thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Priti Patel Condemns Attack On Two Police Officers In Hackney

Police officers who stopped to help an apparent assault victim were set upon in a “disgraceful” attack which has been condemned by the home secretary and police chiefs.
A video posted on social media begins as an officer is on the ground grappling with a male. He is then kicked, while his female colleague is pushed when she tries to intervene.
Several men, including one with a baseball bat, surround the Scotland Yard officers swearing, shouting and filming on their phones, with one even dancing and taking a selfie during the assault.
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The full details of what happened before the filmed assault are not yet known.
Both officers suffered minor injuries in the incident, in Frampton Park Road, Hackney, east London, at around 3.30pm on Wednesday, Scotland Yard said.
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They had been flagged down by a member of the public who said they had been attacked and pointed them towards the suspects, a spokesperson added.
The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said attacks on officers seem to be increasing, adding: “Yet again this starkly shows the dangers @metpoliceuk face and the bravery they show each and every day keeping Londoners safe.”
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Chairman Ken Marsh said: “We are not society’s punchbags. We have families we want to go home to at the end of every shift. But the dangers are stark. And seemingly escalating.”
Home secretary Priti Patel tweeted: “Sickening, shocking & disgraceful.
“My thoughts are with the outstanding @metpoliceuk officers who were subject to this disgusting violent attack.”
Sickening, shocking & disgraceful.
My thoughts are with the outstanding @metpoliceuk officers who were subject to this disgusting violent attack. https://t.co/zPECxrQAkb — Priti Patel (@pritipatel) June 10, 2020
John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation, said: “Horrific, stomach churning scenes.
“Disgusting behaviour from those who attack the officers, those who film what’s going on and those who do nothing. They are cowards, the lot of them.”
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said two men, aged 20 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting police. They remain in custody in an east London police station.
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Superintendent Martin Rolston said: “This incident, which was captured on someone’s mobile phone is truly shocking.
“My officers went to the assistance of a member of the public – who asked for their help – after stating that they had been assaulted. What happened next is a reminder of the risks our officers take whilst going about their duties.
“It is fortunate that their injuries are not more serious. There is no place for this level of violence on our streets.”
Attacks on our police will not be tolerated. I urge anyone with information to come forward to ensure the perpetrators of this disgusting attack feel the full force of the law.
These brave officers were doing their duty and assisting the public - I wish them a speedy recovery. https://t.co/PRutCRRbMr — Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) June 10, 2020
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, added: “I utterly condemn the disgraceful attack on two Metropolitan Police officers this afternoon.
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“These brave officers were doing their duty and assisting the public. We owe them a debt of gratitude and I wish them a full and speedy recovery.
“Attacks on our police will not be tolerated. I urge anyone with information to come forward to ensure the perpetrators of this disgusting attack feel the full force of the law.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--My Pride Anthems: The Vivienne

My Pride Anthems: The Vivienne

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The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything, and that includes how we’re all celebrating Pride in 2020.
With huge public gatherings out of the question, we’re asking a range of LGBTQ celebrities and allies for their personal Pride anthems, to help us all get into the Pride spirit from lockdown.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne is the latest star to share her bespoke Pride playlist, which features hits from Whitney Houston (“she was just the voice, wasn’t she?”), Cher (“you’re talking to someone with a Cher tattoo”) and Céline Dion (“this is a really gay one”).
Ben Mak
“A good classic Pride anthem needs to be uplifting, and makes you wanna dance,” she explains during our My Pride Anthems interview. “Oh, and makes you want to get absolutely rotten on pink gin and Jagerbombs.”
Here are the five songs she chose...
Cher – Strong Enough
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“You can’t have a Pride playlist without a bit of Cher. Although Strong Enough is a love song – well, she’s singing about her man cheating – it can also be about being strong enough to be who you want to be.
“And you’re talking to someone that’s got Cher’s face tattooed on them. I think gay men look at people like Cher and Bette Midler, they’re just balls-to-the-wall women who don’t give a fuck. Breaking boundaries when society said they shouldn’t have been… they’re just amazing. And throw feathers and sequins on it, and of course the gays are going to come flocking.”
Whitney Houston – It’s Not Right It’s OK (Thunderpuss Remix)
“Whitney Houston was amazing – she was just the voice, wasn’t she? And this song… it’s just a bit of a banger, isn’t it? As soon as you hear that intro, it’s like, ‘right get the Jagerbombs, I’m going to the bar, ta-ra’.”
The Vivienne – Tonight
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“Pride’s come along, and we’re all stuck in the house, but I’m happy that I’ve got something to give people, a little single from me. I just want people to have fun and have a laugh to it, I mean I’m under no delusions I’m a bloody recording artist or anything like that, but I want people to have fun and have a drink.
“I just can’t wait for this to all be over, so we can get back to having a good old drag show. The first show we do after this will be the best we probably ever do, you’ll never be able to recreate that atmosphere again.”
Heather Small – Proud
“I always love a bit of Heather Small, it’s probably the one that everyone wants to listen to at Pride. It’s just a great song, and the lyrics… if you hear that in a gay bar or in the parade on Pride, it’s just absolutely perfect.”
Céline Dion – I’m Alive
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“Oh, this is a really gay one. I saw her in Las Vegas and she was amazing. And David, my husband, we were sat about 30 rows back, and this woman came and tapped him on the shoulder and said ‘are you with so-and-so?‘. He didn’t really have a clue what she’d said, so he just went ‘yeah’. So she then took us to the front row and sat us in these two seats, and we were like ‘how the hell has this happened?’, but we stayed there the entire night!”
The Vivienne’s single Tonight is available now to download and stream.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Barbara Windsor’s Deterioration ‘Shocking And Deeply Upsetting’, Says Ross Kemp

Ross Kemp has said it has been “shocking” and “deeply upsetting” to see Dame Barbara Windsor’s condition deteriorate following her Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
The actor spoke of his distress at the effect the disease has had on his former EastEnders co-star and on-screen mum in a first-person piece for The Sun.
Barbara Windsor with Ross Kemp and fellow EastEnders star Steve McFadden PA
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In the article, Ross descibed how Barbara – who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 – sometimes does not know who he is.
He said: “I see her as often as I can – every couple of months before the lockdown – and the deterioration in her condition has been shocking and, to those of us close to her, deeply upsetting.”
Detailing one particular visit to her home, he said: “I’ve been in Barbara Windsor’s house for just a few minutes. I’m sitting down with a cup of tea and a biscuit with my friend of three decades. I’m taken aback, but I can’t show it.
“When I arrived, she greeted me with a hug, as one of her closest friends... But now she clearly has no idea who I am.”
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In the piece, which coincides with his new ITV documentary Living With Dementia, he also spoke to Barbara’s husband Scott Mitchell, who said: “It’s not the Barbara that I knew. It’s not my wife Barbara any more.
“I’m Barbara’s carer. I’m still her friend, you know, I still love the bones of the woman but it’s not the Barbara I knew… that I live with.”
Barbara and husband Scott Mitchell ASSOCIATED PRESS
Earlier this year, Scott said Barbara’s condition had deepened, telling the Sunday Mirror: “I have to remember she doesn’t always realise it’s me. Sometimes she will say ‘Where is Scott? Do you know where my husband Scott is?’”
Her close friend Christopher Biggins also revealed she has been struggling with lockdown measures, as she can’t understand why people aren’t visiting her.
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He told The Sun: “She’s a little confused as to what’s going on because no one can visit her. She’s used to having a lot of visitors but now she’s asking why people have stopped coming to see her.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--There's An Actual Marmite Shortage And People Are Crushed

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Marmite is currently only producing small jars of its legendary spread, a tweet has suggested – and fans of the brown, sticky stuff are crushed by the news.
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The crowd-dividing toast topper, made with yeast extract, is now only being produced in a 250g size jar because of a shortage of brewers’ yeast, according to a message sent on the company’s official Twitter account on Wednesday.
When asked by a customer why larger 400g squeezy jars were tough to get hold of at the moment, the firm replied: “Due to brewers yeast being in short supply (one of the main ingredients in Marmite) supplies of Marmite have been affected.”
Hi Tim, due to brewers yeast being in short supply (one of the main ingredients in Marmite) Supplies of Marmite have been affected.
As a temporary measure we have stopped production of all sizes apart from our 250g size jar which is available in most major retailers. — Marmite (@marmite) June 10, 2020
“As a temporary measure we have stopped production of all sizes apart from our 250g size jar which is available in most major retailers.”
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Brewers slowed and stalled production when pubs were forced to shut in an attempt to slow the Covid-19 pandemic.
But beer is not the only thing that has been in short supply. Supermarket shoppers left shelves of flour, pasta and other household staples such as toilet roll bare in early spring as families stocked up at the start of lockdown.
When people caught on that Marmite could also be facing a shortage, they were pretty unimpressed.
I’ve just turned the news on to hear of a Marmite shortage - just when we thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse 😧 — Emma (@emusingemma) June 10, 2020
Reading worrying news this morning that there could be a #marmite shortage 😱 — andy wyman (@andywyman) June 11, 2020
There's a Marmite shortage? A possible shortage? It might last a month?
What the - I mean this quite literally - actual fuck? — 𝕊𝕚𝕞𝕠𝕟 𝔾𝕦𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕘𝕖 🇬🇧🏳🌈🇪🇺 (@PompeyPanda) June 10, 2020
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A Marmite shortage? Suddenly, it’s all got scary. — Peter Firth (@Peter_Firth_esq) June 11, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Emma Watson Speaks Up For Trans Community Amid JK Rowling Controversy: 'I Love You For Who You Are'

