thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--Britain's Got Talent Final Voting Figures Reveal Jon Courtenay's Win Was A Landslide

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Britain’s Got Talent has unveiled the voting figures from this year’s final, revealing that new champion Jon Courtenay won by quite the landslide.
Of the 10 acts in the final – five picked by the judges during the semi-finals and five selected by the public – Jon received a total of 35.7% of the total vote, following the performance of his original song in the final.
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Things were a little bit closer between second, third and fourth place, with runners up Sign Along With Us landing 15.3% of the votes.
Just behind them were comedians Steve Royle and Nabil Abdulrashid, on 14.1% and 13.9%, respectively.
Jon Courtenay celebrates his BGT win Dymond/Thames/Syco/Shutterstock
Check out the full voting stats below
Jon Courtenay (35.7%) Sign Along With Us (15.3%) Steve Royle (14.1%) Nabil Abdulrashid (13.9%) James & Dylan Piper (5.7%) Damien O’Brien (4.6%) Aidan McCann (3.7%) Jasper Cherry (3.3%) Magical Bones (2.9%) Aaron & Jasmine (0.8%)
During this year’s pre-recorded semi-finals, eight acts performed each night, with the judges picking their favourite to automatically send through to the final.
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The remaining seven were then put up for the public vote, with the winners of each round also earning a spot in the last stage of the competition.
Here are the voting figures from the five weeks of the semi-finals:
Week 1 James & Dylan Piper (41.8%) Yakub (22.7%) Fayth Ifil (13.2%) James Stott (10.0%) SOS From The Kids (6.1%) Imen Siar (3.7%) Urban Turtles (2.5%) Week 2 Damien O’Brien (22.1%) The Coven (20.1%) Souparnika Nair (19.7%) Amanda & Miracle (18.5%) Honey & Sammy (10.4%) Class Dynamix (5.0%) Allan Finnegan (4.2%) Week 3 Sign Along With Us (34.0%) Sirine Jahangir (31.8%) X1X Crew (14.5%) Ember Trio (8.9%) Myra Dubois (6.9%) Dario The Dinosaur (2.0%) Bhim Niroula (1.9%) Week 4 Jasper Cherry (49.2%) Belinda Davids (21.2%) Chineke! Junior Orchestra (8.5%) Billy & Chantelle (7.5%) Kevin Quantum (5.3%) Papi Flex (4.9%) Katherine & Joe O’Malley (3.4%) Week 5 Aidan McCann (27.0%) Beth Porch (24.8%) Wesley Williams (16.1%) Hakan Berg (14.2%) Soldiers of Swing (9.0%) Shalom Chorale (6.3%) Crissy Lee (2.6%)
For safety reasons, the performances in this year’s BGT final were pre-recorded ahead of time, although the results of the public vote were announced live.
Comedy singer Jon’s win was a notable one, as it marked the first time a Golden Buzzer act – picked by one of the judges to automatically win a spot in the semi-finals after their audition – has gone on to win the competition.
This year saw Simon Cowell sitting out the second half of the competition due to an injury, with former BGT winner Ashley Banjo sitting in for him this year.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--'Watchmen' Creator Alan Moore: Superhero Movies May Have Contributed To Trump's Rise

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Alan Moore — the famed co-creator of the graphic novels Watchmen and V For Vendetta, and writer of dozens of DC and Marvel comics — offered a blistering critique of comics, and argued that superhero movies may very well have contributed to the rise of Donald Trump and Brexit.
“I’m not so interested in comics anymore,” Alan said in a rare interview with Deadline on Friday, to promote his upcoming film, The Show a nightmarish tale set in Northampton.
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Alan retired from writing comics in 2018 after the release of the final issue of the League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen series, which inspired the 2003 Sean Connery film of the same name.
Alan Moore, pictured in 2013 SFX Magazine via Getty Images
“I had been doing comics for 40-something years when I finally retired,” Alan said.
“When I entered the comics industry, the big attraction was that this was a medium that was vulgar. It had been created to entertain working-class people, particularly children. The way that the industry has changed, it’s ‘graphic novels’ now. It’s entirely priced for an audience of middle-class people.
“I have nothing against middle-class people, but it wasn’t meant to be a medium for middle-aged hobbyists. It was meant to be a medium for people who haven’t got much money.”
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Alan added that mainstream audiences today tend to equate comics with superhero films, much to his displeasure. He slowly transitioned away from superhero stories over the course of his career, partly because of his negative experience working with DC, which he said “managed to successfully swindle” him through constricting contracts after the publication of Watchmen in the 1980s.
Since then, Alan has criticised big-screen adaptations of his stories.
Following the negative reception of the League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen film, Alan asked that his name be removed from all movie versions of his work.
Neither the 2009 movie based on his seminal comic series Watchmen or HBO’s 2019 sequel TV series bear his name.
“I haven’t seen a superhero movie since the first Tim Burton Batman film,” Moore told Deadline. “They have blighted cinema and also blighted culture to a degree.
“Several years ago I said I thought it was a really worrying sign, that hundreds of thousands of adults were queuing up to see characters that were created 50 years ago to entertain 12-year-old boys. That seemed to speak to some kind of longing to escape from the complexities of the modern world and go back to a nostalgic, remembered childhood. That seemed dangerous; it was infantilising the population.”
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Alan — who added that the best version of Batman in his opinion was the campy 1966 Adam West TV show, “which didn’t take it at all seriously” — speculated that an overabundance of superhero cinema may even have led to the current political state of the world.
“This may be entirely coincidence, but in 2016 when the American people elected a National Socialist satsuma and the UK voted to leave the European Union, six of the top 12 highest-grossing films were superhero movies,” he said.
“Not to say that one causes the other, but I think they’re both symptoms of the same thing — a denial of reality and an urge for simplistic and sensational solutions.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--Margaret Ferrier: Covid MP Refuses To Resign Because Virus 'Makes You Do Things Out Of Character'

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Scottish MP Margaret Ferrier has refused to resign for travelling from Glasgow and London while infected with Covid-19, arguing the virus meant she was “not thinking straight”.
in an interview with The Scottish Sun on Sunday, the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, who has had the SNP whip withdrawn over the saga, said she had no intention of standing down.
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“This has been an awful experience but I’ll keep fighting for my constituents because that’s who I am,” she told the paper.
She added that she has received support locally in the wake of the incident and has “owned up and apologised profusely”, and added: “A lot of people say Covid makes you do things out of character.
“You’re not thinking straight.”
Ferrier revealed to the paper her reasoning for travelling to Westminster after taking a Covid-19 test was “wanting to represent her constituents” and take part in a parliamentary debate – something which could not be done virtually.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon (right) with Margaret Ferrier, SNP in 2019. PA
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First minister Nicola Sturgeon and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford have been among those calling on Ferrier to stand down over the incident, while Scottish Labour has launched an online petition calling for her to resign.
Speaking on Sky News’ Sophie Ridge On Sunday show, Sturgeon said the breach was “unacceptable” and Ferrier should resign as an MP.
The Scottish First Minister said: “I couldn’t be clearer, she should step down from Parliament.
“The lapse of judgment in travelling hundreds of miles knowing she had tested positive for Covid-19 was so significant and so unacceptable that I don’t think there is any other acceptable course of action for her.
“I’ve read her comments in the media today but I still hope she will do the right thing.”
.@NicolaSturgeon has been critical of Margaret Ferrier for travelling between London and Glasgow after testing positive for #COVID19.@SophyRidgeSky: 'If she's not fit to be an MP, why has she not been expelled from the SNP?'#Ridge: https://t.co/pCgCjM7pvx pic.twitter.com/H2GTz9S1fo — Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) October 11, 2020
Ferrier has also spoken out about the level of criticism she has received over the incident, adding: “You feel you are getting a lot of criticism from people you thought were your colleagues or friends who’d understand it was an error of judgement. I’m not denying that.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--What Not To Say To A Colleague Who Experienced A Miscarriage

