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 moreCloseHS2 Ltd is spending more than £100m building a “shed” for bats despite there being “no evidence” that high-speed trains interfere with the protected species, the chair of the government-owned company said.Sir Jon Thompson told a rail industry conference that a bat protection structure is being built in Buckinghamshire to appease government adviser Natural England, as all bats are legally protected in the UK.“We call it a shed. This shed, you’re not going to believe this, cost more than £100m to protect the bats in this wood,” he said. The saga is an example of the UK’s “genuine problem” with completing major infrastructure projects, the HS2 chief told the Rail Industry Association’s annual conference in London.Ministers revealed they could not confirm whether the HS2 project was £10bn or £20bn over budget 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 moreCloseWhen Donald Trump sets off on his first tour of the world’s capitals, his itinerary is likely to be a roll call of famous cities: Berlin, Moscow, Kyiv, Rome, London perhaps.But as Air Force One dots the globe, anyone who suggests that the unfashionable Essex resort of Clacton-on-Sea might be tacked on to the list will not be taken seriously.It has echoes of the slogan on Del Trotter’s battered yellow Reliant Robin in Only Fools and Horses: “Trotters Independent Trading: New York, Paris, Peckham”.But don’t laugh: there are those in Nigel Farage’s circle who believe it might actually happen.Trump with Farage at the Trump Turnberry course in South Ayrshire in May 2023 More

Farage claims he will have role introducing UK government officials to Trump’s teamYour 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 moreCloseA Labour minister has snubbed Nigel Farage’s offer to help “bridge the divide” between the UK government and Donald Trump’s administration.On the day the new US president names his cabinet following his election victory, Mr Farage offered the Labour government his help with negotiations.It comes as shadow chancellor Mel Stride said past comments made by government figures, including foreign secretary David Lammy, on Mr Trump had put Labour in a “difficult position already”.Mr Farage, MP for Clacton and a friend of Mr Trump, wrote in the Daily Telegraph on Mr Trump’s plans for new traiff regimes that could hit the UK.He wrote: “If I can be helpful in any way when it comes to bridging the divide that exists between Starmer’s government and Trump, I will be glad to assist.“I might not agree with almost anything that Starmer and his cabinet stand for, but I do believe in something called the national interest.”In response, cabinet officer minister Pat McFadden told Times Radio: “I think we’ll have our own relationships.”Meanwhile, chancellor Rachel Reeves played down the impact of Mr Lammy’s past criticism of Donald Trump.“Those comments were in the past,” she told reporters in Manchester today.Show latest update 1730989808More than 3,000 migrants crossed Channel in busiest fortnight so far this yearMore than 3,000 migrants arrived in the UK in the busiest fortnight of Channel crossings so far this year.A total of 3,197 people made the journey between October 24 and November 6, Home Office figures show.This is the busiest 14-day period of crossings for the year so far, according to analysis by the PA news agency.It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to sign new agreements to intercept criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the Western Balkans as part of efforts to bring down small boat crossings.Sir Keir will announce the deals to boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo at a meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday.He is expected to urge European partners to take action to reduce deaths in the Channel during small boat crossings and tell them that lawful, international co-operation will be key to efforts.A total of 3,197 people crossed the English Channel between October 24 and November 6 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 moreCloseSir Keir Starmer has been warned against rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump in the UK, as the prime minister attempts to build bridges with the president-elect.Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), told The Independent such a move would be “obscene”, saying Trump’s election is “disastrous for trade unions and the labour movement globally”.“Trump is a far-right nationalist demagogue who has launched a racist and misogynistic ‘hate-fest’ in the US,” he added.“A Trump presidency backed by reactionary billionaires will deliver nothing for workers. Trump’s administration will only serve the interests of the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and the super-rich.Keir Starmer spoke with Donald Trump on the phone on Wednesday evening 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 moreCloseSir Keir Starmer‘s hopes of restoring the relationship between Britain and the European Union after Brexit have taken a knock after the collapse of key ally’s government– just hours after Donald Trump secured a second presidential term. Europe’s largest economy Germany is now reeling after the ruling coalition fell in the wake of Olaf Scholz’s decision to sack his finance minister.Sir Keir had developed a close working relation with the German chancellor since his