Theresa May’s lucky to have avoided the scrutiny that there’d have been with a prolonged membership ballot

Theresa May’s lucky to have avoided the scrutiny that there’d have been with a prolonged membership ballot

The decision of Andrea Leadsom to pull out of the race last Monday is making May’s initial period a whole lot easier. Instead of the 8 weeks long slog of hustings meetings, probing interviews and TV debates the new PM has managed to avoid the searching questions on policy that would have made life considerably harder when entering Number 10. Just remember the commitment on the Tories in Brussels moving to a different grouping that Cameron made in the 2005…

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Time to take the idea of President Trump seriously

Time to take the idea of President Trump seriously

Real Clear Politics The Donald is close to being back in the race What a busy three weeks it’s been. You could almost have forgotten that there was an election on in the most powerful country in the world. However, there is and the Republican Party convention begins on Monday. Donald Trump hasn’t had the best of build-ups, after his narrow deficit against Hillary in the national polls back in May – after he’d secured the nomination – widened out…

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Why I’m betting that it’ll be next July at the earliest before Article 50 is invoked

Why I’m betting that it’ll be next July at the earliest before Article 50 is invoked

Theresa May: Article 50 will not be brought forward https://t.co/SeSAC0MigX pic.twitter.com/bVzngcgpww — ITV News (@itvnews) July 15, 2016 Several bookies, including Betfair, have got markets up on when, if ever, Article 50 will be invoked. This is, of course, the formal process that would see the exit of the UK from the EU. There’ve been two articles this afternoon that cause me to suggest that this will be later rather than sooner. Ian Dunt has an excellent explanation here while…

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LDs gain four seats in their best night of local by-elections for at least a decade

LDs gain four seats in their best night of local by-elections for at least a decade

Wibsey (Lab defence) on Bradford Result: Labour 1,207 (51% +9%), United Kingdom Independence Party 655 (27% -12%), Conservative 451 (19% +5%), Liberal Democrat 70 (3% -2%) Labour HOLD with a majority of 552 (24%) on a swing of 10.5% from UKIP to Lab Newquay, Treviglas Result: Liberal Democrat 486 (58% +33%), Conservative 210 (25% -2%), Labour 87 (10% -8%), Independent 58 (7%, no candidate in 2013) Liberal Democrat GAIN from United Kingdom Independence Party with a majority of 276 (33%)…

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Our thoughts this morning are with the people of Nice after another terrifying attack in France

Our thoughts this morning are with the people of Nice after another terrifying attack in France

"L'horreur à Nice", à la une du Parisien de ce vendredi. #Nice06 pic.twitter.com/Uim2eIyBKR — Cyril Petit (@CyrilPetit) July 14, 2016 "We heard gunfire, moments later 100s of people started to run from Promenade" – eyewitness https://t.co/e63qWMQ4b6 https://t.co/mnKTtpCR4t — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 15, 2016

After an extraordinary political week tonight sees a bumper crop of local by elections

After an extraordinary political week tonight sees a bumper crop of local by elections

Wibsey (Lab defence) on Bradford Result of council at last election (2016): Labour 49, Conservatives 21, Liberal Democrats 10, Independents 6, Green Party 3, United Kingdom Independence Party 1 (Labour majority of 8) Result of ward at last election (2014): Labour 1,467 (42%), United Kingdom Independence Party 1,355 (39%), Conservative 499 (14%), Liberal Democrat 191 (5%) Referendum Result: REMAIN 104,575 (46%) LEAVE 123,913 (54%) on a turnout of 67% Candidates duly nominated: Angharad Griffiths (Lib Dem), Joanne Sharp (Lab), Richard…

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Theresa May’s new government, we’re nearly there

Theresa May’s new government, we’re nearly there

Priti Patel is the latest to join Theresa May's new Cabinet #CabinetReshuffle https://t.co/rGGeixOKbo pic.twitter.com/qoWpgO8E3E — Telegraph Politics (@TelePolitics) July 14, 2016 https://twitter.com/jameskirkup/status/753616343702835201 This is shaping up to be quite the egalitarian government, hardly any former public schoolboys and schoolgirls there. TSE

Theresa May’s new cabinet so far, the night and day of the long kitten heels?

Theresa May’s new cabinet so far, the night and day of the long kitten heels?

The state of play so far in this ruthless #CabinetReshuffle. https://t.co/5QD7lFwhHA @Telegraph pic.twitter.com/foKCFIJhPJ — Michael Wilkinson (@ThatMichaelW) July 14, 2016 Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, Department for Energy & Climate Change, Department for Transport set to be shut down -reports — Michael Wilkinson (@ThatMichaelW) July 14, 2016 The new government by Mrs May is so far appearing to be very different from that it was before, which seems very appropriate on Bastille Day.  If you’ve been a follower of…

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