Starmer’s message to voters in Makerfield: vote Labour because you hate me | John Crace
The only useful purpose Keir can play in helping Andy Burnham get elected is to be the focus of everything that voters dislike about Labour On days like this you have to ask yourself one question: ...
www.theguardian.com
May 15, 2026
Digested week: Starmer’s day of reckoning was foreseen – just not the level of drama | John Crace
While Tories are quite ruthless about removing a leader, Labour MPs can’t decide whether their regicide is a tragedy or comedyNo one can say they weren’t warned. Last week’s elections had always be...
www.theguardian.com
May 14, 2026
Westminster waits in frenzied limbo before Wes jumpstarts day of drama | John Crace
Everything was in place for a move against the PM but for a moment Labour seemed to have forgotten the final actUK politics live – latest updatesWaiting. Waiting. Waiting. The sun rose in the west....
www.theguardian.com
May 13, 2026
King’s speech might be the last word on Starmer as reluctant monarch does his duty | John Crace
With the PM’s future numbered in days no wonder Charles might have felt reading out the government’s agenda was not the best use of his timeThe king looked fed up. His attempts to throw a sickie ha...
www.theguardian.com
May 12, 2026
Labour MPs channel Tory psychodrama as Starmer keeps hiding in plain sight
While some are working out how to get rid of the prime minister, others are already plotting against his rivalUK politics live – latest updatesIt used to be football managers who measured their tim...
www.theguardian.com
May 11, 2026
Desperate to please but pleasing no one, Starmer’s latest reset could be his last | John Crace
Monday’s ‘make or break’ speech was one of the PM’s best but the signs are that most Labour MPs have already seen enoughWhat did Keir Starmer say in ‘last chance’ speech to save his premiership?UK ...
www.theguardian.com
May 8, 2026
Nige is on full gloat, while Keir clings on with a hunted look in his eyes | John Crace
Local elections appear to signal end of two-party politics with five parties in the game in EnglandIt all panned out pretty much as everyone had expected. Nigel Farage was insufferably pleased with...
www.theguardian.com
May 6, 2026
One of the last true believers, Pat McFadden is sent out to defend kryptonite Keir | John Crace
Starmer is determined to see his five-year term through, even if it’s not what the country or the party wants'Twas the night before the elections, when all through No 10, not a creature was stirrin...
www.theguardian.com
May 5, 2026
Farage deploys the rottweiler to distract from awkward £5m gift story | John Crace
Zia Yusuf’s mad idea of building detention centres for illegal immigrants exclusively in areas that vote Green works a treatIt’s a classic from the Donald Trump playbook: everything’s been going a...
www.theguardian.com
May 1, 2026
Digested week: King bites his tongue as a president indulges his fantasies | John Crace
While Charles and Camilla were on a three-line whip, MPs watched the excruciating discomfort of civil servants We don’t often get to see senior civil servants out and about in the wild. They are ke...
www.theguardian.com
April 30, 2026
It’s amazing how much damage Kemi can do to herself in five minutes on local radio | John Crace
Echoes of Liz Truss as Badenoch blusters and blunders through series of short interviews, saving the worst for almost lastIt was the sort of day that every politician dreads. One where you can’t no...
www.theguardian.com
April 29, 2026
Given bonus PMQs tilt at Keir, Kemi fails to land a blow | John Crace
PM was supposed to be preparing his election excuses but took no damage from mediocre end-of-session clashToday was never meant to have been this way. The plan had been to prorogue on Tuesday night...
www.theguardian.com
April 28, 2026
Morgan McSweeney does no lasting damage to Starmer in grilling by Emily Thornberry | John Crace
PM’s former chief of staff looked far from happy when forced into the open to face Commons committeeHe walks! He talks! He breathes! For most people, Morgan McSweeney is a quasi-mythical creature. ...
www.theguardian.com
April 27, 2026
Lights. Camera. Lindsay! Speaker’s show lands Starmer with yet another headache | John Crace
It seemed like a fait accompli that Hoyle would deny the application for a Commons vote – but he had other ideasWhat the hell has Keir Starmer done to upset the speaker? Was it that row they had af...
