thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Like Princess Beatrice, We Wore Hand-Me-Down Dresses For Our Weddings

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Princess Beatrice wore an upcycled dress that belonged to her grandmother, the Queen, during her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi last weekend.
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It might be an unusual wedding dress choice – after all, many brides spend hours donning gowns in shops to find The One – but we spoke to three brides who were ahead of the eco-friendly trend.
Sarah Lamsdale, 48, based in Shropshire, wore her nan’s wedding dress when she got married in 1997. Her nan, named Hilda – who died two years ago aged 101 – originally wore the dress for her wedding in 1940.
“I loved her dress from a young age and used to dress up in it saying one day I would wear it on my wedding day,” says Sarah. “We had it cleaned but it fitted as if made for me, including fitting right into my hollow back.”
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Sarah Lamsdale Sarah and her nan in 1997.
Provided by Sarah Lamsdale Hilda and Norman in 1940.
The fabric of the dress was panelled, due to restrictions on fabric width during the war. “The embossed pattern on it shone,” Sarah recalls. “I wore a long veil to fit with the style of the dress and had a bouquet the same as hers, long and made of lilies and ivy.”
Sarah’s grandfather, Norman, made a speech at the reception and spoke of the dress and how beautiful it looked, “just like the day [Sarah’s] nan wore it 57 years previously”.
“It felt magical that day, I love vintage clothing anyway but this was special and I felt honoured to wear it and her headdress, which was made of wax stephanotis flowers,” says Sarah. “I felt elegant, regal and bursting with pride as everyone commented on it with my nan stood at my side.”
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Maithili Guise Tucker, 41, based in Pirbright, Surrey, got married to her husband Hugo in 2004, while wearing an ivory and gold sari that had been in her mother’s collection for years.
Maithili’s family is Hindu, so her mother, Sulochana, wore a traditional red sari for her own wedding, but as Hugo is Christian, Maithili thought the ivory sari in her mother’s wardrobe was the perfect way to combine their two cultures.
Sadly, there are no photos of her mother wearing the sari, because the family’s possessions were largely destroyed in the Sri Lanka riots. But Sulochana got to enjoy seeing her daughter in her much-loved outfit.
Maithili Guise Tucker Maithili and her mother, Sulochana.
The couple had a Christian wedding in the village church in Warwickshire, where Maithili grew up, followed by a Hindu blessing to nod to her Sri Lankan heritage.
“Wearing the sari was so incredibly special,” she recalls. “It was something I’d grown up looking at neatly folded and loving, but never imagined it might be what I wore to get married in!”
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Maithili’s mother-in-law was even able to use some spare fabric from the sari to make a waistcoat for Hugo.
“It felt like it bonded us even more,” says Maithili, who’s an artist. “There are so many stories figuratively woven into the fabric and it felt a real privilege to be including our adventure in there.”
Maithili Guise Tucker Maithili and her husband, Hugo.
Unlike Sarah and Maithili, Amy Smedley Walker, 34, based in Bristol, hadn’t always dreamed of wearing her mother’s gown.
She bought a dress and planned to wear it for her wedding this June. But when the pandemic hit and Amy realised her wedding would need to be scaled back to five people, wearing the big frock suddenly didn’t feel right.
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“I started to look for alternatives,” she says. “I happened to go home for the weekend when lockdown started to ease slightly to see my parents. My mum had been clearing out the loft and she brought out her old wedding dress. I tried it on, it fitted and I thought ‘why not?’”
Amy Smedley Walker Amy's mum Carole (left) and Amy with her husband David (right)
Amy’s mum, Carole, made the dress for her own wedding in 1984. She altered it for her daughter’s intimate ceremony by taking off the sleeves and turning it into a two-piece.
“I loved it on the day,” says Amy. “I’m from South Africa and so is my husband, so my gran and my aunt were watching online. They were there when the dress was worn the first time, so it felt quite special.
“It was really special for my mum as well. She definitely felt more part of the day. Fathers of the bride, traditionally, get to walk their daughters down the aisle. This way, she was represented in a way that was quite special to her.”
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Amy still has the “event-style dress”, which she hopes to wear when she and her husband have a party to celebrate their marriage, once restrictions are eased further.
Of course, not everyone has the perfect dress stashed away in a loved one’s attic, but that doesn’t mean wearing a pre-loved gown isn’t an option. Searches for “vintage wedding dress” have increased by 150% in 2020, compared to this time last year, according to eBay.
If you need to look a little further afield for your dream dress, Emma Grant, head of Preloved at eBay shares some tips:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Face Masks And Face Coverings: Your Absolutely Bumper Guide

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Hairdressers and shop workers may also wear face shields, however Dr Strain says they are not protective on their own and should be worn in addition to a face covering.
Medical face masks are designed to protect the wearer from infection, and are vital for frontline staff who are at risk from close contact with Covid-19 patients. While these masks – the N95s and FFP2/FFP3s – are “very good”, says Dr Strain, they still need to be reserved for people working in healthcare settings due to shortages. Ethically, buying these up for public use is a no-no.
Where do I need to wear one?
Well, this very much depends on where you’re based. In England, face coverings are compulsory in: shops, supermarkets, hospitals, indoor shopping centres, indoor train stations, airports, ports, and indoor bus and coach stations. The rule also applies to banks, building societies and post offices. It’s not compulsory for shop or supermarket staff to wear a covering.
It’s also compulsory to wear a face covering when buying food and drink to take away from cafes and shops. But people will be allowed to remove coverings if the place where they’ve bought food or drink has somewhere to sit down and eat.
Face coverings will also be made compulsory in museums, cinemas, art galleries and places of worship from August 8.
In Scotland, it’s mandatory to wear face covers in shops and on public transport. A shop is defined as any indoor establishment which offers goods or services for sale or hire. Staff are strongly advised to wear face coverings even when 2m physical distancing is applied.
Face coverings must also be worn on public transport including trains, buses, taxis and private hire vehicles, bus stations and railway stations, airports, ferry services and airline services.
They aren’t mandatory in hospitality premises such as cafes, coffee shops, restaurants or pubs. It also excludes money services businesses such as banks and building societies.
In Northern Ireland, all passengers and staff on public transport must wear a face covering. This includes: on bus, coach and train services; in public transport stations; in indoor areas of a ferry and outdoor areas where you can’t keep two metres social distance. The rule doesn’t apply to tour coaches, taxis or private hire vehicles – that said, some operators may have their own rules you should follow.
Wearing face coverings is advised in places where you can’t easily physically distance in Wales, but is not a legal requirement.
It’s worth noting some people might choose to cover their faces in other settings, too. Dr Strain at the University of Exeter Medical School, believes they should be worn wherever 2m physical distancing can’t be maintained – this includes in workplaces.
“We have a short window to get the prevalence down to ‘viral eradication’ before we start battling Covid-19 along with flu, and a second peak becomes inevitable,” he previously told HuffPost UK.
The UK government also advises this but it isn’t mandatory. Guidance says people are “strongly encouraged” to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--My Chaotic Sex Life Led Me To My Bipolar Diagnosis

