Misery for Sunak as Labour overturns big Tory majorities in double by-election defeat

The Independent's Morning Headlines email ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD12OGQ5ZDJvd3JwbjdXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Friday, February 16, 2024   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0QuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWs_bGlkPXl6Z292ZXF5bzV6elcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0QuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWs_bGlkPXljMnA5eWJjZ2p5OVcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ 1/ [Misery for Sunak as Labour overturns big Tory majorities in double by-election defeat](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9wb2xpdGljcy93ZWxsaW5nYm9yb3VnaC1raW5nc3dvb2QtYnktZWxlY3Rpb24tcmVzdWx0cy1lZ2FuLWtpdGNoZW4tYjI0OTcyMzguaHRtbD9saWQ9czdkenh4dTZwaDcxVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy9idXNpbmVzcy91ay1yZWNlc3Npb24tZWNvbm9teS1zdW5hay1idXNpbmVzcy1nZHAtbmV3cy1iMjQ5NjI5NC5odG1sP2xpZD1nYzJwa3NwNmk4YmNXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9wb2xpdGljcy93ZWxsaW5nYm9yb3VnaC1raW5nc3dvb2QtYnktZWxlY3Rpb24tcmVzdWx0cy1lZ2FuLWtpdGNoZW4tYjI0OTcyMzguaHRtbD9saWQ9MmdsdnVtc2t1ZzUyVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj Rishi Sunak has suffered a double blow after losing both the[Kingswood](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvcG9saXRpY3Mva2luZ3N3b29kLWJ5ZWxlY3Rpb24tZGFtaWVuLWVnYW4tYjI0OTcwNzQuaHRtbD9saWQ9ZDFlcjZtdzdyMGJxVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) and [Wellingborough by-elections](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9wb2xpdGljcy9sYWJvdXItd2VsbGluZ2Jvcm91Z2gtYnllbGVjdGlvbi1nZW4ta2l0Y2hlbi1iMjQ5NzA2NC5odG1sP2xpZD14aTY5NGpndHV3aHVXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). Labour overturned majorities of 11,220 and 18,540, delivering the Government's ninth and tenth by-election defeats of the current Parliament and securing its second largest swing [from the Conservatives ever](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9wb2xpdGljcy9lbGVjdGlvbi1yaXNoaS1zdW5hay1rZWlyLXN0YXJtZXItbGFib3VyLXRvcnktYjI0OTcxOTIuaHRtbD9saWQ9MDRhZWltZmd2bTRyVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). Gen Kitchen secured Wellingborough with 45.8 per cent of the vote, while Damien Egan won Kingswood with 44.9 per cent of the vote. The results provided [Labour with a boost](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9wb2xpdGljcy9lbGVjdGlvbi1yaXNoaS1zdW5hay1rZWlyLXN0YXJtZXItbGFib3VyLXRvcnktYjI0OTcxOTIuaHRtbD9saWQ9ZWlwdmZ0cW1tMDd1VwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)after a U-turn on the party's pledge to spend £28 billion on green projects and an [antisemitism row](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9ob21lLW5ld3MvYXpoYXItYWxpLXJvY2hkYWxlLWJ5LWVsZWN0aW9uLWtlaXItc3Rhcm1lci1hbnRpc2VtaXRpc20tYjI0OTYyMTIuaHRtbD9saWQ9MG9pcnJrc3lnODYyVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) that forced it to drop its candidate for another by-election in Rochdale in two weeks' time. The twin defeat piles more pressure on the prime minister following the news that the UK [entered a recession](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9wb2xpdGljcy9wb2xpdGljcy1leHBsYWluZWQvcmlzaGktc3VuYWstcmVjZXNzaW9uLWxhYm91ci10aW1lLWJvbWItYjI0OTY5NzIuaHRtbD9saWQ9aTRrcGw5c2E4ZTk4VwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) at the end of 2023. The results also mean the Government has now