24 h. ago UK government owes children apology for damaging Covid errors, inquiry hears

Children’s commissioner during pandemic says long lockdowns caused explosion in vulnerability among youngThe government should apologise to children for the damaging mistakes and policy errors it committed during the pandemic, the former children’s commissioner for England has told the Covid-19 inquiry.Giving evidence to the inquiry’s public hearing on Thursday, Anne Longfield said a “doom loop” of fatalism among ministers meant the government failed to do more to help children. She argued that the prolonged lockdowns and school closures were responsible for the explosion in mental health, welfare and behaviour difficulties still being experienced by children and young people. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Do you know about shitposting? It’s cheap humour, rage bait – and now, it seems, US government policy | Robert Topinka

Donald Trump’s White House reveals a new ‘portrait’ of Joe Biden – and in his world, if you don’t laugh, the joke’s on youOn 24 September, a White House communications adviser posted a video on X of a new presidential Walk of Fame, captioned: “Wait for it”, with a pen and eyes emoji. The video pans over a succession of presidential portraits to reveal – in place of Joe Biden’s portrait – a framed photograph of an autopen signing his name. The sight-gag references the Maga conspiracy theory that, unbeknownst to “Sleepy Joe”, unscrupulous aides used the autopen to sign pardons in his name. The post delighted supporters and outraged critics, which only further delighted supporters.And that was precisely the point. This combination of cheap humour and rage bait is the province of the shitpost, a genre of low-effort social media content designed to amuse insiders and annoy outsiders. Like so much of internet culture, shitposting was pioneered on the message board 4chan – but Donald Trump...

Events

33 h. ago Scotland will remain UK energy powerhouse under Labour Government

In an article for the Record, Labour Minister Michael Shanks said the UK Government is using energy policy to help local communities.

Politics

42 h. ago Kemi Badenoch vows to cut energy bills by scrapping Net Zero if she becomes Prime Minister

In a major policy move, Kemi Badenoch said a Conservative government would replace Labour's Climate Change Act with a strategy putting cheap and reliable power first.

Politics

54 h. 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

55 h. 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 d. ago China's factory activity contracts for a 6th straight month as trade tensions weigh on the economy

China has reported its factory activity shrank for a sixth straight month in September, the longest slump since 2019

Events

4 d. ago Rachel Reeves says she wants just one official economic forecast a year as pressure grows on fiscal rules

Rachel Reeves has said official forecasts for the British economy should be published just once a year, rather than twice, to give the Government greater flexibility on fiscal policy.

Politics

5 d. ago Budget blow for Reeves as UK’s key economic forecast slashed

Exclusive: Budget watchdog is set to downgrade a key economic performance indicator for the UK in a move that could drive tax hikes – as chancellor tries to shift blame on to Tories

Economics

7 d. ago Doug Ford to ban speed cameras in Ontario in populist appeal to suburban voters

Canada premier’s move prompts criticism from road safety activists and is likely to cue new showdown with TorontoDoug Ford has announced plans to ban speed cameras in Ontario, describing the devices as an out-of-control “tax grab” in his latest populist appeal to suburban voters.The move prompted criticism from road safety activists and is likely to cue another showdown with Toronto, after the mayor of Canada’s largest city urged councillors to keep the cameras in place, warning that “speed kills”. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Israel carrying out crime against humanity in Gaza, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas tells UN – Middle East crisis live

Speech by Palestinian Authority president also says Hamas should have no role in governing Palestine and must disarmAlimi says the policy of containment has given the Houthis time to expand its arsenal.“It has become clear the peace we seek cannot be asked for but must be imposed by force,” he says. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Raising kids in poverty: The UK’s ‘inhumane’ two child limit

Child poverty in the UK is now at record levels, with 4.5 million kids living in poverty. One of the biggest drivers of this is the controversial two limit child policy, which caps universal credit and tax credits to a family’s first two children . With the Labour government’s Child Poverty Strategy due imminently, many charities and campaigners have called for this brutal policy to be scrapped, but what’s life actually like for mums under the limit and will the government listen to growing calls to abolish the austerity-era policy? Journalist and poverty campaigner Terri White speaks to women in her area of greater Manchester to find out. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago HMRC can now take money direct from your bank account as new powers kick in

HM Revenue & Customs will be able to take money from people's accounts in a move called ‘draconian’ by tax experts, with anyone owing over £1,000 at risk of their bank paying the taxman directly

Economics

1 week ago UK economy to be weighed on by government policy and tax moves, OECD says

The OECD said the UK will also experience the highest level of inflation among the G7 group of advanced economies this year.

Politics

1 week ago Israeli politicians react bitterly to international recognitions of Palestinian state

Experts say move by nations including UK and Australia won’t change government policy and could strengthen its grip on powerMiddle East crisis – live updatesA wave of international recognitions of a Palestinian state has prompted bitter and almost unanimous condemnation across the political spectrum in Israel, uniting political foes and, analysts said, potentially reinforcing the ruling coalition’s grip on power.The UK, Portugal, Australia and Canada formally recognised a state of Palestine on Sunday while France was expected to follow suit on Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Households hit with higher bills in £1bn ‘racket’ that sees wind farms paid to turn off power

Greg Jackson – founder and CEO of Octopus Energy – tells The Independent that wind farm companies are the winners from government policy, while consumers pay the price

Economics

2 w. ago Vuelta chaos shows selling sport as a tool for peace can create its own battlefield | Jonathan Liew

Once teams promote a country, are owned by states or have to reflect government policy, sport becomes a playground for powerHigh fives all round at Hamas high command. The triumphant clink of Gaza Cola tins pings across the bunker. It’s been a tough week for the lads, what with five of their members being killed in the Doha airstrike, but you’ve got to celebrate the little victories, yeah? And as they use what remains of their fragile satellite internet connection to refresh the Cyclingnews live blog for the final time, the Hamas Grand Tour Disruption Division (Vuelta Branch) can toast an operation executed to perfection: the successful mobilisation of more than 100,000 members of the Madrid battalion to force the curtailment of stage 21 of the Tour of Spain.“They asked us to quit the Vuelta, but we did not surrender to the terrorists,” said Sylvan Adams, co‑owner of the Israel-Premier Tech team targeted by mass protests that disrupted several stages. O...

Events

2 w. ago Wetherspoon is cutting food and drink prices by 7.5% this Thursday

The move, dubbed “tax equality day” by Wetherspoon’s, is designed to highlight the benefit of a permanent VAT reduction for the struggling hospitality industry, the chain said

Politics

2 w. ago Barratt cautions over ‘limited growth’ as tax hike fears weigh on buyer demand

The housebuilding giant said the upcoming Budget on November 26 has added ‘additional risk’ to the outlook.

Economics

2 w. ago Wetherspoon's to cut food and drink prices by 7.5% on Thursday

Move on ‘tax equality day’ is aimed at highlighting different rates of VAT for pubs and supermarkets

Politics