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You’re reading Sex Diaries, a HuffPost UK Personal series about how we are (or aren’t) having sex. To share your story, get in touch on ukpersonal@huffpost.com.
Looking back at my sexual experiences, I honestly couldn’t tell you why I did most of the things I did. It was like I couldn’t see any negative drawbacks to them in the moment – never so much a question of “why?” as “why not?”
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These thought process extended to other habits like eating and shopping, but as a perpetually broke uni student sex was the most freely available outlet for my manic energy. I was reasonably sober for most of these encounters, so I can’t even blame my choices on alcohol. I was always a happy, obliging partner, and I actively sought out my encounters. And for the most part, it was me sending those first flirty texts and inviting partners over.
So it’s always jarring to people when I talk about how deeply I regret these experiences – how at the time I felt accomplished, but often, weeks later, I was filled with deep shame.
I didn’t have a word for it when I was going through it, but I knew something was off. In a rare moment of clarity, I tried talking to my GP. I emphasised how uncomfortable I felt with my impulsiveness, and how it fuelled my low self-esteem. She asked me if I was having safe sex, I said yes, and with that answer she dismissed my very real concerns. Five months later, working with a private psychiatrist I’d already been seeing for my depression and anxiety, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder – a diagnosis that completely changed the way I thought about sex.
I realised that I, a bisexual woman fresh out of uni (an environment rife with disappointing sexual encounters), I had been suffering the consequences of a very long hypomanic episode.
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“I didn’t see anything hugely wrong with my behaviour until I stopped being hypomanic, and neither did anyone else.”
I can’t precisely describe hypomania to people, but it’s like having 10 cups of coffee every day – or a coke habit. Your decision-making is impaired, you have delusions of grandeur, and your energy is always up, even if you only slept three hours the previous night.
I also began dealing with the crushing regret of my past hypersexuality (defined as “a dysfunctional preoccupation with sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviours that are difficult to control”), which it turned out is a common aspect of all types of bipolar disorder.
What so many non-bipolar people fail to understand about us is that our decision-making skills are significantly impaired when we’re manic or hypomanic. My change in perception of my sexual events wasn’t because I’m wishy-washy; it was me coming back to reality and realising I did impulsive things that put my health and safety at risk. I didn’t see anything hugely wrong with my behaviour until I stopped being hypomanic, and neither did anyone else. If you’d met me once while I was hypomanic at a party, you’d have a completely different impression of me now, sedate and properly medicated. When I was hypomanic I just seemed like a huge extrovert – loud, flirtatious, outgoing and kind of obnoxious. I didn’t suffer from some of the more negative hypomania symptoms – I wasn’t aggressive or irritable and I didn’t abuse substances. For the most part I appeared as normal as ever, and people had every reason to trust my judgement.
Since my diagnosis, the most enduring problem I’ve had is discussing my feelings with past sexual partners. I get it, no one wants to hear “I regret having sex with you because I was mentally impaired when I did it”. But I only want my partners to understand that I don’t blame them, or anyone, for what we did. They aren’t responsible for my brain’s struggle to regulate it’s neurochemicals, and I never want to feel like they were taking advantage of me.
“My libido isn’t dead. I just no longer feel the overwhelming need to satisfy my sex drive above all else.”
In trying to understand myself, I noticed that when you google bipolar disorder and sex, there’s a noticeable lack of people speaking from their own experiences. The first page of results is entirely made up of various health and wellness websites, followed by disturbing news reports of sex offenders who happen to be bipolar.
That was scary at first, feeling like I was predetermined to either be institutionalised or be a predator, but eventually I discovered online forums for bipolar people like me. And when I went public with my diagnosis on Twitter, I discovered a lot of my friends were also bipolar, and made new bipolar friends in the process. Having these communities was and continues to be important to repairing my broken relationship with sex. They’re places where I can talk about my traumatising experiences without guilt, and without judgement from prudes.
Since going on mood stabilisers and attending regular therapy, I’ve been happily celibate for seven months now. To be clear, my libido isn’t dead. I just no longer feel the overwhelming need to satisfy my sex drive above all else. I’ve been focusing on therapy and getting the right dosage for my various psychiatric medications, as well as my education.
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I hate to sound like a youth pastor, but now? I’m content to wait for the right person to come around.
Christina Ivey is a Black, bipolar, bisexual writer on climate change, mental health and Black politics. Follow her on Twitter at @christine_ivey
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--9 Ways You Can Support Someone With Bipolar Disorder

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The support from family and friends, as well as mental health services, is “hugely important” for people with bipolar disorder, says Stephen Buckley, from mental health charity, Mind. But knowing how to show support can be hard.
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Kim Kardashian West’s statement in response to media speculation about Kanye West’s mental health was a candid reflection on what it’s like to watch someone you love struggle from the sidelines. “People who are unaware or far removed from this experience can be judgmental and not understand that the individual themselves have to engage in the process of getting help no matter how hard family and friends try,” she wrote.
The rapper has previously spoken about life with bipolar disorder, saying if he didn’t keep on top of his medication, there was potential to “ramp up” and end up in hospital. He explained that for him, “ramping up” – or experiencing an episode of psychosis – can mean he is “hyper-paranoid about everything”.
Rich Fury/VF20 via Getty Images
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Bipolar disorder affects a person’s mood, meaning they will often fluctuate from one extreme to another. They will experience periods of mania, feeling very high and overactive, which are then followed by periods of depression. Some people might also experience hallucinations or delusions, known as psychosis.
Supporting loved ones with bipolar can be a challenge, says Emma Carrington, advice and information manager at Rethink Mental Illness. “Even though you might have their best intentions at heart, they might resist care, either because they don’t feel they are ill, or because they are feeling ashamed,” she explains.
As with any relationship or friendship, there are highs and lows – but bipolar disorder can add another layer of complexity to the mix. We asked mental health charities Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and Bipolar UK for their advice on the best ways to show support.
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1. Talk with them about their experiences
The stigma and misrepresentation of bipolar disorder can mean people with the illness can be reluctant or embarrassed to seek help. As someone they trust, let them talk to you about their experiences, so they feel supported and accepted, says Mind’s Stephen Buckley. Ask how they are and be open about your own mental health, so it feels like a safe space.
Patience is key, says Carrington. “Experiencing a manic or depressive episode can be scary, especially if that person is new to the illness and hasn’t accessed help yet,” she explains. “You might not understand what they’re going through, but the act of trying to understand can be very helpful.”
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2. Educate yourself on bipolar disorder
A good way to understand how your friend or family member might be feeling is to read about the experiences of those who have the diagnosis. Bipolar UK recommends An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison, as well as talking to people who have bipolar disorder and their families and friends.
It runs support groups which are open to family and friends of people with bipolar, as well as people with the condition themselves. You can find out where your nearest group is on the charity’s website, or by calling 020 7931 6480.
3. Learn their triggers
It can help to learn your loved one’s warning signs and triggers, says Buckley. That way, if you notice certain behaviours that normally happen before a manic episode, you can gently let them know. Common early warning signs of mania include increased energy, less sleep, and spending more money than usual.
Some possible triggers include: physical illness; sleep disturbances; overwhelming problems in everyday life, with money, work or relationships; the death of a loved one; relationship breakdowns; physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
4. Prepare for manic episodes
“It’s a good idea to make a plan for manic episodes,” says Buckley. “When your friend or family member is feeling well, try talking to them about how you can support them at these times.”
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You could discuss ideas such as: being creative together, helping to reduce stress, relaxation exercises, helping to manage money while they’re unwell, helping them keep a routine, and discussing how they can keep on top of regular meals and a good sleep pattern.
5. Discuss challenging behaviour
It might seem like the last thing you want to do, but Buckley says don’t be afraid to discuss behaviour you find challenging. For example, someone might become disinhibited during a manic episode – meaning they say things or do things you don’t agree with. Sometimes they can seem rude or offensive.
It helps to talk about this, but choose your time wisely – don’t bring it up during an episode. “Calmly discuss your feelings with them when they’re feeling more stable,” he explains.
6. Find a balance between support and control
It’s not uncommon for people with the diagnosis to experience overly controlling and critical behaviour from family and friends.
Finding a balance between being supportive, but not controlling, can be difficult if you want to look after someone you care about – but it’s crucial you find this balance. This requires requires ongoing communication and acceptance of each other’s feelings, says Bipolar UK.
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7. Remain calm, and provide comfort
If someone you love is seeing or hearing things you aren’t, it can be scary and confusing for them. Do you disagree and say it’s not happening, potentially causing more upset, or do you agree and fuel the belief further?
“It’s helpful to stay calm, and let them know you understand that it feels real for them,” says Buckley. It might be helpful to focus on supporting them with how they are feeling, rather than confirming or challenging their perception of reality, which will feel incredibly real for them in those moments.
Providing comfort can help the person feel seen and heard. If you disagree or argue, it may make them feel more alienated.
8. Seek professional help
“If you’re worried about the behaviour of a loved one, try to organise a meeting with their GP to discuss next steps, and go with them to that meeting in a show of support,” says Carrington.
It might help to make a list of specific examples of behaviours you’re concerned about, as this can help the GP fully understand what’s happening – especially if your loved one doesn’t believe they’re ill. “If they already have a care plan, have a copy of it yourself so you know how and when to assist them,” she adds.
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Early diagnosis and treatment is important. The best treatment for bipolar disorder is usually a combination of medication, counselling and self-management, although getting therapy on the NHS can sometimes mean a lengthy wait.
If you’re worried about a loved one, contact their healthcare provider and be clear about your concerns – you can ask for a home visit. Or, if the person is attending an outpatient department, contact their psychiatrist by phone, advises Bipolar UK.
9. Look after yourself
It can be all too easy to put your own mental health on the back-burner when you’re supporting a loved one with a mental illness. Both Carrington and Buckley urge friends and family members to look after themselves, too.
“You may feel very worried about your loved one, but making sure you stay well will enable you to continue to offer support,” says Buckley. You might feel guilty you’re not as able to help them as you might want, or you might give up on other aspects of your life to help care for them better.
It can sometimes be difficult to separate the illness from the person and this can make you feel angry and alone. “If this is the case, there will likely be carer support groups available in your local area,” says Carrington.
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“These groups are a chance for carers experiencing similar situations to help support each other, as well as a chance to de-stress for a little while.”
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--A-Level Sociology Textbook Says Working Class Black Students 'Lack Reasoning Skills'

