Another MP quits crisis-hit Your Party in blow for Corbyn and Sultana

Another MP has quit Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s party to return to serving as an Independent MP, in yet another blow to the chaotic alliance.

Iqbal Mohamed’s departure comes just one week after Adnan Hussain said he was withdrawing from the “steering process” for the new Jeremy Corbyn-backed party, citing concerns about factionalism and “veiled prejudice” against Muslims.

In a statement, Mr Mohamed said: “After careful consideration, I have decided to leave Your Party and continue serving as I was elected as an Independent Member of Parliament for Dewsbury & Batley.”

Blackburn MP Mr Hussain said he had initially agreed to support the foundation of Your Party because he believed in “building a political home with mass appeal” and “a force capable of challenging the rise of far-right rhetoric”.

But in a statement published on X, he said he had been disillusioned by “persistent infighting, factional competition, and a struggle for power, position and influence rather than a shared commitment to the common good”.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow…

I’m sick of people mansplaining how to be chancellor, says Reeves

Rachel Reeves has said she is “sick of people mansplaining how to be chancellor” to her, days before she unveils her make-or-break Budget.

Hitting back at critics amid growing concern over sweeping tax rises that are expected next week, the chancellor said she is “not going to let them bring me down by undermining my character or my confidence”.

Ms Reeves also admitted the government has “made a couple of unforced errors” but insisted it is “fighting to win”.

But the chancellor failed to give any detail on what she will unveil in the Budget or how she will improve Britain’s ailing public finances, nor did she address the leaks and briefings that have dominated the media landscape in the lead-up to next week’s fiscal event.

It comes as the chancellor scrambles to fill a £20bn black hole in the public finances after weeks of speculation about her tax rise plans and growing criticism of the Treasury for what the Commons speaker dubbed a “hokey-cokey Budget”, after the department briefed out plans to raise income tax and then appeared to row back on it.

The chancellor is now widely expected to look at other ways to raise cash to tackle the shortfall and ensure she remains on track to meet her fiscal rules.

“There are lots of people who say cut taxes and the economy will grow, but what spending would they cut? Borrowing is too high, but you can’t cut it overnight”, Ms Reeves said.

“Public services are a mess, but we haven’t got loads of money to throw at them and we have to use what we’ve got well.

“We can’t just carry on like this and muddle through. We have to make some decisions to get on a different path.”

The Times interview with Ms Reeves also saw her address the day when she was seen crying during PMQs amid growing speculation over her future in the Treasury – an incident that was blamed on a “personal issue” at the time.

“If you weren’t recording this, I’d tell you about what was going on, but I’m not saying that to the world,” she said.

“Most people have had a day at work when they go into the toilets and have a cry, or say to their boss, ‘I’m just going home early.’

“Unfortunately, my difficult moment was on live television. I always go to Prime Minister’s Questions – I thought it was my duty to be there – but if I had that day again, I wouldn’t have gone into the chamber.”

Asked about her critics, the chancellor said: “I’m sick of people mansplaining how to be chancellor to me.”

But as Britain’s first female chancellor, she also acknowledged still feeling the need to prove herself to the “boys who now write newspaper columns”.

Asked whether that spurs her on, she said: “Yeah, a bit. I recognise that I’ve got a target on me. You can see that in the media; they’re going for me all the time. It’s exhausting.

“But I’m not going to let them bring me down by undermining my character or my confidence. I’ve seen off a lot of those boys before – and I’ll continue to do so.”

In another blow to the chancellor, with just days to go before she unveils the Budget, the latest official figures showed higher-than-expected government borrowing last month.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector borrowing stood at £17.4bn last month, £1.8bn lower than a year ago but the third-highest level for October since records began.

The figure was more than the £15bn expected by most economists and higher than the £14.4bn forecast in March by the UK’s independent fiscal watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The clever Ben Stokes move that gives England an Ashes edge to stun Australia

They said it would happen fast. But no one said it would be that fast, just one day into this seismic Ashes series.

A whirlwind day that went at 100mph, with bowlers almost as fast on the speed gun. Mitchell Starc led the way with a spectacular seven-wicket haul, only to then be outmuscled by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood – and then outshone by Ben Stokes. This was a day for heroes, and on one of the most mind-bending days of cricket anyone could wish to witness, England found theirs.

Stokes’ five-fer was his sixth in Test cricket and turned the game from one in the balance to one England are now in control of. Their lead at the end of day one is 49, a scarcely believable turnaround from a couple of hours earlier when they had been bundled out for 172.

