The Tory party and its leader are much more popular with men - hence the recent attempts to soften David Cameron's image. James Kirkup reports.

Overseas budget is vital to Britain's prosperity, Andrew Mitchell tells James Kirkup in Nepal.

The rise of Rachel Reeves has been swift, say Mary Riddell and James Kirkup, and party leadership could be next move

As French and German officials make final preparations ahead of tomorrow’s meeting on fiscal union, it’s worth reconsidering the coalition’s triple referendum lock. James Kirkup has an incisive post on the issue, describing a potential government split. The division was evident on TV this morning: Iain Duncan Smith told Dermot Murnaghan that a referendum would be held ‘if t...

Theresa May has up to now proved remarkably adept at avoiding the political bear-traps that have ensnared so many Home Secretaries in recent years. But she now finds herself caught in a classic Home Office row over who allowed the UK Border Agency to ease passport checks to cut queues during the summer months. James Kirkup has the scoop that ministers approved this decision. Given May’s repu...

James Kirkup explains how the motion would impact the Conservatives.

David Cameron is facing the biggest rebellion of his Premiership tonight after a weekend of furious lobbying by Conservative whips failed to win around rebel MPs. James Kirkup explains what's going on

The Defence Secretary Liam Fox is the latest in a long line of politicians to suffer from poor judgment. He certainly won't be the last, says James Kirkup.

Ed Miliband can’t name the candidates for leader of the Scottish Labour Party. Miliband’s discomfort during his excruciating BBC interview is fairly amusing. But, as James Kirkup notes, the Scottish Labour Party is a serious issue. It is the only check on Alex Salmond, which makes it essential to the future of the union. And it’s important for Labour’s electoral recovery, n...

“It’s not over yet.” That has become the government’s Libyan mantra, delivered with a tone of sombre sobriety. However, James Kirkup reports that, in private, ministers are cock-a-hoop, already dreaming of photo-ops and triumphant flyovers. You wonder what Ed Llewellyn makes of the celebrations. Allegra Stratton has written a revealing profile of David Camero...