Stephen Bush

Monday, 2 June, 2025

1 hour ago

Friday, 30 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Starmer’s curious swing at Farage

With no overarching theory of change, the government is hell-bent on avoiding unpopular decisions to improve the state

Thursday, 29 May, 2025

Inside Politics

The broader problem behind Labour’s nonsensical welfare cuts

Benefits reform is urgently needed, but cost-cutting government lacks clarity on what is driving higher spending

Wednesday, 28 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Lessons for policymakers on interpreting ethnic differences of opinion

New poll shows varying views among ethnic groups, but that is not the whole story

Tuesday, 27 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Farage seizes his opening with benefit cap under pressure

Labour risks ditching its irreconcilable tax and spend pledges in chaotic, not coherent way

Monday, 26 May, 2025

Demographics and population

Britain’s two-child benefit cap must go

The government should recognise that it has a stake in its people having enough children

Friday, 23 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Labour’s agenda on criminal justice stands apart from the policy fog

Government’s political and communications management is stronger here than in other areas

Thursday, 22 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Labour U-turn on a modest policy could hit credibility hard

Surprise announcement and mismanagement of MPs undermine its ability to win support for difficult measures

Wednesday, 21 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Rayner memo shows fault lines in Labour tax and spend philosophy

Push for higher taxes revealed as No 10 debate over winter fuel cuts bursts into public view

Tuesday, 20 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Labour’s small wins fail to ease tight fiscal spot

Party’s position on free movement limited by domestic political constraints and misses potential aid to growth

Tuesday, 20 May, 2025

US politics & policy

Trump and Farage are politicians for the post-TV age

Their apparent authenticity and tolerance for controlled anarchy leave their opponents looking tired and staid

Monday, 19 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Labour’s EU deal eases trade barriers, but minimises any political pain

Low-risk logic of leadership leaves space for party’s opponents to shape post-Brexit debate

Friday, 16 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Starmer’s immigration speech fits with Labour tradition, but so does losing

Party leadership’s echo of precedent should hardly justify current policy given record of drift and defeat

Thursday, 15 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Fixing UK workforce should be a goal in itself, not a means to cut migration

Solving deep domestic problems demands reform and political honesty

Wednesday, 14 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Ethnic minority leaders and the Tory vote

Conservative collapse in support cannot be explained by Kemi Badenoch’s background, but it cannot be ignored either

Tuesday, 13 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Labour’s immigration curbs come with noticeable cost to public realm

Scrapping care worker visa was right but it is unlikely voters will stomach higher taxes to fund struggling sector

Monday, 12 May, 2025

UK politics

Migration cuts are a luxury the UK cannot afford

Reducing freedom of movement comes at a cost and governments shouldn’t pretend otherwise

Monday, 12 May, 2025

Inside Politics

UK immigration debate ignores the real questions

Policymaking should focus less on numbers and more on why people arrive, how they are treated and the impact on Britain

Friday, 9 May, 2025

Political Fix podcast44 min listen

Ask Political Fix: Trade, tax and leftwing pacts

Your questions answered

Friday, 9 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Win for UK cars will not cushion the probable blow to taxpayers

Government’s haste in striking limited US deal risks missing out on better terms

Thursday, 8 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Yvette Cooper’s shadow looms over UK trade ambitions

Deal with India signals progress, but Home Office still sets terms on government’s immigration strategy

Wednesday, 7 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Labour’s electoral front frays as its historic support in Wales slumps

Keir Starmer risks losing strategy focus if he loses seats to Plaid Cymru and the SNP in 2026 elections

Tuesday, 6 May, 2025

Inside Politics

Routed Tories may not have a path back from this

Labour and the Conservatives need to work on their popularity — a harder task for a badly-hit opposition party

Tuesday, 6 May, 2025

Technology

What the New York subway tells us about the future of the internet

Crime, divided leadership and problematic innovation could all hold back its potential

Friday, 2 May, 2025

Political Fix podcast35 min listen

Local elections special: end of the two-party duopoly?

Plus: Kemi Badenoch’s rocky road ahead