For all the hype ahead of the series, the pit in your stomach as England batter after England batter trudged back to the changing rooms was closer to heartache than heartbreak. How on earth had we fallen for it again? Australia five, England nil. Cash it up and head home.

Stokes’ act was the final and most decisive of the day, but it would be wrong to start there. England had been clear in their plans from the outset that they wanted to hit Australia with pace.

For years, they have spoken of the desire to have a “battery” of fast bowlers to call upon, but even they couldn’t have dreamed that the stars would align such that both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood would be fit for day one of the Ashes. The duo are unquestionably the two fastest bowlers England have ever produced, and had only ever played a Test together once before, all the way back in 2020. It was worth the wait.

On a Perth wicket widely considered as one of the fastest in the world, Archer took just two balls to strike as poor Jake Weatherald, on debut, was hit on the shin, and such was the impact that he fell on all fours. On-field, the decision was not out, but upon review, the cruel replay froze on the frame where Weatherald was stranded in mid-air and then went on to show the ball crashing into the stumps.

You couldn’t keep your eyes off it, not least Cameron Green, who wore a bouncer from Wood flush in the grille, and staggered drunkenly backwards – only to narrowly avoid falling on his stumps. Cricket often looks fun, but this didn’t.

But with each 90mph delivery, a roar of approval went up from the England fans in the stadium that was met with a grimace by those backing the home team. At the start of Australia’s innings, 28 balls were bowled before they scored their first run. This was the first time that the 60,000 seater Perth Stadium had been sold out for a Test match. They got their money’s worth.

Perth Stadium is a hulking arena. Built on a peninsula within the city, it dominates the local landscape with all routes leading to it. The England team are staying in a hotel a kilometre down the road. Step out of the front door, turn your head to the right, and it fills the skyline. Both Stokes and Brendon McCullum have described this as the biggest series of their lives. This morning, the group gathered and made the walk towards history together. Support staff and all. They knew the significance of the occasion and rose to it.

According to CricViz, this was the fastest an England team had ever bowled since ball-tracking records began in 2006. Stokes, for all his superhuman qualities, is arguably the slowest of the bowlers on show. But for what he lacks in raw pace, he makes up for in aura. He has been determined in the build-up, occasionally engaging in journalists’ questions, but often giving short shrift answers.

Even Michael Atherton wasn’t immune, with Stokes responding to a question on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast about just how exciting it must be to have Wood and Archer together as a captain with: “It’d be exciting to see any of the seven bowlers we have out here together as a pairing to be honest, Ath.” And to be fair, he was right.

Stokes’ legend is already made, but an Ashes win in Australia would see him lifted into the echelon of being arguably England’s greatest ever cricketer. In the face of such pressure and with extreme media scrutiny over the style of play he and McCullum have been so committed to for so long, he made his mark on the series at the earliest possible opportunity.

Whisper it quietly. And even quieter in case he hears, but he didn’t bowl that well. A frazzled Australian batting line-up played fast and loose to Stokes in the knowledge that Wood or Archer awaited if they didn’t cash in now. It wasn’t until the 28th over that he brought himself on as the fifth bowler, but just 10 overs later, he had a five-wicket haul and Australia had slumped from 69 for four to 123 for nine. Travis Head, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc were caught in the ring or on the boundary. The tailender Scott Boland was caught in the slips. But the wicket of Cameron Green illustrated Stokes’ power to bend the game to his own will.

The ball before Green was dismissed, Stokes gestured to his fielders at mid-off and mid-on to get straighter. Waving his arms to bring them further and further in and leave a massive gap on the offside through cover for Green to target. A wide ball followed. Green chased it, edged it, and fell for it. Stokes roared in celebration. The game is played in the mind as much as it is on the field.

In all, 19 wickets fell on what will go down as a historic day of Ashes cricket. It’s just one day, in which the barometer of English cricket being in tatters or on the brink of history swayed violently. But as the team wandered off at the close, they waited for their captain to lead them even there. Stokes waved them away, safe in the knowledge they’ll be back tomorrow to do it all over again.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor fails to respond to summons to testify before US Congress

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has failed to respond to an official summons to testify before the United States government regarding his friendship with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The former prince has been accused of “hiding” from US officials on the House oversight committee – one of the most powerful committees in the US Congress – which is responsible for investigations, monitoring and ensuring accountability across the federal government.

