Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jump to content
UK EditionAsia EditionEdición en Español
Sign up to our newslettersSubscribe: $6 for 6 months
More
Best
Climate
TV

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Simon Kelner

@Simon_Kelner

Simon Kelner was Editor of The Independent between 1998 and 2011. He writes a daily column for i.

Deborah Orr: a woman with the courage of her convictions
News

Deborah Orr: fearless, formidable… and a wee bit frightening

Police are considering plans to make a part of Newport a designated area for sex workers to operate without fear of being moved on or arrested to ensure their safety
Voices

I'm a liberal - but I back France's decision to criminalise buying sex

Iceland's Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson arrives at Iceland president's residence in Reykjavik, Iceland, April 5, 2016.
Voices

Iceland has forced out its PM. Why aren't we protesting like them?

Ed Miliband and Kay Burley at last night's showdown
Voices

So what if Kay Burley's bottle of wine cost £130?

Garry Shandling arriving at the world premiere of 'Iron Man 2' in Hollywood in 2010
Voices

Why was I so moved by the death of Garry Shandling?

The 74-year-old who took home £600,000 last year, said the comments were made during 'an exchange between two old friends' and had nothing to do with Carrie Gracie
Voices

Hate Twitter, Mr Humphrys? Then you just don't get it

Not the full story: Tony Blair addressing British Troops in October 2001
Comment

When the 'feral beast' of The Independent bit back at Tony Blair

Alastair Campbell photographed at his north London home
People

Alastair Campbell on spin, Iraq and a nightmare about Tony and Gordon

'It's remarkably easy for a radio presenter to disappear, leaving listeners none the wiser'
Voices

The BBC’s blithe ‘disappearing’ of my brother is indefensible

Ruby Walsh riding Quevega (R) and Paul Townend riding Hurricane Fly (L) walk round the gallops at Cheltenham racecourse
Voices

It’s the heroism, not the hedonism, that makes Cheltenham special

Footage of Cruaghaire Catoria which shows the dog with a slanting back seeming to impede the movements of her rear legs
Voices

I love the pedigrees at Crufts - but this year made me want a mongrel

Voices

The Sun was right to publish ‘Queen Backs Brexit’ story

Bud Collins
Voices

Eccentric US sports writer Bud Collins was my Fleet Street hero

Voices

Eccentric US sports writer Bud Collins was my Fleet Street hero

Bud Collins
Voices

The demise of the Rushdie union is a typical tale of marriage

Betting terminals at a branch of William Hill bookmakers
Voices

When did gambling become the nation’s new tipple?

Katie Price spoke movingly about being a parent to a disabled child.
Voices

What do Katie Price and Trump have in common? Authenticity

Getting a divorce could be a few clicks away in future.
Voices

Digital divorce must be better than a Dickensian duel

Getting a divorce could be a few clicks away in future.
Voices

Digital divorce must be better than a Dickensian duel

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump acknowledges photographers after speaking at a campaign rally in Baton Rouge, La.
Voices

My nightmare: Brexit, Boris, Jose and President Trump

Voices

Grimsby should relax, Sacha Baron Cohen isn't so bad

Voices

I don't recognise Emma Thompson's Britain, but she's right on the EU

Lionel Messi
Voices

Stephen Fry and Lionel Messi fall foul of our sense of fair play

Backlash grows over the Health Secretary's advice to parents who suspect their children of having a rash
Voices

Jeremy Hunt: infuriator extraordinaire

Mr Trump did not adjust his trademark style
Voices

The US presidential election is rapidly becoming a race to the bottom

Liverpool fans hold up a banner protesting at prices during the 2-2 draw with Sunderland
Voices

We’re living in the age of disobedience and protest at a keystroke

A study found the 'vast majority of respondents reported using alcohol prior to either tobacco or marijuana'
Voices

I failed Dry January’s annual test of the will – but it's not all bad

Mr Trump did not adjust his trademark style
Voices

The US presidential election is rapidly becoming a race to the bottom

Liverpool fans hold up a banner protesting at prices during the 2-2 draw with Sunderland
Voices

We’re living in the age of disobedience and protest at a keystroke

A study found the 'vast majority of respondents reported using alcohol prior to either tobacco or marijuana'
Voices

