54 h. ago 'We're sick with worry cruel EHCP cuts will destroy our disabled childrens' lives'

Four families who have battled to get Education Health Care Plans ((EHCPs) fear government reforms of the SEND system will strip away the legal protections for their children

Society

3 d. ago Electronic line calling at Wimbledon is an unnecessary disaster of their own making

Comment: Wimbledon apologised after the system cost Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova a point on Sunday, saying ‘human error’ was to blame. Then what is the point of the technology?

Events

5 d. ago Texas river flood kills 13 with 23 swept away from girls' summer camp as faces of missing emerge: Live

The human cost of the Guadalupe River flood has begun to emerge, with heartbreaking photos of missing children shared as the death toll rises.

Events

8 d. ago Welfare cuts vote 'deeply distressing' and 'risking the lives of disabled people for the sake of accounting gimmicks'

Disability charities have called the welfare reforms vote a "chaotic and upsetting process that could have been avoided," suggesting the bill should never have been voted on by MPs

Politics

8 d. ago Disabled Labour MP breaks down in tears over party’s welfare cuts

A disabled Labour MP cried as she delivered an impassioned speech criticising her party's welfare cuts on Tuesday, 1 July.

Politics

8 d. ago Bush, Obama and Bono bid farewell to USAID as researchers warn agency’s closure means 14m extra deaths

Departing staff thanked by two former presidents and a rock legend as new study reveals human cost of Trump administration’s decision to axe global humanitarian agency

Events

8 d. ago Leading rebel Rachael Maskell chokes up sharing devastating impact of welfare cuts on disabled constituent

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offer support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

Politics

9 d. ago Readers Letters: Scotland needs a strong and forceful leader

John Swinney is a little too nice to deliver independence, says a reader

Politics

1 week ago Disabled people ‘could face extra costs of £15k a year by end of the decade’ as welfare vote looms

Government ‘must change course’ on ‘catastrophic’ welfare cuts, disability charity urges

Economics

1 week ago Starmer’s welfare cuts could leave thousands of disabled women trapped with abusers, campaigners warn

Exclusive: The prime minister’s controversial welfare cuts would deepen economic insecurity for disabled women and make them more vulnerable to abuse, a new report has warned

Events

1 week ago Keir Starmer caves in to Labour rebels with huge welfare cuts climbdown to avert humiliating Commons vote defeat

In a letter to MPs, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall revealed personal independence payments will be protected

Politics

1 week ago LIZZY BUCHAN: 'Keir Starmer underestimated opposition to DWP disability benefit cuts'

Concessions on welfare cuts will be some relief to disabled people afraid of losing lifeline benefits - but it's a blow to Keir Starmer's authority so early on in his premiership

Politics

1 week ago Voices: Has Starmer’s leadership been weakened by Labour’s welfare revolt? Join The Independent Debate

Just over half of Independent readers supported welfare reform in principle, but only 28 per cent backed Starmer’s current proposals

Politics

2 w. ago Voices: ‘We haven’t learned anything’: Readers despair over UK’s Covid response in 2025

Many of the protections and behaviours that helped us during the pandemic — like staying home when sick, wearing masks, and improving ventilation – have quietly disappeared, say Independent readers

Politics

2 w. ago Around 300,000 disabled and sick Scots to 'lose £500' under Labour welfare cuts

EXCLUSIVE: The charity Trussell has laid bare the impact of the proposed cuts on disabled people

Economics

2 w. ago Sadiq Khan slams Keir Starmer's benefit cuts for 'destroying safety net for too many disabled Londoners'

City Hall warned that disabled Londoners face losses of between £3,800 and £5,700 a year

Politics

2 w. ago Voices: ‘This project has always been the wrong way round’: Readers split on future of HS2

Independent readers are split on the future of HS2. While some argued, ‘if you were only going to build half, you’d build the other half’ in the North, others said the project should be scrapped before more money is wasted

Politics

3 w. ago Voices: ‘I feel like an expensive pet’: Independent readers open up on the human cost of disability cuts

Our community says disability benefit cuts will ‘break people,’ leave carers ‘destitute,’ and cause a human cost many say is being ignored

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer braces for biggest backbench rebellion yet as ‘horrendous’ welfare cuts spark immediate backlash

Charities warned Keir Starmer’s cuts will drive disabled people into poverty

Politics

3 w. ago ‘On a peak under a blue sky’: the joy of summer in Europe’s mountains

Our writer recalls his favourite mountain experiences, from hard-won views to splendid isolation and the comforts of simple refugesAfter a tough scramble to the summit of Rhinog Fach, we look down into the deep valley holding the chilly waters of Llyn Hywel, then west across several miles of heather, bilberry and bare rock to the Welsh coast. Turning my gaze north, there is the entire Llyn peninsula leading east to the peak of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), no doubt weighed down by thousands of visitors. Up here there are just two of us in an utterly peaceful landscape. No clouds on the horizon. No surprises.I lie down for a few minutes and feel myself drift off. There are no human voices to be heard, only birds. Summer has come early to these mountains and I wouldn’t be anywhere else, drinking in that particular kind of tranquillity to be found on a peak under a blue sky. Continue reading...

Politics