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Emma Watson has become the latest star to speak out in support of transgender people, after author JK Rowling posted a series of controversial tweets over the weekend.
The actor – best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series – joined former co-star Daniel Radcliffe and Fantastic Beasts actor Eddie Redmayne in publicly disagreeing with Rowling’s comments.
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On Saturday, the author sparked a backlash when she commented on an article titled Creating a More Equal Post-Covid-19 World for People Who Menstruate, pushing back against the headline for not referring to those who have periods as just ‘women’.
JK Rowling and Emma Watson David M. Benett via Getty Images
She added: “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”
Many accused Rowling of invalidating trans people, and reminded her that transgender people, non-binary people and gender-nonconforming people can also menstruate.
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Emma has now addressed the matter in a string of posts on Twitter, writing: “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.
“I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”
Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are. — Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) June 10, 2020
I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are. — Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) June 10, 2020
She also urged her followers to donate to the Mermaids charity, which helps transgender children, and the women’s fund Mama Cash.
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I donate to @Mermaids_Gender and @mamacash. If you can, perhaps you’ll feel inclined to do the same. ❤ — Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) June 10, 2020
Emma’s tweets came after Rowling shared a lengthy blog post on her website, in which she revealed that she was partly motivated to speak about trans issues because of her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
In the post, she detailed five reasons, including her interest in “both education and safeguarding” and “freedom of speech”.
Explaining her final reason, she wrote: “I’ve been in the public eye now for over 20 years and have never talked publicly about being a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor.
“This isn’t because I’m ashamed those things happened to me, but because they’re traumatic to revisit and remember.
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“I also feel protective of my daughter from my first marriage. I didn’t want to claim sole ownership of a story that belongs to her, too.
“However, a short while ago, I asked her how she’d feel if I were publicly honest about that part of my life and she encouraged me to go ahead.
“I’m mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who’ve been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces.”
In the blog post, Rowling also said she was motivated to address transgender issues via her Twitter account because of what she sees as an increasingly misogynistic society.
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“We’re living through the most misogynistic period I’ve experienced,” she continued.
“Back in the 80s, I imagined that my future daughters, should I have any, would have it far better than I ever did, but between the backlash against feminism and a porn-saturated online culture, I believe things have got significantly worse for girls.
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“Never have I seen women denigrated and dehumanised to the extent they are now.
“From the leader of the free world’s long history of sexual assault accusations and his proud boast of ‘grabbing them by the pussy’, to the incel (‘involuntarily celibate’) movement that rages against women who won’t give them sex, to the trans activists who declare that TERFs need punching and re-educating, men across the political spectrum seem to agree: women are asking for trouble.
“Everywhere, women are being told to shut up and sit down, or else.”
Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Donald Trump Is Acting Like Coronavirus Is Gone. It Isn’t

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On Wednesday, the number of US coronavirus cases leapt passed 2 million, according to a New York Times database, with outbreaks growing in 21 states and more than a dozen states seeing record surges.
But President Donald Trump’s latest messages on the pandemic are almost indistinguishable from the one he was sending at the very beginning: Everything is under control.
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“We’ve made every decision correctly,” Trump said in a rambling Rose Garden address on Friday. With hardly a mention of the virus and its ongoing devastation, he claimed, “We may have some embers or some ashes or we may have some flames coming, but we’ll put them out. We’ll stomp them out.”
Days later, his reelection campaign announced the return of Trump’s massive rallies on June 19, with an event in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“This month,” declared a video tweeted out by his campaign’s spokeswoman, “we’re back.” The words loomed between footage of thousands of Trump supporters packed tightly into massive stadiums.
There’s no mystery behind Trump’s eagerness to pretend the pandemic is all but over. His government’s response to the coronavirus, the ballooning economic crisis, and the waves of protests against police violence have sent Trump’s overall approval rating plummeting in every single group of likely voters.
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A return to normal is grievously out of step with a pandemic that continues to infect roughly 20,000 new people in the United States every day and kill up to 1,000.
But it is line with the White House’s general retreat from attempts to control the outbreak.
Last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, revealed that he had not met or spoken with Trump in two weeks. The federal official in charge of overseeing testing announced he will leave that position shortly, despite the fact that public health experts say the country is not conducting enough tests to safely reopen.
The White House coronavirus task force, where Fauci and others are supposed to coordinate the country’s response to the deadly pandemic, convened only sporadically through the end of May and now meets just twice a week.
Jared Kushner, a member of the task force, has privately assured people that the spread of the virus was under control, Politico reported on Wednesday. The White House is holding up its efforts to accelerate the development of vaccines – most of which are still months away from entering large human trials – as evidence that it is doing all it can to battle the virus.
“This doesn’t need to be the public ‘coronavirus show’ every day anymore,” an unnamed official told Politico.
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Rep. Rosa DeLauro holds up a photograph of partygoers in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, celebrating Memorial Day weekend without social distancing. ASSOCIATED PRESS
From a public health perspective, the timing of Trump’s retreat from fighting the virus could not be more combustible. More than a dozen states are experiencing record highs in new cases of coronavirus, just as summer weather, a broad rollback in stay-at-home orders, and mass demonstrations against police violence are bringing thousands of people out of their homes and into situations where the virus could easily spread.
Less than a third of states are conducting enough testing to warrant reopening, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, and only a handful are meeting all the benchmarks needed to contain the outbreak. The federal government has largely washed its hand of efforts to bring states in line, leaving the task of national coordination up to governors.
And on Wednesday, Trump said he plans to hold rallies in Oklahoma, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina, three of which are struggling to contain the virus. Arizona is currently seeing a rise in the number of new daily coronavirus cases. Florida recently reported its highest number of new daily cases since tracking began. And North Carolina is seeing its highest seven-day average of new infections.
Oklahoma’s inclusion is significant for a different reason. Tulsa, where Trump will hold his first rally since March, was the site of one of the deadliest race massacres in US history in 1921. June 19, when he plans to hold his rally, marks the anniversary of the end of slavery in the US and is also known as Juneteenth. Many instantly read the timing and location as a deliberate insult to protesters of police violence against Black people.
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His campaign has yet to say which safety measures it will enforce to attempt to reduce rampant transmission of the virus at the rallies.
At his Friday Rose Garden speech, the White House seated reporters close together, reportedly for better optics. The president himself has avoided taking basic safety measures like wearing a mask except when pressured. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has not convened mass rallies and avoided most large public appearances.
As of Wednesday, more than 110,000 people in the United States had died of Covid-19, according to the CDC.
“It isn’t over yet,” Fauci said on Tuesday.
He emphasised that the pandemic is only deepening long-standing inequalities, infecting and killing in Black communities at disproportionate rates.
Fauci also contradicted Trump’s claim on Friday that “we understand this disease now.” In fact, Fauci said, “we’re still at the beginning of really understanding.”
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Most states have nevertheless started to relax restrictions on business, travel and socialising. Although some regions are reopening with careful safety measures in place after seeing a decline in new cases, in 21 states, The New York Times found, the number of new cases is climbing.
This week, 14 states plus Puerto Rico reported their highest ever seven-day average of new infections, according to data from The Washington Post. The latest hot spots are concentrated in rural areas – particularly in the South, Midwest and West – where health care was inadequate even before the pandemic. Making matters more dangerous, many states seeing a surge of new cases, such as Alaska, Florida, Mississippi, Texas and South Carolina, have lax stay-at-home orders to reduce the spread of the virus.
Those spikes are broadly linked to Memorial Day weekend, when cellphone data suggests that thousands of residents let their guard down to shop and travel.
Health experts worry that another spike will follow the mass civil protests against police violence taking place in hundreds of cities in all 50 states.
For Trump, the protests aren’t a health concern or a moral challenge but a way to dodge questions.
Aides to his campaign told Politico that with so many people protesting, they believed it would make it difficult for critics to call Trump out. On Wednesday, asked about safeguarding voters who cast ballots in person, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany snapped back, “There’s a way to safely vote if you can safely protest.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Donald Trump Refuses To Rename Military Bases Named After Pro-Slavery Leaders

