James Heale

James Heale

James Heale is The Spectator’s deputy political editor.

Tuesday

James Heale

Ed Davey savages Nigel Farage in his Lib Dem conference speech

From our UK edition

Liberal Democrats have been looking forward all summer to Sir Ed Davey’s party conference speech. For months, Nigel Farage’s Cheshire cat grin has been a fixture of British politics, as his bunch of merry men have run rings around the Labour government. In No. 10, Keir Starmer and his aides appear baffled and bemused, unable to stop the boats or fix this country’s ails. Reform’s polling has soared to record levels as the public mood hardens on migration, asylum and security. Much of the Westminster elite have been in despair, enraged by what they see as Starmer’s cowardly unwillingness to check the rise of Reform UK. Today, it was a different knight who answered their prayers and delivered a full-frontal attack on Farage that will have the progressive pundits cheering.

James Heale

The secret behind Ed Davey’s stunts

From our UK edition

Each new day at Liberal Democrat conference means one thing: another stunt with the party’s MPs. Flower-arranging, morning swims and a marching band have all featured thus far. Most have gone down well with the party’s MPs. They gamely play along whenever Ed Davey’s apparatchiks press-gang them into another photo opportunity. ‘More Orange Order than Orange Book’ was the verdict of one on Davey’s baton-twirling arrival in Bournemouth. Another compared it to a scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Such appreciation is not shared by all though. In the run-up to conference, one MP told the i newspaper that the time for such ‘bullshit stunts’ was over. Similar sentiments are shared by conference attendees and the travelling press pack. But Davey’s team are unrepentant.

Monday

James Heale

Farage goes after Boris

From our UK edition

16 min listen

Nigel Farage has unveiled his most radical immigration plan yet – scrapping indefinite leave to remain for migrants – in a move designed to reverse the so-called 'Boriswave.' James Heale explains how this would affect hundreds of thousands already living in the UK, why the party claims it could save £250 billion, and whether any of it is remotely feasible. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has formally recognised Palestine as a state, a decision hailed by many Labour MPs but criticised by others as diplomatically reckless. And, to round off a busy political Monday morning, the government has approved a second runway at Gatwick – but will it really boost growth before the next election? Lucy Dunn speaks to James Heale and Tim Shipman. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

James Heale

Reform thinks Boris Johnson is finished

From our UK edition

This morning Nigel Farage will unveil Reform’s latest policy. The party plans to abolish the status known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which allows those who have lived here for more than five years to receive benefits and apply for citizenship. All migrants with permanent residency will have to reapply for visas under stricter criteria, including higher language and salary requirements. Foreign nationals will be barred from accessing benefits. Reform claims this will save £234 billion – though the think tank which produced those figures now suggests a revision is necessary. The announcement aims to address concerns about the party’s fiscal probity.

Sunday

James Heale

Keir Starmer: UK recognises a Palestinian state

From our UK edition

This afternoon, Keir Starmer declared that the UK now formally recognises a Palestinian state. In a six-minute video, posted on X, the Prime Minister took the step that many of his colleagues have wanted him to do for months. 'We are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution', said Starmer. He argued that the move was necessary because of the 'growing horror' of the Israeli offensive, insisting it did not amount to 'a reward for Hamas'. The Labour leader urged Hamas to release the remaining hostages, with further sanctions expected in the coming weeks. A reformed Palestinian Authority would run the new state, with provisional borders based on 1967 lines with equal land swaps, finalised as part of future negotiations.

Saturday

James Heale

Should Britain recognise Palestine?

From our UK edition

17 min listen

The government is expected to press ahead with recognition of Palestinian statehood, before a formal declaration at the United Nations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer set out plans earlier this year to recognise Palestine – but what does this actually mean? And what does the move actually achieve; is it driven by principle, by politics – or by pressure from within his own party? Michael Stephens of RUSI and Gabriel Pogrund of the Sunday Times join James Heale to assess the significance of this shift. They discuss the backlash from countries like the US, the unease within Labour ranks and the growing tension between domestic politics and Britain’s standing with allies in the Middle East.

