Reform UK councillor insisted picture was ‘obviously for illustrative purposes’

Labour backbenchers say Starmer’s departure ‘a question of when, not if’ after catastrophic defeat in Gorton and Denton

Ministers, MPs and campaigners from all parties have been trawling Gorton and Denton ahead of the by-election

MPs and graduates alike are urging the government to ‘sort this sorry mess out’ as millions face spiralling debts

The contest has served as a battle between co-founders Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana

The government is under increasing pressure to reform Britain’s student loan system, which has left scores of graduates with sky-high debts

It comes as a group of Chagossians who have defied the UK government and landed on one of the Indian Ocean islands have told The Independent that they are not there for a publicity stunt and plan to stay permanently

Ministers have refused to commit to changing the system amid widespread concerns over costs

As voters prepare to cast their ballots on Thursday, The Independent looks at who the options are

PM faced criticism over decision to appoint Mandelson as US ambassador despite links to Epstein

David Lammy has pledged to fix the UK’s broken judicial system amid a spiralling case backlog

The ex-Labour peer is being questioning after he was alleged to have leaked senstive information to Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary

The Lib Dem parliamentary motion will call for the release of papers relating to Andrew’s appointment to the post, including any vetting and any correspondence from Lord Mandelson

The ex-Labour peer is being questioning after he was alleged to have leaked senstive information to Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary

Labour Together reportedly paid £36,000 for the probe

Downing Street did not rule out reciprocal action if an increased levy came into place