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    Nigel Farage brands Alastair Campbell ‘worst loser in history’ in Brexit clash

    Nigel Farage described Alastair Campbell as the “worst loser in history” while the pair clashed over the impact of Brexit on Thursday’s (5 December) episode of Question Time.The former director of communications for Tony Blair explained that he was disappointed that Keir Starmer did not mention Brexit when setting out his government’s “plan for change” in a speech, which the Reform UK leader reacted to by declaring: “Oh dear.”Mr Farage and Mr Campbell then called each other the “worst loser” and “worst winner” respectively as they disagreed on how leaving the European Union has affected the United Kingdom. More

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    Britain needs a ‘vaccine taskforce’ to prepare for the next pandemic, Lords warn

    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 moreBritain needs a “peacetime vaccine task force” to prepare for the next pandemic, ministers have been warned amid concerns that the government could forget the lessons of Covid-19.The Commons science and technology committee has also called for the government to appoint a chief vaccines officer to help prepare the country for future threats. In a letter sent this week, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, chair of the committee, said evidence to an inquiry held by the committee raised “troubling concerns about our capacity to manufacture vaccines for future biological threats”.The warning comes after the government announced it has bought more than 5 million doses of bird flu vaccines to help battle a potential future pandemic. This follows an increase in transmission of the virus among animals. The committee said its interest in vaccine development in the UK was prompted by “a series of worrying developments”, including the sale of the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) in Oxfordshire, and the later mothballing of the facility. It also cited 11 reports that a planned reduction in state aid threatened AstraZeneca’s proposed vaccine manufacturing facility in Liverpool. Giving evidence in January, Dr Clive Dix, former chair of the vaccine taskforce, said the Conservative government had “destroyed almost everything that was going on” in favour of reliance on Moderna. He said there was less resilience in the UK now because many manufacturers had walked away from the UK. The committee’s letter added: “Our witnesses raised concerns that “other countries have learned the lessons … from where we are sitting, it appears that government and the public have concluded that the UK can do this and that we do not need to improve our systems”, comparing it unfavourably to the more pro-active EU response discussed below.”It added: “The UK needs to ensure it retains robust vaccine manufacturing and scale-up capacity for the next pandemic, but it is falling behind other countries. Witnesses argued that the UK was fortunate to be able to produce a vaccine at speed in 2020 and should not assume this will be possible in the future without renewed and sustained support, and that this relative success may have led to some complacency compared to countries that have funded vaccine manufacturing more urgently.”Earlier this year the government announced a new partnership with pharma giant Moderna to trial a new norovirus vaccine. More

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    Starmer pledges ‘golden era of building’ as he takes aim at environmental regulations

    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

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    Priceless audience reaction to asylum comment on BBC Question Time

    A BBC Question Time audience member was visibly shocked when a viewer beside her said she did not believe in asylum.In Thursday’s (5 December) episode of the political panel show, a woman claimed the UK had “taken more than our fair share” and said she felt sorry for “little towns and villages” where asylum seekers had been housed.As she made her views clear, the audience member to her right raised her eyebrows and widened her eyes in astonishment.Laughter broke out in the studio as the woman continued: “I think there’s far too much made of this that they’re fleeing wars.” More

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    The great reset: Starmer pins hopes on six new policy ‘milestones’

    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

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    Pollsters warn Keir Starmer too few Britons know about his more popular policies

    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

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    Mel Stride claims only reason Rwanda scheme failed was because Labour scrapped it

    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

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    Swinney to probe concerns for money invested in paused Sutherland Spaceport

    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