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Highlights

Six months into the Gaza war, Tories are hopelessly divided on Israel

Head shot of Andrew Grice

As Britain contemplates a ban on the sale of arms to Israel, the Conservative civil war is threatening to influence the government’s handling of a real-life conflict, writes Andrew Grice

<p>Former deputy foreign secretary Alan Duncan could be expelled from the Conservative Party after calling for action against pro-Israel Tory ‘extremists’ </p>

<p>Britain Budget</p>

alan rusbridger

The public is ahead of politicians when it comes to paying more tax

<p>Iranian protesters burn US and Israeli flags after an airstrike on Tehran’s consulate in Syria</p>

mary dejevsky

The other Israeli airstrike that could be even more of a turning point

<p>Tricking our minds can help us make significant lifestyle changes – and stick to them </p>

Health and Wellbeing

The easy ways to become a high performer – and make change stick

Voices

<p>‘We should salute our aid heroes by devoting our efforts to securing a Palestinian state’: former foreign minister Alan Duncan</p>

Sir Alan Duncan: How can we still call Israel an ally?

<p>John Major’s ‘Back to Basics’ campaign backfired on the Tories </p>

john rentoul

The Westminster honeytrap scandal takes us ‘Back to Basics’

<p>Nigel Farage at his birthday party with Aaron Banks and finger-flipping ex-minister Andrea Jenkyns </p>

chris blackhurst

Cheers, Nigel! Brexit pain gets worse – and shoppers pay the price

The Longer Read

<p>Blaming Meghan, like blaming Wallis Simpson for the brother’s strife is misguided </p>

In Focus

The vital lesson William and Harry should learn from history

A new biography of George VI and Elizabeth draws inevitable similarities between the destructive influence of Wallis Simpson and Meghan Markle on monarchy then and now. But, argues Anna Pasternak, the past tells us it’s the relationship between the future king and his brother we should really be concerned about...

<p>Vladimir Putin, fuelled by distrust and his years as a KGB officer, has maintained an iron grip on the Kremlin for two decades </p>

Putin and the ‘Petersburg set’: The secret life of a Russian leader

<p>Suddenly nobody wants to live in the capital anymore - can London ever get its mojo back? </p>

London is overpriced, flat and boring: so what is it for?

Politics Explained

<p>MP William Wragg has been praised for his openness after he was targeted online </p>

Politics Explained

What the history of ‘honeytraps’ tells us about MPs’ security

<p>It’s the first time Rishi Sunak has acknowledged, in effect, that membership of the convention is not necessarily compatible with his Rwanda plan to ‘stop the boats’ </p>

Politics Explained

Could Britain really leave the European Convention on Human Rights?

<p>Before Suella Braverman was sacked as home secretary last November, she made it her mission to sweep the homeless off the streets</p>

Politics Explained

Why are Tory MPs rebelling against the Criminal Justice Bill?

<p>Rishi Sunak during a visit to Aldersyde Day Nursery in Hartlepool on Tuesday </p>

Politics Explained

Can the extended childcare scheme boost Tory fortunes?

Most Commented

Alan Duncan faces expulsion from party for attacking ‘pro-Israel extremist’ Tories

344 comments

Israel admits ‘serious failures’ over deadly strike on WCK aid workers in Gaza: Live

214 comments

William Wragg honey trap scandal is ‘extremely troubling’ says minister

206 comments

Calls grow for Rishi Sunak to stop UK arms trade to Israel NOW

207 comments

Editorials

<p>Benjamin Netanyahu cannot be allowed to do whatever he likes in Rafah after Ramadan ends next week</p>

The Independent View

Biden must do more to stop the war, and the imminent invasion of Rafah

FLOW Cartoon 5 April 2024

The Independent View

If ever there was a time for America to use its might, it is now

The Independent View

It’s time to stop

Culture

<p>April’s best books include John Connell’s ‘Twelve Sheep: Life Lessons from a Lambing Season’</p>

The best new books to read this April

<p>John le Carré in 1965, two decades before the publication of what was largely his autobiographical novel ‘A Perfect Spy’</p>

