Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Town crier announces government WhatsApp channel

00:34

Town crier announces government WhatsApp channel

The UK Government has launched a new WhatsApp channel with the aim of sending the latest news, updates, and helpful inromation to the public via the app.

Downing Street marked the launch with a video of London town crier, Alan Myatt, shouting “UK government now on WhatsApp.”

The video has been met with derision on social media, with many referencing the fact that both Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson failed to provide WhatsApp messages from the pandemic during the Covid Inquiry in late 2023.

The system is entirely opt-in and will amplify key messages like information on childcare support and cost of living payments, according to the government.

Up next

Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner given ‘vampire’ makeover at protest

00:43

Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner given ‘vampire’ makeover at protest

Witnesses recall moment shark attacked British tourist in Tobago

00:39

Witnesses recall moment shark attacked British tourist in Tobago

Humza Yousaf refuses to rule out election as no confidence vote looms

00:26

Humza Yousaf refuses to rule out election as no confidence vote looms

Antony Blinken buys Taylor Swift album at Beijing record store

00:51

Antony Blinken buys Taylor Swift album at Beijing record store

Editor’s Picks

The hidden pressures of playing real life figures

13:19

The hidden pressures of playing real life figures

Instagram fuels self-doubt more than a catwalk ever could

35:16

Instagram fuels self-doubt more than a catwalk ever could

Simon Calder answers your holiday questions in live event

59:34

Simon Calder answers your holiday questions in live event

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

More Editor’s Picks

On The Ground

Baltimore will rebuild, but at what cost? | On The Ground

03:35

Baltimore will rebuild, but at what cost? | On The Ground

New Yorkers turn to self-defence classes as punching attacks continue

03:45

New Yorkers turn to self-defence classes as punching attacks continue

This 26-year-old could be Biden’s secret weapon | On The Ground

07:34

This 26-year-old could be Biden’s secret weapon | On The Ground

The NHS nurse fighting to be heard | On The Ground

08:19

The NHS nurse fighting to be heard | On The Ground

More On The Ground

Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

06:27

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

07:23

How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

06:35

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

More Behind The Headlines

Decomplicated

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

04:31

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

07:30

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

03:34

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

How does the Iowa Caucus pick the next US president? | Decomplicated

03:18

How does the Iowa Caucus pick the next US president? | Decomplicated

More Decomplicated

Binge Watch

The hidden pressures of playing real life figures

13:19

The hidden pressures of playing real life figures

Oscars 2024: Who will win Best Actor and Actress?

11:34

Oscars 2024: Who will win Best Actor and Actress?

Oscars 2024: Who will win Best Picture and Best Director?

11:49

Oscars 2024: Who will win Best Picture and Best Director?

Big Brother’s Jordan and Henry on life after the house

14:24

Big Brother’s Jordan and Henry on life after the house

More Binge Watch

Music Box

03:11

Watch Gia Ford perform her brand new single ‘Poolside’ on Music Box

Gia Ford performs ‘Falling in Love Again’

04:08

Gia Ford performs ‘Falling in Love Again’

Dylan John Thomas performs ‘Wake Up Ma’ on Music Box

03:04

Dylan John Thomas performs ‘Wake Up Ma’ on Music Box

Watch Dylan John Thomas perform his single ‘Fever’ on Music Box

02:44

Watch Dylan John Thomas perform his single ‘Fever’ on Music Box

Travel Smart

Here’s why Greece is still a firm family summer holiday favourite

09:14

Here’s why Greece is still a firm family summer holiday favourite

Find your perfect seasonal city break

08:18

Find your perfect seasonal city break

Discover the diverse appeals of Fuerteventura

07:35

Discover the diverse appeals of Fuerteventura

Sunny holiday escapes no matter the time of year | Travel Smart

11:36

Sunny holiday escapes no matter the time of year | Travel Smart

More Travel Smart

Love Lives

Instagram fuels self-doubt more than a catwalk ever could

35:16

Instagram fuels self-doubt more than a catwalk ever could

Tom Walker: ‘Songwriting is my therapy’

