James Heale
@jaheale.bsky.social
Deputy Political Editor at The Spectator
New: Reform UK unveil Matt Goodwin as their candidate for Denton and Gorton
January 27, 2026 at 2:06 PM
New: Reform UK unveil Matt Goodwin as their candidate for Denton and Gorton
Mala Tribich addressed Cabinet this morning, the first Holocaust survivor to do so. Liberated from Bergen-Belsen, she asked ministers to do more to tackle antisemitism following the Manchester and Australia attacks
January 27, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Mala Tribich addressed Cabinet this morning, the first Holocaust survivor to do so. Liberated from Bergen-Belsen, she asked ministers to do more to tackle antisemitism following the Manchester and Australia attacks
Remarkably quick by election in Gorton and Denton - due to be held in five weeks’ time on Thursday 26 February. Cue a mad scramble for candidates.
January 26, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Remarkably quick by election in Gorton and Denton - due to be held in five weeks’ time on Thursday 26 February. Cue a mad scramble for candidates.
Farage to me on Braverman:
“I think she’s reached the view that actually the centre right of British politics needs to unify around Reform - or if you like Ruth Davidson - you pays your money and you take your choice.”
“I think she’s reached the view that actually the centre right of British politics needs to unify around Reform - or if you like Ruth Davidson - you pays your money and you take your choice.”
January 26, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Farage to me on Braverman:
“I think she’s reached the view that actually the centre right of British politics needs to unify around Reform - or if you like Ruth Davidson - you pays your money and you take your choice.”
“I think she’s reached the view that actually the centre right of British politics needs to unify around Reform - or if you like Ruth Davidson - you pays your money and you take your choice.”
New: Nigel Farage unveils Suella Braverman, former Home Secretary, as his latest defector
January 26, 2026 at 12:16 PM
New: Nigel Farage unveils Suella Braverman, former Home Secretary, as his latest defector
Danny Kruger at Veterans for Reform: “Nigel Farage basically saved the Chagos Islands last week… I don’t know how he did it but he went to Davos and he got the Chagos Islands back.”
January 26, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Danny Kruger at Veterans for Reform: “Nigel Farage basically saved the Chagos Islands last week… I don’t know how he did it but he went to Davos and he got the Chagos Islands back.”
David Miliband out and about in Westminster this morning. Shock return on the cards?
January 26, 2026 at 11:37 AM
David Miliband out and about in Westminster this morning. Shock return on the cards?
Matthew Charles Hellyer, the new president of Veterans for Reform, at its launch:
“I see my friends in the dock, I don’t see generals and I don’t see lawyers. They are the people who wrote the laws and enforced the laws that we followed. And now it’s us who are facing court.”
“I see my friends in the dock, I don’t see generals and I don’t see lawyers. They are the people who wrote the laws and enforced the laws that we followed. And now it’s us who are facing court.”
January 26, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Matthew Charles Hellyer, the new president of Veterans for Reform, at its launch:
“I see my friends in the dock, I don’t see generals and I don’t see lawyers. They are the people who wrote the laws and enforced the laws that we followed. And now it’s us who are facing court.”
“I see my friends in the dock, I don’t see generals and I don’t see lawyers. They are the people who wrote the laws and enforced the laws that we followed. And now it’s us who are facing court.”
NEW: The decision to block Burnham will delight Nigel Farage, who wants to unveil a big name candidate in coming weeks.
Reform has canvassed the seat since Oct. As a minister notes “the polls there don’t take into account what they will throw at this”
spectator.com/article/the-...
Reform has canvassed the seat since Oct. As a minister notes “the polls there don’t take into account what they will throw at this”
spectator.com/article/the-...
The two winners from the Burnham block
Andy Burnham has been blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The vote this morning by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) was not even close, with the ten-man panel...
spectator.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:54 PM
NEW: The decision to block Burnham will delight Nigel Farage, who wants to unveil a big name candidate in coming weeks.
Reform has canvassed the seat since Oct. As a minister notes “the polls there don’t take into account what they will throw at this”
spectator.com/article/the-...
Reform has canvassed the seat since Oct. As a minister notes “the polls there don’t take into account what they will throw at this”
spectator.com/article/the-...
