UK Politics

UK can ‘cuddle’ EU and US at the same time amid Trump tariff threats, minister saysYour 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 moreKemi Badenoch has ruled out the prospect of an electoral pact with Reform UK, as Nigel Farage’s party tops a number of national polls and surpasses 200,000 members.The Conservative party leader called the idea of striking a deal one “for the birds”, warning Reform would drive away Tory voters who did not want to see her “get into bed” with Farage.It comes as Reform achieved its highest lead in a YouGov poll to date, with 26 per cent of voters surveyed saying they would vote for the party, up one percentage point on the previous week.The pollsters’ most recent voting intention poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, saw Labour following closely behind at 25 per cent of voters, also up one percentage point on last week, while the Tories stayed the same at 21 per cent.Meanwhile, the UK government claimed Britain’s special relationship with the US is “very good” despite Donald Trump’s announcement of global tariffs in his latest move in an escalating trade war.EU President Ursula von der Leyen responded that the new US president’s “unjustified” 25 per cent tariff on steel “will not go unanswered”, with Trump also threatening additional duties on aluminium.It comes as a row broke out after the Labour MP behind new assisted dying legislation, Kim Leadbeater, announced she would be removing the major safeguard of decisions needing to be signed off by a high court judge.Meanwhile, Oliver Ryan became the second Labour MP to be suspended from the party amid a row over alleged sexist, homophobic and racist messages in a constituency WhatsApp group. The scandal had already cost Andrew Gwynne his job as a junior health minister.British industry should avoid ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to US tariffs, warns trade ministerTrade minister Douglas Alexander said British industry needs a “cool and clear-headed” response rather than a “knee-jerk” reaction to moves by the United States to impose 25 per cent tariffs on British steel exports.Responding to an urgent question, Mr Alexander told the Commons: “We have seen the proclamation issued by President Trump overnight which enforces a full return to 25 per cent tariffs on US steel imports on March 12 2025.“Only details on steel have so far been published by the United States, not on aluminium. The intended effect of this proclamation is to revoke existing arrangements that have avoided these tariffs, such as the UK-US resolution, as well as any separately agreed product exclusions from the tariffs.“What British industry needs and deserves is not a knee-jerk reaction but a cool and clear-headed sense of the UK’s national interest based on a full assessment of all the implications of the US’s actions.”Tara Cobham11 February 2025 14:40UK ‘stands ready’ to find solutions that work for both countries, says trade ministerTrade minister Douglas Alexander said the UK “stands ready” to find solutions that work for both countries.He said meetings will be held with representatives of the steel industry and trade union on Tuesday afternoon, adding in the Commons: “The Secretary of State for Business and Trade is in touch with representatives of the British steel industry and will be meeting them within the next 24 hours.“Since July we have engaged in a systematic way with the UK steel sector and we will continue to engage with UK industries impacted by potential tariffs.“Historically we’ve benefited from a strong and balanced trade relationship with the United States worth around £300 billion and supporting millions of jobs, so in trade policy we stand ready to work with President Trump to find solutions that work for both the United Kingdom and the United States.”Tara Cobham11 February 2025 14:20Badenoch rules out pact with Reform Kemi Badenoch has ruled out the prospect of an electoral pact with Reform UK, as Nigel Farage’s party tops a number of national polls and surpasses 200,000 members.The Conservative party leader called the idea of striking a deal one “for the birds”, warning Reform would drive away Tory voters who did not want to see her “get into bed” with Farage.Kemi Badenoch has ruled out the prospect of an electoral pact with Reform UK More

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 moreSir Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to secure a deal with Donald Trump after the US president said he could exempt Australia from punishing tariffs on steel. The US president triggered panic over the future of Britain’s fragile industry on Monday when he announced a worldwide 25 per cent tariff on steel imports. Mr Trump has hailed the move and claimed it is “the beginning of making America rich again”. But he also announced on Tuesday he would give “great consideration” to handing Australia a carve-out because of a trade surplus. Sir Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to secure a deal with Donald Trump on steel tariffs More