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Donald Trump has refused to rename US military bases named after Confederate leaders who fought for the pro-slavery South in the 1860s Civil War.
The president stood his ground even after it was announced NASCAR would ban the Confederate flag from its races as debate rages around the world about monuments to historical figures with controversial pasts.
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With Americans more conscious about race issues in the wake of the death of African American George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody, Trump drew a line in favour of keeping the names of 10 military bases from Virginia to Texas that are named for Confederate military leaders.
Trump’s announcement via tweet basically slapped down those Pentagon officials open to discussing the issue, which has emerged as a way of achieving racial reconciliation, Reuters reports.
It has been suggested that we should rename as many as 10 of our Legendary Military Bases, such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Benning in Georgia, etc. These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2020
...history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom. The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2020
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...Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2020
US military bases named after Confederate military leaders are all located in former Confederate states. Many of those states helped elect Trump in 2016, and he is counting on them again for the election in November.
In the past few days, officials have said that the Pentagon, including defence secretary Mark Esper and army secretary Ryan McCarthy, was open to having a bipartisan conversation about renaming the army bases named for Confederate leaders.
In a series of tweets, Trump argued the bases have become part of a “Great American Heritage”.
The issue of the enslavement of African Americans tore the United States apart when Southern states broke away to form the Confederate States of America to protect slavery. Northern states defeated the South in the Civil War to restore the Union.
But slavery’s legacy continues to haunt race relations in America. In recent history, controversies over symbols of the Confederacy, such as statues of its leaders and its battle flag, have erupted.
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Keith Weber of Centralia, Washington holds a flag that combines a Gadsden flag from the American Revolution with a Confederate flag from the American Civil War. JASON REDMOND via Getty Images
Those arguing for their removal say they symbolise racism and oppression, while those opposing such action call them signifiers of Southern heritage and pride.
NASCAR, whose races frequently feature fans waving the Confederate battle flag, said on Wednesday it would ban the “stars and bars” flag from its events.
In an article published Tuesday in The Atlantic, retired General and former CIA chief David Petraeus called for renaming the bases, pointing out that the men they are named for “committed treason, however much they may have agonised over it” by fighting for the Confederacy.
At a news briefing Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany noted that the HBO Max streaming service had withdrawn the Civil War movie “Gone with the Wind” and asked “Where do you draw the line?”
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“Should George Washington and Thomas Jefferson be erased from history?” she said of the first and third American presidents, both of whom owned slaves.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--British Gas Owner Centrica To Cut 5,000 Jobs Due To Impact Of Coronavirus

Darren Staples / Reuters
Centrica which owns British Gas, has said it will cut 5,000 jobs due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on an already declining business.
The company said more than half of the job cuts will affect managers as part of a swingeing restructure and most will take place in the second half of 2020.
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The group plans to cut out three management layers, with around half of the current 40-strong senior leadership team leaving the group by the end of August.
But it is also starting consultations on plans to “simplify terms and conditions” for all its UK employees, who are on more than 80 different employee contracts.
As part of the overhaul, it announced that Sarwjit Sambhi, chief executive of Centrica Consumer, and Richard Hookway, chief executive of Centrica Business, are stepping down from the board immediately and will leave the company by the end of July.
Chris O’Shea, Centrica’s recently-appointed chief executive, said: “I believe that our complex business model hinders the delivery of our strategy and inhibits the relentless focus I want to give to our customers.
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“We have great people, strong brands that are trusted by millions and leading market positions, but the harsh reality is that we have lost over half of our earnings in recent years.
“Now we must bring focus by modernising and simplifying the way we do business.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Statue Of Scouts Founder Robert Baden-Powell To Be Removed Over 'Public Disorder' Concerns

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A statue of the man who founded the Scouts is to be removed and placed into “safe storage” after it became one of the latest targets in the campaign the remove monuments to historical figures with controversial pasts.
Council leaders have said the tribute to Robert Baden-Powell on Poole Quay will be taken down “for now” to “create time for views to be aired” and to prevent “public disorder or anti-social behaviour”.
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The statue faces Brownsea island, where Baden-Powell’s Scout movement began.
Former Bournemouth East Labour parliamentary candidate Corrie Drew said his founding of the scouting movement “can be no excuse for his documented homophobia, racism and enthusiastic support of Hitler”, the BBC reported.
In a post on Facebook, Drew said: “We won that rather easily! Now we need to ensure we put forward a clear rationale & offer a positive alternative for the site so that people don’t campaign to put it back.”
PhotoPlus Magazine via Getty Images
The move comes after the statue of Edward Colston was torn down and dumped into Bristol Harbour by Black Lives Matter protesters on Sunday, sparking a renewed debate about such monuments and their place in modern society.
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Council leader Vikki Slade told the Bournemouth Echo: “Whilst famed for the creation of the Scouts, we also recognise that there are some aspects of Robert Baden-Powell’s life that are considered less worthy of commemoration.
“Therefore, we are removing the statue so that we can properly involve all relevant communities and groups in discussions about its future, including whether a more educational presentation of his life in a different setting might be more appropriate.”
In a tweet, Slade emphasised the move was only temporary.
And is TEMPORARY @JoshGWright - I don’t want it damages or thrown in the harbour and then be asked why we didn’t do something! https://t.co/98VcgmSy83 — Vikki Slade #FollowGuidelinesNotInstinct 🔶 (@vikki4mdnp) June 10, 2020
The Conservative MP for Poole, Sir Robert Syms, tweeted to say he was “opposed to the permanent removal of the statue”.
For the avoidance of doubt I am opposed to the permanent removal of the statue of Baden-Powell from Poole Quay. — Sir Robert Syms MP (@RobertSyms) June 10, 2020
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The removal of Colston’s statue has sparked debate in the UK over monuments to historical figures who made fortunes and reputations on the exploitation of others.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--US Prison Guard Suspended For Mocking George Floyd's Death At Racism Protest

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A New Jersey corrections officer was suspended Tuesday after he and other white men were filmed mocking George Floyd’s death at a Black Lives Matter protest in South Jersey’s Franklin Township, The New York Times reported. A FedEx driver was fired.
As peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrators passed, the white counterprotesters ― with the backdrop of an “All Lives Matter” sign and a Trump campaign banner ― reenacted Floyd’s killing by police, with one kneeling on the neck of another who lay face-down.
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“This is what happens when you don’t comply with the cops,” yelled the man on top, who went on to blame Floyd for his own death, according to video.
At least two participants were later identified.
“We have been made aware that one of our officers from Bayside State Prison participated in the filming of a hateful and disappointing video that mocked the killing of George Floyd,” the state Department of Corrections said in a statement said, per NBC Philadelphia.
The department, which did not identify the officer, suspended him and banned him from corrections facilities pending an investigation.
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As for the FedEx driver in the counterprotest, the company issued a statement Tuesday evening saying it does “not tolerate the kind of appalling and offensive behaviour depicted in this video. The individual involved is no longer employed by FedEx. We stand with those who support justice and equality.”
The shocking skit played out on Monday, the day before Floyd’s funeral in Houston. Floyd’s killing by police in Minneapolis has triggered a national outcry against racial injustice and police brutality.
“The display yesterday showed me that racism is real, racism is alive, it’s right next door to you,” Black Lives Matter protest organizer Daryan Fennal told NBC.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Ant And Dec ‘Sincerely Sorry’ For Using Blackface In Saturday Night Takeaway Sketches

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Ant and Dec have apologised for using blackface to impersonate people of colour on Saturday Night Takeaway.
The TV stars wore dark make-up and prosthetics for the Undercover sketches, in which they pranked other celebrities while in disguise.
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In a joint statement, the presenting pair said they would not make those sketches today and had requested ITV, which broadcasts the show, remove them from their streaming catch-up service and YouTube channel.
Ant and Dec Jon Furniss/Invision/AP
They said: “During past episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway we impersonated people of colour in the Undercover segment of the show.
“We realise that this was wrong and want to say that we are sincerely sorry to everyone that we offended.
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“We purposely stopped doing this several years ago and certainly would not make these sketches today.
“We had already taken steps to ensure footage was taken down and have again recently confirmed with ITV that these segments, and any other historical content that could cause offence, does not appear on either the ITV Hub or the Saturday Night Takeaway YouTube Channel.”
The pair used blackface in 2003 as they dressed up as two fictional Jamaican women, Patty and Bernice, to prank Emmerdale cast members.
And in 2004 they dressed up as two Japanese girls, Suki and Keiko, using make-up and exaggerated accents.
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Their apology follows widespread Black Lives Matter protests, in the US and the UK, after the killing of George Floyd.
Earlier this week Little Britain was removed from BBC iPlayer after coming under fire because of the use of blackface in some sketches.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Keir Starmer Pledges New Labour Party Race Equality Plan As Injustice Is Still 'Rife'

