The Independent - November 20, 2024

In this issue

November 20, 2024

Farmers' chief hints at more extreme tax protest action

Thousands descend on London over inheritance changes

3 mins

The last thing farmers need is a Clarkson and co cosplay

From early morning, they started gathering outside parliament in smart Barbour jackets, flat caps and spotless wellies. Not the farmers – they came later in proper warm clothing that had seen rain before – but the shadow cabinet, looking like a class of 10-year-olds marking World Book Day as the cast of The Sheep-Pig.

3 mins

Make no mistake - this isn't just bad news for farmers

I never imagined that farmers like me would need to go to London in order to protect our future livelihoods, but here we are. Contrary to what the government would have you believe, the recently announced inheritance tax changes will impact a vast many – it isn’t just an elite few.

4 mins

Labour's 100,000 cold facts

The government’s winter fuel payments cut will drive more pensioners into poverty, work and pensions secretary admits

3 mins

Why is Reeves accused of ‘lying' about achievements?

Among her challenges, chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has been accused of \"lying\" about her CV.

3 mins

Trump to recognise African state, says ex-Tory minister

Donald Trump is poised to recognise a former British protectorate as an official country, according to a former UK defence secretary who lobbied the president-elect.

3 mins

New ice warning after snow forces 200 schools to close

A new ice warning has been issued after heavy snow sparked widespread travel disruption and forced the closure of hundreds of schools.

2 mins

Man Capital chair donates to our safe homes campaign

Top businessman Mohamed Mansour supports the Indy’s appeal to build refuges for survivors of domestic abuse

2 mins

Ball quits breakfast show

Scott Mills to take over popular weekday slot on Radio 2

3 mins

Ukraine fires first US longrange missiles into Russia

Moscow upgrades its nuclear threat after ATACMS attack

4 mins

'We want to inflict a lot of damage and upset Putin'

A Ukrainian colonel describes how Kyiv hopes to hurt Russia with the US-made missiles they now have permission to use

4 mins

Hong Kong jails 45 activists in 'outrageous' crackdown

Hong Kong’s High Court has sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to jail terms of up to 10 years in a landmark national security trial seen as a stark demonstration of a China-led crackdown on dissent.

4 mins

Trump picks Fox presenter as his transport secretary

Donald Trump has named his choice for transportation secretary former reality TV star turned Fox presenter Sean Duffy.

1 min

Stop trivialising rape, says Pelicot in address to court

Gisele Pelicot has criticised the cowardice” of the dozens of men accused of abusing her during a decade of mass rape organised by her husband as she called for an end to a macho, patriarchal society where rape is trivialised”.

2 mins

I used to curate Twitter... I know how to stop the X-odus

As someone who spent seven years as a Twitter curator, I've watched Elon Musk systematically dismantle a platform I loved, encouraging its users to be their worst selves while applying dangerously inconsistent approaches to crucial issues like hate speech and misinformation.

3 mins

Starmer must wake up - Xi is not going to compromise

If anyone needed a China reality check, the confidence and pride of its regime have been made plain by the sentencing of 45 democracy activists in Hong Kong to prison terms of between four and 10 years for organising a primary election.

3 mins

Cooper can do more to fix the breakdown of trust in police

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, yesterday announced \"major\" reforms of policing aimed at ensuring that \"communities can have confidence in their local police force\".

2 mins

Time for the original ladette to write her next chapter

Zoe Ball is stepping down from Radio 2 having filled some of the most high-profile roles in TV and radio. Zoë Beaty charts three decades of highs and lows and what may come next

6 mins

Longing and loss: our era of British cinematic elegance

It is four decades since A Room with a View’ made Merchant Ivory a household name. Sarah Sands recalls a world in which her brother Kit and her then husband Julian were central

5 mins

CAFFEINE FIX

Why does a squirt of syrup in your coffee at Christmas burn such a massive hole in your wallet? Olivia Petter finds out.

4 mins

Publicly-owned rail may not get us back on right track

Nationalisation is often touted as a golden ticket to a better train service. Simon Calder is less optimistic it will work

3 mins

It's grit over gloss in photo show's eye on the Eighties

Protest, poverty and privilege - The 80s: Photographing Britain at Tate Britain offers an exciting, if partial, view of a decade that remains highly polarising, writes Mark Hudson

5 mins

OF UNSOUND MIND

A disquieting mood permeates the BBC's 'The Listeners', the complex story of a teacher whose life unravels after she starts hearing a ceaseless, mysterious hum, writes Nick Hilton

3 mins

Jaguar pounces on new logo

Car giant Jaguar has unveiled a new logo and a rebranded range of electric cars alongside marketing slogans such as “delete ordinary,” “live vivid,” and “copy nothing.”

1 min

Retail bosses gifted excuse for when things go wrong

It’s not just British farmers who are hacked off by the latest Budget some of the biggest names in retail have now joined forces to send one of those angry, multi-signature letters to the chancellor, scolding her for the imminent tax hikes coming their way.

3 mins

Wales promoted as Cullen double freezes out Iceland

Wales won Nations League promotion as Liam Cullen’s first two international goals helped them to a 4-1 victory over Iceland.

2 mins

Wiegman calls up uncapped trio for injury-hit Lionesses

England manager Sarina Wiegman is confident Laura Blindkilde-Brown and Ruby Mace can both make the most of their first senior call-ups to an injury-hit squad.

3 mins

Tuchel left with big calls to make after Carsley refresh

No pressure, Thomas. Lee Carsley hands over to Thomas Tuchel promising to give England’s next manager a comprehensive debrief on the three autumn camps but perhaps also elevating expectations. Not so much with the results – promotion in the Nations League was anticipated for a team ranked fourth in the world and who reached the final of Euro 2024 – as with his assessment of England’s prospects for the time covered by Tuchel’s 18-month deal.

3 mins

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