fizkes via Getty Images Here's what not to say to working parents going through a pregnancy loss.
When cookbook author Chrissy Teigen and singer John Legend shared their pregnancy loss with the world on social media last week, it sparked a national conversation among professionals who handled their own pregnancy losses in silence.
Women at my VC firm did not share their pregnancies for as long as possible, because we feared being treated unfairly. When I had a miscarriage, no one at work knew I was pregnant; I went back to work soon afterward and never talked about it there — Ellen K. Pao (@ekp) October 1, 2020
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Been thinking a lot about this. I went back to work 48 hours after a miscarriage, bleeding heavily, barely holding my shit together. No one guessed a thing.
The societal norm should not be “bottle this up and keep it to yourself.” Thank you for being so open, @chrissyteigen. https://t.co/nVwzfl7RYV — B. (@pickettbri) October 1, 2020
People came forward with their own experiences, and it became a reminder that although pregnancy loss is common, there is still not a shared understanding of how to talk about it.
Not everyone feels comfortable sharing information about a pregnancy with colleagues. And while some commenters on Twitter thanked Teigen and Legend for going public with their story and including remembrance photos, others questioned the decision, perhaps not understanding how such images can play a powerful role in the healing process for bereaved parents.
It’s likely that you work with someone who has gone through this experience or may someday. Up to 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriages, and there are 2.6 million stillbirths around the world each year.
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When a loss is acknowledged in the office, it’s important to be supportive, and the primary thing to understand is that pregnancy loss can take a real emotional toll. According to a study by Imperial College London, 4 in 10 women reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder three months after their miscarriage, and 30% said this stress affected their work life.
If you are wondering how to support a colleague going through such a loss, consider first what not to say:
1. Even if you’re religious, don’t say it was God’s plan.
When speaking with a co-worker grieving a pregnancy loss, it is really important to keep anything remotely religious out of the conversation, said Julie Bindeman, a reproductive psychologist based in Rockville, Maryland.
“This can be hard for well-intentioned people that have a deep faith and truly believe ideas like, ‘This happened for a reason,’” Bindeman said. “For the majority of people that have experienced a pregnancy loss, hearing such a platitude makes them angry and [feel] misunderstood.”
When you’re wondering what to say, let the person going through the pregnancy loss lead. “Take your cues from the bereaved parent,” said Rayna Markin, a psychologist and associate professor in counselling at Villanova University. “Some bereaved parents will not want to talk about their loss in the workplace, whereas for others, a condolence card, flowers, a simple ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ helps them to feel supported and less alone.”
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2. Avoid “at least...” comments.
Jessica Zucker, a Los Angeles-based psychologist who specialises in maternal mental health, said comments like “At least you know you can get pregnant, at least you have a healthy child, at least you have a thriving career, at least you were ambivalent about having another one” are minimising.
“‘At least’ is not a compassionate way to start a sentence,” Zucker said. What people are often trying to convey with “at least you know you can get pregnant” is encouragement that it will happen again, she said, but no one can say this with certainty.
Additionally, “at least” comments minimise the experience of people who wanted the pregnancy. “They wanted this pregnancy, so letting someone know they got pregnant and therefore they will again is just painful,” Zucker said.
In general, avoid platitudes that “unintentionally minimise or invalidate the bereaved parent’s loss, such as, ‘It happens all the time, it’s for the best, time heals all wounds,’” Markin said.
3. But don’t magnify the loss, either.
“I had someone tell me, 'I would die if what happened to you happened to me'...The truth is, we have to survive what we go through, so hearing that doesn't help.”
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Zucker said colleagues should not assume that the loss is devastating, either.
“I had someone tell me, ‘I would die if what happened to you happened to me,’” said Zucker, who personally experienced a miscarriage at 16 weeks. “The truth is, we have to survive what we go through, so hearing that doesn’t help.”
Instead of comparing and contrasting your own experience of loss to your co-worker’s, Zucker said you should stay open about what you don’t know with language like, “I haven’t been through this, I don’t know how you’re feeling. Do you want to share with me?”
4. Do not say nothing.
Bindeman said she has heard from clients who had co-workers they felt close to but who never acknowledged their loss. “Oftentimes, this is because the person just doesn’t know what to say, so rather than not be helpful, they stay silent,” Bindeman said.
But this can be one of the biggest mistakes colleagues can make. Bindeman said acknowledgment can simply sound like, “I’m so sorry for your loss.” Not everyone wants to talk about a pregnancy they lost, Bindeman said, but many do.
Showing support is not a one-time action, either. If you have a close relationship to your grieving colleague, remember to check in after the initial conversation.
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“What becomes hard is that once a few weeks pass and things look ‘back to normal,’ others tend to forget the loss has ever happened, whereas the parent that experienced the loss continues to remember, and feels isolated by others forgetting,” Bindeman said, noting that this experience is individual and some people are uncomfortable and private about their losses.
If you’re a manager, you need to get specific.
If you are a boss or manager, being compassionate means listening to your employee’s needs and offering the same accommodations that follow any other loss.
“Treating pregnancy loss like any other kind of loss helps to validate the parent’s loss as real and grief as legitimate,” Markin said. For example, giving a colleague time off from work to mourn and asking him or her how you can best support them are two options bosses can offer, she said.
In fact, if you’re a boss, treating your employee differently by refusing to accommodate them after a pregnancy loss can be illegal. It’s key for managers to recognise the power differential in conversations after a loss. An employee may be concerned that disclosing a pregnancy loss could signal a loss in productivity, for example. A compassionate boss would put those concerns to rest by making it clear to an employee that taking time off work and doing less is more than acceptable.
But bosses should also not assume what their employees need and take them off a work project. Some people see working as a reprieve from their grief, Zucker said.
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“Support is not a one-time action. If you have a close relationship to your grieving colleague, remember to check in after the initial conversation.”
Bosses should also be sensitive to other pregnancies within teams. Bindeman noted that if office baby showers are a company ritual and one is being planned, they can give the grieving co-worker a heads up, making it clear that attendance is optional and asking the person if they want to be on emails about the shower.
What bosses can do to help is to overall make it clear that this experience is common. A person who has just experienced pregnancy loss doesn’t want to feel that their boss and colleagues are “walking on eggshells,” Zucker said, because they did nothing wrong.
“This is just something that happens a lot. Ideally [the boss will] put that out there, so it’s not something you’re also worried about ― ‘Is my boss going to be mad that I have another doctor’s appointment for a follow-up?’”
Instead, managers should already have assured their colleague that they can take as much time as needed to grieve.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--We Need To Recognise That 'Carers' Are All Sorts Of People

Mature man lying on floor playing with little girl, support, assistance, learning 10'000 Hours via Getty Images
“Carers” are all sorts of people. With so many different caring roles.
I know this only too well. I’ve been a young carer, an adult carer and a parent carer. From looking after my terminally ill mother as a teenager, to having prime carer responsibility for my Nanna for her last ten years, to now as a father caring for my disabled son.
But crucially, I was also cared for. Like so many.
My dad had died when I was four, so after my mum passed away, it was her parents – my amazing Nanna and Grandad – who took me in.
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Because they were my grandparents, I never really thought of them as “carers”, and I don’t think they did either. Back then, I probably didn’t even know what the phrase “kinship carer” meant – let alone that it described my Nanna and Grandad.
It wasn’t easy for them. My mother had been their only child: her long illness and early death nearly broke them. I like to think looking after me helped them deal with their heartbreak.
Of course they spoilt me rotten. I learnt after my grandad died how he would always check up on my Nanna: what had she given me for my packed lunch? What was she cooking for my meal? Had she turned on the radiator in my room? A deeply emotional man, who didn’t show me his emotions.
The truth is, it was my Nanna and Grandad who helped me get over my mum’s death. Surrounding me with infinite, unquestioning love, they were classic kinship carers.
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“Unlike parents who adopt a child, people who become kinship carers are not entitled to paid employment leave and protection.”
In my constituency work, I’ve had to help a surprisingly large number of kinship carers over the years – mostly grandparents, battling the system for their precious grandchildren. I like to think I go the extra mile.
The huge challenges facing the many thousands of kinship carers across the UK are too often forgotten by politicians and policymakers.
More than 180,000 children are being raised by kinship carers today – that is, by family members who are not their parents. For some, like me, it’s because their parents have died. For others, it’s because of incapacity, imprisonment, domestic violence, drug misuse or any number of other reasons.
These are children who have often experienced tragedy and trauma, and who would have been taken into foster homes had their relatives not stepped in to care for them instead.
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What my Nanna and Grandad did for me – and what kinship carers across the UK are doing for those 180,000 children today – is a remarkable thing.
They are providing a loving home for these children, while relieving the pressure on the formal care system – even though it can place a huge strain on their finances, their careers and their day-to-day lives. They deserve our gratitude and our support.
“Many kinship carers never get a break, because they are not offered any respite care.”
Yet, as the cross-party Parliamentary Taskforce on Kinship Care highlights in its new report, kinship carers too often find themselves excluded from the support available to parents or foster carers.
For example, unlike parents who adopt a child, people who become kinship carers are not entitled to paid employment leave and protection – even though most of them have to give up work or reduce their hours.
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Far too many do not have access to legal advice to help them understand the rights and obligations involved – and far too many more take on thousands of pounds of debt to pay for it.
And many kinship carers never get a break, because they are not offered any respite care. They take their children on holiday, but don’t get one themselves.
As Leader of the Liberal Democrats, I have pledged to be the voice of the nine million carers in our country – and that includes kinship carers.
And, along with the MPs from other parties who have done brilliant, valuable work on the Taskforce on Kinship Care supported by the Family Rights Group, I will work tirelessly to make their concerns heard in parliament and by government.
We must do far more to support these wonderful carers and build a more caring society. They must not be an afterthought any longer.
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Ed Davey is leader of the Liberal Democrats party.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--11 Easy Slow Cooker Chilli Recipes: Let Dinner Make Itself For You

Slow cookers let you dump in a bunch of ingredients in the morning, allowing you to luxuriate in the aroma of your dinner all day long as it wafts through your home. If you’re spending your days at home during the pandemic, the slow cooker (or the slow cooker function on your Instant Pot) will be your new best friend ― start up a recipe when you wake up, and then let it do the work all day while you go about your business. Every whiff will remind you that dinner is already taken care of.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--Michaela Coel's Groundbreaking Work Is Inspiring Actors To Improvise During Covid

