In this issue

January 12, 2022

No 10 Staff Told To 'Clean Up' Phones In Party Cover-Up

Downing Street staff were advised to “clean up” their phones by removing information that could suggest lockdown parties were held at No 10, The Independent has been told. Two sources claim a senior member of staff told them it would be a “good idea” to remove any messages implying they had attended or were even aware of anything that could “look like a party”.

2 mins

Senior Tories turn on PM as ‘partygate' row intensifies

Senior Conservatives have turned on Boris Johnson over the “partygate” scandal, as the prime minister dodged demands to reveal whether he attended a Downing Street drinks event at the height of the Covid lockdown.

5 mins

I'm sorry it has come to this: you resign - or I will

This isn't meant to sound like an ultimatum, and I'm as sorry as anyone that it has come to this but, prime minister, you leave me with no choice: either you resign - or I will.

3 mins

Trafficking fears as refugee children go missing from hotels at rate of one a week

A lone child refugee goes missing from unregulated government hotels every week on average, The Independent can reveal.

3 mins

Johnson's Sleaze Adviser Expects To Be Given More Powers After 'Flatgate' Row

Boris Johnson's ethics adviser has said he expects to be given “considerably greater" authority, independence and power as a result of the spat over the prime minister's flat refurbishment.

2 mins

Covid Infections Twice As Likely On Day Five Compared To Day Seven, Study Claims

Almost twice as many people are still transmitting Covid on day five of self-isolation compared to day seven, new government analysis suggests.

2 mins

Jab-Shy Eastern Europe Has Most To Fear From Omicron

After South Africa, the UK was among the first countries in the world to face the full force of the Omicron variant.

3 mins

Undersea Turbines Could Supply Tenth Of UK Energy

Undersea turbines could generate a tenth of Britain's power, according to a renewable energy expert. Tidal stream energy uses turbines to extract energy from moving masses of water in the oceans and rivers, and the UK is in an excellent position to reap the benefits as UK waters hold about half of Europe's tidal stream resource.

1 min

Major Bird Flu Outbreak Will Strike Britain Each Year, Warns Government Scientist

The UK could suffer major bird flu outbreaks every year, a senior government official has warned.

2 mins

US And Russia Remain Poles Apart After Talks On Ukraine

Kremlin insists it has no intention of invading despite refusing to disperse its 100,000 troops from the border

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.