U-turn on new coal mine after climate backlash

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing March 12, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines The government is [“calling in” a controversial plan for a new deep coal mine in Cumbria](, according to a letter seen by The Independent. Robert Jenrick, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, has decided to intervene in plans for the mine following “increased controversy” surrounding the application, the letter says. The project, which would be the UK’s first deep coal mine in 30 years, has faced opposition from leading climate scientists, activists and politicians since it was first proposed in 2019. The government has come under fire for refusing to intervene in the plans, which have been approved by Cumbria County Council on three separate occasions. Last month, the council announced that it would review the plans again in light of “new information”. The letter, from a planning decision officer for the ministry, says that Mr Jenrick plans to hold a public inquiry over the mine and adds his decision to intervene comes in light of a recent report from the UK’s independent climate advisers. The Metropolitan Police [faces an investigation into the actions of two of its officers]( following a report of indecent exposure against a serving officer, who was later arrested in the Sarah Everard case. The police watchdog has launched an independent probe into whether officers responded appropriately after they received a report on 28 February that a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in south London. The Met Police said it voluntarily referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in relation to the pair. A separate investigation will look at the actions of police after they received a report of Ms Everard’s disappearance. The 33-year-old vanished while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London last Wednesday, her suspected kidnap and murder prompting anger over the safety of women on the UK’s streets. UK goods exports to the EU [plunged by 40.7 per cent in January]( after the end of the Brexit transition period, official figures show. The monthly falls in imports from and exports to the EU are the largest since records began in 1997. In the same month, UK gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have fallen by 2.9 per cent, as government restrictions reduced economic activity. GDP remained 9 per cent below its pre-pandemic peak. Services fell 3.5 per cent, manufacturing fell 2.3 per cent, while construction grew 0.9 per cent. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Tourism in Wales to open up for Easter – but not for the English]( [PM accused of ‘callous disregard for others’ over gun ban articles]( [Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe ‘victim of torture, needs medical support’]( . Sign up to more free newsletters Subscribe to a wide range of free newsletters for exclusive news and features from our specialist reporters across the world [Sign up]( . Stories chosen for you - [Boris Johnson scrambles for Biden support on Northern Ireland – follow live]( - [Emily Maitlis tells DUP MP his position on protocol ‘extraordinary’]( - [Keir Starmer has walked into a trap in Labour’s campaign for the May elections | John Rentoul]( - [Opinion: Labour lacks moral purpose – it’s disconnected from the hardships of the pandemic]( - [Stop point scoring over Brexit, EU tells Boris Johnson]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.