All articles tagged with #conservative party
A former neo-Nazi activist, Joshua Bonehill-Paine, has been chosen by the Conservative Party to run for the new Crewkerne South seat on Somerset Council in 2027, prompting backlash from opponents and supporters who cite his rehabilitation and counter-extremism work after past convictions for antisemitic posts and harassment of MP Luciana Berger.
Labour and Conservative suffered major losses in England's local elections, signaling a bruising setback for the two-party dominance, while Nigel Farage's Reform UK surged in many areas and called the results a historic shift in British politics; Keir Starmer acknowledged the tough results but pledged to continue, with Green gains minor by comparison and results for Scotland and Wales still counting.
Kemi Badenoch launched the Conservatives’ local election campaign, arguing the Tories are the ‘only party with a plan’ as 5,000 council seats across 136 English councils go to the polls on May 7. She outlined policy ideas tied to a general-election agenda, including exempting retail, hospitality and leisure from business rates up to £110,000 a year, cutting environmental taxes to reduce energy bills, abolishing stamp duty, and an £800m funding boost to recruit 10,000 police officers, while signaling tough steps for lawbreakers. The campaign comes as the party seeks to rebuild support amid a multi-party landscape and ahead of additional regional and mayoral ballots.
Sharon Osbourne has been invited by Birmingham’s Conservative group to stand in the upcoming local elections after she hinted on social media that she might return to the city. Party leader Councillor Robert Alden published an open letter inviting her to stand to help “clean up Birmingham” and boost the council’s finances and services, with supporters touting her profile as a campaigning figure who could raise the city’s international profile.
Canada’s Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre rallies delegates in Calgary, channeling Ronald Reagan’s core question “Are you better off than four years ago?” as he rebuilds after last year’s Liberal victory and eyes a spring election, pressing issues like cost of living, crime, immigration and national security to broaden support, including among younger voters, while Liberal minority status remains a potential hinge for the campaign.
Canada’s Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre won an 87.4% mandate from delegates in Calgary during a leadership review, reinforcing his grip on the party after recent electoral defeats. He used the occasion to call for unity and outlined a vision focused on affordability, crime, and a tougher stance against separatist movements in Alberta and Quebec, while facing ongoing questions about his likeability and polling gaps to the Liberals.
Canada's Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre faces a crucial leadership review at the Calgary convention, with delegates expected to back him but public polls showing a polarized view of his leadership and questions about widening the party's appeal, especially on the US and Trump. The test follows last year's election defeat, a later bid to redefine policy, and signals of possible cooperation with Liberals on select domestic issues.
UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch apologised for a party statement referencing Suella Braverman's mental health after her defection to Reform UK, calling the remark wrong and retracting it; Braverman criticised the line, while Badenoch described defectors as 'drama queens' in a later speech amid a wave of Tory MPs joining Reform UK and ongoing debates over centrism and immigration.
Former home secretary Suella Braverman defects from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, saying the Tories are too weak and centrist. Her move follows other right-wing defections and signals Reform’s growing momentum.
Former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman joined Reform UK, the fourth Tory MP to defect since the last election and the third this month, as Nigel Farage builds momentum against the Conservatives. Braverman criticised her former party's record and said she is ending “Tory betrayal and lies,” with analysts weighing how many more MPs might follow and what it means for upcoming by-elections and Labour’s position in the national conversation.
Robert Jenrick defects from the Conservatives to Reform UK after being sacked, raising questions about loyalty, timing, and whether Reform can unite the right without splitting the Tory vote, potentially sharpening the contest on the UK’s political right.
In a dramatic internal confrontation, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick was sacked by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch amid claims he planned to defect to Reform UK, underscoring a splintering of the British right and a looming realignment within the Tory ranks ahead of elections.
Henry Zeffman argues that Robert Jenrick’s removal over alleged plans to defect to Reform UK marks a watershed moment for the Conservative Party and the wider British right, underscoring Tory fears of being overtaken by Reform, highlighting Badenoch’s leadership role, and illustrating a broader struggle over the party’s identity and future direction.
The week saw significant political turmoil with Conservative MP Jeneroux's voluntary resignation amid rumors of cross-party threats, internal party conflicts fueled by Poilievre's populist leadership, and a crucial upcoming vote on Carney's budget that could trigger a snap election if not passed.
Kemi Badenoch revealed that the Conservative Party nearly ran out of money following their worst election defeat, but she managed to stabilize the party's finances and set a new policy agenda. She discussed her leadership challenges, the party's internal dynamics, and her views on political opponents like Reform UK and Nigel Farage.