Book of a lifetime: A Perfect Spy by John le Carré

<p>Our guide to March’s best books </p>

The best new books to read this March

Travel

<p>The ruins of a Roman apartment block go unnoticed in the shadow of Rome’s Il Vittoriano and Santa Maria Aracoeli</p>

Beyond the Trevi Fountain: an the ancient roman’s guide to secret Rome

<p>Let’s go outside: Embrace the outdoors this Easter</p>

Walking & Trekking

10 great British pub walks for Easter

John RentoulThe Independent’s chief political commentator

<p>Exit poll: The new YouGov MRP survey puts Labour on a huge majority, and only slightly less than Tony Blair’s in 1997 </p>

Starmer’s greatest fear? A landslide means people won’t bother to vote

<p>Tory leading lights – including (clockwise from left) Penny Mordaunt, Suella Braverman, Kemi Badenoch, Grant Shapps and Priti Patel – are all said to be on manoeuvres </p>

Who would want to lead the Tories after electoral wipeout?

<p>Jeffrey Donaldson led his party back into a power-sharing government in Belfast last month</p>

The ‘Dysfunctional Unionist Party’ is in trouble again

Andrew GricePolitical columnist who keeps his ear to the ground inside Westminster

<p>Angela Rayner has hit back at Peter Mandelson, the former business secretary, who argued that business should be more closely consulted</p>

The tweaks that could help Labour make a big difference to Britain

<p>Sunak, in his surprise ‘mini-honours list’, gave Mohamed Mansoud (who handed the Tories £5m last year) a knighthood </p>

Rishi still hasn’t learnt his lesson when it comes to cronyism

<p>Galloway made incendiary claims in a Russian newspaper and on his YouTube talk show</p>

Politics Explained

Are there free speech limits for MPs who make questionable claims?

Chris Blackhurst

<p>Donald Trump during a press conference in New York this week</p>

Business Comment

Will Trump’s Truth Social flotation dig him out of a financial hole?

<p>Apple argues that people are free to purchase the smartphone of their choice </p>

Business Comment

Is Apple really ripping off its customers – and can anyone stop them?

<p>Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Old Trafford</p>

Ratcliffe needs to win on the pitch – not just the Man Utd PR battle

News analysis

<p>Israel has been encouraging clan militia groups to take over the security vacuum created in areas from which Hamas has been driven out</p>

Chaos and indiscipline are undermining Israel’s war, say insiders

<p>People gather around the ruins of a car used by US-based aid group World Central Kitchen that was hit by an Israeli strike</p>

Israel’s war is at a tipping point – and risks spinning out of control

<p>Protests outside Elbit Systems’ factory in Leicester on 20 March</p>

What are arms sales to Israel worth and could they be stopped?

<p>The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza</p>

US position on Gaza finally hardening as split with Netanyahu grows

Sport

<p>Taylor Swift has been supporting partner Travis Kelce throughout the playoffs </p>

As the NFL grows, could the Super Bowl soon touch down in London?

<p>The number of parents opting their children out of rugby is growing</p>

Is playing rugby really a form of child abuse?

Mary DejevskyExpert on foreign affairs, Russian politics and diplomatic relations between the Kremlin and the west

<p>Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu greets president Joe Biden in Tel Aviv </p>

Has Biden ended America’s love affair with Israel?

<p>‘In the space of two weeks, he has elevated himself to become the West’s chief hawk on relations with Russia (in quite a crowded field)’</p>

What’s Macron playing at? His macho posturing is a danger to us all

<p>The vote this weekend will be among the least savoury and most predictable renditions of the democratic process </p>

The Russian election is rigged but there could be surprises for Putin

America

<p>Joe Biden speaks in Belfast on 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement</p>

Biden says Brexit deal can bring ‘significant’ US investment to NI

<p>Such leaks remind countries like Russia – as well as US allies – of the sheer scale and reach of Washington’s operations</p>

The diplomatic damage done by the Pentagon leak won’t last long

<p>Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley wrote a tweet attacking ‘weak and woke’ ideology the day she declared her candidacy</p>

Republicans are running on ‘wokeism’ – but don’t know what it is