The Latest Breaking News from Willie Whitelaw

Keith McDowall obituary

Journalist and PR consultant who worked for Conservative and Labour ministers and enjoyed ‘mingling’ with those in power

The Guardian - UK · Dec 3, 2025

Britain is finally abolishing hereditary peers from the House of Lords – a constitutional expert on the historical reforms that built up to this moment

Having made a pre-election pledge to do so, the government is moving forward with the House of Lords (hereditary peers) bill, a piece of legislation that will remove the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

The Conversation · Sep 23, 2024

The Observer view: there is still a way to save Thames Water from financial oblivion

The formation of a company solely dedicated to providing cheap, clean water is the best way out of this debacle

The Guardian - UK · Mar 30, 2024

Liz Truss names Thérèse Coffey as her second-in-command – here's how deputies have performed this key role for past PMs

Liz Truss’s cabinet is taking shape, so far with few surprises as the new prime minister names allies to key posts. Much discussion has centred on the diversity of the top team, with Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor and Suella Braverman as home secretary.

The Conversation · Sep 7, 2022

‘Vote me, get Thatcher’: why the Tories are still obsessed with the Iron Lady

The Conservative leadership candidates can’t stop comparing themselves to their ex-leader – while happily ignoring the truth about her time in office

The Guardian - UK · Jul 21, 2022

Liz Truss under pressure as rivals steal march in Tory leadership race

Foreign secretary forced to regroup after trailing behind Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt after first round ballot

The Guardian - UK · Jul 13, 2022

Penny Mordaunt vows to restore Tory ‘sense of self’ if elected leader

Trade minister likens Boris Johnson to Paul McCartney playing new songs when people want the hits

The Guardian - UK · Jul 13, 2022