Thursday, March 19, 2026

Good morning and welcome to your daily news briefing from The Independent.

Top doctors have warned the NHS is in a 'perilous' state and would struggle to cope with a second pandemic, oil prices surge as Iran retaliates for US-Israeli strikes on its oil fields, and Sir Keir Starmer refuses to back Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms. 

Top stories

1 | NHS can't cope with another pandemic, top doctors warn as impact of Covid to be laid bare

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2 | Oil prices surge as Iran warns energy sites across Gulf to evacuate ahead of retaliatory strikes

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3 | Starmer wavers over Mahmood's immigration reforms after Rayner brands them 'un-British'

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4 | Government 'playing Russian roulette' by not offering all young people meningitis B jab, campaigners say

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5 | Former Tory MP charged with possession of class A drugs

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Editors' picks

'Let the people decide': Readers say debate on rejoining EU isn't over

Short-sighted political bias, to the detriment of the people in the UK. Everyone knows – even Brexiteers, who would never admit it – that the UK is simply poorer as a result of Brexit. This is why it really should not be a decision in the hands of a few politicians. Rather, a decision of such magnitude needs to go to a referendum. Let the people decide. Let's face it, the decision is too difficult for politicians to get right, and the cost is obvious to see.

Share your opinion and read the full debate here.

WATCH 

Police on paddleboards chase suspect after he leapt into water to evade arrest

STAT OF THE DAY

£4m

The value of late comedian Sean Hughes' estate, which was finally awarded to homelessness charity Shelter after a decade-long battle

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

I felt like I was going into the heart of darkness

Executive producer Samantha Antiss reacts to text messages sent by disgraced presenter Huw Edwards in new Channel 5 documentary Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards

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