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 CorrespondentThe sharing of revenge porn is to be classified as the most serious type of online offence under the Online Safety Act, meaning social media platforms will now have to take steps proactively to remove it, the Government has said.The change to the law will see the sharing of intimate images without consent upgraded to be made a priority offence under the new online safety rules, which are due to come into force from spring next year.Under the laws, material considered a priority offence – which also includes public order offences and the sale of weapons and drugs online – must not only be removed when it is found online, but platforms must also proactively remove it and take steps to prevent it from appearing in the first place – with large fines for those who fail to do so.The Government said it hoped the crackdown would help drive the development of new and existing technologies to help keep people safer online, while also helping to tackle sexual offending and the normalisation of misogynistic material being shared online.What I’m trying to do is, rather than just see action once an offence had been committed and the damage has been done to a victim, is to try and change behaviour that will prevent it happening in the first placePeter KyleTechnology Secretary Peter Kyle said he hoped requiring social media platforms to take more proactive action would “drive behaviour change”.“What I’m trying to do is, rather than just see action once an offence had been committed and the damage has been done to a victim, is to try and change behaviour that will prevent it happening in the first place,” he told the PA news agency.“So once this becomes a priority offence, social media companies and platforms themselves are going to have to take proactive measures to ensure their algorithms and their systems prevent this content from going live in the first place – so that will protect thousands, if not millions, of women in particular, from the degradation, the humiliation and the suffering that goes with this kind of activity.He added: “Secondly, they are going to have to prove that they are taking these measures and that’s really important, so we can put the onus on them to proactively root out this content.“And then thirdly, they must take action where any content does make it onto their platform, and if they violate any of these rules they are open to a huge fine.“And then of course, for those people who do create this content, we will have more powers to act against them as well, because that will be a criminal offence.“So I’m hoping that this will drive behaviour change that will prevent people having to suffer this experience in the first place, and then also just keep people safe from it.”Mr Kyle said 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”.The Technology Secretary also confirmed he would be “introducing legislation on frontier AI in this Parliament”, saying he did not want to see “new products and innovations crash into society and being negatively disruptive” and it then taking a “long time for us as legislators and regulators to catch up”.In addition, Mr Kyle said he was examining the possibility of strengthening laws around misinformation in the wake of the violent disorder on Britain’s streets in August.“I’m looking really closely at the role that online activity had in that period, and I want to make sure, as in every other area, including what we’re talking about today, that we’re fit for the future,” he told PA.And the Labour MP said he was “open-minded” about broadening online safety powers around placing criminal liability on named senior managers at social media firms in the event of severe breaches to online safety rules.“I’m open-minded as to what powers need to evolve into the future and where liability rests,” he said.“But I want it to be proportionate and I want it to be effective – I’m not interested in finger-pointing at people unnecessarily.“What I want to do is drive and incentivise behaviour change among any company that has access to British society, so that it benefits society and that any risks are mitigated as much as possible.“Any company that puts these principles first and foremost in a tangible way will find us a Government that is totally on their side and will partner with them to make sure that every British citizen can benefit from their products, but also the jobs and wealth that is created from them.“But those that don’t prioritise those principles will find us an ever assertive force when it comes to keeping people safer.” 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 CorrespondentThe government did not carry out an assessment of predicted death and illness rates among pensioners by axing the universal winter fuel payment, the prime minister has admitted.His statement flies in the face of official claims earlier this week that one had been conducted.Answering a parliamentary question, energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said her department had assessed the effect the change would have on pensioners living in fuel poverty.Sir Keir blamed the £22bn black hole in public finances for having to cut the payment 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 vowed to “take on” any opposition to radical changes in the NHS, saying difficult and unpopular changes are needed before it receives a penny more from the government.The prime minister said the health service required “major surgery, not sticking plasters” and that fixing it could take a decade or more.Risking anger from unions, he said he was not prepared to spend more money while the system was paying huge sums to agency workers, adding: “We have to fix the plumbing before we turn on the taps.”