4 h. ago Former church site to be redeveloped for housing plan, despite concerns over parking

The applicants sought permission to create four new semi-detached homes on the site. The plans have now been approved by council planners.

Politics

5 h. ago First phase of Kirkcudbright Parish Church Redevelopment Project set to be commissioned

Church members have so far raised £168,400, with the first stage set to include toilets, a kitchen and an improved entrance.

Events

5 h. ago Republicans want corporate oligarchy. We need economic democracy | Rashida Tlaib and Michael A McCarthy

The GOP budget seeks vast cuts to Medicaid, food assistance and more. Instead, let’s build an economy for everyoneAmerican families are exhausted. They deserve a government that chooses them over billionaire donors. The Republican budget plan that passed the House last week calls for $4.5tn in tax giveaways for the ultra-rich and corporations. It will be paid for with enormous cuts to Medicaid, food assistance and other federal programs that serve our families and the working class. These are the folks Elon Musk refers to as the “parasite class”.The agenda of the billionaire president and the richest man in the world is crystal clear: making the rich richer while working families struggle. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Zelenskyy says Ukraine prepared to sign US minerals deal ‘at any time’

Conciliatory statement comes after White House clash led to abandonment of plan to sign agreement

Economics

48 h. ago Local plan consultation won’t consider views about thousands of new homes on former green belt

Bury's 'local plan' is being produced but massive housing projects planned for green land at areas such as Elton reservoir and Walshaw are not in its scope as 'the principle of development has been established'

Politics

48 h. ago Oldham boss slams ‘bad politics’ as council considers future without Greater Manchester masterplan

The council's Labour leadership were forced to consider a future outside the Greater Manchester housing plan

Politics

3 d. ago Peter Mandelson slapped down by No10 after ambassador to US suggests Ukraine's Zelensky backs Trump peace plan despite White House row

The Tony Blair-era Labour minister also used an interview with American outlet ABC to say that Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky should give 'unequivocal backing' to Trump's peace initiative.

Politics

3 d. ago Tories fight abolition of hereditary peers as Labour’s Lords reforms stall

Keir Starmer’s plan to replace upper house was scaled back to scrapping hereditaries – but even that is proving difficultWhat is the House of Lords and what do peers do?Calls for Labour peer to be investigated over cash-for-access claimsAbolishing hereditary peers was supposed to be the easy part of House of Lords reform for Labour, which grandly set out plans three years ago to replace the second chamber altogether. But on Monday Conservative peers will make an effort to clog up the legislation as it goes through parliament, suggesting delays to allow abolished hereditaries more time to find a job, allowing some of them to stay, or even converting them to become life peers.As a detailed scrutiny of the bill gets under way, 116 amendments have been put forward, which are likely to be debated individually. Some propose progressive changes such as cutting numbers of peers, introducing attendance requirements and getting rid of bishops from the house, but many are aimed at watering dow...

Politics

3 d. ago Starmer’s plan for peace in Ukraine: key takeaways from London summit

The UK prime minister and a host of leaders, including Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met to discuss ending the warEurope is “at a crossroads in history” Keir Starmer said, as he hosted 18 leaders at a Lancaster House summit in London to discuss a new plan for peace in Ukraine.The UK, France and others will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and discuss that plan with the US, “and take it forward together”, Starmer said. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump said Zelenskyy ‘does not have the cards’. But how well is he playing his own hand? | Olga Chyzh

The US president has no interest in countering aggressors. His short-termist game plan will cost America dearThe White House meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be remembered as far more than just a diplomatic disaster. It marked the end of international politics as we know it, and was a harbinger for the sunset of Pax Americana. Zelenskyy, reeling from the meeting, arrived in London on Saturday to attend a defence summit with other European leaders. Thanks to Trump’s performance, those leaders now have clarity on where the US government stands on the war in Ukraine – and, more broadly, on how US foreign policy may look in future.It is hard to overstate what a departure this is. Since the end of the second world war, the US has been the primary architect and guarantor of an intricate network of global institutions anchored by Nato, the World Trade Organization, and the International Monetary Fund. Together, these partners crafted a security umbrella whose benef...

Politics

4 d. ago UK and France to work with Ukraine on peace plan, Starmer says, as leaders arrive for major London summit – live

Keir Starmer hopes peace plan can get ‘back on track’ after disastrous White House meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr ZelenskyyKemi Badenoch said she does not agree that the Oval Office clash was part of an orchestrated “ambush”, as some had suggested, as both Kyiv and Washington were representing their “respective national interests”.The leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, says there is no difference between Labour and Conservative in terms of British support for Ukraine. When asked about the furious exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House, the Conservative party leader said her “heart went out” to the Ukrainian president while she was watching it.I couldn’t believe what was happening. He was being humiliated. I don’t think we should conduct these sort of difficult conservations in front of the cameras and we have to remember that President Zelenskyy is a hero.He is the person who represents that strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people and whate...

Politics

4 d. ago Britain and France to take lead on Ukraine peace plan, says Starmer after Trump Zelensky White House clash

The PM also vowed to double down on the UK’s commitment to supporting Kyiv against Vladimir Putin’s three-year war

Politics

5 d. ago Angela Rayner hints at Oldham's future in Greater Manchester's huge housing plan

Oldham council agreed to write to the Deputy Prime Minister asking to withdraw from the Greater Manchester plan

Politics

5 d. ago Starmer provokes diplomatic row by refusing to back Canada against Trump’s 51st state plan

Row erupts after The Independent’s White House correspondent challenges Trump and Starmer over the plan to turn Canada into the 51st state

Politics

6 d. ago White House demands agencies identify hundreds of thousands of potential layoffs

A memo from the Trump administration gives federal officials until 13 March to submit plans for additional firingsUS politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration is pushing for federal agencies to carry out a large-scale slashing of the federal workforce, demanding plans for hundreds of thousands of possible cuts within weeks.A White House memo gave officials until 13 March to submit a plan identifying “agency components and employees performing functions not mandated by statute or regulation who are not typically designated as essential” during government shutdowns. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Reform UK accused of 'misinformation' over housing for asylum seekers in Glasgow

EXCLUSIVE: Labour MSP Paul Sweeney and MP Maureen Burke have rubbished Reform's claim of a plan to turn a former care home into housing for refugees.

Events

8 d. ago High Barnet: Loss of station parking sparks development concern

High Barnet: Loss of station parking sparks development concern  BBC.com

Politics

8 d. ago Mike johnson delivers major win for Trump as House narrowly passes GOP budget plan calling for steep cuts

Johnson squeaks through chaotic vote session with first legislative victory for Donald Trump’s second term

Politics

8 d. ago Ed Miliband is accused of breaking his election promise to slash energy bills as utility costs soar for a THIRD time by average of £111 a year

The Energy Secretary pledged during the election campaign that his controversial plan to decarbonise the electricity system by 2030 would reduce household bills by £300.

Economics

9 d. ago ITV 'set to sign Maya Jama and another huge star' for primetime Saturday shows

ITV look set for a shake up and some fresh faces as bosses plan to introduce two household names to some of its major prime time Saturday night shows

Politics