UK Politics

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 moreMinisters are poised to pave the way for major criminal justice reform after new figures seen by The Independent revealed the dire state of the courts system.Details of a major review are expected to be unveiled by justice ministers tomorrow as they wrestle with average waiting times for trials which are at their longest for more than a decade. Among the catastrophic details revealed are:Rape victims have to wait on average almost a year (48 weeks) to have their day in courtThe average waiting times for court dates for rape, murder and GBH trials all rose by at least 12 weeks – three months – between 2014 and 2023There were 36 murder trials delayed last year, an increase of 350 per cent since 2014 when just eight required reschedulingIn 2021, the Conservatives promised to cut the court backlog by 7,000 cases by March 2025 but on their watch, it actually increased by more than 7,000Mahmood said demand for prison places is still rising faster than supply 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 moreLGBT veterans will receive up to £70,000 each to acknowledge the historic wrongs they experienced in the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence is expected to announce on Thursday.Defence secretary John Healey is also set to announce veterans will have their ranks restored and discharge reasons amended, according to a leaked memo. A ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual people serving in the armed forces was lifted in 2000, while transgender people were officially allowed to openly serve in 2014.Former LGBT military personnel dismissed or discharged because of their sexual orientation will reportedly receive £50,000, while additional payments of up to £20,000 will be handed to veterans serving personnel who were negatively impacted by the ban from 1967 to 2000 during their time in service.Under the ban, serving members of the forces discovered to be LGBT were subject to brutal interrogation, and dismissal.Defence Secretary John Healey has previously spoken about the state of the armed forces inherited from the Tories (Jonathan Brady/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 has claimed a victory in his Brexit reset, striking a fishing deal with the European Union which the government estimates to be worth £360m. Following negotiations with the EU for 2025 fishing quotas, the UK has secured 150,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities – 15,000 tonnes more than in 2024 – ministers announced on Wednesday.They said the deal amounts to £360m in fishing opportunities for British fishing fleets and highlights “all parties’ continued commitment to manage fisheries sustainably”.Fishing rights were a constant source of tension following the UK’s exit from the EU, with Britain and France finding themselves in a stalemate on the issue under Boris Johnson in 2021 after dozens of French boats were denied fishing licences for UK waters and France threatened to block ports to British vessels.But Sir Keir has attempted to reset relations with Brussels after years of tense relations under successive Conservative administrations.The prime minister struck a fresh fishing deal with the EU 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 moreNew Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is embroiled in a diplomatic row over comments she made about the African country where she grew up.The vice-president of Nigeria has hit out at the Tory MP accusing her of “denigrating her country of origin.”But her spokesman hit back, saying that the outspoken politician “tells it like it is… and she stands by what she says.” Ms Badenoch has made a number of critical comments about Nigeria, where she lived until she moved to the UK in her teens.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is embroiled in a diplomatic row (Stefan Rousseau/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 moreStrike threats by the unions representing teachers and nurses have been joined by other public sector workers as disquiet over a cap on pay rises increases.The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Matt Wrack, a former Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, has made it clear that his members could also go out on strike if demands for a 5 per cent pay settlement are not met next year.Unions representing teachers and nurses are upset at the plans to only award their members 2.8 per cent next year as chancellor Rachel Reeves tries to keep a handle on ballooning public spending.Already the chancellor has put up taxes by £40 billion in her first Budget and she has now told departments they need to find 5 per cent of savings.Rachel Reeves called for every government department to cut costs by 5 per cent (Dan Kitwood/PA) More

Tractor procession begins in Westminster as farmers continue inheritance tax protestYour 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 president of the National Farmers’ Union fought back tears as he explained the impact of tax changes on farmers to MPs, as a noisy protest by farmers took place nearby.Tom Bradshaw appeared emotional as he told the Commons Environment Committee of the “more severe human impacts” the policy could have, including the risk of farmers taking their own lives.Under the changes to inheritance tax in Rachel Reeves’ Budget, a 20 per cent levy will be charged on agricultural assets worth more than £1m. Mr Bradshaw said: “It’s not money. This is a lifetime of work, its the heritage and the custodianship of their farm.”He gave evidence as hundreds of farmers gathered in Westminster with their tractors in a second protest in as many months against Labour’s plan. Whitehall was blocked with the parked tractors before a slow procession took place of Westminster as part of the day of action organised by Save British Farming and Kent Fairness for Farmers.But Sir Keir Starmer appeared resolute on Labour’s policy when questioned during prime minister’s questions. The prime minister said: “In a typical family case, the threshold is £3m so the vast majority of farms will be unaffected, despite the fear mongering of the party opposite.”More pictures from today’s protest( 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 moreFormer Europe minister Denis MacShane has blamed Yvette Cooper’s Home Office for holding up important concessions needed to reset Britain’s relationship with the EU.The former Labour MP was responding to European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds indicating to peers on Tuesday that the government could be open to agreeing a youth mobility scheme dependent on the proposal brought forward by Brussels.Until now, Keir Starmer’s government has been opposed to agreeing the proposal because the prime minister does not want to cross any of the red lines in his manifesto including allowing any form of free movement of people with the EU.Former Europe minister Denis MacShane lashed out at the Home Office on XIn a first hint of compromise, Mr Thomas-Symonds, who will be leading the Brexit reset talks next year, told the Lords’ European affairs committee: “It’s for the EU to finalise proposals it wants to put on the table. It depends on what precisely you mean by youth mobility.”But Mr MacShane, who is visiting Brussels, believed that Mr Thomas-Symonds was being “ultra-cautious” and blamed the Home Office for hold ups in the talks.He posted on X (formerly Twitter): “I fear Nick Thomas-Symonds sticking to an ultra cautious line – up to EU to spell out what they want. They have on youth mobility. “It’s the Home Office obstructing. Under Tony Blair the Treasury sabotaged closer work with the EU. Now it’s the Home Office.”European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds will be leading the Brexit reset talks next year More