“I’m not prepared to see even more of your money spent on agency staff who cost £5,000 a shift, on appointment letters which arrive after the appointment, or on paying for people to be stuck in hospital just because they can’t get the care they need in the community,” he said. As he was speaking, ministers announced a clampdown on junk food advertising in a bid to cut obesity rates and reduce the burden on the NHS. From October next year, online adverts will be banned altogether while TV ads will be shown only after the 9pm watershed. Keir Starmer said his 10-year plan would include changing the NHS to a ‘neighbourhood health service’ 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 CorrespondentThe government’s crime prevention minister has allegedly had her purse stolen at an annual conference for senior police chiefs.Dame Diana Johnson gave a speech on Tuesday warning of an “epidemic of antisocial behaviour, theft and shoplifting” as part of the annual Police Superintendents’ Association conference, which was held at the Chesford Grange hotel, near Kenilworth.Serving to underscore her warning, it emerged on Thursday that Dame Diana’s purse had allegedly been stolen around the time of her speech at the four-star hotel.A Warwickshire Police spokesperson told The Independent: “We’re investigating a report of the theft of a purse at a hotel on the B4115 in Kenilworth. The theft occurred some time between 11.00-13.15 on Tuesday. Enquiries are ongoing. “A 56-year-old man from Coventry has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.”Dame Diana was billed to speak at the conference between 12:45pm and 1:45pm, during which time she admitted that the Home Office does not yet know where 13,000 local police officers promised in Labour’s manifesto will come from.Before they were elected, the party pledged to “take back our streets” by deploying 13,000 more neighbourhood police, PCSOs and special constables to patrol communities.But Dame Diana told those gathered at the event that she could not give “specifics” over whether the officers will be new recruits or existing staff.The policing minister was speaking at the event at the Chesford Grange hotel on Tuesday 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 CorrespondentThe UK’s national debt is on an “unsustainable path” and is set to nearly triple in relation to the economy over the next 50 years, the Office for Budget Responsibility has warned.Public debt is currently at its highest since the early 1960s, sitting at a total of some £2.7trn – equating to around 99.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).But the fiscal watchdog warned on Thursday that the national debt is set to spiral to more than 270 per cent of GDP by the mid-2070s.In its latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report, the OBR warned that an ageing population linked to the falling birth rate, fiscal costs from climate change and rising geopolitical tensions are all expected to put increased pressure on Treasury budgets.While public spending is at nearly 45 per cent of GDP for the past fiscal year, its highest sustained level for almost 50 years, the OBR said these pressures could push spending to higher than 60 per cent over the next 50 years – despite state revenues being projected to stagnate at around 40 per cent of GDP.“If these pressures and shocks were to materialise as we project, then governments would need to take mitigating policy action to prevent this debt spiral from occurring,” the OBR said.It comes amid warnings from chancellor Rachel Reeves that the public finances already face a £22bn “black hole”, as the country braces for tax increases and spending cuts in the upcoming budget, following her announcement of the winter fuel payment cut for most pensioners.The latest projection showed that health spending is particularly likely to soar over the coming decades, with projections it will grow from 7.6 per cent of GDP to 14.5 per cent over the next 50 years.(PA Graphics) More

Starmer warns no more money without reform and changes won’t be universally popularYour 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 said the NHS would receive “no more money without reform” during a major speech where he blamed the Conservative government for “critical failures”.Speaking at The King’s Fund, the prime minister said he would “accept the challenge” of fixing the health service but warned it would be “measured in years, not months”.Sir Keir declared that the “NHS must reform or die” and set out his plans for tackling long waiting lists, improving the nation’s health and shifting the focus towards community services, but warned they will not be “universally popular”.A review from Lord Darzi found the health service is “in serious trouble” and diagnosed the problems in the NHS and sets out themes for the government to incorporate into a 10-year plan for reforming the health service.As part of new health