On 6 November, the committee requested that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor sit for a “transcribed interview” about his connections with Epstein, giving him a deadline of Thursday 20 November to respond.

However, according to reports, he has not replied.

Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat who sits on the committee, said this week that the former Duke of York “has been hiding from us, and I think he will continue to try to hide from people doing meaningful investigations of this matter”. He added: “It seems like every time we find more evidence, Prince Andrew seems to be in the documents.”

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has faced mounting pressure from US lawmakers to answer questions about his well-documented friendship with Epstein. Some Democrats have previously suggested he could speak over video link with a lawyer present.

Though the committee is powerful, it does not have the authority to force testimony from individuals who are not US citizens and reside abroad, nor can it issue subpoenas compelling foreign nationals outside of US jurisdiction. As a result, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is under no legal requirement to cooperate.

It is unclear what US lawmakers may choose to do next now that the former prince has failed to respond to their request. However, Mr Subramanyam suggested that, just because the disgraced royal has failed to respond, it doesn’t mean that the issue will be dropped.

“If he is hoping that the story will just go away by ignoring us and being silent, he will be sorely disappointed, as we continue to pursue this over the next year and beyond,” he warned.

In 2022, the former prince made an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre – an Epstein survivor who had accused him of sexual assault and rape – without admitting any wrongdoing. Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always maintained that the allegations are false, and has also previously resisted attempts by US prosecutors and lawyers working for Epstein’s victims to persuade him to cooperate.

However, damaging recent newspaper allegations also included a claim that he had tried to get the Metropolitan Police to dig up dirt for a smear campaign against Giuffre.

The force previously said it was looking into the reports after The Mail on Sunday claimed that the then Prince Andrew had passed Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011 and asked him to investigate.

According to The Telegraph, “sources close to him” have suggested that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is being singled out in a bid to take the heat off other high-profile figures whose names are said to appear in the soon-to-be-released Epstein files.

Following US president Donald Trump’s signing of a bill earlier this week to release the Epstein files, the entire cache of evidence accumulated during two investigations into Epstein is now legally required to be made public by the US government within 30 days.

While some of the evidence will be redacted, due to factors that include protecting victims’ identities and potentially compromising active criminal investigations, the bill also stipulates that “no record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted based on embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary”.

The Independent has contacted Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s representatives for comment.

Millie Mackintosh on the life changing moment she decided to go sober

This year Millie Mackintosh released a book called Bad Drunk. In it, she recounts her experiences of alcohol abuse, anxiety and the moments that inspired her to give up drinking for good.

In an appearance on The Well Enough podcast she delved deeper into the stories in the book and reflected on the impact alcohol had on her health and what might have happened had she carried on drinking.

“I’ve had alcohol poisoning probably twice and you really feel like you’re going to die,” she told podcast host Emilie Lavinia. “It really does destroy lives and for a lot of people, the only way to abstain is just to completely stop.”

Discussing her decision to go sober for good she explained, “one of the biggest shifts for me was getting really informed.”

“I just downloaded all the podcasts I could find about quitting alcohol. I bought books. I wanted to consume as much information as I could. I think I started with the Andrew Huberman podcast which was called something like, What Alcohol Does to Your Body and Brain. That was a real shift for me.”

Mackintosh revealed how she had found sobriety challenging in the beginning, but how the benefits of her new lifestyle now far outweigh those of her old one.

“Positives for me really are at the time that I’ve got back, the time that I’m not spent hungover. Not having that feeling of dread when I wake up on the weekend and actually being able to get out the house early, enjoy the day with my kids. And I really wasn’t able to enjoy parenting when I’d been drinking the night before. And I love being a mum. I mean, it’s hard, but I love it. And it was really stealing my joy.”

Mackintosh also shared some of the things that helped her to stay sober, despite the world around her celebrating drinking and encouraging it in almost every social situation.

“For me, a sober coach weekly was what I did for about six months. So I had that support. Have a couple of people close to you that know, and when you’re going to those events, just have a wingman with you, have someone with you that knows that it’s gonna be a bit tricky for you to get through that social anxiety without a drink. Someone that can squeeze your hand, someone that can just kind of just be your support – cause it’s hard.”

Psychopharmacologist Professor David Nutt also appeared on the podcast. Nutt is an expert on the harms caused by drugs and alcohol and the creator of alcohol alternative, Sentia. He explained that for anyone considering their alcohol intake, “the key message is that people should think about their drinking. And when you start to do that, you realise several things. You realise that a lot of the drinks you drink don’t have any value at all.

