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 moreHooligans wreaking havoc on local communities will be slapped with “respect orders” by the home secretary in a fresh crackdown on anti-social behaviour.Harking back to Tony Blair’s Respect Agenda, which promoted the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), Yvette Cooper will give police new powers to tackle troublemakers causing misery in town centres and neighbourhoods.Under changes announced on Friday, Ms Cooper will give the police and local councils powers to ban persistent offenders from town centres or from drinking in public spots such as high streets and local parks.The home secretary said antisocial behaviour ‘chips away at communities’ 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 moreA new poll has revealed that almost seven in 10 (69 per cent) members of the public back having a commission into end of life care in the UK before MPs make a final decision on whether to support assisted dying.It comes as The Independent understands that former prime minister Gordon Brown ”is supportive” of the push for a commission to come up with solutions for palliative care in ther UK.The move comes with just a week to go before Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s bill to allow assisted dying is to be debated in parliament.She has insisted that the bill has “the strongest safeguards in the world” against abuse and will be strictly limited to terminally ill people with six months or less to live, with requests needing to be signed off by two doctors and a judge.Former prime minister Gordon Brown (Lucy North/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 moreA source close to Rachel Reeves has strongly denied reports that the government is about to exempt farmers aged 80 and over from the family farm tax in a bid to end a revolt in rural England.The prime minister and the chancellor are under growing pressure to provide some relief for farmers amid growing anger over the decision to extend inheritance tax to include family farms. The changes mean that farms valued at £1 million or more would be liable for 20 per cent inheritance tax. The Treasury claim that in reality with tax allowances it would mean only farms worth £3 million would be affected covering just 28 per cent of family farms. But Defra figures appear to suggest as many as 66 per cent could be hit.Thousands of farmers brought Westminster to a standstill on Tuesday when they descended on the capital to voice their opposition to the changes. Earlier on Thursday the Independent revealed the 81 Labour seats most at risk as a result of the backlash, and it has since been reported that the concession was being considered to give the farming sector longer to plan.Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves in her office at no 11 Downing Street, London (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 moreEx-deputy prime minister John Prescott made headlines over the years not just because of the job he was in but also for his entertainment value. A blunt speaker who frequently mangled sentences, he rarely took himself too seriously.As tributes are paid across the political spectrum to the Labour stalwart, these are some of the moments that showed he was able to make light of most situations – except when his temper flared.Quick beerOn the campaign trail for the party leadership in 1994, Mr Prescott downed a pint in five seconds as he cemented his reputation as a man of the people.On a visit to a training centre for the catering and brewing industry in east London, he was urged to show how fast he could do it, winning cheers when it was done.Ice breakerAt the Brit Awards in 1998, a member of punk rock band Chumbawamba threw iced water over Mr Prescott.Danbert Nobacon said he did it because “people talk about New Labour being wonderful, but they are an illusion and say the same things as everyone else, but with bigger smiles and sharper suits”.Police were called to the London Arena, and Mr Prescott considered pressing charges, branding the attack “utterly contemptible”.When presenting a prize at the British Soap Awards the following year, the politician said: “I was a little apprehensive, I had to make sure Chumbawamba weren’t here.“I didn’t know whether to put on a dinner suit or a wetsuit.”Egged onIn 2001 the then deputy prime minister punched a protester who had thrown an egg at him during an election campaign in north Wales.He said later: “I was attacked by an individual. In the melee that followed I clearly defended myself.”Tony Blair, then prime minister, played the matter down, saying: “John is John.”Coupling upPrescott’s marriage to Pauline, also known as “Tilly”, was, predictably, colourful.In her autobiography, she revealed how he proposed to her, when they were young, in a cramped train toilet.“My oh-so-romantic husband-to-be pushed me into the cramped train toilet. Pressed me up against the basin, he kissed me and blurted, ‘Marry me?’. ’John Prescott,’ I cried indignantly. ‘I see the art of romance isn’t dead, then?’” she wrote.Tony and Cherie Blair and John and Pauline Prescott in 2004 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 moreSadiq Khan has invited president-elect Donald Trump to celebrate at Pride festival in London with him, as well as encouraging the Republican to join him at Friday prayers at a mosque.The London mayor, who had a long-running row with Mr Trump during his first term in the White House, was asked at Mayor’s Questions on Thursday whether he would work with the Trump administration to encourage investment into the capital.Responding, the mayor said: “I would like to use this opportunity to invite president-elect Trump to next year’s Pride in London.“I also invite him to attend Friday prayers with me – any Friday he wants to come to London – or a Hindu temple, or a Sikh gurdwara, or a Jewish synagogue.”The mayor invited Trump to London to celebrate Pride 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 moreDefence secretary John Healey has refused to rule out mothballing one of Britain’s two aircraft carriers as a result of the strategic defence review being carried out by Sir Keir Starmer’s government.During his first session in front of the newly-constituted Commons defence select committee, Mr Healey was asked directly about the fate of the carriers – HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – by Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck.Mr Healey, who had been discussing the strategic defence review he launched when he took office in July, warned MPs that the government needed to show “realism and honesty the commitments we can make to allies and we make in committing our own forces.”John Healey appears before the defence select committee More

