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 new Labour government will not appoint a dedicated veterans’ minister sitting in the cabinet, it has been announced.Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced 19 new ministerial appointments for his cabinet on Tuesday, which met for the first time at the weekend following Thursday’s landslide general election victory.No 10 told The Independent that instead of a separate position, defence secretary John Healey would be representing veterans in the cabinet.It’s understood that Downing Street will appoint a veterans’ minister outside the top table in government to run the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, but with oversight from Mr Healey. The minister for veterans’ affairs – a post last held by ousted Tory Johnny Mercer – held responsibilities in government including veterans’ issues and Afghan personnel accommodation.Help For Heroes charity chief executive officer, James Needham, told The Independent he was “disappointed” there was not a dedicated veterans’ minister sitting in the cabinet.The cabinet met for the first time on Saturday after Labour’s landslide general election victory 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 ThomasEditorRachel Reeves has ditched the Conservative’s “absurd” onshore windfarm ban as she vowed to reboot the UK’s flatlining economy. In one Labour’s first major shakeups since taking power, the party scrapped the de facto ban in England which has been in place since 2015.Ms Reeves also said Labour would look at whether to class onshore wind as a nationally significant infrastructure – a move that would allow large farms to get planning approval more quickly.Only a small number of onshore wind farms have been built since David Cameron’s Government introduced restrictions in 2015 (Danny Lawson/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 ThomasEditorRachel Reeves has said Labour’s economic inheritance is the worst since the Second World War and ordered civil servants to compile a dossier on the state of the economy after 14 years of Conservative rule.The chancellor said she had repeatedly warned about the dire state of the public finances during the general election, and “what I have seen in the past 72 hours has only confirmed that”.“Our economy has been held back by decisions deferred and decisions delayed… political self-interest put ahead of the national interest,” Ms Reeves said at her first press conference as chancellor.Chancellor Rachel Reeves giving a speech at the Treasury in London (Jonathan Brady/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 ThomasEditorFollowing Labour’s landslide general election victory, Sir Keir Starmer’s new government has wasted no time in signalling its intentions to improve upon the current Brexit deal negotiated by Boris Johnson.In a visit to Edinburgh on Sunday, the new prime minister said work had already begun to build closer ties with the European Union as he told reporters “that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnson saddled the UK with”.Writing in The Local Europe, foreign secretary David Lammy – who could attend the September meeting of the EU foreign affairs council – added that the new government would “reset relations with Europe as a reliable partner, a dependable ally and a good neighbour.”And Irish prime minister Simon Harris said Brussels would be willing to offer the UK a new deal on post-Brexit issues, suggesting there was “space” to work more closely with Britain as he pledged that Ireland would be an ally in any negotiations.Here The Independent takes a look at what Labour has said about different aspects of the UK’s relationship with the EU.Freedom of movementFollowing the UK’s departure from the EU, the rights of British to travel and work within the bloc – and vice versa – were restricted.This has had a huge impact on the music, travel and other industries, while passport queues could be set to get even worse in the months ahead if Brussels implements its much-delayed automated EU Entry/Exit system, which will see biometric photos and fingerprints required for Britons to enter into the Schengen area.Britons rights to work in the EU have been restricted 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 chancellor Rachel Reeves sets out her plan for the economy in a speech on Monday 8 July.The UK’s first female chancellor will make kickstarting economic growth a “national mission” with major changes to speed up infrastructure projects and unlock private investment.In her first major speech, Ms Reeves will vow to take “difficult decisions” because there is “no time to waste”.Labour will “fix the foundations” of the British economy, she will say, arguing that 14 years of Tory rule had cost £140 billion in lost growth.Sir Keir Starmer’s administration has made faster economic growth, and the tax revenues that would flow from it, a key plank of its strategy to fund public services which are struggling for cash.The Labour manifesto committed to wholesale planning reforms to make it easier to build and a greater focus on driving through key infrastructure projects which have become mired in delays and boost housebuilding.The manifesto pledged to “immediately” update the National Policy Planning Framework to undo changes made by the Conservatives, including restoring mandatory housing targets.The party also plans to allow building on some greenbelt land, promising to take a “more strategic approach” to “build more homes in the right places”. 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 race to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader is unofficially underway in the wake of the Conservative Party’s wipeout at the general election.With some frontrunners casting the contest as a battle for the soul of the Conservative Party – after Nigel Farage’s hard-right Reform UK inflicted losses for the Tories in scores of seats – ex-minister Kevin Hollinrake is among those to suggest the race could last until the end of the year, adding: “I don’t think there is any rush”.While no candidate has yet formally launched a bid, Suella Braverman’s hopes were dealt an early blow, as one source described the twice-sacked home secretary’s campaign to The Times as “dead before it even started”, accusing her of “going too hard, too soon”.It came as multiple reports suggested right-wing MP Danny Kruger would support Robert Jenrick, further diminishing Ms Braverman’s hopes of being the flagbearer of the Tory right.Other possible Tory leadership race contenders on the party’s right include Kemi Badenoch and Priti Patel, while James Cleverly, Jeremy Hunt, Tom Tugendhat and Victoria Atkins are among more moderate figures who could launch bids.Show latest update 1720449116Scottish Tory justice spokesperson signals he could run in leadership raceScottish Tory justice spokesperson Russell Findlay has signalled that he is considering a run at the party leadership north of the border.Mr Findlay, a former journalist who prior to entering Holyrood was attacked with acid while investigating organised crime in Glasgow, said: “Tories across the UK have taken a beating – although our success in Scotland in holding constituencies shouldn’t be overlooked.“Everyone should take time to reflect on the message we have been sent.“Scotland needs to play a big part in rebuilding an election-winning conservative movement and, along with many others, I’ll be taking careful consideration of the new circumstances we are in and of how I can best contribute to that task.”Russell Findlay is considering a bid to replace Douglas Ross 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 ThomasEditorSuella Braverman’s Tory leadership hopes have suffered an early blow as a key backer reportedly prepares to back Robert Jenrick instead.Although no-one has formally launched a campaign to replace Rishi Sunak following the disastrous 4 July election result, Ms Braverman is expected to be a front runner. However, the former home secretary’s expected campaign has been described as “dead before it has even started” as right-wing MP Danny Kruger is said to support Mr Jenrick.In an indication of how long the contest could drag on, former business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said on Monday a leadership race could last until the end of the year, adding that “I don’t think there is any rush”.Former home secretary Suella Braverman is expected to be preparing a Tory leadership bid (Andrew Matthews/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 ThomasEditorThe new education secretary has pledged to recruit thousands of teachers just days after Labour took power in a landslide victory. Bridget Phillipson announced on Monday that the Department of Education (DfE) will begin work on delivering the government’s pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers. As one of her first steps in post, the education secretary will write to all sector workforces to “make clear the valuable role” they will play in the Labour government’s agenda. Ms Phillipson will hold a reception with key education stakeholders later this week, as well as making it a priority to meet with teaching unions in the coming days.Bridget Phillipson is the new education secretary More