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 ThomasEditorThe Conservatives have kicked off a leadership contest after Rishi Sunak led the party to its worst election defeat in history. A string of senior figures have thrown their hats in the ring to succeed the former PM and lead the party through the next five years in opposition. Possible candidates must win the support of 10 Conservative MPs before the Monday deadline in order to make it onto the ballot paper. With the shortlist to be whittled down gradually until a final four are paraded in front of the party faithful at October’s Tory conference, The Independent looks at the runners and riders to take the reins from Mr Sunak. Who has officially declared? James Cleverly Former home secretary James Cleverly avoided losing his seat, unlike many of his cabinet colleagues 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 has emerged as an early frontrunner in the Tory leadership contest because he has the lowest negative rating with members of the public.According to Savanta, the former security minister has a net rating of -3 with the wider public and +28 with 2024 Tory voters.It comes in stark contrast to former home secretary Priti Patel who has scored -28 net rating with the public and +7 with Conservative voters.The pair are among seven MPs understood to be entering their names into the race as nominations open today for contenders to replace Rishi Sunak. They are set to close on Monday with those getting the support of 10 other Tory MPs allowed to go forward.A four month contest will see members eventually pick from a final two decided by Tory MPs with the winner unveiled on 2 November after four months.Tom Tugendhat hs emerged as the most popular contender (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 ThomasEditorWatch as John Healey and his Polish counterpart, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, made joint statements in Warsaw on Wednesday, 24 July.The new defence secretary has made his first visits to France, Germany, Poland and Estonia.His whistlestop 48-hour tour is aimed at sending a message that European security will be the government’s “first foreign and defence priority”.In Germany, Mr Healey signed a joint defence declaration agreeing to closer cooperation as the first step in a new UK-German defence relationship.He said the new Labour administration is “getting on with the job” and “resetting our relationships” with allies on the Continent.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said ministers agreed on six priorities for tighter collaboration as part of the new accord, including “comprehensive” co-operation in the field of long-range capabilities.Other key goals are “strengthening UK and German defence industries, reinforcing Euro-Atlantic security, improving joint operations, confronting evolving security challenges” such as cyber threats, and supporting Ukraine. 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 has emerged as an early frontrunner in the Tory leadership contest because he has the lowest negative rating with members of the public.According to Savanta, the former security minister has a net rating of -3 with the wider public and +28 with 2024 Tory voters.It comes in stark contrast to former home secretary Priti Patel who has scored -28 net rating with the public and +7 with Conservative voters.The pair are among seven MPs understood to be entering their names into the race as nominations open today for contenders to replace Rishi Sunak. They are set to close on Monday with those getting the support of 10 other Tory MPs allowed to go forward.Tom Tugendhat hs emerged as the most popular contender (Lucy North/PA) More

Starmer dodges SNP question on two-child benefit cap rebellionSupport 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 stood defiant over his decision to suspend seven MPs following their rebellion over the two-child benefit cap. A spokesperson for Sir Keir said voting against the government over the King’s Speech is a serious matter, after a number of MPs broke ran and voted to scrap the policy. “We’ve been very clear on our position on the child limit and why we did not commit to removing it both during the campaign and since. And that is because given the economic situation we’ve inherited, we are very clear that we’re not going to make promises that we can’t keep,” the spokesperson said. “Now, clearly, voting against the party’s position on the King’s Speech is a serious matter.”She added Sir Keir is “focused on delivering the change” the public voted for rather than dwelling on the rebellion. The Labour leader dodged questions over the two-child benefit cap during his first Prime Minister’s Questions since leading Labour to an election victory and entering Downing Street. Although the move has been seen as a show of strength by the Labour leader, Ms Sultana, representing Coventry South, claimed she was a victim of Sir Keir’s “macho virility test”.Show latest update 1721832069Suspended MP accuses Labour of offering domestic abuse support to back two-child benefit capApsana Begum has accused the Labour Party of offering her support on domestic abuse violence if she voted with Sir Keir Starmer to back the two-child benefit bill.The