Independent Voices

Why I have zero sympathy for BrewDog’s ‘Equity Punks’ The legion of small investors who helped the upstart craft brewery raise millions won’t see much back from its sale to a cannabis company – they’ll be lucky to get a discount card, says James Moore

Why I have zero sympathy for BrewDog’s ‘Equity Punks’ | James Moore www.independent.co.uk/voices/brewd...

Iran is no Iraq – it’s much worse than that Trump, Hegseth and Rubio lurch from one poorly thought-out explanation for the US’s Iran war to another – but it isn’t convincing anyone, let alone the American public, writes Eric Lewis

Trump, Hegseth and Rubio lurch from one poorly thought-out explanation for the US’s Iran war to another – but it isn’t convincing anyone, let alone the American public, writes Eric Lewis www.independent.co.uk/voices/iran-...

Dear Vix: Help! The person I’m dating hasn’t messaged me in six hours The Independent’s agony aunt Victoria Richards is here to help. Email dearvix@independent.co.uk for advice on love, work, family and relationships

Dear Vix: Help! The person I’m dating hasn’t messaged me in six hours www.independent.co.uk/voices/datin...

I have seen ‘the special relationship’ for the sham it really is I lived in the US and married an American – and I can tell you the people love us a lot more than the politicians do, says Ben Judah. Which is why I believe it’s time to stop being America First and f...

At the Foreign Office, I have seen ‘the special relationship’ for the sham it really is | @benjudah.bsky.social www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump...

When will the UK show it is serious about defence? Editorial: Instead of sniping across the aisles, both the PM and the leader of the opposition should work together on grasping the nettle of essential investment in the country’s armed forces

The Independent View: Instead of sniping across the aisles, both Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch should work together on grasping the nettle of essential investment in the country’s armed forces www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...

Want to keep Farage out of No10? Pray that Mahmood’s crackdown works All of us of goodwill should be cheering the Home Secretary on, says David Blunkett, who, when he had her job during the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, walked a similar policy tightrope

All of us of goodwill should be cheering the Home Secretary on, says David Blunkett, who, when he had her job during the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, walked a similar policy tightrope www.independent.co.uk/voices/shaba...

Westminster’s dancing MPs have stumbled upon a new rock bottom It‘s been a cross-party effort for parliament’s latest self-own, writes Kat Brown. Unless our MPs start documenting their every activity on social media, they really need to be more clever about this

It‘s been a cross-party effort for parliament’s latest self-own, writes @katbrownwrites.com. Unless our MPs start documenting their every activity on social media, they really need to be more clever about this www.independent.co.uk/voices/forei...

The Chloe Kelly Barbie can’t make up for the harm the dolls have done With toy-maker Mattel rolling out a range of ‘Role Model’ dolls – including Lionesses legend Chloe Kelly – Victoria Richards is left wondering why a life in plastic has become the ultimate ‘proof’ of ...

With toy-maker Mattel rolling out a range of ‘Role Model’ dolls – including Lionesses legend Chloe Kelly – Victoria Richards is left wondering why a life in plastic has become the ultimate ‘proof’ of success www.independent.co.uk/voices/barbi...

If Trump has Cuba in his sights after Iran, it will hit America First If Cuba really is next on Trump’s hit list, any significant military action – and the refugee crisis it could trigger – would be fatal for the Maga movement, writes Paulina Velasco

If Cuba really is next on Trump’s hit list, any significant military action – and the refugee crisis it could trigger – would be fatal for the Maga movement, writes Paulina Velasco www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump...

With her spring statement, Rachel Reeves showed she’s living in a parallel universe The beleaguered chancellor is not just living on an other planet but in an alternative reality, says Chris Blackhurst, one in which the war in Iran is clearly something to be reduced to a footnote

With her spring Budget statement, Rachel Reeves showed she is living in a parallel universe | Chris Blackhurst www.independent.co.uk/voices/rache...