preventative measures, Labour pledged to completely ban junk food advertising on TV and online before 9pm.The new rules would come into force from October 2025 in a bid to “protect children from being exposed to less healthy food and drinks”.Show latest update 1726152339Darzi NHS report: Key points from landmark reviewA landmark report into the NHS has described the health service as “in serious trouble” as Labour vows to act on its findings. The review by Lord Darzi says honesty is needed if healthcare in the UK is to be improved, highlighting many issues.The rapid review, completed in nine weeks, diagnoses the problems in the NHS in England and sets out themes for the government to incorporate into a 10-year plan for reforming the health service.The study argues the NHS is facing rising demand for care as people live longer in ill health, coupled with low productivity in hospitals and poor staff morale.Here are some key findings from the Darzi report:Salma Ouaguira12 September 2024 15:451726151739Disgraced Tory donor Frank Hester gave £5m days before election calledDisgraced Tory donor Frank Hester gave the Conservative Party £5m just days before Rishi Sunak called the general election, it has emerged.The Tories faced widespread calls in March to hand back money given to them by the business tycoon after he was alleged to have said that Diane Abbott – Britain’s first Black female MP – made him “want to hate all Black women” and that she “should be shot”.Despite Mr Sunak eventually condemning the remarks as racist, newly published Electoral Commission data shows Mr Hester’s Phoenix Partnership firm donated a further £5m to the Conservatives on 17 May – just five days before Mr Sunak called the election, months earlier than widely expected.Read the full story below:Salma Ouaguira12 September 2024 15:351726150786Policing minister’s handbag stolen at police superintendents’ conferencePolicing minister Dame Diana Johnson’s handbag was stolen while she attended a conference of senior police officers.Dame Diana gave a speech at the annual Police Superintendents’ Conference on Tuesday setting out how the government was putting in motion plans to boost neighbourhood policing.Warwickshire Police said it is investigating a report of the theft of a purse at a hotel on the B4115 in Kenilworth.A statement read: “The theft occurred some time between 11.00-13.15 on Tuesday. Inquiries are ongoing.“A 56-year-old man, from Coventry, has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and has since been released on bail while inquiries continue.”Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson 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 CorrespondentMPs such as Nigel Farage and Lee Anderson’s presenting roles at GB News could be at risk under potential reforms from a new parliamentary body set up to restore trust in politics.In its election manifesto, the Labour Party committed to establishing a modernisation committee of crossparty MPs tasked with reforming House of Commons procedures and drive up standards.Following the newly-formed committee’s first meeting this week, chair Lucy Powell – who also serves as Commons leader – set out the body’s key priorities on Thursday, including addressing “cultural issues of bullying and harassment” and giving MPs more opportunity to scrutinise government legislation.In the first of its suggested initial priorities, Ms Powell said MPs would scrutinise whether paid media appearances offered any value to the public.The committee should particularly focus on considering “what advantages, if any, outside paid engagements such as media appearances, journalism and speeches furnish to the public, versus the potential conflicts of interest and attention that arise from such paid endeavours”, Ms Powell said.The committee will consult closely with the parliamentary standards commissioner for advice on changing the rules around MPs’ outside interests, she added.The development comes amid public debate about MPs working lucrative second jobs as contracted TV and radio presenters, with calls for broadcasting regulator Ofcom to tighten the rules around politicians presenting on news channels.It has particularly arisen as an issue with the emergence of GB News and TalkTV, both of which have employed sitting politicians as presenters, often tasked with interviewing members of the same party, such as former Tory MP Nadine Dorries interviewing Boris Johnson on TalkTV.A new Commons committee is set to look at whether MPs should continue to make paid TV appearances 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 CorrespondentDisgraced Tory donor Frank Hester gave the Conservative Party £5m just days before Rishi Sunak called the general election, it has emerged.The Tories faced widespread calls in March to hand back money given to them by the business tycoon after he was alleged to have said that Diane Abbott – Britain’s first Black female MP – made him “want to hate all Black women” and that she “should be shot”.Despite Mr Sunak eventually condemning the remarks as racist, newly published Electoral Commission data shows Mr Hester’s Phoenix Partnership firm donated a further £5m to the Conservatives on 17 May – just five days before Mr Sunak called the election, months earlier than widely expected.Rishi Sunak called the general election on 22 May More