Lord Prescott dies aged 86Your 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 moreTributes have been paid to former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott, who has died aged 86.Lord Prescott, a former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman who went on to be a key figure within Sir Tony Blair’s New Labour project, died “peacefully” surrounded by relatives at his care home after a battle with Alzheimer’s, his family said in a statement.His family said they are “deeply saddened” after his death, adding that he “spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment”, they added.Lord Prescott was viewed by many the torchbearer for the traditional elements of the Labour Party, at a time when it was being radically modernised by Sir Tony and Gordon Brown.In 2010 he was introduced to the House of Lords as Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull, after representing the city for four decades in the Commons.Former prime minister Gordon Brown described Lord Prescott as a “working class hero” and a “colossus and and titan of the Labour movement”.Meanwhile, one of New Labour’s architects, Peter Mandelson, said he was an “essential part” of the project, and that he was “the cement that kept New Labour together”.John Rentoul | John Prescott’s guilty secret? He was New Labour’s key moderniserIt has often been said that Tony Blair used John Prescott – with his working-class, trade-union background and traditional socialist beliefs – as a human shield, to give Blair cover for his middle-class, crypto-Tory sellout of Labour values. It is not true.On every issue, Prescott agreed with the New Labour line. In some cases, he had come to Blairite conclusions before Blair. He supported the national minimum wage at a time when many trade unions insisted that it was their role to negotiate better conditions for the low-paid.I knew him when he had a reputation as a fire-breathing lefty in Neil Kinnock’s shadow cabinet…The Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul writes: Alex Croft21 November 2024 14:42Badenoch: Prescott was one of UK’s ‘greatest examples of social mobility’Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has offered her “heartfelt condolences” after the death of John Prescott, who she described as a “titan of British politics”. Ms Badenoch told the Commons: “May I take the opportunity to express my heartfelt condolences on behalf of me and my party on the death of Lord Prescott.“He was a titan of British politics in the 1990s, one of this country’s greatest examples of social mobility, and a true patriot – no one who had two jags could not love this country.“And we all especially remember that moment when he connected with the electorate during the 2001 general election. Many of us, all across the country, and the public, were very much on his side during that altercation.”Alex Croft21 November 2024 14:22William Hague shares footage of Commons battle with PrescottFormer Conservative Party leader has shared footage of an amusing House of Commons tit-for-tat between him and former deputy prime minister John Prescott. “Just been sent this. Think he won that one,” Lord Hague wrote on X.Alex Croft21 November 2024 13:57Hull City Council leaders: ‘He adored his adopted city’Hull City Council leaders have paid tribute to Lord Prescott as a “giant of the Labour and trade union movement who adored his adopted city”.Lord Prescott served as the MP for Kingston upon Hull East for four decades, and was described by council leader Mike Ross as a “remarkable figure who had a tremendous impact on the course of the nation” and someone who was “always committed to his constituency and the city of Hull”.The leader of the Labour Group on Hull City Council, councillor Daren Hale, said: “Even after his 40 years as MP for Hull East, John participated fully in local life, and we feel personally privileged that he still found time to pop into the Guildhall to see us after catching the bus down from Sutton from time to time.“He is a local, national and international political legend and will be so sadly missed.”Alex Croft21 November 2024 13:40In pictures: John Prescott, a political titanPeter Mandelson, right, with John Prescott, centre, and Neil Kinnock at London’s Festival Hall after Labour’s election victory in 1997 (Rebecca Naden/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 moreSir Keir Starmer pushed back on claims the much-delayed decision to allow Ukraine to strike at Russian forces with storm shadow missiles was a reaction to Donald Trump‘s election as US president.Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey suggested on Thursday the decision was “too little, too late” for Ukraine as it tries to tackle the renewed onslaught from Vladimir Putin’s forces.It came as Sir Keir was giving a statement to MPs on the G20 and COP29 summits and an update on the war in Ukraine after they used the British-made missiles for the first time yesterday.While the prime minister avoided commenting specifically on the use of the missiles in Ukraine, he laid out the legal case for allowing their use: “Under article 51 of the UN Charter, Ukraine has a clear right to self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks.”So I say again, Russia could roll back their forces and end this war tomorrow. But until then, we will stand up for what we know is right, for Ukraine’s security and for our own security and we will back Ukraine with what is needed for as long as is needed.”Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping of China in Brazil (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More