36:50

Tom Walker: ‘Songwriting is my therapy’

Author Ela Lee: ‘We need to take blackout sex more seriously’

37:41

Author Ela Lee: ‘We need to take blackout sex more seriously’

Love Lives: If men went through menopause, it would be a disaster

43:16

Love Lives: If men went through menopause, it would be a disaster

More Love Lives

You Ask The Questions

Kirstie Allsopp gives her tips for selling your home

08:49

Kirstie Allsopp gives her tips for selling your home

How to avoid fast fashion this Christmas | You Ask The Questions

06:38

How to avoid fast fashion this Christmas | You Ask The Questions

How do you get the best deal on Black Friday?

03:39

How do you get the best deal on Black Friday?

Has Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle changed the fate of his government?

06:50

Has Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle changed the fate of his government?

More You Ask The Questions

Sport

Manchester United players hug elderly fans

00:21

Manchester United players hug elderly fans

Police intervene as clip of man ‘biting’ boy’s ear goes viral

00:21

Police intervene as clip of man ‘biting’ boy’s ear goes viral

Jack Grealish congratulates ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook on charity run

00:28

Jack Grealish congratulates ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook on charity run

Jurgen Klopp shares thoughts on his potential Liverpool replacement

01:38

Jurgen Klopp shares thoughts on his potential Liverpool replacement

Climate

Humza Yousaf jokes about ‘breakup’ with Greens as coalition deal ends

01:08

Humza Yousaf jokes about ‘breakup’ with Greens as coalition deal ends

Bridge collapses into river in China during powerful floods

00:54

Bridge collapses into river in China during powerful floods

Residents evacuated as heavy rainfall floods southern Chinese cities

01:14

Residents evacuated as heavy rainfall floods southern Chinese cities

Dubai: Cars abandoned in flooded streets as UAE begins clean up

00:33

Dubai: Cars abandoned in flooded streets as UAE begins clean up

Culture

Claudia Winkelman breaks silence on The Traitors future

00:25

Claudia Winkelman breaks silence on The Traitors future

Jess Glynne explains why she rushed off Glastonbury stage in tears

00:40

Jess Glynne explains why she rushed off Glastonbury stage in tears

Ellen DeGeneres breaks silence on being ‘kicked out of show business’

01:11

Ellen DeGeneres breaks silence on being ‘kicked out of show business’

The hidden pressures of playing real life figures

13:19

The hidden pressures of playing real life figures

Lifestyle

Victoria Beckham shares ‘one product’ behind her signature smokey eye

01:03

Victoria Beckham shares ‘one product’ behind her signature smokey eye

Made in Chelsea star ‘can’t hold grandchildren’ as MS symptoms worsen

01:27

Made in Chelsea star ‘can’t hold grandchildren’ as MS symptoms worsen

Kylie Jenner shares selfie video amid Timothee Chalamet baby rumours

00:20

Kylie Jenner shares selfie video amid Timothee Chalamet baby rumours

Meet the artist on a mission to draw all 3,000 pubs in London

01:19

Meet the artist on a mission to draw all 3,000 pubs in London

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

01:36

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

00:42

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

01:26

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

00:32

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

04:23

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

04:26

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

STEM campaigner Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE on workplace bias

04:34

STEM campaigner Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE on workplace bias

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

01:01

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

More Galaxy The Ripple Effect

E.ON Next Power Switch

Episode One - Cooking

03:13

Episode One - Cooking

Episode Two - Entertainment

03:10

Episode Two - Entertainment

Episode Three - Body Care

02:48

Episode Three - Body Care

Episode Four - Lighting

03:12

Episode Four - Lighting

Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

15:55

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

16:33

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

16:06

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

15:01

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

More Big In America

Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

01:16

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

00:36

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

00:48

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

01:08

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

More Saudi Green Initiative

AlUla

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

01:51

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

02:07

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

02:00

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard

02:09

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard