Conservative party

LONDON — For Prime Minister Liz Truss, it was a chance to steady the waters after days of turmoil in the financial markets over her new fiscal plan: eight rapid-fire interviews with local BBC radio stations from Leeds to Nottingham. By the time Ms. Truss signed off from the last one on Thursday morning, her political woes had multiplied, leaving her new government in a state of disarray almost without precedent in recent British politics. She was, critics said, robotic in defending a tax-cut plan that had been eviscerated by the markets, and showed little sympathy for the pain that high interest rates could inflict on mortgage holders. One host described her as a “reverse Robin Hood.” A listener on another station asked, “Are you ashamed of what you’ve done?” Barely three weeks into her job, Ms. Truss has suffered a dizzying loss of public support. Her Conservative Party now trails the opposition Labour Party by 33 percentage points, according to a new poll by the market research … [Read more...] about Truss Tried to Reassure Britons With Media Blitz. Her Woes Multiplied.

Angela Rayner has accused the Tories under Liz Truss of being "devoid of ethics" amid questions over her appointment of the No 10 chief of staff. It comes after The Guardian reported the Prime Minister had promised Mark Fullbrook his company would run the Tories' next election campaign if he joined her No 10 team. A No 10 source declined to comment on the claim and the PM's official spokesperson said: "Decisions on running electoral campaigns of any party would not be one for me". Mr Fullbrook's represenatatives have been contacted for comment regarding the claim. But Labour's deputy leader said the Conservatives are "already sowing the seeds of a dirty general election campaign". Read More She added: "This is not only an inappropriate appointment at the heart of Downing Street but raises serious questions about what sensitive and privileged information this on-loan lobbyist will have access to at the heart of government. "The Tories under Liz Truss are devoid of … [Read more...] about Angela Rayner says Tories under Liz Truss ‘devoid of ethics’ amid questions over senior aide appointment

The Conservative Party-led British government is pressuring pro-Brexit, pro-British unionists in Northern Ireland to accept their ongoing sell-out to the European Union and form a regional government or face consequences. Northern Ireland, sometimes referred to as Ulster, particularly by British Unionists in the Province, was left effectively still inside the European Union, at least for the purposes of customs and regulations, and even subject to an internal border between it and the Great British mainland in the Brexit deal agreed by Boris Johnson. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which is the largest of the pro-British parties in Northern Ireland, fiercely opposed this as undermining their place in the United Kingdom, and ultimately refused to continue participating in the power-sharing government with pro-EU, Irish nationalist party Sinn Féin when London failed to rectify the situation — meaning no regional government at all. Chris Heaton-Harris, the Liz Truss … [Read more...] about UK Govt Pressures Pro-Brexit Unionists in Ulster to Accept EU Sell-Out

The Conservatives would be "wiped out" if a general election was held tomorrow, a senior Tory MP has warned. Putting his party on notice, Sir Charles Walker, MP for Broxbourne, said the Tories "first duty is not to get re-elected". Four polls from YouGov, Survation, Redfield & Wilton and Deltapoll, last night showed Labour has surged to its highest-ever leads over the Tories. The Deltapoll survey for the Mirror gave Keir Starmer's party a 19-point lead over the Tories - one of the biggest Labour leads ahead of the next election, which Liz Truss will happen in 2024. When asked about the latest polls, Mr Walker said:"If there was a general election tomorrow, there won't be, but if there was, the Tories would be wiped out. "We would cease to exist as a functioning politial party. Labour is currently surging in four polls ( Image: James McCauley/REX/Shutterstock) "We will come back but that won't mean we will win the general election. It's looking pretty … [Read more...] about Tories would be ‘wiped out’ if there was an election tomorrow, says veteran MP

Kwasi Kwarteng has raised the prospect of a real-terms benefits cut for millions of poor Brits - days after slashing taxes for the rich. The under-fire Chancellor said it would be "premature" for him to "come to a decision" on increasing benefits in line with inflation amid the economic turmoil. "But we are absolutely focused on making sure that the most vulnerable in our society are protected through what could be a challenging time," he claimed. It is a change in position after ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak said benefits would rise by inflation in April 2023, subject to a review. Mr Kwarteng's remarks came after his deputy at the Treasury Chris Philp prompted alarm among anti-poverty campaigners when he refused to promise a rise in benefits of around 10% will go ahead next year. The government is under pressure to withdraw its mini-budget, which has caused widespread chaos ( Image: Getty Images) “I am not going to make policy commitments on live TV, it is going to … [Read more...] about Kwasi Kwarteng raises prospect of real-terms benefits cut despite tax boost for rich

In the final push to Election Day, Democrats and Republicans are battling for the parent vote and the range of issues American parents face have left both sides thinking they hold the advantage. Republicans remain concentrated on parental rights in helping dictate school curriculums and policies, as it proved a winning strategy in the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election. Facing a Republican sweep in the midterms, progressives decided they had to devote resources to winning over parents, but have opted to focus on financial assistance to stymie the costs of skyrocketing inflation. "Parents are a really powerful voting bloc," Ailen Arreaza, North Carolina program director at ParentsTogether, a nonprofit advocating for progressive policies , told Newsweek . "Your identity as a parent really defines so many of the decisions that you make, from what you buy, where you live, and who you vote for." Democrats and Republicans have predominately focused the final stretch of the … [Read more...] about Battle for the Parent Vote Comes Down to These Two Issues

Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan presided over a golden era of prosperity. Few national leaders can say they left the world freer and more prosperous than they found it. As Reagan said in his farewell address : “All in all, not bad, not bad at all.” However, since Thatcher and Reagan left office, their victories — lower taxes, less regulation and smaller government — have been under siege. For sure, conservatives have won decisive economic battles, but those victories have been rare and downplayed. Former President Donald Trump’s successful economic record is a stellar example. (RELATED: VASQUEZ: As Biden And The Squad Saddle Taxpayers With A Student Loan Bailout, Americans Push Back) The latest skirmish in the long, frustrating fight for economic freedom appeared last week in London. The new Conservative Party Prime Minister, Liz Truss, unveiled a “mini-budget.” It was not the British equivalent of a MINI Cooper; it was a Rolls Royce. Truss’s mini-budget reversed … [Read more...] about CARTER And THOMPSON: Here’s Why One World Leader’s Success Is Vital To Conservatism’s Legacy

The campaign flier sent to Vietnamese-American voters in Orange County is heavily doctored and designed to inflame. A Democratic congressional candidate is photoshopped in front of a classroom of children, a copy of “The Communist Manifesto” in hand. On the wall hang images of communist icons Mao Zedong, Vladimir Lenin and Ho Chi Minh. (Bernie Sanders, who calls himself a Democratic Socialist, is up there, too.) A single fist in the Black power salute teaches students the number one. Two is symbolized by hands holding a hammer and sickle. “Jay Chen invited China into our children’s classes” is written in Vietnamese on the chalkboard. Advertisement The flier, crafted and funded by GOP Rep. Michelle Steel, would be effective in much of the country. But it has the potential to be particularly powerful in Steel’s Orange County-centered district. She is running for reelection in the new 45th congressional district, which has an Asian-American plurality. The district is home … [Read more...] about ‘Red-baiting’ fliers mailed to Vietnamese Americans in tight California congressional race

The decision to designate the Popular Front of India (PFI) as an “unlawful association” on September 28 is the most concrete signal yet of the government’s intent to stem the growing radicalisation of Muslim youth. The decision, around which media speculation had been swirling for weeks, was immediately preceded by pre-emptive nationwide arrests of the PFI leadership on the 22nd and 27th. The decision will now have to be referred, in terms of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, to a Tribunal consisting of a sitting High Court judge for determining whether or not there existed “sufficient cause” for declaring the organisation unlawful. The office-bearers of the PFI will be presented an opportunity by this Tribunal to present their case. A final decision about the fate of the PFI should be known within six months. Given the media coverage that has been devoted to the issue, most readers will be at least vaguely familiar with the ideology and sphere of activities of the PFI. … [Read more...] about Ban on Popular Front of India: An Important Step in Countering Rising Islamism in India

Californians have little appetite for a rematch of the 2020 presidential race, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, with strong majorities of the state’s voters hoping neither President Biden nor former President Trump runs again in two years. The poll, co-sponsored by The Times, found that roughly 6 in 10 respondents are against Biden trying for a second term in 2024 — a striking reluctance in a solidly Democratic state that he won handily. Another Trump campaign would be even less popular, with more than 70% in opposition. Vice President Kamala Harris, widely considered Biden’s chosen successor to lead the party, also struggles to find traction in California, her home state, lagging behind Gov. Gavin Newsom and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont as voters’ choice for president if Biden does not run. But no candidate emerges as the consensus favorite for the Democratic nomination in this early gauge of potential 2024 contenders. … [Read more...] about California voters favor Newsom over Harris, don’t want Biden to run again, poll finds