MP for Poplar and Limehouse claimed she was left “shocked” by the way she was treated by her party.Speaking on Sky News: “That is unacceptable. That demonstrates I think the way in which that draconian stance was taken in regards to the scrapping of the two-child limit.”Ms Begum added: “Many of my colleagues are quite surprised in the way in which the operations took place yesterday around the vote. “I myself was quite shocked and surprised to see the way in which I was treated. I had a very difficult election. I had an election in which many people said to me ‘we are happy to support you as an individual but we find it very hard to support Labour at this time’. For a number of different reasons. “But one of the reasons is that we don’t see a difference between the two main parties in parliament.“I had to contend with that and with the fact I am a survivor of domestic abuse and coercive control, unfortunately I had my ex husband standing against me.”( 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 been accused of “authoritarian control-freakery” after suspending seven LabourMPs for voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap.The prime minister removed the whip from long-standing figures including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell after they rebelled against the government to back an SNP-led amendment to scrap the policy.As backlash against the Labour leader grows, a member of the party’s governing national executive committee said the move “does not benefit him, the party or anyone in the long-run”.But a political spokesperson from Downing Street confirmed today that the action had been taken “ because they rebelled against the King’s speech – the party’s programme for government – which is a serious matter.”The spokesperson denied that the move would set a precedent for all rebellions and Downing Street confirmed that lifting the cap is something a review into child poverty will be able to consider.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces his first PMQs since the election on Wednesday (Carl Court/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 ThomasEditorLabour MP Emily Darlington urged Hilary Benn to “rebuild strained relations” with the European Union, warning that businesses in her local constituency have struggled to survive in the wake of Brexit.The MP for Milton Keynes Central asked the secretary of state for Northern Ireland to engage with the Irish Government as part of an attempt to reduce barriers to trade.Asked about his plans to repair relations with Europe, the Labour frontbencher admitted that Brexit had brought “additional costs and paperwork for businesses”.But Mr Benn also defended the Windsor Framework, an agreement signed by the previous Conservative government to reduce trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the EU, dubbing it an “important and significant step forward”.Speaking during Northern Ireland questions in the House of Commons this morning, Ms Darlington said: “Can I congratulate the honourable member on his position and hope that he will be able to rebuild those relations that have been strained through the Brexit process.The Northern Ireland Office said Secretary of State Hilary Benn was considering the evidence on the case for extending the deadline (Niall Carson/PA) More

Kwasi Kwarteng refuses to rule out Tory comeback from himself or Liz TrussSupport 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 Conservative Party will appoint a new leader to replace Rishi Sunak on 2 November. Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has become the first Tory MP to declare he will run for the leadership, and ruled out a merger between the party and Reform UK if he becomes the next Tory leader. “The Conservative Party doesn’t do mergers. The simple truth is that we have got a series of principles,” he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwold Sir Alec Shelbrooke has also nominated former home secretary Priti Patel for leader. Mr Sunak will stay acting leader until a successor is appointed, and urged for “a smooth and orderly transition to a new Leader of the Opposition”. Nominations will kick off on Wednesday evening and close in the afternoon on 29 July. Each candidate will need a proposer, seconder and eight nominations to qualify.Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister, Tom Tugendhat and ex-work and pensions secretary Mel Stride are expected to run.Another possible Tory leadership race contender on the party’s right is Kemi Badenoch, while Jeremy Hunt and Victoria Atkins are among more moderate figures who could launch bids.Show latest update 1721812888Cleverly dismisses Reform UK mergerJames Cleverly has ruled out a merger between the Conservative Party and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK if he becomes the next leader.“The Conservative Party doesn’t do mergers. The simple truth is that we have got a series of principles, “ Mr Cleverly told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. “We believe in civil liberty. We believe in free enterprise. We believe in efficient but modest size of the state, lower taxes… those are our principles, that is our agenda. What we need to do is expand our base of support.”( More