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 ThomasEditor European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday she is doubling down and pushing full steam ahead to achieve gender parity in her executive Commission team that runs the day-to-day affairs of the massive bloc — despite stubborn resistance from some of the 27 member states. The German, who is setting up the college for her second five-year mandate, may be beholden to the candidates that each member state chooses to provide. But she has been twisting arms in capitals to make sure that the original tally of 21 men and 6 women changes to at least a semblance of balance. In her first term, she achieved near gender parity among EU commissioners.“I have throughout my whole political life been fighting for women having access to decision-making positions and leading positions,” von der Leyen told reporters. “My experience is that if you don’t ask for it, you don’t get it. It does not come naturally.”She sent the member states a letter insisting she should have a choice between at least one man and a woman, giving her some leverage though legally she has no right to insist on such a gender constraint. Without the letter, she said she would have faced a fait accompli of having the most lopsided male-dominated Commission in over two decades. Now, at least she is continuing the fight. “It is absolutely worth it. The process is ongoing. By now we are at two digits — women — but I haven’t seen all potential candidates, she said. When it comes to gender issues, the 27-nation EU is often seen as perhaps the most progressive grouping of countries in the world, leaving behind other nations and continents where the dominance of men in political institutions is still the order of the day. She acknowledged that government leaders are often restricted in their choice by national politics giving one party the right one year, and another the next time. If not governments, parliaments can also get involved — making life even more difficult. And quality is equally important, she said. “The Commission needs competence,” she said, calling it “the first and most important criterion.” So far though, the EU will have several women — there is the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola of Malta, and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas from Estonia, along with von der Leyen’s top posting. Once von der Leyen completes the mix and match of political group, nation and post, the full list goes to the European Parliament for approval. Each prospective commissioner can still be rejected by lawmakers. There is no set date for when a vote will happen, but debate will continue for most of September. 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 Home Office is spending £15m on returns partnerships with 11 countries to boost the number of deportations of small boat migrants, The Independent can reveal.It comes after 12 people died on Tuesday including six children and a pregnant woman in an attempted crossing of the English Channel, the deadliest crossing attempt in the year to date. The department is looking for charities and non-profit organisations to support migrants with reintegration when they have been sent back to their home countries.Under a contract published last month, the government will spend £5m each year with charities offering failed asylum seekers and those with no right to remain in the UK help such as accommodation and cash.Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (James Manning/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 ThomasEditorAngela Rayner is considering scrapping Margaret Thatcher’s Right to Buy scheme, it has emerged.The deputy prime minister and housing secretary attended an urgent meeting with local authorities in August to discuss housing reforms, according to reports.And a Ministry of Housing and Local Government spokesman told The Daily Telegraph it is “working at pace to reverse the continued decline in the number of social rent homes”.Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has promised a council housing revolution (Lucy North/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 ThomasEditorThe first major reform to public services by Keir Starmer’s government has passed all stages in the Commons less than two months after voters installed him into Downing Street.The historic Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill passed its third reading in Commons as the first step in renationalising Britain’s railways.It came as the shadow Great British Railways was also set up in preparation for running the new publicly owned service.The Tories have accused Labour of putting ideology before value for money but the speed with which the Bill has been passed through has intentionally been a sign to the left that Starmer’s government has a socialist agenda.Louise Haigh has taken the Bill through the Commons 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 ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer has found himself at the centre of an international storm over his government’s decision to restrict arms sales to Israel just as mourners were burying six hostages killed in Gaza.The move to halt 30 of the 350 arms export licences was condemned by Benjamin Netanyahu as “shameful”, while the White House has made it clear it will not be following Britain’s lead.Joe Biden’s national security communications adviser, John Kirby, said: “Every nation can speak for themselves, on how and to what degree that they support Israel. We’re going to continue to do what we have to do to support Israel’s defensive capabilities.”The issue has also blown up in the Tory leadership contest, with candidates lining up to attack foreign secretary David Lammy’s announcement.Even Boris Johnson got involved, tweeting: “Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?”Netanyahu is furious over UK arms ban 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 ThomasEditorTom Tugendhat doubled down on his bid to reinvent himself as a candidate of the Tory right as he waded into the growing debate within the party over ditching the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).Just 24 hours after the contest’s frontrunner Kemi Badenoch had dismissed leaving the ECHR as an attempt to seek “easy answers”, the former security minister told his supporters that he was willing to ditch it.When the race to replace Rishi Sunak began after the election disaster for the Tories, Mr Tugendhat had been seen as the candidate for the party’s One Nation group on the left who would try to win back power from the centre ground of British politics.He was seen as the best candidate to win back votes from the Lib Dems and Labour but not Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on the right.Tom Tugendhat officially launched his leadership campaign the day before Tory MPs are due to hold their first ballot of the contest (Jonathan Brady/PA) More

