James Frayne: The Conservative mayoral candidate must own the issue of cutting crime
He or she should particularly highlight the fact that Labour’s traditional voters are being hurt most by high crime levels.
James Frayne: The Special Relationship is real – new polling proves it
The idea is often derided as a myth, meaningless beyond the minds of a few Conservatives – but we now know it is rooted in widespread popular feeling.
James Frayne: A second referendum? The poll data suggests Greening’s idea would be a total disaster for the Conservatives
The British left are somewhat more open to the idea, but the Conservative Party’s members and voters would not wear the proposal
James Frayne: No, there won’t be any political bounce from English success at the World Cup
The tendency of people in politics to think of everything through a political prism is mistaken. The star dust of sporting triumph does not rub off on politicians.
James Frayne: Relations between businesses and politicians are made worse by the fact each misunderstand the other
It’s not just about Brexit – it’s deeper and longer-standing than that. Ironically, relations would improve if they each a bit more combative.
James Frayne: The best case for defence spending is the one least made
It is rare to hear the defence establishment talking plainly about the need to protect Britain against external threats.
James Frayne: The NHS spending announcement should be a medium-term winner for the Conservatives
There is zero chance that the public are going to back any meaningful reform of the service any time soon.
James Frayne: Campaigns. Out-spending the opposition only works when the fundamentals are in place
I’d relax the limits significantly if not totally, but insist on near real-time transparency from campaigns over their permitted donors.
James Frayne: England and Englishness, the powerful conundrum
New polling shows that national identity is a strong, emotive force – but also that it remains poorly-defined.
James Frayne: Cummings is right about voter backlash against a Brexit betrayal
Votes would come flooding back into UKIP and, perhaps more importantly, to independent candidates that campaign on the “You Lied” platform.
James Frayne: Onward, the new think-tank, is rightly focused on what matters to provincial Britain
It would be easy, but mistaken, to take the path of least resistance and simply re-enact the dated Cameron ‘modernising’ agenda.
James Frayne: The most effective case against nationalisation is the one that neither MPs nor businesses want to use
The injection of the truth that it would mean politicians in charge of services is enough to make most people see sense.
James Frayne: Step one in showing provincial English voters more respect. Clear up this Customs Union mess.
Given that they saved the Party’s bacon, you would expect senior figures to say and do whatever it takes to keep them on side.
James Frayne: The Home Office is famously hard to run, but Rudd might have survived had she had a better grip on it
In my experience of departmental life, it will take at least six months before we can judge Javid’s management.
James Frayne: To contest big state ideas, small state conservatives need to get to grips with the detail
They must also rediscover the interests of the consumer – and be better at engaging working class voters on social issues.