17 h. ago Unite could move to disaffiliate from Labour in future, union boss warns

Unite members have to see that the fee to affiliate with Labour is ‘worth something’, Sharon Graham told the BBC.

Events

17 h. ago Unite boss calls Angela Rayner 'despicable' after stripping deputy PM of membership when she criticised Birmingham's striking bin workers

In the latest deepening of the rift between Labour and Unite, the union's boss Sharon Graham issued a barbed broadside at Ms Rayner, claiming she had acted in a 'despicable way'.

Economics

3 d. ago Futurist Adam Dorr on how robots will take our jobs: ‘We don’t have long to get ready – it’s going to be tumultuous’

Researcher says tech could replace nearly all human labour within 20 years and societies urgently need to prepareIf Adam Dorr is correct, robots and artificial intelligence will dominate the global economy within a generation and put virtually the entire human race out of a job. The social scientist doubles up as a futurist and has a stark vision of the scale, speed and unstoppability of a technological transformation that he says will replace virtually all human labour within 20 years.Dorr heads a team of researchers who have studied patterns of technological change over millennia and concluded that the current wave will not just convulse but obliterate the labour market by 2045. What cars did to horses and carts, and electricity to gas lamps, and digital cameras to Kodak, are templates for the coming shock, he says. “Technology has a new target in its crosshairs – and that’s us. That’s our labour.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago To those who question what Labour stands for – look at Best Start. It will change Britain’s future | Polly Toynbee

Sure Start was New Labour’s finest achievement, and the Tories destroyed it. Now it’s back with a mission to put children at the heart of everythingThey hunt high and low for Labour’s missing message, vision, purpose or identity. Well, here it is, where it always was, in the future of children. It’s what Labour does best, what it is for: building a society where children come first and everything else falls into place. The foundations have now been laid by Bridget Phillipson by finally bringing back Sure Start to England – the most successful achievement of the last Labour government – now rebranded as Best Start family hubs.It’s a pity about the new name, but young parents recognise “hubs”, whereas Sure Start is largely gone and forgotten. Its uprooting began the day Michael Gove arrived as education secretary in 2010. He entered the “Department for Children, Schools and Families” – a name chosen to reflect the awareness that children don’t learn without wraparound care for their w...

Politics

7 d. ago The leadership rumours inside Labour that speak volumes about Starmer’s future

Voters are unconvinced they have seen much change after the ‘14 years of Tory failure’ that Starmer so often talks about. Every day that this sentiment is allowed to fester, the likelihood of a coup within the Labour Party increases, writes Millie Cooke

Politics

8 d. ago John Rentoul answers your questions on Labour’s future – from welfare U

Chief political commentator John Rentoul answers your questions on Labour’s deepening welfare crisis, the rise of a Corbyn-Sultana breakaway party, and what it all means for Keir Starmer’s grip on government

Politics

9 d. ago New NHS plan shows ‘future already looks better’ under Labour – Starmer

Patients will be given more control of their health via the NHS app, while there will be less reliance on hospitals, the plan says.

Politics

9 d. ago Future already looks bright for the NHS under Labour, Starmer says

Chancellor Rachel Reeves made her first appearance since she was seen crying in the Commons on Wednesday.

Politics

9 d. ago Can Labour survive its identity crisis? Ask chief political commentator John Rentoul anything

The Independent’s chief political commentator, John Rentoul, is here to answer your questions as Labour grapples with a welfare reform crisis, mounting pressure on Keir Starmer’s leadership, and growing doubts over Rachel Reeves’s position

Events

1 week ago DAN HODGES: What one Cabinet minister has told me about what REALLY lies behind Reeves's public breakdown, the truth about Angela Rayner's role

We may never properly learn what finally brought Rachel Reeves to break down in tears in the House of Commons chamber yesterday.

Politics

1 week ago DAN HODGES: No wonder Rachel's crying! Keir Starmer's behind

The House of Commons has just witnessed one of its most incredible - and distressing - sessions of Prime Minister's Questions.

Politics

1 week ago Cabinet minister insists Starmer will lead Labour into next election after fresh questions over his future

Exclusive: Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said goverments had ‘ups and downs’ as Labour embroiled in welfare reform row

Politics

2 w. ago Supermarkets could face fines for failing healthy eating targets in obesity crackdown

Labour health secretary issues warning over future of health service ‘unless we curb the rising tide of cost and demand’ caused by obesity epidemic

Events