The Independent - December 19, 2024

In this issue

December 19, 2024

This catalogue of tone-deaf U-turns will come back to haunt Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer cannot have much enjoyed his last session of Prime Minister’s Questions for the year. The leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, did her job and embarrassed Sir Keir with a timely reminder of the misery being inflicted on older people by the cuts to the winter fuel allowance.

4 mins

Fury as PM claims women knew about pension change

Sir Keir Starmer provoked outrage among Waspi women yesterday after he appeared to point the finger of blame at them despite Labour’s decision not to pay them compensation over changes to their pensions.

3 mins

Badenoch blames Labour for new rail strikes to May

Kemi Badenoch has claimed train commuters will suffer” for Labour’s inflation-busting pay rises for unions. The Tory leader’s comments came after train managers voted to hold a series of strikes, beginning on New Year’s Eve.

2 mins

Is it even legal for Musk to give Farage's party $100m?

Elon Musk's emergence as a Reform UK supporter has startled the established parties, and with good reason. Thanks to his close association with Donald Trump, the richest person in the world has seen his net wealth rise further to around $400bn since the presidential election.

3 mins

Fears of China military base on Chagos Islands after deal

Sir Keir Starmer’s proposed deal with Mauritius to hand over the Chagos Islands would not prevent China from building a rival base in another part of the archipelago, according to a written ministerial answer.

3 mins

Criminology student guilty of 'senseless' beach murder

A criminology student who quizzed his lecturer on how best to get away with killing someone has been found guilty of stabbing physical trainer Amie Gray to death on a beach in Bournemouth.

3 mins

Teen driver on laughing gas jailed for killing his friends

A 19-year-old who caused the death of three teenagers after inhaling nitrous oxide and driving at speeds of more than 100mph, has been jailed for nine years and four months.

3 mins

Ferguson urged Andrew to skip Sandringham this year

Prince Andrew was persuaded by Sarah Ferguson not to join the royal family at Sandringham on Christmas Day, sparing the Windsors’ further embarrassment amid allegations of his close friendship with an alleged Chinese spy.

2 mins

Dent to step in for Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef

Food critic Grace Dent will replace Gregg Wallace as presenter on the next series of Celebrity MasterChef. Wallace stepped back from MasterChef last month over allegations he had made sexual comments to people he had worked with on the show.

2 mins

Not guilty pleas entered for Southport stabbings suspect

A teenager has denied murdering three children in a stabbing at Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport.

2 mins

Tate brothers handed £2m tax bill over 'serial evasion'

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan will have more than £2m seized by police after the brothers were accused of being \"serial tax evaders\" who have \"not paid a penny\" in tax on £21m in revenues.

2 mins

General's alleged assassin arrested, Moscow reveals

Russia’s Investigative Committee says a 29-year-old Uzbek man has confessed to planting and detonating deadly bomb

2 mins

US 'days away' from Gaza ceasefire and hostages deal

The US, joined by mediators Qatar and Egypt, sought yesterday to bring about an agreement between Israel and Hamas to halt the 14-month-old war in the Gaza Strip as medics said Israeli strikes killed at least 20 Palestinians overnight.

2 mins

ABC's $15m legal loss to Trump is just the beginning

Company settled in hours’ to protect credentials and brand

3 mins

Dwindling Antarctic sea ice driving storms, study warns

Dwindling Antarctic sea ice is driving more storms in the Southern Ocean, a new study has found, raising concerns about potential disruptions to global weather patterns.

3 mins

Google Street View helps police with murder inquiry

Chilling images on Google Street View of a person appearing to load a body bag into the back of a car have provided Spanish police with a \"decisive\" clue over the disappearance of a man.

1 min

Starmer's problems now go beyond betraying pensioners

Saying one thing to get elected and doing something else after winning worked brilliantly for Keir Starmer... once upon a time.

3 mins

Musk-Farage meeting hands a political gift to Starmer

The talks between Nigel Farage and Elon Musk at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida have highlighted the urgent need to reform the UK's archaic rules on how political parties are funded. No money for Reform UK was agreed and Farage described reports of a $100m donation by Musk as \"for the birds\".

3 mins

This 'cuspy Waspi' woman is furious at Labour's deceit

\"I've always been pleased that I was born at the end of the Fifties. It was a time when you could easily get a GP appointment, and when schools had new buildings. War-time rationing was over. Clothes were colourful, toys were plentiful, and I had the Sixties music of The Beatles, Dusty Springfield and The Monkees as the soundtrack of my childhood.

2 mins

It's no Holiday living in a 'perfect' Cotswolds cottage

If the classic Christmas romcom makes you fantasise about moving to a beautiful old house in the countryside, then Simon Mills, who just did that, has this warning for you

6 mins

Fergie may be the key to a peaceful palace Christmas

When it comes to royal ructions, Prince Andrew is the gift that keeps on giving. Step forward someone not traditionally known for being the voice of calm, writes Harry Mount

4 mins

Edgar-Jones misses mark in Tennessee Williams classic

The star of 'Normal People' fails to achieve emotional lift-off in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' stage return, writes Alice Saville

2 mins

Inflation is up again... and it's fired by 'greedflation'

With inflation jumping to 2.6 per cent, is it time to start discussing \"greedflation\"? This was a hot topic a year ago when critics said companies were failing to pass on the falling costs they were benefitting from as inflation came down. Even the Bank of England voiced concern.

3 mins

Rashford's love affair with Man Utd nears its sad end

Forward ready for a new challenge’ after baffling slump

6 mins

Reds survive late surge to reach Carabao Cup semis

After a full and imposing pre-season under his belt, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott had lofty ambitions this season. Could he crack a regular starting spot? The diminutive left-footed playmaker, signed amid so much promise from Fulham five years ago, certainly would not have anticipated his first start of the season coming in mid-December. But on a torrential night on the south coast, Elliott shone brightest as the Carabao Cup holders, ultimately, sneaked through at Southampton last night.

3 mins

Jesus scores hat-trick to secure Arsenal comeback

Gabriel Jesus scored a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal staged an impressive fightback to book their place in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win against Crystal Palace.

2 mins

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