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 CorrespondentTech giants should help promote stories from local newspapers to help fight disinformation, Lisa Nandy has said.The Culture Secretary praised local newspapers during a meeting on the fringe of the Labour Party conference on Monday, saying they had played an important during the summer riots.She said: “We have got to make sure that those local newspapers and regional newspapers are protected, not least because when there was so much disinformation online, it was often local journalists who were first on the scene and saying that’s not what’s happening here.“They were penetrating that disinformation, mythbusting for people, helping to create calm in communities and we lose them at our peril.”Ms Nandy, whose department oversees media policy, told the meeting she had kicked off a local and regional news strategy to help support local papers, and was engaging with tech companies to encourage them to give greater prominence to local news stories.She said: “One of the issues is that the big online companies like the Googles and the Facebooks often don’t promote their content like they promote others.“We need to provide a fair playing field for local and regional papers.”Shortly after the election, the Society of Editors wrote to the Prime Minister urging action to protect local newspapers, including finding alternative sources of funding for the sector.Asked whether she thought there was a case for greater Government funding of local news, Ms Nandy said there was a case but was wary of too much Government involvement in the media.Saying there had to be a “firewall”, she added: “Unlike the last Tory government I don’t think it’s appropriate at all for the government to be telling newspapers and broadcasters what they can and can’t print, what they can and can’t say, who they can and can’t feature.“That’s a question for them. Our job is to create the framework in which good journalists can thrive independently of government.” 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 CorrespondentLabour has been accused of censoring pro-Palestinian activists at its party conference after ordering a group to remove the words “genocide” and “apartheid” from the listing for an event about Israel’s war in Gaza.The party was condemned by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) for refusing to promote its fringe event titled “Justice for Palestine: Confronting genocide and ending apartheid”.The event has been listed in the brochure as simply “Justice for Palestine”.Rachel Reeves saw her speech disrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors calling for the suspension of all arms sales to Israel More

Protester grabbed by neck and thrown out of Labour party conference in Reeves’ speechYour 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 ChiefNurses across the country have rejected Rachel Reeves’ offer of a 5.5 per cent pay rise – just as the chancellor was delivering her keynote conference speech.The announcement by the Royal College of Nursing came as Ms Reeves addressed Labour activists in Liverpool. Sir Keir Starmer’s government has faced heavy criticism over its winter fuel allowance cut and gifts accepted by ministers. The chancellor’s message is that there will be “no return” to austerity at her first budget on 30 October in a move to “rebuild Britain”.She also defended her decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance, blaming the unpopular cut on the economic inheritance left by the last Conservative government. Earlier, boos were heard in the hall as a debate on the cut was pushed back from today to Wednesday, the final morning of the conference.Minutes into the speech, a protester shouted out and was removed from the hall. The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.Show latest update 1727103260Welsh first minister: ‘Time to give hope to voters across Britain’Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan has declared it is time to “give hope” to voters across Britain.She told the conference: “With Welsh Labour governments in Cardiff and Westminster, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fairer, greener and more prosperous future for everyone.“Let’s seize this moment, let’s work tirelessly to deliver the change that people deserve. Let’s give hope not just to Wales but for Britain, to all who believe in the power of progressive politics to transform lives.”( 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 Rachel Reeves addressed the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool on Monday, 23 September.In her first party conference speech as chancellor, she insisted that “tough decisions” are needed with public finances and attempted to persuade her critics that there will be “no return to austerity”.However, Labour’s decision to take away winter fuel payments from 10 million pensioners is likely to be the focus on Monday.Boos were heard in the conference hall as complaints were raised about a debate on union calls for the winter fuel allowance cuts to be reversed not taking place today.Lynne Morris, who chairs the conference arrangements committee (CAC), was heckled by some delegates as she said: “This is a really busy conference and we are trying to accommodate as much as we can, and I’m going to take this back straight to CAC and I’ll come back to you with an answer ASAP.”Winter fuel payments will be stopped for millions of pensioners this winter as the government pushes on with plans to boost public finances by means-testing the cold weather benefit.Ms Reeves has said the change is amongst several cost-cutting measures designed to plug the £22bn “black hole” in public finances which Labour argues was concealed by the previous government. 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 CorrespondentRachel Reeves has announced hundreds of schools will host free breakfast clubs from April as she doubled down on her controversial decision to abolish winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. The chancellor said the move would ease child poverty, after accusations she will force some less well-off pensioners to choose between heating and eating.Ms Reeves has warned of more difficult choices ahead before next month’s Budget, but it is understood ministers will not scrap the council tax discount claimed by single people.Rachel Reeves said Labour had changed and was no longer a party of protest (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 CorrespondentSir Keir Starmer is being urged by several cabinet ministers to sack the top civil servant in Whitehall immediately and stamp his authority on the new Labour government.Knives are out for cabinet secretary Simon Case, who has been accused of undermining the prime minister and being responsible for briefings against his chief of staff Sue Gray.One exasperated cabinet minister said: “He [Case] has