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 ThomasEditorA Labour MP is renting out flats in London scourged by black mould and ant infestations, his tenants have said.Jas Athwal, the newly-elected MP for Ilford South, is parliament’s biggest landlord, co-owning a total of 18 rental properties, 15 of which are residential.Redbridge Council, which Mr Athwal led until becoming an MP in July, has now been urged to investigate his properties after journalists and a City Hall member visited and spoke to tenants about the conditions there.Describing himself as a “renters’ champion”, Mr Athwall told The Independent in a statement that he was “shocked at the reported condition of a number of the properties” and “profoundly sorry that tenants have been let down”.In one block of seven flats owned by Mr Athwal, nearly half the tenants said they had to regularly clean their bathroom ceilings to remove mould, according to the BBC, which reported seeing evidence of ant infestations in a number of those properties, which are situated above a shop in Ilford.“The ants are everywhere,” one resident was quoted as saying, while pointing to insects climbing up a door frame. “They are on my kid’s body and on their clothes.”The communal areas in the properties were dirty and lights did not work, while fire alarms were hanging loose from the ceiling and a washing machine had been dumped next to a set of stairs, the BBC reported.One resident said their family member is a “clean freak” who keeps scrubbing the black mould on their bathroom ceiling to keep it from spreading, while another said: “The whole ceiling would be black if we didn’t clean it every few weeks.”None of the tenants spoken to wanted their names to be included, with some reportedly saying this was due to a fear of being evicted. The BBC visited a number of flats owned by Jas Athwal 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 ThomasEditorKeir Starmer is under growing pressure to relent on his opposition to introducing the Youth Mobility Scheme to allow under-30s to travel freely between the EU and UK and rejoin the Erasmus scheme for students.A petition launched by the pro-EU European Movement supporting both schemes has hit 50,000 signatures, piling pressure on the Labour government to agree to it.The new prime minister has vowed to renegotiate the flawed agreement made by Boris Johnson with the EU and began work this week by launching talks for a new bilateral deal with Germany to be concluded in six months.The prime minister was on a whistlestop tour of Germany and France meeting chancellor Olaf Scholz and French president Emmanuel Macron.Starmer met Macron in Paris this week 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 ThomasEditorNewcastle United has distanced itself from Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick, after he filmed a promotional video with the club’s former owner in St James’ Park.In the video, Jenrick and businessman Sir John Hall stand on the pitch of the Newcastle stadium discussing the “indoctrination” of people in the northeast as Labour Party supporters, and expressing “concern” at the “culture of our nation”.Speaking on X, Newcastle’s head of communications, Lee Marshall, said the pair had not been given permission to film a political advert – even suggesting the club had been duped into allowing them to film in St James’ Park.“This was not approved by anyone connected with Newcastle United. The club was told Sir John wished to film a biographical piece on his own life,” Mr Marshall wrote.A Newcastle spokesperson confirmed to the Independent that the visit would not have been permitted had the club been aware of the nature of the film, adding that this would have applied to any political affiliation. In the video, Sir John reveals that his dad was a miner and that he first visited St James’ Park 84 years ago – when he was eight years old – in what appears to be the only biographical information in the film.He goes on to express concerns about the direction of the UK before endorsing Jenrick as the next leader: “Coming to the leadership election with people like yourself etcetera, who would come with another message, I would hope.”“That’s what I’m trying to do. That’s why I’m standing to be leader of the party,” Jenrick replies.“This is a great part of the country, but we’ve got to give it hope and optimism, and that’s what the Conservative Party has got to do in the future.”Sir John bought Newcastle in 1992 before selling his 41 percent stake to sports retail magnate Mike Ashley in 2007, a highly unpopular owner accused of presiding over an era of decline at the club.The Leazes stand of St James’ Park is named after the 92-year-old businessman, who appointed manager Kevin Keegan, the manager who brought Newcastle closer than ever to a Premier League title in 1996.Former Newcastle United chairman Sir John Hall, pictured in 2017, stopped backing the Tories and became a Reform UK donor during the election 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 ThomasEditorRightwing Tory MP Esther McVey has doubled down on a controversial Tweet which appeared to compare Labour’s proposed smoking ban to the Holocaust.A leading Jewish community group has led the criticisms of the former common sense minister’s social media post