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Authors of an A-level sociology textbook have been criticised by teachers for publishing sweeping generalisations about Black people.
The third edition of AQA A Level Sociology Book One Including AS Level textbook, published by Napier Press in 2015, includes passages on the “cultural deprivation theory”, which states that “many children from low-income Black families lack intellectual stimulation and enriching experiences”.
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In sociology, cultural deprivation theory refers to the notion that particular social and ethnic groups have inferior norms, values, skills and knowledge.
Though the guide bears the AQA name on the front cover, it does not carry an “AQA endorsed” label and the exam board has stressed to HuffPost UK that it did not sign off on the text.
AQA Sociology Screenshot
Napier has told HuffPost UK that it does not endorse the theory, and includes it because the exam board requires it to be covered – a claim AQA has denied.
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Teachers say the publication of the theory shows a lack of regard for wanting to tackle such stereotypical and racist views, and some have crossed out the passages in the books.
A section entitled “intellectual and linguistic skills” reads: “Cultural deprivation theorists see the lack of intellectual and linguistic skills as a major cause of underachievement for many minority children.
“They argue that many children from low-income Black families lack intellectual stimulation and enriching experiences.
“This leaves them poorly equipped for school because they have not been able to develop reasoning and problem solving skills.”
Page Excerpt Screenshot
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Fran Nantongwe, a teacher of sociology at Reepham High School & College in Norfolk, teaches from this book but has said she instructed her students to disregard this excerpt altogether.
“The cultural deficit is downright insulting,” she told HuffPost UK. “There’s nothing in there about supplementary schools, for instance. You wouldn’t know that there were Black middle class families from reading that book; it gives the impression that young Black men are in the gutter stabbing each other.
“As a mother to a Black son, I find that excerpt painful to read. I certainly don’t use it in my lessons. I’ve prepared additional materials for my students and I’ve asked them not to use that section. In fact it’s literally crossed out in most of their books.”
A Napier spokesperson said: “It is indeed a generalisation, because we are providing a general overview of the theory.
“It does suggest a cultural deficit – this has given rise to a standard, longstanding criticism of the idea of cultural deprivation, closely associated with the work of Nell Keddie, whose criticisms we summarise under the heading: ‘The myth of cultural deprivation?’.
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Bereiter and Engelmann Screenshot
“We are reporting the view of cultural deprivation theory, not our view. In the criticisms of the theory, we note that schools reflect white culture (i.e. not ‘mainstream’ culture), that they are ethnocentric and biased.
The criticisms of cultural deprivation theory are listed on a different page. Napier said it would be “inappropriate to cite individual sociologists” in the overview.
Further down in the text within the “intellectual and linguistic skills” segment, US based research – from 1966 – is used to justify another blanket assertion around UK families: language used by low income Black families is inconsistent with high academic attainment.
“Similarly, Bereiter and Engelmann consider the language spoken by low-income Black American families as inadequate for educational success. They see it as ungrammatical, disjointed and incapable of expressing abstract ideas,” the passage reads.
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Sociology teachers have criticised the textbook authors’ decision to insert this decades old research in a modern textbook. They argue that, as far as the Black global experience, this creates a “one size fits all” impression, given that the language spoken in African American households and Black British households differ significantly.
Some have also taken issue with the suggestion that language used by low income Black families is inconsistent with high academic attainment, arguing that this further serves to other the Black family.
Napier said it agreed with the criticism, stating: “We are reporting it as part of our effort to cover the mandated content for the exam. We are not endorsing it.”
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But teachers say the outdated theory is not labelled as such for the young people studying it.
Nantongwe said: “My students didn’t read it like that, which is why I asked them to cross it out! An outdated American study needs to be evaluated by a contemporary American sociolinguist such as April Baker-Bell.”
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British researcher David Gillborn has written extensively on Black middle class families. His work in that field is not mentioned, but his writing – from 2008 – is cited in the same paragraph in reference to the high attainment of Asian students and further down in the textbook.
Napier said it had done its “best to give a clear and thorough account of Gillborn’s views”. But another sociology teacher, Charlotte Belmore, said: “This is not good enough.
“There has been no attempt whatsoever to update or diversify this book since 2015. It is lazy and shows a complete lack of regard for wanting to rectify or soften the blow of such stereotypical and racist views.”
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Amid the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd’s killing at the hands of police in the US, there have been calls from campaigners to change what children in the UK are taught in schools. Some say it is the responsibility of the government to diversify the curriculum, while others say exam boards must take the lead.
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Belmore, who teaches A-level sociology in one the most diverse schools in Derby with a high Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) student population, told HuffPost UK that she is “forever” having to apologise in advance for what the textbook designed to help with their studies is saying – about them, their families and culture.
“We approach it from a no nonsense and evaluative approach which is not how I should be spending my lessons,” she added.
Another passage in the book, under the heading “attitudes and values”, suggests “mainstream” culture equates to success and Black culture brings about failures.
It reads: “Cultural deprivation theorists see lack of motivation as a major cause of the failure of many Black children. Most children are socialised into the mainstream culture, which instils ambition, competitiveness and willingness to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve long-term goals.
“This equips them for education. By contrast, cultural deprivation theorists argue, some Black children are socialised into a subculture that instils a fatalistic, ‘live for today’ attitude that does not value education and leaves them unequipped for success.”
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Belmore said: “I could go on and on about the failings of this book, as the leading textbook for AQA they [Napier] have an obligation to staff and students alike to present a product that is reflective and will offer sociology students an understanding of what their society looks like, to really showcase the fantastic diversity of our population, to have relevant and up date evidence.
“Instead what we have is more of the same. More out of touch and damaging evidence.”
A spokesperson from Napier Press told HuffPost UK: “The exam board AQA requires students to study cultural deprivation theory as part of their course and there have been exam questions on it. The AQA Teaching Guide states the minimum content to be covered for “differential educational achievement of social groups by class, gender and ethnicity in contemporary society” and includes cultural deprivation.
“In common with other A-level sociology textbooks our book is simply reporting cultural deprivation theorists’ views, in line with AQA’s requirements. We do not share these views and our book in fact goes on to criticise cultural deprivation theorists’ explanations of ethnic differences in educational achievement.”
Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
AQA has denied the the theory was required learning.
A spokesperson said: “Learning about cultural deprivation theory isn’t compulsory – and there are plenty of different studies on differential educational achievement to choose from – so there was no need whatsoever for this unapproved textbook to focus on these particularly offensive claims.”
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Lisa Akhtar, a London teacher, told HuffPost UK that “the stereotypes embedded within the textbook are unfair mainly to Black people but also Asian people.
“They [students] ask the question: ‘Ms, why is the book racist about us? We’re deemed to fail education, we’re not socialised properly’,” Akhtar, who’s of south Asian descent, said.
“Can you imagine how devastating [that would be] if you’re a Black student sitting in an A-level sociology class?
“I’m conscientious and know what’s in that book, so I won’t cover it. But there are other teachers, non-specialist, who won’t understand that and will teach what’s in there.”
Akhtar added: “I would like them to change the book. We’re relying on these textbooks with outdated studies – but when they go to university, they’re not equipped for sociology at undergraduate level because what they’ve learned is not up to date.”
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Akhtar said as well as placing Black students at a disadvantage, these teachings fuel harmful stereotypes among white students too.
“When you’re an educator, teaching content such as: ‘If you’re Black you’re more likely to come from single parent families’, ‘if you’re Black you’re not adequately socialised and can’t speak English properly’...to white students, imagine how they might go onto university (and into life), meet a Black person and think the worst.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--'Shameful' And 'A Sign Of Weakness' – Why Right-Wingers Are 'Least Likely To Wear Face Masks'

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A study has found that people who identify as right-wing politically are more reluctant to wear face covers to stop the spread of coronavirus.
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Researchers in the UK and US discovered that those who were more right-leaning were more likely to agree that wearing a covering is “not cool”, “shameful” and a “sign of weakness”.
It comes as people will need to wear a face covering in shopping centres, banks, takeaway outlets, sandwich shops and supermarkets under new regulations due to come into force in England on Friday.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) now recommends face coverings in indoor spaces and when social distancing is not possible after updating earlier guidance.
The research - carried out by Dr Valerio Capraro, a senior lecturer in economics at Middlesex University, and Hélène Barcelo, from the Mathematical Science Research Institute in Berkeley, California – analysed people’s intention to wear face coverings.
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In one study, subjects were asked about how likely they were to wear a face mask outside the home, engaging in social activities and with people from another household, and how they best best described their political views.
The survey of 2,459 people living in the US using the crowdsourcing website, Amazon Mechanical Turk, found that the average for left-leaning respondents’ intentions to wear a face covering was higher than right-leaning people.
After being asked if they would agree or disagree with the statements “wearing a mask is not cool”, “wearing a mask is a sign of weakness” and “wearing a mask is shameful”, they also found that right-leaning people were more likely to express negative emotions when wearing a mask.
OLI SCARFF via Getty Images
A second study, which surveyed 1,920 people living in the US again using the crowdsourcing website Amazon Mechanical Turk, had the same outcome.
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Dr Capraro said: “This study was conducted in the US. However, looking at how politicians behave across Europe and the UK, I think it’s fair to say that we are seeing a behaviour that is consistent with this data.
“In the UK, until very recently there were no pictures of Boris Johnson wearing a mask. He started wearing one when it became mandatory, exactly in line with our data.
“Our data show that right-wing leaning people intend to wear a face mask less than left-wing leaning people. Interestingly, this difference is particularly strong in US counties where wearing a face mask is not mandatory. In counties where wearing a face mask is mandatory, left-leaning people are still more likely than right-leaning people to wear a face mask, but the difference across the political divide is much smaller, and almost non-existent.
“In sum, making it mandatory to wear a face mask has a greater effect on right-leaning people, compared to left-leaning people, who wear a face mask relatively independently of whether it is mandatory or not.”
The researchers also found that men are less likely wear face masks than women, and more inclined to see wearing one as “shameful” and a “sign of weakness”. People are much more likely to wear face masks if they rely on reasoning instead of emotion, they also say.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--Demi Lovato Announces Engagement To Max Ehrich: 'I'm Ecstatic'

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Singer and actor Demi Lovato has announced she’s engaged and is “honoured” to accept Max Ehrich’s “hand in marriage.”
“I love you more than a caption could express but I’m ecstatic to start a family and life with you,” Demi wrote to her fiancé under a gallery of romantic beach proposal photos from Malibu, California.
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“When I was a little girl, my birth dad always called me his ‘little partner’ - something that might’ve sounded strange without his southern cowboy like accent,” Demi said. “To me it made perfect sense. And today that word makes perfect sense again but today I’m officially going to be someone else’s partner.”
Demi – the former Disney Channel star who recently appeared in Will Ferrell’s Eurovision Song Contest – and Max got together in March, Entertainment Tonight reported.
Demi popped into the frame while Max – perhaps best known for multiple seasons on The Young and the Restless – performed an Instagram Live session during the coronavirus lockdown to make their relationship Insta-official.
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Their pairing went a bit more public in May, when they shared a kiss in Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s Stuck With U music video, People noted.
The Sorry Not Sorry singer gushed about Max in her engagement Insta. “I knew I loved you the moment I met you,” she said, adding that she’s never felt “so unconditionally loved.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Is Boris Johnson Tiptoeing Towards An Apology Over Coronavirus Deaths?

Boris Johnson gestures during a visit to Tollgate Medical Centre in Beckton, East London. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Lessons learned
“What is the point of this teaching of mine, and of this/Learning of theirs? It all goes down the same abyss.” DH Lawrence’s ‘Last Lesson of the Afternoon’ was probably on Boris Johnson’s O-Level English poetry anthology just as it was mine (he’s just a couple of years older than me).
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This evening, with parliament fully rising for its summer break (the Lords was sitting) and politics finally calming down, that feeling of a classroom just longing for the bell hangs heavily in the air. And exactly a year after he first became PM, it’s somehow apt that Johnson has done a “Friday night drop” with a BBC interview that trails his first hint of what he got wrong on coronavirus.
With the schools already on holiday and many Brits hoping for a much-needed staycation if not a quick trip across an air bridge, most people’s attention is drifting away from politics. So Johnson probably felt this was as good a time as any to gently start the long process of edging towards some kind of responsibility for the UK’s huge death toll.
He began the journey last week, when he told Ed Davey in PMQs that “certainly we will have an independent inquiry into what happened”, confirming for the first time some kind of official probe into the pandemic and his government’s handling of it.
Tonight, he admits for the first time that “we didn’t understand (the virus) in the way that we would have liked in the first few weeks and months” and that the single biggest thing was a failure to see “at the beginning” the asymptomatic extent of its transmission. “There are things that we need to learn about how we handled it in the early stages.”
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But on the key issue of whether there was a delay in implementing a lockdown which ultimately cost lives, Johnson said this: “Maybe there were things we could have done differently.” Note that certainly wasn’t him admitting he should have done things differently, contrary to what some are claiming. Those key qualifiers of “maybe” and “could” rendered the whole sentence so vague as to be not very useful at all.
Still, it’s a start and this will be a long road, one suspects, to culpability or some kind of reckoning. There was also, however, another strong hint that he will try and spread the blame, saying that when you “listen to the scientists”, these issues of timing of lockdown are “very open questions as far as they are concerned”.
I’ve wondered in the past why the PM hasn’t started talking about a national memorial to all those who have died from Covid. The government’s own latest total for the number of such deaths stands at 45,677. But maybe it’s that fear of a second wave, one that will have even less hiding place for him politically, that means the numbers could grow so substantially that any attempt to record those lost will be rapidly overtaken by events.
There could be further iterations of Johnson’s admissions of mistakes in coming weeks or months, as some around him know a form of acknowledgement has to be made. Contrast though the way Nicola Sturgeon has herself been much more frank for what may well be similarly catastrophic blunders on care homes and other issues in Scotland.
The First Minister has already said: “We will all have made mistakes, and I will learn from those mistakes.” Sturgeon added: “I will probably for the rest of my life, not just the rest of my time as First Minister, look back and ask ‘did we do everything we could have done?’ These are horrendously difficult judgements that we’re making as best we can.”
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Those words were a reminder why polling now shows that even some Brexit-voting Scots and previous ‘No’ voters in the 2014 referendum think Sturgeon has handled this crisis much better than the PM. The scientific advice has been the same for both of them, and their solutions roughly similar, but their handling of scrutiny and questions has been very different. With the break up of the Union possibly Johnson’s biggest political challenge this parliament, he needs to learn those lessons too.
If Johnson were as frank and open as Sturgeon, he could also perhaps clear the political space ahead of that independent inquiry, even as the winter battle with flu and covid looms. He and his newly minted government have been stress-tested like no other in recent memory over these past few months. But the virus won’t be going on a holiday this summer, and neither should the PM’s conscience.
Quote Of The Day
“There’s all these anti-vaxxers now. They are nuts, they are nuts.”
Boris Johnson on why vaccination is the key to fighting the pandemic
Friday Cheat Sheet
New measures to curb obesity are due to be unveiled by the PM and Matt Hancock next week, including a ban on TV junk food adverts before 9pm and a possible total ban on online ads.
Older people were “catastrophically let down” and many died before their time in the pandemic, Age UK has told a Commons cross-party inquiry chaired by Lib Dem MP Layla Moran.
Around 30 million in England - including all over-50s - are to be offered a free flu vaccine this year, the prime minister said.
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False claims that a dead union member was given a vote in a narrowly fought selection battle to succeed Unite’s Len McCluskey should be “treated with the contempt they deserve”, a leaked report into the affair has revealed.
A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after attacking the Guardian columnist Owen Jones.
Labour’s shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens urged Ofcom to review the licence of Russian news agency RT in the light of “troubling revelations” in the ISC report.
What I’m Reading
The Case For And Against Banning TikTok - Vox
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Each week, the HuffPost UK Politics team unpack the biggest stories from Westminster and beyond. Search for Commons People wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe.
Housekeeping
This is the final WaughZone before parliament returns in September. It’s been a frantic, long run since last summer and I need a break and you probably do too. Many thanks as ever for all your emails, phone calls, tip-offs, comments and general goodwill that makes this all worthwhile. See you the other side of the break...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Probe Into Unite Union Selection Dismisses 'Dead Man Was Given Vote' Claim

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False claims that a dead union member was given a vote in a narrowly fought selection battle to succeed Unite’s Len McCluskey should be “treated with the contempt they deserve”, a leaked report into the affair has revealed.
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In the crucial election for the endorsement of the union’s United Left faction last weekend, veteran shop steward Steve Turner defeated rival Howard Beckett by just three votes.
The result means Turner is now favourite to replace McCluskey at the head of one of Britain’s biggest unions when the election for a new general secretary begins next year.
But supporters of Beckett, who is a vociferous critic of Keir Starmer, challenged the result with claims that irregularities had occurred in the ballot – including one startling allegation that a vote had been cast in the name of a deceased union member.
A report into the conduct of the selection, leaked to HuffPost UK, dismissed suggestions that a Turner-supporting activist who died earlier this year had been given a vote.
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“We condemn completely allegations that a vote was provided to and cast by the recently deceased and long-time member of the UL, the well-respected comrade [name removed]. We treat those making such allegations with the contempt they deserve.”
The blog Skwawkbox, a strong supporter of Beckett, had claimed that “at least one deceased member was allowed to vote”.
The report by the independent ballot scrutineer, UK Engage, and United Left chair Jim Kelly, also dismissed claims that 11 Beckett-supporting union members had not been sent ballot papers.
It concluded that all 11 had ballot papers sent to the addresses provided and verified by Progressive United Left Scotland (PULS) – the largest faction of United Left north of the border – prior to the hustings and vote last Saturday.
Howard Beckett PA
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The report reveals that Beckett asked a string of questions about the conduct of the selection – including how many emails bounced back, and what role was played by the small number of United Left members in Scotland who are not part of PULS but instead make up the rival “United Left Scotland” sub-group. PULS backed Beckett while ULS did not.
Of the 1,089 United Left members eligible to vote across the entire UK and Ireland, 17 ballot emails “bounced” back, but only four people requested a change of address and then voted successfully.
Ten members of United Left Scotland voted. They were “constitutionally” eligible to do so, the report found, and all supplied Unite membership numbers and email addresses.
The report also dismissed other complaints by those it said were unconnected with the election.
“Following the close of the vote several ‘complaints’ and ‘allegations’ have appeared on various on-line social media platforms,” it states.
“These have contained no substance or evidence but have been supportive of the unsuccessful candidate [Beckett]. We have not sought to investigate any of these ‘complaints’ or ‘allegations’, many of which are made by people with no connection with our union or the UL.”
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United Left Results Breakdown HuffPost UK
The leaked report contains the full breakdown of the ballot results and shows how nearly two thirds of Beckett’s vote – 237 of his 267 supporters – came from the PULS faction.
A third of Turner’s 370 votes came from London, where he started his union career as a bus conductor 38 years ago.
But he beat his rival in every region other than the East Midlands. In the West Midlands, where Beckett was acting regional director in 2018, Turner narrowly won by 32 votes to 28.
It remains unclear whether Beckett intends to run for the general secretary job, despite his defeat.
Turner, a former Militant member who was backed by the Communist Party, is expected to face a challenge from Gerard Coyne, the centre-right candidate who was narrowly beaten by McCluskey in 2018.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--‘We Need A Jobs Guarantee Programme To Support Our Most Vulnerable Workers’

