UK

Keir Starmer refuses to rule out raising national insurance contributionsYour support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseSir Keir Starmer was involved in a tense exchange with Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) over national security.Mr Sunak said the PM has halted the implementation of the foreign agents registration scheme. Mr Starmer simply replied “that is not correct”, before sitting down to cheers from Labour backbench MPs.The foreign agents registration scheme would ensure that those working for a foreign power declare their lobbying activities with the UK government.At PMQs, Mr Starmer also revealed that the government is considering sanctioning two Israeli ministers over their support for blocking aid from entering the Gaza Strip.Shortly after PMQs the private members bill on assisted dying was formally introduced to the House of Commons.Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is bringing forward the proposals, has said that disabled and vulnerable people will not be at risk from the legislation as it will apply only to terminally ill adults.She said the end of life bill will have “stringent” criteria and the legislation was about giving “autonomy” to people at the end of their lives. Show latest update 1729089146Pausing our coverageWe’re pausing our coverage for now – please come back and revisit tomorrow for politics updatesAlex Ross16 October 2024 15:321729084717Sunak under fire from shadow cabinet not challenging Starmer over Taylor Swift at PMQsRishi Sunak is under pressure from his top team after he failed to ask Keir Starmer about Taylor Swift and freebie-gate at PMQs.The ex-PM is the party’s caretaker leader until his replacement is chosen next month. He used this week’s PMQs to ask about foreign affairs, in an apparent bid to put pressure on the foreign secretary David Lammy.One member of Mr Sunak’s shadow cabinet told the Independent: “There just had to be one question about Taylor Swift – and the prime minister would not have known what to do. I don’t know why he didn’t ask it”.Kate Devlin16 October 2024 14:181729084210Watch: Keir Starmer pays tribute to former SNP leader Alex SalmondKeir Starmer pays tribute to former SNP leader Alex SalmondJoe Middleton16 October 2024 14:101729082759EXCLUSIVE: Nigel Farage slams FA over Tuchel appointment: ‘Why the hell can’t we have an English manager?’Nigel Farage has attacked the FA for appointing German Thomas Tuchel to succeed Gareth Southgate, asking: “Why oh why can’t we have an English manager?”The Reform UK boss joined critics questioning the governing body’s decision to choose Tuchel who will take over from interim boss Lee Carsley in January following Southgate’s resignation after the Three Lions’ Euros campaign in July.Joe Middleton16 October 2024 13:451729081259Keir Starmer says government is ‘looking into’ sanctioning Israeli ministersKeir Starmer says government is ‘looking into’ sanctioning Israeli ministersJoe Middleton16 October 2024 13:201729079486Assisted dying Bill introduced to House of CommonsThe Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has been formally introduced in the House of Commons.Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed the Bill will have its Second Reading on Friday, November 29.On that day it will be debated and could face its first vote, with MPs deciding according to their own conscience rather than along party lines.The Bill is expected to be more commonly referred to as Kim Leadbeater’s Bill on choice at the end of life for the terminally ill.Joe Middleton16 October 2024 12:511729078497Government considering sanctions against Israeli ministersSir Keir Starmer confirmed the government was still considering sanctions against Israeli ministers as pressure mounted on the Tel Aviv government over its actions in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.Former foreign secretary Lord Cameron had been “working up” sanctions against Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir during his final days in the role before the general election was called.Asked at Prime Minister’s Questions whether those sanctions would be applied, Sir Keir said: “We are looking at that.”He said the pair had made “abhorrent” comments about the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.The prime minister added: “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. The death toll has passed 42,000 and access to basic services is becoming much harder.“Israel must take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties, to allow aid into Gaza in much greater volumes and provide the UN humanitarian partners the ability to operate effectively.”Joe Middleton16 October 2024 12:341729078386New government will work hand-in-hand with Wales to bring down NHS waiting lists, says StarmerSir Keir Starmer has promised to work with the Welsh government to bring down NHS waiting lists, claiming the previous government was in conflict with them.Pointing out that one in five people in Wales are on NHS waiting lists, Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville-Roberts said: “The secretary of state for Wales says that a new cross border NHS plan would bring down Welsh surgery waiting lists – but the first minister of Wales contradicts her. She denies it has anything to do with bringing down waiting lists.”Responding, Sir Keir Starmer said: “The difference is, we now have a Westminster government that wants to work with the Welsh government to deliver for the people of Wales. For fourteen long years, the Welsh government was in a position where the then government was in conflict with them.