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    MPs’ pay to soar to £94k in inflation-busting rise

    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.Read moreMPs are in line for an inflation-busting 2.8 per cent pay rise this year, the body in charge of parliamentary salaries has announced – in a move that would take their wages to almost £94k.The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), which was set up in the wake of the expenses scandal, said its proposals in part reflect the “vital role” of MPs.But critics said it would be a “bitter pill” to swallow for taxpayers and claimed MPs were being rewarded for failure. And senior citizens accused the government of hypocrisy for entertaining pay rises for MPs while taking winter fuel payments from pensioners. Campaign group Silver Voices said if the pay rise goes through, “it will reek of hypocrisy”. Founder Dennis Reed told The Independent: “To be in an apparent financial situation so dire a hard decision had to be taken to deprive 10 million old people of winter fuel payments, but now the situation is apparently not hard enough for there to not be above inflation pay rises for MPs. “One can’t really argue MPs have been struggling for every penny, so it reeks of hypocrisy and will not go down well with pensioners.”Ipsa chairman Richard Lloyd said: “IPSA has been responsible for deciding MPs’ pay since 2011. Since then, our aim has been to make fair decisions on pay, both for MPs and the public.MPs are to get an inflation-busting 2.8 per cent pay rise (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

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    TikTok ban ‘on official devices remains’ as Government launches account

    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.Read moreA ban on using TikTok on UK Government phones remains in place despite ministers launching an official account on the social media app, Downing Street has said.The “ukgov” TikTok account was created last week, and includes public services messages such as urging users to renew their passport, as well as reminders of what Labour’s so-called “Plan for Change” entails.No 10 indicated a security exemption had been granted for the account, and insisted the ban on TikTok on official devices which began in 2023 is still in place.In line with security advice, we’ve been permitted the use of a UK Government TikTok account… under specific circumstancesPrime Minister’s official spokesmanThe ban followed a review by Rishi Sunak’s government amid security concerns about ByteDance, the Beijing-based company which owns TikTok.The account has been launched as Sir Keir Starmer’s Government strives for a warmer relationship with China, which is one of the UK’s biggest trade and investment partners.Asked about the TikTok account, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “We’ve always said that we keep the way in which we communicate with the public under review to make sure that we are reaching people with information on Government services and how we’re improving the lives of working people, and we always keep social media practices under review.”He added: “In line with security advice, we’ve been permitted the use of a UK Government TikTok account… under specific circumstances.”There have been “no changes to the security policy”, the spokesman said when asked about the ban on using TikTok on official devices.He added: “Restrictions on the use of the app on most Government devices remain in place. It was always the case that there were specific exemptions for the use of TikTok on Government devices where required for work purposes, and those exemptions are only granted by security teams on a case-by-case basis and with security mitigations put in place.“That is what has happened in the case of the UK Government TikTok account.”The spokesman would not be drawn into revealing whether mitigation measures meant there were specific mobile devices designated for using TikTok.Among the videos posted on the ukgov TikTok account are a reminder of the need for holidaymakers to check entry requirements and ensure their passports are up to date.The most-viewed video, currently with 12,000 views, lists the Government’s pledges to improve living standards, improve NHS waiting list times, and build more homes under the question: “What does the Government’s plan for change REALLY mean for you?”The account, which started posting at the end of last week, has around 350 followers at the moment.As the UK seeks to strengthen ties with Beijing, Foreign Secretary David Lammy is due to meet his Chinese counterpart this week.Wang Yi, China’s foreign affairs minister, will visit London on Thursday, February 13, ahead of the Munich Security Conference.Mr Lammy and his counterpart will discuss “issues of key importance to both nations’ interests”, including international security and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Downing Street said. More

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    Can my boss read my WhatsApp messages? Rules around work and privacy explained

    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.Read moreAs Labour is embroiled in a scandal over leaked messages from a WhatsApp group, some people have been left wondering about their rights on the app.Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to widen the party’s investigation into alleged inappropriate WhatsApp messages after the Mail on Sunday revealed the existence of a chat reportedly called “Trigger Me Timbers”.Labour MP Oliver Ryan admitted he made “unacceptable and deeply disappointing” comments after former health minister Andrew Gwynne was sacked over the “offensive” nature of some of the alleged messages.With the rise of work-from-home culture, the lines between the personal and the professional have continued to blur. This has left some staff unsure about where this line is drawn when it comes to whether online activities are completely private or, in theory, could get you into trouble at work.The app was the world’s most popular mobile messenger app last year, according to Statista, with around two billion monthly active users.Below, The Independent takes a look at the rules surrounding employers and employees when it comes to online surveillance and privacy, especially on WhatsApp.open image in galleryWhatsApp was found to be the world’s most popular mobile messenger app last year, according to Statista, with around two billion monthly active users More

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    Voices: Should MPs be handed another inflation-busting pay rise? Join The Independent Debate

    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.Read moreMPs are set for another inflation-busting increase, with salaries rising by 2.8 per cent to nearly £94,000.The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), which oversees MPs’ pay, argues that the increase reflects both the “vital role” of MPs and wider public sector pay rises. In contrast, as of April 2024, the median annual salary for full-time employees in the UK stood at £37,430.Critics say the rise for MPs is unjustified at a time when taxpayers are facing high inflation, record tax burdens, and struggling public services.Some argue that MPs deserve fair pay for their demanding jobs and that competitive salaries attract capable individuals to Parliament. Others, like John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, believe their pay should be tied to economic performance, ensuring they share the financial realities of the public.Now we want to know your views: should MPs receive an inflation-busting pay rise? Do they deserve a salary increase in line with other public sector workers, or should their pay be frozen in recognition of economic challenges?Share your thoughts in the comments — we’ll feature the most compelling responses.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. More