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The Labour Party has unveiled a new race equality strategy on the anniversary of the election of its first black MPs.
Keir Starmer has warned that Covid-19 and worldwide events show that “racism, discrimination and injustice are all still rife in our society”.
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It comes 33 years to the day after Bernie Grant, Diane Abbott and Paul Boateng become members of parliament.
In a video message on Thursday, the party leader announced a set of new measures to improve diversity within the Labour Party and tackle anti-Black racism.
They include building on Labour’s Bernie Grant Leadership Programme to increase representation across all our elected representatives.
It will also introduce an immediate audit into the diversity of its staff, including the representation of Black Asian and minority ethnic worker, which will be followed by an action plan and targets.
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The party says it is also to establish a training module on racism and unconscious bias and will tackle any anti-Black racism within the party.
Earlier this month, HuffPost UK published an exclusive two-part report into allegations that Labour has been slow to deal with anti-Black racism and to support its Black members.
Labour’s perceived silence on alleged instances of anti-Black racism has cost the party the support of dozens of Black members.
But for others, dissatisfaction has been growing over years rather than weeks, and stems from what is seen as a lack of representation at the top tables – and of solidarity with the senior Black politicians the party does have.
Following allegations from the leaked report, the party set up an independent investigation chaired by Martin Forde QC.
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On their feet, MPs Bernie Grant and Diane Abbott, watched by MP Paul Boateng (far left), at the Labour Party annual conference in Blackpool. PA Images via Getty Images
In the message, Starmer said: “Today marks the day Bernie Grant, Diane Abbott and Paul Boateng were first elected to Parliament. It was a historic moment and we must recognise the achievement of these great pioneers.
“In 33 years progress has been made. But this year the anniversary comes as worldwide events have exposed the fact that racism discrimination and social injustice are all rife in our society.
“The reality of anti-Black racism, the impact of Covid-19 particularly on Black and Asian communities, and society’s inbuilt racial inequalities have shown that we’ve still got a long way to go.
“When I became leader of our party I said my first job was to rebuild trust and confidence in the Labour Party. I want black members to be able to put their trust in me.
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“Now more than ever it’s incumbent upon political leaders to face up to and address the injustices that still exist in our society. Now is the time for action.”
He also said: “These are initial steps and over the coming months we will continue to develop meaningful and substantial change. I am under no illusion about the scale of the challenge.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--BBC Newsreader George Alagiah Reveals Cancer Has Spread To His Lungs Weeks After Recovering From Cor

BBC Newsreader George Alagiah Reveals Cancer Has Spread To His Lungs Weeks After Recovering From Coronavirus

BBC newsreader George Alagiah has revealed his bowel cancer has spread to his lungs.
The 64-year-old was first diagnosed with the illness in 2014 and later said it had spread to his liver and lymph nodes.
In an interview with The Times, he said doctors told him in April the cancer is now in his lungs.
George Alagiah PA/BBC
“My doctors have never used the word ‘chronic’ or ‘cure’ about my cancer,” he said.
“They’ve never used the word ‘terminal’ either. I’ve always said to my oncologist, ‘Tell me when I need to sort my affairs out’, and he’s not told me that, but what he did tell me is that the cancer is now in a third organ. It is in my lungs.”
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George, who tested positive for Covid-19 in March, said he had kept the latest development secret, only telling his editor.
He said: “I said to my doctor, ‘You’re going to have to do the worrying for me.’ I don’t want to fill my mind with worry. I just know that he’s a clever guy, doing everything he can.”
He added his chemotherapy has increased as a result of the cancer spreading.
Simone Padovani/Awakening via Getty Images
In March, the Sri Lanka-born presenter shared a message with fellow cancer patients after revealing he had tested positive for Covid-19.
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During an interview on News At Six, George revealed that he’d been diagnosed with coronavirus, but insisted: “If I can live with cancer, I can certainly live with Covid-19.”
He said: “I don’t want to trivialise because I seem to have had a mild dose, but actually, the very fact that we [cancer patients] are living with cancer I think gives us an edge.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Edward Colston Statue Lifted From Bristol Harbour And Taken To 'Secure Location'

Bristol City Council said the decision to move it to a museum was being taken so “the 300 year story of slavery through to today’s fight for racial equality can be learnt about”.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, added: “The events over the last few days have really highlighted that as a city we all have very different understandings of our past.
“The only way we can work together on our future is by learning the truth of our beginnings, embracing the facts, and sharing those stories with others. This is why this commission is so important.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Amazon Announces One Year Pause On Police Use Of Its Facial Recognition Tech

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Amazon announced Wednesday it’s implementing a year-long moratorium on law enforcement use of “Rekognition,” its facial recognition technology.
The decision comes amid a nationwide focus on police powers and actions following the May 25 killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, by a white officer in Minneapolis.
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“We’ve advocated that governments should put in place stronger regulations to govern the ethical use of facial recognition technology, and in recent days, Congress appears ready to take on this challenge,” Amazon said in a statement. “We hope this one-year moratorium might give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules, and we stand ready to help if requested.”
IBM announced a similar decision Monday.
It’s unclear how many police agencies use Rekognition, though Amazon has been pitching it to them since at least 2017.
Facial recognition technology represents a powerful law enforcement tool that can be easily abused and lead to mistaken identifications. Critics also argue it effectively amounts to mass government surveillance.
Nicole Ozer, technology and civil liberties director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, welcomed Amazon’s decision but warned it doesn’t go far enough.
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“This surveillance technology’s threat to our civil rights and civil liberties will not disappear in a year,” Ozer told HuffPost in an emailed statement. “Amazon must fully commit to a blanket moratorium on law enforcement use of face recognition until the dangers can be fully addressed, and it must press Congress and legislatures across the country to do the same. They should also commit to stop selling surveillance systems like Ring that fuel the over-policing of communities of color.”
“Face recognition technology gives governments the unprecedented power to spy on us wherever we go. It fuels police abuse. This surveillance technology must be stopped.”
In 2018, an ACLU test of Rekognition found the software falsely identified 28 members of Congress from a database of 25,000 mugshots. Representatives of color were more likely to have been singled out by the system.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Tory Discontent Grows As Boris Johnson Faces Criticism Over Coronavirus

Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
When Boris Johnson stormed to election victory in December, he wasn’t expecting this - no one was.
Coronavirus has thrown both the country and the prime minister’s expectations for the next four years on their head.
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Johnson may however have felt he was entitled to some loyalty for dragging the Tories from the dire depths of the Brexit chaos under Theresa May to an 80-seat majority in a matter of months.
Yet in the weeks since he recovered from his own near-fatal bout with Covid-19, he has faced a series of revolts from his own MPs.
From quarantine to US food imports, parliament’s return to easing the lockdown, the PM is now not only dealing with a national crisis of titanic proportions, but a growing sense of discontent on his own backbenches.
Some of those MPs feel this was inevitable given the scale of the crisis, the psychological impact of lockdown, and social distancing measures cutting contact with whips and ministers who can explain and cajole.
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But there are also dark mutterings about the government’s handling of coronavirus and the fact the UK has one of the worst death tolls in the world.
“There’s clearly a muddle in how it’s all been handled and we’re now embarrassed, we’ve now got the second worst death rate in the world and we are being left behind,” says one senior MP.
“That is the big defining issue.”
A colleague simply adds: “It just all looks rather incompetent and a bit shit frankly.”
But while the likes of Steve Baker have put their heads above the parapet on issues like opposing the lockdown, Tory MPs have largely publicly supported the government’s broad handling of the crisis.
It’s when the government has done things that are simply “daft”, in the words of more than one MP, that Tories have rebelled.
The 14-day travellers’ quarantine plan, led by home secretary Priti Patel with the Home Office’s chief scientific adviser but apparently without approval from the government’s scientific advisory committee for emergencies (Sage), is a prime example.
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“You do sort of get the feeling that it’s government by focus group on stuff like the quarantine measures,” one MP says.
“It’s popular but that doesn’t mean it’s sensible.
“And I wonder whether it would remain popular if you had to explain that this applied to you if you were coming back from holiday in Spain.”
The sense of a government scoring own goals was underlined by Jacob Rees-Mogg forcing MPs to form kilometre long queues to vote physically in the Commons when electronic voting had worked during lockdown.
This is a farce. I should think we will be back to remote voting before we are all much older. pic.twitter.com/n4vcOKGidb — Steve Baker MP (@SteveBakerHW) June 2, 2020
It triggered a rebellion of 31 Tories in a month when there had also been double figures rebellions on low quality US food imports and over plans to install the government’s “patsy” Bernard Jenkin to the chair of the liaison committee which questions the PM.
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Asked why Tories were feeling so rebellious, one MP simply says: “I think the short answer to that is the government is trying to do silly things.”
The Dominic Cummings lockdown affair, which left MPs dealing with a deluge of emails as the government staked the party’s political capital on saving Johnson’s most favoured adviser, certainly did not help the mood.
It has led to speculation that some Tories are now rebelling by proxy to vent their anger at the handling of the Cummings affair.
Discipline is harder to maintain “if you load up your colleagues’ inboxes with 400 emails a day”, one MP says.
Another says the episode has sparked a “gloves are off” attitude in the party.
“Dominic Cummings’ contempt for the party and MPs and for the due processes that we all excruciatingly submit ourselves to in order to get elected - people have noticed that.”
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Even a normally loyal MP is unhappy: “I honestly thought Dominic Cummings would go.
“Those of us who spoke out weren’t actually criticising government policy.
“Government policy was to go home, not to travel to Durham, not to travel to Barnard Castle to test your eyesight.”
The Dominic Cummings affair has damaged party discipline, according to some MPs PA
The episode would have particularly rocked new MPs elected in 2019 and defending small majorities in ex-Labour red wall seats.
Ex-minister Robert Goodwill says they were already experiencing “culture shock” as the volume of MPs’ work skyrocketed due to the crisis and ramped up the pressure.
It has been noted by more experienced MPs that several 2019-ers have spoken out against the government on certain issues in recent weeks.
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Downing Street has also noticed, handing out parliamentary private secretary (PPS) roles to many of the new flock.
But some feel that the 2019 MPs will be more willing to call out the government if they feel their seats are threatened.
With Johnson’s personal poll ratings plummeting and Labour making significant ground on the Tories, it could be sparking discontent.
“You’ve got to remember there are a lot of people looking over their shoulder who have got very tiny majorities in red wall seats, who may only be here for one parliament unless we really make friends and influence people,” one MP says.
“If the government’s doing things they don’t like, they’re not going to support the government, they are going to go back home and say I voted against this.”
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The 2019 MPs were also ordered to stay at home barely three months after entering parliament.
Many of them will have been taking on new staff and learning the ropes before the lockdown hit.
And MPs across the board say it is difficult to maintain the “collegiate glue” that normally holds parties together when they are scattered across the country.
Even after returning to Westminster last week, only 15 Tory MPs are currently allowed into the Commons dining room at once, all sitting two metres apart under social distancing rules.
As a result, “decisions get made and people ask why did that happen, nobody explained why to me”, Bim Afolami noted on HuffPost UK’s Commons people podcast last week.
Goodwill also acknowledges: “We haven’t had the normal safety valves operating, and some people when the pressure has built up have sought to maybe express in public what they may have expressed in private.”
And a Whitehall source notes: “It’s much harder to say no to people in person.
“It’s much easier to just ignore calls and do your own thing.
“There’s little chance of bumping into the chief whip (in lockdown).”
Afolami has also been urging restless colleagues to ignore the polls, with the next election not due until 2024 at the earliest.
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Tory MPs in the so-called "red wall" are sitting on slim majorities PA Wire/PA Images
“What I keep telling everybody is - it’s four years to go... there’s a lot that needs to get done, there’s a lot that will happen,” he says.
“And people shouldn’t be looking so much at polls, people should just be thinking about getting the job done and the party staying together in the right place.”
Another newer MP also urges calm: “Every new leader comes in and has a honeymoon period.
“Put it into the context of Boris’s poll numbers at the start of the crisis, they were frankly unrealistic - they were over 50%.
“The polling has slipped but we’re still at the same level-ish as at the general election.”
But there are worries about Johnson’s performance.
“I think there are a lot of concerns about Boris’s health, coronavirus knocked him out quite badly,” the MP says.
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“He basically worked too hard and came back too soon and he was basically damned if he did and damned if he didn’t.
“He should have had more time to recuperate.
“There is that sort of concern.”
While it is by no means a majority view in the party, fears that the Labour leader Keir Starmer could exploit the new chinks in Johnson’s armour are beginning to crystallise.
One MP has noticed pollsters comparing Johnson’s falling ratings to the drop suffered by ex-PM John Major after Black Wednesday, from which he never recovered.
They say: “All Johnson’s worst features were exposed by a national crisis just when the Labour party picked someone who is excellent at exposing the failures of a slightly shambolic, cavalier, Brexit bunker in handling Covid.
“I think there’s a sense afoot that we’re going to lose the next election.
“It’s not yet over, if we bounce back strongly and chancellor Rishi (Sunak) does a really good job and if we find the sweet spot and have an economic strategy that works then we could own the recovery.
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“But I think we are looking down the barrel of an horrendous six months.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Why You’re Having Anxiety Over Lockdown Ending, And How To Cope

