In this issue

January 13, 2022

PM ‘dead man walking' as Commons apology falls flat

Boris Johnson yesterday faced open revolt from within his own party, after his apology for attending a Downing Street Party during lockdown failed to quell backbench anger.

6 mins

Why didn't the whistle blow sooner on the No 10 party?

It's easy, when confronted with such overwhelming evidence of entitlement and hubris as presented by the latest revelations over lockdown revelling in the backyard of 10 Downing Street, to assume that everyone who surrounds Boris Johnson is on the take.

5 mins

Civil servant facing claims of parties in own offie is in charge of partygate fallout

Simon Case, the UK’s most senior civil servant, will oversee any action arising from the probe into lockdown-busting parties, despite his withdrawal as head of the investigation following claims of parties in his own offie.  

3 mins

Judge says Andrew's sexual abuse case can go to trial

NEW YORK Prince Andrew faces the prospect of a civil trial over accusations that he sexually abused Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she was underage after a judge denied his attempt to have her lawsuit dismissed.

4 mins

VIP Fast Track For PPE Suppliers Ruled Unlawful

The government’s use of a VIP fast lane for suppliers of Covid personal protective equipment (PPE) with connections to ministers and offiials has been ruled unlawful by the High Court.

3 mins

Coronavirus News In Brief

Protesters opposing Covid-19 restrictions in Bulgaria clashed yesterday with police as they tried to storm the parliament in the capital of Sofia.

4 mins

Ronnie Spector, lead singer of The Ronettes, dies at 78

Ronnie Spector has died aged 78 after “a brief battle with cancer”. Spector was the lead singer of the American girl group The Ronettes who were behind hits including "Be My Baby”, “Baby I Love You”, and “Walking in the Rain”.

2 mins

Lorries stuck at checkpoints for four days due to red tape

Some lorries bringing goods from the EU to the UK have been stuck at the border for four days, as logistics bosses blamed disruption on “terrible” new Brexit red tape.

3 mins

Brexit Continues To Cause Trouble For The Government

Boris Johnson may soon be forced to talk up "getting Brexit done” as the legacy achievement of his time at No 10. The prime minister is battling to save his premiership amid the partygate scandal, as Tory opponents wonder how quickly the Johnson era can be brought to an end.

2 mins

Gas Crisis Made Worse By Government's Renewable Energy Failures, Say Experts

Britain's energy crisis has been exacerbated by the government dragging its feet on renewables, experts have told The Independent.

2 mins

Detained British Council Employee Released By Iran

An Iranian woman who worked for the British Council is back in the UK after being freed from detention in Tehran and acquitted of spying charges. Aras Amiri was released following a successful appeal to the Iranian Supreme Court, her lawyer and the council said yesterday.

2 mins

'Is This About Intimidation?'

Head of Nato's US delegation questions Russian troops taking part in border exercises just as Ukraine talks restart

2 mins

Argentina Power Grid Fails During Historic Heatwave

Temperatures hit 45C as it becomes hottest place on Earth

2 mins

Kazakhstan police arrest nearly 1,700 in one night in ongoing dissent clampdown

Authorities in Kazakhstan arrested a further 1,678 people on Tuesday night over alleged involvement in violent unrest that erupted across the nation last week.

1 min

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.