In this issue

June 17, 2024

Tories are underdog in this election, admits Mordaunt

Minister calls for party to ignore polls and rally as she gives The Independent her first in-depth interview of the election

5 mins

'I am the original Brexiteer'

Sunak hits back at Farage and says EU exit 'right for country'

2 mins

Battle for Clacton heats up as Labour says it's the only party that can beat Farage

Labour have claimed the collapse in Tory support is now so bad that only they can stop Nigel Farage winning in Clacton, if the last remaining Conservatives vote tactically for their candidate.

1 min

Reeves pledges wealth fund and 650,000 'quality' jobs

Rachel Reeves will highlight Labour’s plans to boost investment by breaking down EU trade barriers and set up a national wealth fund as she kicks off a week of campaigning on the economy.

3 mins

Labour urged to discard two-child benefit cap

The number of children affected by the two-child benefit cap will rise by a third over the next five years, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned. The limit currently affects 2 million children, with more hit each year because it applies to those born after 5 April, 2017.

2 mins

How Davey's water stunts send out political ripples

When Neil Kinnock became Labour leader in October 1983, he was infamously pictured falling backwards on Brighton beach. It was an image of haplessness that dogged his nine-year leadership right up until his second general election defeat in 1992.

4 mins

England and Serbia fans clash prior to Euros match

The first weekend of Euro 2024 has been marred by violence, with people left bloodied after clashes broke out between fans of England and Serbia just hours before the teams’ opening game.

3 mins

'He looked like a starving dog on the floor of his cell'

IPP prisoner's mother says he is on his second hunger strike

5 mins

No 10's super-prisons plan doomed to fail, say experts

Policy of moving governors around the troubled estate is compared to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic

4 mins

Officer who ran over calf is taken off frontline duties

A Surrey Police officer has been taken off frontline duties after striking a runaway cow twice with his vehicle - a moment caught on video that caused widespread shock as it went viral on social media. In the video, the young cow, Beau Lucy, is seen loose in the street in Staines before being rammed twice by the police vehicle.

3 mins

Ramsay 'lucky to be here' after cycling accident in US

Gordon Ramsay says he is “lucky to be here” after a “really bad” cycling accident in the US. The celebrity chef was clearly shaken by the incident in Connecticut, which left him with a purple bruise that appeared to cover a significant portion of his chest.

1 min

Thrillseekers stuck at 236ft on UK's tallest rollercoaster

Thrillseekers were left dangling for an hour at 236ft after Britain's tallest rollercoaster broke down again, just weeks after being unveiled.

1 min

Zelensky promises peace talks 'tomorrow' if Russia leaves Ukraine territory

Remarks came at the end of a peace summit in Switzerland

3 mins

Eleven homes are bulldozed in India after beef was found

Indian authorities have bulldozed the homes of 11 people in the central state of Madhya Pradesh after police found beef in their refrigerators and cows in their backyards.

2 mins

England squeeze win with nervous campaign opener

A flawless record continues, with some blemishes. Gareth Southgate’s England again won a tournament opening game, on the fourth of four such occasions.

3 mins

Weghorst is unlikely star of Netherlands' comeback win

It may be of scant consolation to Poland but the World Cup winners have suffered the same fate. A Netherlands manager, seeking a goal and a game-changing substitute, summoned Wout Weghorst.

3 mins

Goal for Danes a full-circle moment for heroic Eriksen

You have to wonder what sort of thoughts were swirling around Christian Eriksen’s head, as the Denmark talisman waited for the first whistle to sound. It would be understandable if some of them were dark, frightening, or even traumatic. For the last time he began a European Championship campaign, three summers ago, Eriksen died for five minutes.

3 mins

Smarter Billam-Smith won ugly to stay on top of world

Winning ugly is often the best tactic in boxing, and Chris Billam-Smith certainly won ugly late on Saturday night, to keep his world title at Selhurst Park.

3 mins

Read all stories from The Independent

The Independent Newspaper Description:

The Independent has been at the frontline of journalism since 1986, with its mission to challenge and debate always ahead of its time. The Independent is free-thinking and free of bias in an increasingly fragmented world where communities locally, regionally and across continents are disenfranchised with traditional establishments. They want real facts and frank opinions delivered first-hand from a news source that is ready to stand for something, not everything.