“Be objective about drinking as you would be about any other aspect of health, like weight or blood pressure or cholesterol or whatever. This is a serious thing you are doing. It’s a drug. And the second point is, take it seriously. It’s actually quite challenging to confront a friend with a concern about drinking because they can often turn on you.”

Mackintosh reflected on her own experiences with friends and the times those closest to her had tried to raise the issue of her drinking.

“I had so many disastrous ones, but in the last year there was a comment from a best friend who said, ‘I just can’t see you do this to yourself anymore’. She said, ‘you can’t, you just can’t handle it. You’re too sensitive. It just doesn’t agree with you.”

Six months after that exchange and after having experienced alcohol poisoning and ending up in hospital more than once, Mackintosh stopped drinking alcohol.

The podcast also covered the safe limits of alcohol consumption, myths about small amounts of alcohol being good for you and what alcohol does to the body long term. Nutt explained how some German experts had assessed alcohol through the European food safety testing regime and found that the safest amount was limited to 150ml per year.

This information is at odds with the national safety guidelines, however Nutt expressed that no amount of alcohol is really good for the body and that myths about red wine and tequila being healthy present skewed data or simply aren’t true.

“We give a very protected place to alcohol because we enjoy it. And it’s part of our heritage. Almost every cell in the body will be affected by alcohol. It’s quite toxic.”

“You have a scrape on your skin, you kill the bugs with alcohol. If it can kill bugs – bugs are tougher than your skin cells. So it’s potentially toxic to every cell in the body,” said Nutt.

Mackintosh explained that, “a lot of people, you know, they start drinking as soon as you can get your hands on it. For me, it was probably about 12.”

She also talked about her experiences with alcohol through her teens and twenties, falling out with friends and how alcohol affected her experience of becoming a parent. “My girls were the ultimate motivation to stop. They were six months and two when I stopped. And now nearly four and five and they’ll have no memory of me drinking.”

“I’d say the gift is also the emotional sobriety that you get when you stop drinking the toxic substance. […] You can really start doing the work on yourself to become fully emotionally sober. And that’s really the work that I’m doing now.”

“Anything in your life that is making you unhappy, whether it’s alcohol, whether it’s a person, whatever it is – that toxic habit. Don’t wait to change. Just do it because you never know how long you’ve got left. Life is short and if something is stealing your joy, make the change.”

Listen to the episode here and watch the full episode on YouTube. Well Enough is available wherever you get your podcasts.

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Black Friday cruise deals – enjoy luxe all-inclusive trips for less

Already dreaming about your next unforgettable escape? Picture this: gazing at a postcard-perfect horizon, margarita in hand, before tucking into delicious, made-to-order dining amid superyacht inspired luxury…

Well, it’s time to make waves, Sailor: Virgin Voyages’ Black Friday offers are here, running from 21 November – 4th December, with epic savings to be made across 2025, 2026, and their newly-launched 2027 sailings. What’s more, you can get 80 per cent off a second ‘Sailor’ and up to $500 in free drinks – find out more at Virgin Voyages.

And these aren’t just any cruises; these are award-winning, exclusively adult cruises, providing a playground at sea for discerning grownups, with no buffets, and certainly no beige (they favour red, instead). There’s over $1,000/£750 in value built right in, from WiFi and group fitness classes to essential drinks and award-winning dining – all with no hidden extras. Prices are all-in, and stay that way, leaving you to focus on pure, effortless indulgence.

Exemplifying the modern luxury and romance of sailing, there are no  lacklustre, elbows-at-the-ready meals to be queued for here: instead you’ll enjoy freshly prepared food from over 20 unique eateries, guaranteeing culinary flair with distinct, delicious flavours. And prepare to have dinner with a view – every single restaurant on board has panoramas out to the ocean.

When you’re not eating (or sipping), explore the ship’s sleek, design-led spaces. Think nautically cool cabins with roomy rain showers and heavenly hammocks made for lazy afternoons. Hit The Manor, Virgin’s sexy, disco-glam nightclub reached through a mirrored corridor straight out of a K-pop video. Or lose yourself in The Red Room, where cutting-edge shows and dance parties keep the energy high till sunrise. Then there’s The Groupie – your private karaoke den for those ‘we’re definitely forming a band’ moments (crafted cocktails highly encouraged).

Need inspo for which cruise to choose? How about this one: 2026 sees the introduction of one of Virgin Voyages’ most highly anticipated routes – the debut of its sailing to Alaska, running from May to September aboard Brilliant Lady.

