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Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorRightwing Tory MP Esther McVey has doubled down on a controversial Tweet which appeared to compare Labour’s proposed smoking ban to the Holocaust.A leading Jewish community group has led the criticisms of the former common sense minister’s social media post describing it as “repugnant”.In it, the former TV presenter wrote out the words to German theologian Martin Niemoller’s famed 1946 poem, First They Came, which warns how those who stood passively by in the face of intensifying Nazi persecution became complicit in the Holocaust.McVey’s controversial post on X More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorPriti Patel made it clear that she would consider reviving Rwanda-style deportations for asylum seekers to third party countries if she were to become prime minister as she officially launched her bid to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader.The former home secretary was the original architect of the highly controversial Rwanda scheme which cost the taxpayer £700 million and saw no asylum seekers flown to the east African state before Labour cancelled the plan after they were elected in July.But answering questions at her launch, Dame Priti defended her record and said that a future government led by her would need to consider a similar scheme – although she avoided mentioning the word “Rwanda”.Priti Patel at her campaign event in London on Friday More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer has had a portrait of Margaret Thatcher removed from No 10 Downing Street, according to his biographer. Tom Baldwin said that the prime minister found the £100,000 painting, which was commissioned by Gordon Brown, “unsettling” – sparking outrage among Conservative MPs.Speaking at an event organised by Glasgow’s Aye Write book festival, Mr Baldwin said that after Sir Keir took office, they met at No 10 for a private conversation. Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly had a portrait of Margaret Thatcher removed from No 10 Downing Street More

Priti Patel says Keir Starmer has launched nasty financial assault on pensionersSupport trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorDame Priti Patel has warned Labour’s four-day week plan would be “devastating” for businesses as she launched her Conservative leadership campaign in London.The former home secretary criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s speech in the Downing Street Rose Garden on Tuesday this week as “one of the most feeble, pitiful and dishonest speeches you will ever hear”. She also accused Sir Keir of launching a “nasty financial assault” on pensioners with the decision to cut winter fuel payments.It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash for moving a £100,000 portrait of Margaret Thatcher in No 10 Downing Street because he found it “unsettling”. The portrait controvercy has drawn sharp criticism from Conservative MPs, who branded his decision as “petty” and a “vindictive” act. The prime minister hinted at a potential smoking ban in outdoor spaces like pub gardens.Speaking in Paris, he confirmed changes to smoking laws are under consideration, with details to be revealed soon. But the move has sparked concern among hospitality groups over potential negative impacts on the sector. The potential new Tobacco and Vapes Bill also caused cabinet tensions with Business Department officials warning that the move could create financial challenges for the industry.Show latest update 1725029754Scots must take independence decision out of Westminster’s hands, says BrownThe people of Scotland must take the decision over independence out of the hands of Westminster, the SNP’s depute leader has said.Addressing the first day of the party’s conference in Edinburgh, Keith Brown said the “sovereign people of Scotland” were “supreme over the UK Supreme Court”.Under Nicola Sturgeon, the court rejected a push for the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.Support for the SNP at the next election, Mr Brown said, would also be support for a “convention of all democratically-elected representatives … who support Scotland’s right to choose”.Such a convention could see the SNP working alongside former leader Alex Salmond and the Alba Party should they win seats.In his address to members, Mr Brown said the ability to demonstrate how Scotland can achieve independence will be “central” to the SNP’s success in 2026.“We have to first of all acknowledge Westminster’s stance – they’ve been clear,” he said.( More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorThe government is considering a ban on outdoor smoking in an effort to curb preventable deaths and alleviate pressure on the NHS.The proposal would affect small parks, pub gardens, and areas outside hospitals, nightclubs and sports venues.Sir Keir Starmer said action is needed “to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer”.But the hospitality industry warned it would cause serious economic harm to venues already struggling since the Covid-19 pandemic, and questioned whether the move is in the public interest. The proposed ban applies only to England, although devolved governments could choose to bring in similar rules.Tory leadership contender Tom Tugendhat described the policy as an assault on individual freedoms.Leaked papers revealed that the government is considering a ban in specific outdoor areas as an extension of legislation first introduced by Rishi Sunak’s government.Keir Starmer has confirmed he is considering a smoking ban in pub gardens, among other places More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorThe UK’s largest Jewish community organisation has lambasted Tory MP Esther McVey over her “repugnant” use of a famed poem warning of the horrors of Nazi persecution to criticise plans to ban smoking in pub gardens.It emerged on Wednesday night that the government is considering a ban on outdoor smoking which would affect pub gardens, areas outside nightclubs, and locations such as hospitals and children’s play areas.Sir Keir Starmer did not deny the leaked plans on Thursday, saying that action is needed “to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer” – sparking anger and alarm among a hospitality sector already crippled by Covid and the inflationary crisis.Despite the changes being planned as an extension of legislation first introduced by Rishi Sunak’s government to incrementally outlaw smoking entirely, several Conservatives were among those attacking the policy as a blindsiding assault on individual freedoms.But perhaps the most eyebrow-raising criticism came from Ms McVey, who most recently served as Mr Sunak’s “common sense” minister. In a post on X, the former TV presenter wrote out the words to German theologian Martin Niemoller’s famed 1946 poem, First They Came, which warns how those who stood passively by in the face of intensifying Nazi persecution became complicit in the Holocaust.Ms Mcvey then added: “Pertinent words re Starmer’s smoking ban.”Esther McVey’s tweet was seen nearly two million times on X More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer is facing serious questions over the appointment of Lord Peter Hendy as his rail minister after it emerged that he forced an award-winning engineer to be sacked for speaking to The Independent.Shadow transport secretary Helen Whately has written to Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden asking about the vetting process for the minister who is at the heart of another sleaze scandal to hit the new Labour government less than two months into office.Already questions are being asked over why a major Labour donor Lord Alli was granted a high security grade Downing Street pass after the election. There have also been allegations over cronyism over appointments of Labour supporters to senior civil service roles.Shadow transport secretary Helen Whately (UK Parliament/PA) More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorTory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat has made a brazen appeal to the right wing of his party with a pledge to cap net migration to 100,000 a year.The former security minister has been portrayed as the leading candidate of the left of his party but has tried to change minds on his reputation with a series of hard-right policies.After launching his campaign to replace Rishi Sunak with a pledge to consider leaving the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent asylum seekers from coming to the UK, he is now playing to the rightwing gallery on curbing legal migration.He told an audience at the Royal Society of Medicine in Mayfair that “an honest and open conversation about population size is the only way to have a country that is happy with itself”.Conservative party leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More