UK Politics

Sir Grant Shapps has said he was “surprised” the superinjunction to keep the huge Afghan data breach secret was in place for “so long” – despite fighting to keep the gagging order in place.The former defence secretary defended the government’s decision to hide the catastrophic leak, which resulted in 16,000 affected Afghans being evacuated to Britain, with some 8,000 still to come from the public, arguing the decision saved lives.Breaking his silence days after the data breach was revealed to the public, the former defence secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “I’d thought that it was probably going to come to an end last summer, the autumn perhaps at maximum”. But, The Independent can reveal that despite the judge in the case agreeing to lift the order last May, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) – which Sir Grant was responsible for at the time – insisted it needed to remain indefinitely.Sir Grant Shapps doubled down on the government’s decision More

The government’s decision to lower the voting age to 16 is being hailed as a landmark reform – but is it a step forward for democracy, or a political gamble?The change, due to take effect before the next general election, will bring UK-wide rules into line with Scotland and Wales and allow around 1.5 million more young people to have their say at the ballot box.Ministers say the move is about fairness, pointing out that 16-year-olds can already work, pay tax and join the armed forces. Labour has championed the policy as part of a wider drive to boost engagement in politics and rebuild trust in democratic institutions.Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the change would “break down barriers to participation” and help restore faith in institutions, while allowing more people to “engage in UK democracy”.Critics, however, accuse Keir Starmer of trying to tilt the electoral map in his favour. Nigel Farage described the reform as “an attempt to rig the political system”, while former minister Sir Simon Clarke called it “shameless gerrymandering”. Meanwhile, a recent poll found that nearly half of 16 and 17-year-olds don’t actually think they should have the vote.No 10 “absolutely rejected” claims that the reform was being brought in to shore up the government’s vote, and pollsters More in Common, said the expansion “will have little impact on election results – outside of hyper marginal seats”.So, is this a bold move to empower a new generation, or is 16 simply too young to properly engage in politics?Vote in our poll and let us know what you think in the comments below. More

The UK government has announced that the voting age will be lowered to 16 at the next election as part of a wider effort to restore trust in and “future-proof” democracy.Votes at 16 has grown from a niche concern to become a salient – if contentious – issue supported by most UK political parties and electoral reform groups. The Conservative Party remains a holdout, but has never acknowledged the contradiction of its continued opposition to the universal lowering of the voting age while empowering the Scottish and Welsh parliaments to enact the measure during its time in government.This is a policy response to concerns about declining youth democratic engagement since the late 1990s. Since 1997, the UK general election turnout rate for those aged 65 years and over has consistently been at least 20 percentage points higher than for those aged 18-24.The voting age for Scottish and Welsh elections is already 16 More

German chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he “deplores” Brexit as he signed a major cooperation deal between his country and Britain. At a press conference on Thursday alongside Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Merz said that countries should respond to the major challenges of our time “together”. Speaking through a translator, Mr Merz, on his first official visit to the UK since he became chancellor in May, told the press conference that he “deplores deeply” the UK’s decision to leave the EU.The UK-German treaty, the biggest between the two countries since the end of the Second World War, sees them both agree to collaborate on migration, trade and security. Friedrich Merz and Keir Starmer in No 10 on Thursday More

Diane Abbott has been suspended by the Labour Party over her claiming she stood by a controversial letter she wrote in 2023 comparing different types of racism based on colour.A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Diane Abbott has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing.”The move means the whip is automatically suspended in the House of Commons for the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP, it is understood.Ms Abbott was suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party in 2023 after writing a letter to The Observer comparing racism experienced by people of colour with that seen by other groups.She apologised for any anguish caused by the remarks, which drew criticism from Jewish and Traveller groups, and was readmitted to the party before the 2024 general election.Diane Abbott speaking at the People’s Assembly Against Austerity protest in central London More

A former defence minister has claimed he was misled over the rights of hundreds of Afghan special forces soldiers to be brought to safety in the UK, as revealed by The Independent. Former Tory armed forces minister James Heappey, who oversaw the cover-up of a major data breach which put the lives of up to 100,000 Afghans at risk and cost the UK £7bn, has apologised and admitted “we let the country down”.But addressing the fate of Afghan special forces known as “the Triples”, who were abandoned by the UK in the country despite being targeted by the Taliban because of their role training and fighting side by side with British forces, Mr Heappey has suggested that he was misled over their eligibility to be brought to safety.He said: “An aside on Triples. I pushed and pushed within the MoD for clarification in response to what was said in press, parliament and by campaigners. Again and again, I said in public what very senior officials and military had briefed me. It is hugely frustrating that proved to be wrong.”James Heappey was armed forces minister (PA/Victoria Jones) at the time of the leak More

The UK and Germany have agreed to collaborate on migration, trade and security in the biggest treaty between the two countries since the end of the Second World War. Meeting at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Sir Keir Starmer and the German chancellor Friedrich Merz also agreed to “work ever more closely” on a range of issues. Under the deal, Germany will close a loophole to allow police to seize small boats being used by migrants to cross the Channel. As part of moves designed to cut post-Brexit red tape, German school trips to the UK will also become visa-free by the end of the year, while British visitors to Germany will be able to use its passport e-gates by the end of August. The fast-track will initially be for frequent travellers but will eventually be extended to all British visitors, as part of Sir Keir’s wider Brexit ‘reset’ with the EU. Sir Keir described the document, known as the Kensington Treaty, as “very special”. The Labour leader said it was “evidence of the closeness of our relationship as it stands today” as well as a “statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together”. The treaty also includes a new taskforce designed to pave the way for direct train services between the two countries, which it is hoped could begin within the next decade.The treaty will tackle small boats crossings More

The voting age is to be lowered to 16 in time for the next election, the government has announced in a move that would allow around 1.5 million more teenagers to cast a ballot.The change will bring UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales by the time the country next goes to the polls, due by the summer of 2029 at the latest. The “seismic” development, which is part of a raft of measures set to be introduced through a new Elections Bill, is the biggest change to the electorate since 1969 when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.Keir Starmer encouraged 16 and 17 year olds to use their vote at next election. No 10 said the PM would “absolutely encourage them to be as engaged as they can be in the future of their country”.Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said: “For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline. Teenagers will soon be able to register to vote from 14 More