Tories take refuge in fantasy as local election drubbing becomes clear
John Crace
From party chair Richard Holden to Andrea Leadsom and Rish! himself, their denial verged on the delusional
March 2024
Andrea Leadsom criticises civil service head’s Garrick Club involvement
Former Tory leadership contender says she would not join men-only club even if it changed rules
February 2024
Only votes from the dead can keep this zombie Tory government alive
Stewart Lee
Surveys show that the Conservatives appeal to older voters, and support from the deceased appears to their last hope of winning another term
January 2024
Andrea Leadsom: Brexit checks are the price of ‘being a sovereign state again’
Health minister and Brexiter says businesses experiencing ‘some friction’ should adapt to changes in trade rules
July 2023
Westminster shareholdings
Andrea Leadsom held shares in Barclays when questioning bank’s ex-boss
Exclusive: Revelation about Tory former minister raises questions about adequacy of transparency rules
June 2023
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
Watchdog rejects Johnson’s suggestion Sue Gray’s Labour job meant she was not impartial investigating Partygate – as it happened
Advisory committee on business appointments says it has seen ‘no evidence’ that Gray’s decision-making was affected despite ex-PM’s claim
April 2023
The best original photographs from the Observer
Original Observer Photography
The best original photographs from the Observer commissioned in March 2023
March 2023
Andrea Leadsom accuses banking sector of ‘heads I win, tails you lose’ approach to bonuses – video
Andrea Leadsom: ‘I was determined to become prime minister and deliver Brexit myself’
August 2022
Oil giant’s lobbying firm provided ‘admin support’ to MPs investigating energy crisis
Calls for greater oversight of parliamentary groups after concerns raised about Tory backbench committee
July 2022
The politics sketch
Fainting room only at Penny Mordaunt’s swelteringly dull leadership launch
John Crace
Britain’s Notre Dame? Why MPs need to solve the Houses of Parliament problem
May 2022
Boris Johnson faces growing Tory calls for confidence vote
Andrea Leadsom criticises PM’s ‘failure of leadership’ as another MP submits letter to 1922 Committee
November 2021
The politics sketch
Paterson’s fair-weather friends keep well away from the standards debate
John Crace
Boris Johnson was among the Tory MPs who gave up defending the indefensible and absented themselves from the Commons
Guardian Opinion cartoon
Martin Rowson on a week of explosive Tory sleaze – cartoon
Parliament’s ethics watchdog has been urged to investigate Boris Johnson’s Downing Street finances after this week’s sleaze scandal, which saw the resignation of Owen Paterson after an attempt to block his suspension
‘Absolute madness’: circus around an MP that riled the Commons
Johnson accused of corruption as he tears up system to fight Westminster sleaze
The politics sketch
Tories do their best to trash what remains of their reputation
John Crace
June 2021
Andrea Leadsom criticised after saying furlough has been ‘great’ for some
Former business secretary claims UK’s economic recovery under threat with firms struggling to persuade staff back to the office
March 2021
Andrea Leadsom's plan for children ignores the impact of poverty
Naomi Eisenstadt
As the first head of Sure Start I know low-income families face severe challenges. Yet the government review overlooks this, says Naomi Eisenstadt, the first director of the Sure Start unit