Friday

James Heale

Inside the ‘Your Party’ meltdown

From our UK edition

13 min listen

Who would have thought it? Jeremy Corbyn’s insurgent party co-venture with Zarah Sultana seems to have imploded before it even got going. On Thursday, 'Your Party' supporters received an email from Zarah Sultana detailing how they could sign up for a £55 membership. Soon after, Jeremy Corbyn released a statement – co-signed by the so-called Gaza independent MPs that make up the as-yet-untitled party – which dismissed Sultana’s email as ‘unauthorised’, and that they were seeking legal advice. James Heale describes how it has the air of a 'South American coup', with both sides briefing against each other, including Zarah Sultana’s camp accusing Jeremy Corbyn of overseeing a ‘sexist boys’ club’.

Thursday

James Heale

Starmer survives another Trump encounter

From our UK edition

Every time Keir Starmer meets with Donald Trump, journalists ask each other the same question. ‘Will today be the day it all blows up?’ Ahead of this week’s state visit, the odds were not in Starmer’s favour. Whether it was Peter Mandelson’s departure, Britain’s looming recognition of Palestine or even Starmer’s plummeting poll ratings, today’s press conference was fraught with potential difficulties. But, once again, the Prime Minister survived the encounter relatively unscathed, with the President declining multiple chances to take a swing at his beleaguered counterpart. In the splendour of the Great Hall at Chequers, the two men began the encounter by hailing the military and scientific bonds between their nations. A new agreement was trumpeted by Starmer.

James Heale

Danny Kruger: ‘There’s no going back for the Tory party’

From our UK edition

‘The Conservative party is over.’ Until recently, such talk could be dismissed in Westminster as typical Nigel Farage hyperbole. But the decision of Danny Kruger to defect to Reform UK this week has left some Tories wondering if their party’s condition is fatal. Kruger – MP for East Wiltshire since 2019 – wrote speeches for David Cameron, corralled troops for Boris Johnson and ran Robert Jenrick’s leadership campaign last year. Until this week, he was seen as one of the Tory party’s most prominent thinkers. He is the biggest defection to Reform yet. When we meet in his new party’s headquarters, Kruger is reflecting on the brutal business of politics. Outside, Union Jacks flutter at half-mast for the funeral of the Duchess of Kent.

Wednesday

James Heale

Andy Burnham’s ‘fantasy politics’

From our UK edition

23 min listen

Donald Trump might be in the UK for the state visit, but it’s Labour pains that are dominating the headlines and, predictably, there is a typical northern lad who thinks he could be just what the party needs. Despite having made two previous (failed) attempts at the leadership, Andy Burnham is on manoeuvres. He does seem to have the key thing that Starmer lacks – i.e. the ability to communicate – but he does unfortunately come with his own history of flip-flopping. What does this say about the state of the left wing? ‘They clearly hate it!’ says Tim Shipman on today’s podcast about Labour’s experience of government, but is Burnham’s ‘fantasy politics’ really the answer? And could he be the one to take the fight to Reform?

Tuesday

James Heale

Will Trump’s state visit save Starmer?

From our UK edition

12 min listen

Keir Starmer has lost another aide, MPs are debating what the Prime Minister knew about Mandelson's links to Epstein and a new poll has Lucy Powell as the favourite to win Labour's deputy leadership race against education secretary Bridget Phillipson. Could things be any worse for Starmer? With US President Donald Trump touching down at London Stansted tonight, the PM will be hoping the state visit provides an opportunity to draw a line under the past few weeks. But Trump is anything but predictable, and he likes a winner – will 'The Donald' sour on Starmer? Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Monday

James Heale

Why Danny Kruger’s defection to Reform matters

From our UK edition

13 min listen

The big news in Westminster today is that there has been another defection to Reform. But this time it feels slightly different: a front bench Tory with a CV that spans multiple Tory leaders and a number of books on Conservative thought is now batting for Reform. Danny Kruger, Nigel Farage’s latest defector, served as David Cameron’s speechwriter, Boris Johnson’s political secretary and Robert Jenrick’s campaign manager just last summer. His defection will therefore come as a serious blow to those who argue that the Conservative party stands a better chance than Reform of winning the next election.

James Heale

Why Danny Kruger’s defection matters

From our UK edition

This morning Nigel Farage unveiled his latest defector: Danny Kruger. The Wiltshire MP boasts impeccable Tory credentials. He served as David Cameron’s speechwriter, Boris Johnson’s political secretary and Robert Jenrick’s campaign manager just last summer. His defection today will therefore come as a serious blow to those who argue that the Conservative party stands a better chance than Reform of winning the next election. Kruger told a press conference in Mayfair that his former Tory party were ‘finished as the main opposition to the left’. His argument is that Reform is the ‘new home’ of conservatism. His new role in Reform is ‘preparing the party for government’  – a theme Farage has expounded all summer.