Why I have zero sympathy for BrewDog’s ‘Equity Punks’ The legion of small investors who helped the upstart craft brewery raise millions won’t see much back from its sale to a cannabis company – they’ll be lucky to get a discount card, says James Moore

Why I have zero sympathy for BrewDog’s ‘Equity Punks’ | James Moore www.independent.co.uk/voices/brewd...

Does Trump’s childish Starmer strop show he is close to a meltdown? The British prime minister isn’t the first world leader to be singled out for petty chastisement – but the episode might say more about the US president’s pathological insecurities than it does the st...

Keir Starmer isn’t the first world leader to be singled out for petty chastisement by Donald Trump – but the episode might say more about the US president’s pathological insecurities than it does the state of the special relationship, says Sean O’Grady www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump...

Take it from me, you can feel it in No 10 when a PM’s days are numbered Every occupant of Downing Street knows when the writing’s on the wall – you can feel it in the air, says Cleo Watson. And for Keir Starmer, the trouble may only just be beginning

Every occupant of Downing Street knows when the writing’s on the wall – you can feel it in the air, says Cleo Watson. And for Keir Starmer, the trouble may only just be beginning www.independent.co.uk/voices/gorto...

Five years after Sarah Everard’s death, why do I still not feel safe? The government may be pushing ahead with its new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls but, over and over again, every time I’ve been catcalled, groped, and cyberflashed, this society sh...

The government may be pushing ahead with its new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls but, over and over again, every time I’ve been catcalled, groped, and cyberflashed, this society shows me that it isn’t changing, says Olivia Petter www.independent.co.uk/voices/sarah...

With her spring statement, Rachel Reeves showed she’s living in a parallel universe The beleaguered chancellor is not just living on an other planet but in an alternative reality, says Chris Blackhurst, one in which the war in Iran is clearly something to be reduced to a footnote

With her spring Budget statement, Rachel Reeves showed she is living in a parallel universe | Chris Blackhurst www.independent.co.uk/voices/rache...

By taking on Trump, has Keir Starmer finally found his footing? Editorial: The prime minister should be applauded after standing up for Britain’s interests at the expense of America’s – and, rest assured, the special relationship has survived far stiffer tests tha...

The Independent View: The prime minister should be applauded after standing up for Britain’s interests at the expense of America’s – and, rest assured, the special relationship has survived far stiffer tests than this spat with the States www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...

This is the PM Starmer wants to emulate with Trump – and it’s not Winston Churchill By refusing to roll over and do whatever the White House wants on Iran, the PM has shown far more in common with his hero Harold Wilson, says former Labour cabinet minister (and Wilson biographer) Ala...

This is the prime minister Starmer wants to emulate by standing up to Trump – and it’s not Winston Churchill | Alan Johnson www.independent.co.uk/voices/harol...

I’m stuck in a war zone – but Keir Starmer will come to our rescue As Sayeeda Warsi hunkers down with her family in Qatar, the former Conservative minister is cheered by the prime minister standing up to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, who are seemingly determin...

As @sayeedawarsi.bsky.social hunkers down with her family in Qatar, the former Conservative minister is cheered by the PM standing up to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, who are seemingly determined to prosecute another illegal war in the Middle East www.independent.co.uk/voices/qatar...

Dear Vix: My friend keeps copying me – shouldn’t she have grown out of it by now? The Independent’s agony aunt Victoria Richards is here to help. Email dearvix@independent.co.uk for advice on love, work, family and relationships

Dear Vix: My friend keeps copying me – shouldn’t she have grown out of it by now? www.independent.co.uk/voices/frien...

Unless Labour reduces migrant crossings, the next election is lost With the annual number of asylum seekers dipping only slightly, and those arriving on small boats actually going up, home secretary Shabana Mahmood must concede that the government’s flagship ‘one in,...