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As the country start to ease lockdown restrictions put in place to slow the spread of Covid-19, many are thrilled to get back to business and return to normal — well, normalish — life.
Yet there are just as many people who feel conflicted about these seemingly overnight developments. You can be glad to see things reopening but simultaneously, a little anxious about how the next phase of cities reopening will play out.
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After all, the stats are still overwhelming: As of this week, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world has exceeded 6.6 million.
If you’re experiencing anxiety over lockdown ending or just the coronavirus in general, know that you’re not alone. Recent Census Bureau data found that 30% of Americans now show symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder.
“Many of my clients, most of whom have never previously experienced anxiety about going out, are nervous as states begin to reopen and loosen restrictions,” said Jennifer Chappell Marsh, a marriage and family therapist in San Diego, which is in the process of moving from stage 2 of reopening to stage 3.
As that happens, Chappell Marsh said many of her clients are reporting generalised social anxiety about resuming their regular lives in public.
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“They’ve spent months without much exposure to people and places while consuming a lot of coronavirus-related media,” she said. “But there are so many unknowns: We don’t know how bad this will get and we don’t know how long this will last. They don’t know what to expect and the unknown can be terrifying, especially because the risk of infection is real, can lead to death and there is no vaccine.”
Over the last few months, Chappell Marsh has learned on the fly how to address concerns like these. Below, she and other experts share their best advice for managing panic and anxiety as states begin to reopen.
Recognise that it’s entirely natural to feel anxiety about this.
Amelia Aldao is a psychologist and anxiety specialist in New York City. People in big metropolitan areas like NYC may feel heightened concern about the end of isolation since most city dwellers are used to seeing and interacting with hundreds of people in the course of a day (during subway commutes, at the office, walking around the city).
“We were used to [it], but during the last few months, most of us have only had real, face-to-face interactions with a small subset of people,” she said. “It’s going to take some adjustment to go back to ‘real life.’ At the very least, we might experience sensory overload, since our brains are no longer used to processing so many social interactions.”
As the city begins to reopen, even Aldao has said she’s dealt with some unexpected anxiety while walking around town.
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“I was walking in the park here and all of a sudden I was feeling very foggy and confused,” she said. “I then realised it was because my brain had a hard time adjusting to seeing that many people outside!”
People at the park were spaced out far enough from each other and wearing masks, but it still felt jarring, Aldao said.
“My brain was just having a hard time adjusting,” she said. “Much like when we are outside on a very bright day and our eyes have a hard time adjusting to the change in light when we go inside.”
Ask yourself: What can I control now?
You’re living with a lot of unknowns right now: Will the surge of Covid-19 infections slowly decline in your part of the country, or will it pick up as it has in other parts of the country? Will your workplace do enough to ensure employees are social distancing? How safe are indoor public places right now (shops, for instance, and restaurants)? Will people remain vigilant about wearing masks?
When you get stuck in this loop, try to refocus on positive thoughts about things in your life you can control, Chappell Marsh said. You can wear a mask to lower your chance of catching the virus and others’ chances, too, for instance. You can talk to your manager at work and slowly reacquaint yourself with going out in public places again. (No need to rush to make those restaurant reservations!)
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“In times of uncertainty and overwhelm, it’s best to bring our focus to the here and now, asking ourselves, ‘What can I do?’ said Chappell Marsh. “Shifting our mindset in that way takes us mentally from overwhelm and anxious to empowered and hopeful.”
You don’t have to rush back out there, but try to take baby steps to get comfortable with being in public again.
With the exception of work demands, there is no need to rush into anything as restrictions are loosened, said Julia Yacoob, a psychologist in the SoHo neighbourhood of New York City. You can still avoid big crowds and say “no” to invitations to a bar or restaurant if you’d rather keep your social circle somewhat small.
“Stay in touch with your feelings, continuously check in with yourself, and respect where you are, given what you’ve just experienced,” Yacoob said. “That doesn’t mean you need to let your feelings completely dictate your actions if you know rationally that they are not serving you well. As in, just because you feel something is true does not mean that it is.” (In other words, sometimes our feelings can convince us of that we’re more at risk than we are when, say, we go to the market with a mask.)
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The goal here is to build emotional tolerance slowly, Chappell Marsh said. Obviously, the risk is real and we can’t ignore that. But avoiding everything that triggers anxiety will only make it worse, she said.
Take baby steps. Start by asking yourself, “What is a small risk I can tolerate today?” the therapist said.
“Then identify one thing that you can do that feels uncomfortable,” she explained. “Keep washing your hands, wearing your mask and maintain good distance when in public while also pushing yourself to take one small step outside your comfort zone. Once there, allow yourself to stay in the discomfort and breathe through it until the discomfort dissipates.”
ArtistGNDphotography via Getty Images If you're working on getting yourself back out there, start by asking yourself, "What is a small risk I can tolerate today?" said Jennifer Chappell Marsh, a marriage and family therapist in San Diego.
When you start to worry, try this simple thought exercise.
Aldao has been telling her clients dealing with Covid-related anxiety to try this simple cognitive behavioural therapy exercise. It might help you, too.
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First, identify what’s at the core of your anxiety.
“What’s triggering it?” she said. “What are the specific worries you’re having?”
Once you’ve identified these worries, ask yourself the following five questions:
What is the evidence for and against the worrisome thought? What’s the usefulness of having this thought? (Is it adding more tension than helping you solve problems?) What would you tell a friend or loved one in a similar situation? Can you set aside time to worry later? Can you breathe through the worry and practice mindfulness?
Lastly, she said, try to identify how the worries and anxiety hold you back.
“Are there specific things that they make you avoid? If so, write these down and every day, try to push yourself to do those things you’re scared of,” she explained. “This is a technique called exposure and we use it in cognitive behaviorual therapy for anxiety disorders.”
Consider counselling at least temporarily if you’re feeling a heightened sense of anxiety.
If your stress is worsening or you’re noticing a major uptick in anxiety, low mood or problematic behaviour (substance abuse, for instance), it might be worth talking to a professional. Many people are currently turning to online therapy ― videoconferencing with a mental health expert ― to get help. “Counselling to help improve mental health in response to this experience can be helpful,” Chicago therapist Anna Poss told HuffPost. “As a society, we haven’t done a great job of normalising counselling, but it is a great way to get support and does not mean anything is ‘wrong’ with you. It just means that something is hard and you don’t have to go through it alone. That’s certainly the case with a pandemic.”
Keep the focus on you and your self-care, not on others and how they’re approaching things reopening.
Continue to prioritise self-care, including exercise, a healthy diet and sleep, but also self-compassion and compassion toward others, Yacoob said. That means holding back on the judgment when you see your sister-in-law bouncing around from bar to bar on her Instagram story over the weekend or questioning the number of people your neighbour has over.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Meditation Helped Me Survive Yarl’s Wood. Now It’s Helping Me Through Lockdown

Courtesy of the author HuffPost UK
Five years ago, I was held in Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre for ten days.
My time in detention was, of course, much worse than this lockdown – but in both situations, losing my freedom and the physical support of friends left me with the same sense of powerlessness. And it’s the same thing that has helped me survive both experiences.
In detention, I was terrified. All the talk was about when our flights back home would be, but I knew home was a place I couldn’t return to.
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On my journey to the UK, I had carried a passport size photo of my mum in my pocket, which of course had been taken by detention security along with my other papers. Without this, I felt my hope was lost. But, having gained some experience in mindfulness meditation two years before, I started to think: maybe this is the reason I learned it in the first place. I started doing meditation in the room I shared with another woman. After all, all I had was time.
Meditation is a tool to help you explore your inner self and find your own path and voice. At first, I ended up in tears feeling impotent, my brain paralysed by the uncertainty of what would happen next – and when – just like many of us have been feeling during lockdown. It is hard enough if you face a problem in life knowing the factors involved. Not knowing makes you feel like a small creature in a laboratory, oblivious to what the stronger creature above would do to you next. Nonetheless, I felt some calmness creeping upon me, my face muscles relaxed and I was able to appreciate the sunshine, however shy the beams we got in there.
“After the first session, words like “hope” and phrases like “when I get out of here” were spoken for the first time”
Talking with the other women and listening to their stories, I thought it might help them too so I offered to teach meditation. I remember the focus of our meditation was trying to visualise ourselves with our loved ones, remembering how much they care about us. After the first session, words like “hope” and phrases like “when I get out of here” were spoken for the first time. I felt good, and found a new solidarity with the others got us through mentally.
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There are lots of differences between detention and this lockdown. When you’re detained, you’re stripped of your liberty for no good reason, and there’s an overwhelming feeling of loneliness because you’re singled out to be detained and everyone else is free. In detention there are no windows, and your smartphone (if you’re lucky enough to have one) will be replaced by a basic one with limited credit for phone calls so very limited interactions with the outside world.
Although now we all have our smartphones and internet and can feel connected in a way, we are allowed to go out, and we know we are locked down to keep us safe, the feeling of isolation and powerlessness is similar. As I began to realise this, I turned to meditation, remembering how helpful it had been to me in detention.
“No one should have to go through what I and those other women I knew at Yarl’s Wood went through.”
It is helping me to see my place in the bigger community and accept my limitations. I’m learning again to turn my attention to the things I can control, rather than the uncontrollable. Things most of us can control are being able to hold our breath and exhale for longer, phoning our friends and family, and smiling at strangers. This is so easy but how many of us are really smiling at other human beings whom we don’t know? We know that the pandemic has affected every human being living in 2020 and that is all the common ground we need to connect with each other right now.
My heart goes out to the people in detention during this pandemic. In early May, there were around 700 people still being detained under immigration powers – yet with no way for the Home Office to remove them from the country, which is the stated aim of detention. These people are locked down twice, especially since detention centres are closed for visitors now. I can only imagine how worried they are for their loved ones outside, let alone their worry for themselves, using shared facilities and unable to distance.
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My message to them is: talk to each other, find your inner voices, and most importantly find your unity, we are thinking of you. And my message to the government is to release all detainees during Covid-19, and find alternatives to detention in the future. No one should have to go through what I and those other women I knew at Yarl’s Wood went through.
Meditation can help free your mind. But only by changing our laws immigrants like me can be truly free to live our lives without fear.
Areej Osman is a placement co-ordinator for Refugees at Home, and a member of Migrant Voice


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--New Mums Are Being Denied Vital Postnatal Checks In Lockdown

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New mums at risk of postnatal depression and physical complications have been “left to get on with it” during the coronavirus lockdown – because a vital postnatal appointment is being cancelled.
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All women in England are supposed to be offered a check at their GP surgery six weeks after giving birth. But some say that, with the country in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, these appointments are being conducted over the phone – or abandoned altogether.
During the six-week check-up, GPs usually ask women about their mental health after giving birth, and offer a physical examination for those who have stitches from an episiotomy or caesarean section. Mums are advised against doing any high-impact exercise such as running until after this check.
One senior midwife described the appointment as “vital” to a mother’s health and safety, especially given the challenges and isolation of lockdown – and the increased threat of domestic abuse among households with a new baby.
New mums who have failed to be offered this check-up face-to-face told HuffPost UK it feels as if they’re being left in limbo, with many other postnatal services also conducted remotely in line with social distancing rules.
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After Emily Smith gave birth to her son Henry on April 17 – at the peak of the UK’s coronavirus outbreak – she was eagerly awaiting her six-week GP appointment.
For the first few days of her baby’s life, Smith and her husband were unable to see him in the Special Care Baby Unit over fears the newborn had Covid-19 – a period that was “tough” on her mental health.
But since Henry was given the all-clear and discharged, Smith has largely been left to care for him alone – with all but one of her midwife and health visitor appointments conducted over the phone.
“There have been long nights where I have struggled with feeding and tiredness and felt very abandoned,” the 35-year-old from West Sussex told HuffPost UK.
“As a new mum, it is hard not to be anxious about whether things are going as they should.”
Emily Smith
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Smith, who has resorted to weighing her baby with her dad’s fishing scales, had seen the appointment as a chance to get some help face-to-face after being repeatedly directed online by other services. But she’s since learned that face-to-face appointments have been cancelled at her GP surgery.
Instead, she’ll receive another telephone consultation. “I’m really missing the mental health benefits I get from getting outside for a run and I have been waiting for my six-week check to get the OK to get back into it,” she said.
“I’m really not sure what we could go through on the phone that would be that helpful and it really feels like the phone call is probably just a box-checking exercise in terms of NHS paperwork and discharging me from obstetrics care.”
“Virtual appointments can’t really replace an appointment like that, face-to-face.” - Claire Livingstone, Royal College of Midwives
Claire Livingstone, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, says it is “really disappointing” that women are unable to access face-to-face appointments. “These checks are really vital for mothers and babies,” she says.
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“But physically mothers need to be seen for a mental health assessment and check they’re doing OK. Virtual appointments can’t really replace an appointment like that, face-to-face.”
Having a baby is “extremely challenging” at the best of times, says Livingstone. “At the moment, new parents are being presented with some additional challenges like isolation from support networks, family and friends. The kind of encouragement that brings is sadly lacking,” she says. “I think there’s a much greater risk of mothers and fathers struggling to cope in these times.”
Having a baby can be a “trigger” for domestic abuse, the midwife adds. “something that could be missed with a virtual appointment.”
“We don’t know when we undertake a virtual appointment whether there might be somebody who is in the room who is controlling what is being said. We don’t even know if the woman has access to a device of her own. So those are issues which really do need looking into.”
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Women may have physical concerns that also need to have addressed by their GP that can’t be dealt with virtually. “After a C-section, which is after all major surgery, that should be followed up and checked that the wound has healed properly,” says Livingstone. “But even with a vaginal delivery, there may well be some concerns that require a physical examination.”
Jenni Stuart, 32, from Carlisle, gave birth nine days before lockdown began. After a forceps delivery and an episiotomy, which caused anaemia, she was prescribed iron tablets and instructed to take them until her six-week check.
She was shocked – and confused – when she rang her surgery and the receptionist informed her that all six-week checks had been cancelled.
“I was also in a lot of pain from my wound and was worried that it may not be healing properly,” she says.
Jenni Stuart Jenni Stuart
Stuart called her health visitor with her concerns, who arranged for the GP to give her a call. The GP asked if she’d checked her own wound, which she found “insulting”.
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“He looked at my blood test results – from the hospital five weeks previously – and told me I was very anaemic and prescribed not only iron but two other medications on top,” says Stuart, who worried the GP could be prescribing medication she no longer needed, as she hadn’t had a blood test in over a month – “which is not what I would wish for as a breastfeeding mother”.
Her baby has now had his eight-week check and immunisations, while Stuart has booked herself in for a blood test so her GP has up-to-date levels for any further prescriptions. She feels reassured, but says she’s had to be proactive in order to access basic healthcare.
Her concern is that “mums have been left to get on with it”.
Nana-Adwoa Mbeutcha, a 33-year-old mum from Bedfordshire, gave birth on March 3 and says some of the midwife and health visitor appointments deemed “non-essential” were cancelled, or conducted over the phone.
On the day of one of her scheduled health visitor calls she was “feeling a bit low” and felt she would have benefited from talking to a professional – but the call didn’t come.
“I did text her to find out if she would be calling me as I had a time and everything booked for it, but I never heard anything back until perhaps a week later – then she did the assessment over the phone,” explains Mbeutcha, who is co-host of the Dope Black Mums podcast and parenting community.
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Mbeutcha isn’t a first-time-mum, so says she was able to use her previous experience and speak to her husband to get through the “dip” – but she worries about women facing motherhood for the first time.
Nana-Adwoa Mbeutcha Nana-Adwoa Mbeutcha
Her baby’s six-week check was rolled into his eight-week immunisations at the doctor’s surgery. Mbeutcha says she was not offered an in-person appointment or phone call for herself.
“I was not seen at all or spoken to at all about how I am – it was all to do with the baby,” she says. “He had his checks and his vaccinations, but it was all done quickly – not in a rushed way that wasn’t taking care, but there was no dilly-dallying. It was a case of ‘let’s get you in and get you out as soon as possible.’”
Again, Mbeutcha had to rely on her memories of her previous postnatal appointments to judge if she was healed and safe to exercise.
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“I was not seen at all or spoken to at all about how I am – it was all to do with the baby.” - Nana-Adwoa Mbeutcha, 33, Bedforshire
“Because this isn’t my first child, I had an awareness of my body and what I can or can’t do and remembered previous advice,” she says. “But no one had gone through it for me. I had to just use my past experience or Google.”
Many of the women HuffPost UK spoke to said midwives and health visitors have done everything they can to provide postnatal care, but their “hands are tied” by the restrictions. One midwife offered to weigh a mother’s baby on the front lawn to ease her concerns about his weight. Another organised a socially-distanced garden visit outside her long working hours, to provide the mother with the face-to-face reassurance she needed.
Several mums expressed concern that other women won’t receive care unless they ask for it. “For mums with postpartum depression, if no one is around to check on them, how will they get the support they need, especially if in denial or they don’t know that they have it?” said Stuart.
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Sherica, 30, who’s based in Harlow, Essex, had her second child on March 3, and had to push to get access to a six-week appointment during lockdown.
She’d been told the GP surgery would call her to arrange a date and time, but as her son reached eight-weeks-old, she’d still heard nothing. She decided to call herself and says it took several calls before he was booked in for the check and his immunisations.
He was 10 weeks by the time he was seen. “If I hadn’t have chased it, I don’t know when someone would have gotten back to me,” says Sherica, who chose not to share her surname. “I hope they would have done it eventually, but I just don’t know when.”
Sherica wasn’t examined during that appointment, receiving a brief, follow-up call instead. The doctor asked two questions: whether her periods had started again and if she needed contraception.
“I know they normally check in on people’s mental health and how they are doing, but it was nothing like that,” she says. “In terms of how my body is physically, I was not seen, I was not given an examination, I was not asked any questions.”
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“I understand doctors are stressed out, but we don’t need new mothers who are stressed out with a little one as well.” - Sherica, 30, Essex
Initially, Sherica “brushed off” the experience and wondered if it was the norm to skip over details for second-time mums, but speaking to other new mums made her realise something wasn’t right. “I understand that doctors are stressed out, but at the same time, we don’t need new mothers who are stressed out with a little one as well.”
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) was one of the groups which campaigned for a mandatory six-week check. Sarah McMullen, interim head of insight and engagement said: “We know and understand that health services are under tremendous strain due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but this check for new mums is vital so that any problems, including mental health issues are picked up.
“At NCT we’ve seen a surge in queries and concerns from expectant and new parents who are anxious about the impact of the pandemic, which is why it’s even more essential that the check is carried out to ensure that new mums are getting the help they need.”
Acutely aware of the pressures on doctors and midwives at the moment, Rachel Murphy, a first-time mum who gave birth on April 23, says she found it hard to be honest about her body and mental state over the phone.
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“It’s very difficult when a doctor or midwife says over the phone: ‘Is everything feeling normal?’ because my honest answer is: ‘I don’t know.’ It’s also all too easy to say: ‘Sure, I’m feeling fine,’ when you’re not,” she says. “I’ve been finding it really hard, emotionally and mentally. It’s not been easy for me.”
“I’d had the six-week check as a goal I was heading towards... where I could start having some normality back in my life.” - Rachel Murphy
When she called to make an appointment with her GP, she was told her baby would be checked over when he received his eight-week jabs – but that checks for mums had been postponed for the foreseeable future.
“In my mind I’d had the six-week check as a goal I was heading towards. I was thinking about it as this milestone I could get to where I could start having some normality back in my life,” says the 31-year-old, from Nunhead, London.
Even for women who have been able to access face-to-face six-week checks, lockdown has led to severe delays. Steph Almond, 35, from Manchester, is awaiting an in-person appointment for herself and her son, George, who was born on May 9. However, due to strains on services, the six-week check is delayed and will be “more like 12 weeks”.
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“I want to know if my stitches have healed and if I can go out for a run,” says Almond, who had the added stress of being diagnosed with Covid-19 during labour. For them it’s only an extra five or six weeks, but for me it’s such a big difference.”
Steph Almond Steph Almond
Hana Morvay, 31, from West Lothian, in Scotland, was due to have her check on March 31, a few days into lockdown, but her GP called to postpone it until early May. When the check eventually arrived, Morvay says it was quick and entirely centred on the baby. She wasn’t offered a physical examination or asked about her wellbeing.
“I understand that they have to prioritise the baby’s wellbeing, but lockdown isn’t easy for anyone and it’s even more difficult for new mums,” she says. “Especially not being able to see family and friends who would be able to offer support and help.”
A spokesperson for the NHS told HuffPost UK that staff are working “around the clock” to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, “while also ensuring vital services like six to eight week checks can still take place in a safe way”.
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“If you’re a new mum, the NHS is still here for you and your baby. If you’re worried about your health or that of your baby, contact your GP just as you always would, and if you’re asked to come in for a planned or urgent check, it’s vital that you do so.”
Victoria Tzortiou Brown, honorary secretary at the Royal College of General Practitioners, says GPs have changed the way they work during the coronavirus lockdown, conducting the majority of appointments via phone or video. “We do provide face-to-face assessments as well wherever appropriate. So if we speak to the patients and feel that, actually a physical examination is required, we don’t avoid that. We invite the patient to come to the practice, with safety measures in place.”
This offers little reassurance for mums like Rachel Murphy, who still hasn’t had any confirmation about when her physical examination might be.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--Racism Is A Mental Health Crisis. We Need To Support Each Other – Here’s How

