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 moreHeidi Alexander has been appointed the new transport secretary following the resignation of Louise Haigh on Friday morning. Ms Haigh became the first minister to quit Sir Keir Starmer’s government after admitting she had been convicted for making a false report to police over a mobile phone being stolen 10 years ago.On Friday, Downing Street declined to clarify whether the prime minister knew about Ms Haigh’s criminal conviction when he appointed her to the role and said new information had come to light that led to her resignation.Ms Alexander, who has been the MP for Swindon South since July’s general election, has been handed the role after previously serving as a justice minister. Alexander is the MP for Swindon South 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 moreNever has a prime minister said and done so little to get what he wanted in bringing about such a profound change to the country he is governing with an historic vote on assisted suicide.It was no surprise that Sir Keir Starmer voted for Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s bill – as did a majority of Labour MPs. He had voted in favour of the failed legislation nine years ago in 2015 and had given no indication of changing his mind.But, unlike five of his six immediate predecessors in number 10, Sir Keir has kept a vow of silence during the debate before walking through the Aye lobby with 329 others in favour.The issue now is what it means for his government and by extension his own personal standing after less than six months in office which has seen him under siege almost from the day he was elected.Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak both backed the Bill (Alberto Pezzali/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 moreBritish families who help terminally ill loved ones to go to Switzerland to die may now be free from the threat of police action, according to Dame Esther Rantzen.The vote by MPs in favour of assisted dying is likely to make it impossible for police to carry out the existing legal ban on ‘assisted suicides,’ said the TV broadcaster, who has stage four cancer.Assisted dying campaigner Dame Esther, who hailed the “extraordinary” Commons decision, says she may now decide to take her family with her to Switzerland if her condition deteriorates – and defy the law.She told BBC Radio Four: “Since there has been this vote I am wondering whether it means I can say to my family ‘come with me to Switzerland, say goodbye to me there’. Because when they come home again I’m not sure they would be investigated for assisting my suicide.”The proposed new law would probably not take effect in Britain soon enough to allow her to have an assisted death in the UK itself, said Ms Rantzen.Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP who put forward the bill, reacts during a demonstration in support of assisted dying outside parliament 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 moreMPs have voted in favour of the assisted dying bill paving the way for historic change not seen since abortion was legalised in 1967. After five hours of intense and heartfelt debate, in which some members of parliament were brought to tears, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed in the House of Commons with 330 voting in favour and 275 against. The result was a bigger majority than many were predicting after similar legislation was soundly defeated in 2015.Under the terms of the Bill, terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less could seek assistance to end their life, provided two doctors and a High Court judge confirm their decision. MPs were given a “free vote” on the issue, meaning they could vote according to their conscience and not along party lines. Kim Leadbeater opens the debate on the second reading More

MPs vote in favour of historic assisted dying legislation following fierce debateYour 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 moreMPs have voted in favour of the assisted dying bill following a fierce commons debate.The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 ayes and 275 noes, a majority of 55 votes. In a sign of the level of feeling on the divisive issue, more than 160 MPs made bids to speak during Friday’s Commons debate – the first on the issue in almost a decade.The bill will now go to the committee stage where MPs can table amendments, before facing further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest.The law would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to end their lives, subject to the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge.Warning: this article contains information that people might find distressing, including accounts of human suffering.BREAKING: MPs vote in favour of the assisted dying billMPs have voted in favour of the assisted dying bill following a fierce commons debate.The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 ayes and 275 noes.In a sign of the level of feeling on the divisive issue, more than 160 MPs made bids to speak during Friday’s Commons debate – the first on the issue in almost a decade.The bill will now go to committee stage where MPs can table amendments, before facing further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest.The law would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to end their lives, subject to the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. Jabed Ahmed29 November 2024 14:23Supporters of the legislation celebrate outside parliamentSupporters of the assisted dying Bill wept and hugged each other outside Parliament as the news came through that it had been passed by MPs.The crowd in Parliament Square erupted into cheers as they watched the results on their phones.Joshua Cook, 33, from Huddersfield, who has Huntington’s disease – an incurable neurodegenerative disease, said it was a “relief”.“It is a weight off my mind, as a terminally ill person, and you can just look around here, at people who are truly affected by this,” he said. “It’s a relief it’s history, finally we are getting towards having a society that shows love and compassion above the need to just keep people alive.”( 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 moreMPs have voted to pass the Terminally Ill Adults (End Of Life) Bill, allowing the assisted dying legislation to pass through to the next stages of scrutiny and amendment.The bill was passed by a majority of 55 votes.The vote followed five hours of debate this morning (November 29), with 175 MPs requesting to speak on the matter.The bill was open to a “free vote”, meaning that the party whips did not dictate whether to support or oppose the bill. Individual MPs were free to vote based on their own values and opinions of their constituents, regardless of whether they are Labour, Tory, or otherwise.Use the search bar to find how your MP voted on the bill.Among the MPs to have voted in favour of the bill included Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and former PM Rishi Sunak.Meanwhile Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Mother of the House Diane Abbott were among those who voted against it.The private members bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, was the first time MPs have been able to vote on assisted dying since 2015 when it was struck down 330 to 118. At this morning’s debate, Ms Leadbeater insisted that this was the “beginning not the end” of the conversation around assisted dying.To be eligible for assisted dying under the proposed bill, a person has to be over 18 years old, have proven mental capacity, no more than six months left to live, and the consent of two medical professionals.The assisted dying bill has sparked significant debate since it was introduced in mid-October, with strong advocates for and against the legislation. More

Assisted dying could be legalised in England and Wales after a historic vote saw proposed legislation clear its first hurdle in Parliament.A four-and-a-half hour debate in the Commons on Friday (29 November) heard arguments from MPs about a need to give choice to dying people.A majority of MPs supported a Bill that would allow terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months to end their lives.MPs voted 330 to 275, majority 55, to approve Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading. More

Independent MP Adnan Hussain was booed for bringing up Labour’s winter fuel payment cut during the assisted dying debate on Friday (29 November).The Blackburn MP said the time to make a decision was “wrong” given some terminally ill pensioners have “lost their winter fuel allowance”.Mr Hussain’s comments were met with boos.A historic five-hour debate kickstarted at 9:30am on Friday with the House of Commons chamber full of MPs on both sides.Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has said the bill is about giving people the autonomy to choose how and when they die. More