With the annual number of asylum seekers dipping only slightly, and those arriving on small boats going up, Shabana Mahmood must concede that the government’s policy is not working as described – nor enough of a deterrent, says @rentouljohn.bsky.social www.independent.co.uk/voices/immig...

Starmer is out of ways to dodge a U-turn on his choice of chancellor With the prime minister facing up to yet another embarrassing about-turn, this time on student loans, Sean O’Grady says that his authority is shot and he is running out of road

Starmer is out of ways to dodge a U-turn on his choice of chancellor | Sean O'Grady www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...

A by-election that could define politics for years to come Editorial: The voters of Gorton and Denton have much more on the ballot paper than the choice of MP. We must all hope they choose wisely

The Independent View: The voters of Gorton and Denton have much more on the ballot paper than the choice of MP. We must all hope they choose wisely www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...

Trump’s ‘golden age of America’… is anyone feeling it yet? The President used his State of the Union address to big up a US economy that’s ‘roaring like never before’… so why don’t so many ordinary voters believe him, wonders Chris Blackhurst

The President used his State of the Union address to big up a US economy that’s ‘roaring like never before’… so why don’t so many ordinary voters believe him, wonders Chris Blackhurst www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump...

Hurray! Energy prices are coming down – but you might not feel the benefit The £117-a-year fall is largely the result of Rachel Reeves’ sleight of hand, says James Moore – and analysts warn it may not be sustainable amid choppy waters ahead for international energy markets

Hurray! Energy prices are coming down – but you might not feel the benefit | James Moore www.independent.co.uk/voices/energ...

I’m Gen Z and want a baby – there’s just one thing stopping me… Esme Gordon Craig is keen to buck her generation’s fertility trend and start a family in her mid-20s – but only if young men can get their act together and prove themselves as good potential fathers

I’m Gen Z and want a baby – there’s just one thing stopping me… | Esme Gordon Craig www.independent.co.uk/voices/gen-z...

The Baftas N-word disaster shines a spotlight on what’s going wrong at the BBC They should have seen it coming, writes former BBC staffer Kat Brown, if they had learned anything at all about the Glastonbury live broadcast debacle. But guess what? They haven’t...

"Imagine if Davidson had ticced the C-word. Or if those on stage were William and Kate. We wouldn’t even be having this discussion, and that speaks volumes about how apparently little those affected are valued." @katbrownwrites.com www.independent.co.uk/voices/bbc-b...

It’s the public reaction to the Bafta N-word incident that’s the real problem The Tourette’s campaigner who involuntarily shouted a racial slur at two Black Hollywood actors was unfortunate – but those who castigate him really should know better, says Ava Vidal

I wrote about the BAFTAS, disability and the N word for @independentvoices.bsky.social Please read and share! 😘 www.independent.co.uk/voices/bafta...

Can this gang of entrepreneurs really lift Britain out of its doom loop? Enterprise Britain, a new network of high-powered business leaders, thinks it knows how to dispel the air of national decline, bring back growth and generally haul us out of the economic quicksand in ...

Enterprise Britain, a new network of high-powered business leaders, thinks it knows how to dispel the air of national decline. James Moore only hopes that chancellor Rachel Reeves is paying attention… www.independent.co.uk/voices/enter...

MPs must move quickly to make the Andrew files public Editorial: After centuries of procedural deference to the palace, the dam has been broken by Andrew’s arrest – and our elected representatives are right to adopt the mantra that ‘sunlight is the best ...

The Independent View: After centuries of procedural deference to the palace, the dam has been broken by Andrew’s arrest – and our elected representatives are right to adopt the mantra that ‘sunlight is the best disinfectant’ www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...

It’s time Parliament put away the humble address for another 151 years As MPs vote for another ‘humble address’ – this time, a Liberal Democrat motion to publish everything relating to the former prince Andrew’s appointment as a trade envoy a quarter of a century ago – J...

It’s time Parliament put away the humble address for another 151 years | John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk/voices/humbl...