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Mark Leftly

@MLeftly

Mark Leftly is Associate business editor for The Independent

Business Analysis & Features

Softly, softly but Iain Wright is playing hardball with Mike Ashley

Christine Tacon’s Groceries Code Adjudicator 'lacks the power' to protect suppliers
Business News

Supermarket watchdog faces review amid fears it is failing farmers

Boxes of tampons are displayed in a pharmacy. The Government have said that the ‘tampon tax’ could be scrapped ‘within days’
Business News

Don’t exploit end of tampon tax, firms told

The future of Hinkley Point is still unclear but a document points to dangers posed by terrorism and cyber-attacks
Home News

Nuclear watchdog warns of terrorist threat to UK reactors

In the last parliament, 4.2 per cent of MPs were non-white, against 6 per cent today.
Business News

Gender and race inequality remain a double fault in business and polit

In the last parliament, 4.2 per cent of MPs were non-white, against 6 per cent today.
Business News

Gender and race inequality remain a double fault in business and polit

Diane Abbott, the shadow international development secretary, highlighted PwC’s World Bank tax report and Luxembourg role
Business News

PwC accused of conflict of interest in development role

Stephen Crabb has replaced Iain Duncan Smith as Work and Pensions Secretary
UK Politics

New Work and Pensions Secretary Crabb tipped for top job

Iain Duncan Smith had reportedly threatened to resign before
UK Politics

Iain Duncan Smith's exit undermines Osborne’s leadership hopes

Ukip received nearly four million votes last year, but ended up with only one MP, Douglas Carswell
UK Politics

Ukip to lose funding under reforms

Party line: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn
UK Politics

Corbyn allies call for second reshuffle ahead of party conference

Despite its many opponents, the majority of the Parliamentary Labour Party now backs HS2
UK Politics

Corbyn and McDonnell plan to whip Labour into backing HS2

Protesters demonstrate in Brussels against the TTIP
Business News

MPs say secrecy around TTIP talks is ‘profoundly undemocratic’

Business News

MPs say secrecy around TTIP talks is ‘profoundly undemocratic’

Protesters demonstrate in Brussels against the TTIP
Labour estimates it could lose £35m of funding per electoral cycle
UK Politics

Peers set to pass amendment to Bill that threatens Labour funding

Cannabis campaigners outside Westminster last year calling for the legalisation of the drug
UK Politics

Lib Dems become first major party to back cannabis legalisation

Business rates particularly afflict small shops, factories and offices
Business News

George Osborne urged to exempt more small firms from business rates

Barack Obama is expected to visit the UK in April to speak against Brexit
UK Politics

Barack Obama to urge Britons to back remain vote in EU referendum

Barack Obama is expected to visit the UK in April to speak against Brexit
UK Politics

Barack Obama to urge Britons to back remain vote in EU referendum

Business Comment

Lord Avebury would never have been this complacent over Hinkley Point

Companies local to Gatwick airport fear that a second runway could damage them badly
Business News

Local employers take fight to Gatwick over second runway plan

Ministers had previously dropped a vote that would have allowed councils the right to extend Sunday trading hours
UK Politics

Sunday trading change triggers Tory unrest

The atrium roof at Portcullis House
UK Politics

MPs may sue over Portcullis House flaws

Chancellor George Osborne takes part in a tour of the train wheel manufacturers Lucchini UK, in Manchester, in 2013. The first phase of HS2 opens in 2026
Home News

HS2 in danger of coming off the rails as problems multiply

MPs are launching an investigation into the possible impact of Brexit on British business
Business News

MPs to quiz business on the impact of a Brexit

Campaigners protest against the withdrawal of funding for the Apna Haq specialist minority ethnic women's domestic violence support service, in London last year
Home News

Tories ignore pleas to ringfence money for abused BAME women

The 12,500 capacity Wembley arena will host the live television debate
UK Politics

BBC under fire for 'bear pit' Wembley Arena televised EU debate plans

MPs are launching an investigation into the possible impact of Brexit on British business
Business News

MPs to quiz business on the impact of a Brexit

Campaigners protest against the withdrawal of funding for the Apna Haq specialist minority ethnic women's domestic violence support service, in London last year
Home News

Tories ignore pleas to ringfence money for abused BAME women

The 12,500 capacity Wembley arena will host the live television debate
UK Politics

BBC under fire for 'bear pit' Wembley Arena televised EU debate plans

Students in Malawi could gain from revised UK tax deal
UK Politics

Government plans to change terms of tax deal 'that exploits Malawi'

UK Politics

Government plans to change terms of tax deal 'that exploits Malawi'