“I trained as an actor but something wasn’t right about it - I was waiting for the phone to ring,” Ronan Dempsey, 40, an actor based in Dublin, tells HuffPost UK. “I was also quite underwhelmed with a lot of what I was seeing on conservative stages here in Ireland so I started to make and write what I wanted to see.”
Unsurprisingly, Ronan isn’t the only actor bored by the idea of hanging around waiting for the phone to ring. Acting’s always been a competitive gig, so finding work elsewhere in film-making is a sensible, as well as a creative and rewarding, idea.
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One reason actors are experimenting more is the availability of affordable equipment for creatives to make their own work, but also the likes of Michaela Coel have become role models for this new Jack-of-all-trades approach to work.
Michaela, the director, producer, writer and lead star of I May Destroy You, is the most obvious case study for this kind of contemporary star. As likely to be behind the camera as she is in front of it, she almost single-handedly created the widely acclaimed show, with critics and viewers alike declaring it to be the most important TV show of the year.
Ronan Dempsey Supplied
“I think that’s a trait that more and more young artists have: they aren’t just an actor, or just a director,” theatre director Nadia Fall says of Coel’s rise.
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“Bringing the right people together, producing, thinking about the writing. Michaela really is that sum of all parts, making her a mega artist in her mind. Those people don’t come around very often, so when they do it’s really striking.”
Of course, actors have produced, written and directed for decades - but the sense is that the rise in actors turning to film-making has been felt more sharply recently. Billie Piper is another example of this 360-degree talent: she co-created and starred in Sky’s hit, I Hate Suzie.
“There’s been a huge rise in it in the Dublin scene in the past five years,” says Ronan. “It’s been helped by a couple of fringe theatres that have been set up offering space without any major criteria. I think that’s the key - space and encouragement. The upsurge in it has been dramatic - it’s quite common now for an actor to have a production company.”
Of course, the pandemic has compounded frustrations about a lack of available work. But boredom has been the catalyst for many to start experimenting with film-making in a broader sense than acting.
“I’ve always wanted to write and since lockdown I’ve started and I’ve absolutely loved it,” says Ella Greenwood, 19, an actor and film-maker who is writing the feature film Faulty Roots, an adaptation of her short film about teenage mental health.
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Ella Greenwood Supplied
Ella starred in the original short, but since lockdown has decided to remove herself from the feature film so she can focus on writing and production. “I thought why not give it a chance myself,” she says. “I’d read so many scripts and knew what I wanted to write. I really love producing, having that input on so many different factors rather than just acting: being there from the start to the end.”
Ella has personal experience with the mental health topics in the film, which she says gave her the confidence to begin writing. “No one can tell me it’s written wrong, or directed in a wrong way, because my experiences aren’t wrong.”
Lockdown may have had other benefits for actors too, like making film-making more accessible for working class people, and particularly women.
Gillian Harker, an actor living in London, asserts that this development is of crucial importance. “Michaela Coel is working class and certainly not posh - you can’t not talk about the working class issue when it comes to writers producers directors because we’re telling different types of stories,” she says.
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Gillian Harker Supplied
“Under lockdown I’m seeing lots of really exciting work from working class actors who are now having the time to create art. They’re creating incredible work because they have the time to sit down and think and say, ‘what is my voice?’ What do I want to put out in the world? What do I want to say?”
Established actors are increasingly onboard with this new way of working too. It’s a misconception that they can guarantee work, especially in a coronavirus-ravished film and TV industry, says actor and filmmaker Ashley Belal Chin.
“A lot of us have been doing it for years,” he says. “However I do think that a lot more people are starting to be inspired to do it. Some people already had it in them, but there’s a lot more.”
Ashley began filmmaking after he discovered the hard way that acting work couldn’t always be guaranteed, even with a profile in the industry. “I jumped from one job, finished, did another job, finished. And the second year, for the first four months, I didn’t get any work and I remember calling my agent and saying, ‘what’s going on?’”
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But under lockdown he has learned that even having a diverse range of film-making skills is maybe not enough.
He recommends other actors look into writing books about their experiences on set. “I realised by the end of lockdown how important it is to have another income which is just based online, because everything else is closed, but that will still go,” he says.
He believes in a commonly held view, that lockdown put many of us in a different headspace: and for some people it drove them creatively.
Lockdown, of course, was horrible. But if it has also been educational for creatives, then perhaps a new tide of talent that learned filmmaking under lockdown will result in bucketloads of brilliant ideas for studios when filming is eventually, properly, back in action.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--No, Britain's First Black Prime Minister Doesn't Have To Be A Tory

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer during a visit to Buck Street Market in Camden, north London, to call on locals to support independent businesses. PA
The New Statesman’s Stephen Bush claimed recently, the first Black Prime Minister will be a Conservative. I am inclined to agree, but Labour can prove us both wrong if it rises to the challenge.
This is not a sexy or factional argument but a technical one. Currently, when interested potential candidates are applying for a vacancy for an election they have to apply for every individual seat, restarting the process over and over again, proving yourself competent to be an MP to a panel of local volunteers, often spending significant sums of money to try to talk to swathes of local members.
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If you are unsuccessful, you never really know if it is because you do not have enough experience, the wrong postcode, the wrong union endorsement, or if something more sinister is at play.
“Strong action by Keir Starmer will see our parliamentary diversity reflect the people we are asking permission to govern.”
If we look across the aisle at our Conservative friends, we see a process we can learn a lot from, the parliamentary assessment board – the PAB.
As recently as 2010, Labour still had its own version of the PAB, the National Parliamentary Panel.
Introduced in 2001, it consisted of four-person selection panels, comprised of one NEC member, one member of the Regional Executive, an “experienced party member” and one independent assessor.
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Initial applications were scored “blind” by two of these assessors and had to achieve a fixed minimum score against a set list of criteria to progress to the next stage. Here candidates had to complete a 20-minute interview and a written test.
Candidates’ performance on these three stages determined whether they were admitted to the NPP, which permitted them to apply to all open selections.
Miliband reforms saw these slowly done away with, replaced with a Future Candidates Programme, and the current localised model was used in 2015. The 2017 and 2019 emergency processes also could have been much smoother had we still maintained a list of approved candidates.
The Conservative’s PAB, previously a full weekend affair assessing 32 candidates over the course of two days, is now an intensively rigorous full one-day event.
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Consisting of an hour-long interview with two assessors, an inbox exercise, a three-part written piece of work, a public speaking exercise and a group exercise where four candidates work together in a role-play situation, you are certainly put through your paces.
They assess communication skills, intellectual skills, relating to people (incorporating inclusion and diversity), leading and motivating, resilience and drive, and conviction.
The panel consists of a pool of trained assessors, using MPs, peers and senior party volunteers. Each assessor must be trained before they can attend a PAB.
Now, we might all scoff and believe we can point to a Tory MP, or twelve, who certainly do not tick all these boxes when viewed through a Labour lens, but the important thing is this is done.
If an individual passes the PAB, potential candidates are admitted to the Approved List, demonstrating they have the potential and the right skill mix to be a Member of Parliament.
“Now is this time for action. Especially now, before we start the 2024 selection process.”
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Once on the list they are encouraged to develop and extend their competency by attending training sessions on, for example, handling the media, public speaking and campaigning skills, all incredibly useful skills future Labour MPs, especially those from non-traditional political backgrounds, would benefit from.
One of David Cameron’s great ideas when he became Tory Leader in 2005 was the A-List. A top tier list of around 100 priority names who were to be fast tracked to the shortlists of the safest and top target seats.
The 2010 intake, where 50% of the A-List intake was women, started a trail of the Conservatives receiving accolades in 2015, 2017, and 2019 as “the most diverse intake ever”.
Successful Black MPs like Helen Grant and Sam Gyimah, alongside those unsuccessful like Shaun Bailey and Wilfred “The Black Farmer” Emmanuel-Jones, were all A-List candidates.
Another reform often spoken about in increasing diversity of our Parliamentarians are All-Minority Ethnic shortlists. There are clear pros and cons and the arguments have been heard a thousand times over when discussing All-Women Shortlists.
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One major concern I have is we would see great support for them in BAME-majority population seats like East Ham (23% white) or Leicester East (31% white).
However, the same consideration would not be given to Knowsley (98% white) one of our safest seats, or Newcastle East (89% white).
Yet, in the Blue corner, we see Kemi Badenoch representing Saffron Walden (96% white), James Cleverly in Braintree (97% white), Darren Henry in Broxtowe (92% white). It is clearly not a problem with the electorate, is it just a problem with the party membership?
There is no perfect solution to Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Selection, but we know the Tories are creating a diverse and representative Parliamentary Party at a much faster rate than we are.
And it is important local parties select their candidate. One of the major reasons people join a political party is because they get a voice in who represents them, at all levels, and this connection to local members is sacrosanct.
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However, if we want any possibility of a Black prime minister, we need to examine how we use our structures to champion the Black talent that exists in the party.
We need to professionalise a process which is too often left in the hands of local players with no real training, where factional politics can stop talented candidates dead in their tracks before they even get to show their mettle.
We have let individual biases too easily take control, or worse, we have made gross assumptions about the biases of the electorate and who we can ask them to vote for.
Strong action by Keir Starmer will see our parliamentary diversity reflect the people we are asking permission to govern. Blair’s commitment to AWS and Cameron’s commitment to his A-List saw both parties make incredible headway in single election cycles. Now is this time for action. And especially now, before we start the 2024 selection process. Let’s prove Stephen Bush wrong.
Martin Bailey is a Labour Party activist and has been Vauxhall Constituency Secretary since 2016.
Got a unique opinion on a news story that will help cut through the noise? We want to hear from you. Find out what we’re looking for here and pitch us on ukopinion@huffpost.com.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--I'm More Afraid Of A Second Trump Term Than My Cancer Coming Back. Here's Why

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Cancer canceled my 2019. After 37 years of near-perfect health, I became one of tens of millions of Americans who went bankrupt due to illness.
Last month at an ABC News town hall, President Donald Trump claimed that his new health care plan would cover individuals with preexisting conditions. But Trump says lots of things. And his goal since 2016 has been to repeal the Affordable Care Act and its protections, as his administration argued before the Supreme Court in June. If Trump and his Republican enablers win reelection and finish the job, I will be uninsurable.
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Rates of cancer are rising in young people, but it’s harder for us to get diagnosed. I was so sick that I spent nights on the floor of my bathroom, wrapped in towels in front of a heater, shaking from chills and soaked in sweat. Medical providers told me it was mono, but it kept getting worse. I fought for a month with my private insurer to cover a CT scan for my visibly swollen abdomen.
It turned out I had advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer that moves and pools through your lymphatic system. My own immune system was killing me from the inside out.
In Trump’s America, the belief that illness and poverty are moral failings is killing us from the inside out. I had two master’s degrees and was working as a psychotherapist at a community mental health clinic when I was diagnosed. After I ran through paid vacation and six weeks of unpaid family medical leave, I lost my job and my health insurance.
Cancer, like COVID-19, requires a community response to save lives. My mother paid my rent and I lived off public assistance, food stamps and GoFundMe donations. I was also fortunate to live in New York, a state that has worked to expand access to Medicaid, so that I was able to get care at one of the best hospitals in the world despite being unemployed.
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There is no safety net, not even for a college-educated, employed, insured white man like myself. My mother and stepfather (who was already battling prostate cancer) raided their retirement account. I lost my savings. My credit is shot. I still owe thousands of dollars in medical bills (from the time I was privately insured).
Privilege takes many shapes and forms in American life. It’s covert and overt, it’s red, blue and definitely white, it’s seen and more often unseen ― not having a preexisting condition is a privilege. I’ve lost the weight I gained, and my hair has grown back. Most of my scars are easily hidden: an incision along my abdomen where my spleen once lived; a compromised ability to fight off infection; fiery neuropathy pain in my hands and feet, a side effect of chemotherapy.
Though the cancer “survivor” is held up as sacred in America, the experience is profane. My deus ex machina was the “red devil,” the colloquial name for Adriamycin, an insidious but effective chemo drug that kills cells, both good and evil.
Chemo is grotesque: from bloody hemorrhoids to blistering mouth sores, hair loss, night sweats, steroid-induced rages, skin rashes. I didn’t feel angelic on the floor, bloated, bald, covered in my own blood and shit, cradling vomit in my hands. I was fully human, naked, alone, afraid.
The mythology of the survivor is part of our problem in 21st-century America. We like to think people can do everything on their own. I didn’t beat cancer. Chemo, my family and even my government saved my life. If we don’t care for each other, what else is community for?
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I’ve spent my entire life working in public service: with underserved children and adults, developmentally disabled individuals, and the homeless. As a hospital chaplain, I held people’s hands as they slipped into the next life. The only difference between myself and those I served were the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
I now work with upward of 20 clients a week as a psychotherapist in private practice. I’m holding space and bearing witness to people’s pain as they live through the traumas and stressors of America in 2020. Many of my clients have lost their employer-based insurance, but they don’t deserve to face this alone, so my small business struggles.
I am still at risk of relapse for the next four years; if lymphoma does come back, my only option will be a bone marrow transplant. I would have to spend months masked and in quarantine without the ability to fight off the simplest cold let alone the novel coronavirus.
But I am more fearful of Donald Trump and his Republican enablers making America “great again” than the thought of my cancer returning.
Trump is not immoral but amoral; his enablers are either practicing avarice, or, in the words of Hannah Arendt, the banality of evil, while hundreds and sometimes even 1,000 Americans die a day from COVID-19 and more pass from deaths of despair like addiction and suicide.
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Making America “great” means limiting access, resources and opportunities to everyone, even the most fervent supporters of the president, who continue to seek to end access to health care for millions of Americans regardless of political affiliation.
This election, my life and millions of others depend on people voting for candidates who support policies that protect individuals from catastrophic illness, not leave them to die alone.
Andrew J. Rosenthal, MDiv LCSW, is a psychotherapist practicing in New York City. This article first appeared on HuffPost Personal.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--New Three-tier Lockdown System To Determine Local Coronavirus Restrictions

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A new three-tier system will see different parts of England split into “medium, “high” or “very high” local Covid alert areas, the government is set to announce.
Under the proposed system, different parts of the country would be placed in different categories, with areas in the highest level expected to face the toughest restrictions.
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The classification of areas will determine what kind of “appropriate interventions” will be introduced to tackle the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in each area.
These measures could force pubs and restaurants to shut as millions of people in the north of England are facing a possible ban on mixing indoors and outdoors from Monday.
Merseyside is expected to be among the areas subjected to Tier 3 restrictions –and a statement from leaders across the Liverpool City Region says the Army is being drafted in, the Liverpool Echo reported.
But there is still disagreement about a financial support package for the area should harsh measures be imposed.
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A statement from seven local leaders, including Metro mayor Steve Rotheram and Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson, said: “We made it clear we do not feel that the Furlough scheme announced recently is adequate and that businesses in the Region especially those in the hospitality sector and those serving it will be damaged and many will suffer long term damage or close for good”.
The new lockdown system of “Local Covid Alert Levels” will be unveiled by prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday. He is expected to chair a top level COBRA committee meeting on Monday “to determine the final interventions” that he will put to Parliament. MPs will be asked to debate and vote on the measures later this week.
Johnson is also set to hold a press conference in Downing Street with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty on the same day.
The government’s announcement will follow warnings that the UK is now at a “tipping point” in the fight against Covid-19.
England’s deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said the country was at a point similar to the first wave of coronavirus, but that history could be prevented from repeating itself.
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He said the best way to keep transmission low and stop the NHS being overwhelmed was for people to follow self-isolation guidance, wash their hands, wear face coverings and social distance.
He added: “Earlier in the year, we were fighting a semi-invisible disease, about which we had little knowledge, and it seeded in the community at great speed.
“Now we know where it is and how to tackle it – let’s grasp this opportunity and prevent history from repeating itself.”
One leading scientist went further on Sunday, saying a second national lockdown is a possibility and stringent measures are needed to avoid it at all costs.
Professor Peter Horby, of the University of Oxford, told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that the country was in a “precarious position” with rising coronavirus case numbers, hospital admissions and deaths.
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It comes as the number of people in hospital with coronavirus increased across every part of England on Saturday – rising to 1,167 in the north west from 725 previous week.
A further 15,166 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK were reported on Saturday, and 81 more deaths were confirmed of people who died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have now been 58,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Our primary focus has always been to protect lives and livelihoods while controlling the spread of the virus and these measures will help achieve that aim.
“We must do everything we can to protect the NHS and make sure it can continue to deliver the essential services that so many people rely on.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--Trump Declares Himself 'Immune' From Coronavirus

President Donald Trump removes his face mask to speak to a crowd of supporters, days after leaving hospital where he was being treated for Covid-19. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Donald Trump has declared himself “immune” from the coronavirus, nearly one week after leaving Walter Reed hospital where he was being treated for Covid-19.
“It seems like I’m immune,” the US president said in an interview with Fox News.
“It looks like I’m immune for, I don’t know, maybe a long time or maybe a short time. It could be a lifetime. Nobody really knows. But I’m immune. So the president is in very good shape.”
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He added: “I have to tell you, I feel fantastically. I really feel good.
“And I even feel good by the fact that, you know, the word immunity means something — having really a protective glow means something.
“I think it’s very important to have that, to have that is a very important thing.”
Trump begins his second interview with Maria Bartiromo in the last four days by claiming he's "immune" from Covid pic.twitter.com/FdghrIvxqS — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 11, 2020
Though scientists believe patients who recover from Covid-19 have some immunity, how much and for how long has not yet been determined.
Recorded reinfections have been rare so far, but very few diseases leave people completely immune for life, reported The Associated Press.
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Trump’s comments came after his physician, Sean Conley, released a brief statement declaring Trump no longer poses a risk of transmitting the coronavirus to others.
Conley, however, did not state in his memo whether Trump has tested negative for the virus.
“By currently recognised standards,” Trump is “no longer considered a transmission risk to others,” noted the unsigned statement by White House physician Dr. Sean Conley.
He added the “assortment of advanced diagnostic tests obtained reveal there is no longer evidence of actively replicating virus”.
Melissa Miller, a clinical microbiologist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, told the New York Times that no test can definitively show if a person at the end of a coronavirus infection is still contagious and poses a risk to others.
The White House has been extraordinarily tight-lipped about the exact nature of Trump’s illness and recovery.
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It remains unclear when the president contracted coronavirus. The White House has refused to reveal when Trump last tested negative.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--Rules Against Racist Hair Discrimination 'Must Be Toughened Up'

Ministers have been urged to toughen rules around racist hair discrimination which causes “ridiculous” stress and anxiety and can harm Black people’s education and work outcomes.
Equalities minister Liz Truss was urged to toughen guidance for schools and workplaces to stop “appalling” cases of Black people being sent home from school because of their afros, or turned down for jobs because they have braids or cornrows.
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The Liberal Democrats also urged Truss to launch a review of whether the law needs to change to stop “unacceptable” discrimination in school and work hair policies, which is “all-too-prevalent”, after a petition calling for hair discrimination to be banned garnered more than 83,000 signatures.
It came as HuffPost UK heard stories of Black people who say they suffered hair discrimination at school and work that caused so much anxiety that it affected exam results and how they go about their jobs.
‘How can you have a rule that’s just for Black and mixed race people?’
Ruby Williams was repeatedly sent home from school because of her afro hair and recently received an £8,500 out-of-court settlement after her family took legal action against the Urswick school in Hackney, east London.
Her natural hair was judged to breach school policy which stated that “afro style hair must be of reasonable size and length”.
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Ruby's hair the first time she was sent home from school, aged 14 in 2016 Kate Williams
Ruby’s mother, Kate Williams, said that at the same time other pupils were allowed to grow their hair as long as they want it, dye it blue and red, or add extensions.
Boys were allowed shaved heads, tramlines and other hairstyles which may not be allowed at other stricter schools.
“Their only issue was natural afro hair, you couldn’t make it up,” she said.
“I know myself, I’m a teacher, I knew straight away you cannot have a rule that just applies to afro hair.
“Because who has afro hair? Black and mixed race people have afro hair.
“How can you have a rule that’s just for Black and mixed race people?”
The school has denied that the policy regarding the size and length of afro-style hair was discriminatory, telling HuffPost UK that: “White students with afro hair have also been asked to comply with the school’s policy regarding the size and length of hair.” It also pointed to policy language stipulating for all students that “long hair” be “tied back for PE, science and technology” and that “hair should not significantly cover the eyes”.
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Williams took the case to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, eventually settling out of court after battling the school for years.
But she told HuffPost UK that the saga caused so much stress and anxiety that Ruby, who was a “model student”, got worse GCSE grades than predicted.
Ruby became so stressed that she once “lost it” when a photo of her with her afro was taken off a classroom wall by a teacher despite the fact that she was following school rules and had her hair tied back at the time, and she eventually became an intermittent “school refuser”.
Ruby’s mother also had a “complete breakdown” as her daughter intermittently refused to go to school because she struggled so much with going from the “teacher’s pet” to getting in trouble “and being highlighted”.
Ruby’s mother said: “She was a model student and she went from that to staring in the mirror every morning, looking at her hair, not knowing what to do.
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“She was ridiculously stressed out and that impacted on the whole family. Every morning was a nightmare.”
Williams added: “It was the worst time of my life, I had a complete breakdown in the middle of it.
“It was horrendous, it’s hard to explain how much stress it brought into her life and our lives as parents and our extended family and support network, it was awful.”
When she finished her GCSEs, in which she achieved good grades – but below her predictions – Ruby chose to leave Hackney for a “bog standard” sixth form in nearby Haringey.
“She was clever enough to go to top sixth forms but she lost all her confidence and she didn’t want the stress of going somewhere highly academic, in case she turned wobbly again,” Williams said.
Williams, whose 18 year-old daughter is now at Manchester University, backed the Lib Dems’ call for stronger guidance but said she wanted it to be put into law so schools can be held accountable.
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Following Ruby’s case, Hackney council drew up guidance to make school hairstyles “more flexible and inclusive”, but Williams insists that without a legal change “they have no clout”.
Ruby in spring 2020, in her final year at school Kate Williams
“They can’t force any of the schools in Hackney to follow this guidance,” she said.
“This needs to be in statutory education law. It needs to be part of the statutory duties of schools, because if it was the Department for Education could have sorted this out for us four years ago, in 2016 when they first got involved.
“They couldn’t do anything and they were very apologetic.
“All they could do was force the school to give us a complaints panel.
“But what they should have been able to do is to write to the school and say: you’re breaking equalities and education law, stop it.
“It should be the DfE’s job to keep children safe in schools and the government should give them that power.”
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‘As if I’m an animal in a zoo’
Julia Ogiehor revealed the different kinds of hair discrimination that she has faced in her office job and said the new guidance would help Black people get jobs and then “thrive and progress”.
She has faced a situation where a boss has “pulled my braids and asked if my hair is real”, and said colleagues crowd around her desk and stare at her if she changes her hair “as if I’m an animal in a zoo”.
Julia Ogiehor (left) with braids Julia Ogiehor
Colleagues also “don’t seem to understand” when they ask to touch her hair and she refuses, and she has had colleagues ask “how often I wash my hair”.
“I’ve had to in the past, whenever I have had braiding, and I’m going into work for the first time, I’ve had so much anxiety about the reaction that I’ve had to send a picture to my team in advance or tell my manager separately that I don’t want attention drawn to it,” she said.
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“It gets to the stage where I get so much anxiety that I don’t want to change my hair too much because I can’t deal with it.”
Ogiehor reveals she is now in a situation where she will refuse to take a job “if it means I have to change my hair”, and that discrimination is so common that Black women have a technique known as “a dive” – to move out of the way as soon as someone reaches for their hair.
“It’s definitely a racial thing,” she said.
“If you are still not used to a Black woman having afro hair one day, braids another and straight hair another day, then you haven’t been paying attention.”
Julia Ogiehor with her afro tied back Julia Ogiehor
Ogiehor, who is a Lib Dem councillor in Muswell Hill, north London, went on: “Having this guidance would remove that extra layer of stress - you are going to an interview, you are stressing about doing well, it would be nice to remove to that added pressure of: will they judge me according to my hair?
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“It would be nice to go into work and know that you don’t have to do these mental gymnastics of how to approach everyone zooming in on you and making you the centre of the office, like at a zoo, with everyone crowding around your desk looking over you.
“In an interview, it would help you be more confident and that would make you more likely to get a job.
“The more confident and comfortable you are in your work environment, the more likely you are to thrive and progress.
“It’s just one less thing to worry about - it doesn’t go far enough in dealing with many of the microaggressions people with colour face in the workplace, but it’s one small step in helping deal with that stress.”
‘This is racial discrimination, pure and simple’
Lib Dem equalities spokesperson Wera Hobhouse has written to Truss demanding action to stop “appalling cases of Black children being sent home from school because of their afros, Black boys being told to cut off their dreadlocks, Black women being turned down for jobs because they wear their hair in braids or cornrows, and Black employees being told to chemically straighten their natural hair”.
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She told HuffPost UK: “No one should have to endure discrimination of any kind. Yet hair discrimination remains a major issue in the UK today, as Black people face pressure – both official and unofficial – when it comes to hair styles.
“This is racial discrimination, pure and simple. It is unacceptable and it must stop.
“The Liberal Democrats want to see new guidance for schools and employers to prevent hair discrimination in policies and practices to help eliminate this prejudice from our society.”
The party is also calling for an awareness campaign to support schools and workplaces ensure their policies are not discriminatory, and to help people who have experienced hair discrimination uphold their rights.
Truss was also urged to start a review to determine if additional changes, including potential legal changes, are needed to tackle hair discrimination.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated since publication to include a comment from the Urswick School and to clarify a reference to an out-of-court settlement.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--Brexiteer Prue Leith Gets Hammered For Urging Britons To 'Back Our Farmers'

Leave-voting Prue Leith has been criticised for her recent campaign to “back our farmers” and protect them from the consequences of Brexit. PA
Leave-voting Prue Leith has been criticised for her recent campaign to “back our farmers” and protect them from the consequences of Brexit.
On Saturday the Great British Bake Off judge wrote on Twitter: “British farmers are the best in the world, let’s support them this week.
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“Everybody who cares about British high food standards should back our farmers, after all we are what we eat!”
But many pointed to the irony of Leith urging Britons to protect farmers from the UK importing cheap quality food like chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef as part of post-Brexit free trade deals.
Oh no, it's the consequences of my own actions https://t.co/fMKIfWhAJ6 — Steve Peers (@StevePeers) October 11, 2020
Her comments came after she called on Boris Johnson to block substandard foods into the UK.
She told the Mail: “British farmers are the best in the world – let’s support them this week.
“Everybody who cares about British high food standards should back our farmers. After all, we are what we eat.”
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She added: “Chlorinated chicken is the least of the problems that could be coming our way in future trade deals.”
Prue Leith, avowed Brexit supporter, seems to only just have woken up to Brexit's potential to destroy the quality of UK food, and hurt British farmers.
And magically she's all hand-wringing and smelling salts.
Own. Your. Mess.@PrueLeith https://t.co/0Oh7gKpo6Y pic.twitter.com/SKDkatKrv9 — Edwin Hayward 🦄 🗡 (@uk_domain_names) October 11, 2020
Leith has previously defended her views on Brexit, after revealing on ‘Question Time’ in 2018 that she had voted to leave the European Union.
She said: “I ended up voting for Brexit but I dithered and dithered for ages because there were really good arguments on both sides, and really intelligent people on both sides. It’s such as pity we have everyone fighting.
“The Tories voted for Mrs May, they should show some loyalty, help the woman get on and make the damn deal.”
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Boris Johnson has faced strong opposition over the controversial agriculture bill which will return to the House of Commons on Monday after being amended in the Lords to include the requirement that any food products imported under future trade deals meet UK standards.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--Tories Fail To Account For Three BILLION Spent On Coronavirus Contracts

Vladislav Zolotov via Getty Images
The government has failed to account for £3 billion spent on private contracts since the start of lockdown, new figures have shown.
It comes as three cross-party MPs and the Good Law Project, a non-profit-making organisation, have launched legal action against the government over its failure to disclose details of its spending on contracts related to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Green MP Caroline Lucas, Labour’s Debbie Abrahams and Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran have filed a judicial review against the government for breaching the law and its own guidance and argue that there are mounting concerns over the government’s coronavirus procurement processes.
They say that, despite the Department of Health and Social Care disclosing in September that at least £11 billion worth of contracts have been awarded by the department since April, related predominantly to coronavirus, new analysis by Tussell shows that over £3 billion worth of these contracts have not been made public.
The Department of Health and Social Care has said due diligence was carried out on all government contracts which have been awarded.
The government has 21 days to respond to the judicial review proceedings.
Jolyon Maugham QC, director of Good Law Project said: “What we know about the government’s procurement practices during this pandemic gives real cause for concern. Huge sums of public money have been awarded to companies with no discernible expertise.
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“Sometimes the main qualification seems to be a political connection with key government figures. And I have seen evidence that government is sometimes paying more to buy the same product from those with political connections.
“We don’t know what else there is to discover because the government is deliberately keeping the public in the dark. We are left with no option but to push for transparency through the courts.”
The law can be a powerful tool for accountability. Here's how we are using it to keep those in power honest. https://t.co/x1Mkrkj8yg #goodlawproject — Jo Maugham QC (@JolyonMaugham) October 11, 2020
Lucas added: “When billions of pounds of public money is handed out to private companies, some of them with political connections but no experience in delivering medical supplies, ministers should be explaining why those companies were awarded the contracts.
“It’s completely unacceptable that, as an MP, I’m prevented from being able to scrutinise those decisions.”
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Abrahams said: “Transparency is crucial for effective scrutiny and will only improve our response to this crisis.
“The persistent failure to publish the details of Covid contracts leads you to wonder what this government has got to hide.”
Moran added: “It is totally unacceptable for the government to avoid scrutiny during a public health crisis.
“As we enter a predicted second wave we need to be able to take stock of what has worked and what hasn’t to protect as many lives as possible.
“Government must let Parliament do its job and properly scrutinise their decisions.”
The legal challenge is being crowdfunded with the support of 38 Degrees and Good Law Project and the three MPs have instructed Deighton Pierce Glynn and Jason Coppel QC and Christopher Knight of 11KBW to act in the judicial review proceedings
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Campaigns director of 38 Degrees, Ellie Gellard said: “The public needs to know where taxpayers’ money has been spent in our ongoing battle against coronavirus so that we can be sure those who have been paid, deliver what they promised.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-11--Second National Lockdown Still A 'Possibility', Leading Scientist Warns

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A second national lockdown is a possibility and stringent measures are needed to avoid it at all costs, a leading expert has warned.
Professor Peter Horby, of the University of Oxford, told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that the country was in a “precarious position” with rising coronavirus case numbers, hospital admissions and deaths.
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Prof Horby, who is also chairman of the Government advisory group for new and emerging respiratory virus threats advisory group (Nervtag), said that hospitals in parts of northern England were already starting to come under pressure.
He said that stringent measures were needed to halt the spread of the virus and added: “We are already seeing in some parts of the North that some hospitals are starting to see the pressure.
“We have a doubling time of about eight to 15 days so it is not long before those ICU (intensive care unit) beds could be full and we could be in a really difficult situation.
“So I am afraid we are going to have to make some very difficult choices and act very quickly.”
The Elephant's Head pub stands temporarily closed with boarding put up on the windows and doors due to the nationwide coronavirus lockdown in April. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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When asked if the country faced a second national lockdown, he said: “I think that’s a possibility and we have to do what we can to avoid that at all costs.”
His comments come as the prime minister is set to detail a new three-tier system of restrictions with measures expected to force pubs and restaurants to shut across the North of England and see millions of people banned from mixing indoors and outdoors
When asked why case numbers were much higher in the North, Prof Horby said they had not been as low as the rest of the country and people were having more contact with others.
He added: “There’s two primary reasons. One is that in the North the numbers never really got down as low as they did in the rest of the country. Those parts of the country were at a higher starting point.
“Second, we saw that over the summer that the surveys were showing that the number of contacts that people were having with each other were not as low in those parts of the country as elsewhere.
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“The underlying reasons for those two things are complex and may well be related to different labour markets, housing density, deprivation, et cetera.”
But Prof Horby said that the risk of death for Covid-19 patients in hospitals was falling and treatments were improving.
He added: “It appears the risk of death in hospitalised patients is coming down.
“It was pretty high at about 25% to 30% in the last wave. It looks like it’s coming down to below 20%.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--Harry Reid Confirms Federal Government Covered Up UFOs For Years

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Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the US government has been hiding key details about UFOs for years.
“Why the federal government all these years has covered up, put brake pads on everything, stopped it, I think it’s very, very bad for our country,” Reid said in the new documentary “The Phenomenon” from director James Fox.
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“Are you saying that there’s some evidence that still hasn’t seen the light of day?” asked Fox.
“I’m saying most of it hasn’t seen the light of day,” Reid replied.
The film examines the history of UFO sightings in the United States and abroad, including new details about the military-confirmed encounters off the coast involving US Navy pilots. It also details a 1967 report in which an object appeared over a U.S. missile base at the same time 10 of the missiles became inoperative.
“If they had been called upon by the president to launch, they couldn’t have done it,” Reid said in the film.
Reid, who was among the lawmakers behind a classified but since-closed US government UFO program, has become increasingly outspoken about the phenomena since leaving office. However, he stopped short of confirming evidence of other-worldly activity, writing in August on Twitter that he wants the issue studied and that “we must stick to science, not fairy tales about little green men.”
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He repeated that point of view in the new film.
“Nobody has to agree why it’s there. But should we at least be spending some money to study all these phenomenon?” he asked. “The answer is ‘yes.’”
UFO expert Lee Speigel, a former HuffPost reporter, served as a co-writer and co-producer on the film, which he said took seven years to come to fruition.
“Whether you’re a UFO ‘believer’ or debunker, those in-between or still undecided, it’s important to present accurate information that potentially affects the national security of all nations and the safety of all citizens of our planet,” Spiegel said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--Government Pulls Controversial Ad Suggesting Ballet Dancer Retrain In 'Cyber'

The ad has now been pulled from circulation UK government
A controversial advert suggesting a ballet dancer retrain and work in cyber security has been pulled by the government after causing widespread outrage.
Critics said the ad showed a “total lack of respect for the arts” which is under heavy pressure due to coronavirus restrictions.
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It also comes after a row sparked by chancellor Rishi Sunak pointing to retraining programmes when being quizzed on what artists who cannot work should do to get through the pandemic.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said the ad was being withdrawn from circulation following a backlash.
The spokesperson told reporters: “This is part of a campaign encouraging people from all walks of life to think about a career in cyber security but this particular piece of content was not appropriate and has been removed from the campaign.”
The ad, which appears to be part of the government-backed “Rethink. Reskill. Reboot” initiative, shows a ballet dancer tying her shoes, next to the text: “Fatima’s next job could be in cyber (she just doesn’t know it yet).”
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Author Nick Pettigrew has suggested the advert appeared to be from a 2019 campaign. However, the ballet dancer advert started to gain criticism online this week, after it was shared by theatre casting director Anne Vosser on Sunday.
This ad is a disgrace! The total lack of respect for the arts by this dreadful government has to stop!! Talk about also crushing young performers dreams! Rethink Reskill Reboot??!! How dare they! @OliverDowden @RishiSunak @BorisJohnson #WeAreViable #SaveTheArts pic.twitter.com/nyZy44l0JA — Anne Vosser (@AnneVosser) October 11, 2020
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said earlier he agreed that the ad was “crass” as he again highlighted the £1.5bn government programme designed to save jobs in the arts in England.
To those tweeting re #Fatima
This is not something from @DCMS & I agree it was crass
This was a partner campaign encouraging people from all walks of life to think about a career in cyber security
I want to save jobs in the arts which is why we are investing £1.57bn — Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) October 12, 2020
Dowden also on Monday announced a £257m tranche of funding from the programme to support 1,385 theatres, art venues, museums and cultural organisations.
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Downing Street said the ad, despite being part of a long-running campaign, was removed because of the current situation facing arts and culture.
“It is a long-running campaign,” the PM’s spokesperson said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--Farmer Cultivates A Following After Carving Anti-Trump Message Into His Soybean Field

