The Independent - December 28, 2024

In this issue

December 28, 2024

Union leader tells PM to prove case for 'tractor tax'

Sir Keir Starmer has suffered a new blow in the row over his \"tractor tax\" after the leader of the UK's unions backed family farms.

3 mins

Starmer praises 'wonderful' brother after death at 60

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to his brother Nick, who died from cancer on Boxing Day at the age of 60.

2 mins

Move more inmates to open prisons, urges ex-minister

Thousands of prisoners should be moved to open prisons to tackle overcrowding and help prepare inmates for release, a former justice secretary has said.

3 mins

Kidnapper freed early from jail ridicules Starmer in rap

A gang member freed from prison under Labour's early release scheme has mocked Sir Keir Starmer in a rap song released on Christmas Day.

2 mins

Farage demands Badenoch 'fake membership' apology

Nigel Farage has demanded an apology from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch after she accused his Reform UK party of publishing fake statistics showing membership surpassing that of the Tory party.

2 mins

Whose claim stacks up in the party supporters spat?

Nigel Farage has called Kemi Badenoch \"absolutely disgusting\" for accusing him of lying about Reform UK's membership numbers.

3 mins

Labour needs to forgive its leader for his tentative start

At the end of a troubled year for the prime minister, even his own party is discussing his suitability, reports Andrew Grice - but if it wants a second term, it will have to get behind him

3 mins

Greyhound racing hit by birth control drug scandal

A major drug scandal in UK greyhound racing, involving the illegal sale and widespread misuse of a hormone intended for women, is going unchecked, according to an animal charity.

3 mins

Snow could sweep through UK as new year approaches

Britons are bracing for snowfall and a sharp drop in temperatures, which are set to fall to -2C on New Year's Eve in some places.

1 min

Christmas travel chaos as fog causes mass flight delays

Airline passengers hoping to jet off ahead of the New Year were hit by severe delays, as thick fog caused chaos at the UK's busiest airports.

2 mins

Quad bike crash leaves girl with life-changing injuries

A child has been left with life-changing injuries after the quad bike she was riding on crashed into a telegraph pole outside a high-street pub on Boxing Day.

1 min

'We cannot wait for peace before beginning to rebuild'

As fears mount for Ukraine's future in light of the re-election of Trump, Tom Watling speaks to politicians, military experts and aid workers to discover what the coming year could hold

6 mins

Russian air defence 'likely' behind crash that killed 38

The deadly Christmas Day crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan was likely caused by a Russian air defence system, military and aviation experts have said.

3 mins

South Korea’s MPs vote to impeach acting president

South Korea's parliament impeached acting president Han Duck Soo yesterday, just two weeks after similarly punishing president Yoon Suk Yeol for briefly declaring martial law earlier this month.

2 mins

'They are erasing us. They are erasing our history'

Indie filmmaker Arfat Sheikh was increasingly frustrated by mainstream cinema’s depiction of Kashmir and its people so he decided to make his own. Maroosha Muzaffar reports

3 mins

Gunners edge victory against battling Ipswich

Arsenal moved into second place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over Ipswich at the Emirates.

2 mins

Contract conundrum won't distract Reds' title charge

New year, new context. Liverpool will enter 2025 top of the Premier League, a year of seismic change that could have sent them spiralling downwards instead sees them ending on a high.

3 mins

Champion Humphries eases through to last 16

World number one Luke Humphries continued his bid for back-to-back World Championship titles after easing through to the last 16 last night.

2 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.