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    Starmer hits back at Badenoch’s suggestion he resigns in light of general election petition

    Sir Keir Starmer hit back at Kemi Badenoch’s suggestion that he should resign in light of a petition calling for a general election during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 27 November.The Conservative leader told the prime minister: “There’s a petition out there, two million people asking him to go.”Sir Keir referenced Labour’s large majority from this year’s general election as he dismissed Ms Badenoch’s calls for him to step down.”She talks about a petition, we had a massive petition on the 4th of July in this country,” Sir Keir replied. More

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    Ex-UK Conservative leader William Hague elected Oxford University chancellor, an 800-year-old post

    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 moreWilliam Hague has beaten Peter Mandelson to become chancellor of the University of Oxford.It was announced on Wednesday that the former Conservative Party leader, 63, has been elected.Earlier this month he warned former Labour spinner Mr Mandelson could not be both the UK’s next ambassador to the US and chancellor, telling The Independent that taking on both roles would be “incompatible”. Lord Mandelson, widely seen as the leading candidate to become Britain’s new ambassador in Washington, had said he would be capable of holding both positions because the role of Oxford chancellor was merely a “ceremonial figurehead”.But Lord Hague hit back, telling this publication’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig the job could not be done while living on the other side of the Atlantic.Watch the full interview hereWilliam Hague, right, has beaten Peter Mandelson, left, to become Oxford University chancellor More

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    William Hague beats Peter Mandelson to become Oxford University chancellor

    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 moreWilliam Hague has beaten Peter Mandelson to become chancellor of the University of Oxford.It was announced on Wednesday that the former Conservative Party leader, 63, has been elected.Earlier this month he warned former Labour spinner Mr Mandelson could not be both the UK’s next ambassador to the US and chancellor, telling The Independent that taking on both roles would be “incompatible”. Lord Mandelson, widely seen as the leading candidate to become Britain’s new ambassador in Washington, had said he would be capable of holding both positions because the role of Oxford chancellor was merely a “ceremonial figurehead”.But Lord Hague hit back, telling this publication’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig the job could not be done while living on the other side of the Atlantic.Watch the full interview hereWilliam Hague, right, has beaten Peter Mandelson, left, to become Oxford University chancellor More

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    Rishi Sunak failed to turn up to smoking ban vote despite plan being his idea

    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 moreRishi Sunak failed to turn up to vote for a ban on young people ever being able to buy cigarettes, despite the former prime minister having introduced the idea in the first place.MPs passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at its second reading by 415 votes to 47, legislation which will make it illegal for anyone born after 2009 to buy tobacco at any point in their lives.The plan was first announced by Mr Sunak at last year’s Tory conference in Manchester, where he promised to “ensure that future generations are smoke-free.”But on Tuesday, Mr Sunak failed to turn up to show his support for the law. Meanwhile, his successor, Kemi Badenoch, voted against the ban.Unveiling the proposal in 2023, Mr Sunak said: “No parent ever wants their child to start smoking. It is a deadly habit – killing tens of thousands of people and costing our NHS billions each year, while also being hugely detrimental to our productivity as a country.Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has returned to the Commons as a backbench MP (Jack Taylor/The Times/PA) More

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    Starmer may be ‘softening’ on Labour’s ‘tractor tax’, NFU president claims

    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 may be softening his stance on changes to inheritance tax, according to the boss of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).After a meeting in No 10 with the prime minister on Monday, NFU president Tom Bradshaw claimed there was “a more conciliatory tone” regarding the controversial change which some have dubbed a “tractor tax”.Mr Bradshaw added: “We are trying to give it a bit of room to breathe. He hasn’t guaranteed me anything but I think there is a general softening of lines and I don’t want to stoke the fire.”In a video update to NFU members, he said: “I had a great opportunity to be invited into 10 Downing Street by the prime minister. We’ve been able to present outside of the discussion around what the changes… are going to mean for you, your family and your future.Jeremy Clarkson joined farmers protesting over the changes to inheritance tax rules More

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    How MPs are expected to vote so far on assisted dying

