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 moreRachel Reeves has told the City that restrictions imposed after the 2008 banking crash “went too far”, as she tries to regain the trust of the finance sector by promising to ease banking regulations.In a speech at Mansion House on Thursday evening, the chancellor sought to win back the business community following intense criticism of last month’s Budget.It follows the announcement of her plans to create a series of pension megafunds, which the former Bank of England economist hopes will unlock around £80bn of new investment into UK businesses and infrastructure.By rowing back on regulation, Ms Reeves is pinning her hopes on being able to fire up the economic growth which Labour put at the heart of its manifesto plan for government.It will be the first easing of the rules since the then Labour chancellor Alistair Darling was forced to nationalise two banks and impose a raft of restrictions in the wake of the 2008 financial crash.Rachel Reeves will set out the plans in her first Mansion House speech as chancellor 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 moreBrussels is pressing ahead with its bid for a deal on free movement for young people between the European Union and the UK – despite Sir Keir Starmer’s repeated rejections of an agreement.The European Commission has made a youth mobility scheme a key demand amid the prime minister’s post-Brexit reset with Brussels after years of tense relations under successive Conservative administrations. Despite Sir Keir’s insistence that the UK has no intention of agreeing such a deal, official documents show the European Council has tabled a discussion on the issue on Friday.The youth mobility agreement’s inclusion on the agenda sends a strong message that the proposal is a priority for the bloc, which is hoping to use the meeting to formalise its negotiating position before presenting it to UK officials,The Independent understands. While the EU has floated the idea informally before, it has never been formally proposed. ( 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 Technology Secretary said he is “committed to boosting digital skills no matter where people live” following the unveiling of new government-funded mobile phone mast upgrades in rural Wales.Peter Kyle said many people still required support to get online in an increasingly digital world and more work is needed to ensure digital inclusion took place across all parts of the UK.It comes as the Government announced seven new 4G mast upgrades across south, south west and west Wales had gone live, bringing more reliable connectivity to residents and businesses in these areas as part of the Shared Rural Network scheme, which aims to get those not yet online the connectivity they need.Mr Kyle said: “From applying for jobs to staying in touch with loved ones, fast and reliable connectivity is an essential part of modern life and should be the digital reality for communities from Llandudno to Cardiff, which is why the upgrades announced today are a welcome step forward.“But we cannot ignore the fact that millions of people need support when it comes to navigating the online world. That’s why this Government is committed to boosting digital skills no matter where people live, to support people accessing essential services like banking, or education tools, helping them to get on with their lives and work.”The upgraded masts will bring better coverage to parts of Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park and Bontgoch, the Government said.Telecoms minister Sir Chris Bryant joined Mr Kyle in a visit to Ebbw Vale in South Wales, where they discussed the issue of digital inclusion at radio station BGfm.We are working tirelessly to address the connectivity concerns of rural communities to make sure everyone has access to the opportunities of the online worldSir Chris Bryant, telecoms minister“We are working tirelessly to address the connectivity concerns of rural communities to make sure everyone has access to the opportunities of the online world,” Sir Chris said.“These upgrades mean businesses aren’t constrained by the limits of their mobile signal, 999 services are better equipped to save lives and fight crime, and residents and tourists can get online whilst enjoying the Welsh countryside.“By focusing on bringing digital connectivity and access to communities in every corner of the UK, we will continue to break down barriers to opportunity and kickstart economic growth.” 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 moreLandlords are rushing to force out tenants as Labour’s ban on no-fault evictions looms, campaigners have warned, with government figures showing a spike in evictions by bailiffs.Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmer have promised to outlaw Section 21 so-called no-fault evictions, with the ban expected to be implemented by next summer.And Ministry of Justice figures showed that, between July and September, 8,425 households in England were served with Section 21 notices – an eight year high.Angela Rayner has promised to outlaw section 21 no fault evictions 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 31-year-old who was controversially made a peer by Boris Johnson is to take over the pro-Brexit Guido Fawkes news site.Ross Kempsell – now Lord Kempsell  – was the former prime minister’s spokesman and reportedly his tennis partner.The Independent also revealed last month that a PR firm he set up accumulated more than £2m in assets in just 12 months – and includes Mr Johnson as one of its clients.Now the peer is to take over the reins at the site, which describes itself as a “blog of plots, rumours and conspiracies” and says it campaigns against “political sleaze, corruption and hypocrisy”. Labour accused Mr Johnson of cronyism when he elevated Lord Kempsell, who was reportedly a key figure in “Operation Save Big Dog”, the fight to keep Mr Johnson in office in the wake of the Partygate scandal. Labour accused Mr Johnson of cronyism when he elevated Lord Kempsell 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 moreFarm incomes plummeted by more than 50 per cent in just one year, official figures show, amid growing fears over the impact of the government’s “tractor tax”. Average farm business incomes fell from £103,100 in 2022/23 to £45,300 in 2023/24, figures published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show.While the government said the fall in income “followed exceptional highs for some farm types in 2022/23”, in real terms, this is the lowest average farm incomes have been since 2015/16.For cereal farms, business income fell by 73 per cent to £39,400 in 2023/24, something Defra said came as a result of “lower output prices and yields”. For dairy farms, average business income was 68 per cent lower at £70,900, driven by a fall in the price of milk. The latest figures come as thousands of farmers prepare to descend on London later this month in protest against the government’s extension of inheritance tax.Farmers are planning a protest in 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 moreThousands could be left without protection from slavery and other human rights abuses as a result of a loophole in the government’s Employment Rights Bill. Charities and campaign groups plan to write to the home secretary to warn that migrant fishermen are “facing breaches of their human rights not to be held in slavery or servitude and not to perform forced or compulsory labour” if the government doesn’t take action to amend the law. Currently, the new protections afforded by the bill would not extend to migrant fishers on the Seafarer Transit Stamp, a type of visa offered to workers on UK fishing vessels that operate outside of UK territorial waters – just 12 nautical miles off the coast. There is no UK labour protection for these workers, even if they are employed by British companies, working on a UK flagged vessel and selling into the UK supply chain, excluding them from even the most basic of employment law protections such as the national minimum wage.In the letter to Yvette Cooper seen by The Independent, charities are demanding the government close this loophole to ensure all workers employed by UK-based firms are covered by new employment legislation. The government has been told it has a “significant opportunity” to protect this group of workers 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 saw a bigger increase in net migration last year than any other developed economy, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said.In a blow to Brexiteers, who promised the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union would bring down net migration, the OECD said Britain had a bigger spike than 28 other economically advanced countries.The UK’s population grew by a record 750,000 in 2023, a 52.9 per cent increase on the net migration figure a year earlier, it said.It meant the flow of immigrants into the UK grew more quickly than the United States, Germany, Canada, France, Australia and Japan.Only the US’s net migration total was higher, 500,000 more than Britain despite having a population almost five times as large.The country with the second biggest percentage spike in migration in 2023 was Korea, which added 87,000 people.Overall net migration to the UK has consistently exceeded pre-Brexit, pre-Covid levels of roughly 200,000 to 300,000, leading to significant anger with the previous Conservative government.When the figures reached record levels under Rishi Sunak, then shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said it demonstrated “Tory chaos and failure”.Prime minister Keir Starmer has promised to cut “sky-high” immigration levels, arguing that British workers can be trained to reduce the country’s reliance on overseas labour.“It is, as a point of fact, the policy of this government to reduce both net migration and our economic dependency on it,” he said in his first Labour conference speech as PM.The OECD said a third of economically advanced countries experienced record immigration in 2023, including Canada, France, Japan, Switzerland and the UK.It said part of the record high immigration to the UK can be explained by the rapid growth of visas granted to the dependants of international students.Labour has confirmed it will go ahead with Tory restrictions on international students bringing family members to the UK.Universities have reported a sharp decline in applications from international students, following the introduction of the measures.The Home Office recently reported an almost 80 per cent reduction in the number of dependents accompanying international students to the UK.More than 26,000 fewer student visa applications were made between January and March 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to the report.A Downing Street spokesman said: “The PM has been clear that migration has been far too high in recent years and needs to come down. We have a clear plan to deliver this.” More