“We will work together, collaborate and ensure that together we deliver across Wales.”Millie Cooke16 October 2024 12:331729077700Sunak rebuked for trying to score ‘party political points’ on Britain’s securitySir Keir Starmer has rebuked Rishi Sunak for attempting to score “party political points” on Britain’s security and education. The leader of the opposition hit out at the government for its decision to halt the progression of the Freedom of Speech Act, suggesting the decision would make it easier for China to exert political influence over UK universities.Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, he said: “Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee have warned that British universities are a rich feeding ground for China to exert political influence over us.“That’s why we passed the Freedom of Speech Act with new powers to help defend universities from this threat, but the new education secretary has since blocked it.“So can the prime minister tell us how, without this tool, the government will prevent Chinese influence over our universities?”Responding, Sir Keir said: “I really don’t think party political points on security and intelligence is right. Honestly, throughout the last parliament we stood with the government on all questions of security and intelligence because it was important for the outside world that we did so.”He added: “He speaks about the record of the last government. That record was 14 years of failure, six years of austerity, three years of Brexit logjam, then Johnson, Truss and the leader of the opposition – utter failure. “And this government was elected to do things differently, to make fairer choices and most importantly to give Britain its future back.”Millie Cooke16 October 2024 12:211729077607Analysis: Consensual Rishi Sunak proves why the Tories should have got a new leader alreadyWith Keir Starmer on the backfoot of Taylor Swift-gate, threats of a £40 billion black hole in Labour’s spending plans and inflation figures suggesting that the last government may have actually fixed the economy, there was plenty for Rishi Sunak to shoot at.Instead he chose to use his six questions on China, a mostly consensual issue apart from a difference over protecting freedom of speech in universities.With the Budget just around the corner there was an opportunity for an engaged Tory leader of the Opposition to apply pressure.Mr Sunak missed the chance and even allowed Sir Keir to have a free hit on his government’s record.This is why there is genuine concern about him responding to the Budget on 30 October with a new leader not in place until three days later.David Maddox16 October 2024 12:20 More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseThe Technology Secretary has asked online safety regulator Ofcom for an update on its planned response to the misinformation which spread online and sparked the summer riots across Britain.The watchdog is currently overseeing the implementation of the Online Safety Act, which, once fully in force, will place new duties on social media platforms to protect users, particularly children, from illegal and potentially harmful content.In a letter to Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes, Peter Kyle asked for an assessment on how “illegal content, particularly disinformation, spread during the period of disorder; and if there are targeted measures which Ofcom is considering for the next iteration of the illegal harms code of practice in response”.One of the most alarming aspects of this unrest was how quickly and widely content spreadTechnology Secretary Peter Kyle After three young girls were killed in a stabbing attack in Southport at the end of July, violent disorder erupted across the country, fuelled by misinformation which spread on social media – including the false claim that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK on a small boat.In the wake of those riots, some have called for a re-evaluation and possible strengthening of the forthcoming online safety rules to place more emphasis on rooting out misinformation.Mr Kyle said: “In July and August, we saw how online misinformation and incitement fuelled violence and civil unrest across the UK, with violent attacks on temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, mosques, businesses, law enforcement and individuals.“One of the most alarming aspects of this unrest was how quickly and widely content spread.”The minister said it is in light of this that he has asked Ofcom for an update on how the disorder has influenced its approach to the new online safety rules, which include a range of codes of practices for platforms in scope of the laws that the regulator is currently drafting.Last month, the Technology Secretary told the PA news agency the introduction of the Online Safety Act would make safety an “unignorable issue” for social media companies, warning “they can no longer just look the other way or have other priorities”.Fundamentally, this is about making sure that services take responsibility for ensuring their products are safe for their usersTechnology Secretary Peter Kyle And in his letter to Dame Melanie, Mr Kyle said the Government is keen to further support Ofcom with the rollout of the new rules as needed.