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 moreFewer than one in five teachers believe a school-wide ban on mobile phones would improve student behaviour, a survey has suggested.More than two in five (41%) teachers agree that mobile phones can be a teaching tool within schools, according to the poll.The survey of 1,001 UK teachers also suggested only 20% said unauthorised mobile phone use disrupts their classrooms most frequently.The most disruptive behaviours cited were student chatter (80%), inattention (75%), inability to sit still (65%) and disrespect towards other students (55%).The findings, shared exclusively with the PA news agency, come after Labour MP and former teacher Josh MacAlister introduced a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament last month on protecting children from harms caused by excessive screen time.Rather than seeing phones as purely disruptive, many teachers recognise they could be useful learning tools when managed wellDuncan Verry, BettMr MacAlister’s Bill calls for a legal requirement to be introduced so all schools in England are mobile-free zones.But the YouGov poll, carried out for education technology exhibition Bett in August, found just 18% of teachers believe a school-wide phone ban is a measure which will improve student behaviour in their school.When asked to select their top measures for improving pupil behaviour the majority pointed to reduced class sizes (57%) and increased support for students with behavioural challenges (50%).Schools in England were given guidance under the former Conservative government in February intended to stop the use of mobile phones during the school day but it is currently non-statutory.Last month, Downing Street signalled that the Labour Government is unlikely to back Mr MacAlister’s Bill as headteachers can already ban phones from schools at their own discretion.A Department for Education (DfE) blog, published last month, said the use of mobile phones in schools “can lead to distractions, disruption and can increase the risk of online bullying” and they “have no place in classrooms”.Views are clearly mixed about whether mobile phones can be used as learning tools in a manageable wayPepe Di’Iasio, Association of School and College LeadersDuncan Verry, portfolio director at Bett, said: “Our research indicates that teachers take a balanced view of mobile technology in schools.“They’re clear-eyed about both the challenges and benefits of phones in educational settings.“Rather than seeing phones as purely disruptive, many teachers recognise they could be useful learning tools when managed well.”He added: “What’s particularly striking is that teachers view phone-use as a relatively minor disruption compared to traditional classroom management challenges.“This suggests we should consider phone policies as part of a wider conversation about supporting teachers and creating effective learning environments.”Our bigger concern is their use outside of school time, which is where problems such as cyberbullying, addictive behaviour and exposure to inappropriate content generally happenPepe Di’Iasio, Association of School and College LeadersPepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said:  “Views are clearly mixed about whether mobile phones can be used as learning tools in a manageable way.“Some people argue they are part of life and utilising them in supervised circumstances can provide valuable learning opportunities while others feel they are always a potential distraction.“However, we have reached a point where government guidance has fallen on the side of prohibiting their use entirely during the school day, including in lessons.“Given increasing concern about the impact of this technology on young people, that may be a reasonable place to land.“But our bigger concern is their use outside of school time, which is where problems such as cyberbullying, addictive behaviour and exposure to inappropriate content generally happen.“The answer is tougher regulation of online platforms.”Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Individual schools know their pupils and communities, so are best-placed to make decisions on phone use based upon what works for them and for their pupils’ education and wellbeing.”He added: “Schools already have the power to implement their own policies on mobile phones and most have clear guidelines in place which they review regularly.”A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We know that technology can bring many benefits to children’s education, but mobile phones are a distraction from learning and our guidance is clear that it is for headteachers to decide how to prohibit their use in a way that will work in their own schools.” 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 Royal Shakespeare Company will look at using artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive technology in future productions, the Government announced as part of other projects and funding measures for the West Midlands as well as Merseyside.Based at playwright William Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, as well as London, the theatre company will lead R&D pilot production projects in collaboration with the US tech and media festival South by Southwest (SXSW).The RSC has previously used motion capture technology in a performance of Dream, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in 2021, which was aimed at remote audience members during the pandemic.Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy unveiled £13.5 million investment in training, research and development for a range of projects in Merseyside and the West Midlands.She said: “Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. That’s why we are supporting firms, artists and freelancers that are innovating, using new technology and driving growth in creative clusters across the country.“Liverpool and Merseyside hold a special place in our nation’s music landscape, and this funding will support imagination and experimentation across the city and region, as creators explore how we can make gigs more environmentally friendly.