UK Politics

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorWatch live as new MPs are sworn into the House of Commons on Tuesday 9 July, following the general election.There will be 411 MPs representing Labour thanks to their landslide win, while the Conservatives form the opposition with 121 seats.The Liberal Democrats take 72 seats in the Commons, with the SNP on nine, Reform UK on five and the Green Party on four.Once the new arrivals are sworn in, Labour’s Diane Abbott will earn the symbolic title Mother of the House.The moniker is given to the female MP with the longest continuous service.Ms Abbott, 70, was first elected in June 1987 – becoming the first black woman elected to the House of Commons.Some believed that her ally, Jeremy Corbyn, would become Father of the House.But Sir Edward Leigh, 73, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, pipped him to the title, as he was sworn in moments before Mr Corbyn after the June 1983 election.Elsewhere, the youngest MP is believed to be Sam Carling, 22, the new Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire.He narrowly won the seat, with Conservative candidate Shailesh Vara just 39 votes behind. More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorNew polling shows that the vast majority of voters who went to the polls to vote for a Keir Starmer government want Labour to drop its Brexit “red lines” and reverse the Tory legacy on Europe.Asked about whether Labour should reconsider its stance on the single market, customs union and freedom of movement in order to gain economic benefit, 71 per cent thought they should. Just 14 per cent thought they should not alter their Brexit red line stance, with only 2 per cent saying “definitely not”.Keir Starmer has been urged to ditch his red lines on Brexit More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorNigel Farage’s Reform UK party made a dramatic statement at the general election, winning more than four million votes and taking a significant bite out of support for the Tories. Yet despite taking 14 per cent of the popular vote, the right-wing party returned with just five seats of the 650 represented in Westminster. That is because under the First Past the Post system, the party came second in 98 seats, many of which are now held by Labour.Vowing to build a “mass movement” that can mount a generation election challenge in 2029, Mr Farage, who is now MP for Clacton, said: “We’re coming for Labour – be in no doubt about that. “This is just the first step of something that is going to stun all of you,” he added during his victory speech in the early hours of Friday morning.Below we take a look at the five new Reform MPs, who attended Parliament for the first time on Tuesday. Nigel FarageReform UK leader Nigel Farage arrives at the House of Commons in Westminster More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSuella Braverman is facing a backlash after launching an extraordinary attack on the LGBT community, describing government buildings flying rainbow flags as “occupied territory”.In a speech to burnish her leadership credentials with the Tory right, the ex-home secretary said the Progress version of the Pride flag represented “a horrible political campaign I disagreed with” and described trying to have it removed from her Marsham Street office.And, in the incendiary speech, she said the flag symbolised support for “the mutilation of children in our hospitals”, something which she said “physically repulsed” her.Ms Braverman said the Progress flag represented ‘a horrible political campaign I disagreed with’Former Labour culture secretary Ben Bradshaw said: “Suella Braverman reveals the true face of the Tory right with her bitter fury about LGBT people. We exist. Get over it.” And broadcaster Iain Dale, who was set to stand as a Conservative candidate in the general election before pulling out, said: “What a disgusting speech. And she seriously thinks she has a chance of leading the Conservative Party. Not while I have a breath left in my body.” And Labour MP Stella Creasy said: “Everyone has to stand up to this bile polluting our politics, not just Tories who get vote in contest, because equality benefits and liberates us all.” Ms Braverman has also faced criticism from her own party, with former candidate and LBC presenter Iain Dale tweeting: “What a disgusting speech. “And she seriously thinks she has a chance of leading the Conservative party. Not while I have a breath left in my body. Moderate Conservatives need to stand up and be counted. This will not stand.”It came after Ms Braverman said: “We Tory ministers, nominally in charge of the system, completely failed. The Progress flag flew over our buildings as if they were occupied territory. I couldn’t even get the flag of a horrible political campaign I disagreed with taken down from the roof of the government department I was supposed to be in charge of.”As the row raged, historian and TV presenter David Starkey apeared to fan the flames, telling a PopCon (Popular Conservatism) gathering in central London that it was “deranged” that a Conservative prime minister would cite enabling same-sex marriage as his greatest achievement. The former home secretary is widely expected to run for the leadership (Andrew Matthews/PA) More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorBritain’s ageing population, rising long-term sickness and “deep structural health problems” will lead to a “triple whammy” of high taxes, debt and poor outcomes, Sir Tony Blair has warned. The former prime minister is set to warn that, unless the country improves growth and productivity and drive value and efficiency through public spending, it will become “much poorer”.During a speech at the Tony Blair Institute’s (TBI) Future of Britain conference in London on Tuesday, he will set out how a package of measures including private and public sector adoption of artificial intelligence, preventative healthcare, digital ID and embracing technology in education could boost growth and generate savings.And, despite the gloomy warning, Sir Tony will add: “I don’t think there has ever been a better time to govern.Tony Blair is speaking at his institute’s annual Future of Britain conference in London More