The Independent - October 02, 2023

In this issue

October 02, 2023

PM struggles to keep Tories on the rails in Manchester

Rishi Sunak will attempt to get back on the front foot with a benefits crackdown after a torrid first day of his annual party conference in which he came under pressure from senior Conservatives over tax cuts and HS2.

5 mins

Ex-levelling up minister joins calls not to axe HS2

Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure from senior Conservatives in the north of England over HS2, as both his former levelling up minister and the former Tory chairperson joined calls for the northern leg to be built in full.

3 mins

Support Sunak or 'shut up', Truss told by Tory grandees

Tory grandees have launched an extraordinary attack on former prime minister Liz Truss amid fears her appearance at their party conference will undermine Rishi Sunak's electoral prospects. One said their ex-party leader should back the prime minister or \"shut up\", adding she had \"zero credibility\".

2 mins

Culture secretary unwilling to gamble on election win

Culture secretary Lucy Frazer has become the second cabinet minister to take a £100 bet that the Conservatives will win the next election - but stopped short of staking £1,000, citing her role in charge of gambling.

2 mins

Rwandan ambassador says Braverman's immigration plans are 'absolutely wrong'

The Rwandan ambassador has lashed out at Suella Braverman's immigration plans, describing the British government's position as \"absolutely wrong\".

2 mins

Could Truss really run for the Tory leadership again?

Infighting is not unusual at the Conservative conference. The Tories enjoy a bit of argy-bargy and backbiting at the best of times, never mind the worst of moments, with current polling putting the party on course for an electoral wipeout.

3 mins

Thousands raised for boy's charity after fans mock him

Thousands of pounds have been raised for the Bradley Lowery Foundation after the young mascot, who died from cancer, was allegedly mocked at a match in Sheffield in an \"outrageous and deplorable\" incident that has sparked outrage among the football community.

2 mins

Four Weddings and a Funeral actor announces death of daughter aged 36

The Split and Four Weddings and a Funeral star Anna Chancellor has announced the death of her only daughter, Poppy, aged 36.

2 mins

Family pay tribute to girl killed in school bus crash

The family of a “warm-hearted” girl who died in a horror crash have said her death has left a “massive void” in their lives that “will never be filled”. Jessica Baker, 15, was one of two people who died after a school coach overturned on the northbound M53 near junction five at Hooton, Cheshire, at around 8am on Friday.

2 mins

Two arrests after two men stabbed to death in Leeds

A double murder investigation has been launched after two men died in Leeds.

1 min

Ryan: I wrestled with role alongside dangerous comic

Katherine Ryan has opened up about why she called a comedian, reported to be Russell Brand, a “sexual predator” during yesterday’s Desert Island Discs.

3 mins

The Crown is a soap opera, says biographer Brandreth

The Crown should be viewed purely as entertainment rather than for its depiction of the royal family, biographer Gyles Brandreth has said, ahead of the show's sixth and final season.

3 mins

Armenians desperately search for family as more than 100,000 uprooted

Nagorno-Karabakh refugees tell Bel Trew in the border town of Goris about their frightening escape from persecution

4 mins

Victory is ahead, Zelensky tells troops at military event

Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Ukrainian soldiers for their efforts in the war against Russia and said \"ahead is our victory\" in an event yesterday celebrating the country's military. The Ukrainian president made the comments while marking the Day of the Defenders, a national event honouring the country's veterans and those killed in battle.

3 mins

Two injured after suicide blast at Turkish parliament

A suicide bomber let off an explosive device outside the Turkish parliament just hours before it was set to reopen after summer recess, officials said.

1 min

Nightclub fire in Spain kills 13 with many feared missing

At least 13 people have died in a nightclub fire in Spain, with fears the death toll could keep climbing. Rescuers were yesterday still searching for missing revellers after the blaze broke out in the city of Murcia in the early hours of the morning.

1 min

Europe hold off red tide in raucous Ryder Cup triumph

Luke Donald’s heroes clinch a 16½-11½ victory to win back the trophy in style – but not before a few late nerves in Rome

5 mins

Rockstar Rory finally gets his Ryder Cup 'redemption'

“Thirty-five years of overachievement, it’s unbelievable,” Rory McIlroy said with a smirk and a shrug in a quiet corner behind the 18th green at Marco Simone Golf Club. “It just keeps happening.”

4 mins

VAR officials who missed 'onside' goal are replaced

The VAR officials who failed to intervene when Liverpool had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside in their defeat to Tottenham have been stood down from the rest of this weekend’s fixtures. Darren England and assistant Dan Cook were replaced for yesterday afternoon’s match between Nottingham Forest and Brentford as well as tonight’s game between Fulham and Chelsea.

2 mins

Record WSL crowd sees Liverpool shock Arsenal

This was not the start to the new Women’s Super League season that any of the record-breaking crowd at the Emirates had been expecting. Arsenal, the big movers of the summer transfer window, are playing catch-up already after Miri Taylor silenced the record WSL crowd of 54,115 and earnt an organised and impressively resilient Liverpool a shock victory.

2 mins

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