“Birmingham and the West Midlands have a rich industrial history, and we are putting them at the forefront of a potential new industry developing the amazing technology that will revolutionise visual effects in film, theatre and gaming.”Of the share of the pot, the West Midlands will get £6.75 million, which will be aimed at businesses specialising in creative tech like video games and immersive reality and industry working with many partners including universities and the RSC.The type of technology has not been decided, but it will look at “AI and immersive technology”.There will also be a consideration of “incorporating VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) technologies for live events; adapting game engines for non-gaming applications in music, theatre, and film; using game design principles to engage audiences; and employing 3D modelling and animation techniques to create high-quality immersive content”.VR simulates an experience for users, usually using headsets, while AR works through creating computer-generated content in the real world.Those involved in the partnership CreaTech Frontiers are places such as the Birmingham Opera Group, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.A fund of £6.75 million has also been allocated by the Government to Liverpool’s combined authority’s academic and private sector programme, called the MusicFutures cluster.Working with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena, the cluster will fund training for musicians, teachers and business to use technology such as AI and extended reality (XR) to make the “live music sector more environmentally sustainable”.This could mean building simulated environments as well as having computer-generated creations.It comes as the Music Venue Trust said grassroots music is being hollowed out by the cost-of-living crisis and other factors, with 125 of these type of venues permanently shutting in 2023. 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 is in a new row with leading company bosses as his government attempts to force around 2 million young people back into work.As work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall unveiled the “Get Britain Working” plan in the Commons, a major business organisation – the British Chambers of Commerce – warned that Labour’s policies are more likely to lead to job losses.There was similar criticism from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), with both organisations pointing to the impact of employment rights legislation and the rise in national insurance dubbed “the jobs tax”.The government plans to force young people and the long-term sick to take up work or lose their benefits in a dramatic move to end worklessness and increase employment in the UK.Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall insisted that people who ‘can work, must work’ 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 hit back at Donald Trump’s tariff threats with an apparent warning that 1 million Americans working for British companies stand to be affected.It comes as the president-elect indicated that he will slap tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China as soon as he re-enters the White House in January, raising fears that the UK is next.The prime minister is facing continued warnings that the UK will be economically isolated unless it chooses between a trade deal with Trump’s US and closer ties with the EU.But Labour ministers have so far refused to be cowed by the threat from the US, or commit to making further concessions on the Brexit reset, when pressed in the Commons.In a briefing to journalists, No 10 highlighted the £304bn that UK-US trade was worth over the last year.Trump has been warned that any tariffs he introduces could affect 1 million Americans working for UK firms 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 moreKeir Starmer’s national security adviser will seek to woo Donald Trump’s team over the Chagos islands after The Independent revealed the president-elect fears the controversial deal will be sealed before he even enters the White House.Jonathan Powell, who negotiated the plan to hand over the islands earlier this year, is to travel to Washington in a bid to persuade Mr Trump not to tear up the agreement.He is understood to be looking for ways to cancel the arrangement amid security concerns over the crucial joint UK/US base on one of the islands, Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean.There are also fears the deal, struck by Sir Keir Starmer and foreign secretary David Lammy, will allow China access to the islands to build their own rival base.Donald Trump’s team are seeking assurances that the deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius will not be completed before his inauguration 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 moreAngela Rayner, Yvette Cooper and Rachel Reeves are among 15 cabinet ministers who have been banned from entering Russia, as part of a fresh wave of sanctions on British officials.In total, 30 British citizens have been listed under new sanctions. The Russian ministry said it was putting members of the UK’s political and military establishment, as well as journalists, on its so-called “stop list”, accusing them of “anti-Russian activities”. Jonathan Reynolds and Ed Miliband are among the cabinet ministers impacted.It comes just hours after a British diplomat was expelled from Russia after being accused of spying, allegations that have been strongly denied by Downing Street.Thirty British citizens have been listed under new sanctions including several senior government figures 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 pressed by his own MPs to go faster in pursuing closer relations with Europe on defence and security, amid an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and fears for global security. It comes after Vladimir Putin used a new ballistic missile against Ukraine on Thursday, claiming the use of the weapon was in response to the UK and US allowing long-range missiles supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets within Russia’s borders.Calvin Bailey, who served in the RAF for 24 years and is now the Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, called for “an acceleration of the government’s work to rebuild our partnerships on the continent” in order to promote security at home and abroad.He told The Independent that the UK should prioritise cooperation with Europe in Labour’s Strategic Defence Review – a “root and branch review” of UK defence – launched by Sir Keir when he took office.Mr Bailey said British forces should be able to “integrate seamlessly with partners during operations”, and called for “more co-funding with our allies”, across both Europe and other partnerships such as Aukus with the US and Australia. “This is particularly true for the army, whose role for European security is vital,” he said.President-elect Donald Trump is widely regared as a Nato sceptic 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 could hike taxes on American staples including Harley Davidsons, Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Levi’s jeans if Donald Trump targets the UK with tariffs.The prime minister has been urged to “Trump-proof” Britain after the president-elect overnight threatened to unilaterally impose massive levies on imports to the US on his first day in office.“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 per cent Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform.Donald Trump has threatened tariffs against the US’s biggest trading partners More