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Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseDomestic abuse victims who make multiple reports to the police of violence and abuse carried out by their partners are being failed, the women’s minister has admitted.Speaking to The Independent, Anneliese Dodds warned that violence against women is “stubbornly high” but charge rates for such crimes are “extremely low”.Ms Dodds, currently in Washington with chancellor Rachel Reeves, said the impact of such violence was also having a devastating impact on children caught up in the abuse.“For some women, unfortunately, home can be an extremely dangerous place,” she said. “We are determined to change that. That is why we said we will put domestic abuse specialists into every 999 control room so that we can have a joined-up approach.“So you end that situation where women are reporting repeatedly that they have been subject to domestic violence, but no one is joining the dots and making sure that they are protected.”The move to place domestic abuse specialists in emergency control rooms in England and Wales is one of a raft of measures being rolled out to fulfil the government’s manifesto pledge to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.Ms Dodds said the whole Labour team is determined to ensure they are tackling domestic abuse. “It has an impact on women, also on their children,” she added. “It really holds women back. There is a strong moral case, but I have to say there is also an economic case for taking action on this too, and we are determined to make sure that we are moving things forward.”Ms Dodds lent her backing to The Independent’s Brick by Brick campaign which has been launched in partnership with charity Refuge to build a house for women and children escaping abusive partners. Plans are already underway for building a second home after the initial target of £300,000 for the campaign was smashed and more than £350,000 in donations has poured in.“Everyone deserves a safe roof over their head. No one should have to fear for their safety at home,” Ms Dodds said. “I fully support The Independent’s fantastic Brick by Brick campaign and commend the campaign for already surpassing its original £300,000 target. This campaign will make a huge difference to the lives of women affected by domestic abuse.”The Independent recently reported that more than half of domestic abuse survivors face homelessness after being turned away from refuges due to a chronic national shortage of spaces. Figures show around six in 10 women fleeing domestic abuse who requested a space in a refuge in England between April 2022 and March 2023 were denied a place.The new Labour government has got a really clear reform agenda for women – making changes across a range of areas so that women can fulfil their potentialAnneliese DoddsSir Keir Starmer also gave his personal backing to the Brick by Brick campaign recently in an exclusive interview with The Independent – with the PM promising he and his cabinet would donate to the campaign. Dame Joanna Lumley, Dame Helen Mirren, Olivia Colman, Sir Patrick Stewart, David Morrissey and Victoria Derbyshire are among the famous faces backing The Independent’s appeal.Every five days in England and Wales, an average of one woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner. While one in four women will be subjected to domestic abuse in their lives in England and Wales, someone will turn to Refuge for help as often as every two minutes.Fears have recently been raised that domestic abusers are “slipping through the net” of the government’s early release scheme for prisoners and survivors could be put at grave risk.Discussing the 14 years of Tory rule before Labour came to power in July, she warned of “really disturbing developments” in regards to women’s safety and women’s health being “deprioritised”.“We have also seen women’s economic opportunities not being opened as they should have been,” she said. “The new Labour government has got a really clear reform agenda for women – making changes across a range of areas so that women can fulfil their potential and that is going to be important not just for those women but for our whole society, communities and our country as well.” More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseThe UK government is planning to ban disposable vapes by summer 2025 – and we want to know if you back the move.The new legislation will reportedly give suppliers until 1 June 2025 to clear all stock across England, with the UK government expecting Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to implement similar measures.Supporters of the ban argue that it will help curb the rise in vaping among children and reduce the environmental impact of single-use vapes, which are often discarded improperly. Research shows that the number of children experimenting with vaping has increased by 50 per cent in the past year. Health officials also note that disposable vapes are the preferred choice for young users.However, some critics argue that disposable vapes can help people quit smoking, and that the ban could push them back to cigarettes.On the other side of the debate, several people have suggested that broader regulations are needed for all vaping products, not just disposables. Some have also questioned whether the government should focus more on smoking regulations, such as banning smoking in outdoors, or revisit former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s scrapped plan to phase out smoking entirely by gradually raising the legal age to buy cigarettes.We want to know what you think: Is banning disposable vapes the right solution to protect young people and the environment, or should the government focus on more comprehensive measures?Share your thoughts in the comments — we’ll highlight the best responses 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. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseDisposable vapes are set to be banned across Britain next year amid fears children are illegally buying the devices.New laws will reportedly give suppliers a deadline of 1 June 2025 to get rid of all stock across England, with the UK government expecting devolved nations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to follow suit.The number of children vaping has tripled in the last three years with a significant proportion (nine per cent) of 11 to 15-year-olds using the devices, figures show.“It is deeply worrying that a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds used a vape last year,” health minister Andrew Gwynne said.“We know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today. Banning them will keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.”New laws will give suppliers a deadline of 1 June 2025 to get rid of all disposable vape stock across England More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseRachel Reeves has been boosted by a sharp drop in inflation as she seeks to find £40bn of tax hikes and spending cuts in this month’s Budget. The chancellor will welcome the dip, which saw inflation fall under the Bank of England’s 2 per cent target for the first time in more than three years, as she prepares for what promises to be a brutal Budget.The consumer price index (CPI) dropped to 1.7 per cent, down from 2.2. per cent in August, according to the Office for National Statistics.Rachel Reeves has identified a £40 billion funding gap she will seek to plug in the Budget. Issue date: Wednesday October 9, 2024. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseTributes have flooded in for former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond, who has died aged 69. The Alba Party leader, who served as Scotland’s first minister between 2007 and 2014, passed away on Saturday after giving a speech in North Macedonia.Describing his death as “sudden” and “a shock”, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar paid tribute to Mr Salmond as “a central figure in politics for over three decades”.Anas Sarwar said Alex Salmond’s ‘contribution to the Scottish political landscape cannot be overstated’ More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseThe prime minister has recalled the murder of a woman stabbed 71 times by her abusive ex-partner as he gave his personal backing to The Independent’s Brick by Brick campaign to build a safe refuge for women and children fleeing domestic abuse.In an exclusive interview, Sir Keir Starmer vowed that he and his cabinet would donate to the campaign, which aims to raise £300,000 to build a safe haven for women and their children.He cited the case of Jane Clough, a nurse killed by her ex-partner after he was let out of prison on bail against the family’s wishes. Sir Keir met her parents while working as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).“Jane was left living in fear he would hurt her again,” he told The Independent. “Day after day, she took care not to travel to work alone. The one morning she didn’t, he was waiting for her in a hospital car park. He stabbed her 71 times.“I’ve seen so many families torn apart, and so many lives destroyed, by domestic abuse. That’s why I’m determined that those at risk should have more support, places they can feel safe, and be able to access the services they need to rebuild their lives. “And it’s why I am so pleased to back The Independent’s Brick By Brick campaign to support victims of domestic abuse. I don’t only support the campaign, but I want the campaign to go on and get bigger.”Be a brick, buy a brick and donate here or text BRICK to 70560 to donate £15The prime minister has personally backed The Independent’s Brick by Brick campaign More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind 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 ThomasEditorLabour’s flagship overhaul of private renting laws has been debated in parliament and is set to progress as the party reaches its 100th day in power. The Renters’ Rights Bill sets out a raft of new legislation designed to give greater rights and protections to private renters in the UK, as set out in Labour’s election manifesto.The delivery of the new bill is being led by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who is also the housing secretary. The Labour minister has said she is “determined to get this bill into law as soon as possible.”Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and chancellor Rachel Reeves More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind 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 ThomasEditorHaving once said that Boris was the life and soul of the party, but not safe in taxis, I have to say that having read his memoir he is not safe behind a keyboard either. That is, if you are looking for truth, integrity, seriousness and profundity in a politician, let alone a prime minister.His new memoir, Unleashed, is Billy Bunter let loose in Westminster with its endless whooses and biffs and sockeroos. Is Boris a serious writer, a chronicler of the Covid years, an eye-witness to some of the most challenging and troubled times in our island’s history? No, he’s more Beano or Dandy than Gladstone or even Rory Stewart. Farcical rather than factual seems to be his preferred mode of travel. This is a book of two voices – the caricature bombastic Boris, and the calm, quiet and calculating Boris. Some would say this perfectly reflects the two-faced nature of Boris Johnson the Janus – a classical allusion he will understand better than most, even if he doesn’t appreciate it.But then Boris was always a split personality. He did after all write two essays, one that argued for Britain leaving the EU and the other with us remaining. He was split, pulled in opposite directions, but not for the reasons you might expect. He was agonising over what would best serve him. And was always thus.Sitting opposite Boris in cabinet, I wanted to hold a mirror up to him. Did he realise the appalling faces he pulled when Theresa May, the then prime minister, was speaking? That face he adopts of amused determination – shoulders hunched, brow scowled, mouth pursed as though bracing for an assault or a charge? Nobody maintains that pose for long and when he forgot to hold it his look would settle into the innocent picture covering the front of Unleashed… But it was never long before the classic Boris face returned.The first version is that caricature of himself, the exaggerated performance that makes him almost un-satirisable. You’ll remember it from speeches filled with explosive language and absurdist imagery – it’s what makes him such a memorable orator and, for a while, such an unstoppable force. The second voice is a much more calm, emotionally involved tone, whose gentle concern almost makes you believe his desire to do good. Almost being the key word here.What’s most interesting is when he chooses to use both versions throughout the book and at the end, you’re left wondering which is the real one, and which is the performance. Fame or infamy? Family man or unfaithful rogue? Courageous or calamitous? Always we are left wondering who is the real Boris. And if a real Boris exists at all. We discover a man whose mission never gets quite beyond “boostering” – not the economy, for which the term was coined, but boostering Boris himself.Unsurprisingly the first, almost parody, voice of Boris is most clear in his chapters on Brexit. Boris casts himself undoubtedly and inevitably as the hero of Brexit – he revels in his own dazzling genius, in the campaign’s simplicity, in its crude but effective language, and his own “brilliant clarity of message”. And he ridicules the Remain campaign, which “had everything except the one thing you really need: they lacked conviction”. What on earth does he think the rest of us were doing? Campaigning so hard it put political careers, let alone friendships, on the line. If he thinks we lacked conviction, I’ve got a bus with a slogan to sell him. And it would have a slogan which was not ridiculed for being full of fantasy facts. While this exuberant, provocative Boris recalls these years, as if they were a personal military triumph for his country, that jubilant joy at winning grinds to a shocking, screeching halt as the victory sinks in. Let me put it plainly: in a memoir designed to cement his legacy, it screams out that he had no plan apart from to get a medal for winning. The horror of his justification for having no clue how to proceed once he’d convinced the country to follow him out of Europe may test the patience of readers who were not Brexit supporters. “Now what the hell were we supposed to do,” he whines. “We had no plan for government … negotiation … it is utterly infuriating that we should be blamed.”Amber Rudd served in Boris Johnson’s cabinet for two months More