a robust show of force from the state religion, reminding us it’s here to stay

Sheffield is the largest city in Europe without a single electrified railway. The Midland Mainline electrification would have changed that, but the Govt has now 'paused it'. Meanwhile, £600m has been spent on a fare freeze that will mainly benefit commuters in the South East.

Good luck all! Rooting especially hard for the fantastic Martin Lyon in #Nunthorpe. Well done to all South Tees Conservatives colleagues involved in a great team effort over the last few weeks!

The Liberal Democrats are absolute clowns. The UK being in the customs union and outside the EU would be the worst of all possible worlds. No trade freedoms; no say in Brussels - absolute madness.

Today, Putin rejected another plan. He doesn’t want peace. He wants Ukraine. It’s long past time for secondary sanctions against Russia.

That’s the Deputy Prime Minister campaigning to junk our US tariff reduction deal and the India free trade deal. Giving up control of our own tariff schedules means being forced to adopt and face the EU’s higher tariff relationships with the rest of the world. It’s nuts.

London used to build stuff so much faster. London's tube network was built almost entirely in the space of 17 years. The DLR went from route picked to open for passengers in 5. We are told that this is impossible today. It isn't.

This from Neil Garratt AM is a perfect explanation of why speed in infrastructure is crucial. It reduces risk, opens up private/local finance, and cuts through political opposition.

The utter shamelessness of this man. Last year, he took the Whip off seven MPs who had voted to lift the cap on child benefit. Now, having been forced by his backbenchers to drop welfare reform, he tries to make a virtue of his profligacy. The way to end poverty is through

One risk facing Nigel Farage and Reform is despite the fact that every voter group overwhelmingly backs Ukraine over Russia, just 26% of Brits think that Nigel Farage does, only slightly fewer 21% think that he sympathises more with Russia.

War has changed in the three years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Does the UK have the capacity for this kind of conflict?

It is important to understand what is going on. Starmer was elected promising to make growth his “number one priority”. There was no mention of redistributive taxation in his manifesto, let alone of whacking up benefits. Until this summer, he promised to reform welfare. Then he

“Poverty” on Labour’s definition usually falls when poverty as commonly understood rises – as during the pandemic. When economic activity slows, people who earn money and pay tax are harder hit than people who don’t. Reducing poverty and reducing inequality are conflicting goals.

Today is Day 3160 since the preferred route for the Lower Thames Crossing was announced. Construction still hasn't started.

A customs union is the worst of all possible worlds. Controlled by EU rules without a seat at the table. Unable to benefit from our new trade deals with growing economies around the world. Utilising regulatory freedom to remove barriers to growth is the way forward.

A rebuttal to Jonathan Dimbleby's emotional blackmail of the Lords for doing their job scrutinising the Assisted Suicide bill, from a doctor who has cared for thousands of dying people, including many with lfielong disability and many who died with motor neurone disease 🧵

‘I4 years.’

Truly shocking.