UK Politics

Sir Keir Starmer hit back at Kemi Badenoch’s suggestion that he should resign in light of a petition calling for a general election during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 27 November.The Conservative leader told the prime minister: “There’s a petition out there, two million people asking him to go.”Sir Keir referenced Labour’s large majority from this year’s general election as he dismissed Ms Badenoch’s calls for him to step down.”She talks about a petition, we had a massive petition on the 4th of July in this country,” Sir Keir replied. 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 moreWilliam Hague has beaten Peter Mandelson to become chancellor of the University of Oxford.It was announced on Wednesday that the former Conservative Party leader, 63, has been elected.Earlier this month he warned former Labour spinner Mr Mandelson could not be both the UK’s next ambassador to the US and chancellor, telling The Independent that taking on both roles would be “incompatible”. Lord Mandelson, widely seen as the leading candidate to become Britain’s new ambassador in Washington, had said he would be capable of holding both positions because the role of Oxford chancellor was merely a “ceremonial figurehead”.But Lord Hague hit back, telling this publication’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig the job could not be done while living on the other side of the Atlantic.Watch the full interview hereWilliam Hague, right, has beaten Peter Mandelson, left, to become Oxford University chancellor 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 moreWilliam Hague has beaten Peter Mandelson to become chancellor of the University of Oxford.It was announced on Wednesday that the former Conservative Party leader, 63, has been elected.Earlier this month he warned former Labour spinner Mr Mandelson could not be both the UK’s next ambassador to the US and chancellor, telling The Independent that taking on both roles would be “incompatible”. Lord Mandelson, widely seen as the leading candidate to become Britain’s new ambassador in Washington, had said he would be capable of holding both positions because the role of Oxford chancellor was merely a “ceremonial figurehead”.But Lord Hague hit back, telling this publication’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig the job could not be done while living on the other side of the Atlantic.Watch the full interview hereWilliam Hague, right, has beaten Peter Mandelson, left, to become Oxford University chancellor 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 moreRishi Sunak failed to turn up to vote for a ban on young people ever being able to buy cigarettes, despite the former prime minister having introduced the idea in the first place.MPs passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at its second reading by 415 votes to 47, legislation which will make it illegal for anyone born after 2009 to buy tobacco at any point in their lives.The plan was first announced by Mr Sunak at last year’s Tory conference in Manchester, where he promised to “ensure that future generations are smoke-free.”But on Tuesday, Mr Sunak failed to turn up to show his support for the law. Meanwhile, his successor, Kemi Badenoch, voted against the ban.Unveiling the proposal in 2023, Mr Sunak said: “No parent ever wants their child to start smoking. It is a deadly habit – killing tens of thousands of people and costing our NHS billions each year, while also being hugely detrimental to our productivity as a country.Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has returned to the Commons as a backbench MP (Jack Taylor/The Times/PA) 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 moreSir Keir Starmer may be softening his stance on changes to inheritance tax, according to the boss of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).After a meeting in No 10 with the prime minister on Monday, NFU president Tom Bradshaw claimed there was “a more conciliatory tone” regarding the controversial change which some have dubbed a “tractor tax”.Mr Bradshaw added: “We are trying to give it a bit of room to breathe. He hasn’t guaranteed me anything but I think there is a general softening of lines and I don’t want to stoke the fire.”In a video update to NFU members, he said: “I had a great opportunity to be invited into 10 Downing Street by the prime minister. We’ve been able to present outside of the discussion around what the changes… are going to mean for you, your family and your future.Jeremy Clarkson joined farmers protesting over the changes to inheritance tax rules 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 moreParliament will vote on an assisted dying bill this Friday for the first time in nearly a decade.Labour MP Kim Leadbeater proposed the Private Members Bill in mid-October, which will legalise assisted death under certain conditions for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.The bill would apply to those who are over 18 years old, have mental capacity, and have six months left to live, with the consent of two medical professionals. The bill has generated strong opinions from both sides of the assisted dying movement, while even some of those in favour have voiced concerns over the lack of safeguarding in the bill.A group of MPs have also pushed an amendment which may stop the bill from progressing to a vote this week.The Independent analysed public statements from all 650 MPs, in addition to news reports and other available information, to find which MPs will likely vote for or against the assisted dying bill this week. The analysis will be updated as more MPs come forward.The bill is open to a “free vote”, meaning that the party whips will not dictate whether to support or oppose the bill. Individual MPs are free to vote based on their own values and opinions of their constituents, regardless of whether they are Labour, Tory, or otherwise. Note: the voting intention of MPs is not final until the votes have been cast on Friday. As this is a sensitive issue, many MPs are still deciding and some could change their mind from previous positions.Our analysis found that at least 85 MPs are likely to vote in favour of the bill, while at least 76 are likely to vote against it.Some 489 MPs have either not made their opinion on assisted dying public, said they are still weighing up both possibilities