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 moreCloseKemi Badenoch has cut into Keir Starmer’s poll lead in her first week as Conservative Party leader, closing the gap by two points.The Techne UK weekly tracker poll for The Independent has revealed in the week since she took over from Rishi Sunak, Ms Badenoch has increased the Conservative support by one point to 25 per cent while Labour has fallen a point to 29 per cent reducing the gap from six points to four.It comes in a difficult week for Sir Keir’s government with continued anger over the £40 billion of tax rises in the Budget particularly the farm land inheritance tax raid and increase in employer contributions to national insurance.Badenoch made a strong start at PMQs More

Foreign secretary David Lammy has dismissed his past criticism of Donald Trump in his first interview since the Republican’s election victory.Mr Lammy previously described the president-elect as a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath”.In his first interview since Trump’s victory, he appeared on BBC’s Newscast podcast to discuss the future of the UK’s relationship with the US.Lammy said he sees Trump as “someone that we can build a relationship with in our national interest”.The foreign secretary also praised Trump’s election campaign as “very well run”. More

A Labour minister struggled to name any benefits of Donald Trump returning to the White House in an awkward Question Time grilling.The Minister for Industry, Sara Jones was asked about the Republican’s historic win repeatedly by host Fiona Bruce when she appeared on the show on Thursday evening (7 November).Discussing trade between the UK and the US, the BBC host stepped in to tell her: “None of that is specific to Trump?”Ms Bruce added: “Can you not think of any benefits?” 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 moreCloseDavid Lammy has moved to dampen down speculation of a rift with Donald Trump after his comments branding the president-elect “a racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser” resurfaced.In an article in 2018 the now foreign secretary wrote about Mr Trump’s first official visit to the UK and described him as a “tyrant” and “a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath”.However, in his first interview since the president-elect’s victory he told the BBC Newcast podcast that Mr Trump’s campaign was “very well run”, adding: “I felt in my bones that there could be a Trump presidency.”David Lammy had called Donald Trump a ‘tyrant in a toupee’ 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 and fellow European leaders have urged Donald Trump to stand up to the “bully” Vladimir Putin as they digest the potential consequences of the historic Republican election victory in the US.Volodymyr Zelensky made a desperate appeal at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest for leaders to continue their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia amid fears that Mr Trump will try to force a deal involving concessions.It came as Sir Keir faces increasing pressure to prioritise a new post-Brexit defence pact with the EU, with concerns growing that Mr Trump may also dilute support for Nato and focus US military objectives elsewhere.President-elect Trump is looking to end the war in Ukraine 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 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