John Rentoul

5 days ago | independent.co.uk | John Rentoul

ask me anythingThe Independent’s chief political commentator, John Rentoul, is here to answer your questions on the landmark US-UK trade deal – from what’s in the agreement to how Keir Starmer sealed the pact with Donald TrumpWelcome to an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with me, John Rentoul, The Independent’s chief political commentator. Keep scrolling for more. If you want to jump straight to the Q&A, click here.

6 days ago | independent.co.uk | John Rentoul

CommentA US trade agreement in the same week as the UK-India deal – both much desired but undelivered by his Tory predecessors – is a triumph for the prime minister, writes John Rentoul. And there’s still the EU to come…. For Keir Starmer to pull off trade deals with the United States and India in two days is his biggest achievement yet as prime minister.

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | John Rentoul

CommentLabour’s India trade agreement – including its supposedly controversial tax measure – is to be applauded, and those spreading misinformation about it should be roundly condemned, says John RentoulThe India-UK trade agreement is a good deal that will promote growth by a small amount – every little helps – but it is being attacked by the Conservatives, Reform and the right-wing press in a welter of hypocritical opportunism.

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | John Rentoul

CommentProhibiting ancient county flags by mistake is one thing, but imposing an intentional ban on support for Ukraine is quite another, writes John RentoulReform tried to hit the ground running after taking control of 10 English local councils in the by-elections last week. Nigel Farage couldn’t sign executive orders in the manner of Donald Trump, so Zia Yusuf, the party chair, did the next best thing: he issued an edict in the form of a post on social media (X, which I still call Twitter).

1 week ago | eurotopics.net | John Rentoul |Dominic Johnson

Farage could well become prime minister, fears the taz: “We must prepare ourselves for this eventuality. The Labour government has failed to convince in its ten months in office. Starmer promised different things to different voter groups then did the opposite, and unlike Olaf Scholz he has no coalition partners to pin the blame on. The opposition Conservatives, for their part, are haggard.