Students in Malawi could gain from revised UK tax deal
Portcullis House: 7,500 defects in its first year alone
UK Politics

Taxpayers face £100m bill as Portcullis roof cracks

Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP flanked by Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru, left, and Caroline Lucas of the Green Party
UK Politics

Left-wing parties discuss voting alliance to defeat Tories

Hinkley Point has been delayed a number of times and was originally supposed to be generating electricity by next year
Business Comment

Amber Rudd may go nuclear but EDF will take its time on Hinkley Point

Baroness Dianne Hayter believes the potential cap will be ‘another pernicious little provision’
Business News

Labour rails against plan to cut pay for union work

Baroness Dianne Hayter believes the potential cap will be ‘another pernicious little provision’
Business News

Labour rails against plan to cut pay for union work

UK Politics

The photograph that shows attitudes towards LGBT MPs are changing

Royston Smith, a decorated former serviceman, has made only five speeches and asked two questions since May
UK Politics

New MP defends his silent record in the Commons

Michael Gove has warned that the EU’s policies are allowing terrorists to roam freely on the Continent
UK Politics

Gove attacks Cameron's claim Brexit would damage national security

After the shoot, careful butchering may lower the risk to consumers
UK Politics

Government set to ignore calls to ban lead shot over health fears

St Pancras railway station in London already retail concessions
Business News

Network Rail earmarks 18 major stations for privatisation

Tim Roache: ‘If we come out of Europe, does anyone think workers will be treated better?’
Business

GMB union to mobilise 640,000 workers behind staying in EU

UK Politics

Labour MP: No apology to PM for 'colluding with child abusers' claim

Tasers fire two darts, and temporarily disable their targets with a five-second discharge of 50,000 volts
Crime

Stop tasering children, UN warns UK Government

Labour has estimated that the Trade Union Bill could cost them as much as £35m in an electoral cycle
UK Politics

Tories defy agreement not to interfere with other parties' bankrolling

Appointments by Jeremy Corbyn are still in the pipeline
UK Politics

Jeremy Corbyn's reshuffle continues with hunt for 'willing bag carrier

Much of the current structure was built after the 1834 fire, and the entire building is Grade 1 listed
UK Politics

Westminster's £7bn refurbishment project faces three-year delay

UK Politics

Westminster's £7bn refurbishment project faces three-year delay

Much of the current structure was built after the 1834 fire, and the entire building is Grade 1 listed
Sajid Javid is viewed as fourth favourite with the bookies and is respected by colleagues
Business Comment

Tory contender must balance cuts with creating ‘Northern Powerhouse’

Oliver Letwin ruled out a specific insurance scheme for small companies
Business News

‘Small firms stranded on flood insurance’

The French outsourcing giant Sodexo has been criticised by probation officers for introducing open-plan interview rooms as part of the part-privatisation of the service
Business

‘There is no privacy’: officers claim Sodexo is ruining probation

A move to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) would involve the complicated removal of surveillance kit that is in place for national security
UK Politics

Bugging equipment prevents peers from moving to Foreign Office

A move to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) would involve the complicated removal of surveillance kit that is in place for national security
UK Politics

Bugging equipment prevents peers from moving to Foreign Office

Syrian people arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey to Greece
UK Politics

May urged to oppose plans to outlaw charities helping Syrian refugees

Liberal Democrat badges on sale at the party's annual conference in September last year. The Lib Dems want to move away from their " too male and too pale" status
UK Politics

Lib Dems weigh up minority-only shortlists for next election

Last week's YouGov poll showed that 45 per cent of people are currently in favour of leaving the EU, with only 36 per cent wishing to remain
UK Politics

Division hits Brexit groups as official campaign nears

Sir Anthony Bailey raised funds for Labour until 2010
UK Politics

Battle to remain in EU lacks emotional punch, says top In donor

Focusing on children will steer them away from the mistakes of today’s adults, the Government says
UK Politics

Former obesity tsar calls current Government strategy ‘a mistake’

In 2014 China imported $170m of US-bred chicken feet
Business Comment

What a carve-up it'll be if we find a niche exporting chicken to China

Solar energy companies accused the Government of a ‘calculated, cynical ploy’
News

Government and green energy in court showdown over solar subsidies

David Cameron might be close to pushing through a temporary deal with the EU, one which would enable him to claim a victory in his renegotiations
UK Politics

Tory rebels look for backing to delay EU referendum

HMS Vigilant, one of four submarines carrying the Trident missile system
UK Politics

Labour 'could boycott Trident vote to stem internal rebellion'