‘We Need A Jobs Guarantee Programme To Support Our Most Vulnerable Workers’
Unemployment is predicted to reach record highs in the UK as the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic begins to show. But according to one economist, it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way. Pavlina Tcherneva, director of the Economics program at Bard College, New York, believes a federal jobs programme which guarantees work for anyone who applies could significantly help during moments of financial crisis.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--The Only Female Tetraplegic Racing Driver In The World Nathalie McGloin Brings More People To The Tr

The Only Female Tetraplegic Racing Driver In The World Nathalie McGloin Brings More People To The Track
Tetraplegic racer Nathalie McGloin wants people with disabilities to experience what it’s like to speed around a track. She founded Spinal Track to let them do just that. After breaked her spine in a car injury when she was at school, McGloin decided she wasn’t going to let her injury stop her from doing whatever she wanted. Now she races a hand-controlled Cayman S in the Porsche Club Championship and Classic Sports Car Club, competing against able-bodied men.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--How Covid Waste Is Affecting The Planet

How Covid Waste Is Affecting The Planet

How Covid Waste Is Affecting The Planet
The rise of single-use plastics to tackle the coronavirus is understandable, but as face masks become mandatory the decision over which type to have is becoming more important. Single use plastic is winding up in our oceans, but the pandemic is also allowing companies and governments to cover reversing on decisions and action that will help reduce our plastic waste.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Owen Jones' Attacker, 40, Jailed For Two Years And Eight Months

Owen Jones outside Snaresbrook Crown Court where he was giving evidence in the trial of James Healy. PA Wire/PA Images
A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after attacking the Guardian columnist Owen Jones.
Football hooligan James Healy, from Portsmouth, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday after attacking the journalist in August last year because of his political beliefs and his sexuality.
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Healy admitted assaulting Jones outside of a pub in August last year, but denied being motivated by Jones’s sexuality or political campaigning – claiming he did not know who he was.
After a two-day hearing to determine Healy’s motive, Recorder Judge Anne Studd QC previously found the unprovoked attack could only be motivated by Jones’s media profile as a left-wing polemicist.
She added: “I therefore propose to sentence Mr Healy on the basis that this was a wholly unprovoked attack on Mr Jones by reason of his widely published left-wing and LGBTQ beliefs by a man who has demonstrable right-wing sympathies.”
Following Healy’s arrest, a search of his home found a number of items connected to far-right ideology, including a collection of pin badges linked to white supremacist groups.
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The Chelsea FC fan – who has a string of convictions for football-related violence – had argued he “had the hump” because the victim had bumped into him and spilled his drink.
Jones suffered cuts and swelling to his back and head, and bruises all down his body in the incident outside the Lexington pub on the Pentonville Road in Islington, north London, on August 17.
In his evidence, Jones said: “I’m an unapologetic socialist, I’m an anti-racist, I’m an anti-fascist and I’ve consistently used my profile to advocate left-wing causes.”
Appearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, Healy was given a two-year, eight-month prison sentence for affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
His two co-defendants – Charlie Ambrose, from Brighton, and Liam Tracey, from Camden – were given suspended sentences of eight months each, suspended for two years after pleading guilty to affray over the incident.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Tune In July 29 For The Fabric Of Reality Immersive Fashion Show

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You may think you’ve seen what a virtual fashion show will look like by now, but designers are only beginning to explore the possibilities of showcasing their creations in immersive, interactive environments.
Ready to experience fashion in a completely novel way? Prepare to have your mind blown.
The wait is nearly over: RYOT, Verizon Media’s in-house creative studio, presents The Fabric of Reality, a first-of-its-kind virtual reality fashion show featuring three designers collaborating with VR artists, which premieres on July 29th.
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Created in partnership with the Museum of Other Realities, the Fashion Innovation Agency at London College of Fashion, UAL and Kaleidoscope, this virtual reality fashion exhibition invites viewers to dive into the story and inspiration behind a fashion collection, interacting with the clothes and storyworlds the designers and artists have invented.
Sabinna x Vlad Designer Sabinna's collaborated on a virtual storyworld with immersive artist VRHUMAN, using handcraft techniques to create a world inspired by nature
The fashion spectacle showcases the magic that can happen when visionary creatives come together, like fashion media practitioner Damara and VR artist Sutu (aka Stuart Campbell), whose storyworld shows nature in action, with a morphing sculptural garment at its centre. The duo also experiment with face filters (which take on new relevance as we become a society of mask-wearers).
Charli Cohen’s storyworld, created with VR designers Ana Duncan and Joy, focuses on Sanrio character Gudetama and tackles stigmas around mental health, while designer Sabinna, who collaborated with VR artist Vladimir Ilic (aka VRHUMAN), uses her storyworld and garment to transport us to a post-lockdown reality where we escape by exiting into the natural world outside.
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You don’t need a VR headset to tune in for the live stream of the show on July 29 at 6:30pm BST on Yahoo Style and HuffPost UK in 2D.
Of course, you can also join in using your own VR equipment from 6pm BST - head to the registration page for a user’s guide and to sign up at https://thefabricofreality.splashthat.com/.
The show will be available to view for 12 months on the Museum of Other Realities multiplayer VR platform, for those with VR headsets, like the HTC Vive Cosmos or Pro.
Techstyler Techstyler founder and senior Forbes contributor, Brooke Roberts-Islam, will be hosting The Fabric of Reality event
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The Fabric of Reality experience is hosted by Brooke Roberts-Islam, an established journalist and fashion sustainability advocate, as well as the founder of Techstyler and BRIA, a fashion innovation agency.
Not only will The Fabric of Reality showcase the immense possibilities available when presenting fashion in the virtual realm, but it will also allow for new opportunities for designers to show off their creativity, as well as engaging viewers in topics beyond fashion, like mental health, sustainability and inclusivity.
At the event, the designers and artists will be on hand to discuss their garments and storyworlds and to talk a bit about their inspiration and motivations. They’re also open to questions from the audience.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Former Home Secretary Gets Late Windrush Victim's Name Wrong But Admits Government 'Let Her Down'

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Sajid Javid got the name of Windrush victim Paulette Wilson wrong in a tweet paying tribute to the campaigner after she died on Thursday.
The former home secretary posted a tribute in response to the news of Wilson’s unexpected death at the age of 64 – but called her Pauline.
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Javid wrote: “Very saddened to hear this.
“Pauline, and so many others, were let down by the Home Office.
“We must keep working to make sure this never happens again. Thoughts with her family and friends. May she RIP.”
The error came despite Javid having previously “liked” a tweet by his successor Priti Patel naming Wilson.
Javid’s tweet has since been deleted and replaced with the correct spelling of Wilson’s name.
Very saddened to hear this. Paulette, and so many others, were let down by the Home Office. We must keep working to make sure this never happens again. Thoughts with her family and friends. May she RIP. https://t.co/NVQ5Z9RoXC — Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 24, 2020
Wilson, a Windrush campaigner who was left destitute while fighting for her rights as a British citizen, died a month after she delivered a 130,000-strong petition to Downing Street calling for action to address the failings which led to the scandal.
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Her daughter said she found her mother early on Thursday, and she appeared to have died in her sleep, PA Media reported.
Wilson, from Wolverhampton, came to Britain from Jamaica aged 10 in the late 1960s. She attended school in Britain, paid national insurance contributions for 34 years and worked hard to build a life in the UK.
Former home secretary Sajid Javid sent out a tweet in response to the death of Paulette Wilson, in which he called her Pauline. REUTERS/Simon Dawson and CHRIS J RATCLIFFE VIA GETTY IMAGES
The grandmother-of-one was a chef who worked in the House of Commons restaurant serving meals to MPs and also volunteered at her local church, preparing meals for homeless people.
Wilson spent two years under the threat of deportation and was wrongly locked up in a detention centre before being told she could stay in the UK in 2017.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-27--Toddler Falls From Block Of Flats In East London