or said they will abstain from the vote. Taking this into consideration, it will be difficult to say exactly whether the vote will pass. There is a significant degree of “unknown”, particularly among first-time MPs who are facing the issue for the first time.Meanwhile, when also including voting intentions shared off-record, ITV reports 146 MPs are planning to vote for the assisted dying bill, and 101 plan to vote against it. Both our analysis and ITV’s analysis indicate that slightly more MPs are leaning in favour of the assisted dying bill than not. Within the parties, our analysis found MPs are divided between voting for and against the bill, according to public declarations, reports, and working group memberships.Labour MPs are more likely than Tories to lean towards supporting the assisted dying bill, which was proposed by a fellow Labour MP.At present, an estimated 50 Labour MPs will support the bill, while 39 will vote against it. Among those against the bill are some of Labour’s most prominent members, including health secretary Wes Streeting, and long-standing MP Diane Abbott. Health secretary Wes Streeting has spoken out against the assisted dying bill More

Wales could introduce a “tourism tax” to overnight visitors, Senedd lawmakers have announced.Finance secretary Mark Drake explained that local authorities would be able to choose whether or not to introduce the levy.The tax would mean the costs of maintaining public infrastructure and services will be shared by all those who benefit from them, including visitors.The considerable bulk of these costs will continue to be borne by local residents, Mr Drakeford added. 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 moreFewer than one in five teachers believe a school-wide ban on mobile phones would improve student behaviour, a survey has suggested.More than two in five (41%) teachers agree that mobile phones can be a teaching tool within schools, according to the poll.The survey of 1,001 UK teachers also suggested only 20% said unauthorised mobile phone use disrupts their classrooms most frequently.The most disruptive behaviours cited were student chatter (80%), inattention (75%), inability to sit still (65%) and disrespect towards other students (55%).The findings, shared exclusively with the PA news agency, come after Labour MP and former teacher Josh MacAlister introduced a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament last month on protecting children from harms caused by excessive screen time.Rather than seeing phones as purely disruptive, many teachers recognise they could be useful learning tools when managed wellDuncan Verry, BettMr MacAlister’s Bill calls for a legal requirement to be introduced so all schools in England are mobile-free zones.But the YouGov poll, carried out for education technology exhibition Bett in August, found just 18% of teachers believe a school-wide phone ban is a measure which will improve student behaviour in their school.When asked to select their top measures for improving pupil behaviour the majority pointed to reduced class sizes (57%) and increased support for students with behavioural challenges (50%).Schools in England were given guidance under the former Conservative government in February intended to stop the use of mobile phones during the school day but it is currently non-statutory.Last month, Downing Street signalled that the Labour Government is unlikely to back Mr MacAlister’s Bill as headteachers can already ban phones from schools at their own discretion.A Department for Education (DfE) blog, published last month, said the use of mobile phones in schools “can lead to distractions, disruption and can increase the risk of online bullying” and they “have no place in classrooms”.Views are clearly mixed about whether mobile phones can be used as learning tools in a manageable wayPepe Di’Iasio, Association of School and College LeadersDuncan Verry, portfolio director at Bett, said: “Our research indicates that teachers take a balanced view of mobile technology in schools.“They’re clear-eyed about both the challenges and benefits of phones in educational settings.“Rather than seeing phones as purely disruptive, many teachers recognise they could be useful learning tools when managed well.”He added: “What’s particularly striking is that teachers view phone-use as a relatively minor disruption compared to traditional classroom management challenges.“This suggests we should consider phone policies as part of a wider conversation about supporting teachers and creating effective learning environments.”Our bigger concern is their use outside of school time, which is where problems such as cyberbullying, addictive behaviour and exposure to inappropriate content generally happenPepe Di’Iasio, Association of School and College LeadersPepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said:  “Views are clearly mixed about whether mobile phones can be used as learning tools in a manageable way.“Some people argue they are part of life and utilising them in supervised circumstances can provide valuable learning opportunities while others feel they are always a potential distraction.“However, we have reached a point where government guidance has fallen on the side of prohibiting their use entirely during the school day, including in lessons.“Given increasing concern about the impact of this technology on young people, that may be a reasonable place to land.“But our bigger concern is their use outside of school time, which is where problems such as cyberbullying, addictive behaviour and exposure to inappropriate content generally happen.“The answer is tougher regulation of online platforms.”Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Individual schools know their pupils and communities, so are best-placed to make decisions on phone use based upon what works for them and for their pupils’ education and wellbeing.”He added: “Schools already have the power to implement their own policies on mobile phones and most have clear guidelines in place which they review regularly.”A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We know that technology can bring many benefits to children’s education, but mobile phones are a distraction from learning and our guidance is clear that it is for headteachers to decide how to prohibit their use in a way that will work in their own schools.” More