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 moreKeir Starmer’s national security adviser will seek to woo Donald Trump’s team over the Chagos islands after The Independent revealed the president-elect fears the controversial deal will be sealed before he even enters the White House.Jonathan Powell, who negotiated the plan to hand over the islands earlier this year, is to travel to Washington in a bid to persuade Mr Trump not to tear up the agreement.He is understood to be looking for ways to cancel the arrangement amid security concerns over the crucial joint UK/US base on one of the islands, Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean.There are also fears the deal, struck by Sir Keir Starmer and foreign secretary David Lammy, will allow China access to the islands to build their own rival base.Donald Trump’s team are seeking assurances that the deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius will not be completed before his inauguration 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 moreAngela Rayner, Yvette Cooper and Rachel Reeves are among 15 cabinet ministers who have been banned from entering Russia, as part of a fresh wave of sanctions on British officials.In total, 30 British citizens have been listed under new sanctions. The Russian ministry said it was putting members of the UK’s political and military establishment, as well as journalists, on its so-called “stop list”, accusing them of “anti-Russian activities”. Jonathan Reynolds and Ed Miliband are among the cabinet ministers impacted.It comes just hours after a British diplomat was expelled from Russia after being accused of spying, allegations that have been strongly denied by Downing Street.Thirty British citizens have been listed under new sanctions including several senior government figures 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 been pressed by his own MPs to go faster in pursuing closer relations with Europe on defence and security, amid an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and fears for global security. It comes after Vladimir Putin used a new ballistic missile against Ukraine on Thursday, claiming the use of the weapon was in response to the UK and US allowing long-range missiles supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets within Russia’s borders.Calvin Bailey, who served in the RAF for 24 years and is now the Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, called for “an acceleration of the government’s work to rebuild our partnerships on the continent” in order to promote security at home and abroad.He told The Independent that the UK should prioritise cooperation with Europe in Labour’s Strategic Defence Review – a “root and branch review” of UK defence – launched by Sir Keir when he took office.Mr Bailey said British forces should be able to “integrate seamlessly with partners during operations”, and called for “more co-funding with our allies”, across both Europe and other partnerships such as Aukus with the US and Australia. “This is particularly true for the army, whose role for European security is vital,” he said.President-elect Donald Trump is widely regared as a Nato sceptic 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 could hike taxes on American staples including Harley Davidsons, Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Levi’s jeans if Donald Trump targets the UK with tariffs.The prime minister has been urged to “Trump-proof” Britain after the president-elect overnight threatened to unilaterally impose massive levies on imports to the US on his first day in office.“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 per cent Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform.Donald Trump has threatened tariffs against the US’s biggest trading partners 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 assisted dying bill could be axed before it has a chance to be voted on, as a group of MPs have tabled an amendment which could stop it in its tracks. MPs are scheduled to vote on Kim Leadbeater’s Private Members Bill on Friday, which would legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults if passed. But a cross-party group of MPs, made up of Conservative MP Ben Spencer, Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson and Labour’s Anna Dixon, have co-sponsored a so-called “wrecking amendment”, which would scupper the bill if enough MPs support it. It comes after some MPs expressed fears that the legislation has been rushed.MPs are set to vote on Ms Leadbeater’s Private Members Bill on Friday 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 moreLabour announced a sweeping range of employment reforms on Tuesday, labelled the “biggest in a generation.” Prime minister Keir Starmer says the plans will tackle “the biggest drivers of unemployment and inactivity,” promising to “unlock growth and make people better off.”Chief among the measures is a plan “overhaul” Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Jobcentres, guarantee opportunites for young people, and prevent long-term sickness through NHS funding.The government promises that the changes will mark a move away from the ‘tick box’ culture of the past and allow for a more personalised service for jobseekers.The measures come as part of Labour’s ‘Get Britain Working Again’ white paper, published on Tuesday by work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall.DWP secretary Liz Kendall and Sir Keir Starmer 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 moreWatch live as Liz Kendall is questioned on Labour’s “Get Britain Working Again” employment reform plans on Tuesday, 26 November.The white paper is part of a government pledge to bring more than two million people back into work.Sir Keir Starmer has declared Britain “simply isn’t working” as he unveiled plans to bring more people into work and slash the country’s spiralling benefits bill.The prime minister is planning to replace the network of Jobcentres with a new National Jobs and Careers Service, while more NHS staff will be sent to areas with higher rates of joblessness.Earlier on this live feed, the Foreign Office was questioned on the UK’s efforts to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and assistance with the humanitarian situation in the Middle East.Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), has warned that displaced people in Gaza will “die shivering” as temperatures drop in the winter with “no safe shelters, blankets or warm clothes for people to seek some respite.”Ministers also faced questions on UK efforts to aid Ukraine as the conflict with Russia continues. More