UK Politics

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentKeir Starmer has announced a crackdown on the use of taxpayers’ money for university courses for top executives – in a victory for an Independent campaign. Ministers were under pressure to act after this publication revealed that more than £1bn of taxpayers’ money was being used to fund masters-level courses for top executives.Now in a shake-up of the apprenticeship levy the prime minister is announcing a shake-up to restrict its use for postgraduate courses.Keir Starmer (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentKeir Starmer’s government is facing a clash with the civil service union after ministers briefed against Whitehall’s top mandarin.Dave Penman, the general secretary for the Association of First Division Civil Servants (FDA), has reacted with fury to briefings about cabinet secretary Simon Case.The Independent revealed how senior ministers have told Sir Keir that he needs to remove Mr Case immediately accusing him of “poisoning the well of government”.The finger has been pointed at Mr Case over briefings against Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray with whom he had a difficult relationship when she was a senior civil servant.Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, is under fire from ministers More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentWatch as home secretary Yvette Cooper delivers a speech at the Labour Party conference on Tuesday 24 September.She is expected to say that rising street crime is “corroding the fabric of our communities” as she outlines the government’s “mission” for safer streets.Ms Cooper will focus on moves to introduce new powers to respond to antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and off-road bikes, with more neighbourhood police expected in communities.The government plans to bring forward legislation next year to introduce “respect orders”, which are designed to ban persistent antisocial offenders from town centres, including for issues linked to public drinking and drug use.An additional 13,000 police officers and PCSOs along with guaranteed local patrols are part of the government’s plans, while ministers will also create a new standalone offence of assaulting a shopworker.Ms Cooper’s focus on the rule of law comes on the day a ban on owning zombie-style knives and machetes comes into force.It follows a four-week amnesty scheme where owners were encouraged to hand the weapons in to police, local authorities or knife crime charities.The government plans to also ban ninja swords in the future. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentSir Keir Starmer has become a “replica of George Osborne” by refusing to “end austerity”, former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said on Tuesday.Mr McDonnell criticised the prime minister after reports that he will use his speech to the Labour conference to warn of “tough decisions” facing the government.Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell is among the seven MPs suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentPubs could be forced to call last orders early as the government is considering new measures to target harmful drinking, a health minister has said. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, public health minister Andrew Gwynne said the government is considering “tightening up the hours of operation” of bars and pubs as part of an attempt to improve health and combat anti-social behaviour.But a Department for Health spokesman said: “This is categorically untrue.”Andrew Gwynne is considering the measure to improve public health (Victoria Jones/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseMy recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyondEric GarciaWashington Bureau ChiefHalf of Britons say they are disappointed with Labour’s performance in government so far, including a quarter of Labour voters, according to a new Ipsos poll.The findings suggest that the “honeymoon period” following Labour’s 2024 General Election victory may be coming to an end, indicating growing public dissatisfaction with Keir Starmer’s leadership.The poll was conducted just before Labour’s first party conference since their landslide win in July.The initial post-election optimism has faded, with frustration growing over leaks and hostile briefings about Downing Street operations. There is also significant division within the party, particularly over Rachel Reeves’ decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance, leaving millions of pensioners without the support they would usually expect.Last week, Keir Starmer also faced scrutiny over accepting donations, which included items such as clothing, glasses, and a private box at Arsenal FC. This controversy coincided with the revelation that his chief of staff, Sue Gray, earns more than the prime minister.Is your “honeymoon” with Labour over? How have recent events impacted your opinion of Starmer and his government?Share your thoughts by adding them in the comments — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones 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 storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentJess Phillips has warned local providers are not doing enough to ensure victims of domestic violence are prioritised on housing waiting lists.The safeguarding minister said housing is the “biggest issue by a considerable country mile” for victims in the UK, warning some allocators are “not playing their fundamental role” in ensuring there are safe places for survivors to live.Her comments come a week after The Independent launched its campaign to raise £300,000 to build a haven for women escaping their abusive partners, which has received £70,000 in donations so far.Be a brick, buy a brick and donate here or text BRICK to 70560 to donate £15Ms Phillips said many domestic abuse survivors are waiting too long for housing More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentSir Keir Starmer will tell an “exhausted Britain” that the tough decisions he is taking for the short term are the first steps towards national renewal and higher living standards.The prime minister will give one of the most important speeches of his political career on Tuesday as he addresses Labour delegates at the party conference in Liverpool.It comes as sources close to him admit he urgently needs to project a longer-term vision of hope and optimism after a first 10 weeks in power characterised by gloom and despair over the state of the finances and problems facing the country.The prime minister is understood to blame the summer riots for preventing him from having enough time to properly consider his long-term vision in the immediate wake of the election.Keir Starmer is pictured walking with his deputy prime minister Angela Rayner More