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 moreKemi Badenoch has dismissed the prospect of an electoral pact with Reform UK, saying such an idea is “for the birds”. She warned striking a deal with the party would drive away Tory voters who did not want to see her “get into bed” with Nigel Farage.It comes after Reform UK topped a number of national polls and surpassed 200,000 members – piling pressure on both the Tories and Labour to counter the threat posed by the rapidly growing political party. But as the Tory leader marks 100 days in office, she has also been accused of “reheating old pledges” on migration, with the Labour Party claiming her plan “deserves nothing but ridicule”. Kemi Badenoch said the idea of the Conservative Party signing an electoral pact with Reform UK is “for the birds” More

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 moreLabour will plough as much as £392 million into its drive to deport more illegal migrants, amid accusations it is trying to ape Nigel Farage’s resurgent Reform party, The Independent can reveal.The Home Office is seeking a company to oversee the booking and oversight of flights deporting those with no right to remain in the UK.Contract documents seen by The Independent reveal the department is planning to spend between £179 million and £392 million over up to seven years on a “comprehensive service” to return migrants overseas. Provisions being sought under the contract include a travel service for migrants being deported on scheduled flights, relationship management between the government and airline carriers to keep costs down and occasional provision of accommodation for Home Office staff. The government is ramping up efforts to deport more migrants More

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 moreKim Leadbeater’s decision to remove a major safeguard from her assisted dying bill risks losing her the support of at least 81 MPs who voted in favour of it in November.The bill, which would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with a life expectancy of six months or less to seek assistance to end their lives, passed in the Commons by 55 votes – 330 MPs backed the legislation, with 275 voting against. But in a major change to what was supported by MPs, Ms Leadbeater now wants to remove the stage of a judge approving it in the High Court and replace it with a commission made up of psychiatrists and social workers who would be involved in approvingapplications. While Ms Leadbeater has denied claims she is watering down safeguards rather than strengthening them, 60 MPs during the second reading debate specifically stated that the High Court judge safeguard was important to them in providing support. Another 20 referenced the need for judicial oversight.Kim Leadbeater More

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 moreThe government has announced its new health minister after Andrew Gwynne was sacked over the weekend following the emergence of allegedly offensive comments on WhatsApp.Mr Gwynne left the government over the weekend and apologised for comments made in the group “which I deeply regret and would not make today”.Ashley Dalton has been appointed in the health brief, while Douglas Alexander will now serve jointly in the Cabinet Office as well as the Department for Business and Trade, Downing Street confirmed on Monday.Mr Gwynne reportedly said he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon die after she asked a councillor about bin collections, and joked about a constituent being “mown down” by a truck.Here, The Independent takes a look at the new parliamentary under-secretary of state for public health and prevention.Parliamentary careerMs Dalton worked for Southend-on-Sea Council for 17 years, before entering national politics.She was Labour’s candidate in Rochford and Southend East in the 2017 and 2019 general elections, but lost to the Conservative’s James Duddridge both times.Ms Dalton was selected as the candidate in the October 2023 West Lancashire by-election, triggered by the resignation of long-serving Labour MP Rosie Cooper.She was re-elected in the July 2024 general election with 50.5 per cent of the vote.Before serving in government, the West Lancashire MP was the shadow women and equalities minister when Labour was still in opposition.Personal lifeHer website describes her as a “mum, a carer, a cancer survivor and a proud Lancashire lass”.In a campaign video from 2023, she talks about not only facing breast cancer herself but losing her husband to kidney cancer in 2018. She said his cancer was “caught too late”.Her new appointment as health minister comes just over a month after she announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time.Views on genderThe Labour MP for West Lancashire identifies as LGBTQ+, and in a 2023 interview with The Guardian, she said: “I’m a gay woman that’s been involved in politics for about 20 years so I’ve been on the receiving end of some pretty unsavoury comments and abuse.”Ms Dalton said in an exchange on Twitter in 2016 that “we shouldn’t have gendered bathrooms at all”.In another social media conversation in the same year – before she was an MP – Ms Dalton signalled her support for gender self-identification.Asked if people should take someone seriously were they to identify as a llama, Ms Dalton suggested they should do so with “dignity and respect” in an exchange which appears to have since been deleted.The prime minister’s official spokesperson sought to distance Sir Keir Starmer from the past remarks of the new minister.“I can’t speak to comments made by people prior to being in government,” he said when asked about the social media posts.Asked if Ms Dalton’s position on single-sex toilets reflected government policy, the spokesman replied: “No, the position remains clear. The PM has been clear before that single-sex spaces will and should be protected.” More