I failed Dry January’s annual test of the will – but it's not all bad

Damian Lewis
Voices

Class war is taking a strange turn in Corbyn’s Britain

Voices

Class war is taking a strange turn in Corbyn’s Britain

Damian Lewis
Google has agreed to pay £130m in back taxes
Voices

Why Google’s sweetheart tax deal leaves a sour taste

British Prime Minister David Cameron addresses the attendees during the session "Britain in the World" during the Annual Meeting 2016 of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland
Voices

Bank governor Mark Carney is the archetypal ‘Davos Man’

Fernando Verdasco commiserates with Rafa Nadal after his surprise victory over the 14-time Grand Slam winner
Voices

I no longer believe anything I see when watching sport

Donald Trump was talking about the 11 September terror attacks and the San Bernardino shooting when he was interrupted by a man with a 'Stop Hate' sign
Voices

Should Donald Trump be allowed to the UK? Of course

Donald Trump was talking about the 11 September terror attacks and the San Bernardino shooting when he was interrupted by a man with a 'Stop Hate' sign
Voices

Should Donald Trump be allowed to the UK? Of course

Bowie in New York in around 1970
Voices

You know Bowie has become a bandwagon when Tony Blair joins it

Revellers head home as the clean-up begins in central London after the New Year celebration fireworks
Voices

Why that Manchester New Years photo wasn't so much a work of art

Simon Danczuk arriving at his Rochdale office
Voices

What did Rochdale ever do to deserve Simon Danczuk’s tawdry saga?

Sir Philip Dilley, chair of the Environment Agency.
Voices

If returning with a tan, it's best to be honest about your holiday

Don't despair if you hate the traditional New Year's celebrations
Voices

Hate New Year's Eve? Here's how to get through it unscathed

Voices

Michael Sheen is right about this – Port Talbot is a fascinating place

Over the last decade, a growing body of research has suggested that feelings of gratitude play an important role in mental and physical well-being.
Voices

No need for Relate - my relationship advice will get you through

Voices

I'm Jewish - but here's why Christmas is still my favourite festival

Why is not possible to prevent users of any social network, or those who leave comments on news sites, from being anonymous?
Voices

A cure for trolling is surely staring us in the face

Passenger numbers have doubled in the past 20 years to more than 1.6 billion every year
Voices

Seasonal chaos? I’ll still let the train take the strain at Christmas

Jeremy Corbyn's first Christmas card as Labour leader, which features a photo of a snow-covered bicycle
Voices

The master of political correctness has put a festive foot in it

Voices

The master of political correctness has put a festive foot in it

Jeremy Corbyn's first Christmas card as Labour leader, which features a photo of a snow-covered bicycle
Voices

Tyson Fury’s biggest crime was to refuse to hide behind the PR men

Deutsche Bank co-Chairman John Cryan speaks to the media at Deutsche Bank headquarters on October 29, 2015 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Voices

Finally we have a turkey in banking who will vote for his own roasting

Ken Livingstone apologised for his comments only after Jeremy Corbyn intervened
Voices

Livingstone’s insults belong in the Labour Party of another age

Wembley lit in the colours of the French flag
Voices

Don’t read anything more into Wembley’s moment of wonder

Wembley lit in the colours of the French flag
Voices

Don’t read anything more into Wembley’s moment of wonder

Charlotte Farhan wrote the post on 14 November
Voices

Solidarité means more than hoisting a French flag

Nigella Lawson on Simply Nigella
Voices

I can no longer call myself a ‘foodie’. We’ve reached Peak Nigella

Voices

A lesson for the BBC from the Sex Pistols: never mind the bollocks

Voices

I'm not sure that I buy being sold a set of values

British actor and writer Colin Welland, left, accepts an Oscar for the best screenplay for Chariots of Fire in 1982
People

Colin Welland tribute: Farewell to a fierce champion of his roots

David Cameron with the photoshopped poppy
Voices

Puritan poppy-shamers should find a better use of their time

How should one become a gentleman?
Voices

This list of what makes a gentleman tells me things about myself

Voices

Let Germaine Greer speak – whatever it is that she has to say

Danny Cohen is leaving his position as director of television at the BBC
Voices

Why did this executive's departure from the BBC cause such media ire?

the sofa retailer kicked off a share-buying frenzy by upgrading guidance
Voices

Don’t trust somebody who hasn’t got a dog. Discuss

Voices

GBBO's Nadiya Hussain serves up the perfect rebuttal to Theresa May

Voices

GBBO's Nadiya Hussain serves up the perfect rebuttal to Theresa May

Voices

Pity the young: they’ll live to 120 and work until they’re 100

Rex Features
Voices

Don't trust a mobile phone to keep your dearest memories safe

The Twitter logo is displayed on a banner outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on November 7, 2013 in New York City
Voices

Why on earth is Twitter thinking about removing its character limit?

