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 moreReform UK MP James McMurdock was jailed for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend 18 years ago, it has emerged, as fresh details in the scandal over the politician’s crime come to light. Mr McMurdock claimed he had “pushed” his partner when details of his historical conviction, which he had not disclosed to the public before the election, were first revealed in July.But court records from his sentencing, obtained by The Times this week, show he was detained in a young offenders’ institution for 21 days for kicking the victim around four times, in an incident which took place in 2006. According to the records obtained and reported on by The Times, Mr McMurdock pleaded guilty to assault by beating, and the “serious nature of the offence” meant the sentence was not suspended.The Times reported the offence “requires immediate punishment” and that a pre-sentence report indicated a “lack of willingness to comply”.Reform UK MP, James McMurdock 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 moreA group of French mayors have called for a key cross-Channel migrant deal with the UK to be ripped up, accusing Britain of being two-faced in its approach to the migrant crisis. The Group of Mayors from the Opal Coast, which includes Calais as well as 14 smaller towns engulfed by the small boats crisis, has called for the renegotiation of a deal that allows Britain and France to carry out checks in each other’s ports. The group, led by Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart, have accused the UK of hypocrisy for claiming to want to stop migrants crossing the Channel, while letting most of those who arrive settle in Britain.Keir Starmer has brushed off calls from the French mayors 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 moreBenjamin Netanyahu faces arrest if he enters Britain after an international arrest warrant was issued for him, Downing Street has said.No 10 refused to explicitly comment on the individual case, saying it was a hypothetical situation, but said the UK would follow its legal obligations. It comes after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defence minister, over alleged war crimes in Gaza.The ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’ armed wing, over the October 7 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in Gaza.Yvette Cooper said “there are proper processes that need to be followed” 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 has been warned “people are going to die” as a result of his decision to scrap winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.The prime minister was confronted during a round of local radio interviews by a listener named Maxine who said “we just can’t keep warm” and that “elderly people are literally going to die”.“How is he going to live with that?” Maxine asked. She added: “Is he going to have the courage to back down from a terrible decision?”Keir Starmer was confronted over the winter fuel payment cut 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 moreBacking Brexit is not a protected belief under equalities law, an employment tribunal has ruled as a former UKIP councillor was found to have been sacked for sharing offensive social media posts about immigrants.Colette Fairbanks was fired by drug and alcohol charity Change Grow Live over the offensive posts but lost a claim that she was bullied and harassed by her employer for supporting Britain’s departure from the EU.She argued that her political views were philosophical beliefs, protected by the Equality Act, pointing to her support for Brexit, opposition to illegal immigration and her desire for the UK to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights.A judge ruled that supporting Brexit is not a protected belief 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 moreA social media ban for under-16s is “not on the cards at the moment”, the technology minister has said.It comes as the government seeks to limit harms for young people online, with new laws coming into force next year that will put more responsibility on social media platforms to protect users.While Peter Kyle on Wednesday said “everything is on the table” when it comes to regulation, he has since said a ban for under-16s is “not my preferred choice”.“There’s no work programme at the moment on banning smartphones to children”, he told the Guardian as he met a group of teenagers at the NSPCC headquarters in London.Childline operators take around 10 calls a day from children suffering harms from social media.Peter Kyle on Wednesday said a social media ban for under-16s is not his preferred choice More