2 w. ago Tory plan to abolish stamp duty ‘will benefit London and the wealthiest the most’ – UK politics live

The Social Market Foundation thinktank says council tax reform and a property-based tax would be more sustainable and fairerVoting in the Labour deputy leadership election opens today. Lucy Powell, the former Commons leader, is seen as the favourite and, as Jessica Elgot reports, Powell told supporters yesterday that, if she is elected, she will use the post to argue for changes in the way the government is operating. “We can’t sugarcoat the fact that things aren’t going well,” she said.Powell is no longer a government minister and, if she is elected deputy leader, she will do the job from the backbenches. In an interview on Newsnight last night, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary standing against Powell, said a Powell victory would be “destabilising” for the party. She said:[Electing Powell] risks destabilising the party we best achieve what we need to do together when we have those fierce conversations, including disagreements, behind closed doors.Members need to understa...

Politics

2 w. ago Tories would abolish stamp duty, Badenoch tells party conference – UK politics live

Party leader says measure is a ‘bad tax’ and scrapping it would free up the housing market and improve social mobilityVoting in the Labour deputy leadership election opens today. Lucy Powell, the former Commons leader, is seen as the favourite and, as Jessica Elgot reports, Powell told supporters yesterday that, if she is elected, she will use the post to argue for changes in the way the government is operating. “We can’t sugarcoat the fact that things aren’t going well,” she said.Powell is no longer a government minister and, if she is elected deputy leader, she will do the job from the backbenches. In an interview on Newsnight last night, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary standing against Powell, said a Powell victory would be “destabilising” for the party. She said:[Electing Powell] risks destabilising the party we best achieve what we need to do together when we have those fierce conversations, including disagreements, behind closed doors.Members need to understand tha...

Politics

3 w. ago ANDREW NEIL: The headwinds Starmer and Reeves should worry about are the ones likely to have blown them both away by this time next year

Keir Starmer left the Labour conference in Liverpool this week in better shape than he arrived. But his troubles are far from over.

Politics

3 w. ago We spoke to the Oldham woman Keir Starmer mentioned in Labour conference speech

A woman in Oldham helped change the direction of Labour's approach to immigration - but now says she 'doesn't believe' them

Politics

3 w. ago Miliband vows to ban fracking, labels Reform ‘ideological extremists’ and tells Musk to ‘get the hell out of our politics’ – live

Environmental groups have welcomed the energy secretary’s fracking announcementAt the Labour conference Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has just started his speech.Responding to the news that he will announce a total ban on fracking (see 9.19am), Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth, said:By providing a clear vision for our energy future based on helping people, not on ignoring the science, the energy secretary has sent an important message that the government is listening to communities.Fracking is and always has been unpopular, both with people facing it off locally and the wider public. The government must now translate its plans to ban fracking permanently into policy, alongside closing a loophole in planning law that still allows it to happen by the backdoor.Andy Burnham is doing a fantastic job as the mayor of Manchester. I actually worked closely with him. We’ve reset that relationship between Westminster and our mayors, and we’re working well together. So ...

Politics

3 w. ago Ed Miliband vows to ban fracking and warns Reform would ‘trash our climate commitments’ – UK politics live

There is currently no permanent ban in law, just a temporary moratoriumAt the Labour conference Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has just started his speech.Responding to the news that he will announce a total ban on fracking (see 9.19am), Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth, said:By providing a clear vision for our energy future based on helping people, not on ignoring the science, the energy secretary has sent an important message that the government is listening to communities.Fracking is and always has been unpopular, both with people facing it off locally and the wider public. The government must now translate its plans to ban fracking permanently into policy, alongside closing a loophole in planning law that still allows it to happen by the backdoor.Andy Burnham is doing a fantastic job as the mayor of Manchester. I actually worked closely with him. We’ve reset that relationship between Westminster and our mayors, and we’re working well together. So I’ve got...

