Markus Andrews

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorFollowing Labour’s landslide general election victory, Sir Keir Starmer’s new government has wasted no time in signalling its intentions to improve upon the current Brexit deal negotiated by Boris Johnson.In a visit to Edinburgh on Sunday, the new prime minister said work had already begun to build closer ties with the European Union as he told reporters “that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnson saddled the UK with”.Writing in The Local Europe, foreign secretary David Lammy – who could attend the September meeting of the EU foreign affairs council – added that the new government would “reset relations with Europe as a reliable partner, a dependable ally and a good neighbour.”And Irish prime minister Simon Harris said Brussels would be willing to offer the UK a new deal on post-Brexit issues, suggesting there was “space” to work more closely with Britain as he pledged that Ireland would be an ally in any negotiations.Here The Independent takes a look at what Labour has said about different aspects of the UK’s relationship with the EU.Freedom of movementFollowing the UK’s departure from the EU, the rights of British to travel and work within the bloc – and vice versa – were restricted.This has had a huge impact on the music, travel and other industries, while passport queues could be set to get even worse in the months ahead if Brussels implements its much-delayed automated EU Entry/Exit system, which will see biometric photos and fingerprints required for Britons to enter into the Schengen area.Britons rights to work in the EU have been restricted More

Treasury minister Darren Jones took a swipe at the Tories during a live television interview.Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Monday (8 July), Mr Jones discussed Labour’s plan for economic growth, before making a dig at former Tory ministers.He said: “The key thing you’ll see from this Labour government is we are going to return, both to the service of the British people but to the norms, the adults are back in the room.“Announcements we make will be made to Parliament. They will follow proper processes through Parliament. We welcome them to be challenged and scrutinised by colleagues from different parties.” More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorWatch as chancellor Rachel Reeves sets out her plan for the economy in a speech on Monday 8 July.The UK’s first female chancellor will make kickstarting economic growth a “national mission” with major changes to speed up infrastructure projects and unlock private investment.In her first major speech, Ms Reeves will vow to take “difficult decisions” because there is “no time to waste”.Labour will “fix the foundations” of the British economy, she will say, arguing that 14 years of Tory rule had cost £140 billion in lost growth.Sir Keir Starmer’s administration has made faster economic growth, and the tax revenues that would flow from it, a key plank of its strategy to fund public services which are struggling for cash.The Labour manifesto committed to wholesale planning reforms to make it easier to build and a greater focus on driving through key infrastructure projects which have become mired in delays and boost housebuilding.The manifesto pledged to “immediately” update the National Policy Planning Framework to undo changes made by the Conservatives, including restoring mandatory housing targets.The party also plans to allow building on some greenbelt land, promising to take a “more strategic approach” to “build more homes in the right places”. More

Rachel Reeves has vowed Labour will repay trust from voters through actions – not slogans or gimmicks. The UK’s first female chancellor delivered her first major speech on Monday 8 July, insisting that economic growth will be the government’s “national mission”. “We face the legacy of 14 years of chaos and economic irresponsibility,” she said, taking aim at the Conservative Party.“I know that voters’ trust cannot be repaid through slogans or through gimmicks. Only through action, only through delivery.”Ms Reeves added that the Government will make the “tough” and “hard choices” to fix the UK’s economy. More

Kwasi Kwarteng refuses to rule out Tory comeback from himself or Liz TrussSupport trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorThe race to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader is unofficially underway in the wake of the Conservative Party’s wipeout at the general election.With some frontrunners casting the contest as a battle for the soul of the Conservative Party – after Nigel Farage’s hard-right Reform UK inflicted losses for the Tories in scores of seats – ex-minister Kevin Hollinrake is among those to suggest the race could last until the end of the year, adding: “I don’t think there is any rush”.While no candidate has yet formally launched a bid, Suella Braverman’s hopes were dealt an early blow, as one source described the twice-sacked home secretary’s campaign to The Times as “dead before it even started”, accusing her of “going too hard, too soon”.It came as multiple reports suggested right-wing MP Danny Kruger would support Robert Jenrick, further diminishing Ms Braverman’s hopes of being the flagbearer of the Tory right.Other possible Tory leadership race contenders on the party’s right include Kemi Badenoch and Priti Patel, while James Cleverly, Jeremy Hunt, Tom Tugendhat and Victoria Atkins are among more moderate figures who could launch bids.Show latest update 1720449116Scottish Tory justice spokesperson signals he could run in leadership raceScottish Tory justice spokesperson Russell Findlay has signalled that he is considering a run at the party leadership north of the border.Mr Findlay, a former journalist who prior to entering Holyrood was attacked with acid while investigating organised crime in Glasgow, said: “Tories across the UK have taken a beating – although our success in Scotland in holding constituencies shouldn’t be overlooked.“Everyone should take time to reflect on the message we have been sent.“Scotland needs to play a big part in rebuilding an election-winning conservative movement and, along with many others, I’ll be taking careful consideration of the new circumstances we are in and of how I can best contribute to that task.”Russell Findlay is considering a bid to replace Douglas Ross More

A political commentator has suggested Donald Trump will use Nigel Farage as his “UK link” following the general election result.Speaking to GB News about the new Labour government, Theo Usherwood claimed that new foreign secretary David Lammy will find it “very difficult” to work with Mr Trump if he wins the US presidency in November.“I think it’s going to be very, very difficult for Labour, and I think it’s going to cause real friction,” he said.“Especially with the election of Nigel Farage, Donald Trump doesn’t care about formalities. He doesn’t do the playbook that Whitehall in London will want. He won’t go through No 10.” More

Kwasi Kwarteng has refused to rule out a comeback from himself or Liz Truss.The former chancellor, who last week appeared to take the blame for the Tory general election defeat, admitted he has “exchanged one or two Whatsapps” with the former prime minister in recent days.Ms Truss – who lost her seat in the vote – is best known for her short-lived tenure in No 10, when she devised the disastrous mini-budget with Mr Kwarteng.Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday 8 July, Mr Kwarteng suggested a comeback could be on the cards.“Let’s see… can’t rule anything in or out,” he said. More

A former Tory minister has suggested there was “little appetite” for a Labour government at the general election.Kevin Hollinrake, the former postal affairs minister, told Good Morning Britain that the Conservatives will be “in good shape” to challenge Sir Keir Starmer come 2029.“One very good thing for us, in terms of the result from last week, was that there was very little appetite for a Labour government,” he said.“There is very little appetite for Keir Starmer.”GMB host Susanna Reid suggested Mr Hollinrake’s claim was “remarkable” as she pointed out Labour won a huge landslide. More