Malawi has only 300 doctors for 16 million people
UK Politics

Rethink tax haven in Malawi, British Government told

An Expedia customer had multiple payments taken while booking a trip to Marrakech
Tech

Expedia glitch leaves travellers out of pocket

Tech

Expedia glitch leaves travellers out of pocket

An Expedia customer had multiple payments taken while booking a trip to Marrakech
The leaders of the three left-of-centre parties have called for an agreement on electoral reform to be included in each of their manifestos in 2020
UK Politics

Party leaders call for pact to achieve electoral reform after 2020

Supporters of Jeremy Corbyn ahead of his address to the TUC in Brighton in September last year
UK Politics

Unions link up to lend Corbyn their momentum

It was supposed to be generating by next year, but Hinkley Point C – shown in this artist’s impression – is still awaiting the green light (PA)
Business Comment

If the nuclear button is pressed on Hinkley, who will guard the site?

Alok Sharma: ‘These practices are holding back GDP growth and they need to stop right now’
Business News

MPs to tackle fears over late payouts to suppliers

Alok Sharma: ‘These practices are holding back GDP growth and they need to stop right now’
Business News

MPs to tackle fears over late payouts to suppliers

The Oyster card system, replacing cash payment, is to be duplicated across the UK
Tech

London-style smart ticketing to be installed on buses across England

Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the Labour Party Annual Conference in Brighton in September
UK Politics

Corbyn conference speech moved to stop it being 'picked over' by media

Richmond House has has been home to health officials since it opened in 1987
UK Politics

Department of Health to leave HQ to make way for debating chamber

Passenger numbers at Heathrow fell 0.4 per cent last month despite a record year
Business Comment

Party leaders will stay grounded as anti-Heathrow wings take flight

A Shell employee at a power plant in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Business News

Shell attacked for role in 'extraordinary' £2.3bn Nigerian tax break

Emergency rail franchises are to be set up to prevent a repeat of the East Coast mainline fiasco
Business News

Government accused of 'contracting out' emergency train franchises

The main target are drivers who have caused deaths when under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Home News

Drunk or drugged drivers to face stiffer sentences

One of the ideas up for consideration is to encourage people to go Morris dancing
Features

Our choice for the best of UK ideas for arts and culture renaissance

David Cameron giving his keynote speech to delegates on the final day of the Conservative conference last year
UK Politics

Conservative Party set for huge surge in membership numbers

Labour has estimated that the Trade Union Bill could cost them as much as £35m in an electoral cycle
UK Politics

Lib Dems back Labour funding changes to Trade Union Bill

British defence exports to Saudi Arabia are set to come under parliamentary scrutiny
UK Politics

MPs resume scrutiny of arms exports to Saudi Arabia

Nurses demonstrating in London at the weekend in a separate dispute over bursaries
Home News

Unions to ‘stand with doctors on the picket line'

David Cameron visiting a parents’ centre in London in 2012
Home News

David Cameron plans to make parenting classes 'normal'

Striking firefighters protest in London last year
UK Politics

Lib Dem Peer to press for release of report on firefighter pay

Michael Gove, right, and George Osborne, centre, toured Brixton Prison last year
Crime

Michael Gove's team poised to give us justice, Texas-style

The NUT says it will protest in Whitehall in March
Education News

Sixth-form college teachers to vote on strikes over funding

Striking firefighters protest in London last year
UK Politics

Lib Dem Peer to press for release of report on firefighter pay

Michael Gove, right, and George Osborne, centre, toured Brixton Prison last year
Crime

Michael Gove's team poised to give us justice, Texas-style

The NUT says it will protest in Whitehall in March
Education News

Sixth-form college teachers to vote on strikes over funding

Changes in the Union Bill could cost the Labour Party up to £10m in a general election year, it is claimed
UK Politics

The Trade union bill 'will cut funding to the Labour Party'

Reviews

David Aaronovitch, Party Animals: My Party and Other Communists

Sir Nicholas Macpherson said the Treasury risked losing staff if a pay freeze went ahead
Business Comment

The revolving door between government and business

Up to £700 in help is currently available but even the most basic funeral can cost £3,000
UK Politics

Low-income families 'should be given state help towards funeral costs'

Rachel Reeves: the Government must make it more attractive to save
UK Politics

Former pensions secretary calls for overhaul of tax system

Illegally dumped asbestos sheeting
News

Environment Agency fails to meet illegal waste dump target

The emergency services prepare to rescue residents from a flooded street in Carlisle
Home News

Government to face calls to overhaul flood defences from key groups

Rivals: Andy Burnham, left, with Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall during the Labour leadership contest
UK Politics

Corbyn risks sparking rift with Burnham over Shadow Cabinet reshuffle

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