City of London Police - Do Not Cross barrier tape HieronymusUkkel via Getty Images
A toddler has been taken to hospital after falling from a block of flats in east London.
The Metropolitan Police said they were called to East India Dock Road in Poplar shortly after 6.50pm on Monday to reports that a child had “fallen from height”.
The child is in a critical but stable condition, police said on Tuesday morning, and had been transferred to a specialist hospital.
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Police, London Ambulance Service (LAS) and an air ambulance attended the scene, and the child was taken to hospital.
A Met spokesman said no arrests have been made and the child’s condition is not yet known.
1/2 - Police called at 18:54hrs to East India Dock Road #Poplar #E14 to reports of a child fallen from height from a residential building.
Officers attended with LAS.
The child, believed to be a toddler, has been taken to hospital - we await a condition update. — Tower Hamlets Police (gov.uk/coronavirus) (@MPSTowerHam) July 27, 2020
2/2 - Officers remain on scene & road closures are in place at junction with Chrisp Street and Newby Place. Motorists should use other routes.
Any witnesses or those with dash cam footage should call police ref CAD 6419/27 July. — Tower Hamlets Police (gov.uk/coronavirus) (@MPSTowerHam) July 27, 2020
A road closure was in place as of 8.30pm at East India Dock Road’s junction with Chrisp Street and Newby Place.
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LAS said the child was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to a major trauma centre by ambulance.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-27--Treasury Considering ‘Amazon Tax’ On Online Shopping In Bid To Save High Street

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Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak are considering an online sales tax to help high street retailers compete with tech giants like Amazon, Downing Street has confirmed.
The Treasury will look at the idea as an alternative to business rates, creating a new levy that would add about 2% to the price of all goods bought on the internet.
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Some critics fear that the move would be regressive, hitting the poorest more than the rich, and would hit hard-pressed consumers in the pocket rather than online firms directly.
But No.10 said that the policy could be used to raise billions in extra income for public services.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said that a call for evidence had been issued as part of a new review of all aspects of the UK’s business rates system.
“As part of this we will consider the case for introducing alternative taxes as part of the review, including an online sales tax,” the spokesman said.
“The pandemic has had a significant impact on how business is done and the effect of this will become clearer over time.
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“We will continue to support businesses as far as possible but we must also ensure that the tax system raises sufficient revenue to fund our vital public services.”
Sales of goods online have soared by 50% during the coronavirus outbreak as Britons were forced to stay at home to shop.
With many non-food high street retailers suffering badly in the pandemic, firms like Tesco have claimed that an online shopping levy or ‘Amazon tax’ could raise £1.5bn a year, enough to cut business rates by 20% for all retailers.
SIPA USA/PA Images
Any new online retail sales tax would come on top of the digital services tax which came into force in April and which levies a separate 2% charge on company revenues at source.
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Shadow Treasury chief secretary Bridget Phillipson told HuffPost UK that the principle of getting tech firms to pay their fair share was right, but warned against any move that would add yet more costs onto those struggling with household bills.
“Time after time the Tories have disadvantaged businesses based on bricks compared to businesses based on clicks,” she said.
“So we will need to see the detail of any government proposals to ensure they actually help our high streets instead of just putting up prices for consumers.”
According to a TaxWatch study earlier this year, five of the biggest tech companies operating in the UK generated profits estimated at £8.1billion from British customers in 2018.
But they paid only £237m in taxes on these profits in the UK – an effective tax rate of just 2.9%.
European finance ministers have already warned the Covid-19 crisis has made tech firms “more powerful and more profitable”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-27--I've Been On A Weight Management Programme. Here's Why It Didn't Work.

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This article contains mentions of disordered eating, suicidal thoughts and weight loss.
The trainee GP looked at me with terror in her eyes. After years of tears and suicidal thoughts, I had plucked up enough courage to see a doctor. “I think I have depression and binge eating disorder” was the sentence that caused her to freeze. My faith in her helping me was fading rapidly, as the silence between us grew longer.
She hastily left the room, returning with a leaflet. It was for a weight management programme that combined just six weeks of therapy with months of fortnightly meetings. It wasn’t the mental health support I’d hoped for; more like a doctor-approved Slimming World, something I’d already tried and failed at. But it was all I had, so I called them.
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The therapy was disastrous the first time around. I wasn’t ready for it, and cut it short. Months after, I requested more. The second attempt was helpful, but just as we were getting to the good stuff, the six weeks were over. I asked, but there was no pathway to provide me any more support.
Going to the group meetings was different. Back then, I was still heavily invested in diet culture. I believed losing weight was the key to happiness; that all my problems would disappear and my life could finally start, if only I could be thin.
spukkato via Getty Images Female leg stepping on weigh scales. Healthy lifestyle, food and sport concept.
Every other Thursday I’d drive to a grim, artificially lit community centre, sit with a dozen other fat people, and talk about why we were fat. There were people of all ages; young mothers, middle-aged businessmen, older people with wheelchairs. Some were only there to lose weight to qualify for bariatric surgery – an unthinkable last resort for me, but one they’d been pushed to after years of dieting failure. All of us had a common goal: escaping the fleshy prison we’d built for ourselves.
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The sessions varied. There was one on portion sizes, and how an extra cup of tea a day adds up to hundreds of calories worth of milk over a year. There was one on “mindful eating” – a particularly cringeworthy experience where we were given a single raisin, and listened to our muscle-bound group leader talk soothingly about the taste and texture of it, letting it go gloopy and foul on our tongues before we could finally swallow. We asked whether we should try fasting, if fruit juice is actually bad for you, and if it’s okay to eat after 6pm. There was far too much focus on the minutiae of what we were putting in our mouths, and not a scrap of critical thinking about weight stigma, or the socio-economic factors that contribute to our health.
“I worry about the long-term impact on our self-esteem and mental health of treating bigger bodies as a problem to be solved.”
Most embarrassing was the exercise. For twenty minutes we walked around the room, doing light aerobics and stretches. We watched each other’s rounded figures shaking and sweating, heads down in humiliation. I was training for a 10k at the time, and played netball three times a week. For me, exercise wasn’t the problem – even if it was, I struggled to understand how a few minutes of walking every fortnight would really make a difference. It felt more like a ritual designed to induce shame over our bodies than to help us feel good about them.
Just like Slimming World, there were regular weigh-ins, and we kept a food diary. Any progress I might have made was reduced to nothing but a number on a scale. To focus on weight is to ignore so many other factors that contribute to our health. The Health At Every Size movement is an example of a different way of thinking – it challenges the assumption that to be thin is to be healthy, and advocates for a more compassionate, holistic view of health that people of any weight can work towards.
That the government’s new “obesity strategy” includes expanding weight management services, and doctors even being incentivised to prescribe them, deeply unsettles me. I worry about the long-term impact on our self-esteem and mental health of treating bigger bodies as a problem to be solved. I worry about fatness being further demonised, and how that will increase the discrimination that fat people already face when they see their GP. I worry how many more lives will be lost – not because of Covid-19, but because of the often fatal consequences that come from living in such a fatphobic society.
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I finished my sessions around 20lbs lighter. That might sound like a success, but as is the case for so many who go through these programmes, it didn’t last. Four years on, I have gained that weight back and more. A weight management programme didn’t bring me health, peace or happiness – but finding a way to stop hating my body, treat it a little more kindly, and forget about weight loss certainly has.
Sophie Butcher is a freelance journalist.
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-27--Grant Shapps Cuts Holiday Short To Sort Out Quarantine Fiasco He Helped Create

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Grant Shapps is to cut his holiday short and race back to the UK in order to sort out the same quarantine fiasco that requires him to self-isolate for two weeks upon his return.
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The transport secretary only began his holiday on Saturday and appears to have spent most of it dealing with the government’s last minute change to travel rules for Brits on holiday in Spain.
In a decision announced just five hours before it came into force, Spain was removed from the UK’s list of safe destinations after it saw a spike in the number of coronavirus cases.
In a statement on Monday evening, Shapps said: “Thousands of people have seen their holidays disrupted or cancelled due to the necessary emergency imposition of quarantine restrictions on Spain.”
He added: “I think it’s right to get back to work in the UK as soon as possible in order to help handle the situation.
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“The sooner I get back from Spain myself, the sooner I can get through quarantine. So I’m leaving my family to travel back to the UK on Wednesday.”
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In a separate development, the rules that had only applied to the Spanish mainland have now been extended to cover the Balearic and Canary Islands.
The decision comes after the Spanish government said it was in talks with the UK about excluding the Balearic and Canary Islands from its quarantine measures.
But health minister Lord Bethell said: “Within individual countries there is no way for us to control intra-country transport, it is therefore very difficult and challenging to have a regional exemption list, and that is why we’ve not been able to give exemptions to the Balearics.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-27--No.10 Slammed For Launching 'Obesity Crackdown' That Ignores Poverty