Events

3 w. ago Ed Miliband to announce total ban on fracking – UK politics live

There is not currently a permanent ban in law, just a temporary moratoriumSome people have argued that it is a mistake for Keir Starmer and Labour to talk about Nigel Farage and Reform UK as much as they have. There is a case for saying that this just shores up the credibility of a party with only five MPs, and it switches the news agenda towards immigration and small boats (issues where Reform UK polls well) and away from “Labour issues” like health.And art of this argument is that, by calling the Reform UK migration policy racist, Labour is also making it easier for Farage to leverage grievance (which, as Starmer himself argued in his speech yesterday, is part of what lies behind Reform UK’s electoral support.I think it’s a mistake to pretend this isn’t the fight of our times.If it is the fight of our times, we’ve got to recognise that, and we’ve got to be in it. I think simply ignoring it is a mistake, a political mistake.No, not at all. There is a political fight that has to be ...

Politics

3 w. ago PM brands Channel crossings ‘Farage boats’ because Brexit has hampered returns – UK politics live

PM also says he does not believe Nigel Farage or Reform voters are racistHelena Horton is a Guardian environment reporter.Ed Miliband is due to take to the stage to deliver his speech today, and he is set to announce a “total ban” on fracking.I am about to announce something you have been calling for and campaigning on, which is to ban fracking for good. You called for it, I’m going to do it, thank you for your campaigning.What an amazing result for our environment, our local communities, and the thousands of committed people and groups right across the country who’ve spent years fighting for fracking to be banned for good – including the many who signed 38 Degrees supporter Geoff’s recent petition. Not long ago, it felt like fracking might make a comeback, with Reform UK pushing to put it back on the agenda. But thousands of us stood up, demanded a permanent ban, and made our voices impossible to ignore. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Sir Keir Starmer blasts 'snake oil merchant' Nigel Farage and digs out Andy Burnham

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has used his leadership speech at the Labour Party Conference to attack Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and claimed he 'doesn't like Britain'

Events

3 w. ago Starmer vows Labour will never surrender Britain to ‘enemy’ Farage in rousing party conference speech

Keir Starmer received a huge reception from the party faithful as he gave his most impassioned speech yet as leader

Politics

3 w. ago Seven things from the Labour Party conference you may have missed

After an action packed Labour Party conference, The Independent runs through seven things you may have missed

Politics

3 w. ago 'Keir Starmer has RATTLED his rivals but the biggest challenge is in 48 hours'

Keir Starmer's speech to the party faithful at the Labour conference went down a storm with flag-waving delegates - but will it see off his rivals for good?

Politics

3 w. ago 7 bombshells as Keir Starmer launches 'enemy' attack in major Labour conference speech

Keir Starmer was met with an eruption of applause as he listed Labour's achievements in the last year, from expanding free school meals to ending fire and rehire practices

Events

3 w. ago Starmer is dangerously inciting the radical Left and is not fit to lead, blasts furious Farage in response to PM's he 'doesn't like Britain' attack

Keir Starmer used his keynote speech to Labour conference in Liverpool to talk up the threat posed by Reform and draw deep dividing lines.

Events

3 w. ago Nigel Farage hits back after Keir Starmer claims Reform leader 'doesn't like Britain'

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest developments from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool where Sir Keir Starmer will make his keynote address as he bids to boost his ailing premiership.

Politics

3 w. ago Nigel Farage doesn't like Britain, claims Starmer in desperate attack on 'snake oil salesman' Reform leader days after branding their policies 'racist'

Keir Starmer used his keynote speech to Labour conference in Liverpool to talk up the threat posed by Reform and draw deep dividing lines.

Events

3 w. ago Labour Party Conference 2025: Keir Starmer takes swipe at Nigel Farage as he warns of battle for 'soul' of divided Britain

The Prime Minister says Nigel Farage ‘doesn’t believe in Britain’ and takes aim at ‘politics of grievance’

Events

3 w. ago Keir Starmer scraps Tony Blair’s target for half of pupils to go to university

Prime minister abandons Blair pledge, saying ‘I don’t think it’s right for our times’

Events

3 w. ago Sir Keir Starmer says 'a new world is coming' as he announces major NHS change

The National Health Service could look completely different – with new plans to make 'digital hospitals' as shared by Sir Keir Starmer in the Labour Party Conference

Politics

3 w. ago Andy Burnham stays away from Keir Starmer's Labour conference speech to avoid 'creating a distraction'

The mayor has fuelled rumours of a leadership challenge in recent weeks, but said Keir was the 'right man' to be PM yesterday

Events