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Dan James Smith is a communications and branding expert, and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC). He is also trustee of LGB Alliance, the UK’s only charity dedicated solely to the rights of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.

Rafe Fletcher is the founder of CWG. Walking up Virginia Avenue towards Georgetown, I stopped to look at the large banner adorning Washington D.C.’s Department of the Interior. Ten days ahead of the Fourth of July, adjacent portraits of George Washington and Donald Trump celebrated “America’s First” and “America First” respectively. Both presidents represent an American pragmatism amongst the higher-minded ideals of its foundations.

Andy Street is Co-Chair of Prosper UK, served as the first Mayor of the West Midlands, and was formerly Managing Director of John Lewis. One of the reasons I set up Prosper UK this year, with Ruth Davidson and the rest of our board, is that our politics has picked up a bad habit. The parties leading the polls have decided the way to win is to promise that nothing hard will ever be asked of anyone.

“Desperate” was the first text I received, from a Shadow Cabinet member, on the news of Nigel Farage’s resignation and his subsequent by-election announcement. It is a fairly accurate portrayal of the state of affairs. Realising he is up to his neck in controversy, Farage is attempting to jump the gun – to fight a by-election on his own terms before he is found guilty of misconduct. “Cowardly,” another MP tells me. “He’s jumped before being pushed.” I couldn’t think of a more accurate description.

Katie Lam is a shadow Home Office minister and MP for Weald of Kent. Earlier this week, I asked the Government whether they’d deport Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang who is now back on the streets. After being convicted in 2012 for thirty counts of child rape, Ahmed has been released from prison early, as far too many dangerous prisoners now are.

Andrew Murrison is a former Minister of State at the FCO, DFID and FCDO. In the huff and puff of the recent FCDO select committee hearings on the Mandelson mess, it is easy to miss evidence from Sir Olly Robbins about the ‘profound restructuring’ of the department from which he was despatched in April by Sir Keir Starmer.

Liam Bones councillor in North Tyneside, sit on the LGA Conservative Group Executive, and serve on the Conservative Councillors’ Association Board. The Makerfield result alone told us something many activists on the ground have suspected for weeks: Reform have already peaked. The poll bounce they have enjoyed since the local elections last year looks increasingly fragile, and if it bursts, the Conservative Party will have a huge opportunity to win back voters who have looked elsewhere.

The Conservative leader says she doesn't have to jump to the beat of Nigel Farage's drum, and he'll find out what the party will do in their own time as she sits down for questions with Politico's Anne McElvoy.

38:35 38 minutes, 35 seconds Uh, at the time, uh, I’m pretty sure that if uh, David Cameron or someone else said, “Let’s spend billions and billions pound more on defense.” Back in

VIDEO The Reform leader hits out at what he claims is a concerted effort to beat Reform by the media and other parties. VIDEO