Foreign secretary supports Israel’s ‘right to defence’ after banning 30 arms exportsSupport 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 said that pensioners should be able to afford the government’s decision to slash winter fuel payments because of increases to the state pension and energy bills being lower than previous years.Tory MP Wendy Morton questioned Ms Reeves decision to implement the controversial policy that will impact 10 million pensioners who have “worked hard all their lives”.Ms Reeves replied: “The increases in the basic state pension mean that constituents of hers are £900 better off than they were a year ago and of course energy bills are lower this year than they were last year.The chancellor’s appearance in the House of Commons comes amid a deepening row over the UK’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel.Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted furiously to the UK’s decision, describing it as “shameful” and “misguided”.However, a number of left-wing MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, have urged for a full arms embargo to be implemented on Israel.Mr Corbyn shared a letter signed by the five MPs who are part of the newly formed Independent Alliance group calling for an “immediate and total arms embargo to Israel”.Show latest update 1725373891Chancellor Rachel Reeves says pensioners can afford winter fuel payment cutsRachel Reeves has said that pensioners should be able to afford the government’s decision to slash winter fuel payments because of increases to the state pension and energy bills being lower than previous years.Wendy Morton, the Tory former Cabinet minister, questioned Ms Reeves decision to implement the controversial policy that will impact 10 million pensioners who have “worked hard all their lives”.Ms Reeves replied: “The increases in the basic state pension mean that constituents of hers are £900 better off than they were a year ago and of course energy bills are lower this year than they were last year.Ms Reeves appearance in the House of Commons comes amid a deepening row over the UK’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel.Joe Middleton3 September 2024 15:311725371524Twelve dead after boat carrying more than 60 migrants sinks in Channel, French officials sayAt least 12 people have died and others are feared missing after a boat carrying more than 60 migrants sank off the French coast, officials have said.A major air and sea operation was launched on Tuesday after the boat got into difficulty off Gris-Nez point, close to Calais, plunging all those onboard into the water in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.“Unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open,” said Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel near the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where a first-aid post was set up to treat victims.Both Mr Barbarin and Etienne Baggio, a spokesperson for the French maritime prefecture which oversees that stretch of sea, said rescuers recovered 61 people from the water.Andy Gregory reportsJoe Middleton3 September 2024 14:521725370240Former Labour frontbencher hits out as Starmer faces backlash over winter fuel cutsA former frontbencher has hit out at the government’s plans to strip the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners as Keir Starmer faces a growing Labour backlash over the issue.Melanie Onn has called on ministers to consider changes to the policy to ensure older people are “not left in the cold this winter”.Her warning comes as pressure mounts on the prime minister over the decision to remove the allowance from 10 million people, after the regulator Ofgem announced household energy bills will rise by £150 in October.Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reportsJoe Middleton3 September 2024 14:301725369340Watch: Tories turned into ‘grumpy party’, James Cleverly says in leadership bidTories turned into ‘grumpy party’, James Cleverly says in leadership bidJoe Middleton3 September 2024 14:151725367540Tory councillor’s wife ‘did not break X rules’ with criminal social media postA criminal social media post shared by the wife of a Conservative Party councillor “did not violate X rules”, users who reported it claimed they were told.Lucy Connolly, 41, could be facing a “substantial” prison sentence for the post, in which she called for hotels housing migrants to be set alight and for “mass deportation now”.The childminder pleaded guilty to publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred at Northampton Crown Court on Monday.Athena Stavrou reportsJoe Middleton3 September 2024 13:451725366029Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms government capping corporation tax at 25 per centChancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the government will be capping corporation tax at 25 per cent , as part of a “tax roadmap for business” which will be set out at the Budget.During Treasury questions, Ms Reeves told the Commons: “Investment is at the heart of this Government’s growth mission, alongside stability and reform, with robust fiscal rules and respect for economic institutions, the Government is building the confidence needed to deliver private sector investment.