election victory and just last week, the prime minister secured the first major success of his plans for a Brexit reset with a landmark defence deal between the two countries. A general election is now expected in Germany early next year, with the unpopular Mr Scholz widely expected to lose. The German government’s collapse came after Sir Keir was urged to step up his plans for a great reset in relations with Europe in the wake of Mr Trump’s election victory. Warning the result was a dark day for mankind, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said that stronger trade and defence cooperation across Europe would “help protect ourselves from the damage Trump will do” now the world’s largest economy and its most powerful military “will be led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue”.Peter Altmaier, former chief of staff to Angela Merkel, also told the BBC Today programme that UK/ French co-operation “will have to be reinforced and enhanced” in the wake of Trump’s election and the collapse of the Germany government. Sir Keir offered Mr Trump his “hearty” congratulations on his win in a telephone call late on Wednesday. Just hours earlier he had been forced to publicly support his foreign secretary David Lammy, who in the past called Mr Trump a “neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath”.Mr Lammy will remain in his post until the next election, Downing Street said on Wednesday just hours after Mr Trump’s victory was secured.The vote of confidence came after the prime minister was asked to apologise for his frontbencher’s attack in an article, written when he was a backbench MP in 2018. Sir Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had developed a close working relationship 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 moreCloseAn “ingenious approach” has boosted broadband for residents on a Scottish island, with water pipes being utilised for connections for the first time in the UK.Fibre cables have been installed in a second pipe in the drinking water network on Papa Westray – said to be the most remote island in Orkney.It means almost every business and resident on the island can receive speeds similar to those in other parts of Scotland.Scottish Government funding allowed contractor CloudNet to install the cabling in pipes, with the approach seen to be a more efficient and less disruptive alternative to conventional cable-laying methods.It was possible because the water system on the island is owned by the community, streamlining the process of gaining permission.Scottish business minister Richard Lochhead hailed the “ingenious approach” as a “less disruptive way of delivering faster connectivity to all on Papa Westray”.Business minister Richard Lochhead said the project ‘showcases engineering creativity at its best’. (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA)He said: “Scotland is famous the world over for its innovation. We are working with rural communities in the most imaginative ways possible to bring faster broadband to some of the hardest to reach parts of the country.“This project showcases engineering creativity at its best and makes it easier for residents to do business and access essential services such as health and education.“This will also help attract people to live and work on Papa Westray.”The project is part of the Scottish Government’s R100 programme to improve broadband speeds in remote and rural areas, and he said ministers are “helping deliver a fair, green and growing economy for all our regions”.CloudNet managing director Greg Whitton said: “CloudNet are proud to have delivered this Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme project to the most remote island in Orkney – Papa Westray – the first successful commercial project of its kind in the UK.“Due to the island topography, we used the water network to deliver fibre to the premises. This helped minimise excavations and excessive construction costs on the project to meet the programme needs.”The project also allowed for remote sensors to be placed in the pipes, providing a more hi-tech way to monitor water quality.Papa Westray Water Board supply engineer Ian Cursiter said: “Without this high speed connectivity, I wouldn’t be able to remotely monitor my farm or the water network for the island.“The real benefit in monitoring the water network for levels of usage, pressure and so on, is providing a much more efficient water system, which will ultimately be more environmentally friendly and cost effective to islanders.“I’ve lived on Papa Westray my whole life and I’m delighted to see connectivity that allows the islanders to access the same facilities as those on the mainland.” 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 moreCloseNobody would win a tit-for-tat trade war with the US when Donald Trump returns to power, Britain’s top international trade expert has warned.An escalating tariff war with the Americans under Mr Trump would create “a very challenging market for us here in the UK” and British firms are increasingly concerned about the former president’s return, Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, told The Independent.During the election campaign, the Republican promised to implement 10 to 20 per cent tariffs on all goods coming into the country, rising to 60 per cent for those from China.Keir Starmer has been warned ‘nobody would win’ from a trade war with the US More