22 h. ago Voices: Rachel Reeves is undermined by a ‘spend now, pay later’ prime minister

John Rentoul says Keir Starmer is guilty of Trussonomics, albeit on a smaller scale, making promises without knowing how to pay for them – hoping that the chancellor can sort it out later

Politics

51 h. ago John Rentoul answers your Farage questions: ‘Reform voters aren’t unreasonable – they’re desperate’

Our chief political commentator John Rentoul answers your questions as Nigel Farage’s Reform surges in the polls, capitalising on widespread voter disillusionment and posing a serious challenge to the political establishment

Politics

51 h. ago Nigel Farage gets ANOTHER slap in the face to end disastrous week of Reform chaos

Nigel Farage has seen his Reform party descend into chaos after an MP's question was branded 'dumb', the chairman quit with a scathing message and Labour unexpectedly triumphed in the Hamilton by-election

Events

51 h. ago Tice defends Reform MP’s question on burqa ban after Zia Yusuf resignation

Party’s deputy leader says discussion must not be ‘forced underground’ when it is policy in some European countriesUK politics live – latest updatesReform UK was right to start a debate on banning the burqa even though it triggered the resignation of its chair, Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, has said.Tice, who is one of five Reform MPs, said he was “enormously sad” that Zia Yusuf had quit as chair as he was partly responsible for the party’s strong performance in May’s local elections. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Voices: Has Scotland fallen for English nationalist Nigel Farage?

If Reform performs well in the Hamilton by-election – a Scottish Parliamentary seat that Labour ought to be able to take from the beleaguered SNP – the symbolism will send a message directly to the heart of Downing Street, says John Rentoul

Politics

3 d. ago Reform UK chairman hits out at his own MP's 'dumb' question on banning the burqa amid confusion over party's stance on face coverings

Zia Yusuf questioned why Sarah Pochin, Reform's recently-elected MP for Runcorn and Helsby, had challenged the Prime Minister about the issue on Wednesday.

Events

5 d. ago Voices: First Sadiq, now Andy will no one rid Keir Starmer of his turbulent mayors?

As the mayor of Greater Manchester proposes a ‘popular left programme’ – just days after the mayor of London defied Downing Street with a new plan for drugs law – is the prime minister under threat from colleagues with their own fiefdoms, asks John Rentoul

Politics

5 d. ago Reform’s rise explained: Ask chief political commentator John Rentoul anything

The Independent’s chief political commentator, John Rentoul, is here to answer your questions on Nigel Farage’s political shift, Reform’s rising poll numbers, and what it all means for Britain’s future

Politics

8 d. ago Voices: Robert Jenrick’s TfL stunt reminds us how simple politics can be

‘Do you want to go back and pay like everybody else?’ Jenrick’s public transport vigilante video conveyed a brilliantly effective message – and was another example of how successful political stunts can be, writes John Rentoul

Politics

8 d. ago Voices: Oh dear, m’lud: It’s never a good idea to call people Nazis if they are not Nazis

The attorney general Lord Harmer has compared the rise of Reform to 1930s Germany – and it’s not only a mistake but a sign that Labour may be losing its battle with Nigel Farage, writes John Rentoul

Politics

9 d. ago Voices: Keir Starmer has found Nigel Farage’s weak spot – and it is Trussonomics

The prime minister looks as if he is being pushed around by five-MP Reform, but at least he is taking the fight to them on issues that matter to the voters, writes John Rentoul

Politics

9 d. ago Nigel Farage claims Keir Starmer's attacks on his economic plans are 'Project Fear 2.0' as Reform leader faces questions over £85bn cost of 'fantasy' policies

Sir Keir this morning warned voters they cannot trust Mr Farage with their 'future, mortgages or jobs' in a speech deriding his economic literacy.

Economics

2 w. ago Voices: Angela Rayner is the Gordon Brown of this government

The deputy prime minister is serious about her ambition but, like Brown, she will have to wait, says John Rentoul

Politics

2 w. ago Voices: This baffling Chagos deal will forever haunt Keir Starmer

The roll-call of British politicians who put their fingerprints on the decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius are no fools – and yet the deal the prime minister has just signed looks foolish, says John Rentoul

Economics

2 w. ago Voices: Well done, Rishi – you handed Keir Starmer his immigration ‘win’ on a plate

By taking office just as net migration was passing its peak, the prime minister has been a lucky general, says John Rentoul – but there is more than meets the eye in new figures showing it has halved in a year

Politics

2 w. ago Nigel Farage admits he's skipping the Commons this week as he's on HOLIDAY

The Reform UK leader - who is reported to be in France - was forced to admit he is away from Westminster after facing growing questions over his absence.

Politics

3 w. ago Voices: The Tories ‘sliding into oblivion’? Keir Starmer should be careful what he wishes for

Mocking the Conservative Party may win applause, but it also helps Nigel Farage dominate the stage, writes John Rentoul. The prime minister should be trying to prop Kemi Badenoch up instead of boosting Reform

Politics

3 w. ago Farage says Starmer ‘learning a great deal from Reform’ as PM defends immigration speech – UK politics live

Reform leader asks PM to declare a national emergency at the bordersHere is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs, which starts at noon.In March Reform UK reported Rupert Lowe (at the time one of their five MPs) to the police, claiming he had threatened the party chair, Zia Yusuf, with violence. Reform UK announced the news shortly after Lowe gave a newspaper interview criticising Nigel Farage, the party leader,Following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence in relation to an allegation of threats, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought against a sitting MP.Having considered a number of witness statements, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.If Farage were ever to control the vast power of the British state, I believe he would not hesitate to do to his adversaries what they have tried to do to me. With real power, I fear he would wield that immense responsibility to crush dissent - ...

Politics

3 w. ago PMQs live: Starmer defends immigration speech as Farage claims Labour ‘learning from Reform’

Reform leader asks PM to declare a national emergency at the bordersHere is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs, which starts at noon.In March Reform UK reported Rupert Lowe (at the time one of their five MPs) to the police, claiming he had threatened the party chair, Zia Yusuf, with violence. Reform UK announced the news shortly after Lowe gave a newspaper interview criticising Nigel Farage, the party leader,Following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence in relation to an allegation of threats, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought against a sitting MP.Having considered a number of witness statements, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.If Farage were ever to control the vast power of the British state, I believe he would not hesitate to do to his adversaries what they have tried to do to me. With real power, I fear he would wield that immense responsibility to crush dissent - ...

Politics

3 w. ago Greater Manchester's second Reform councillor questions the integrity of the election he won

The councillor stormed to victory at the Balderstone and Kirkholt by-election

Politics