Ideology didn’t win it for New York’s new mayor – the city voted for his clear message and personality

Now we know: the government is about to break its manifesto pledge. But there is a case for doing so

With the budget looming, Rachel Reeves must decide whether to put up the basic rate

After a disastrous byelection in Wales, Labour’s new deputy leader should not be frozen out by Keir Starmer

Years of blunders have wrecked the Tory brand. Mimicking Nigel Farage won’t rebuild it – owning their failures might

The confident speech touched most of the right notes for her Conservative family, but voters are unlikely to be as convinced

A harder challenge lies ahead for the prime minister – persuading voters and some within his party that he can deliver

With his party conference speech the PM may have quelled an uprising, but the battle against Reform has only just begun

Leadership speculation is a distraction from Labour’s real challenge of restoring confidence and offering hope

The Lib Dems may be growing in numbers, but visibility, influence and clear leadership remain the challenges

Handling the capricious US president’s state visit is one more nightmare for a PM whose judgment is already in question

After the release of the former diplomat’s emails to his convicted ‘best pal’ Jeffrey Epstein, Keir Starmer’s judgment has proved to be seriously off

The approaching contest for a new deputy leader could turn out to be a proxy vote of confidence in the prime minister

Decisions about direction as well as personnel are needed to get the government out of a hole

The property levy has become antiquated, outrageously unjust and manifestly absurd. It is in dire need of modernisation

With a new left party launching, the danger now is that disillusioned voters hand more to rivals from both flanks

President offers muted blessing after domestic pressure and horror in Gaza force PM’s hand

Reform UK sells itself as more than a one-trick party. But its leader can’t quit fearmongering about immigration

While foreign leaders warm to a steady, pragmatic prime minister, voters at home are waiting to be impressed

A gripping study of the 2005 London attacks sheds light on survivors’ stories and the authorities’ failures