Friday

James Heale

Will Mandelson bring down McSweeney?

From our UK edition

20 min listen

The fallout from Lord Mandelson's sacking continues. All eyes are now on Keir Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney – could he take the fall for Mandelson's appointment? As Whitehall editor of the Sunday Times Gabriel Pogrund tells James Heale and Lucy Dunn, Mandelson and McSweeney's relationship stretches back to New Labour. But, Pogrund warns, as McSweeney lay the foundations for Labour's victory in 2024, losing him would mark a 'revolution in the Starmer project'. Plus: after a slew of bad news for the government, there was one Labour victory this week – at the annual Westminster dog of the year competition. Megan McElroy interviews some of the MPs who took part; we hope their dogs are more loyal than their colleagues... Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Thursday

James Heale

Prince of Darkness sacked (again)

From our UK edition

22 min listen

Another week, another departure. Conservative MP Neil O'Brien – who serves in the shadow cabinet as minister for policy renewal and development – was granted an urgent question in Parliament this morning, to question the government about Peter Mandelson. Then the news broke that Lord Mandelson had been sacked by Keir Starmer following further disclosures about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Neil joins Tim Shipman and James Heale to discuss the latest developments and also the questions that still remain: what did they know about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein; if they didn't know, why didn't they know; and will the government be forced to release their vetting files on Mandelson's apppointment?

James Heale

Lord Mandelson sacked as US ambassador

From our UK edition

Peter Mandelson has been sacked as British Ambassador to the United States after further revelations emerged about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed Mandelson less than 24 hours after insisting: 'I have confidence in him'. Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told the House of Commons this morning that Mandelson was dismissed 'in light of additional information'. Mandelson has now become the first public figure in modern British history to have been forced out office for three different scandals across four different decades. It follows two days of controversy after emails between Mandelson and the paedophile financier were published. In one letter, he called Epstein his 'best pal'.

James Heale

Emily Thornberry drops out of Labour deputy leadership contest

From our UK edition

Emily Thornberry has this morning dropped out of the race to be Labour’s new deputy leader. The one-time shadow foreign secretary was the first to signal that she wanted the job, using an interview on the BBC on Sunday to politely fillet Keir Starmer’s government. But, in a race dominated by identity politics, she was always going to struggle. Despite her many fans in the media, Thornberry could not muster more than 13 public declarations of support from MPs. Too many of her colleagues reasoned they could not elect a north London lawyer to act as deputy to another north London lawyer. ‘At least Emily has a personality,’ mused one older MP yesterday. Angela Rayner’s departure has left a vacuum that much of the parliamentary party feels can only be filled by another northern woman.

James Heale

Royal treatment, neurodiverse history & is everyone on Ozempic?

From our UK edition

45 min listen

First: a look ahead to President Trump’s state visit next week Transatlantic tensions are growing as the row over Peter Mandelson’s role provides an ominous overture to Donald Trump’s state visit next week. Political editor Tim Shipman has the inside scoop on how No. 10 is preparing. Keir Starmer’s aides are braced for turbulence. ‘The one thing about Trump which is entirely predictable is his unpredictability,’ one ventures. And government figures fear he may go off message on broadcast – he is scheduled to be interviewed by GB News. It is rare for leaders to receive a second visit, especially those in their second term. But, as Tim says, ‘Britishness is fashionable in Washington’ and no-one likes ‘royal treatment’ more than Trump.

James Heale

The return of Keir vs Andy

From our UK edition

When Labour MPs met to hear from their leader on Monday, there was one group who felt particularly aggrieved. In the government’s reshuffle following the resignation of Angela Rayner, the party’s powerful north-west caucus had suffered a ‘machine gunning like nothing else’, in the words of a senior party official. Some 40 per cent of the reshuffle casualties are from this region. The changes risked, in the words of one aide, ‘reopening the whole Keir and Andy psychodrama’. Within hours, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, had duly attacked Keir Starmer’s new ‘London-centric’ line-up. Lucy Powell, a close Burnham ally, who was sacked as leader of the Commons, announced that she was running to replace Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader.