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      Labour confident it can keep British Steel furnaces burning after taking control

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      Labour has expressed confidence that enough raw materials can be secured to keep British Steel’s blast furnaces running after the government seized operational control from its Chinese owners.Ministers said British Steel’s owners, China’s Jingye Group, had wanted to shut the furnaces at the Scunthorpe plant after they rejected a government funding proposal, which would have forced Britain to import steel instead.The government recalled parliament at the weekend – the first Saturday recall since the 1982 Falklands War – to give it powers to direct the company’s board and workforce and order raw materials.Jingye has not commented, but China called for fair treatment of its companies and resolution through consultation.Experts say the dispute has risked straining ties between London and Beijing, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government had sought to improve. The talks also come at a time when nations around the world are trying to deepen trading cooperation after the US tariff shock.British Steel needs to secure raw materials for its blast furnaces to prevent its Scunthorpe facility from shutting down irrevocably (Danny Lawson/PA) More

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      Voices: Who’s to blame for Birmingham’s bin crisis? Join The Independent Debate

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      A month-long strike by refuse workers in Birmingham has left the city grappling with mounting piles of rubbish, growing public health concerns, and a deepening political divide over who is to blame.What began as a dispute over pay cuts has now escalated into a full-blown crisis, with the government deploying military planners to help manage the city’s waste collection efforts. Meanwhile, residents report rats the size of cats, an overwhelming stench in the streets, and a lack of clarity on when the situation will end.With a new ballot on a potential deal due this week, tensions between Birmingham City Council, the Unite union, and national government continue to rise – and now, public opinion is beginning to harden.Some residents back the striking workers, arguing they’re fighting for fair treatment and decent pay, especially after claims that some face losses of up to £8,000 a year. Others are fed up with the disruption and question whether essential services should ever be used as bargaining chips.Debate is also raging over whether the army’s involvement is a step too far, or a necessary measure to protect public health. And as waste collection services across the UK face similar pressures, bigger questions are being asked about privatisation, council budgets, and whether our current model of public service delivery is still fit for purpose.So, what’s your view? Do you support the bin workers’ strike, or do you think it’s gone too far? Should councils be allowed to outsource these services, or is it time to bring them back in-house? And would you accept a different waste model – or even a rise in council tax – if it meant avoiding scenes like this in the future?We want to hear from you. Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments – we’ll feature the most compelling responses and discuss 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 debate. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen. More

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      Hungarian opposition leader tells supporters he will restore Western alliances if he defeats Orbán

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      The leader of Hungary’s largest opposition party on Sunday told thousands of supporters that he would guide his country out of its international isolation if he defeats Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in elections scheduled for next year. Péter Magyar, the leader of the Respect and Freedom (Tisza) party, represents the most serious challenge to Orbán’s power since the right-wing populist leader took power in 2010. Recent polling suggests that Tisza has overtaken Orbán’s Fidesz party as Hungary struggles with a stagnating economy and has been politically sidelined in the European Union over Orbán’s policies.Speaking at a rally in Budapest on Sunday, Magyar said that, if elected, he and his party would restore Hungary’s relationships and reputation among its allies that have suffered as Orbán has attacked the European Union and pursued close relationships with autocracies like Russia and China. “We will finally put our common affairs in order,” Magyar said. “Our homeland, Hungary, will once again be a proud and reliable ally of NATO. Hungary will once again be a full-fledged member of the European Union.”Orbán, a self-described “illiberal” leader, has been accused by critics of having led Hungary out of the community of European democracies by eroding democratic institutions, violating judicial independence and taking over much of Hungary’s media. Since taking power in 2010, he and his Fidesz party have led the country with a two-thirds majority in parliament, and easily defeated any opposition. But recent polls suggest that Tisza has pulled ahead of Fidesz in popularity as Magyar’s campaign focuses on economic and social issues facing the country like persistent inflation, a poor healthcare system and alleged government corruption. On Sunday, Magyar said Orbán’s system “cannot be reformed, cannot be fixed, cannot be improved. This system can only be replaced, and that is what we will do — lawfully, democratically, but with determination, we will cut down the regime.”Nóra Farkas, a supporter of Magyar at the rally, said she had hoped for Orbán’s defeat in Hungary’s last national elections in 2022, but that with around a year to go before the next ballot, she is more confident that change is possible.“Anyone who thinks things are going well in this country is blind. Orbán and his circle are the main reason for the problems,” she said. ___Béla Szandelszky in Budapest, Hungary contributed. More