“As we have discussed in our recent meetings, it is incredibly important that we get the protections of the Act in place as soon as possible, and I am keen to continue our discussions on how the Government can support Ofcom in delivering on this ambition,” he said.“Fundamentally, this is about making sure that services take responsibility for ensuring their products are safe for their users.”An Ofcom spokesperson said: “When Ofcom’s chief executive met the Technology Secretary last week, she told him we had already carried out an evaluation of events following the Southport attack this summer and the actions taken by online platforms in response.“The Secretary of State has asked for more information on this work, which we will publish in the coming days.” More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseMore than 100 Labour MPs have registered donations from the think tank linked to Sir Keir Starmer’s new chief of staff and backed by a hedge fund manager.The donations from Labour Together, totalling about £1.5m and ranging from £5,000 to £137,168, have raised questions over the influence of the think tank and the power of its former director Morgan McSweeney.The figures come just days after Mr McSweeney, Labour Together’s former director, won the power struggle with Sue Gray in Downing Street to replace her as the prime minister’s chief of staff.Labour Together has been subject to attacks from allies of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who see it as Mr McSweeney’s “right-wing” vehicle to replace Mr Corbyn’s Momentum allies in running the party. It is backed by wealthy donors, and there have been claims that it is part of an effort to create an alternative means of funding the party in place of its traditional trade union backers.Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney previously ran Labour Together More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseNigel Farage has attacked the FA for appointing German Thomas Tuchel to succeed Gareth Southgate, asking: “Why oh why can’t we have an English manager?”The Reform UK boss joined critics questioning the governing body’s decision to choose Tuchel who will take over from interim boss Lee Carsley in January following Southgate’s resignation after the Three Lions’ Euros campaign in July.Reform UK leader Nigel Farage questioned the FA’s decision More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseKemi Badenoch has warned the Conservative Party could cease to exist if her opponent Robert Jenrick wins the Tory leadership contest.The former business secretary has said the Tories have “one chance” to pick the right candidate to succeed Rishi Sunak, adding that the rise of Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats is “existential” for the party.Addressing Tories who do not support either of the right-wingers vying for the leadership, Ms Badenoch voiced concern at speculation they could hold another contest before the next election.Kemi Badenoch said that her team would be ‘Labour’s worst nightmare’ (PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseThe majority of parents say fines for unauthorised absences would not deter them from taking their children out of school for a holiday, a survey has found.Half of parents are opposed to the policy in England where fines are considered if a child misses five days of school without permission, according to a poll by Parentkind charity.The survey, of nearly 5,500 parents from across the UK, found that nearly three in five (57%) parents have or would consider their child missing school for a day or more for a term-time holiday.The same proportion (57%) of parents said the risk of receiving a fine for an unauthorised term-time holiday would have no impact on their decision to take their child out of school.The poll was carried out by YouGov in April and May ahead of higher fines for unauthorised pupil absences coming into effect in England.Many parents are struggling to make ends meet and get children away from their screens, it is no wonder they are tempted by a term-time holidayJason Elsom, chief executive of ParentkindSchool absence fines have now increased from £60 to £80 this academic year as part of a Government drive to boost attendance since the  pandemic.A parent who receives a second fine for the same child within a three-year period will automatically receive a £160 fine under the changes.The Department for Education (DfE) has said other actions, such as a parenting order or prosecution, will be considered if a parent exceeds two fines per child within a three-year period, and those who are prosecuted could receive a fine of up to £2,500.Nearly one in five (18%) parents surveyed said it was harder to get their child to attend school compared