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 moreTanni Grey-Thompson has warned that if parliament passes a law allowing assisted dying it will enable unscrupulous families to go “doctor shopping” to end the lives of elderly, disabled or sick relatives.The 11-time Paralympic gold medallist, now a disability rights campaigner and member of the House of Lords, spoke exclusively to The Independent about her fears of the consequences if MPs and peers pass the controversial legislation.The private members bill brought forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is due to have its second reading in the Commons on 29 November.But already both ministers who will be responsible for overseeing its implementation if it is passed – health secretary Wes Streeting and justice secretary Shabana Mahmood – have indicated that they will oppose the legislation.Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson opposes assisted dying (Stefan Rousseau/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 moreAngela Rayner has failed to rule out any further inheritance tax raids on farmers, despite thousands of people marching on Westminster on Tuesday to protest the levy.Asked to rule out any further increases to the tax while she was standing in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions, Ms Rayner declined to do so – instead claiming “the vast majority of estate owners will be totally unaffected” by the new levy.In response, Tory MP Alex Burghart – who was standing in for Kemi Badenoch – joked: “Perhaps the right honourable lady thinks that everyone came to London yesterday to thank the government.”The shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said: “Let’s look at the facts. A typical mid-size 360 acre family farm in the constituency of Thirsk and Molten, they have spoken to their accountant, their new liability because of this government is half a million pounds. “That is 12 years’ worth of profit. When this generation passes away, that farm will become totally unviable and it is just one of thousands and thousands of similar farms. It is clear that government hasn’t got its facts right.”The deputy prime minister stood in for Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday 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 moreWatch live as Angela Rayner steps in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, 20 November, as official figures showed UK inflation has risen to its highest level since April.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rose to 2.3% for October, from 1.7% in the previous month, driven by an increase in household energy bills.In October, average household energy bills increased by £149 a year after regulator Ofgem raised the cap from £1,568 for a typical dual-fuel household in England, Scotland and Wales to £1,717 — representing approximately a 10 per cent rise.It marks the sharpest month-on-month increase in the rate of inflation for two years.Wednesday’s PMQs also came after hordes of farmers descended upon London to protest against Labour’s proposed changes to agricultural inheritance tax.From April 2026, landowners who inherit agricultural assets worth more than £1m will have to pay 20 per cent inheritance tax on them.These assets were previously entirely exempt from the tax under the agricultural property relief law.Under the new rules, the 20 per cent levy – which is half of the standard 40 per cent rate – will be charged on assets above the £1m threshold only.Treasury data shows that around three-quarters of farmers will pay nothing in inheritance tax as a result of the controversial changes.However, farmers critical of the figures have pointed to data from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) which suggests 66 per cent of farm businesses are worth more than the £1m threshold at which a 20% inheritance tax will now need to be paid.The prime minister has insisted he is “absolutely confident the vast majority of farms and farmers will not be affected by this.” 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 first Labour MPs have expressed doubts over the government’s decision to extend inheritance tax to cover agricultural properties, after an estimated 13,000 people marched on Westminster on Tuesday to protest the levy.It comes amid growing concern from rural MPs that they will face a wipeout at the next election as a result of the policy, after the party’s landslide election victory saw Labour MPs elected across 114 countryside constituencies.Steve Witherden, MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, called on the Treasury to release its modelling on the impact of the policy.He also suggested changes to the plans may be necessary to protect family farms, telling the Telegraph: “It’s not remotely uncommon for any legislation to go through various phases. There’ll be the opportunity for backbench MPs like myself to feed into that debate.”Andy MacNae, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, admitted it is unclear whether or not family farms would be protected with the extension of the tax, saying he would take the “real concerns of farmers” to the Treasury.Farmers protest in central London (Andrew Matthews/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 moreElon Musk will be summoned by MPs to testify about the role of his social media platform X in spreading disinformation during the riots which rocked England and Northern Ireland over the summer.The questioning will come as part of a Commons science and technology select committee, where senior executives from Meta – the parent company of Facebook and Instagram – as well as from TikTok are also expected to be called for questioning.The first evidence sessions are expected to take place in the new year.According to the Guardian, MPs will probe the consequences of generative AI, which was used to create images shared to social media inciting people to join join Islamophobic protests in the wake of the killing of three schoolgirls in Southport in August. Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP who chairs the select committee, said Mr Musk has “very strong views on multiple aspects of this”.( 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 moreLeading musicians have warned that “Brexit is hell” as a damning report has revealed the damage of Britain’s departure from the EU on the UK’s music industry.As the number of artists saying Brexit has hit their income rose from 82 per cent to 87 per cent, UK-based songwriter Victoria Canal said “it is expensive logistically and puts pressure on all of us”.And producer Catherine Marks said the UK’s exit from the European bloc has negatively impacted recording budgets and caused increases in costs for British artists touring the EU.Victoria Canal said Brexit ‘is hell’ for musicians 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 moreCutting winter fuel payments for pensioners will drive 100,000 more into poverty by 2026, the government has admittedTens of thousands more pensioners will fall into relative poverty next year as a result of Labour’s decision to means test the payment, worth up to £300, government estimates have shown. The change, unveiled by Rachel Reeves in July, will strip winter fuel payments from around 10 million pensioners. Rachel Reeves unveiled the change in July 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 said he has “no plans” to join the Bluesky social media platform.The Prime Minister told reporters that “at the moment” there are no plans to establish official Government accounts or a personal one in his name.He said it is “important for a government” to be able to communicate with “as many people as possible”.What’s important for a government is that we’re able to reach as many people and communicate with as many people as possible and that’s the sole test for any of this as far as I’m concernedSir Keir Starmer The number of users on the site has surged in recent weeks, with the official Bluesky account announcing earlier this week that the platform had passed 19 million users.Asked whether he had any plans to join Bluesky personally, or for Government departments to open official accounts, Sir Keir told reporters: “No plans at the moment, we’re obviously still using Twitter.”He added: “What’s important for a government is that we’re able to reach as many people and communicate with as many people as possible and that’s the sole test for any of this as far as I’m concerned.”He made the comments to journalists who attended the G20 summit in Brazil.Bluesky was developed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey in 2019 but user numbers have surged in recent months, with around one million accounts signing up in the week following Donald Trump’s re-election as US president. Mr Dorsey stepped down from the board in May 2024.Twitter was bought by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, in 2022 and renamed X, but both the platform and the billionaire businessman have faced increased scrutiny since the takeover, prompting several high-profile account-holders to leave.Mr Musk championed the Trump presidential bid and has been named co-head of the new administration’s department of government efficiency.Several MPs have joined Bluesky, with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Treasury minister Darren Jones and local government minister Jim McMahon among those setting up accounts. More