Markus Andrews

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreSir Keir Starmer has vowed to usher in a “new golden era of building” as he takes aim at “blockers and bureaucrats” who he claims have throttled economic growth and made homeownership unattainable.Writing in The Times, the prime minister attacked nimbys and environmentalists who he says have stymied economic progress in the UK. Sir Keir has directed ministers to draft laws that would simplify complex environmental regulations, which he argues can add millions to the cost of development and cause lengthy delays.These proposed reforms aim to eliminate the “case-by-case negotiations” currently required under habitat regulations inherited from EU law. By allowing developers to offset environmental damage by funding broader environmental improvements, Sir Keir hopes to avoid protracted negotiations over individual projects.He highlighted the HS2 project, which was compelled to spend £100 million constructing a tunnel for bats, as an “absurd spectacle” that must end. “This government will not accept this nonsense any more,” he said.Ministers are considering designating specific areas of the country as key infrastructure sites to expedite project approvals. This move would streamline the process, allowing projects to avoid the lengthy and uncertain approval procedures currently in place.Sir Keir’s comments came as he unveiled a new “plan for government” focused on six key areas: health, housebuilding, education, the economy, crime, and net zero. He said these milestones would enable the public to hold the government accountable by the next election.However, Sir Keir faced criticism for appearing to dilute Labour’s election pledge to generate “100 per cent” clean power by 2030 and for not setting specific targets to reduce either legal or illegal migration.Central to Sir Keir’s economic strategy is Labour’s target of building 1.5 million homes by 2030 and fast-tracking planning decisions on 150 major infrastructure projects. He promised to build “roads, grid connections, laboratories, train lines, warehouses, wind farms, power stations,” and to confront the “alliance of naysayers” that he says have impeded progress.Writing in The Times, Sir Keir explicitly targeted those who use environmental regulations to delay building, asserting that he would not shy away from confronting local development opponents. He described rising homelessness and falling homeownership as “a shame and a failure of our politics.”He lamented Britain’s failure to build a reservoir for over 30 years and criticized the “endless hoops” that every infrastructure project must jump through, only to face opposition and delays. Using the example of the costly bat tunnel in the HS2 project, he underscored the need for more efficient processes.Sir Keir pledged to double infrastructure project approvals compared to the previous Conservative government, acknowledging that both the government and developers would need to “stretch ourselves to the max” to achieve these goals.He anticipated resistance to his planning reforms but welcomed the challenge, saying: “I always knew there would be resistance to our planning reform. Let me say this — I won’t shy from this argument. In fact, I welcome it. Where there are blockers putting the brakes on, it’s a sign you are delivering real change.”Sir Keir’s remarks coincided with deputy prime minister Angela Rayner approving a multimillion pound plan by Marks and Spencer to redevelop its flagship Oxford Street store, a project previously blocked by Michael Gove. Stuart Machin, M&S’s chief executive, expressed his satisfaction with the decision but criticized the “three unnecessary years of delays, obfuscation and political posturing” under the previous government. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreKeir Starmer has attempted to relaunch his struggling government with a new set of six “milestones” aimed at persuading voters he is making progress.After five months in Downing Street beset by scandals over freebies and the loss of his chief of staff and a cabinet minister, the prime minister delivered a keynote speech at Pinewood Studios in a bid to steady his ship.But in a sign of the difficult task ahead of him, his address to an event packed with Labour supporters was met with a muted audience response and little applause.It reflected the findings of a new national poll from Find Out Now UK that puts Labour in third place on 23 per cent, behind the Tories on 26 per cent and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on 24 per cent.Keir Starmer gives a speech in Buckinghamshire setting out his government’s ‘plan for change’ More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreLeading pollsters have warned Keir Starmer that too few Britons know about his more popular policies, as the prime minister tried to relaunch his government just five months after winning power. Voters are instead much more likely to have heard of the hugely controversial ‘family farm tax’ or Labour’s decision to strip millions of pensioners of their winter fuel payments.Luke Tryl, executive director at More in Common UK, said: “Far fewer Britons know about the government’s more popular actions, like the protection of the triple lock on pensions and the launch of GB Energy, than their less popular policy measures.” The warning comes as The Independent can reveal that union leaders have warned Labour that it needs to hire “an Alastair Campbell figure” after a torrid first few months in power.Sir Keir has outlined what he said was a ‘Plan for Change’, More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreMel Stride has claimed the only reason the previous Tory government’s Rwanda scheme failed to work was because it was scrapped by the Labour Party in their first week in office.He comments came despite the scheme being bound up in legal challenges and failing to get a single flight off the ground in more than two years after it was announced by then-prime minister Boris Johnson.While the shadow chancellor claimed a small number of people were sent to Rwanda, the only people that left the UK for the East African nation went voluntarily as part of a scheme separate to the forced deportation plan.It comes just days after a cost breakdown of the plan revealed that a total of £715m was spent on the failed scheme.Shadow chancellor Mel Stride (Jordan Pettitt/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreThe First Minister says he will look into “completely reasonable” concerns around recouping public investment into Sutherland Spaceport after it was put on hold by the company developing the site.The spaceport on the north coast of the Scottish mainland received £14.6 million in investment from the public sector over several years, including from the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).However on Wednesday Orbex, a rocket manufacturing company which was also constructing the spaceport, suddenly announced it is pausing development at Sutherland and will instead launch from the rival SaxaVord Spaceport on the northern tip of the Shetland Islands.The spaceport was a positive development for the Sutherland community, bringing 40 jobs and economic benefits to a part of the Highlands that has suffered from depopulationLabour’s Rhoda GrantIt means the Sutherland site on the A’Mhoine peninsula lies partially completed – with a “floating road” over a giant peat bog stretching more than two kilometres but without launch facilities.Orbex now hopes to launch its first rocket from SaxaVord in 2025.It is one of a number of companies which will be using launch pads at the spaceport on Unst to carry satellites into orbit, tapping into a lucrative global market for space launches.Labour’s Rhoda Grant raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.She said: “Yesterday we heard that Sutherland Spaceport has been mothballed by Orbex.“The spaceport was a positive development for the Sutherland community, bringing 40 jobs and economic benefits to a part of the Highlands that has suffered from depopulation.“Orbex have received £14.6 million in investment for the spaceport.”She asked the First Minister to intervene to see if development can continue, or otherwise “make sure the public investment can be recouped and used to bring jobs and an economic boost to that part of the Highlands”.John Swinney said he understood the points raised by Ms Grant, saying ministers would intervene to “see if there is any other way that this can be taken forward”.There will be contractual arrangements that are put in the provision of grant fundingFirst Minister John SwinneyHe continued: “(Ms Grant) raises what I think is a completely reasonable question about public investment that has been committed – either spent or committed – and how that stands.“There will be contractual arrangements that are put in the provision of grant funding.“I will explore those issues and reply in writing to Rhoda Grant about what steps can be taken to address what I recognise to be a legitimate issue that she’s raised with me today.”Orbex, based in Forres, had initially intended to use the Sutherland Spaceport to launch its 19-metre tall rocket called Prime, saying its operations would be carbon neutral.On Wednesday chief executive Phil Chambers said the move to SaxaVord would help the firm deliver on its core mission of producing rockets, rather than building spaceports.He said: “Orbex is first and foremost a launch services specialist.“Our primary goal is to support the European space industry by achieving a sustainable series of satellite launches into low Earth orbit.“This is best achieved by focusing our resources and talents on developing launch vehicles and associated launch services.”Orbex said the decision will also allow it to develop a larger rocket called Proxima.Later on Thursday, Scottish Conservative MSP Edward Mountain said the announcement had been a “kick in the teeth” for local residents in Sutherland.He said: “Far too much time and public money has been wasted on this project, especially in relation to the 2km floating road which will now sadly lead to nowhere.“I am prepared to work, on a cross-party basis, with all those involved to try and reverse this decision, especially as much of the infrastructure is already in place.”Ms Grant, who is a Highlands and Islands MSP, said she welcomed the First Minister’s response.She added: “I urge the Scottish Government to intervene as Sutherland desperately needs this investment, if the spaceport cannot be salvaged, I urge them to recoup the public money that has been spent and to again invest it in Sutherland and create the jobs we need to stop depopulation.” More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreSir Keir Starmer has outlined Labour’s ‘Plan for Change’ in a landmark speech, outlining several new milestones which the Labour government hopes to acheive.The event marked something of a relaunch of Labour’s policy aims, and builds on previously made commitments. The prime minister says the new pledges will define Labour’s aims to be acheived by the end of this parliament.They include higher living standards, cutting NHS waiting lists clean power, and new infrastructure committments.Speaking at Pinewood Studios, Sir Keir said: “This government was elected to deliver real change for working people – and that is exactly what we are doing.“Faced with a dire inheritance, we know that we cannot deliver our Plan for Change alone. Mission-led government means doing things differently, and a decade of national renewal will require the skills and determination of us all.”Sir Keir Starmer set out his Government’s ‘plan for change’ at Pinewood Studios in Slough on Thursday (Darren Staples/PA) More

Starmer takes six new pledges in attempted Labour relaunchYour support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreSir Keir Starmer has insisted his new milestones are not confusing as he was repeatedly asked to clarify his party’s “plan for change”.In an attempted Labour relaunch, the prime minister gave a major speech this morning listing six milestones he pledged to achieve over the course of this parliament on the way to fulfilling the “missions” he set for himself before the election.Sir Keir was forced to defend his milestones, insisting they are not confusing for the public to understand and to explain that they are not a reset of his priorities.The speech also raised questions over migration targets, with Kemi Badenoch accusing the PM of including “nothing concrete on immigration”.Responding to Sir Keir’s speech, which she branded an “emergency reset” after a challenging five months in office, the Conservative Party leader also accused him of dropping economic growth as a key target.Sir Keir had promised the first milestone to be reached by the end of the parliament would be “higher living standards in every region of the country”, adding that the UK was aiming for the “highest sustained growth in the G7, so