Mark Zuckerberg only wears T-shirts and jeans, and Facebook employees are banned from wearing suits and ties
Voices

The world was an easier place to understand when everyone wore a suit

Mark Zuckerberg only wears T-shirts and jeans, and Facebook employees are banned from wearing suits and ties
Voices

The world was an easier place to understand when everyone wore a suit

Mark Zuckerberg only wears T-shirts and jeans, and Facebook employees are banned from wearing suits and ties
Voices

The world was an easier place to understand when everyone wore a suit

Jeremy Corbyn receives applause following his first leadership speech on September 29, 2015 in Brighton, England.
Voices

Does Jeremy Corbyn love his country? What a stupid question

Comment

Lord Ashcroft unwittingly shone light on corrupt heart of politics

The 2015 Rugby World Cup begins this Friday at Twickenham
Voices

Old Etonians run the country, yet the Rugby World Cup has managed to

Facing up to it: Charlotte Rampling, with Tom Courtenay, conveys every emotion from forgiveness to fury in ‘45 Years’
Comment

45 Years is the answer to Hollywood's perfect ending

A bartender serves two Mojito cocktails
Comment

For the twenty-somethings of today, growing up is hard to do

William Hague, addresses delegates at the Conservative party conference for the last time in his political career in Birmingham
Comment

It’s only natural for politicians like William Hague to end up as

Markus Persson says he can't find love because of his money
News

Markus Persson: If being rich is so bad, just give it all away

Comment

We're all paying the price for the BBC's decision to drop the Met

Gwel an Mor resort, Portreath, Cornwall beach
Voices

Cornwall may be an Instagrammer's dream, but it's still the poorest

Thousands of families will not be packing their buckets and spades this bank holiday because they cannot afford to take their children to the beach
Voices

In the age of Instagram, it's easy to return from holiday feeling more

Voices

Disney Pixar is turning children into adults - and adults into

Cecil the Lion, before he was killed by American hunter Walter Palmer (EPA)
Voices

The people who call it sport to shoot a lion like Cecil have no

Cecil the Lion, before he was killed by American hunter Walter Palmer (EPA)
Voices

The people who call it sport to shoot a lion like Cecil have no

Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed claims that he is a "sexy sea dog"
Comment

Jeremy Corbyn: The Jose Mourinho of politics is playing in Premier

Harmful drinking among middle-class over-50s is a 'hidden phenomenon'
Comment

How to age successfully... albeit a little disgracefully

Cecil the Lion, before he was killed by American hunter Walter Palmer (EPA)
Voices

The people who call it sport to shoot a lion like Cecil have no

Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed claims that he is a "sexy sea dog"
Comment

Jeremy Corbyn: The Jose Mourinho of politics is playing in Premier

Harmful drinking among middle-class over-50s is a 'hidden phenomenon'
Comment

How to age successfully... albeit a little disgracefully

Tom Watson during the opening round at St Andrews
Comment

The Open 2015: Despite the pomp, golf isn’t quite as elitist as Gary

Mhairi Black delivers her maidens speech in the House of Commons
Comment

Mhairi Black has been patronised, vilified and lampooned — but she

ATM access is to be investigated
Comment

The machines are taking over, and they’ve even got human names

Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) in The Great Gatsby
Comment

Parties have become the focus for conspicuous consumption

David Cameron gives a speech at a Tory party dinner
Comment

In a time of austerity, should Tories be bidding £210,000 for a

Simon and Karen's divorce was announced in the Sun on Monday
Comment

The Danczuk divorce again reveals social media’s ability to reduce

The Uber app allows passengers to hail a taxi with a smartphone
Comment

French cabbies want Uber off the streets – but that particular boat

Broadcasting House, a focus for Tories who believe the BBC is left-wing
Comment

Liberal bias at the BBC? It’s all hot air by the Tories

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in