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 ThomasEditorPublic concern about the NHS is at its highest level since the Covid crisis, according to a new poll.Nearly half, 47 per cent, name the health service as the most important issue – the highest since December 2019, just before the pandemic hit. Immigration is also a growing issue, at the highest level since January 2017 and cited by 31 per cent of those asked. It comes as Keir Starmer faces pressure from his own backbenchers over a number of issues – including benefits, Brexit and Gaza. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure from MPs over the two-child benefit cap (Jonathan Brady/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 ThomasEditor Britain’s defeated Conservatives will spend more than three months picking a new leader to replace former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the party has announced. Sunak will remain acting leader until his successor is announced on Nov. 2.The right-of-center party was kicked out by voters in a July 4 election that brought a Labour landslide, ending 14 years in power under five prime ministers. The Conservatives were reduced to 121 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons, their worst-ever result.The party said nominations will open Wednesday and close five days later. Any Conservative lawmaker can run if they get the support of 10 colleagues.Conservative lawmakers will narrow the field down through a series of votes to four contenders, who will make pitches to members at the party’s annual conference in early October.Lawmakers will then choose two final candidates, who will be put to an online vote of Conservative members across the country.“It’s in the national interest for us to have a smooth and orderly transition to a new Leader of the Opposition so I will stay in post until Nov. 2 and the result of our leadership election,” Sunak said.“This will allow our party to fulfil its role as the official opposition professionally and effectively. I believe this is what is best for the Conservative Party and, most importantly, our country.”The party’s last contested leadership selection, in mid-2022, saw members choose Liz Truss over Sunak. Truss resigned after just 49 days in office when her tax-cutting plans rocked the financial markets and battered the value of the pound. The party then chose Sunak to replace her.In the wake of its devastating election defeat, which saw it lose votes to parties on both right and left, the party is divided between moderates who want to cleave to the political center and hard-liners who want an even tougher stance on migration and law and order.Several Tory lawmakers have already suggested they will run, including former Home Secretary James Cleverly and lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, both considered moderates, and former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and ex-Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch from the right of the party. 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 ThomasEditorRachel Reeves has suggested that substantial pay increases for public sector workers could be on the horizon to address the costs of ongoing industrial action and recruitment challenges. The chancellor has assured that “people won’t have to wait long” for a decision, following recommendations for a 5.5% pay rise for teachers and 1.3 million NHS staff.Reeves emphasized the need for a well-planned approach to funding these raises, with an announcement expected by the end of July alongside a Treasury review. However, schools and hospitals might struggle to cover these increases from their current budgets. Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates the pay rises could add at least £3 billion to costs for schools and the NHS.A higher-than-expected pay rise could pose a significant challenge for Reeves’s first budget, likely coming in the autumn, especially after promising to control borrowing and ruling out a string of tax rises during the election campaign. On the other hand, failing to meet the pay review bodies’ recommendations, expected to be published this month, could lead to clashes with trade unions representing the six million public sector workers. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, has warned that ignoring these recommendations could result in strike action.Now, we want to know what you think: should public sector workers get a 5.5% pay rise, or should Reeves keep the purse strings tight?Share your thoughts by adding them in the comments — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.All you have to do is sign up and register your details — then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen.Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment click here.Join the conversation with other Independent readers below. 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 ThomasEditorThe next Conservative leader will be announced on 2 November, the party has said. The person chosen to replace Rishi Sunak will be named just days before the US presidential election, which is on 5 November.The 1922 Committee has drawn up a timetable for the contest after the party suffered the worst general election result in its parliamentary history.Mr Sunak will remain as acting leader until 2 November.Shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch poised to be frontrunner in race to replace Sunak 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 ThomasEditorDavid Lammy is due to land in India this week after his cabinet colleague Jonathan Reynolds ordered officials in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to reopen trade talks.The foreign secretary is due to meet his Indian counterpart Vikram Misri as Keir Starmer’s new government tries to complete the major trade deal which eluded the Tories.But the resumption of relations with India after both countries had elections is also set to spark controversy after Narendra Modi embraced Russia’s Vladimir Putin at a summit earlier this month. The meeting in Moscow saw the Indian prime minister awarded Russia’s highest honour.India had been seeking the release of its citizens who were in prison in Russia but the talks also concluded with the two sides setting out nine key areas for closer co-operation, including nuclear energy and medicine at a time when the international community is trying to heap pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.There will also be concerns among muslim groups concerned about the Hindu nationalism of Narendra Modi’s government. Sir Keir Starmer already has suffered some losses at the election from pro-Gaza independents over his stance in supporting Israel which has harmed Labour’s relations with muslim communities.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin embrace during an informal meeting at Novo-Ogaryovo residence, outside Moscow, Russia More