Katy Balls

Katy Balls

Katy Balls is The Spectator’s political editor.

The cost of Theresa May’s deal with the DUP

Theresa May’s deal with the DUP has been delayed as the government deals with the Grenfell Tower blaze. Even without the tragic events of last night, there’s reason to suggest that May’s deal with the DUP would not have been signed this week. Although the two parties are said to be finalising the ‘terms and conditions’

Corbyn-mania hits the Parliamentary Labour Party

It tends to be the case that if you hear cheers from outside a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, it’s safe to bet it’s not Jeremy Corbyn doing the talking. However, tonight that all changed. The Labour leader received a 45-second standing ovation from his colleagues in what was a positive and productive meeting. After

Katy Balls

May makes Baker Brexit minister – what does she mean by that?

Theresa May has just appointed Steve Baker as a junior minister to the Department for Exiting the EU. A lead Brexiteer, Baker’s appointment will help to calm nerves among Leave-backing MPs that May is now heading for a ‘soft’ Brexit. The Eurosceptic MP replaces David Jones, who has been sacked as a Brexit minister. Jones was also a hardcore

Theresa May to Tory MPs: ‘I got us into this mess’

After Theresa May’s week got off to a shaky start with the news that the Queen’s Speech may be delayed while the Conservatives attempt to come to a ‘confidence and supply’ agreement with the DUP, she will be hoping that her appearance at tonight’s meeting of the backbench 1922 committee is enough to regain her party’s

Katy Balls

‘Strong and stable’ Theresa May delays the Queen’s Speech

The Queen’s Speech – in which the government sets out its legislative programme – has been delayed indefinitely. Originally due to take place next week, it’s now on hold until the Conservatives manage to come to a satisfactory ‘confidence and supply’ agreement with the DUP. This is an un-precedented move – and not a good sign. Even

Corbyn: I’m ready for a second election

With Theresa May currently AWOL, Jeremy Corbyn has been making the most of her absence this morning. As Tory ministers attempt a damage limitation exercise, the buoyant Labour leader appeared on the Andrew Marr show to say his party is ‘ready and able to form’ a government. Corbyn was in good spirits as he declared his party’s

Theresa May’s election gamble has backfired spectacularly

Theresa May’s election gamble has backfired spectacularly. As things stand, the result of the General Election is a hung Parliament. The Conservatives are predicted to be the largest party but will fall short of a majority. Jeremy Corbyn’s position as Labour leader looks safer than ever. In May’s count speech in Maidenhead, she appeared to

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Revealed: Tories’ hung Parliament briefing lines

Senior Conservatives insist that they don’t recognise the exit poll, which predicts a hung Parliament. But privately they appear to concede a hung Parliament is a possibility – and they are trying to get on the front foot. In a briefing to Conservative candidates, the party has issued lines to take on the exit poll.

Theresa May says ‘enough is enough’ following latest terror attack

Theresa May has said ‘enough is enough’ in a robust statement following last night’s terror attack, which left seven people dead and 48 injured. Acknowledging that this is the third terror attack Britain has experienced in three months, the Prime Minister said that while the three attacks were not connected in their planning, they are bound together

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Terror strikes London again

Seven people were killed and at least 48 injured after a van and knife attack in the London Bridge area. The police have declared the incidents as terrorist attacks. The Conservatives, Labour and the SNP have suspended their national election campaigns for the day. Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command have arrested 12 people in

Jeremy Corbyn hammered on defence in Question Time special

Tonight Jeremy Corbyn faced his toughest media appearance of the campaign as he took questions from a live studio audience in the Question Time Leaders Special. Although the audience appeared more favourable to him than Theresa May at first (with the Labour leader receiving a loud whoop as he entered the stage), the format actually

Katy Balls

Emily Thornberry creates chaos

Back in April, the idea of Jeremy Corbyn holding ‘transition talks’ with Sir Jeremy Heywood — the Cabinet Secretary — was enough to provoke mild amusement. But in a sign of how much things have changed with just seven days to go until polling day, Labour’s plans for government are now top of the agenda. With

Theresa May gets her election campaign back on track

Tonight there will be sighs of relief in CCHQ after Theresa May put in a solid – if imperfect – performance in the Sky / Channel 4 ‘Battle for Number 10’ programme. After a difficult week which saw the Tory lead drop to five points, the Prime Minister navigated her way through a range of tricky topics from her

UK terror threat level raised to ‘critical’, soldiers deployed to the streets

In her second statement of the day, Theresa May has announced that the national terror threat level has been raised from “severe” to the highest level,”critical”. She added that she has also deployed the military to help armed police by triggering Operation Temperer,  a protocol that sends troops to help police with security at airports, rail networks, harbours etc. This is