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 moreDowning Street has been forced to apologised to British Hindus after meat and alcohol were served at an annual Diwali celebration.Number 10 said that a “mistake” had been made and pledged “it will not happen again”.Hinduism does not have a clear prohibition on alcohol or meat consumption, but many Hindus choose not to drink and some are also vegetarian.The event sparked a series of complaints, including from Shivani Raja, the Conservative MP for Leicester East, who said she was “greatly concerned” and “deeply saddened”. Keir Starmer at the reception to celebrate Diwali in Downing Street 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 has been urged to step up his plans for a post-Brexit reset of relations with the European Union after an unprecedented warning from the Bank of England.In a speech to leading business figures, the Bank’s governor said that Britain must “rebuild” a closer trading relationship with the European Union after our exit from the bloc damaged exports.The effects of Brexit had “weighed” on the economy, Andrew Bailey added, just hours before the latest figures showed the economy flatlining in the months after Labour came to power. In the wake of the governor’s warning, the UK’s former national security adviser Lord Ricketts warned that “momentum” could be lost.Lord Ricketts, who is also the chair of the Lords European Affairs Committee but told The Independent he was speaking in a personal capacity, said: “I’m picking up from my European friends that they’ve appreciated the new government’s efforts to warm up the tone and rebuild personal contacts. But they are beginning to be impatient for substance.“Once the new (European) Commission is formed it will be important that the government has more detail to offer on what they want from the reset, otherwise the momentum will be lost.”Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has come under pressure over his Brexit ‘reset’ (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.CloseRead moreRachel Reeves has set out plans to target a free trade deal with Donald Trump after saying she is “not satisfied” with the UK’s flatlining economy. As official figures showed economic growth stalling under Labour, the chancellor said she wanted to boost trade with the US and “looks forward to working with president-elect Trump”. “There’s more than £300bn of trade flows between the UK and the United States every year, and we want to see that trade increase, whether that’s through a free trade agreement or through further improvements in our trade and investment flows,” Ms Reeves told ITV. Donald Trump’s America first policies threaten a tit-for-tat trade war that would push up prices 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 moreKemi Badenoch appears to have inspired a surge in the polls for the Tories after the latest weekly tracker poll by Techne UK for The Independent revealed she had cut Keir Starmer’s lead to just one point.The new Tory leader has taken six points off Labour’s lead in the last fortnight since she took over from Rishi Sunak as Labour has struggled to fight off criticism about Rachel Reeves’ record-breaking tax raising Budget.With businesses, charities and farmers all attacking Labour over the £40bn of extra taxes, including a hike in employer contributions to national insurance and a change of the inheritance tax rules, Ms Badenoch appears to have capitalised in her short time in charge.The Tory leader this week focussed on council tax hikes and national insurance in her questions to Sir Keir in PMQs with Labour still appearing to be suffering from a communication problem with its overall economic strategy.Ms Badenoch is already making up ground on Labour 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 UK must rebuild relations following Brexit, the governor of the Bank of England has said, warning of the economic consequences of leaving the European Union. Speaking alongside the chancellor at the annual Mansion House dinner in the City of London, Andrew Bailey spoke about the importance of economic growth and outlined the impacts of the UK’s departure from the single market on trade. While he said he takes “no position on Brexit per se”, he added: “But I do have to point out the consequences”. “The changing trading relationship with the EU has weighed on the level of potential supply”, Mr Bailey said.Andrew Bailey will “point out the consequences” of Brexit 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 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