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.Read moreA diplomatic row has exploded after Sir Keir Starmer declined to back Canada against Donald Trump’s ambitions to turn it into the 51st state of the USA.A Conservative MP in Canada and a former ambassador are among those to criticise the UK prime minister for failing to stand up for their country.Mr Trump has made repeatedly made calls for Canada to become America’s 51st state in recent months, including a claim that without a massive subsidy from the US “Canada ceases to exist as a viable country”.The backlash followed The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg challenging Sir Keir on his position on Canada during a press conference after the meeting between the US president and prime minister.US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hold a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington DC after their meeting in the Oval Office (Carl Court/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.Read moreAn Olympic gold medallist boxer unveiled as Reform UK’s candidate for the mayor of Hull and East Riding’s metro sent homophobic tweets, it has emerged. Luke Campbell, 37, who won gold for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, made the offensive remarks in tweets from 2011 and 2012. Mr Farage’s party had pledged to clean up its vetting system after a series of rows over its general election candidates last year. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage with Luke Campbell on Thursday night (Danny Lawson/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.Read moreMoments after the plane had taken off from Andrews military airport in Washington DC to take Keir Starmer and his entourage home, an emotionally drained but clearly happy prime minister walked down the aircraft for a mini victory lap for what he and his team considered to be a triumphant trip to the White House.While he felt he had achieved as much as he could have hoped for on his foreign policy agenda, the real success for the prime minister though may have actually been in terms of domestic politics.In particular there was one big loser from what transpired in the Oval Office on Thursday – Nigel Farage.The key moment came when a journalist shouted out a question to President Trump asking him if he would veto the Chagos deal. Trump’s answer stunned everyone listening by endorsing the proposal.( More

Trump signals good news for Britain on TariffsYour 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.Read moreAnneliese Dodds has quit her role as international development minister over prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to slash the international aid budget to increase defence spending. The Labour MP predicted in a letter to the prime minister that he would find it impossible to continue support for Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan given the severity of the cut to 0.3 per cent of GNI (gross national income). She revealed she was only told of the decision on Monday, but held off resigning until he had returned from Washington, to ensure a united and successful visit to Donald Trump. Earlier, health secretary Wes Streeting has stressed that the NHS was “not on the table” in any US trade deal. The US president said he had “great discussions on trade” with Sir Keir and expressed confidence that a deal could be reached “rather quickly”.“I think we’ll have two deals,” he said, “a deal on ending the war [in Ukraine] and a great trade deal with you [the UK]”. But the prime minister failed to secure key concessions over Ukraine in critical White House talks.Sir Keir opened his talks with Mr Trump with a charm offensive, delivering an unprecedented second royal invitation for a state visit, which the US president readily accepted.Trump ‘recognises the strength’ of Chagos deal – No 10 says Donald Trump “recognises the strength” of the Chagos Islands deal, Downing Street said after the US president signalled he would back it.Mr Trump said he thought the US would be “inclined to go along” with Sir Keir Starmer’s deal to hand over sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius when the two leaders met at the White House on Thursday.No 10 said it was right for the new US administration to look at the agreement, which was agreed under Mr Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden.The agreement includes a plan to lease back the strategically important US-UK military base on Diego Garcia at British taxpayers’ expense.The UK has offered Mr Trump an effective veto on the deal because of its implications for US security, and allies of the president have criticised the plan.Speaking in the Oval Office alongside the Prime Minister, Mr Trump said: “We’re going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it’s going to work out very well.”He said it was a “very long-term, powerful lease, a very strong lease” and that “I think we’ll be inclined to go along with your country.”Holly Evans28 February 2025 14:48Anneliese Dodds’s resignation is like Robin Cook’s – principled, but ultimately pointlessHer loyalty to the prime minister, the government and the party resembles that of Robin Cook in 2003. He resigned as foreign secretary over the decision to join the US invasion of Iraq, but he did so respecting Tony Blair’s integrity, and very much more in sorrow than in anger – as resignations on matters of principle ought to be.Dodds’s resignation letter says that she agrees that “we must increase defence spending”. In this, she differs from Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary, who argued in The Independent yesterday that more spending on defence will make us less safe.Read the full article here: Holly Evans28 February 2025 14:27Starmer to discuss how to make peace ‘stick’ with ZelenskyThe Prime Minister is preparing to discuss how to guarantee a peace deal in Ukraine will last when he meets Volodymyr Zelensky in Downing Street this weekend.Leaders from across Europe will gather in London on Sunday, following a week which will have seen Sir Keir, France’s Emmanuel Macron and the Ukrainian president travel for talks with US president Donald Trump.The Ukrainian leader will follow Sir Keir in meeting with Mr Trump in Washington on Friday and finalising a deal that will give the US access to Ukraine’s earth minerals, which Downing Street has welcomed as it would “bind” Washington to Kyiv.Ahead of Sunday’s summit focused on security, the Prime Minister will meet with Mr Zelensky separately.Sir Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Carl Court/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.Read moreInternational development minister Anneliese Dodds has dramatically resigned from the government in protest at Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to slash the UK’s foreign aid budget.The minister, who attended cabinet, warned the move would bolster Russia, despite the prime minister’s claims the cash would be used to hike defence spending and hit back at “tyrants” like Putin. Her resignation will come as a blow to the prime minister after he jetted back to the UK following a crunch meeting with Donald Trump and before he holds an EU leaders summit on Ukraine this weekend. Foreign Office minister Anneliese Dodds (Jordan Pettitt/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.Read moreAnneliese Dodds has quit as international development minister over the decision to cut overseas aid to fund a boost to defence spending.The Labour MP for Oxford East posted on X: “It is with sadness that I have had to tender my resignation as Minister for International Development and for Women and Equalities.”She posted an image of the letter of resignation sent to Sir Keir Starmer, in which she wrote that she knew there were no “easy paths” to increase defence spending, but that she disagreed with the decision to cut overseas development aid to 0.3% of GNI (gross national income).Ms Dodds wrote: “It is with sadness that I have had to tender my resignation as minister for international development and for women and equalities.“While I disagree with the ODA decision, I continue to support the Government and its determination to deliver the change our country needs.”Read Anneliese Dodds’ letter in full:Dear Prime Minister,It is with sadness that I write to inform you that I will cease attending your Cabinet, and am tendering to you my resignation as your Minister of State for International Development and for Women and Equalities.As I stated to you earlier this week, it was imperative that you had a united cabinet behind you as you set off for Washington. Your determination to pursue peace through strength for Ukraine is one I share. It is for that reason that I am only writing to you now that your meeting with President Trump is over, and four days after you informed me of your decision to cut Overseas Development Assistance to 0.3% of GNI.Undoubtedly the postwar global order has come crashing down. I believe that we must increase spending on defence as a result; and know that there are no easy paths to doing so. I stood ready to work with you to deliver that increased spending, knowing some might welf have had to come from ODA. I also expected we would collectively discuss our fiscal rules and approach to taxation, as other nations are doing. Even 3% may only be the start, and it will be impossible to raise the substantial resources needed just through tactical cuts to public spending. These are unprecedented times, when strategic decisions for the sake of our country’s security cannot be ducked.Instead, the tactical decision was taken for ODA to absorb the entire burden. You have maintained that you want to continue support for Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine; for vaccination; for climate; and for rules-based systems. Yet it will be impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut; the effect will be far greater than presented, even if assumptions made about reducing asylum costs hold true. The cut will also likely lead to a UK pull-out from numerous African, Caribbean and Western Balkan nations – at a time when Russia has been aggressively increasing its global presence. It will likely lead to withdrawal from regional banks and a reduced commitment to the World Bank; the UK being shut out of numerous muitlateral bodies; and a reduced voice for the UK in the G7, G20 and in climate negotiations.All this while China is seeking to rewrite global rules, and when the climate crisis is the biggest security threat of them all.Ultimately, these cuts will remove food and healthcare from desperate people – deeply harming the UK’s reputation. I know you have been clear that you are not ideologicallyopposed to international development. But the reality is that this decision is already being portrayed as following in President Trump’s slipstream of cuts to USAID.While we differ profoundly on this decision, I remain proud of all that you have achieved since I backed you to be leader of the Labour Party. I will always remain grateful to you for enabling me to contribute to our election victory, by appointing me to chair the policy review, Stronger Together and the National Policy Forum, and of course the Labour Party itself, including work to rid the party of anti-semitism and on the production of the manifesto. I am also grateful to the many thousands of party members, party staff and trade unionists I have worked with.l also regret deeply that I will no longer be able to work with you towards a more equal Britain, after years of covering the women and equalities brief where I have sought to deliver a commonsense approach which could command public support while delivering change. I am sorry that I will not be in post to deliver the groundbreaking new legislation on equality for Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, disabled people and LGBT + people to which we are committed. I am however pleased that OE measures in the Employment Rights Bill will soon be in place, revolutionising support for women in the workplace.Finally, I would like to thank the civil servants whom I have worked with over the last eight months – individuals who often work in the most dangerous and difficult places and circumstances, to protect our country’s interests.I wish you, and the government you command, every success for the future.I will continue to support you, and the change you are determined to deliver – but now I shall do so from the backbenches.Yours ever, Annetiese Dodds MP 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.Read moreKeir Starmer’s gambit on defence spending appears to have received an instant reward after the latest tracker poll for The Independent saw Labour replace Reform UK at the top.The survey by Techne UK saw Labour gain a point to 26 per cent and Nigel Farage’s party fall back one to 25 per cent. The Tories remained on 22 per cent, a total they have been stuck on for a month. This week’s poll was taken in the aftermath of Sir Keir’s decision to cut overseas aid from 0.5 per cent of GDP to 0.3 per cent to bring defence spending up to 2.5 per cent of GDP.While many charities and senior figures in his own party criticised him for undoing the legacy of Gordon Brown’s Labour government more than 15 years ago, the decision by Starmer appears to have given him a small boost with the public.Sir Keir Starmer will hold talks with Donald Trump in the Oval Office (Carl Court/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.Read moreBritish prime minister Keir Starmer said he saw “validity” in Donald Trump’s argument for pursuing a mineral deal with Ukraine on the eve of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington to finalise it.Sir Keir claimed that the US president’s deal for highly valuable rare earth minerals would form “at least one element” of a security guarantee for Kyiv against Russia.The prime minister used his Washington visit to push Mr Trump to provide security protections for Ukraine and not abandon it as America attempted to find a quick end to the war.“I can see the value in the approach in relation to minerals,” he said in an interview to NBC on Thursday, shortly after addressing a press conference with Mr Trump.“That is a matter between President Trump and President Zelenskyy. But I can see very clearly the argument that President Trump makes in relation to minerals, and I can also see the validity of his points when he says that if there’s a deal on minerals then the US has economic interests in Ukraine, which, if you like, form at least one element of any security guarantee.”That was “an important aspect”, he said.His comments came a day before Mr Zelensky was expected to meet Mr Trump in the White House and sign the agreement. The natural resources deal would likely give the US access to Ukraine’s untapped mineral reserves in return for investment and, Kyiv would hope, firm security assurances.Mr Trump announced on Wednesday that an agreement had been reached and expressed his satisfaction while Mr Zelensky struck a more reserved tone. The Ukrainian leader suggested the deal had the potential to be a “big success” but insisted that its outcome ultimately hinged on Mr Trump.Ukraine is abundant in natural resources with Kyiv estimating that it holds around 5 per cent of the world’s “critical raw materials”. However, tapping into these reserves presents challenges. Some mineral deposits are currently under Russian control. According to Ukraine’s economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, territories held by Russia hold untapped resources worth $350bn (£277bn).In his interview, Sir Keir said everybody wanted an end to the bloodshed in Ukraine and discussions were going on about the security guarantees for Kyiv. Asked if Britain could achieve its objectives in Ukraine without US participation, he said “the first thing is to get the European element in place”. He was referring to the establishment of a security strategy among the European nations before considering broader international cooperation.Sir Keir expressed concern about Russian president Vladimir Putin’s intentions for Ukraine even as he said Mr Trump was right to press for talks on a deal. “My concern is that we know, historically, that Putin might go again,” he said. “He has ambitions in relation to Ukraine. And, therefore, if there is to be a deal, it has got to be a deal that lasts.”At his meeting with Sir Keir, Mr Trump however expressed confidence that Mr Putin would not restart the war if a truce could be reached. “I think he will keep his word,” Mr Trump said of the Russian leader. “I’ve spoken to him, I’ve known him for a long time now, we had to go through the Russian hoax together,” the US president said, referring to the FBI investigation into allegations of Russian involvement in Mr Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.Standing alongside Mr Trump, the British prime minister said his country was ready to put “boots on the ground” to back a peace deal in Ukraine and secure “lasting peace” if Russia agreed to end the war.”I’m clear that the UK is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal, working together with our allies, because that is the only way that peace will last,” he said. More