got to go now.”Mr Case has denied any inappropriate behaviour and has been put in charge of investigating how damaging leaks at No 10 occurred, including the news that Ms Gray’s salary eclipses the PM’s. Case sits by Keir Starmer at a cabinet meeting 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 CorrespondentEmily Thornberry has indicated that she intends to use her powerful new position in the Commons to push Keir Starmer to go further on undoing the harms of Brext.The newly elected chair of the foreign affairs committee urged Keir Starmer to cut vast amounts of unnecessary checks at the border as part of his planned Brexit EU reset. There was “no need” for small businesses to give up trading with the European Union because of the friction, she said. Ms Thornberry, who was snubbed by Starmer for a ministerial position, also said a Labour government in “full cry” could develop a proper trading relationship with the European Union for the first time since the UK left.With a new Labour government in No 10, she said: “The question is, what can we do with that power?”Her comments came days after it emerged that the EU plans to offer the Labour leader a youth mobility scheme, as part of his move to improve relations with Europe.But Sir Keir disappointed many of his own supporters when he rejected the idea of such an arrangement before the general election. ( 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 Correspondent British Treasury chief Rachel Reeves promised on Monday not to return to an era of public spending cuts despite the dire state of the U.K.’s national finances, as she tried to inject a dose of optimism after weeks of negative headlines for the country’s new Labour Party government.Reeves used a speech to Labour’s annual conference to try and reassure party members, jittery despite a recent landslide election victory, that her first budget next month won’t be all doom and gloom.Reeves promised “there will be no return to austerity” and said the government will invest in industry, infrastructure and green energy to reverse declines in “growth, productivity and family incomes.”“My optimism for Britain burns brighter than ever,” said Reeves, the first woman to hold the 800-year-old post of Chancellor of the Exchequer.The center-left party is gathering in the northwest England port city of Liverpool three months after winning power in Britain’s July 4 election. While Labour’s return to office after 14 years in opposition has many delegates buzzing, some are anxious about the government’s faltering start and downbeat economic messaging.Prime Minister Keir Starmer won the election on a promise to banish years of turmoil and scandal under the Conservatives, get Britain’s sluggish economy growing and restore frayed public services such as the state-funded National Health Service.Since then, he has struck a gloomy note, saying there is a 22 billion pound ($29 billion) “black hole” in the public finances left by the Conservative government, and warning that “things will get worse” before they get better. That has many party members worried that tax increases and spending cuts loom in the Oct. 30 budget.”Conservative austerity was a destructive choice for our public services -– and for investment and growth too,” Reeves said about spending cuts imposed by previous governments after the 2008 global financial crisis. “We must deal with the Tory legacy and that means tough decisions. But we won’t let that dim our ambition for Britain.”Reeves sketched out how the government hopes to fill some of the fiscal black hole without raising income tax, sales tax or corporation tax, all of which she has ruled out. Measures include a crackdown on tax avoiders and a drive to claw back money defrauded from contracts issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.Contentiously, the government has also announced that it will save money by stripping millions of retirees of a payment intended to help heat their homes in winter.Trade unions that are among Labour’s funders and allies hope to secure a vote among conference delegates opposing the decision to remove the winter fuel allowance, worth between 200 and 300 pounds ($262 and $393), from all but the poorest pensioners. The result would not be binding but would add to pressure on the government over the unpopular new policy.Reeves said she knew “that not everyone in this hall or in the country” agreed with the decision on winter fuel payments. But, she said, “I judged it the right decision in the circumstances that we inherited.”That drew one of several round of applause from hundreds of delegates in a packed hall. The crowd booed when a heckler shouting about British arms sales to Israel stood and briefly interrupted the speech.But the government faces a tougher crowd outside the Labour conference bubble. Research released Monday by pollster Ipsos found 62% of respondents dissatisfied with the way that the government is running the country, up 14 percentage points since July, and 25% satisfied. Ipsos interviewed 1,009 adults by telephone and the margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.“The honeymoon is over,” said Gideon Skinner, the pollster’s head of politics research. “We shouldn’t underestimate how much concern and pessimism there is.”The party’s mood has also been dampened by a tempest over Starmer’s acceptance of freebies at a time when millions of people are struggling with the cost of living.Starmer insists he followed the rules when he took thousands of pounds worth of clothes and designer eyeglasses from Waheed Alli, a media entrepreneur and Labour donor. But after days of negative headlines, the party says Starmer won’t accept any more free outfits. Neither will Reeves or Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, both of whom also received donations for clothing.Starmer will try to change the subject and rally the Labour troops in his speech Tuesday at the autumn conference, a blend of pep rally, policy forum and boozy bash that plays a key role in maintaining morale among party activists.He’ll point to the government’s early actions, including ending a wave of public-sector strikes, and plans to take public ownership of the railways, set up a state-owned green energy firm, impose tougher rules on water companies that dump sewage and strengthen rights for workers and renters.Last year’s Labour conference fizzed with optimism, as a party that had lost four straight elections sensed power was within its grasp. If the mood this year is more muted, it will likely be more upbeat than next week’s gathering by the Conservatives, which suffered their worst-ever election defeat in July.The Tory convention in the central England city of Birmingham will be dominated by the contest to replace former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as party leader and internal arguments about how to chart a way back to power. More