“It is vital also that the tax system supports growth, and that’s why today I can confirm that at the Budget the Government will be outlining a tax roadmap for business, to offer the certainty that encourages investment and gives business the confidence to grow, including our commitment to cap corporation tax at 25% for the duration of this Parliament, and to retain full expensing.”Joe Middleton3 September 2024 13:201725365655Jordan praises UK’s decision to suspend some Israel arms exportsJordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, has praised the UK’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel and called on other countries to impose a complete arms embargo on the country.Posting on X, he said: “The Uk did right to suspend some arms exports licenses to Israel. We urge an expansion of this suspension and call on all countries to impose a complete arms embargo on Israel. Unless consequences are real, Netanyahu will not end his aggression on Gaza and the West Bank, and will not stop violating international law and threatening the security of the whole region.”Joe Middleton3 September 2024 13:141725364314Tory leadership hopeful Cleverly accuses foreign secretary Lammy of damaging UK’s relationship with Israel and USTory leadership hopeful James Cleverly has accused foreign secretary David Lammy of damaging the UK’s relationship with the United States and Israel.Posting on X in response to the government’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel, he said: “The Foreign Secretary has damaged two of our most important relationships at a crucial time – and it won’t have the impact he wants.”Joe Middleton3 September 2024 12:511725364037MPs raise concerns about winter fuel allowance cutsMPs have raised concerns about cuts to the winter fuel allowance, with one saying that 90 per cent of pensioners in Devon and Cornwall will be affected by the partial scrapping of the benefit.Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay said that in his constituency in Devon that 21,000 pensioners will be impacted by the cut.He said: “Whilst many of us would acknowledge that you were left with a massive financial challenge when coming into this House, one remains extremely concerned for residents who have reached out to myself and many colleagues with their major concerns about being able to make ends meet as we enter into the winter period. They have had no time to save for this, and therefore it’s a complete shock to them.“What assurances can you give us that you’ll be supporting those who are most vulnerable, and if it’s failing to achieve this, what assurances can you give that you will scrap these proposals?”In response, the chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the government was working with charities and local authorities to encourage pensioners who are entitled to the pension credit benefit to apply to do so, adding: “I want to ensure that the lowest income pensioners get the support that they are entitled to.“Under the previous government, 800,000 pensioner households entitled to pension credit were not receiving it.“That is why this Government is currently undertaking action to encourage uptake of the pension credit, to ensure that the poorest pensioners, those who are not even receiving that minimum income guarantee are getting it.”Joe Middleton3 September 2024 12:471725362875Reeves defends winter fuel allowance payments for some pensionersChancellor Rachel Reeves has defended the decision to cut winter fuel allowance payments for some pensioners, as she said that it should be offset by increases to pensions and lower energy prices this winter compared with last year.Ms Reeves said that the state pension was worth £900 more than last year, and that it will rise again next April under the triple lock, which guarantees it will rise by inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%.Responding to questions in the Commons, she said: “We inherited a £22 billion blackhole from the previous government who made unfunded spending commitments with no idea how to pay them.“When I became Chancellor I took an immediate audit of the spending situation to understand the scale of that challenge, and I made difficult decisions to put the public finances on a sustainable footing. They were tough decisions, but they were the right decisions.“This includes the decision to make the winter fuel payment better targeted so pensioners who need it most, will get it alongside pension credits.”Joe Middleton3 September 2024 12:27 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 ThomasEditorBoris Johnson has accused Sir Keir Starmer of abandoning Israel after the government suspended some arms export licences to the country.The former prime minister questioned Sir Keir and foreign secretary David Lammy’s decision to suspend dozens of licences, asking “Do they want Hamas to win?”Writing on X on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said: “Hamas is still holding many innocent Jewish hostages while Israel tries to prevent a repeat of the October 7 massacre. “Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?”And, in a major deterioration of relations between the UK and Israel, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Sir Keir and Mr Lammy’s decision. He said: “This shameful decision will not change Israel’s determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization that savagely murdered 1200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens.”Mr Netanyahu added: “Just as Britain’s heroic stand against the Nazis is seen today as having been vital in defending our common civilization, so too will history judge Israel’s stand against Hamas and Iran’s axis of terror.”Britain is suspending around 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel amid a “clear risk” they could be used to breach international humanitarian law relating to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the supply of aid to Gaza.The condemnation also became a Tory leadership issue with former foreign secretary James Cleverly and former security minister Tom Tugendhat wading in with furious responses.Mr Cleverly tweeted: “The foreign secretary has damaged two of our most important relationships at a crucial time – and it won’t have the impact he wants.”Boris Johnson accused Labour of ‘abandoning Israel’ More