Hail Andy, King of Makerfield
As vultures circle Downing Street, now that Burnham is back as an MP, Starmer must realise that resigning is going to be better for the Labour Party than
Britain must take full advantage of trade outside the EU
Ted Newson | 12th February 2026 | Brussels, Comment, Politics
Five years since leaving the European Union, Britain has not yet taken advantage of the levers of free trade, writes Ted Newson
Subscribe to The Mace
Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.
To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.
Musical chairs again in Downing Street
What will a Burnham government look like ? Lucy Carrier-Pilkington analyses what a change of prime minister will mean for the country and who will be the likely
‘Al is a born leader’: The dark horse of the Labour leadership contest
Ex-Royal Marines commando emerges as the plan B candidate in the race for Labour leadership.
The social media ban: game changer or rushed job?
Debate has erupted over whether the new policy is an overdue attempt to rein in Silicon Valley or a short-sighted, politically motivated move that will push children towards
Reform v Restore: the English civil war in Makerfield that will decide the next Labour prime minister
With Restore and Reform tearing votes off each other, the Makerfield by-election could propel Andy Burnham into Number 10. But, asks William Cash, will Restore's percentage of the
Memo to the new Defence Secretary before the NATO summit: “It’s not all about the money”
Creating a Defence Industrial base with no new money is going to be a challenge for any Defence Secretary. But, argues defence expert William Wallace, there are several
Reflections on May: London’s new political landscape
May’s local elections completely transformed London’s political landscape, argues CEO Jonny Popper.
When it comes to English police reform, do not repeat the mistakes made north of the border
The dismal results of reducing the police force in Scotland should act as a cautionary deterrent for English police reform, writes Sharon Dowey, a former member of the
Checkmate DC’s bold London move
Tristan Breijer is the new London head of Checkmate Government Relations. The move into London gives the US lobby firm its first European base, bringing its global power-broking
Gradually and suddenly: how VAT is slowly killing off traditional private education
Latest Dept of Education figures reveal over 40,000 independent school pupils dropping out since Labour's VAT raid. But, The Mace argues, surging fees, an arms race for facilities
