54 m. ago What I told MPs about the government’s catastrophic Afghan data leak

For nearly two years, media organisations - including The Independent - knew about an MoD data breach that had exposed the details of 18,700 Afghan applicants to UK resettlement schemes but were prevented from reporting what had happened due to an unprecedented superinjunction. Home affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft was called to give evidence at an MP-led inquiry into the catastrophic error

Politics

6 h. ago Afghan data leak superinjunction left democracy in ‘deep freeze’, say journalists

The Independent’s home affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft gave evidence to MPs about the superinjunction on Tuesday

Politics

7 h. ago Protests outside MPs' homes to lead to jail under major new law

The Government says protesting outside the homes of MPs, peers and councillors 'crosses a line', with new restrictions making it punishable with prison terms

Events

20 h. ago Protesters to face jail for demonstrating outside MPs’ homes

Activists could be imprisoned for up to six months under the changes.

Events

22 h. ago Activists could be jailed for six months for protesting outside MPs’ homes

Law aimed at tackling harassment will criminalise protests outside homes of MPs in England and Wales amid rise in complaintsActivists could be jailed for up to six months for protesting outside MPs’ homes in England and Wales under a new law aimed at tackling harassment of politicians after a surge of intimidation complaints.The law would criminalise protests outside the homes of MPs, peers and councillors as well as others who have stood for public office – and is likely to draw further criticism that the government is squeezing the right to protest. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago Shabana Mahmood pays tribute to 'breathtaking bravery' of passengers and train crew in LNER rampage, and vows to look at whether attack could have been prevented

The Home Secretary told MPs she will also look at whether measures must be taken to 'better protect the public' from future attacks.

Events

6 d. ago MPs demand clarity over Prince Andrew’s ‘peppercorn’ rent at Royal Lodge

Parliament’s spending watchdog asks Treasury and crown estate to explain rationale for arrangementPoliticians are demanding clarity over Prince Andrew’s “peppercorn” rent at Royal Lodge, as the parliamentary spending watchdog writes to the Treasury and crown estate asking for an explanation.Keir Starmer had indicated that he was open to MPs questioning Andrew in person about his home in Windsor Great Park, where he has lived for more than 20 years. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Home Office minister defends plans to house asylum seekers on military bases

Asylum minister Alex Norris said the two sites in Inverness and East Sussex are an ‘important part’ of driving down hotel use.

Events

8 d. ago Progress on ending asylum hotels to be announced ‘within weeks’ – minister

Steve Reed said the Government was looking at ‘modular’ forms of building to ensure sites could go up quickly.

Politics

8 d. ago Revealed: How 'chaotic' use of migrant hotels has seen Home Office 'squander' billions of pounds

Government has repeatedly cut corners and wasted taxpayers’ money with its ‘failed, chaotic and expensive’ system, damning report finds

Society

8 d. ago Home Office wasted billions on asylum hotels due to ‘flawed contracts’, MPs say

Leadership failures at UK government department criticised by cross-party Commons committee

Society

8 d. ago Damning asylum hotel report finds Tory failures cost taxpayer billions of pounds

A long-awaited report by MPs found 'chaotic' Home Office policies under the Tories cost taxpayers billions and meant private firms raked in massive profits

Economics

8 d. ago Home Office has chance to end ‘failed’ asylum accommodation system, MPs say

The Home Office has repeatedly cut corners and wasted taxpayers’ money in its ‘chaotic’ response to asylum accommodation pressures, MPs warned.

Events

1 week ago Tech companies not doing enough to stop phone theft, say MPs

Many of the stolen devices end up being shipped overseas.

Politics

1 week ago Prince paranoid? Andrew 'is convinced King Charles is trying to force him out of Royal Lodge and give it to Queen Camilla'

The disgraced prince, 65, is refusing to move out of the lavish 30-room property near Windsor Castle , despite pressure from MPs and the public to relocate to a more humble home.

Politics

1 week ago Second group of grooming gangs victims back Phillips after call for her to quit

Four victims previously quit the national inquiry’s victims liaison panel as they urged the minister to step down.

Events

1 week ago Victims who quit grooming gang inquiry panel ‘may return if Phillips resigns’

As well as Jess Phillips’s resignation, they call for ‘all survivors on the panel to be genuinely consulted on the appointment of a chair’.

Events

1 week ago MPs ‘pushing hard’ to launch inquiry into Prince Andrew’s Royal Lodge residence

Public accounts committee is understood to be gathering support for inquiry into financial arrangementsMPs on a powerful parliamentary select committee are “pushing hard” to launch an inquiry into Prince Andrew’s residence at Royal Lodge, the Guardian understands.Keir Starmer has indicated he is open to MPs questioning Andrew in person about his home in Windsor Great Park, where he has lived for more than 20 years without paying rent. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Number of Channel crossing arrivals ‘frustrating’, says border security chief

Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt said he finds the numbers very challenging but that work to stop crossings was always going to take time.

Events

3 w. ago Home Secretary issues new statement on Manchester synagogue terror attack

The Home Secretary has issued a statement to MPs

Events