UK Politics

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.CloseRead moreMore than half of Britons would support farmers if they decided to strike, according to a new poll which shows the same levels of support seen for nurses and ambulance workers.Voters back workers in the under-fire farming sector walking out on strike, viewing them as among the worst treated groups by Sir Keir Starmer’s government.The Ipsos poll found that 55 per cent of respondents would support farmers if they decided to strike, which mirrors the support shown to striking nurses and ambulance workers, both on 56 per cent.As well as strong public support, half of the public believe farmers are being treated worse than they should be by the PM and his chancellor Rachel Reeves.Reacting to the poll, Liz Webster, founder of Save British Farming, said: “Keir Starmer got to the top by fence-sitting and being all things to all people.“Now he’s PM, he’s trying to use the same strategy to deliver decisions for the whole country which are deeply unpopular and have no mandate.Children on toy tractors during a farmers protest in central London over the changes to inheritance tax (Gareth Fuller/PA) 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.CloseRead moreSir Keir Starmer has appointed Sir Chris Wormald as his cabinet secretary, Britain’s most senior civil service position.The prime minister picked Sir Chris, the Department for Health’s long-serving permanent secretary, to take over from Simon Case, who was appointed by Boris Johnson in 2020.The major appointment comes ahead of Sir Keir’s first relaunch since taking office five months ago, with the beleaguered prime minister to set out his “plan for change”.Sir Chris Wormald will play a key role in delivering the PM’s ‘plan for change’ 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.CloseRead moreRemarks made by MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace were “completely inappropriate and misogynistic”, Downing Street has said after culture secretary Lisa Nandy held crunch talks with the BBC over the allegations. The broadcaster is conducting an independent review into workplace culture after numerous allegations about Mr Wallace’s behaviour emerged.Lisa Nandy met with BBC bosses to seek assurances that the review will “deliver clear and timely recommendations”, as well as asking for an update on its progress.Defending his actions over the weekend, Mr Wallace said the accusations originated from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” – remarks which were later slapped down by No 10. Gregg Wallace addressed the accusations in a post on Instagram (Yui Mok/PA) 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.CloseRead moreThe government is facing growing questions over its economic policy, after a Labour minister failed to commit to the party’s number one mission on growing the economy ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s reset of government priorities on Thursday. Alex Norris, building safety minister, was repeatedly pressed on whether the government planned to sideline Sir Keir’s pledge to make the UK the fastest growing economy in the G7 – but refused to provide a clear answer.In Labour’s election manifesto, the party announced five key missions: to kickstart economic growth; make Britain a clean energy superpower; take back our streets; break down barriers to opportunity; and build an NHS fit for the future.But asked by Times Radio whether the government plans to sideline its pledge to become the fastest growing economy in the G7 when the prime minister unveils his “plan for change” on Thursday, Mr Norris said: “I can’t comment on UK newspaper speculation. That’s not something I’d be privy to.”( 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.CloseRead moreThe Greek prime minister has reportedly held private meetings with British Museum officials ahead of his visit to the UK this week, where the return of the Elgin Marbles was discussed.Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to meet with Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday, with the return of the ancient sculptures expected to be on the agenda for the meeting.Government sources told Sky News that Mr Mitsotakis, alongside foreign minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, held up to three “private meetings” with trustees of the British Museum and its chair George Osborne about the sculptures this year.Sir Keir is thought to be more open to the idea of returning the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, than his predecessor. But a government spokesperson said it has “no plans to change existing government policy on restitution”, saying it is a matter for the British Museum. The Elgin Marbles on display at the British Museum (Matthew Fearn/PA) 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.CloseRead moreA senior Labour MP has demanded that the BBC take MasterChef off air as the scandal around allegations against the celebrity chef presenter Gregg Wallace continues to escalate.Rupa Huq, the MP for Ealing Central and Acton, told Radio 4’s Today Programme that continuing to run the show while Wallace is being investigated “sends the wrong message” and risks damaging the broadcaster’s reputation worldwide.Wallace faces allegations of making inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people over a 17-year period. Contestants on the show have described “a toxic environment”.Over the weekend he released a video denying the allegations and blaming “middle class women of a certain age.”Wallace is facing a number of accusations 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.CloseRead moreBritain has set aside more than £10bn for post-Brexit payments to the EU as the UK continues sending billions to Brussels despite having left the bloc years ago.To cover the cost of the UK’s divorce from Europe, the government has accounted for £10.6bn in future payments for Brussels staff and diplomats’ pensions, as well as Britain’s pre-existing financial obligations.Official government figures this week revealed that the provision for continuing “EU liabilities” has fallen from £31.7bn a year ago and £38.7bn the year before.But the figure still stands at more than £10bn, with critics saying the UK is still “paying vast sums for a terrible Brexit deal”. The revelation comes after Rachel Reeves’ Budget piled £40bn of new taxes on households and businesses – with the chancellor claiming the changes were necessary to fill a black hole in the public finances left by the Conservatives. Keir Starmer is attempting to reset Britain’s relationship with Europe 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.CloseRead moreSir Keir Starmer has been warned a comprehensive trade deal with the US under Donald Trump would “destroy our family farms and healthy food standards”.The prime minister has been urged to rule out any agreement with the Americans that includes food and farming, with farmers warning their industry is already facing huge challenges after Labour’s so-called “tractor tax” which they say will do “irreparable damage to farming businesses”.Thousands of farmers descended on London to protest the changes, announced by Rachel Reeves in October, which mean farms valued at £1m or more will be liable for 20 per cent inheritance tax.And despite farmers gearing up for another mass tractor rally in London, the outrage would pale in comparison to the backlash Sir Keir would face if he allowed American exports to undercut UK farmers by stocking chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef on Britain’s shelves. On Wednesday, December 11, the latest farmer demonstration will take place in the capital, highlighting the financial squeeze facing family farmers.Liz Webster, founder of the Save British Farming campaign group, told The Independent Sir Keir “doesn’t have a mandate for a US deal” and pointed to the PM’s promise to negotiate a veterinary agreement covering food and farm products with the EU.Campaigners say consumers do not want chlorinated chicken from the US More