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A government crackdown on obesity by banning “buy one get one free” deals on unhealthy meals and a restriction on junk food adverts has been criticised as “hypocritical” and “victim blaming” by people on the ground who want to see the true causes of the health bomb tackled.
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Boris Johnson has unveiled a raft of new measures that also includes restaurants displaying calorie counts on menus and junk food adverts being banned on TV before 9pm.
And GPs will be asked to prescribe cycling to overweight patients following a warning from Public Health England that obese people are at greater risk of hospitalisation and death if they become ill with coronavirus.
But experts have accused the government of ignoring the real causes and major factors of obesity – such as poverty and inequality depriving people of healthier choices.
They say it is easier to “victim blame” or target advertisers than face the “uncomfortable truth”.
spukkato via Getty Images
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Others have blasted officials for launching the obesity campaign while simultaneously trying to coax people into fast food outlets such as McDonald’s, Burger King and Pizza Hut with their “Eat Out To Help Out” discount initiative.
Deals like 50% off in McDonalds and Pizza Hut courtesy of the government?
I'm confused.
You cannot have the cake and fight obesity! pic.twitter.com/4j4nKu4YJa — Jon Matthews (@jonmatthewsuk) July 27, 2020
One 36-year-old mum who was forced to rely on food banks after plunging into poverty told HuffPost UK that people struggling financially are less likely to eat healthily as the foods that are the cheapest are not necessarily the healthiest.
The Yorkshire mum of a 14-year-old boy explained that even those with the best of intentions are less likely to buy fruit and vegetables and choose a healthy diet if money is an issue.
She also admitted that, although she is incredibly grateful for the food she has received from food banks, the food is more likely to be unhealthy as it is usually tinned and processed, while fresh produce is rare.
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“When you’re poor, the choice of eating healthily is taken away from you.”
“Before we had to rely on food banks, I always cooked meals from scratch and tried to eat healthy and nutritious food,” she said.
“But since using food banks – for which we are very grateful – foods high in salt and sugar have become a daily part of our life.
“The problem is things like pasta, rice, noodles and tinned food are staples of food banks. But if you are using them in your diet for almost every meal, it is not good long term.
“My son had never had spaghetti hoops but this is a regular food given out at food banks. When you’re poor, the choice of eating healthily is taken away from you.”
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Financial poverty and time poverty are two major factors when it comes to obesity, Luke Billingham, a youth and community worker in Hackney, east London, told HuffPost UK.
“It is about being cash poor, time poor and not having access to the same things as more well off people,” he said.
“If you are rich, you might be a member of an expensive gym or maybe your company pays for a gym membership. You can afford to go to somewhere like Pret for a fancy £8 salad and you might have the leisure time to buy expensive ingredients and cook nutritious meals from scratch.
“But there are plenty of other people who would love to do these things but it takes more time and money than is available to them.
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“Individual choices made by people is part of the obesity problem, but it is about what is available to people. If they don’t have the money to buy healthy food or are time poor as they are working two jobs and are stressed, they don’t have those same choices.”
“If you are rich, you might be a member of an expensive gym or maybe your company pays for a gym membership. You can afford to go to somewhere like Pret for a fancy £8 salad.”
Billingham says while companies that profit from advertising junk food do play a part in obesity, he wants to highlight that this is not the only factor and there are many other reasons the government needs to tackle.
But he believes the government is deliberately ignoring many factors as they played a part in creating some of the inequalities that exist.
“I think the government has got a myopic view of individual choice,” he said. “People can only make choices in the context of the options and opportunities available to them.
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“Very little attention is paid to the day-to-day lives of people who are struggling financially.”
Luke Billingham, a youth and community worker in Hackney, London Luke Billingham
Billingham also pointed out that youth centres and leisure centres have been closed and school budgets have been cut. This means there are fewer free and easily accessible physical activities for people to engage in.
“The places that young people most love are the sports cages on estates – multi-use games areas where they can play basketball and football. Some are well maintained but others are neglected,” he said.
“If the government really wants to tackle child obesity, in my view, they would invest in things like these sports cages and in youth workers and community-based sports coaches, and put money into training young people to be sports coaches, too.
“But because it is the government who is responsible for removing a lot of these opportunities, it is an uncomfortable truth for them to face and it is convenient for them to blame individuals and advertisers rather than recognising the roles these things play in obesity.”
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Billingham added that the families of young people he sees struggling with these issues are those who lack money, time and facilities: “It is all about inequality and these three things need to be addressed.”
Professor John Ashton, former north west regional director of public health, slammed the government for its “victim blaming” approach to tackling obesity.
“The thing about this government is that they do not believe in tackling things from the root cause,” he said. “They are all about blaming it on people’s individual choices.
“It is a victim blaming approach by saying: ‘It’s up to you, really,’ and blaming it on what people buy.
“They are very reluctant to interfere with the commercial sector because it is easier to focus on and blame the individual. But they need to go further upstream to the production of food and there need to be incentives for things like processing lean meat.”
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Professor John Ashton John Ashton
Ashton told HuffPost UK the government measures such as banning junk food adverts until after 9pm are meaningless in his opinion.
“A 9pm watershed does not mean anything these days,” he said. “In this modern digital world, children are watching things on their tablets and on playback later on.
“They are playing with the advertisers – but they will simply find other ways to promote their foods.”
Obesity is a complicated issue and Ashton believes all the different factors need to be examined, not just individual choices, and the crisis needs to be addressed at its root.
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He says it all stems back to inequality and poverty. “Poorer people end up eating cheaper foods and the fatty stuff, which costs less,” he said.
“If you look back to the Second World War when we had rationing, we had some of the most well nourished and healthy people as poor families were getting the same as everyone else.
“We had a very healthy generation of pregnant women and babies born during and after the war as poor families who would have been facing starvation were getting the same rations so there was equality.”
“When we had rationing, we had some of the most well nourished and healthy people as poor families were getting the same as everyone else.”
Ashton says it is a shortage of time as well as money that is a huge problem for many families today. “In the 1950s, most women did not work,” he said. “But now in many couples, both are working and one of the biggest issues is time shortage and the disappearance of family mealtimes.”
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He told HuffPost UK education is another powerful weapon against obesity and he believes all children should get a free school meal. “School should be a place where all children should get balanced and nutritious food from a young age and get used to the taste of it as well as being educated about it,” he said.
“It is important obesity is tackled from infancy. It is the distortion of taste in childhood to salty and fatty food where you start losing the battle against obesity.”
Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, has also criticised the government’s measures to address obesity.
It has accused the government of putting the health of people affected by eating disorders at risk with things like calorie labelling and a promoted weight loss app.
Andrew Radford, Beat’s chief executive, said: “It is extremely disappointing the government has chosen to put at risk the health of people affected by eating disorders.
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“Without suitable safeguards, what could be useful in helping people with obesity risks harming people with eating disorders.”
“We recognise the importance of addressing obesity but the risks of stigmatising and poorly considered campaigns on those affected by eating disorders must be taken into account.
“In particular, we are concerned that the campaign will encourage people with eating disorders to use the promoted weight loss app which fails to prevent under 18s or people with normal or low-weight from using it, despite it not being suitable for them.
“Without suitable safeguards, what could be useful in helping people with obesity risks harming people with eating disorders.
“It is also worrying to see a renewed emphasis on measures such as calorie labelling as evidence clearly shows these risk exacerbating eating disorders of all kinds.”
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies says it is unlikely that extending advertising restrictions would lead to a large reduction in the amount of advertising for unhealthy food and drinks that people actually see.
This is because they feel firms could increase their advertising of these products after the watershed or on other types of media.
No.10 has denied it is sending out mixed messages by clamping down on “buy one get one free” promotions on unhealthy products while launching Eat Out To Help Out.
“The Eat Out To Help Out scheme applies to all restaurants and people will be able to choose a range of healthy options from the menus if they are struggling to lose weight.” the prime minister’s official spokesperson said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-27--Minister Accused Of 'Blaming The Poor' For Their Own Deaths From Coronavirus