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    Labour WhatsApp scandal: Everything we know about ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ group as more messages exposed

    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.Read moreSir Keir Starmer is struggling to get a grip on the snowballing WhatsApp scandal that has forced an apology from a second MP in his party.The Labour leader is facing calls to widen the investigation into inappropriate messages reportedly shared in the chat, which has already led to the sacking of former health minister Andrew Gwynne and has now embroiled Burnley MP Oliver Ryan.As fresh messages continue to emerge, here is everything we know so far.What is the WhatsApp group? The scandal erupted on Saturday when the Mail on Sunday contacted Downing Street to inform staff of the existence of the group and the messages Mr Gwynne had sent in it. No10 responded quickly, sacking Mr Gwynne as a health minister over the alleged “antisemitic”, “sexist” and “racist” comments in the group, and launched an investigation into the reportedly named “Trigger Me Timbers” WhatsApp group.In a warning to others who have shared messages in the group, a Labour spokesperson said the party would take swift action “if individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members”.Andrew Gwynne said he regrets making badly misjudged comments in a WhatsApp group after Sir Keir Starmer sacked him as a minister More

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    Labour minister defends migrant raid videos after being accused of trying to mimic Reform

    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.Read moreLabour has defended its controversial migration plans after allegations the party is aping Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle said the government is simply “enforcing the rules” by publishing videos of immigration raids targeting illegal workers. The films have been criticised by human rights groups and MPs for being melodramatic, with the Refugee Council saying the government was using performative stunts to try to promote division.Labour has been accused of aping Nigel Farage’s Reform UK More

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    UK touts a clampdown on illegal working as it seeks to look tough on immigration

    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.Read more The British government on Monday touted its success in raiding businesses that employ unauthorized workers and deporting thousands of migrants with no right to stay in the U.K.What’s billed as a “blitz on illegal working” is part of a pledge by the center-left Labour government to reduce immigration -– a priority for many voters -– and stop the growing popularity of the hard-right party Reform U.K.But for migrants groups, and some Labour Party members, the images uncomfortably recall a previous Conservative government’s pledge to make Britain a “hostile environment” for illegal migration. That led to thousands of long-term legal residents being denied housing, jobs or medical treatment because they could not prove their status. Dozens were detained or deported to countries they had not visited for decades.The government said Monday that immigration enforcement teams have carried out more than 5,000 raids since Labour was elected in July on businesses including nail bars, convenience stores, vape shops, restaurants and car washes, and made almost 4,000 arrests. The figures are significantly higher than the previous year, when the Conservatives were in power.Britain also has deported more than 16,000 people in the same period. The government plans to release video footage of migrants being deported later Monday in a PR move that has been criticized as crass and insensitive.Home Office Minister Angela Eagle defended the government’s tough approach.“We have to have a system where the rules are respected and enforced,” she told the BBC. “It’s important that we show what we are doing and it’s important that we send messages to people who may have been sold lies about what will await them in the U.K. if they get themselves smuggled in.” A new tough immigration bill likely to pass Monday The government says the perception that it’s easy to find work in Britain is a “dangerous draw” for migrants who try to cross the English Channel on small boats. Authorities in the U.K. and France have struggled for years to stop the dangerous crossings, which brought more than 38,000 people to Britain in 2024. More than 70 people perished in the attempts.Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the crime gangs are a threat to global security and should be treated like terror networks. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which faces a key vote in Parliament on Monday, contains new powers including the ability to seize suspected traffickers’ phones before they are arrested.It will also formally scrap the Safety of Rwanda Act, which underpinned the previous Conservative government’s contentious plan to send some asylum-seekers who reach Britain by boat on a one-way trip to Rwanda. Starmer branded the plan an expensive gimmick, and canceled it soon after taking office. The new immigration bill is almost certain to pass because of Labour’s large majority. But some feel uneasy. Human rights group Liberty said the bill sets a “dangerous precedent” in bringing in counterterrorism-style powers for offences that are not terrorism.The Conservatives, meanwhile, called it “a weak bill that won’t stop the boats.” Support for anti-immigrant Reform party on the rise Labour won a landslide election victory just seven months ago, but the government’s popularity has slumped and polls suggest a surge in support for Reform U.K., the populist anti-immigrant party led by Nigel Farage. Reform has only five seats in the 650-seat House of Commons but is vying for top spot in polls with Labour and the main opposition Conservatives, even though an election is likely four years away.Reform’s rise has left both Labour and the Tories scrambling to respond, and is part of the reason for the government talking tough on immigration.But Rob Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, cautioned that “wooing back Reform voters with red meat on Farage’s favorite issues is a strategy with low prospects of success and high risks.”“Labour won last summer with a ruthless focus on issues which united a broad coalition -– growth, public services and the cost of living,” he wrote in The Observer newspaper. “Focusing instead on issues which divide Labour and play to Farage’s strengths is not a great strategy.”____Follow AP’s global migration coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/migration More

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    Minister admits UK will have to ‘wait and see’ as Trump announces first tariffs to affect major industry

    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.Read moreA minister has admitted the UK will have to “wait and see” after Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to the US.In comments made on the way to the Super Bowl late on Sunday, Mr Trump announced plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on “any steel coming into the United States”, adding that aluminium will also be subject to additional duties.He did not offer any details but did confirm he plans to announce on Tuesday or Wednesday other “reciprocal tariffs” on countries that have their own duties on US products.But asked about his comments, Dame Angela Eagle said it is “in the best interests” of both the UK and US that the two countries carry on with their “balanced trade”.Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle admitted the UK will have to “wait and see” regarding tariffs More