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    Brexit divisions among farmers are endangering fight against Reeves’ tractor tax

    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 moreAnybody in Westminster on Monday watching the battalions of tractors being driven down Whitehall and around parliament square on end would be in no doubt about the strength of feeling in rural communities on the changes to inheritance tax.While the blaring horns gave politicians (and journalists) in the Palace of Westminster a headache for most of the day, the image on display was one of farmers and their supporters united in common cause – just as they had been in the previous two mass protests in Westminster.But the truth behind the protests is that the campaign groups involved is becoming increasingly factionalised and do not even have a common aim in resolving the issue.And increasingly it seems that even in this dispute, the shadow of Brexit is dividing farming communities and those campaigning on their behalf.Farmers and their tractors protest in Whitehall (Gareth Fuller/PA) More

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    Assisted dying vote is a win for Starmer – but one he will not get the credit for

    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 moreNever has a prime minister said and done so little to get what he wanted in bringing about such a profound change to the country he is governing with an historic vote on assisted suicide.It was no surprise that Sir Keir Starmer voted for Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s bill – as did a majority of Labour MPs. He had voted in favour of the failed legislation nine years ago in 2015 and had given no indication of changing his mind.But, unlike five of his six immediate predecessors in number 10, Sir Keir has kept a vow of silence during the debate before walking through the Aye lobby with 329 others in favour.The issue now is what it means for his government and by extension his own personal standing after less than six months in office which has seen him under siege almost from the day he was elected.Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak both backed the Bill (Alberto Pezzali/PA) More

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    Post-Brexit border controls slammed as ‘chaotic’ as system charges customers for checks that never took place

    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 ThomasEditorA post-Brexit border control system has caused a string of errors with businesses mistakenly charged for goods checks that never took place, customs agents say.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has come under fire after angry businesses experienced errors with the “chaotic” customs system.During an online meeting on Tuesday, government officials were told a consignment was not unloaded at a government-run border inspection facility at Sevington in Kent because of a design flaw in the inspection bay. But the shipment owner was still charged for the inspection despite never happening, a customs agent complained. Lorries at the Sevington Inland Border Facility in Ashford as the National Audit Office warns over uncertainty for a post-Brexit border controls system More

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    Why the Lib Dems pledge to reverse Brexit is their best chance this election

    For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsWhen Jo Swinson ignored the advice of a few of the more senior Lib Dem MPs and took one of the great political gambles in 2019 it spectacularly failed.The then Lib Dem leader made a deal with the SNP to effectively force an early general election to break the then Brexit deadlock and give Boris Johnson the election he was desperate for.She went into the campaign as her party’s “candidate for prime minister” with a promise to have a second referendum to reverse the 2016 Brexit vote front and centre. Instead of measuring the curtains for 10 Downing Street though she lost her seat in Scotland and her party dropped from 12 to 11 seats.But as they launch their manifesto today, the process of reversing Brexit is back on the agenda. There are good reasons though why they believe it will succeed now where it failed five years ago.Ed Davey launching the Lib Dem manifesto More

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    Could a pact between Scottish Labour and Tories oust SNP?

    For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails The idea of Labour and Tory strategists working together at the next general election – plotting over tactics and where to place their resources – sounds like an […] More

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    A constitutional clash looms on gender reforms

    For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails To set aside sensitive moral questions and competing human rights is the best way to analyse the purely political aspects of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. It […] More

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    Inside Politics: Caught in a web

    For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Hello there, I’m Matt Mathers and welcome to The Independent’s Inside Politics newsletter. Sir Gavin Williamson kept a tarantula on his desk while Conservative Party chief whip. Is […] More