In this issue

May 28, 2023

MPs claimed back driving penalty charges as expenses

A Tory minister who served under Suella Braverman at the Home Office is among a string of high-profile MPs to have wrongly claimed hundreds of pounds in driving fines on expenses, The Independent can reveal.

3 mins

Former No 10 staffer shares the inside story on Johnson

The former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson has poured fuel on the latest Partygate allegations engulfing the former prime minister by saying that the scandal risks being the \"last nail in the coffin\" of his political career.

4 mins

As much as we might love to be done with Johnson, sadly he is not done with us

Boris Johnson likes to have a Big Week. In his first proper week as prime minister, he called the cameras in to Downing Street and then forgot to threaten to call an election. Then he kicked Ken Clarke and another 20 of his own MPs out of the party.

3 mins

'Knives out' for Braverman as pressure mounts on PM

Sunak warned he may have to sack her before 2024 election

3 mins

Sunak wants retailers to cap prices on basic food items

Rishi Sunak is set to ask retailers to place price caps on basic foods items, such as bread and milk, in an attempt to battle food inflation. Downing Street aides are plotting a deal with supermarkets, similar to an agreement in France, where consumers are charged the lowest amount possible for food staples it is claimed.

1 min

Truss's choice for honours is branded 'list of shame'

Liz Truss is believed to be planning to hand out knighthoods and other awards to up to 12 of her allies following her short-lived premiership. Close supporters who helped orchestrate the former prime minister’s leadership bid are among those put forward for resignation honours, the Sun on Sunday reported.

1 min

Airport passport system failures cause travel chaos

Travellers faced chaos yesterday after the passport e-gate system at UK airports failed, causing lengthy delays as the bank holiday getaway kicked off.

3 mins

A Cardiff estate torn apart by the deaths of two boys

In 1991, poverty and dejection sparked riots in Ely. More than 30 years later, little has changed, writes Harry Hawkins

5 mins

Windrush victim 'locked out' of UK is now homeless

A victim of the Windrush scandal who spent years fighting for a UK passport after being \"locked out\" of Britain says he is now homeless after being denied help by the Home Office, The Independent can reveal.

3 mins

Schofield lies over affair hurt me, says Willoughby

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby has said former cohost Phillip Schofield previously denied to her having a relationship with a younger ITV colleague, adding his admission now is \"very hurtful\".

3 mins

Rugby final is latest target of Just Stop Oil protesters

Two Just Stop Oil protesters caused a brief interruption to yesterday's Premiership rugby final at Twickenham after invading the pitch and releasing a batch of orange powder.

1 min

Moscow plans fake attack at nuclear plant, says Ukraine

Strike at Zaporizhzhia station is designed to leak radioactive material and disrupt imminent counteroffensive, claims Kyiv

3 mins

Turkey's election outcome will be globally significant

Two weeks ago, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey - the country he leads stood at a crossroads. After 20 years in power, either as prime minister or president, there was rising optimism among an energised opposition that he could be forced out via the ballot box.

4 mins

Killer whale seeks 'revenge' on the yachts of Gibraltar

A British sailor's boat has become the latest victim in a spate of orca attacks on vessels near Gibraltar, as one expert suggested  “traumatised” killer whale may be inadvertently teaching others to target them.

3 mins

Dam gets drained to rescue food inspector's lost phone

A government official in India was suspended after he pumped out 2 million litres of water from a reservoir to retrieve his phone.

1 min

Starmer's Labour has become the low-immigration party

Something significant happened this week. Labour confirmed its position as a party advocating lower immigration than the Conservatives.

4 mins

Being ginger has its perks...sunbathing isn't one of them

It wasn’t until I left school that the first perks of being ginger finally raised their head. Since then, I’ve never taken them for granted, though admittedly, benefits are limited to an occasional free drink and the ambivalent satisfaction of being a subcategory on most adult websites. Throw a Scottish accent in the mix and Americans can barely contain themselves.

3 mins

Chelsea make it a double as they seal latest title in style

Chelsea celebrated their fourth successive Women’s Super League title by getting the win they needed after beating Reading 3-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Having seen off Manchester United in the FA Cup final earlier this month, the Blues wrapped up the double in style as they breezed past relegated Reading courtesy of a Guro Reiten goal and a Sam Kerr double.

2 mins

Verstappen pips pole in Monaco ahead of Alonso

Max Verstappen saw off Fernando Alonso to take pole position yesterday in a scintillating qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix. Alonso's Aston Martin mechanics celebrated wildly after it appeared as though the 41-year-old Spaniard had taken his first pole in 11 years.

1 min

CANNES DO ATTITUDE

Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman: for 40 Cannes film festivals Eric Gaillard has snapped them all, says Liam James

3 mins

Our cultural fixation with hairless women is the pits

As English Heritage unearths evidence that the Romans were as obsessed with tweezing and plucking as many of us are today, Ellie Muir asks if we will ever get over body hair

5 mins

'It's all so absurd and ridiculous and just funny'

Justin Theroux, Woody Harrelson and Lena Headey tell Louis Chilton about a new miniseries that tells the story of the Watergate scandal like you’ve never heard it before

4 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.