The Independent is a major British daily national newspaper, launched in 1986 as an antidote to its often overtly politicized rivals. Its evolution over a quarter of a century has been considerable, but it has throughout that period retained a unique position in British journalism.

Over the last 30 years, The Independent has taken strong campaigning positions on issues such as the legalization of drugs, the War on Terror, and the environment.

It received the "Newspaper of the Year" award in 1987, its first full year of publication, and by the end of 1988, its circulation had risen to more than 400,000. This success led to the launch of The Independent on Sunday in January 1990.

Featuring journalists and columnists from across the political spectrum, the paper is generally regarded as centrist, taking idiosyncratic views on the free market, social issues, and culture.

As part of the Gale NewsVault program, The Independent Digital Archive will therefore bring a major alternative perspective to the news of the day presented in other Gale NewsVault archives, particularly the more conservative and establishment-supporting views contained in The Times Digital Archive and The Daily Mail Historical Archive.