UK Independent

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:40:33 GMT
Politics live: Labour bracing for local election wipeout after Starmer cancellation U-turn, poll finds
A minister has admitted the latest backtrack by the government is ‘not ideal’

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:34:19 GMT
Family win £700k inheritance fight with mum’s boyfriend over forged will and fake wedding
The family of a tragic mum have won a £700,000 court fight with her “toxic” boyfriend after he used a forged will and a fake wedding in a bid to get his hands on her fortune.

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:13:30 GMT
The 30 local councils where elections will now go ahead in May after latest Labour U-turn
Labour announced plans to postpone elections in order to address ‘capacity’ issues in areas undergoing restructure

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:06:09 GMT
Every Labour U-turn – from tractor tax to digital IDs – as Starmer rows back on postponing local elections
The Independent looks at all the times Keir Starmer has U-turned on his promises since taking office

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:51:06 GMT
Mortgage price wars as three major lenders slash rates in boost to homeowners and first time buyers
Nationwide’s best rate is now down to 3.54 per cent - but you need a big deposit to benefit

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:47:56 GMT
Six of Sarah Ferguson’s companies wound down after Epstein links revealed
According to Companies House, an application to strike off each company was filed after new revelations about the former duchess’s contact with the paedophile financier came to light

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:36:39 GMT
Mapped: Where will rain and ice hit the UK this week
Warnings for rain, ice, and flooding are in place for much of the country

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:15:56 GMT
Motorists could face ‘mandatory’ driving ban for road offences under tougher laws
Drug-driving over legal limit could land motorists in prison for a year with £10,000 fines

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:01:24 GMT
Royal Mail blames poor weather and sickness for delayed deliveries
Royal Mail will reportedly clear parcels first if they build up quickly and block walkways in delivery offices

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:14:33 GMT
Jobcentre on Wheels to be rolled out across Britain – this is where
It is hoped the initiative will ‘break down the barriers that stop people finding good work’

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:13:21 GMT
Stop releasing phone thieves who reoffend, Met police chief urges courts
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley also called on phone manufacturers to make it harder for criminals to reset and re-sell stolen phones

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:01:00 GMT
Mapped: Topshop returns to the high street – here’s where you can find the iconic brand
The popular fashion brand will appear in all John Lewis department stores from Tuesday

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:36:42 GMT
Robert Jenrick to be unveiled as Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman, reports say
Robert Jenrick will be unveiled as Reform’s chancellor-in-waiting alongside several other new appointments on Tuesday

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:24:32 GMT
Students launch legal action against universities over Covid-hit studies
Following a successful settlement with UCL, Student Group Claim will turn its attention to other universities

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:32:13 GMT
Teacher banned after lying about graduating from Cambridge and claiming to be five years younger than he was
Nicolas Martin claimed he was trying to pass himself off as ‘more dynamic and more fun’

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:04:53 GMT
Make places like Somerset take more migrants, Danish minister tells UK
Denmark’s employment minister warns that centrist parties need to get a grip on immigration

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:08:10 GMT
Starmer abandons plans to cancel May council elections in latest U-turn
Government agrees to pay Reform UK’s legal costs in further humiliation for prime minister

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:09:43 GMT
Which parties run the councils where elections are no longer postponed?
Labour had initially intended to cancel polls in 30 areas, a move that would have impacted 4.5 million voters

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:18:45 GMT
Cabinet Office probes Labour group over journalists’ smear campaign as PM backs investigation
Labour Together, which helped the prime minister’s election to become party leader, reportedly paid £36,000 for the probe

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:33:57 GMT
‘Traumatised’ detective sues force over ‘tainted’ probe on ex-partner’s alleged affair
Andrew Fearon claims he suffered psychiatric injury and a loss of earnings after the breakdown of his relationship with ex-colleague Rebecca Hutt

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:24:10 GMT
Starmer defends cabinet secretary frontrunner amid questions over her management style
The prime minister’s official spokesperson insisted that Antonia Romeo’s record ‘speaks for itself’

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:46:09 GMT
Pensioner killed by 10 XL bullies after ‘rapper left her with dogs to film music video’
Esther Martin, 68, was killed in February 2024 in what has been described as a ‘tragedy waiting to happen’

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:23:25 GMT
Two teenagers guilty of killing man after luring him to beach
A girl, 16, and a 15-year-old boy were convicted of the manslaughter of Alexander Cashford, 49

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:12:34 GMT
UK foreign aid cuts set to be deeper than Trump’s slashing of US funds
New analysis says Britain will see a larger cut thanks to Congress softening the impact of the US president’s measures

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:53:42 GMT
Amazon delivery driver follows sat nav onto ‘deadliest footpath in Britain’
Driver trapped on mudflats in Essex after GPS mix-up

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:42:33 GMT
Rags to riches used car tycoon says he was wrongfully sacked from own business over offensive comments
Peter Waddell claims disabilities were ignored during internal disciplinary process, rendering it void

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:13:32 GMT
Starmer to deploy UK warships to Arctic following Trump’s Greenland threats
The prime minister also used his speech at the Munich Security Conference to underline the UK’s commitment to Nato as he spelt out the ‘urgency’ of forging a closer UK defence relationship with Europe

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:51:35 GMT
Deportation flight to Egypt cancelled after man swallows vape battery
Mitie, which is contracted by the Home Office to manage overseas deportations, said it was investigating the incident

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:12:36 GMT
New evidence claims man was framed for murder of foreign student in Dorset
Dorset Police has said its investigation was ‘thorough, detailed and very complex’

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:35:03 GMT
How could a UK social media ban for under-16s work?
Consultation on new social media protections to launch in March as government pledges to do all it can to keep children safe online

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:01:41 GMT
Keir Starmer promises smartphone crackdown for under-16s within months
Measures could include a minimum age limit for social media, restrictions on infinite scrolling and preventing children from speaking with online chatbots

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:33:37 GMT
Former minister joins calls for police to investigate Andrew over Epstein ties
Documents appear to show former prince shared confidential reports with Jeffery Epstein

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:30:50 GMT
Parkour-trained police officer ends chase with Hot Fuzz-style fence hopping
A parkour-trained police officer jumped over fences in a moment reminiscent of Hot Fuzz whilst chasing down a suspect.

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:25:13 GMT
I didn’t really enjoy being prime minister, Tony Blair admits
The documentary about Sir Tony Blair’s life also saw his wife reveal he has never bought her flowers

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:12:42 GMT
Palestine Action cases postponed after government appeals High Court terrorism ruling
A number of defendants were due at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:30:51 GMT
Premium Bonds owner NS&I slammed after spending £3bn of taxpayer money on ‘full-spectrum disaster’
Around 25m people have money in NS&I, primarily across the monthly bonds prize draw

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:47:26 GMT
Britain strengthens ties with California as new clean energy and climate agreement signed
Miliband and Newsom signed the agreement at the Munich Security Conference on Monday

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:04:59 GMT
Doddie Weir’s widow takes on 750-mile cycling challenge to raise money for MND charity he founded
Rugby legend Doddie Weir passed away in November 2022 after living with motor neurone disease for six years

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