suffered the most by-election defeats of any government since the 1960s, surpassing the eight defeats suffered by John Major in the run-up to Tony Blair's 1997 landslide victory. [Read the full story here](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9wb2xpdGljcy93ZWxsaW5nYm9yb3VnaC1raW5nc3dvb2QtYnktZWxlY3Rpb24tcmVzdWx0cy1lZ2FuLWtpdGNoZW4tYjI0OTcyMzguaHRtbD9saWQ9Mzc2ZXNhNHA0YmJuVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly9zdGF0aWMuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvMjAyNC8wMi8xMy8xOC9ncmFoYW0lMjBqb25lcyUyMGFsaS5qcGc_cXVhbGl0eT03NSZ3aWR0aD02NDAmYXV0bz13ZWJwJmxpZD1heWFsNG85ZHRkYzJXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ 2/ [Hunt eyes public spending cuts as recession deals blow to Budget plans](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9wb2xpdGljcy9yYWNoZWwtcmVldmVzLXJpc2hpLXN1bmFrLWVjb25vbXktcmVjZXNzaW9uLWIyNDk2NjA1Lmh0bWw_bGlkPTZ3ZHcxN2wyMXh5Z1cFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy9oZWFsdGgvbmhzLXNleHVhbC1hYnVzZS1yZXBvcnRzLWVuZ2xhbmQtaGVsZW4tbmV3bG92ZS1mYWlsdXJlcy1iMjQ5NDcyNS5odG1sP2xpZD1ybnJrNjZhdWxsMWpXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9ob21lLW5ld3Mva2luZy1jaGFybGVzLWNhbmNlci1kaWFnbm9zaXMtY2hlbW8td2lsbGlhbS1oYXJyeS1iMjQ5MzMwNS5odG1sP2xpZD1yaDYxNTRjMWVlaHlXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ The UK’s latest economic woes come just as voters in Kingswood and Wellingborough take to the polls [20protest.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC9hbWVyaWNhcy90dWNrZXItY2FybHNvbi1wdXRpbi1mdWxsLWludGVydmlldy13aGVuLXRpbWUtYjI0OTI2NTEuaHRtbD9saWQ9NG8xbWtiNmpkbXVzVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) 3/ [Steve Wright’s brother blames DJ’s sudden death on ‘lifestyle choices’](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC9taWRkbGUtZWFzdC9pc3JhZWwtZ2F6YS1ob3NwaXRhbC1raGFuLXJhZmFoLXBhbGVzdGluaWFucy1iMjQ5NjI0OS5odG1sP2xpZD12aGplY2lndzlzYndXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BhY2Uvc3RyYW5nZS11bmlkZW50aWZpZWQtb2JqZWN0LXNwb3R0ZWQtaW4tb3VyLWdhbGF4eS1iMjQ4MTEwOC5odG1sP2xpZD00a2htcnVscDEwN2hXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ Wright’s brother Laurence said DJ, who died aged 69, ‘could have looked after himself better’ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9jcmltZS9tZXQtcG9saWNlLWNoaWxkLWV4cGxvaXRhdGlvbi12aWN0aW0tYmxhbWluZy1iMjQ5MzAwOC5odG1sP2xpZD04OXFqdHo3dXlxb3ZXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ 4/ [Pontins racially discriminated against Irish Travellers by drawing up list of ‘undesirable’ guest names](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC9hbWVyaWNhcy9jcmltZS9rYW5zYXMtY2l0eS1jaGllZnMtc2hvb3RpbmctcGFyYWRlLXN1c3BlY3RzLWIyNDk2NTA2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPW8ydXNybjAwOXB2ZVcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXNpYS9zb3V0aC1hc2lhL3Bha2lzdGFuLWVsZWN0aW9uLTIwMjQtcG9sbGluZy10aW1lLW5hd2F6LXNoYXJpZi1pbXJhbi1raGFuLWIyNDkyNTgxLmh0bWw_bGlkPTUzYWk2bHl5YnBkNVcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ Pontins’ staff forced to refuse or cancel bookings from Irish Traveller community, reveals new report ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC9hbWVyaWNhcy91cy1wb2xpdGljcy9qb2UtYmlkZW4tY2xhc3NpZmllZC1kb2N1bWVudHMtc3BlY2lhbC1jb3Vuc2VsLXJlcG9ydC1iMjQ5MzE0NC5odG1sP2xpZD1hb3Q3OHh1OXk4OGJXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ 5/ [Brianna Ghey’s mother says ‘trans hate’ targeting her daughter online is ‘horrendous’](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9ob21lLW5ld3MvbWVnaGFuLW1hcmtsZS1wcmluY2UtaGFycnktcm95YWwtd2Vic2l0ZS1iMjQ5NjM4Mi5odG1sP2xpZD16aXhhMXRxOHUwdW9XBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC9hbWVyaWNhcy91cy1wb2xpdGljcy9qb2UtYmlkZW4tY2xhc3NpZmllZC1kb2N1bWVudHMtc3BlY2lhbC1jb3Vuc2VsLXJlcG9ydC1iMjQ5MzE0NC5odG1sP2xpZD1ydHdyYnhrMm56eW1XBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ Esther Ghey said she reported a comment about her daughter on X [Try 6 months of Independent Premium for just £6](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlP2xpZD0ydXJjeHZzanlneGhXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)   THE BIG QUESTION ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93aGF0LWlzLWFudGlzZW1pdGlzbS1tZWFuaW5nLW9ubGluZS1jb25zcGlyYWNpZXMtYjI0OTY2MTEuaHRtbD9saWQ9bXRmNjZ3ajE0b2tqVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [What is really driving the new wave of antisemitism?](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93aGF0LWlzLWFudGlzZW1pdGlzbS1tZWFuaW5nLW9ubGluZS1jb25zcGlyYWNpZXMtYjI0OTY2MTEuaHRtbD9saWQ9dXdicDk4eTFidTluVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) Reports of antisemitic incidents in the UK reached an all-time high last year with two-thirds of them happening after Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel and the bombing of Gaza. But, says Ben Judah, this says little about Jewish people and more about the way we live now – and the golden age the Jewish diaspora has enjoyed since the Holocaust is coming to an end because of it. [Read the full article](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93aGF0LWlzLWFudGlzZW1pdGlzbS1tZWFuaW5nLW9ubGluZS1jb25zcGlyYWNpZXMtYjI0OTY2MTEuaHRtbD9saWQ9NWo5aGJhZHhianB4VwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)   Watch /[Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hit ski slopes on Invictus Games Canada trip](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHYvbmV3cy9wcmluY2UtaGFycnktbWVnaGFuLW1hcmtsZS1za2ktY2FuYWRhLWludmljdHVzLWdhbWVzLWIyNDk2NjY1Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWlmbXB6d3Ayc2x5dVcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHYvbmV3cy9wcmluY2UtaGFycnktbWVnaGFuLW1hcmtsZS1za2ktY2FuYWRhLWludmljdHVzLWdhbWVzLWIyNDk2NjY1Lmh0bWw_bGlkPTAweXd0NzEzbGxlaFcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ The Independent Debate The Independent Debate [Should a ban on pavement parking be rolled out across the UK?](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdWsvaG9tZS1uZXdzL3BhdmVtZW50LXBhcmtpbmctYmFubmVkLWVuZ2xhbmQtZmluZXMtYjI0OTY5MzEuaHRtbD9saWQ9NGRpNnRhM29ueTN2VwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) We live in a medium-sized village and are constantly having to walk onto the road despite the road being wide enough for vehicles to park on the road without causing an obstruction.     Stardust     Stardust           [Share your opinion and read the full debate here.](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdWsvaG9tZS1uZXdzL3BhdmVtZW50LXBhcmtpbmctYmFubmVkLWVuZ2xhbmQtZmluZXMtYjI0OTY5MzEuaHRtbD9saWQ9czllazV5MGp3NXdnVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) NUMBER OF THE DAY 3 in 10 - ‘Rigid’ flexible working rejections mean 3 in 10 public sector women denied rights, union warns. [Read more](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9ob21lLW5ld3MvZmxleGlibGUtd29ya2luZy1yZXF1ZXN0cy1yZWplY3RlZC13b21lbi1iMjQ5NjI1My5odG1sP2xpZD0ydzcyaHBpMjA2endXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) QUOTE OF THE DAY “It’s