Hmmmm. Statement from the Labour party on 'blockgate':
January 25, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Hmmmm. Statement from the Labour party on 'blockgate':
Kemi Badenoch’s choice of Desert Island Discs.
For her luxury she picked the 22 ‘Marvel universe’ superhero films.
Her book is Thackeray’s ‘Vanity Fair.’
For her luxury she picked the 22 ‘Marvel universe’ superhero films.
Her book is Thackeray’s ‘Vanity Fair.’
January 25, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Kemi Badenoch’s choice of Desert Island Discs.
For her luxury she picked the 22 ‘Marvel universe’ superhero films.
Her book is Thackeray’s ‘Vanity Fair.’
For her luxury she picked the 22 ‘Marvel universe’ superhero films.
Her book is Thackeray’s ‘Vanity Fair.’
Interesting what Labour big beasts are saying about Burnham –Sadiq Khan, Lucy Powell and Ed Miliband all lining up at the Fabian Soc conference today saying they want him to stand, with Streeting criticising anti-Burnham briefings
spectator.com/article/andy...
spectator.com/article/andy...
Andy Burnham confirms he wants to stand for parliament
Andy Burnham has tonight confirmed that he wants to be a candidate in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton byelection. The Greater Manchester mayor submitted an application before the 5pm deadline. Ten o...
spectator.com
January 24, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Interesting what Labour big beasts are saying about Burnham –Sadiq Khan, Lucy Powell and Ed Miliband all lining up at the Fabian Soc conference today saying they want him to stand, with Streeting criticising anti-Burnham briefings
spectator.com/article/andy...
spectator.com/article/andy...
NEW: Andy Burnham confirms - he’s running
January 24, 2026 at 5:03 PM
NEW: Andy Burnham confirms - he’s running
Lovely quote from a minister on whether Burnham should stand:
“There are rules against Kings entering the Commons for good reason. This way ruin lies.”
Via Newsnight
“There are rules against Kings entering the Commons for good reason. This way ruin lies.”
Via Newsnight
January 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Lovely quote from a minister on whether Burnham should stand:
“There are rules against Kings entering the Commons for good reason. This way ruin lies.”
Via Newsnight
“There are rules against Kings entering the Commons for good reason. This way ruin lies.”
Via Newsnight
The Chagos pause is a microcosm of the battle on the right – both the Conservatives and Reform claim credit for different reasons:
spectator.com/article/star...
spectator.com/article/star...
Starmer pauses Chagos deal
Keir Starmer has tonight been forced to stall the Bill which would hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius. The legislation enabling the deal was expected to be debated in the Lords on Monday. But t...
spectator.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:54 PM
The Chagos pause is a microcosm of the battle on the right – both the Conservatives and Reform claim credit for different reasons:
spectator.com/article/star...
spectator.com/article/star...
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
January 23, 2026 at 7:56 PM
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
https://spectator.com/article/revealed-inside-the-tories-60-seat-election-strategy/
t.co
January 22, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Jenrick on Tory attitudes:
“Those people who stayed on after the end of Empire, who sat in the Gymkhana Club having afternoon tea and sipping a glass of wine, reliving old glories“
spectator.com/article/robe...
“Those people who stayed on after the end of Empire, who sat in the Gymkhana Club having afternoon tea and sipping a glass of wine, reliving old glories“
spectator.com/article/robe...
Robert Jenrick: Why I defected to Reform
Those pondering why Robert Jenrick defected to Reform UK have focused on the political momentum of Nigel Farage or the performance of Kemi Badenoch, but the key conversation was the one he had with hi...
spectator.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Jenrick on Tory attitudes:
“Those people who stayed on after the end of Empire, who sat in the Gymkhana Club having afternoon tea and sipping a glass of wine, reliving old glories“
spectator.com/article/robe...
“Those people who stayed on after the end of Empire, who sat in the Gymkhana Club having afternoon tea and sipping a glass of wine, reliving old glories“
spectator.com/article/robe...
New: Badenoch tells Tory MPs that "we will always be a party of the right"
It is a direct response to those who welcomed Jenrick going as a chance to pivot to centre
Andy Street + Ruth Davidson to launch a fresh initiative on the future of the centre right next week
spectator.com/article/bade...
It is a direct response to those who welcomed Jenrick going as a chance to pivot to centre
Andy Street + Ruth Davidson to launch a fresh initiative on the future of the centre right next week
spectator.com/article/bade...