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      Business secretary refuses to say whether British Steel will get raw material before furnaces go out

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      The business secretary has refused to guarantee that the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe will get enough raw materials in time to keep its crucial blast furnaces running.Jonathan Reynolds also said he would not sell the business to another Chinese owner as he indicated there is now a “high trust bar” for Chinese companies to meet before they will be allowed to invest in sensitive UK industries.On Saturday the government pushed through emergency legislation to take control of British Steel, with Mr Reynolds warning MPs that once blast furnaces run out of raw materials, they can never be turned back on. British Steel needs to secure raw materials for its blast furnaces to prevent its Scunthorpe facility from shutting down irrevocably More

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      Tulip Siddiq denies wrongdoing as Bangladesh ‘issues warrant for her arrest’

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      Tulip Siddiq has denied wrongdoing following reports Bangladeshi authorities have issued a warrant for her arrest in connection with corruption allegations.According to media reports, Bangladeshi’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had sought an arrest warrant on Sunday over allegations the Labour MP illegally received a 7,200 square feet plot of land in the country’s capital, Dhaka.The allegation is said to be separate from an investigation into Ms Siddiq’s aunt, the former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, regarding a nuclear power plant deal in which the former City minister has also been named.Ms Siddiq resigned from her post in the Treasury earlier this year following an investigation by the prime minister’s ethics adviser into her links to her aunt’s regime, which was overthrown last year.In a statement, Ms Siddiq’s lawyers said the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate had no knowledge of any warrant being issued, and described the claims against her as “politically motivated”.In a statement, Ms Siddiq’s lawyers said the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate had no knowledge of any warrant being issued , and described the claims against her as “politically motivated”. More

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      Tories demand ministers ‘get a grip’ after Manchester Arena bomber’s brother’s attack on prison officers

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      The Conservatives have called on the government to “get a grip” after the terrorist brother of the Manchester Arena bomber attacked three prison officers. Minister have ordered a review of the incident, which took place at a high-security prison, as they pledged to “do whatever it takes” to keep staff safe. Hashem Abedi, who is serving at least 55 years for helping his brother carry out the atrocity at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017, threw hot cooking oil over three prison guards at HMP Frankland on Saturday, according to the Prison Officers’ Association (POA).He then produced home made weapons and stabbed the officers, who suffered injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds, the union said.Hashem Abedi assisted his brother in carrying out the Manchester Arena bombing (GMP/PA) More

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      ‘Savage’ UK cuts will deprive 55m people of aid around the world

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      “Savage” cuts to UK foreign aid will leave 55.5 million of the world’s poorest people without access to basic resources, The Independent can reveal.Analysis by Save the Children, shared exclusively with this publication, lays bare the true impact of repeated cuts to the budget, the latest of which will see spending fall to just 0.3 per cent of gross national income (GNI) – the lowest level in 25 years.Women and girls will suffer the most as the government is likely forced to scale back programmes across global education, family planning, water and food aid. British aid for maternal healthcare has been essential in countries like Nigeria, where projects supported the fight against pregnancy-related deaths More

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      Nigel Farage claims Elon Musk was ‘trying to encourage him’ by calling for him to be sacked

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      Nigel Farage has claimed Elon Musk was “just trying to encourage” him when he called for him to be sacked as the leader of Reform UK. The former Ukip leader had a spectacular falling out with the billionaire adviser to Donald Trump earlier this year. At its height, just hours after Mr Farage claimed his friendship with the Tesla founder made his party “cool”, Mr Musk called for him to be replaced at the top of Reform. The Reform leader had a spectacular falling out with the billionaire adviser to Donald Trump earlier this year. More