ALWAYS remember the media narrative - Republicans / conservatives bad, Democrats / liberals = Gods who have stooped to be among men. I used to see the same kind of thing when the "MSM" would write about the old Soviet Union - they'd use terms like "hardliner", "conservative", "right wing" to describe the hide bound Politburo commies. It's the same as the bass ackwards "Red State / Blue State" thing.
The headline is factually correct. What you're missing is the emotional impact that the media is trying to achieve. That's what you get for being conservatives and living in the real, fact-based world instead of "feeling" your way through life.
I’m afraid you may be confusing the bias in America for an American audience, with a British News headline for a British audience.
I can assure you America and US Republicanism/Conservatism doesn’t enter enter anyone’s head when discussing Republicanism in the UK and Ireland.