The Independent ended 2019 as the UK’s largest quality digital news brand for the second consecutive month, with 26.5 million readers in December, the latest industry figures show.
Monthly figures released by analytics firm Comscore showed the website recorded its best-ever UK performance and remained ahead of theguardian.com when it came to UK-based unique monthly users after overtaking the news outlet in November.
Comscore’s data also showed the gap at the top widening, with The Independent recording 1.4 million more readers than The Guardian website – more than doubling the 546,000 lead of the previous month.
The record figures were achieved in the month of the general election, which saw the Conservatives win their biggest majority in Westminster since Margaret Thatcher's 1987 victory, while the historic impeachment proceedings against US president Donald Trump prompted a surge of interest in US politics.
Christian Broughton, the editor of The Independent, said: “This is a hugely encouraging endorsement from our growing number of readers.
“In the month of a general election and at a time when politics is changing fast, people value a respected, trusted title free from the Fleet Street tradition of ties to a particular political party.
“We have always been clear and passionate about the values we champion, but we credit our readers with the ability to make up their own minds.”
