This Month
Lex Greensill alleges his UK pursuers were protecting David Cameron
The fallen Aussie financier alleges a media leak by Britain’s Insolvency Service, which is seeking to ban him as a company director, was politically motivated.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Sunak clings on as PM by the skin of his teeth
The local elections were disastrous for the British PM, but rebel Tories have paused because the outcome suggests Labour may not be on course for a landslide.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Analysis
- UK leadership
Angry, broken Britain set to push its PM off a cliff
If Rishi Sunak can’t prevent a complete hammering at 100-plus mayoral and council elections, his party might kick off yet another leadership spill.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Moguls circle as Telegraph, Spectator go up for sale again
Rupert Murdoch could launch a bid for the Spectator magazine, after an Abu Dhabi-backed consortium threw in the towel.
- Hans van Leeuwen
March
Britain’s Conservatives are on the road to the Apocalypse
The polls are now so bad for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that people are starting to talk about an epochal wipeout, and a reshaping of the British right.
- Hans van Leeuwen
UK’s new tax slug could force expat Aussies home
Australians living in the UK for more than four years will lose the benefits of negative gearing and franking credits on their property and shares.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
Britain to ban foreign governments from media ownership
The government’s move to protect the Telegraph and Spectator from a UAE-backed takeover could open the door to a bid involving Rupert Murdoch.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Tories try to staunch Britain’s ever-growing tax take
Trailing Labour in polls and facing an election soon, PM Rishi Sunak tries to woo the battlers with tax cuts but squeezes UK residents with offshore income.
- Hans van Leeuwen
February
- Analysis
- Energy transition
‘Too hard’: Britain’s Labour, Europe take scalpel to climate plans
Despite all the headlines, the big announcements in London and Brussels are more cosmetic surgery than major policy amputation.
- Hans van Leeuwen
King’s cancer ‘caught early’, as Harry visits his father
Britain’s PM offered a few details of the King’s condition as Charles’ estranged son Prince Harry flew to London, raising faint hopes of a royal reconciliation.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Analysis
- Income tax
Britain, like Australia, has tough calls to make on tax
The Tories need tax cuts to revive their election prospects this year. But tax cuts might be unaffordable, and could keep interest rates higher for longer.
- Hans van Leeuwen
January
Britain doubles down on nuclear option
A new road map commits the government to a fresh, large-scale reactor as well as the novel smaller tech, and to making uranium fuel domestically.
- Hans van Leeuwen
December 2023
- Opinion
- Opinion
Brexit architect Farage upends UK politics from the Australian jungle
Some right-wing Tories want Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to cut a deal with Farage’s Reform UK party.
- Stuart Biggs, Kitty Donaldson and Alex Wickham
- Analysis
- Immigration
How immigration became a toxic brew
Migrants have been used to tackle dire demographic trends and shrinking workforces. But anxious voters are telling politicians to find another way.
- Hans van Leeuwen
November 2023
Australian super funds build $29b war chest for UK
IFM Investors and Aware Super to plunge capital into British infrastructure and energy projects at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s global investment summit.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Abu Dhabi cash could win the battle for UK’s top Tory media titles
Manchester City soccer club owner Sheikh Mansour has lobbed a plan that could trump a pack of moguls such as Rupert Murdoch. But the UK government isn’t sure.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
‘Biggest tax cut in history’ fails to lighten UK gloom
The Conservative government’s mini-budget was overshadowed by the dour prognostications of its own independent fiscal scrutineer.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Britain has come to a fork in the road – prosperity or poverty
One choice is to stagger further downhill. The other option is to find a route back to political efficacy and prosperity. The election is shaping up as a crucial turning point.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
Britain ramps up subsidies for struggling offshore wind industry
Soaring costs and frugal subsidies had stalled progress in the UK’s world-leading offshore wind sector, forcing a cash-strapped government to empty its pockets.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Opinion
- World politics
Suella Braverman was sacked for being right
The British home secretary, who has been replaced by former PM David Cameron, championed traditional conservative policies on immigration, crime and economics.
- Jacob Rees-Mogg