The ship will take 16 memorable journeys roundtrip from Seattle (with some from Vancouver), lasting from between seven to 12 nights. You’ll experience the region’s wild beauty and authentic ports which most cruise lines skip, from the dramatic fjords of Tracy Arm to hidden gems like Haines (the Bald Eagle capital of the world) Icy Strait Point, an indigenous-owned destination perfect for whale watching and adventure, and Sitka – where you’ll find a blend of Russian and Native heritage – taking you deeper into America’s Last Frontier.

You can also immerse yourself on-land via Virgin Voyages ‘Shore Thing’ experiences, with over 250 excursions crafted for adults, including bear spotting, dog sledding, glacier hikes, and indigenous-led cultural immersions, designed for adults – not busloads. And with longer port times, you’ll be able to explore exciting destinations like Alaska’s capital, Juneau, without feeling rushed; there are no early departures here, so you can spend a generous eight unhurried hours marvelling at the epic panoramas from the Mount Roberts Tramway, watching whales in Auke Bay, or visiting epic natural wonders like the Mendenhall Glacier.

And it’s never too late to think even further ahead; Virgin Voyages has also just launched its new 2027 itineraries, expanding to a range of fresh destinations. Feeling hot, hot, hot? A few of them depart from Miami and take in the Caribbean, such as the St Thomas, US Virgin Islands cruise – a brand new port which also stops at Tortola, Antigua and St Kitts and Nevis – and the shorter Cayman Isles and Bimini Beach cruise, where you can swim with stingrays, bask in the sun, and savour authentic Caribbean cuisine.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, there’s the Greenland & Transatlantic cruise, where you’ll sail from  Iceland’s hip capital, Reykjavik to Greenland’s colourful villages, Qaqortoq and Nuuk, before making your way towards New York City. And the best part? If you take advantage of Virgin Voyages’ Black Friday offers, from 21 November – 4th December 2025, you’ll make significant savings plus get up to $500 in free drinks. Which leaves all the more money to spend on Christmas presents….

Anchors away! To set sail in style, book now at virginvoyages.com

Trump demands ‘seditious’ Democrats be arrested ahead of Mamdani showdown at White House

President Donald Trump lashed out at Democratic lawmakers who urged military servicemembers to ignore orders that violate the Constitution, calling them “seditious” and claiming they’re in “serious trouble.”

“I’m not threatening death, but I think they’re in serious trouble,” Trump said Friday on Fox Radio’s The Brian Kilmeade Show – just one day after claiming the Democrats’ behavior could be “punishable by death.”

Trump’s outrage precedes a highly anticipated White House meeting between himself and New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who has also been subject to Trump’s anger.

Hoping to sway NYC voters during the mayoral election, Trump falsely characterized Mamdani as a “communist” and threatened to revoke federal funding to the city if Mamdani was elected.

Mamdani, whose campaign focused on affordability, also used his opposition to the president to appeal to voters.

But despite any tension between the two politicians, Trump anticipated that he and Mamdani will “get along fine,” citing their shared goal of making New York City strong.

Police manhunt after woman sexually assaulted while on morning jog

Police have launched an urgent manhunt after a woman was pulled to the ground and sexually assaulted during her morning jog.

The victim, in her thirties, was running along a pathway off Iliffe Way in Stowmarket, Suffolk, between 5.45 and 6am on Wednesday when she was approached.

The attacker was described by Suffolk Police as a white male, approximately 5ft 10in in height, of medium build and was wearing a dark woolly beanie hat.

He also wore a thick, dark rain jacket and dark trousers, and is reported to have smelled strongly of cigarettes and cannabis, the force said.

Detective inspector Stuart Dolan-Allen, from Suffolk Police, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident for the woman who was simply out for a morning run when she was attacked.

“We understand this may concern the local community and we want to assure the public that we are investigating all lines of enquiry to identify the man responsible.

“The public can expect to see an increased police presence in the area whilst we conduct enquiries, and I would encourage anyone who uses that area as a regular walk-through to contact us with any information that may be of assistance.

“We know there were dog walkers, commuters and other runners out in the area in and around the time of the incident who may have seen something suspicious and we appeal to them to come forward. I would also encourage members of the public to approach our officers if they have any concerns.”

The victim is being supported by specialist officers, according to Suffolk police.

Anyone with information should contact Suffolk police, quoting crime reference number: 37/65640/25