working people have more money in their pocket”.Other milestones included building 1.5 million new homes and introducing 150 major infrastructure projects, putting more police on the beat with a view to making Britain’s streets safer, giving every child the “best start in life”, achieving clean power by 2030, and cutting NHS backlogs.Comment | Keir Starmer has declared war on whoever has been in charge since JulyToday’s event in Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire looked and sounded like the launch of a manifesto. Anyone tuning in without being told might think that the petition for an immediate general election had been successful, and that Keir Starmer was campaigning against whoever had been in charge since July.He complained that productivity in the public sector had declined – a decline that would not be tolerated in the private sector. “I’m not going to subsidise it with ever-rising taxes on the British people,” he said, having just raised taxes on the British people.But the more strenuously he proclaimed his “huge” and “ambitious” plan for change, the more striking was the contrast with the confusion, uncertainty and caution of the past five months.John Rentoul writes:John Rentoul5 December 2024 14:30PM denies watering down green energy pledgeSir Keir Starmer has denied watering down a green energy pledge after setting a target for the UK to be “on track” to deliver 95 per cent clean power by 2030. The “milestone” in Sir Keir’s new “plan for change” pledges a measure in line with advice from the National Energy System Operator (Neso) aiming for 95% reliance on “low carbon generation”.The Prime Minister denied there was a shift in position while announcing his plan at Pinewood Studios.Sir Keir said: “The clean energy pledge is today exactly what it was in the election; that has always been central to our mission.”He added: “The mission hasn’t changed from the day I launched it nearly two years ago.“In terms of where we need to get to on clean energy by 2030, it’s exactly the same as it always was.“There’s always going to be a mix but that is the pledge that we made two years ago. That is the mission and we’ve not changed it today.”Alex Croft5 December 2024 14:14New law may see driver’s blood tested without consent after fatal collisionsChanges to the law may allow a driver’s blood to be tested without consent after fatal road traffic collisions, commons leader Lucy Powell has suggested.A Labour MP raised the case of six-year-old Sharlotte-Sky Naglis who died after being hit by a drunk driver in Stoke in 2021. The driver, John Owen, spent 11 weeks in a coma after the accident and his blood could not be tested for evidence by police without his consent due to current legislation.Claire, Sharlotte’s mother, is calling for section 7A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to be amended so blood can be tested without consent after fatal collisions.In the Commons, Ms Powell told Stoke-on-Trent North MP David Williams that the government is “considering some possible changes to motoring offences to cover situations like this”.Alex Croft5 December 2024 14:01In full: Keir Starmer’s six milestones for change Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has set out the six milestones in his “plan for change”.Here they are in full:Delivery of higher, real, household disposable income and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita by the end of the Parliament. This is part of the goal of having the highest sustained economic growth in the G7. At 1.5 million homes to be built in England and planning decisions on at least 150 major economic infrastructure projects to be fast-tracked.To meet the NHS standard of 92 per cent of patients in England waiting no longer than 18 weeks for elective treatment.An additional 13,000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood roles in England and Wales with a named officer for every community.A record of 75 per cent of five-year-olds ready to learn by the time they school. Putting the UK “on track” to at least 95 per cent clean power by 2030. Alex Croft5 December 2024 13:45Watch: Keir Starmer delivers Labour’s ‘plan for change’ in major speech[embedded content]Alex Croft5 December 2024 13:31PM suggests successful delivery of government’s plans could counter rise of populist politicsThe prime minister suggested that successful delivery of the Government’s plans could counter the rise of populist politics.In his speech given earlier, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Everyone can see there’s a growing impatience with traditional politics. Everyone can see how people are tired with those who fail to get the job done.“Now, populism isn’t the answer to Britain’s challenges. Easy answers won’t make our country strong.“But nobody can deny that this kind of politics feeds off real concerns.”He added: “What people want from their politics, that hasn’t changed.“They want a stable economy, they want their country to be safe, their borders secure, more cash in their pockets, safer streets in their town, opportunities for their children, secure British energy in their home and an NHS that is fit for the future.“That is why we’ve set these missions. Missions to make our country strong, missions to make working people better off, missions this Government will deliver.”Tara Cobham5 December 2024 13:09‘These milestones aren’t a clear route to real change’: Green Party’s verdict on Starmer’s speechThe Green Party’s co-leader has said “these milestones aren’t a clear route to real change” as he gave his verdict on Sir Keir Starmer’s speech.Adrian Ramsay said: “These milestones aren’t a clear route to real change. Today’s listicle, while pointing in the right direction on a handful of issues, is missing the wholesale ambition and drive that a Government elected on a change agenda needs.“We have a country reeling from severe flooding and facing more storms this weekend, a country where people are struggling to heat their homes this winter, and a country worried about finding the school places and doctor appointments that those they love need.“Instead of listing out a few priorities, suggesting that these will be delivered at the expense of other important issues, we wanted today to see a gear change in this government where they accept that we need to ask the very richest to pay more tax so we could properly fund all our frontline public services.”Green party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay (right) More