a milestone. For the first time, a municipality is committing to examining its policies through the lens of a singleton”[Here's how to beat the hype and overcome loneliness on Valentine's Day](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcC12aXZlay1tdXJ0aHktZm9tby1tYW5pdG9iYS1jYW5hZGEtYjI0OTM5NDMuaHRtbD9saWQ9ZTJrNGkxYTY2c2I3VwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) - A Belgian council has agreed to look at how its policies affect those who live alone. Helen Coffey asks why more politicians can’t do the same – and looks at the solo ‘tax’ we’re forced to pay for not being coupled up [Read more](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbGlmZS1zdHlsZS9zaW5nbGUtdGF4LXBheS1leHBlbnNpdmUtc29sby1iMjQ5NjY1NC5odG1sP2xpZD16dDlpMWV1eWx4cmdXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlL2FwcD9saWQ9c2UzOW5ibTdtbDI4VwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL25vNXgvZDI1ZTc0Y2M_bGlkPTZ6OXQycHVmdGMyNVcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE - [Is having a posh accent a new ick?](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbGlmZS1zdHlsZS9wb3NoLWFjY2VudC1wcnVlLWxlaXRoLXVrLWNsYXNzLXJlZ2lvbmFsLXNwZWVoLWIyNDk2ODUwLmh0bWw_bGlkPWs4YzkzYjFmZjNyYlcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9jcmltZS9jb25zdGFuY2UtbWFydGVuLWJhYnktc2hlZC1jb3VydC10cmlhbC1iMjQ5NDc3OC5odG1sP2xpZD02d2IxeHkyNjRsODNXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9ob21lLW5ld3MvdWtyYWluZS1icml0YWluLWZyZWUtdHJhZGUtd2FyLWxhdGVzdC1iMjQ5MjU5Ni5odG1sP2xpZD1vZ3dxdHl6aDFod2JXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ - ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy9idXNpbmVzcy9iYXJjbGF5cy10ZXNjby1iYW5rLXRha2VvdmVyLWIyNDkzMzQ1Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXBjY2o1bW9ldXRvNlcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~[Meghan and Harry ‘give children new surnames’ in rebrand](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9ob21lLW5ld3MvbWVnaGFuLWhhcnJ5LXN1cm5hbWVzLXJlYnJhbmQtc3Vzc2V4LWIyNDk2NjkwLmh0bWw_bGlkPWdvaGg0N3IxZXoxbVcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay9ob21lLW5ld3MvZGVsaXZlcm9vLXN0cmlrZS0yMDI0LXViZXJlYXRzLXZhbGVudGluZXMtZGF5LWIyNDk1Mjc3Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXA0bDF3ZTBncGdkbVcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0SKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC9hbWVyaWNhcy91cy1wb2xpdGljcy9ydWR5LWdpdWxpYW5pLWJhbmtydXB0Y3ktaGVhcmluZy1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtYjI0OTI1NzUuaHRtbD9saWQ9OGhpZjJob3kycmx1VwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj - [Met Office issues yellow weather warnings as England braces for rain](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvd2VhdGhlci93ZWF0aGVyLXdhcm5pbmdzLXVrLWZvcmVjYXN0LWZsb29kaW5nLW1ldC1vZmZpY2UtYjI0OTY1MTQuaHRtbD9saWQ9cWFheG1tazRuODRxVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L25ld3Mvc3RldmUtd3JpZ2h0LWRlYWQtcmFkaW8tYmJjLWIyNDk1NTQ2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXY3anBtNHdsZ3dwZFcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC9taWRkbGUtZWFzdC9pc3JhZWwtZ2F6YS1oYW1hcy1uZXRhbnlhaHUtY2Vhc2VmaXJlLWIyNDkyMzg0Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWpzczAybWtzM2gyM1cFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdm9pY2VzL2VkaXRvcmlhbHMvbmhzLXNleHVhbC1hYnVzZS1ob3NwaXRhbHMtaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQtc2t5LW5ld3MtYjI0OTYyNjIuaHRtbD9saWQ9MnJtdnF6dTFwazhtVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj Editorial: [We must throw harsh light and scrutiny on sexual abuse in hospitals](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdm9pY2VzL2VkaXRvcmlhbHMvbmhzLXNleHVhbC1hYnVzZS1ob3NwaXRhbHMtaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQtc2t5LW5ld3MtYjI0OTYyNjIuaHRtbD9saWQ9MHk4bWRzZ3IyZjRmVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)   Try 6 months of Independent Premium for just £6 Enjoy unlimited Premium news analysis, advert-free reading, a digital newspaper every morning, and more [SUBSCRIBE](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlP2xpZD1rbDlyNDFpbTkxd3pXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jby51ay9lL3BpY2steW91ci1wZXJmZWN0LWZpbmUtd2luZS13aXRoLXBlcmZlY3QtY2VsbGFyLXRpY2tldHMtODI4MzI4MDQwNDY3P2xpZD13OWd3MnFtNnEwZTJXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jby51ay9lL3BpY2steW91ci1wZXJmZWN0LWZpbmUtd2luZS13aXRoLXBlcmZlY3QtY2VsbGFyLXRpY2tldHMtODI4MzI4MDQwNDY3P2xpZD1odDh0dHJzd2IwMjFXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ The Independent proudly partners with [Refuge](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_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) and the [National Domestic Abuse Helpline](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_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~~): 0808 2000 247 [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD1lZzRwM2tyOWVlcTNXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0QwaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9JbmRlcGVuZGVudD9saWQ9MnU0cWhsc28xZGNhVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) [Instagram](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q2aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnN0YWdyYW0uY29tL3RoZS5pbmRlcGVuZGVudD9saWQ9azVsaHllZ3g2MWU2VwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) [Facebook](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL1RoZUluZGVwZW5kZW50T25saW5lLz9saWQ9M2gxbXo1b2Y5ZzZoVwVzcGNldUIKZbvzGs9lwUZlLlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) [Google Play](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL3dnaUEvaGdvaG9veno_bGlkPWNrdjhybHV2cDRlZ1cFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [Apple App Store](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL3dnaUEvaGdvaG9veno_bGlkPTY0N21qMmFzdWUza1cFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [Google Play](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL3dnaUEvaGdvaG9veno_bGlkPThoM2pjcjdtYmxua1cFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [Google Play](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL3dnaUEvaGdvaG9veno_bGlkPTFjeHZyNzN1Mm9ibFcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. To unsubscribe from The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please [click here](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_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_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our [privacy notice](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc2VydmljZS9wcml2YWN5LXBvbGljeS1hNjE4NDE4MS5odG1sP2xpZD0zc2hvdWt1YmZpaWtXBXNwY2V1Qgplu_Maz2XBRmUuUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) and [cookie policy](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnsZ_zP0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc2VydmljZS9jb29raWUtcG9saWN5LWE2MTg0MTg2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXV3Z3o0YjY2ZmM3ZFcFc3BjZXVCCmW78xrPZcFGZS5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)