9 h. ago Fake baby 'mother' Kira Cousins ready to reveal her astonishing story as TV producers sign her up for documentary

A woman who faked she was pregnant and continued the lie that she had given birth using a plastic doll has signed a deal with documentary makers.

Culture

29 h. ago Starmer was briefed on Mandelson’s links to Epstein before US ambassador appointment, MPs told

Lord Mandelson was sacked as UK ambassador to the US due to his connection to the paedophile financier

Politics

30 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: MPs used to treat Whitehall's panjandrums with awe. Now they snort at them with open ridicule

Sir Olly Robbins, the incumbent, described himself as 'Peter Mandelson's line manager'. If Peter ever uttered the term 'line manager' it would have been greased with irony.

Events

34 h. ago MPs press for details given to the PM before show of confidence in Mandelson

The Cabinet Secretary was pushed on why Sir Keir Starner was not initially made aware of emails relating to Jeffrey Epstein

Politics

45 h. ago Exxon funded thinktanks to spread climate denial in Latin America, documents reveal

Texas-based fossil fuel company financed Atlas Network in attempt to derail UN-led climate treaty processExxon funded rightwing thinktanks to spread climate change denial across Latin America, according to hundreds of previously unpublished documents that reveal a coordinated campaign to make the global south “less inclined” to support the UN-led climate treaty processThe documents, which include copies of the actual cheques Exxon sent, consist of internal documents and years of correspondence between the Texas-based fossil fuel company and Atlas Network, a US-based coalition of more than 500 free-market thinktanks and other partners worldwide. Continue reading...

Events

54 h. ago ANDREW PIERCE: Did Tony Blair help sweeten Andrew's Royal Lodge deal?

Blair was PM when the sweetheart deal for him to move in was struck with the Crown Estate in 2003, effectively meaning the then prince was able to live there rent free.

Economics

4 d. ago JPMorgan Chase alerted Trump admin to over $1B in ‘suspicious’ transactions involving Epstein and prominent Wall Street figures: report

Over 4,700 transactions, including wire transfers to Russian banks raised red flags in 2019, new documents reveal

Politics

5 d. ago Keir Starmer often strident in opposition struggles to maintain probity in government

Despite pledges to run a squeaky clean administration he and some in his cabinet have fallen foul of the rulesThere is a theory in British politics, often attributed to Tony Blair, that you need to be careful about throwing a boomerang in opposition, because when you make it to power it could come back and hit you in the face.As opposition leader, Keir Starmer became adept at landing blows on the Conservatives. Over the Partygate scandal in particular, he called for Boris Johnson to quit over his rule-breaking. “You cannot be a lawmaker and a lawbreaker and it’s time to pack his bags,” he said. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Starmer feels the effects of setting high standards for his party in opposition

Despite pledges to run a squeaky clean administration the prime minister and some in his cabinet have been caught outThere is a theory in British politics, often attributed to Tony Blair, that you need to be careful about throwing a boomerang in opposition, because when you make it to power it could come back and hit you in the face.As opposition leader, Keir Starmer became adept at landing blows on the Conservatives. Over the Partygate scandal in particular, he called for Boris Johnson to quit over his rule-breaking. “You cannot be a lawmaker and a lawbreaker and it’s time to pack his bags,” he said. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Tony Blair ‘has a contribution to make’ to Trump’s Gaza peace deal, UK’s Middle East minister says

Exclusive: Hamish Falconer has spoken to The Independent on Gaza and why cutting international aid has not made the migrant crisis worse

Politics

6 d. ago Tony Blair should be part of Trump’s Gaza peace deal, UK’s Middle East minister says

Exclusive: Hamish Falconer has spoken to The Independent on Gaza and why cutting international aid has not made the migrant crisis worse

Politics

9 d. ago Asylum seekers will be housed by 90 per cent of councils by the end of the year, Home Office documents reveal

This summer it was revealed that 82 per cent of local authorities were housing migrants, but that number is now set to rise to 92 per cent by the end of 2025.

Society

1 week ago Met officer who guarded Prince Andrew during a stay at Jeffrey Epstein's New York mansion says he'll only speak to US Congress about what he knows

A royal protection officer who guarded Andrew during an infamous stay at paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's New York mansion says he is only prepared to speak to US Congress.

Politics

1 week ago Tony Blair Institute undertakes restructuring as losses mount

Consulting group and think-tank founded by former PM doubles down on artificial intelligence and seeks new donors

Politics

1 week ago Peter Mandelson is back in Britain in disgrace... but is he plotting a tell

Instead of glory for Lord Mandelson, it's ignominy. Last week, he was pictured at a railway station in Wiltshire looking far from his usual, well-heeled self.

Politics

1 week ago Arab states push back on Tony Blair role in overseeing postwar Gaza

Some countries voiced concerns over Donald Trump’s decision to name former UK prime minister to ‘board of peace’

Events

1 week ago Frontrunner suffers blow in race to be UK ambassador to US over criticisms of Trump

Exclusive: Whitehall officials raise fears about Mark Sedwill’s newspaper article warning of president’s ‘blundering’ behaviourUK politics live – latest updatesMark Sedwill’s prospects of becoming the UK’s ambassador in Washington have taken a blow after officials raised concerns about an article he wrote in 2021 praising Joe Biden and criticising Donald Trump.The former cabinet secretary and national security adviser has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Peter Mandelson in Washington. But some in government are worried about an article he wrote four years ago in which he made several criticisms of Trump after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Biden. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trial came after long campaign for justice for Bloody Sunday victims

The bereaved families described the start of the trial in September after a decades-long campaign as a momentous day.

Events

1 week ago No 10 denies reports Starmer is preparing to miss 2030 clean energy target

The Prime Minister was said to be considering dropping the goal in order to keep energy bills down.

Events

1 week ago Tony Blair Institute urges shift in focus from clean to cheaper power by 2030

A paper by the former Labour PM’s think tank is the latest intervention in an increasingly fractious energy debate.

Politics