    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 moreParliament will vote on an assisted dying bill this Friday for the first time in nearly a decade.Labour MP Kim Leadbeater proposed the Private Members Bill in mid-October, which will legalise assisted death under certain conditions for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.The bill would apply to those who are over 18 years old, have mental capacity, and have six months left to live, with the consent of two medical professionals. The bill has generated strong opinions from both sides of the assisted dying movement, while even some of those in favour have voiced concerns over the lack of safeguarding in the bill.A group of MPs have also pushed an amendment which may stop the bill from progressing to a vote this week.The Independent analysed public statements from all 650 MPs, in addition to news reports and other available information, to find which MPs will likely vote for or against the assisted dying bill this week. The analysis will be updated as more MPs come forward.The bill is open to a “free vote”, meaning that the party whips will not dictate whether to support or oppose the bill. Individual MPs are free to vote based on their own values and opinions of their constituents, regardless of whether they are Labour, Tory, or otherwise. Note: the voting intention of MPs is not final until the votes have been cast on Friday. As this is a sensitive issue, many MPs are still deciding and some could change their mind from previous positions.Our analysis found that at least 85 MPs are likely to vote in favour of the bill, while at least 76 are likely to vote against it.Some 489 MPs have either not made their opinion on assisted dying public, said they are still weighing up both possibilities or said they will abstain from the vote. Taking this into consideration, it will be difficult to say exactly whether the vote will pass. There is a significant degree of “unknown”, particularly among first-time MPs who are facing the issue for the first time.Meanwhile, when also including voting intentions shared off-record, ITV reports 146 MPs are planning to vote for the assisted dying bill, and 101 plan to vote against it. Both our analysis and ITV’s analysis indicate that slightly more MPs are leaning in favour of the assisted dying bill than not. Within the parties, our analysis found MPs are divided between voting for and against the bill, according to public declarations, reports, and working group memberships.Labour MPs are more likely than Tories to lean towards supporting the assisted dying bill, which was proposed by a fellow Labour MP.At present, an estimated 50 Labour MPs will support the bill, while 39 will vote against it. Among those against the bill are some of Labour’s most prominent members, including health secretary Wes Streeting, and long-standing MP Diane Abbott. Health secretary Wes Streeting has spoken out against the assisted dying bill More

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    Overnight visitors to Wales could pay ‘tourism tax’, Welsh government announces

    Wales could introduce a “tourism tax” to overnight visitors, Senedd lawmakers have announced.Finance secretary Mark Drake explained that local authorities would be able to choose whether or not to introduce the levy.The tax would mean the costs of maintaining public infrastructure and services will be shared by all those who benefit from them, including visitors.The considerable bulk of these costs will continue to be borne by local residents, Mr Drakeford added. More

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    Royal Shakespeare Company to look at AI and immersive technology in theatre

    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 Royal Shakespeare Company will look at using artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive technology in future productions, the Government announced as part of other projects and funding measures for the West Midlands as well as Merseyside.Based at playwright William Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, as well as London, the theatre company will lead R&D pilot production projects in collaboration with the US tech and media festival South by Southwest (SXSW).The RSC has previously used motion capture technology in a performance of Dream, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in 2021, which was aimed at remote audience members during the pandemic.Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy unveiled £13.5 million investment in training, research and development for a range of projects in Merseyside and the West Midlands.She said: “Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. That’s why we are supporting firms, artists and freelancers that are innovating, using new technology and driving growth in creative clusters across the country.“Liverpool and Merseyside hold a special place in our nation’s music landscape, and this funding will support imagination and experimentation across the city and region, as creators explore how we can make gigs more environmentally friendly.“Birmingham and the West Midlands have a rich industrial history, and we are putting them at the forefront of a potential new industry developing the amazing technology that will revolutionise visual effects in film, theatre and gaming.”Of the share of the pot, the West Midlands will get £6.75 million, which will be aimed at businesses specialising in creative tech like video games and immersive reality and industry working with many partners including universities and the RSC.The type of technology has not been decided, but it will look at “AI and immersive technology”.There will also be a consideration of “incorporating VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) technologies for live events; adapting game engines for non-gaming applications in music, theatre, and film; using game design principles to engage audiences; and employing 3D modelling and animation techniques to create high-quality immersive content”.VR simulates an experience for users, usually using headsets, while AR works through creating computer-generated content in the real world.Those involved in the partnership CreaTech Frontiers are places such as the Birmingham Opera Group, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.A fund of £6.75 million has also been allocated by the Government to Liverpool’s combined authority’s academic and private sector programme, called the MusicFutures cluster.Working with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena, the cluster will fund training for musicians, teachers and business to use technology such as AI and extended reality (XR) to make the “live music sector more environmentally sustainable”.This could mean building simulated environments as well as having computer-generated creations.It comes as the Music Venue Trust said grassroots music is being hollowed out by the cost-of-living crisis and other factors, with 125 of these type of venues permanently shutting in 2023. More