to before the pandemic, while 31% said they were “more relaxed” about their child’s attendance since Covid-19.The poll also found that one in seven parents (14%) said their child spends seven hours or more a day on electronic devices outside school on a typical week day.Around one in 10 parents of primary school age children said their child spends at least seven hours a day on their phone, tablet or games consoles outside school on a typical week day.The charity is calling on the Government to publish the evidence on smartphone harm and introduce a Bill to ban smartphones for children.The plea comes as Labour MP Josh MacAlister is introducing a Private Member’s Bill (PMB) in Parliament this week on protecting children from harms caused by excessive screen time.The charity is also calling for the Government to review the marketing and pricing of “rip-off” family holidays, and to include the cost of school in any strategy for reducing poverty.We urgently need the government’s child poverty taskforce to come up with solutions, and we need much tougher regulation of smartphonesPepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of ASCLMore than one in three (34%) parents are struggling with their finances, according to the poll.The cost of uniforms and school trips are a concern for many families, the report has suggested.More than one in five (21%) have struggled to afford costs associated with sending their child to school – and 11% said they had taken out a loan or taken on debt to pay for these costs.Some parents reported skipping meals and rationing heating to cope with financial pressures.Amelia Beeston, an administrator from London with two young children, said: “We were aware that having children would require extra costs but there are many things we need to purchase that seem excessive.“This means not much money left to enjoy family time together which is so very important.”Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, said: “Many parents are struggling to make ends meet and get children away from their screens, it is no wonder they are tempted by a term-time holiday.”He added: “We’re calling for a big commitment from ministers to listen to what parents are saying when it comes to making family life cheaper, clamping down on rip-off holiday costs and banning smartphones for children.”Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the survey reveals how the “twin scourges of financial hardship and addictive digital technology” are affecting families.He said: “We urgently need the Government’s child poverty taskforce to come up with solutions, and we need much tougher regulation of smartphones.“We also wholeheartedly agree with Parentkind’s call for a Government review of rip-off family holidays.”Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Ultimately, fines are a blunt tool. Many teachers and leaders are already doing a huge amount to help support children back into school, and attendance figures have started to improve.“The best way for the Government to tackle the causes behind persistent absence is to fund those services that support both families and schools – which faced devastating cuts under the austerity of the last government.”A government spokesperson said: “Absence rates have risen in recent years which is a major challenge we have inherited, but strong foundations of learning are grounded in attendance in the classroom.“Tackling absence is everyone’s responsibility. Parents have a legal responsibility to make sure their child is in school, while government is committed to tackling the causes of absence through mental health support in secondary schools, breakfast clubs in all primary schools and inclusive SEND support“We will also put an end to rip-off uniforms costing families hundreds of pounds, and our child poverty taskforce is looking at longer-term actions to tackle the challenges felt by those living in poverty.” More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreClosePrime minister Sir Keir Starmer met with pop star Taylor Swift at one of her London concerts to discuss the Southport attack.It is understood that Sir Keir and his family spoke to the Shake if Off singer and her mother after he was invited to attend the Wembley gig on 20 August. This comes amid questions over government intervention in talks over the security for the concerts after Swift was given a taxpayer-funded police escort.Last week, it was claimed the Metropolitan Police’s special escort group had initially been reluctant to give the pop star a blue-light escort to her performances – protection usually reserved for royalty and politicians – but was pressured by senior politicians to provide the extra measures. The singer concluded the final leg of her globe-trotting Eras Tour with three nights at Wembley Stadium in August.The Independent understands Yvette Cooper and Sadiq Khan discussed security arrangements for Ms Swift to ensure the safety of concert goers following a foiled terrorist attack on an Era’s tour performance in Vienna, Austria. A spokesperson for Mr Khan previously said the mayor does not interfere in operational decisions by the Met Police.Keir Starmer and wife Victoria at Taylor Swift concert on 20 August More