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 moreThe government’s hike in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) has left 96 per cent of nurseries planning to increasing fees, while UK parents already face some of the highest childcare costs in the world. According to a survey of 728 nurseries nationwide by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), one in six estimate that they will make a loss this year due to tax hikes. The impact of higher NICs will force nurseries to raise fees by an average of 10 per cent, pushing the affordability of UK childcare even higher for many parents. Increases to government funding for childcare providers will not keep pace with the increased costs, according to calculations by the NDNA, meaning that nurseries and parents will be left to bear the price. Funding rates for childcare will increase by just 4 per cent on average, while nursery staffing costs will increase by an average of 15 per cent, according to the NDNA.The UK is already one of the most expensive countries in the world for childcare – amounting to 19 per cent of average income, according to OECD estimates in 2022.The study found that nurseries will make a loss of £2.25 per hour for 3-4 year olds, and £1.64 for 2 year olds. The NDNA say that 80 per cent of childcare places in England will be paid for by the government from September; but that the government is “unwilling” to pay an adequate price. “Simply put, if the sector’s most significant customer is not paying their fair share, nurseries have to find this money from somewhere else or close their doors,” said Purnima Tanuku, chief executive at NDNA.According to the OECD’s latest estimates in 2022, for a couple with two children, childcare costs make up 19 per cent of average wages in the UK.Further details about the estimates are in the graph above.This makes the UK the fourth most expensive country for childcare, based on data collected by the OECD in 2022; and well above the OECD average of 10 per cent.The most expensive country is New Zealand, with childcare costs eating up 37 per cent of the average income; followed by the United States at 32 per cent. Full-time childcare is essential for many working families, in the period before children enter the school system; particularly since statutory maternity leave in the UK is only paid up to 39 weeks, while children do not go to school until aged five. Childcare in the UK is far more expensive than most other European countries, including France (7 per cent of average income), Poland (8 per cent), and the Netherlands (11 per cent). Yet analysis by the Independent suggests that costs to UK families could be higher on average. Estimates from Moneyhelper suggest that the average cost of childcare for those with young children ranges from £125.91 per week for a part-time registered childminder, to £285.31 per week for a full-time day nursery. Overall, these figures range from around £6,500 a year to more than £14,000 for a child under two, depending on the level of care and the number of hours needed. The average disposable household income in the UK, meanwhile, sits at just £34,500 in 2023 according to the Office for National Statistics; this is the average amount of money, including employment and benefits, after taxes.Under these projections, full-time childcare for a child under two could end up costing 37 to 43 per cent of household income on average.When factoring in up to £2,000 in tax-free childcare benefits which parents can claim each year, full-time childcare with a childminder or in daycare could still cost 31 to 37 per cent of the average income, according to our analysis. From September 2024, the government began partially funding childcare for children aged 9 months to 2 years old, with 15 hours of free childcare a week; while children aged 3 and 4 years old can be eligible for 30 free hours of childcare a week. From September this year, the 30 hours a week of free childcare will be extended to all children under the age of five. Currently, however, parents with children under the age of two who need full-time childcare to work may still need to pay for 25 to 35 hours of childcare alongside the 15 hours free, depending on their schedules and responsibilities. This could still amount to £4,547 a year on the lowest end (childminder for 25 hours a week) and £8,385 on the higher end (day nursery for 50 hours a week), both accounting for the £2,000 saving in tax-free childcare. More

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 moreParents face a significant financial hit with nursery fees set to soar by 10 per cent in the wake of Rachel Reeves’s controversial tax hikes on employers, a major new survey has found.They could also find themselves struggling to find a place for their child, with one in seven nursery businesses – and the government’s flagship expansion of free childcare places – now at risk, the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) warned. Purnima Tanuku, the organisation’s chief executive, said the results of the survey of more than 700 nurseries were “alarming”.Providers were being put in an “awful situation where they are forced to either significantly increase their fees to parents or face an uncertain future”, she said. In response to the new data, critics called on the chancellor to exempt nurseries and childcare providers from a tax hike “set to cripple them”.Keir Starmer has been warned nursery fees are set to soar by 10% More