Badenoch pledges to MPs to keep right
To committee room 14, where many of the remaining 117 Tory MPs crammed in tonight to hear from their leader. Kemi Badenoch was welcomed with 25 seconds of prolonged banging from her colleagues, after ...
spectator.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:21 PM
New: Badenoch tells Tory MPs that "we will always be a party of the right"
It is a direct response to those who welcomed Jenrick going as a chance to pivot to centre
Andy Street + Ruth Davidson to launch a fresh initiative on the future of the centre right next week
spectator.com/article/bade...
It is a direct response to those who welcomed Jenrick going as a chance to pivot to centre
Andy Street + Ruth Davidson to launch a fresh initiative on the future of the centre right next week
spectator.com/article/bade...
New: another one bites the dust as James Evans MS is sacked from the Welsh Shadow Cabinet and loses Tory whip
Darren Millar:
“I did so after being informed by James that he was continuing to engage with Reform representatives about the possibility of defecting to the party”
Darren Millar:
“I did so after being informed by James that he was continuing to engage with Reform representatives about the possibility of defecting to the party”
January 20, 2026 at 10:28 AM
New: another one bites the dust as James Evans MS is sacked from the Welsh Shadow Cabinet and loses Tory whip
Darren Millar:
“I did so after being informed by James that he was continuing to engage with Reform representatives about the possibility of defecting to the party”
Darren Millar:
“I did so after being informed by James that he was continuing to engage with Reform representatives about the possibility of defecting to the party”
“Kemi might have thought she bounced me into this - she was wrong. I have never felt more certain or stronger about anything I have done.”
Robert Jenrick on stage in Newark:
Robert Jenrick on stage in Newark:
January 19, 2026 at 7:20 PM
“Kemi might have thought she bounced me into this - she was wrong. I have never felt more certain or stronger about anything I have done.”
Robert Jenrick on stage in Newark:
Robert Jenrick on stage in Newark:
Future of the British right tonight:
Cars queuing up at the Newark show ground for Jenrick and Farage’s rally. Organisers expecting 2000 attendees
In parliament, Kemi Badenoch is meeting the 92 Group + Common Sense MPs. Meeting to be chaired by John Hayes after Rosindell quit
Cars queuing up at the Newark show ground for Jenrick and Farage’s rally. Organisers expecting 2000 attendees
In parliament, Kemi Badenoch is meeting the 92 Group + Common Sense MPs. Meeting to be chaired by John Hayes after Rosindell quit
January 19, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Future of the British right tonight:
Cars queuing up at the Newark show ground for Jenrick and Farage’s rally. Organisers expecting 2000 attendees
In parliament, Kemi Badenoch is meeting the 92 Group + Common Sense MPs. Meeting to be chaired by John Hayes after Rosindell quit
Cars queuing up at the Newark show ground for Jenrick and Farage’s rally. Organisers expecting 2000 attendees
In parliament, Kemi Badenoch is meeting the 92 Group + Common Sense MPs. Meeting to be chaired by John Hayes after Rosindell quit
New: Poll shows most voters back Badenoch sacking Jenrick
She now has net positive scores on being ‘decisive’ and ‘sticking to principles' with an 18 pt rise since Aug on being a ‘strong leader’
... but half of public think the Tory Party is disunited
spectator.com/article/poll...
She now has net positive scores on being ‘decisive’ and ‘sticking to principles' with an 18 pt rise since Aug on being a ‘strong leader’
... but half of public think the Tory Party is disunited
spectator.com/article/poll...
Poll: public back Badenoch's sacking of Jenrick
So, who’s gonna be the next to go? The rate of Reform switchers has stepped out in recent days with both Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell taking the plunge. But while elements of the Conservative p...
spectator.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:05 PM
New: Poll shows most voters back Badenoch sacking Jenrick
She now has net positive scores on being ‘decisive’ and ‘sticking to principles' with an 18 pt rise since Aug on being a ‘strong leader’
... but half of public think the Tory Party is disunited
spectator.com/article/poll...
She now has net positive scores on being ‘decisive’ and ‘sticking to principles' with an 18 pt rise since Aug on being a ‘strong leader’
... but half of public think the Tory Party is disunited
spectator.com/article/poll...