The Independent UK Politics

‘Those girls deserve justice’: Minister’s emotional plea after boys spared jail for raping teenagers

Athena Stavrou — Sun, 24 May 2026 11:07:53 GMT

Teenage girl says decision not to jail her attacker was like a ‘rock straight in my face’, as the attorney general reviews the case

Burnham beats Reform in first Makerfield by-election poll - but only just

Athena Stavrou — Sun, 24 May 2026 10:35:20 GMT

The Mayor of Greater Manchester is seeking to prove he can beat Nigel Farage’s party in the crucial contest

Police investigation into Scottish National Party finances costs over £2 million

Craig Meighan — Sat, 23 May 2026 23:01:00 GMT

Among those implicated in the inquiry is Peter Murrell, the husband of Nicola Sturgeon, who has been charged with allegedly embezzling nearly £460,000 from the party

Keir Starmer defiant as Labour leadership challenge mounts from rivals: ‘Our plan is working’

David Hughes — Sat, 23 May 2026 21:30:58 GMT

Starmer highlights the UK’s growing economy, migration numbers falling and low NHS waiting times as he faces pressure over leadership

EU could fast-track Britain’s membership if UK decided to reverse Brexit

Millie Cooke — Sat, 23 May 2026 17:24:18 GMT

Exclusive: Rejoining the EU could take place much more quickly for the UK than it typically would for other candidate countries, as a result of pre-existing alignment with the bloc

Sexism, Covid conspiracies and trans slurs: Reform candidate’s ‘appalling’ social media condemned

Athena Stavrou — Sat, 23 May 2026 15:30:53 GMT

Hope Not Hate has shared now-deleted posts attributed to Makerfield by-election candidate Robert Kenyon

UK bets on private investors to fill climate aid gaps after cuts

Nick Ferris — Sat, 23 May 2026 14:44:39 GMT

Exclusive: Development minister Jenny Chapman tells The Independent that the government wants to grow the money the UK provides to battle the climate crisis despite cutting funds. But, humanitarian organisations say the needs of private investors and developing countries are not always aligned

Inside the Brexit-voting Labour stronghold that looks set to determine our next prime minister

Dan Haygarth — Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:09 GMT

Labour faces an almighty task to hold onto Makerfield, a seat which typifies its red wall heartlands. Is Andy Burnham the party’s only chance of stopping Reform in this former coal-mining area, which could send him to Downing Street? Dan Haygarth finds out

France bans Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after 'unspeakable' flotilla detainee taunts

Via AP news wire — Sat, 23 May 2026 13:41:50 GMT

France has banned Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing his "unspeakable" behavior toward activists from a flotilla to Gaza

Newly elected Reform councillor admits she doesn’t understand how council works

Holly Bishop — Sat, 23 May 2026 13:11:41 GMT

A new Reform UK councillor admitted that she “doesn’t understand” how the council works.

Milburn warns of ‘shameful’ failings trapping young people on benefits

David Hughes — Sat, 23 May 2026 13:07:27 GMT

The former health secretary warned the situation led to ‘incalculable costs for their life chances’.

Reform UK in row with community cafe after Farage asked to apologise for ‘intimidating’ visit

Athena Stavrou — Sat, 23 May 2026 12:47:38 GMT

Nigel Farage and Reform’s Makerfield by-election candidate Robert Kenyon stopped at the cafe on the campaign trail

Sir Jeremy Hanley death: Former Tory party chairman dies after short illness, aged 80

David Hughes — Sat, 23 May 2026 12:37:27 GMT

Hanley represented Richmond and Barnes as an MP for 14 years and became Tory party chairman in 1994