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.Read moreThe US-EU tariff war is heating up, and the UK is caught in the middle. Donald Trump’s new 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium have hit British industry, despite hopes that Brexit would protect the UK. While the EU has fought back with counter-tariffs worth €26 billion, the UK has taken a more cautious approach for now.Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said Britain won’t hesitate to act but that he is focused on negotiating with the US. Supporters, like Marco Forgione of the Chartered Institute of Export, argue this is a smart move to avoid a damaging trade war. But critics, including Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper and steel industry leaders, say Britain is being too soft and must retaliate like the EU to protect jobs.Brexit also plays a role. Some, like Best for Britain’s Naomi Smith, believe the UK should strengthen ties with the EU to counter US protectionism. Others insist Brexit was meant to free Britain from EU policies, not tie it closer.Now we want to hear from you. Should the UK hit back like the EU, or is a calm approach better? Has Brexit made Britain stronger in global trade – or more vulnerable?Vote in our poll or share your thoughts in the comments – we’ll feature the most compelling responses and share the results in the coming days.All you have to do is sign up and register your details – then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen. 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.Read moreNigel Farage has warned there is “no way back” into Reform UK for Rupert Lowe as the civil war dominating the party deepens. The Reform leader said the suspended MP is “out to cause maximum damage” to the party and claimed he is now chasing the backing of Elon Musk instead. It follows days of bitter back and forth between Mr Farage and Mr Lowe, who was suspended last Friday over allegations he made “verbal threats” against Reform chair Zia Yusuf.Mr Farage said there is no way back for Mr Lowe 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.Read moreA Labour MP who struggled with mental health disabilities before entering politics has signalled that she intends to rebel against Keir Starmer’s cuts to benefits.Nadia Whittome, leftwing MP for Nottingham East, told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that she “couldn’t look her mum in the eyes” if she voted for the proposals which would save an estimated £5 billion.But in a sign of deep divisions on the issue, fellow Nottinghamshire Labour MP Jo White from Bassetlaw insisted that changes are essential to incentivise families out of a life of benefits.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Ben Whitley/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.Read moreSir Keir Starmer’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell helped to broker the 30-day ceasefire proposal accepted by Volodymyr Zelensky, as Britain attempts to act as a bridge between the US and Ukraine. The No 10 fixer travelled to Kyiv over the weekend to meet with Mr Zelensky and help draft the proposal, which included a temporary pause in fighting before confidence building measures such as a prisoner-of-war exchange. It comes amid a concerted European effort, led by Sir Keir, over the last week to restore good working relations between the US and Ukraine.Jonathan Powell and Alastair Campbell 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.Read moreA major tax shake-up will see 300,000 Vinted sellers, taxi drivers and dog walkers no longer required to file tax returns under Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to grow the economy. Side hustlers, including those creating content online and gardening on the side, will be boosted as the government hikes the Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) reporting threshold for trading income.The increase, from £1,000 to £3,000, will mean around 300,000 people will no longer have to fill in time-consuming tax returns. Around 90,000 of these will owe no tax, meaning there is no reason for them to report their income, the government said. The rest will be able to pay any tax through a new “simple online service”, officials added.While the changes for those with side hustles – which exploded in popularity during the pandemic – will spare people from filling in the self-assessment form, it will not change the overall amount of any tax owed. The move will make it easier for freelancers to make the ‘very most of their entrepreneurial spirit’, according to the government 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.Read moreIntelligence-gathering satellites could be launched into space from Scotland under an initiative involving the German military.In a bid to strengthen Europe’s defence links, the German air force’s space command wants to use SaxaVord Spaceport for “sovereign launch” capabilities.It will mean the spaceport on Unst in the Shetland Islands will carry out launches of military as well as commercial satellites.“Sovereign launch” refers to the ability to reach space quickly and independently in the event of a conflict or disruption to vital satellites.Some in the space industry have pointed out that the US holds the vast majority of the world’s sovereign launch capability, while Europe currently has almost no equivalent.The approach of the Trump administration to transatlantic security has led to European countries reconsidering their defence priorities.A German company, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), hopes to carry out the first satellite launch from UK soil and is planning to blast off from the privately-owned SaxaVord later this year.RFA and SaxaVord made the announcement at the SpaceComm expo in London’s Docklands on Tuesday.SaxaVord chief executive Frank Strang said: “We have all our licences for orbital vertical launch already in place, and we are putting the finishing touches to infrastructure on site to support our partners – in particular Rocket Factory Augsburg, which has made a significant financial investment in our spaceport.“We live in an unpredictable and ever more dangerous world and space as a domain has an ever increasing role to play in keeping us secure and protecting our economies.“The UK and Europe have an asset in SaxaVord that can play a huge role in maintaining the status quo and, combined with RFA, a capability that can help defend our combined interests.”Major General Michael Traut, commander of the German air force’s space command, said: “For me, it has even become more important to strengthen links between our traditional European partners, especially in regard to space.“What we are seeing today between German and UK companies is very encouraging. Having access to sovereign launch will be very important for our security.”RFA co-founder Jorn Spurmann said: “By combining cutting-edge launch technology with SaxaVord’s strategic location, we are reinforcing the backbone of a resilient, agile European defence network in space.” More