In this issue

July 02, 2024

Sunak uses threat of Labour ‘supermajority' in final push

But leading pollster says result could be closer than expected

5 mins

Also-rans: inside the betting scandal-hit constituencies

The Tories and Labour both withdrew support for candidates being investigated by the Gambling Commission – Alex Ross hears from confused voters and local party campaigners

5 mins

Is there real reason to fear a Labour 'supermajority'?

Wisely or not, the Conservatives have tacitly conceded not just defeat but an appalling humiliation on polling day, and are now begging for mercy.

4 mins

Tories 'hollowing out' UK's defence with regiment cull

The Conservatives have been accused of “hollowing out” Britain’s armed forces as Rishi Sunak tries to turn the focus toward defence for the final days of the general election.

3 mins

Next PM urged to abandon Sunak's surcharge on wine

Sir Keir Starmer is being urged to abandon Rishi Sunak’s “sneaky” post-Brexit wine tax if he wins the keys to Downing Street this week.

2 mins

Davey urges voters to take plunge and back Lib Dems

Sir Ed Davey took part in a bungee jump yesterday as he urged voters to take a similar “leap of faith” and back the Liberal Democrats on Thursday.

2 mins

Dench and Phillips are first female members of Garrick

The Garrick Club named Judi Dench and Sian Phillips as distinguished members last night, making them the first women to be allowed to join the club in its 193-year history.

1 min

Windrush pensioner in ID limbo facing homelessness.

Home Office 'unable to verify' 89-year-old Thelma's identity

3 mins

Calls for greyhound racing ban after death toll rises

The number of greyhounds dying at racetracks rose last year for the first time since records began six years ago, prompting calls for the sport to be banned.

2 mins

Macron camp divided as far right creeps closer to power

Rival French parties scramble to build an alliance to prevent National Rally from winning outright in the second round of France's legislative election on Sunday

3 mins

Trump can claim immunity over official acts, court rules

Former presidents have some immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday – extending the delay in the criminal case against Donald Trump on charges that he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss, and all but ending the prospect that he could be tried before the November election.

4 mins

Zelensky says Russia fired 800 glide bombs in a week

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Russia fired more than 800 glide bombs at Ukraine in just the last week, as Moscow continues to use the modified Soviet-era explosives to kill both soldiers and civilians.

2 mins

Israel orders Palestinians in Khan Younis to move again

The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis eysterday, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strip’s second-largest city.

3 mins

Beryl slams into Caribbean with 150mph gusts and rain

A dangerous and extremely powerful Hurricane Beryl made landfall yesterday on the Caribbean island of Carriacou after becoming the earliest storm of category 4 strength on record to form in the Atlantic, fuelled by record warm waters.

2 mins

Acclaimed Albanian writer Ismail Kadare dies at 88

Ismail Kadare, the acclaimed Albanian novelist, poet and playwright who defied his country’s communist rulers through his writing, has died in a Tirana hospital after having a heart attack. He was 88.

1 min

A 'Republican front' could yet deprive Le Pen of power

“We are in uncharted territory”, was the most neutral assessment of the first-round results in France’s legislative elections.

5 mins

Here's why I'm glad I caused a BA flight to be cancelled

It was all going swimmingly until we began our descent into Gatwick.

3 mins

Banksy's Glastonbury boat stunt was tasteless and lazy

Rather than Coldplay’s “spectacle of a lifetime”, or the return of Avril Lavigne, or the return (again) of the Sugababes, the Glastonbury moment that caught the nation’s attention was a tasteless stunt by Banksy.

2 mins

Why Russia is ordering its troops to take no prisoners

Putin's commanders in Ukraine are compelling their men to murder defenceless enemies

5 mins

An emergency cut short our trip - can we get a refund?

I am sorry to hear of the reason for curtailing the holiday. In such circumstances, the first issue is the arrangement for returning home early.

1 min

Bankers' bonuses return as families struggle with bills

The bonus boys and girls look set to make a comeback in the City of London.

3 mins

Dour France get lucky to sink Belgium in a stinker

Of course, it wasn’t pretty.

3 mins

Shootout sends below-par Portugal into quarter-finals

The Cristiano Ronaldo show rumbled into Frankfurt, and it didn’t disappoint.

3 mins

Southgate hopes the lessons of 1966 can inspire success

As the Three Lions scrape through to the quarter-finals at Euro 2024, the England manager is drawing on history to keep his whole squad of players hungry

4 mins

Read all stories from The Independent

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