The apparently unassailable Tory leader inspires meek tranquility at his party’s conferenceAll the latest from the Tory conference – liveThere is normally a prince over the water at Conservative conference, the alternative attraction members flock to s…
Civil liberties groups criticise Priti Patel’s plan to criminalise protest
Home secretary plans to use policing bill to grant new powers to police to crack down on activistsCivil liberties groups have reacted with dismay to Priti Patel’s plan to criminalise protest groups, saying demonstrations are a “core pillar of any healt…
The Tories are cheering the voyage to a Brexit promised land that doesn’t exist | Rafael Behr
Boris Johnson’s foreign policy is a combination of pompous internationalism and wilful parochialismOne of the first comedy routines I can remember seeing was Les Dawson, on some Saturday night light entertainment show, playing the piano badly, which he…
BBC ‘a great national institution’, says Boris Johnson
Prime minister’s words a slapdown for culture secretary claiming BBC has ‘bias and nepotism’ problemsBoris Johnson said he believed the BBC would “be around for a long time to come”, in a view contrasting with that of his culture secretary, Nadine Dorr…
The Tories still need to reconcile their ‘red wall’ and true blue supporters | Salma Shah
Rishi Sunak knows his future depends on bringing together those who want investment, and those who want tax cutsFor all the talk of a smaller scale operation and a reduced number of delegates, there is a surprisingly jolly buzz around the Conservative …
Welcome to the Tory conference: this year staged in the Soviet-Union-on-Thames | Marina Hyde
There’s plenty of talk about the ‘British Renaissance’ – and no mention of little things like empty shelves and fuel shortagesExperience wonder this autumn as we head for Tory conference, where, according to Lord Frost, the “British Renaissance has beg…
Boris Johnson makes dig at Tony Blair while ducking questions over Pandora papers – video
Boris Johnson has laughed off questions about Conservative donors being named in the Pandora papers. The prime minister said he would ‘have a look’ at the allegations – and then made a dig at Tony BlairTories facing calls to return cash from donors nam…
UK promises ‘robust’ reaction if EU starts trade war over Northern Ireland
Brexit minister says he expects Brussels response to UK demand to renegotiate protocol within 10 days The UK will react in a “robust” manner if the EU launches a retaliatory trade war in the event of Brexit talks on Northern Ireland breaking down, the …
BBC staffed by people ‘whose mum and dad worked there’, says Nadine Dorries
Culture secretary attacks ‘nepotism’ and ‘groupthink’ at broadcaster in interview at Tory conferenceAll the latest from the Tory conference – liveNadine Dorries has labelled the BBC an institution riven by bias and staffed by people “whose mum and dad …
The Conservative conference shows a party in denial while all around is crisis | Polly Toynbee
The Tories call it a ‘period of adjustment’. But the shortages, price hikes, and this week’s universal credit cut, will force them to face realityThe Tory party conference seems to be floating along in a sea of delusion. Outside their cocooned security…