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A Tory minister has been accused of “blaming the poor” for their own deaths from coronavirus after he suggested they higher mortality rates were due to the “decisions” they make about social distancing or their own health.
The remarks by hereditary peer and health minister Lord Bethell followed calls from Labour to explain why the least well off in have double the Covid-19 death rates of the richest in society.
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Former cabinet minister Lord Reid pointed out Office for National Statistics figures showing that, in England, the coronavirus mortality rate in the most deprived areas was 139.6 deaths per 100,000 compared to 63.4 deaths per 100,000 population in the wealthiest areas from March to June.
Reid added that, in June alone, you were 137.5% more likely to die of Covid if you were poor than if you were rich and demanded to know what measures the government was taking to combat the inequality.
Giving a coronavirus update to the House of Lords, which unlike the Commons is still in session until it breaks up for summer this week, Bethell replied that Reid “touches on a subject that is extremely sensitive and makes me feel emotional to think about it”.
Delivering his reply via video link, he then said: “He is entirely right that those who are least advantaged in society are hardest hit by this disease, and by lots of other diseases.
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“And there are behavioural reasons for that – the decisions that people make about social distancing, about their own health decisions…”
HuffPost UK understands that Bethell was at this point heckled by shadow Labour health minister Baroness Thornton, who said: “So, you’re blaming the poor, then?” Her remarks were not captured by the televised feed of the exchanges.
Unaware of the heckle, Bethell went on to say: “..and there are environmental reasons, about living conditions and the places in which they live, neither of which detract from the fact that this is a very sad and upsetting truth.”
Lord Bethell House of Lords
Bethell added that the government was “extremely conscious of the challenge” and was trying to focus on getting messages to “hard-to-reach communities who may not have heard the important messages on hygiene, on social distancing and on isolation, and we have in place a programme of marketing in order to reach these communities to communicate these important messages”.
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The remarks by the minister, who is part of Matt Hancock’s health team, follow rising concerns within NHS Test and Trace that vulnerable people and those with English as a second language are being disproportionately hit by outbreaks of the disease in areas like Blackburn and Leicester.
Shadow public health minister Alex Norris told HuffPost UK: “On Friday, Boris Johnson owned up to the harm caused by his Government’s slow response to Covid.
“Now ministers want to blame Covid on the most vulnerable in society. It won’t wash.”
Conservative party sources defended Bethell, saying that individual health choices were important part of public health policy but the key was to get messages to ‘hard to reach’ communities.
One ally said: “James feels passionately about tackling health inequalities and was making the important and profound point that a whole variety of factors contribute to health outcomes, including environment, living conditions and geography.
“He hates the fact that those who are the most disadvantaged in society are often the hardest hit by coronavirus and other diseases - and as he set out at length, is determined to do more to ensure we are reaching hard to reach communities with health messaging and support to try and tackle that injustice.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-27--UK's Daily Coronavirus Death Count Drops Below 10 For First Time Since March 13

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The UK has recorded seven more deaths of people who had tested positive for coronavirus in 24 hours – the first single digit total since March 13.
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The figures cover the period up to 5pm on Sunday, but the true number of deaths may be significantly different. Here’s a quick primer on what all the different numbers mean and how to understand them.
It brings the total number of people who have died after a positive test in the UK to 45,759 as of 5pm on Sunday. That may, however, include people who have died of unrelated illnesses after recovering from Covid-19 as the government was forced to admit earlier this month – although not yet enough to balance out the underreporting in other areas. Here’s a quick primer on how to make sense of the multiple updates that are published each day.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been more than 56,100 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate – likely to paint a truer picture, though several days out of date.
The government also said in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Monday, there had been a further 685 lab-confirmed cases. Overall, a total of 300,111 cases have been confirmed.
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Globally, however, the picture is far grimmer. The number of cases of coronavirus around the world has doubled in the last six weeks alone, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said the pandemic “continues to accelerate”.
Almost 16m cases have been reported to WHO.
In a separate development, the first case of Covid-19 in a UK pet was confirmed after a cat in England is believed to have caught the virus from its owners.
The UK’s chief veterinary officer revealed on the government’s website that the infection was confirmed following tests at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) laboratory in Weybridge on Wednesday.
The cat and its owners have since made a full recovery and there was no transmission to other animals or people in the household. The symptoms detected in the cat were “nasal discharge and shortness of breath”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-27--Chris Needs, BBC Radio Wales Presenter, Dies Aged 68

BBC Radio Wales presenter Chris Needs has died at the age of 68, following a short period of ill health.
The radio host was best known for presenting the Friendly Garden late-night phone-in show on the station for the last 18 years.
Chris Needs BBC
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BBC Wales confirmed Chris had died from a heart condition on Sunday, having presented his final show on Friday evening.
In a statement, it said: “It is with enormous sadness and regret that we confirm the death of Chris Needs following a short period of ill health.
“Through his Friendly Garden, Chris brought pleasure and comfort to thousands of listeners, from all over the world, who treated him like a true friend.”
It is with enormous sadness and regret that we confirm the death of Chris Needs MBE following a short period of ill health. Through his Friendly Garden, Chris brought pleasure and comfort to thousands of listeners, from all over the world, who treated him like a true friend. pic.twitter.com/ULOdkgGjRx — BBC Radio Wales (@BBCRadioWales) July 27, 2020
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Chris joined BBC Radio Wales in 1996, later talking over the late-night weekday slot, which was known for his mix of lighthearted and sober on-air exchanges with regular callers, with a large proportion of them being elderly.
Radio Wales’s editor Colin Paterson described Chris as “a true broadcasting legend”.
He said: “His contribution to Radio Wales can’t be underestimated, not least in recent months when he has provided comfort and companionship to our listeners.
“And for almost 20 years, the Friendly Garden has brought people together from across Wales and the world, from every walk of life. The ability to bring people together was one of his many strengths and I know the Garden team, along with all of us at Radio Wales will miss him.
“But our thoughts today are with Chris’s husband Gabe, his family and his friends at this incredibly sad time.”
Chris was born in Cwmafan, Neath Port Talbot, in 1954, and was also a classical pianist and actor.
In 2005, he was awarded an MBE by the Queen during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Radio 1 DJ Greg James was among those who paid tribute on Twitter.
Such sad news. Sending all our love from Radio 1. Loved featuring Chris on my show over the years. And it was an honour to have been welcomed into the Friendly Garden.
“What goes up a drainpipe down but...no hang on...what goes down a drainpipe up...oh I dunno!” — Greg James (@gregjames) July 27, 2020
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The breakfast show host wrote: “Such sad news. Sending all our love from Radio 1. Loved featuring Chris on my show over the years. And it was an honour to have been welcomed into the Friendly Garden.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-27--Transport Minister To Be Dragged Before Parliament Over Spain Quarantine Chaos

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A government minister is to be dragged before parliament to explain the sudden quarantine of travellers from Spain amid growing calls for extra financial help for those forced to self-isolate.
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Transport minister Baroness Vere will have to appear before peers on Tuesday to answer an emergency question granted to Labour by the House of Lords speaker, HuffPost UK can reveal.
Her boss, transport secretary Grant Shapps, is currently on holiday in Spain and facing a backlash from the weekend decision to reintroduce a 14-day quarantine on anyone returning from the country with just a few hours’ notice.
The move came as Downing Street defended its call for employers to “be understanding” of staff who fear they will lose income or their jobs if they stay at home for a fortnight on return from holidaying in Spain.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady and others complained that ministers’ decision to stop such workers claiming statutory sick pay should be swiftly reversed and payments increased to ensure no one was left out of pocket.
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No.10 left open the possibility of looking again at the bar on sick pay for those self-isolating on return from abroad, but stressed that advances of Universal Credit could be one way to provide financial help.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “We always keep our response to the pandemic under review and we regularly assess the support available but there is support available for those in need.”
He said the government expects employers to be “flexible” and “understanding” in allowing staff to work from home while self-isolating.
“Where this isn’t possible we would expect that many employers would have their own policies in place for quarantine and we know that some continue to offer full pay for all or some of the isolation period,” he said.
Passengers arriving at Birmingham Airport, as people arriving into England from holidays in Spain have been told they must quarantine when they return home. PA
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“But if there are people who need urgent support then they may be entitled to the new-style employment support allowance or Universal Credit.”
Anyone who was sacked for staying at home could appeal to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), he added.
But TUC chief O’Grady said: “The government must stop trying to pass the buck for its new quarantine guidance.
“Ministers must be crystal clear with employers that no one should lose their job or face financial hardship for following the government’s rules.
“And they should increase sick pay from £95 a week to at least the level of the ‘real living wage’ of £320 a week.
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“It’s not holidaymakers’ fault that the official advice has changed. Workers need reassurance from ministers that their livelihoods won’t be affected.”
Baroness Vere will be under pressure to appear in person for the Lords private notice question granted to Labour’s shadow Lords leader Baroness Smith for Tuesday. The peer has so far conducted her question times remotely via video link despite living in Norbiton, in south-west London.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, who along with Shapps and health secretary Matt Hancock imposed the dramatic curb on travel from Spain on Saturday night, said on a visit to Scotland that his own trip to Ibiza had been affected.
“I did crack a joke at the end [of the meeting] against myself but the principle point was that this is a very serious situation.
“The incidence of the virus is higher in north-east Spain [but] it is the case that the incidence of the virus is rising across Spain.
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“The fact that I may now have to alter my holiday plans is irrelevant to this decision. It’s an inconvenience for me but that’s nothing compared to the importance of putting public health first.”
Asked if other Britons’ holidays planned for other countries were at risk, Downing Street insisted that “no travel is risk-free” during the pandemic and warned holidaymakers that “disruption is possible” when heading abroad.
The spokesperson said: “Decisions on border measures and travel advice can be changed rapidly if necessary to help stop the spread of the disease.