Featured

    Britain is being kept in the dark about Brexit with the vast majority of people having little or no understanding of what the Government wants to achieve, a new poll has revealed. The exclusive BMG Research survey for The Independent suggests around three-quarters of the public have little idea as to what Theresa May wants overall, but also specifically in relation to critical areas like trade and immigration. There is acute confusion over the Government’s approach to the land border in Northern Ireland, ironically an issue supposed to have been settled already, which more than 80 per cent of the public said was unclear. The results undermine repeated claims by ministers that the Government has a clear plan for Brexit, pointing instead to a deep lack of public unde...

    In a 2016 referendum, Stephanie Holtom voted to leave the European Union, worried about immigration and convinced that other countries were telling the British government what to do. But outside a supermarket recently in a large, suburban strip mall not far from the Welsh city of Swansea, Ms. Holtom conceded she might have been wrong. “I agreed to come out of Europe, but I am beginning to have second thoughts. I think it’s a mess, and I’m sick to death of it,” said Ms. Holtom, who is retired, as she collected her shopping cart. She added that, if there were a second referendum, “people would vote to stay.” Since a majority of Britons voted narrowly to leave the bloc more than 18 months ago, most politicians have treated a withdrawal, known as Brexit, as inviolable....

    In the 30-second clip, recorded at the post office in Camden High Street, north London, on 4 January, the woman claims that the male postal assistant is laughing at her and said: You won’t think it’s funny then, yeah. You won’t be laughing then, you ignorant fuckshit. The woman begins to walk away, but then turns to shout: Who would want to look at you? What woman would want to look at that? while gesturing at the employee. She goes on: Make sure you post my cards, otherwise I’ll come back and get a refund, you fat Paki cunts. Go back to your own country, yeah, you’re not wanted here. You fat motherfucking Paki! Ugly motherfucker! Post Office in UK The Metropolitan police said they were looking into the incident, which happened on 24 January, and are looking for ot...

    Church of England spending on issues relating to sexual abuse has increased fivefold since 2014 and the latest figures show it was dealing with more than 3,300 allegations in 2016. The disclosures come as the church prepares to face intense scrutiny by the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA), which starts hearing evidence next month. “This will not be an easy couple of years we will hear deeply painful accounts of abuse, of poor response, of ‘cover-up’. We will … feel a deep sense of shame, Peter Hancock, the bishop of Bath and Wells and the C of E’s lead bishop on safeguarding, told the general synod in London. Professional safeguarding advisers have been appointed to every diocese to deal with disclosures of abuse, but Hancock said the pace of cha...

    David Davis has been dragged into renewed war of words with Brussels over the Brexit transition period, accusing the EU of having a fundamental contradiction in its approach and wanting to have it both ways after a week of fruitless talks. Relations between Britain and the European Commission sank to a new low on Friday after Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, casually claimed at a press conference the UK had cancelled an important meeting due to a diary clash. UK officials behind the scenes took offence to the claim and said the meeting had not been cancelled at all and instead took place in the afternoon. Mr Barnier sealed the state of mutual incomprehension, telling reporters in Brussels that he had problems understanding the UK’s position on the transiti...

    Human eggs have been fully grown in a laboratory setting for the first time, potentially paving the way for new fertility treatments. The eggs were removed from ovary tissue as early as possible and grown in a laboratory up until the point they were ready for fertilisation, according to research published in the journal Molecular Human Reproduction. If the eggs were healthy it could allow women who were undergoing medical treatments that damage their eggs, such as chemotherapy, to store and save them for future fertilisation. However, scientists have cast doubts on whether the study proved that the eggs were fully grown in good health. Lead researcher Professor Evelyn Telfer, of the University of Edinburgh's school of biological sciences, said: Being able to fully...

  The Labour leader allegedly made the comment in a meeting with Michel Barnier earlier this week. It was recorded in an EU memo and reported in Friday's Daily Telegraph. But a spokesperson for Mr Corbyn talked down the claim. We have been clear all the way through that you can't be in the customs union if you are not in the EU. All member states are by default part of the EU's customs union. That is the system which permits goods trading without customs checks inside the bloc. In exchange, countries agree universal tariffs being on goods being imported from outside the EU. But Labour wants the current terms of the customs union to be replicated during the transition period. And it is leaving the door open on forming a new customs union with the EU in the future In con...

    One person has died and 10 people have been injured in a crash on the M5 in Somerset. Several vehicles were involved in the incident which happened shortly before 06:20 GMT, police said, resulting in the motorway being shut. A closure is in place between junctions 25 for Taunton and 26 for Wellington with diversions in operation. Avon and Somerset Police said it expected the carriageways to be closed "for a significant amount of time. Three people had to be cut free from vehicles, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said. Media captionMotorist Adam Lowe filmed one of the air ambulances landing Image caption Traffic was turned around from the crash site by police Image caption The M5 is expected to remain shut for a significant amount of time About 15 para...