www.theguardian.com
April 23, 2026
Cat Little’s evidence to MPs is destined for civil service textbooks | John Crace
The Cabinet Office permanent secretary’s 100 minutes before the foreign affairs committee will be required viewingUK politics live – latest updatesHere we go again. Some of the public may have had ...
www.theguardian.com
April 22, 2026
No one can look Starmer in the eye … and the Mandy saga is not going away | John Crace
The PM’s failure was being a spectator as Morgan McSweeney set about finding jobs for his matesThis is the end, beautiful friend. It is the tragedy of almost all prime ministers that they are the l...
www.theguardian.com
April 21, 2026
Starmer still faces more questions than answers after Olly Robbins’s quietly damning defence | John Crace
Sacked civil servant told Commons committee there was pressure from No 10 to approve appointment of MandelsonWell, what would you do? You’re a top civil servant with more than 25 years of governmen...
www.theguardian.com
April 20, 2026
Starmer the Incurious asks no questions and sees no Mandy-shaped red flags
Appointing an amoral narcissist was the PM’s biggest crime, but he was keen to breeze past it in the CommonsThings could be worse. The prime minister can still catch a break. Some had called Monday...
www.theguardian.com
April 17, 2026
Monday’s Mandelson showdown could be Starmer’s last stand | John Crace
Nothing about No 10’s version of the Mandelson debacle makes sense as the excuses factory works overtimeOn days like these you reckon the prime minister would have more chance of being believed if ...
www.theguardian.com
April 17, 2026
Digested week: Hungary’s election result is rare good news in a depressing and surreal world | John Crace
Not least because JD Vance’s show of support for Viktor Orbán appears to have had opposite of desired effectSo much of the news is depressing these days. The wars in Iran, Lebanon and Ukraine. The ...
www.theguardian.com
April 16, 2026
Blue Labour gets bluer with MP’s noble quest for a summer of sex | John Crace
Samantha Niblett says her campaign is about ‘taking control of our Britishness’ – bring on the union jack dildosWe could almost be back in the San Francisco of the 1960s. Tune in, turn on, drop out...
www.theguardian.com
April 15, 2026
Questions asked and answers given – up to a point. Welcome to lo-fi PMQs | John Crace
Weirdly, Keir and Kemi looked more secure in their jobs as a modicum of coherence entered their exchangesCredit where credit is due. The last few prime minister’s questions have been an exercise in...
www.theguardian.com
April 14, 2026
Kemi Badenoch’s memory wipe and the eternal sunshine of the spotless mind | John Crace
Seemingly more gentle Tory leader is blessed with the ability to forget everything that happened the day beforePlease sit down. Loosen your clothing. Do not adjust your screen. Take several deep br...
www.theguardian.com
April 13, 2026
Nige and Zia set out plan to send ‘Boriswave’ traitors to the gulag
Farage and sidekick are still sore about how the Tories handled Brexit, although new mates Braverman and Jenrick are forgivenThe Reform UK press conference began a little behind schedule. Time in w...
www.theguardian.com
April 9, 2026
Why colluding with King Donald’s insanity is the only game in town | John Crace
The madness is contagious – and nowhere has this been more in evidence than in the two-week ceasefire with IranThe Madness of King Donald. Unless you’ve spent most of the last few years on a silent...
www.theguardian.com
April 3, 2026
Digested week: I don’t often feel sorry for Charles, but he must be dreading this US trip
Starmer should just admit we’re being held to ransom by Trump – but instead he’s making the king go on a state visitDonald Trump has suggested that the war with Iran will be over in two to three we...
www.theguardian.com
March 30, 2026
Kemi the attention-seeker somehow always makes two plus two equal five | John Crace
The looming oil crisis caused by the Iran war gives the Conservative leader a platform from which to jump to the wrong conclusions Losing sleep over the war in Iran? Worried sick about the cost of ...
www.theguardian.com