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 ThomasEditorLiz Truss considered scrapping all cancer treatment on the NHS in a desperate bid to repair the damage caused by her disastrous economic policies, according to a new book.The extraordinary claim is made in a new biography of Ms Truss by Sir Anthony Seldon.Sir Anthony, who is Britain’s leading political biographer, also states that Ms Truss’s allies feared her team could be targeted with a “cocaine” smear by unnamed figures at Tory HQ who wanted to stop her from becoming prime minister.Liz Truss with chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng at the Tory party conference following the disastrous mini-Budget 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 ThomasEditorLabour has reportedly axed the private helicopter service favoured by Rishi Sunak to save the taxpayer £40million.The “grossly wasteful” contract was scrapped by defence secretary John Healey just weeks after coming into office.In 2023, Mr Sunak reversed an initial decision to stop leasing the two Augusta Westland helicopters.A government source said the £40million contract ‘became a symbol’ of the previous government 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 ThomasEditorDowning Street officials are preparing a “media plan” to announce the eventual passing of Larry the cat.Larry has become a widely loved fixture of Downing Street and is often seen outside the door to Number 10 during major political events and news broadcasts.The 17-year-old ‘chief mouser’ is thought to be in his final years, having already outlived the average lifespan for a tabby cat.Larry the cat is often seen outside the door to Number 10 during major political events and news broadcasts 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 ThomasEditorIn his first keynote speech as prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer will promise to “get a grip” on the problems facing Britain and “reverse a decade of decline” said to have taken place under the previous Conservative government.Comparing his task as prime minister to the communities that rallied round to clean up in the wake of this summer’s riots, he will promise to do the “hard work” to fix the challenges facing the country. Starmer will use his first major speech as prime minister to argue that change will take time, and that Britain will get worse before it gets better 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 has claimed Sir Keir Starmer is attempting to pave the way for “draconian” tax rises at the next budget with his first keynote speech as prime minister, set to be delivered on Tuesday.She also argued that the chancellor’s claim that the government inherited a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances from the previous Tory government is “one of the biggest lies in British politics right now”.On Tuesday, the prime minister is set to warn the British public that things will get worse before they get better.Sir Keir Starmer will use his first major speech as Prime Minister to argue change will take time, and Britain will get worse before it gets better (James Manning/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 ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer is under pressure to reveal who authorised a Downing Street security pass for Labour donor Waheed Alli amid a growing cronyism row surrounding the government.The Conservative Party wrote to Cabinet secretary Simon Case on Sunday, urging him to reveal who signed off the pass despite the donor not having a formal job there.Lord Alli, who has donated more than £500,000 to Labour over the last 20 years, was reportedly given unrestricted access to No 10.It is unusual for anyone not formally employed as a political adviser or civil servant to be given such a pass.Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to reveal who authorised a Downing Street security pass for Labour donor Waheed Alli 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 ThomasEditorDowning Street officials are preparing a “media plan” to announce the eventual passing of Larry the cat, The Independent understands. Larry has become a widely loved fixture of Downing Street and is often seen outside the door to Number 10 during major political events and news broadcasts.The 17-year-old ‘chief mouser’ is thought to be in his final years, having already outlived the average lifespan for a tabby cat.Larry the cat is often seen outside the door to Number 10 during major political events and news broadcasts 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 ThomasEditorA former Conservative chancellor has accused his party of forming a “circular firing squad”, comparing it to infighting in the Game of Thrones.Nadhim Zahawi, who served briefly as chancellor in Boris Johnson’s cabinet, said members of his party still “want to tear chunks out of one another”, something he said “breaks his heart”.Speaking to Times Radio, the former MP for Stratford-on-Avon said: “The greatest threat to our party today is we still want to tear chunks out of one another.“People are not yet prepared to unite. That breaks my heart. Until we’re ready to unite and come together, we will be shouting into the void.“This could be a moment in history where you could literally pinpoint the timeline where the Conservative Party fell apart”.He argued the party never reconciled in the wake of Brexit, adding: “We decided to form a circular firing squad whilst in government. Elements in my party who were very unhappy with Boris blamed him for the outcome of the referendum and then chose a different path.A number of MPs in the Tory party formed a factional group known as the “five families” – made up of several smaller right wing groupings – when the previous government’s Rwanda legislation was being debated as part of an attempt to stage a rebellion.Six candidates vie to take over from Rishi Sunak as leader, with party chiefs having put in place a “yellow card” system to prevent in-fighting during the contest. More