UK

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentWatch as Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech at the Labour Party conference on Tuesday 24 September.He will tell Britons there is “light at the end of this tunnel” but they must first join a “shared struggle” through tough short-term pressures.In his first conference speech as prime minister, Sir Keir will say he wants to “build a new Britain” with faster economic growth, shorter hospital waiting lists and safer streets.But he will warn there are no easy answers and he could not offer “false hope” about the challenges ahead.Sir Keir will attempt to set out his positive vision of “national renewal” but the speech comes against a backdrop of anger within the Labour movement about the decision to means-test winter fuel payments, stripping them from millions of pensioners.That decision, along with infighting behind the scenes in No 10 and rows over donations to the PM and other senior Labour figures, has contributed to a party conference with a more subdued mood than might have been expected after July’s election landslide. More

Keir Starmer mistakenly calls for ‘return of the sausages’ in major Labour conference speechYour support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseMy recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyondEric GarciaWashington Bureau ChiefSir Keir Starmer has delivered his first party conference speech as prime minister to a packed hall of delegates in Liverpool. In a wide-ranging address that lasted over an hour, he covered policies new and old in his address, promising a “light at the end of the tunnel” for Britain.Sir Keir was met with rapturous applause from delegates, as well as a lone protester near the end of his speech heard mentioning the “children of Gaza” before being escorted from the venue.Responding to the heckler, Sir Keir said “this guy has a pass for the 2019 conference,” adding: “while he has been protesting we have been changing the party.The prime minister also said that pensioners will be better off under Labour despite the controversial cut to winter fuel payments.Acknowledging that some may find it hard to “take that on faith” due to the cold weather benefit cut, Sir Keir said: “if this path were popular or easy we would have walked it already.”The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.Show latest update 1727189447Tory leadership hopeful Jenrick brands PM’s speech ‘end of a term’Former immigration secretary Robert Jenrick has compared the Sir Keir Starmer’s like the end of a term. The Tory leadership hopeful also accused the prime minister of preparing a “dour plan for the UK”.He said: “This was the speech of a prime minister at the end of his five-year term, not three months in. Sir Keir is already a busted flush – a Mr Grey, with a dour plan for the UK.Behind all the rhetoric there was no substance. How can Starmer have no plan to grow the economy, reform the NHS or control and reduce immigration after 14 years? It appears he is too distracted with sleaze, infighting and chaos in Downing Street.”Salma Ouaguira24 September 2024 15:501727188928Keir Starmer’s heckler says he spoke up for Gaza and LebanonDaniel Riley, 18, who heckled the prime minister in his speech at the Labour Party conference said he was moved to shout due Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on the Middle East.He told reporters after being released by security: “Everyday we’re still sending British bombs and British bullets that are being used in Lebanon and in Gaza right now and the prime minister – he could stop that, he could stop that right now but he doesn’t.“And he says that he wants things to stop but he won’t lift a finger to actually stop it.”Asked if he had planned to disrupt the leader’s speech, Mr Riley said: “No, I was a delegate, I’m a Labour Party member, I hoped I’d be one for life but I suspect not now.”( More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentKeir Starmer has announced a crackdown on the use of taxpayers’ money for university courses for top executives – in a victory for an Independent campaign. Ministers were under pressure to act after this publication revealed that more than £1bn of taxpayers’ money was being used to fund masters-level courses for top executives.Now in a shake-up of the apprenticeship levy the prime minister is announcing a shake-up to restrict its use for postgraduate courses.Keir Starmer (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentKeir Starmer’s government is facing a clash with the civil service union after ministers briefed against Whitehall’s top mandarin.Dave Penman, the general secretary for the Association of First Division Civil Servants (FDA), has reacted with fury to briefings about cabinet secretary Simon Case.The Independent revealed how senior ministers have told Sir Keir that he needs to remove Mr Case immediately accusing him of “poisoning the well of government”.The finger has been pointed at Mr Case over briefings against Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray with whom he had a difficult relationship when she was a senior civil servant.Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, is under fire from ministers More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentWatch as home secretary Yvette Cooper delivers a speech at the Labour Party conference on Tuesday 24 September.She is expected to say that rising street crime is “corroding the fabric of our communities” as she outlines the government’s “mission” for safer streets.Ms Cooper will focus on moves to introduce new powers to respond to antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and off-road bikes, with more neighbourhood police expected in communities.The government plans to bring forward legislation next year to introduce “respect orders”, which are designed to ban persistent antisocial offenders from town centres, including for issues linked to public drinking and drug use.An additional 13,000 police officers and PCSOs along with guaranteed local patrols are part of the government’s plans, while ministers will also create a new standalone offence of assaulting a shopworker.Ms Cooper’s focus on the rule of law comes on the day a ban on owning zombie-style knives and machetes comes into force.It follows a four-week amnesty scheme where owners were encouraged to hand the weapons in to police, local authorities or knife crime charities.The government plans to also ban ninja swords in the future. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentSir Keir Starmer has become a “replica of George Osborne” by refusing to “end austerity”, former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said on Tuesday.Mr McDonnell criticised the prime minister after reports that he will use his speech to the Labour conference to warn of “tough decisions” facing the government.Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell is among the seven MPs suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentPubs could be forced to call last orders early as the government is considering new measures to target harmful drinking, a health minister has said. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, public health minister Andrew Gwynne said the government is considering “tightening up the hours of operation” of bars and pubs as part of an attempt to improve health and combat anti-social behaviour.But a Department for Health spokesman said: “This is categorically untrue.”Andrew Gwynne is considering the measure to improve public health (Victoria Jones/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseMy recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyondEric GarciaWashington Bureau ChiefHalf of Britons say they are disappointed with Labour’s performance in government so far, including a quarter of Labour voters, according to a new Ipsos poll.The findings suggest that the “honeymoon period” following Labour’s 2024 General Election victory may be coming to an end, indicating growing public dissatisfaction with Keir Starmer’s leadership.The poll was conducted just before Labour’s first party conference since their landslide win in July.The initial post-election optimism has faded, with frustration growing over leaks and hostile briefings about Downing Street operations. There is also significant division within the party, particularly over Rachel Reeves’ decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance, leaving millions of pensioners without the support they would usually expect.Last week, Keir Starmer also faced scrutiny over accepting donations, which included items such as clothing, glasses, and a private box at Arsenal FC. This controversy coincided with the revelation that his chief of staff, Sue Gray, earns more than the prime minister.Is your “honeymoon” with Labour over? How have recent events impacted your opinion of Starmer and his government?Share your thoughts by adding them in the comments — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.All you have to do is sign up and register your details — then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen. More