3 h. ago Starmer defends UK commitment to free speech at press conference with Trump amid American criticism

Prime Minister addresses criticism from influential American figures amid accusations that new online safety laws restrict freedom of speech

Politics

4 h. ago Starmer defends UK commitment to free speech amid American criticism

The Prime Minister has come under fire from influential American figures amid accusations that new online safety laws restrict freedom of speech.

Politics

10 h. ago Postures: Jean Rhys in the Modern World review – sex, squalor and jungle sweat for an eternal outsider

Michael Werner Gallery, LondonArtists as varied as Sarah Lucas, Gwen John and Georg Baselitz are called upon by critic-curator Hilton Als to chime with the writer of Wide Sargasso SeaJean Rhys was a perpetual outsider. Born Welsh and Creole into largely black Dominican society in 1890, she was out of place everywhere – too foreign for Europe, too Caribbean for Britain, too white for Dominica, and much too female to be taken seriously as a writer for most of her lifetime.But her literary influence continues to grow and resonate, especially with American critic and curator Hilton Als. His group show is a heady, passionate, experimental love letter to Jean Rhys – to her literature, her in-betweenness, her life of unbound creativity in a postcolonial world – in the vein of his previous exhibitions-as-portraits of Joan Didion and James Baldwin. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Trump state visit LIVE: King praises President's 'commitment' to finding solutions to world conflicts in banquet speech

Guests arrive for state banquet tonight after an estimated 5,000 protesters demonstrate against visit in central London

Politics

47 h. ago Charlie Kirk statue commissioned for New College of Florida campus

‘The statue, privately funded by community leaders, will stand on campus as a commitment by New College to defend and fight for free speech and civil discourse in American life,’ the college said

Events

49 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: 'No courage, no judgement, no backbone,' thundered Kemi as just ONE Labour MP defended Keir Starmer

Just one Labour backbencher defended the absent Sir Keir Starmer. Name of Slinger, the Member for Rugby.

Events

4 d. ago The Guardian view on the UK’s dangerous moment: as Labour falters, the far right mobilises | Editorial

Political leadership is missing just as Britain needs it most. The government must step up as others stir division and disillusionment growsPeter Mandelson’s exit from public office in disgrace over his links to the millionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein should have been a low point for the government. Instead, it exposed a leadership in trouble, with further to fall. Sir Keir Starmer defended his ambassador after No 10 had seen the emails that sank him. Whether or not the prime minister read them, the damage is becoming institutionalised. Labour looks adrift – consumed by infighting as darker forces gather beyond Westminster.At the weekend, more than 110,000 marched through London in Britain’s largest far-right rally in decades. Organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, and billed as a “festival of free speech”, it quickly descended into conspiracy theories, Islamophobia and anti-migrant bigotry. There was violence: 26 police officers were injured. St...

Politics

5 d. ago Starmer ‘defended Mandelson after No 10 had received Epstein emails’

PM understood not to have seen messages from former ambassador to sex offender when speaking in CommonsKeir Starmer defended Peter Mandelson in the House of Commons two days after details of the damning emails between the former ambassador to the US and Jeffrey Epstein were passed to Downing Street, according to reports.The prime minister sacked Mandelson on Thursday after emails were published revealing that he had told Epstein “your friends stay with you and love you” while the disgraced financier was facing jail for sex offences. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Downing Street officials aware of Mandelson emails to Epstein before Starmer defended him

Lord Mandelson was sacked on Thursday after his ties to Epstein - but questions continue over why he was appointed as US ambassador in the first place

Politics

5 d. ago Officials were aware of Mandelson emails to Epstein before Starmer defended him

The Prime Minister is understood not to have been aware of the contents of the emails until Wednesday evening.

Politics

6 d. ago Yvette Cooper defends Keir Starmer as Labour anger grows over Peter Mandelson row

Yvette Cooper was pressed on whether the Prime Minister's judgement is in question over the appointment of Peter Mandelson after backbencher Clive Lewis suggested Keir Starmer may not be 'up to the job'

Politics

6 d. ago Labour MP says Starmer not ‘up to the job’ as PM defends under

Downing Street rowed in behind the under-fire chief of staff Morgan McSweeney on Friday morning amid questions over his involvement in the appointment of Peter Mandelson

Politics

2 w. ago Reform media ban in Nottinghamshire is a disturbing glimpse of a future with Farage in power

As Nigel Farage prepares to attack the state of free speech in the UK in front of a Congressional committee in Washington DC, The Independent’s political editor discusses Reform UK’s real attitude to a free press

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer defends Rayner over stamp duty controversy as Badenoch calls for her to go

The Prime Minister said he was ‘proud’ to be sat next to Angela Rayner

Politics

2 w. ago Farage to say UK has ‘authoritarian censorship regimes’ after Linehan arrest

The Reform UK leader will give evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on free speech in the UK.

Events

2 w. ago Keir Starmer backs Angela Rayner after Tory outrage over £800,000 Hove flat

Keir Starmer defended Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, saying she was a 'great story of British success', after the Tories called for a probe into her tax affairs

Economics

2 w. ago UK's first American biscuit shop opens but foodies make same criticism

The UK's only American biscuit shop opened last year and after the owners recently introduced themselves online, food fans have discussed what a biscuit actually is

Events

2 w. ago Keir Starmer defends ‘incredible’ Angela Rayner over flat purchase row

Sir Keir’s backing for Angela Rayner comes amid continued criticism of her purchase of an £800,000 flat in Hove

Politics

2 w. ago Keir Starmer accidentally calls Angela Rayner an ‘incredible prime minister’

Keir Starmer accidentally called Angela Rayner an “incredible prime minister” as he defended his deputy.

Politics

2 w. ago Neil Young confronts Donald Trump in new song Big Crime: ‘Don’t want soldiers on the streets’

Veteran rocker characterises US administration as fascistic in song recorded at Chicago sound checkNeil Young has released a new song lambasting Donald Trump, entitled Big Crime.The Canadian-American rocker has long been a critic of the US president, suing him (but later dropping the lawsuit) over the use of his songs at campaign rallies and calling him “the worst president in the history of our great country”. Continue reading...

Events