describing it as “repugnant”.In it, the former TV presenter wrote out the words to German theologian Martin Niemoller’s famed 1946 poem, First They Came, which warns how those who stood passively by in the face of intensifying Nazi persecution became complicit in the Holocaust.McVey’s controversial post on X 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 ThomasEditorPriti Patel made it clear that she would consider reviving Rwanda-style deportations for asylum seekers to third party countries if she were to become prime minister as she officially launched her bid to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader.The former home secretary was the original architect of the highly controversial Rwanda scheme which cost the taxpayer £700 million and saw no asylum seekers flown to the east African state before Labour cancelled the plan after they were elected in July.But answering questions at her launch, Dame Priti defended her record and said that a future government led by her would need to consider a similar scheme – although she avoided mentioning the word “Rwanda”.Priti Patel at her campaign event in London on Friday 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 had a portrait of Margaret Thatcher removed from No 10 Downing Street, according to his biographer. Tom Baldwin said that the prime minister found the £100,000 painting, which was commissioned by Gordon Brown, “unsettling” – sparking outrage among Conservative MPs.Speaking at an event organised by Glasgow’s Aye Write book festival, Mr Baldwin said that after Sir Keir took office, they met at No 10 for a private conversation. Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly had a portrait of Margaret Thatcher removed from No 10 Downing Street More

Priti Patel says Keir Starmer has launched nasty financial assault on pensionersSupport 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 ThomasEditorDame Priti Patel has warned Labour’s four-day week plan would be “devastating” for businesses as she launched her Conservative leadership campaign in London.The former home secretary criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s speech in the Downing Street Rose Garden on Tuesday this week as “one of the most feeble, pitiful and dishonest speeches you will ever hear”. She also accused Sir Keir of launching a “nasty financial assault” on pensioners with the decision to cut winter fuel payments.It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash for moving a £100,000 portrait of Margaret Thatcher in No 10 Downing Street because he found it “unsettling”. The portrait controvercy has drawn sharp criticism from Conservative MPs, who branded his decision as “petty” and a “vindictive” act. The prime minister hinted at a potential smoking ban in outdoor spaces like pub gardens.Speaking in Paris, he confirmed changes to smoking laws are under consideration, with details to be revealed soon. But the move has sparked concern among hospitality groups over potential negative impacts on the sector. The potential new Tobacco and Vapes Bill also caused cabinet tensions with Business Department officials warning that the move could create financial challenges for the industry.Show latest update 1725029754Scots must take independence decision out of Westminster’s hands, says BrownThe people of Scotland must take the decision over independence out of the hands of Westminster, the SNP’s depute leader has said.Addressing the first day of the party’s conference in Edinburgh, Keith Brown said the “sovereign people of Scotland” were “supreme over the UK Supreme Court”.Under Nicola Sturgeon, the court rejected a push for the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.Support for the SNP at the next election, Mr Brown said, would also be support for a “convention of all democratically-elected representatives … who support Scotland’s right to choose”.Such a convention could see the SNP working alongside former leader Alex Salmond and the Alba Party should they win seats.In his address to members, Mr Brown said the ability to demonstrate how Scotland can achieve independence will be “central” to the SNP’s success in 2026.“We have to first of all acknowledge Westminster’s stance – they’ve been clear,” he said.( 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 government is considering a ban on outdoor smoking in an effort to curb preventable deaths and alleviate pressure on the NHS.The proposal would affect small parks, pub gardens, and areas outside hospitals, nightclubs and sports venues.Sir Keir Starmer said action is needed “to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer”.But the hospitality industry warned it would cause serious economic harm to venues already struggling since the Covid-19 pandemic, and questioned whether the move is in the public interest. The proposed ban applies only to England, although devolved governments could choose to bring in similar rules.Tory leadership contender Tom Tugendhat described the policy as an assault on individual freedoms.Leaked papers revealed that the government is considering a ban in specific outdoor areas as an extension of legislation first introduced by Rishi Sunak’s government.Keir Starmer has confirmed he is considering a smoking ban in pub gardens, among other places More