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Exhaustion. If one word has echoed around our social media feeds these past few weeks, it’s this one. Black people are tired: tired of justifying how we feel, as if 400 years of oppression were not enough to explain it; tired of showing we are human beings with emotions; and tired of proving how valuable our lives are. And this exhaustion goes beyond mere fatigue. It’s a mental health issue.
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Black Lives Matter has opened unhealed intergenerational wounds from centuries of trauma, oppression, anger and humiliation. This has been very much evident in the protests that have spread across all 50 US states – and the world – since the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, in what has become the biggest civil rights movement in history.
Racism is a disease that can kill a human being, directly, as we have seen in these horrific cases of police brutality, or indirectly, in its lifelong impact on our physical and mental health. The rage we’re seeing now has been burning for a long time – anger at why systemic racism continues to the present day.
Barack Obama recently joined civil rights icon John Lewis and lawyer Bryan Stevenson to address mental wellbeing during a pandemic – of racism. The former US president said of the Black community: “We inherited extraordinary strengths, but we have also inherited trauma.”
So, how do we protect Black minds as we strive to protect Black lives?
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Mental health and prejudice
It’s important to understand how white supremacy has fundamentally harmed Black people’s psyche. Black people face racial prejudice no matter where in the world they are. As a Black person, hypervigilance is always on your mind –a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder that goes largely undiagnosed in Black people due to failures in mental health services.
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In the UK, Black people are more likely to suffer with severe mental health issues than any other race and are also more likely to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act. According to NHS Digital data, Black people have a detention rate of 306.8 per 100,000 in England (2018-2019) – more than four times higher than white people, where the rate is 72.9 per 100,000.
Black people are also more likely to receive Community Treatment Orders – a legal order that requires a person to accept mental health treatment, including taking medication and therapy. “Racial disparity in the use of the Act is an ongoing injustice,” says Vicky Nash, head of policy and campaigns at Mind.
At the same time, Black and minority therapists are underrepresented in mental health services and research has shown that if a Black person’s experience does not resonate with a white therapist, it can often lead to misdiagnosis.
tommaso79 via Getty Images
Longstanding inequalities have a weathering effect on wellbeing and mental health, which is toxic to the body’s stress response system, spiking up further health issues. Black women are more prone to anxiety, depression, panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorders, NHS data shows.
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Conditions such as diabetes and high-blood pressure are more prevalent in Black communities than any other race group and Black people are also dying disproportionately during the Covid-19 crisis, as belatedly confirmed by Public Health England.
All these factors explain the vicious cycle a Black person can be stuck in: traumatised by racism, but facing mental health stigma; impacted by social and economic inequalities, but also by implicit biases in healthcare and justice.
Racism as a daily reality
As a Danish-British woman of Somali origin, and also Muslim, I’ve never felt like I belonged anywhere. Being a woman is difficult enough without also being a Black woman and a Muslim woman.
I feel like I’ve always had to prove my worth in white spaces, fighting micro-aggressions like “you’re so articulate,” which sounds like a compliment but is actually backhanded. Are Black people not articulate?
I’ve also suffered and continue to suffer from the ‘superwoman syndrome’ – not realising this persona is a means of survival linked to a wider socio-historical context in which Black women could never display signs of weakness. This has contributed to my stress and anxiety levels, trying to be as ‘perfect’ as possible just to prove that I am worthy – a narrative that I need to dismantle.
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Being a Black person is often described as being in ‘fight or flight’ mode, and honestly, that is the best way to explain it. Nor am I alone in how I feel. I have been collecting the voices of Black people across the UK, Europe and the US, asking them how racism has affected their mental health and wellbeing.
“I’m tired and drained, constantly having to provide for myself in an industry and in a company among very few Black people and a sea of white faces,” said one 25-year-old PR executive from London. “It’s tiring to put up a front everyday and dismiss micro-aggressive comments, to always be smiling and just get on with it during a fight for freedom. No one understands, they don’t understand.”
“The looks, the stares, the judgement and the questions alienate you from your inner being.”
Racism in the workplace ranges from the discreet to the blatant, a 24-year-old woman who works in marketing told me. “The looks, the stares, the judgement and the questions alienate you from your inner being. I found myself constantly adapting my language and behaviour to fit in with a group of people that wouldn’t look twice at me outside of work,” she says.
“Being told that my natural hairstyle resembled someone that had ‘put their hand in a plug socket’ or seeing my non-Black friends enter high paying jobs right after graduation, while I struggled, jobless, for six months was just the beginning. Despite being told that ‘by applying yourself at school and university you would achieve’, being a young, Black, queer woman entails transgressing barriers that the average white woman would never have to consider.”
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A 32-year-old teacher from New York summed it up: “I constantly have to fight and feeling like you’re not heard is exhausting… it tricks you into thinking you don’t matter. We are more valuable than they treat us.”
Be Kind To Yourself
Fighting racism is not an overnight job. While we are collectively engrossed in the fight against injustice, it’s important to not forget about your own personal wellbeing while supporting the cause. Look after yourself first:
Talk about your feelings and offload emotional baggage
Take regular breaks from social media
Take time to reflect, meditate and journal
Keep active throughout the day and eat well
Watch light-hearted shows/movies and take your mind off the news
Ask for help when you need it – vulnerability is not a weakness.
Some Resources:
How To Support Others
As a trained Mental Health First Aider in the workplace, I recognise the impact that systemic racism can have on a person’s wellbeing and the repercussions it can have if not addressed. Here is what you can do to help from today:
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Listen
Actively listen to the experiences that Black people face.
Employ non-judgemental listening skills and do not engage in racial gaslighting while doing so.
Discuss racism even if it’s awkward for you. It’s a privilege to learn about racism, rather than experience it on a daily basis.
Ask questions and engage in the conversation.
Donate If You Are Able
These are just some of the UK organisations supporting Black people’s mental health.
Black Minds Matter is hoping to raise £300,000 to connect Black people in the UK to Black therapists. Help it surpass its goal.
Black Girls Camping Trip creates retreats for Black women in the UK and while it has met its crowdfunding target, it is still open for donations.
Black Lives Matter (UK) is a fundraiser organised by Black activists and organisers from the UK to support Black communities in the UK.
You will find further causes, petitions and ways to show up and take action among these resources for how to support Black British people right now.
Most Importantly
Diversify your circle and get to know more people outside of your own race.
Reach out to a friend who you know might be affected by recent protests.
If you have Black co-workers, check in on them.
Challenge your own beliefs, prejudice and unconscious biases.
Take charge of your own learning and be an active citizen of the world.
Continue to re-educate yourself and share your knowledge with members of your own household, family, and friends.
Use your talents, whether than be writing, speaking, filming or other creative endeavours, to raise awareness.
Finally, use your white privilege to always speak up when you witness an injustice in this world – don’t be neutral.
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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


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-11--5 Guys Created An Algorithm To 'Validate The Female Orgasm'. It Went As Well As You'd Expect

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If a woman tells you she has had an orgasm, you shouldn’t trust her. Instead, you should hook her up to an algorithm to see if she’s a big old faker.
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This seems to be the not-so-subtle suggestion from a group of five men working in sex tech, who claim to have developed an algorithm that can “validate an authentic female orgasm”.
The tech, designed by a company called Relida Limited, will supposedly help sex toy creators make better sex toys by monitoring a woman’s heartbeat.
The theory, they say, is that an accelerated heartbeat can show that a woman has truly orgasmed – never mind the fact an accelerated heartbeat could signify a number of things, including fear or stress.
According to the designers, “so far there is no evidence and proof of female orgasm” and “there is no reliable way to be sure if a woman has an orgasm”. Asking us, apparently, does not count.
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Received a pitch presentation from a "female well being sex tech start-up" (five dudes) that can "confirm" and "validate" female orgasms, that could help my company develop better sex toys. Here are some slides, for your enjoyment/anger. pic.twitter.com/wwbk9NUDB3 — Stu Nugent (@CrookedNuts) June 9, 2020
Stu Nugent, a brand manager for the pleasure brand Lelo, was pitched the algorithm, and shared images of the presentation on Twitter. Nugent says he’s used to receiving unsolicited pitches weekly through LinkedIn, but says: “I have never received anything as egregious as this.”
“I was stunned,” he tells HuffPost UK. “I had to do some background to make sure it wasn’t a prank, and having discovered it to be absolutely, unashamedly real, I would have much rather it had been fake.”
HuffPost UK A screenshot from Relida Limited's website
In Nugent’s opinion, the pitch has “no redeeming features”.
“Why is ‘female orgasm’ written in a different font, like it was copied and pasted from Wikipedia?” he asks. “Why did they make up the statistic that ’26-74%’ of women have faked an orgasm? Why are there snails [on the presentation]? Why, and I feel I can’t stress this enough, are there snails?”
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Nugent says he’s offended by the attitude these pitchers have towards women’s orgasms, but wants to hand the mic over to women to explain why the pitch is so wrong (good man).
Ti Chang, co-founder of sex tech company Crave, described the “male-dacity” of the pitch as “insulting”.
“Women don’t need this kind of male saviorism, we’re orgasming just fine without you.” - Ti Chang, the co-founder of sex tech company Crave
“The premise of their startup is to determine if a woman has actually had an orgasm, because they don’t believe women know their own bodies well enough to determine if they have had an orgasm,” Chang tells HuffPost UK. “They also don’t believe there is scientific proof of the female orgasm. I feel like I’m talking to a flat-earther.”
Chang would like to ask the algorithm designers why they are “trying to fix something that is not broken”.
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“A common downfall of many startups is to create solutions for problems that don’t exist,” she adds. “Women don’t need this kind of male saviorism, we’re orgasming just fine without you. Lastly, only boys would reduce a woman’s pleasure to an orgasm.”
Women on Twitter also had a lot to say on the matter.
There is so much wrong with that entire presentation I’m almost getting a nosebleed. Aside from literally everything else, I am baffled at how they think heart rate is the surefire way to *checks notes* “authenticate” an orgasm. What if one is just... vigorous? — Starling (@Starling7913) June 9, 2020
the funniest thing about this is how they’re just blatantly saying “a woman’s sexual pleasure is about ME” lmao like it’s not about getting her off it’s about them having ~proof~ that they did so they can pat themselves on the back — laura lux (@DarthLux) June 9, 2020
My favourite part “so far there has been no evidence and proof of a female orgasm”. I think we need to find their current and ex ladies and offer them free toys, they’ve had to put up with a lot. — Rebecca Chase (@rebeccahchase) June 9, 2020
WTAF?? Why would it even be necessary to "validate" a woman's orgasm? If she says she's had an orgasm, then that should be the end of discussion. This makes me incandescent with rage. Why can't women just be believed? Why does this need validating? — 💜Isabelle Lauren💜 (@RomanticIsa) June 9, 2020
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I think I've come back to this tweet about four times today because I still can't quite believe it. Quite aside from everything else, the implication that women can't be trusted not to fake it with their own VIBRATORS is kind of hilarious. — samantics (@SmokeAndSmut) June 10, 2020
Nugent says he’s also offended by the “callousness of the attitude it takes towards the pleasure industry as a whole”.
“Charlatans like this think our industry is an easy win, a quick buck,” he says. “They believe they can easily monetise people’s sexuality. I’m proud to say that the huge response to my original tweet proved that attitude wrong. We’re tired of our sexualities being commodified by idiots.”
In response to its critics, Relida Limited issued a statement on its website, which it also sent to HuffPost UK. “There is a tweet describing us in a twisted, very wrong and insulting way,” it read. “That’s why we decided to clarify ourselves.”
It shared five points, including: “Yes, an orgasm may be identified with heart rate, as it has a specific pattern when climaxing”. The statement continued: “We never wanted to sell this algorithm directly to women or men. Indeed, this is a sensitive subject and information that could create additional pressure on women. We just want our algorithm to be used as a testing way for companies developing new products for women’s pleasure.”
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