Sean O'Grady

London

Associate Editor at Irish Independent

Associate Editor at the @independent, formerly Economics Editor. Views my own. Also at @[email protected]

Articles

Emma Willis reveals she had heart surgery

21 hours ago | dailymail.co.uk | Sean O'Grady

Emma Willis reveals she had heart surgery after doctors discovered a hole as she thanks husband Matt who 'never left my side'By SEAN O'GRADY Published: 17:19 EDT, 23 April 2025 | Updated: 17:23 EDT, 23 April 2025 Emma Willis has revealed she underwent keyhole heart surgery after doctors found a hole in her heart. The TV presenter, 49, took to Instagram on Wednesday and shared several photos of herself taken in hospital following the procedure.
Can Kemi Badenoch’s new policy idea save her from local election disaster?

1 day ago | independent.co.uk | Sean O'Grady

Another ‘culture war’ talking point from the Tories is aimed at neutralising the threat from Nigel Farage but, says Sean O’Grady, it seems unlikely to prevent a council election humiliation for their leader Kemi Badenoch is facing a difficult set of local elections, with Nigel Farage threatening, as the prime minister put it in the Commons today, to “eat the Tory party for breakfast”, and Robert Jenrick, whom she defeated for the leadership last year, making his availability to replace her...
Inside Elon Musk’s meltdown: Tesla in freefall and rows with Trump’s tariff adviser

1 day ago | independent.co.uk | Sean O'Grady

In FocusOnce championed as Trump’s first buddy, the tech mogul has since watched Tesla sales plummet, seen billions knocked off its share price and is now in a very public spat with his boss’s chief trade adviser, Peter ‘dumber than a sack of bricks’ Navarro.
Kate Ferdinand showcases her jaw-dropping figure in blue bikini

1 day ago | dailymail.co.uk | Sean O'Grady

Kate Ferdinand showcased her jaw-dropping figure as she enjoyed a day at the beach in Dubai. The former TOWIE star, 33, looked incredible in a light blue bikini as she soaked up the sun while lounging on a beach chair. The media personality displayed her toned abdomen in the skimpy two-piece which she paired with a matching cap. Letting her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders, Kate completed her look with a pair of sunglasses.
It’ll take a miracle for the economy to grow under Rachel Reeves

2 days ago | independent.co.uk | Sean O'Grady

CommentAs the IMF downgrades the UK’s growth forecast, Sean O’Grady says that a global trade war was always going to be bad news for ‘little Britain’Well, Rachel Reeves, whatever happened to growth? The latest economic outlook from the International Monetary Fund suggests it remains elusive, to say the least.
Big is beautiful

5 days ago | msn.com | Sean O'Grady

Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
What is Labour going to do about the small boat crossings?

6 days ago | independent.co.uk | Sean O'Grady

Politics ExplainedAs the temperature ticks up, so does the number of migrants attempting to cross the Channel. Sean O’Grady looks at what has been happening to address the problem A warm bank holiday weekend with placid seas around the British Isles should be jolly good news all round, but for government ministers there is the downside that the number of irregular migrants making the crossing from France will break new records.
Britain still has free speech - as Steve Bray has shown loud and clear

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | Sean O'Grady

POLITICS EXPLAINEDAs Stop Brexit Man wins his legal case to continue (very loudly) protesting, Sean O’Grady replays the Westminster fixture’s greatest hitsSteve Bray, known to most as the “Stop Brexit Man” after his years-long noisy campaign against Britain’s departure from the European Union, has won his latest legal case. He has been cleared of failing to follow a police order, namely to stop being quite so loud in the environs of parliament.
JD Vance dangling a UK-US trade deal looks good on paper - but at what cost?

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | Sean O'Grady

CommentAn agreement with America would benefit Britain’s economy in the long-run, writes Sean O’Grady. But there is a risk that we will move further away from the EU market – and inadvertently adopt more of their cultureCould Sir Keir Starmer be about to seize the Holy Grail of Brexit? Become the Sir Galahad of our times? Succeed where Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss all failed, seal the single most precious of all the Brexit benefits – and gain the thanks of a grateful nation?
What will finally put an end to the Birmingham bin strike?

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | Sean O'Grady

Politics ExplainedAs the industrial action rumbles on and the army is called in to assist, former trade union official Angela Rayner is left in the tricky position of taking on her comrades, explains Sean O’GradyDays after the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, called in the army to assist in the logistics side of the Birmingham bin strike (rather than collecting rubbish), after six weeks out, and even after an improved offer from the council, the Birmingham bin strike is to continue.