North Dakota cattle rancher and grain farmer Peter Larson took the bull by the horns last week and carved the names “Biden” and “Harris” into his harvested soybean field.
Larson then took photos of his campaign field art promoting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris during a flyover of his land in Sheyenne. He sent the pictures to his daughters, Joanna and Sandra, who posted the photos on Twitter, KFYR-TV reported.
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Sandra compared her dad’s message to a kind of tweet.
To be fair, my dad, Peter, did it! He doesn't have Twitter, so this is how he shows support. — Sandra Larson (@sandra_larson7) October 8, 2020
Larson also carved the names “Lenz” and “Vig” on another field for Democrats Dr. Shelley Lenz, who’s running for governor in his state, and Ben Vig, who’s in a race for lieutenant governor.
The lifelong Democrat told KFYR-TV that the messages were the first time he had used his fields to share his political views. He said he wanted to encourage everyone to get out and vote.
The two pairs of names were placed in adjacent fields and are right under the flight path of a regional route to Denver.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--Gogglebox's Pete And Sophie Share Childhood Throwback That Proves They Were Meant For The Show

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The Gogglebox gang have one of the best jobs in the world – sitting down.
And it seems siblings Pete and Sophie Sandiford were putting in the practice from a young age, after sharing a photo from their childhood.
Very little looked to have changed over the last two decades, as they were seen sat on a chair together as kids, which Sophie posted alongside a pic of them doing pretty much the same thing on the hit Channel 4 show.
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How it started: How it’s going: pic.twitter.com/vLCwxtWahs — Gogglebox Soph (@PeteandSophie) October 9, 2020
Sophie tweeted it as part of the “How it started, how it’s going” trend, and fans were loving it.
“You two really haven’t changed! Only thing missing are your cuppas!” replied one of her followers.
“At least you’ve moved to a different armchair!” another wrote.
“A bit like Ant & Dec, still sitting in the same order,” another added.
Last month, Gogglebox fans caught on to the fact that Pete and Sophie have an unexpected relation.
They picked up on old tweets sent by Paul Chuckle that revealed he is their great uncle.
This day 2018 with my great niece and nephew @PeteandSophie #Gogglebox pic.twitter.com/oFlNkV1ulf — Paul Chuckle (@PaulChuckle2) March 3, 2019
Paul – whose real name is Paul Elliot – is, of course, famous for the legendary kids TV show Chucklevision, which he appeared on with late brother Barry from 1987 to 2009.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--BAME Workers In London Earn 24% Less Than White People

Studio4 via Getty Images
Most minority ethnic groups continued to earn less than white British employees in 2019, new data has shown.
The ethnicity pay gap differs across regions and is largest in London at 23.8% and smallest in Wales at 1.4%, latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) indicate.
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The pay gap between white people and minority ethnic groups is larger for employees aged 30 and over than for those in the 16 to 29 age bracket.
Overall, the gap between between these groups has narrowed to its smallest level since 2012 in England and Wales.
CORRECTION: Most minority ethnic groups continued to earn less than White British employees in 2019.
However, those in the Chinese, White Irish, White and Asian, and Indian ethnic groups earned higher average hourly pay than White British employees https://t.co/XBEKjprbyI pic.twitter.com/fEGsTeIZuD — Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) October 12, 2020
All data were collected before the impact of the Covid-19 on the UK economy.
Dianne Greyson is the director of Equilibrium Mediation Consulting Ltd – a HR consultancy advises the public and private sector on equality and diversity.
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In 2018, she established the #EthnicityPayGap campaign for awareness around the issue, which has since been backed by the Fawcett Society, Equality Trust and Good Governance Institute.
“I have been campaigning for over two and a half years to get the ethnicity pay gap addressed. The #EthnicityPayGap campaign continues to raise issues about the disparity between ethnic minorities and their white counterparts,” she said.
“What continues to surprise me is the lack of debate about this issues. If organisations can hold debates about the gender pay gap, why can they not discuss the ethnicity pay gap?”
Dianne Greyson Supplied
Greyson feels that the issue has not been given the attention it warrants because decision makers invariably fail to prioritise the interests of ethnic minority communities.
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A petition calling for the government to mandate ethnicity pay gap reporting for individual companies garnered over 100,000 signatures – but has yet to be debated in parliament despite meeting the consideration criteria.
In an official response published via the page on July 30, the government said it ran a consultation from October 2018 to January 2019 on the introduction of mandatory ethnicity pay reporting. It is currently analysing these and will respond by the end of this year.
“The government has yet to demonstrate their desire to make ethnicity pay
gap reporting mandatory,” said Greyson. “This has slipped far down the agenda.
“While I appreciate the times we are currently living in has caused the government to focus their attention on the important issue of Covid, I do hope they will debate it in parliament given that there has been over 100,000 people who have signed the petition to make ethnicity pay gap reporting mandatory.”
The call for more data around the ethnic pay gap has been ongoing.
Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith, a Conservative peer and former chief executive of outsourcing group Mitie, authored an independent review into racial disparities in the British workplace in February 2017.
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She recommended that the government force companies to introduce ethnic pay gap reporting. However, three and a half years later, none of the key recommendations from her report has been implemented.
On the other hand, organisations with more than 250 employees have had to publish data on their gender pay gaps since 2018.
The same year, think-tank Resolution Foundation revealed that Black, Asian and ethnic minority employees are losing out on £3.2bn a year in wages compared to white colleagues doing the same work.
Union GMB said the disparity in London was “a shaming indictment of the structural discrimination in our society”.
National secretary Rehana Azam said: “While any progress is welcome, today’s figures underline just how far the UK has to go before pay justice is achieved for all workers.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--A Canadian Man Being Held In Isolation Only Just Found Out About Coronavirus

Michael Kovrig ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Canadian who has been held in isolation in China since 2018 has only just learned of the coronavirus pandemic, describing it as like a “zombie apocalypse movie”.
Michael Kovrig was granted an online consular visit for the first time in 10 months where he learned about the virus, which has caused more than a million deaths globally.
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His wife released a statement confirming the access, remarking: “We are extremely proud that despite his long confinement, Michael’s spirit, determination – and even his sense of humour – remain unbroken. This is definitely something we can be grateful for.”
Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur, were accused of spying and detained in China in December 2018. It came just days after Canada’s arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese Huawei official and the daughter of the company’s founder, and was thought by commentators in the west to be an act of retaliation.
Canadian police had detained Meng in Vancouver on a US extradition request nine days before Kovrig and Spavor were arrested.
Kovrig and Spavor were not charged until 18 months after their arrest, in June this year. They have reportedly been denied access to lawyers.
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Michael Kovrig's wife says that when he had a virtual consular visit after months without 'news from the outside world,' he was 'astonished to learn about the details of the COVID-19 pandemic and remarked that it all sounded like some "zombie apocalypse movie."' Full statement: pic.twitter.com/MWcRbJXwBW — CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) October 11, 2020
The US is seeking Meng’s extradition on fraud charges and her extradition case is before the Canadian courts. Her arrest severely damaged relations between China and Canada.
“The Canadian government remains deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of these two Canadians since December 2018 and continues to call for their immediate release,” the government said in a statement.
Canada continues to press Beijing to release the men.
Neither were permitted visits from consular officials amid the coronavirus pandemic and have been held in isolation since January.
Prime minister Justin Trudeau spoke to US president Donald Trump about the two Canadians in a phone call on Saturday and thanked the president for the ongoing support of the US in seeking their release.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--GCSE And A-Level Exams In England Delayed By Three Weeks Amid Covid Second Wave

Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson ASSOCIATED PRESS
Most A-level and GCSE exams in 2021 in England will be delayed by three weeks due to the pandemic, Gavin Williamson has confirmed.
The education secretary has said students taking exams next year will need more time to prepare as he pledged more support.
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It comes as the Covid second wave starts to take hold across the country, with rising cases and hospitalisations likely to trigger further lockdown measures.
The announcement follows the summer’s exams fiasco when ministers had to U-turn on results decided by a computer algorithm, which saw the brightest but most disadvantaged children hit hardest.
Williamson said in a statement on Monday that exams are “the fairest way of judging a student’s performance”.
He added: “Students have experienced considerable disruption and it’s right we give them, and their teachers, the certainty that exams will go ahead and more time to prepare.
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“Combined with our £1bn catch-up programme and the changes proposed by Ofqual to free up teaching time, the changes I am announcing today give young people the best chance of being ready for their exams without undermining the value of the qualifications they received.”
Kate Green, Labour shadow education secretary, welcomed the news, but added: “A delay is necessary but not enough to make exams fair for all.
“The government must ensure that every pupil gets the support they need to catch up, and that they look at other possibilities to make exams fairer.”
In August, unions called for an independent inquiry into the debacle, saying that Williamson and prime minister Boris Johnson had failed young people.
Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, called the announcement was “unrealistic” for parents and teachers and “amounts to a dereliction of duty by government to pupils, parents and education professionals”.
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She added: “Pupils taking GCSE and A levels next summer are in a terrible position. They have missed five months of in-school teaching – a loss which impacts most severely on disadvantaged pupils, 700,000 of whom have no access to the internet which denies them access to remote learning.
“Many pupils are missing further schooling, now, as they isolate at home waiting for Covid test results. It is completely unrealistic, and unfair, to expect these pupils to take exams which make no compensation for disruption to school teaching time.”
The Universities and Colleges Union has called for a broader shake-up of exams, saying the marking workload for teachers amid the catch-up programme will be “unbearable” for some teachers.
General secretary Jo Grady wants an eventual overhaul of the system where students would apply to university after receiving their results, rather than on the basis of predictions.
“The government needs to accept it got things badly wrong back in August and work with staff to ensure a proper system of teacher-moderated grades instead of exams, in case we see a continued rise in Covid-19 cases and more widespread lockdowns,” she said.
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“Whilst a delay in the start of exams in 2021 to allow students and teachers more time to complete courses is welcome, it is vital to consider how this will affect teacher workload and timetable planning.
Longer term, the current situation shows that we must seriously look at moving to a system of post-qualifications admissions, where students apply to university after their results.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--Sex Pistols' John Lydon Says He'd Be 'Daft As A Brush Not To' Vote For Trump

Sex Pistols star John Lydon has publicly backed Donald Trump in the upcoming US election, saying he’d be “daft as a brush not to” vote for him.
The British rocker – known to many as Johnny Rotten – resides in America and said he will be voting for the president, despite supporting democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Barack Obama before that.
John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten Emma McIntyre via Getty Images
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In an interview with the Guardian, John said he supports Trump because of the economy.
Asked if he would be voting for the republican candidate, John said: “I’d be daft as a brush not to. He’s the only sensible choice now that Biden is up – he’s incapable of being the man at the helm.”
The paper also said that he produced a Make America Great Again cap during their video call interview.
John’s comments echo those he made during a separate interview on BBC NewsDay.
Donald Trump SIPA USA/PA Images
Last week, he said (via Washington Times): “He’s an individual thinker, I’ll give him that for a start. He’s not the most lovable fellow on God’s earth, but I cannot see the opposition as offering me anything by way of a solution.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--8 Tips For Those Coming Out – And The People Who Know Them

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National Coming Out Day, of course, is about celebrating people coming out as queer: but it’s also about sharing important advice.
It may be tips for people currently on their journey out of the closet – or suggestions for those who haven’t come to terms with their sexuality yet. Queer people and their allies also offered advice for parents, guardians and friendship groups, who may be the first ones people turn to when they come out.
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We’ve sifted through social media to spot the eight most useful tips people shared for National Coming Out Day on October 11.
1. Don’t just say you’re ‘there’. Offer practical support.
Coming out should be a celebration. Say something encouraging and active, if someone comes out to you, rather than passive. Open up the conversation as much as feels right, by asking questions and thanking them for sharing their news with you.
Once again for #NationalComingOutDay I have advice for parents.
On the surface, it sounds good to tell your kid “I don’t care what you are, I love you.”
Instead, try “I care very much about what you’re telling me. Let’s keep talking. I love you.” — Emily Moulder (@moulder5000) October 11, 2020
2. Know that you can come out to people on the internet – if that makes you feel safer.
Find a queer person online and, if their DMs are open, send them a message. Say, “I’m gay and I needed to tell someone”. Chances are they’ll send you a wonderful supportive message back.
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It's #NationalComingOutDay!
Because visibility matters, I'll start: I've been married to my amazing wife for almost 8 years.
My advice: start with the safe people in your life. If you don't have any yet, that's ok, I am a safe person to come out to and my DMs are open. Be Proud🏳🌈 pic.twitter.com/iFoaShrcJ1 — Lizzie Seedhouse (@LizzieSeedhouse) October 8, 2020
hi it’s #NationalComingOutDay so of course im gonna do what any self-respecting human does... come out to strangers on the internet before coming out to my family! — Jasmine misses henry :( (@jjasmineinnit) October 11, 2020
So I just realized it's #NationalComingOutDay and well I don't mind coming out on the internet. I'm bi and also agender! — bird 🕊 coms open 🕊 (@yourstrangebird) October 11, 2020
3. Don’t tell someone you ‘already knew’ they were going to come out.
Telling someone you “already knew” they were gay is not helpful. This is their story, so let them tell it. It’s dangerous to assume anything about someone’s private life.
Instead of sharing my coming out story, I’d like to share some advice:
If someone ever comes out to you, the appropriate response is “thanks for telling me” NOT “I know”
Everyone’s journey is different. Support is the best thing you can offer! #LivetoLove #NationalComingOutDay — Chris San Andres (@christastic69) October 12, 2020
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4. Confide in someone you know will support you.
People’s mental health can take a knock if coming out lands on deaf ears, so it’s a great idea to choose someone you’re pretty certain is going to be supportive, before you make the jump and share your news with them.
At age 17, I came out for the first time, to my best friend in high school. His response was “Wow, thank you for trusting me. It means a lot.” This experience gave me a lot of confidence in the years after. Remembering this with gratitude today, on#NationalComingOutDay — Philipp Stelzel (@pjstelzel) October 11, 2020
And a special #NationalComingOutDay shout out to my high school best friend @be_djassi who probably saw gay me from ten million miles away and patiently taught me about south of nowhere and answered every question I ever had. ❤ pic.twitter.com/9mpa2XiUB3 — Layne Morgan (@laynemorgan) October 11, 2020
5. Don’t feel pressured to come out.
National Coming Out Day can feel like a load of people celebrating that they’ve come out – but the day is also supposed to be about spreading the message that there’s no rush: don’t come out unless you’re ready to, and are in a safe position to do so.
happy #NationalComingOutDay !! always remember there are people out there who accept and love you. only do things that you are ready for <3 feel free to dm me for advice on the topic of sexuality! — tpwk🏳🌈✨ (@l3ggomyeggo) October 11, 2020
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It’s #NationalComingOutDay which always hits close to home.
My bit of advice nobody asked for: Embrace you’re different, be proud of who you are; most importantly, take your time.
And welcome to the family x — Damian (@damianjcki) October 11, 2020
You dont need to come out if you’re not yet comfortable coming out. You dont have to follow a day or someone when to come out. The only rule in coming out is when you’re ready. Hugs 🤗🤗🤗🤗 — swiz whiz (@swiziejoe) October 11, 2020
6. Know that coming out can often be like a daily exercise.
Some straight people or straight allies may mistakenly think coming out is a one-time thing. It isn’t: it’s something LGBTQ people have to do literally daily.
New neighbours? New job? Meeting strangers at a house party and being asked about a heterosexual partner? It’s essential for allies to remember that coming out becomes a part of your daily routine. It takes courage every time.
Every day is #ComingOutDay I’ve been coming out since 16yo me finally plucked up the courage to tell my Mum. This week I’ve come out to a cabbie, several new colleagues and a neighbour. It takes a little bit of energy and courage every single time. 💓 🌈 — Damian Barr (@Damian_Barr) October 11, 2020
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It’s National Coming Out Day & this hit me hard this morning: “Coming out is a continuous process that doesn’t end. I have to “come out” on a daily basis.” As an ally, I’m here for you if you need a friend, new family or any type of support!! 🌈 — Lauren (@LoVbeinMeeee) October 11, 2020
The thing is that there's no "coming out" once and it's over. It's a cycle of coming out daily. There's so much that plays into this decision & it's a big step that is a double edged sword. We celebrate it BECAUSE society (although the progress has been made) still deems it taboo — 🔥 Lucifer | Goddex of the Underworld 🔥 (@LivinPoetry) October 11, 2020
7. Remember there are support groups.
Plenty of queer people from non-white and religious backgrounds shared their experiences this National Coming Out Day. If you don’t feel represented, know that you are. For more support, check out the LGBTQ charities that specifically work to represent the underrepresented in the queer sphere.
❤Coming out as LGBTQ+ is so much more complicated for Muslims
🧡At Imaan we understand all of the complexities
💛That’s why we’ve been able to support our community for over 20 years
💚Please donate to support our work
💙 https://t.co/PInDsVKQgR #NationalComingOutDay pic.twitter.com/BJxpZ4ktGo — Imaan LGBTQI (@ImaanLGBTQ) October 11, 2020
My first book was an attempt to open up new spaces to think and reflect on what might be understood as queer Islamic pluralism amongst Muslims. I hope today is a day of comfort, peace and happiness. Religion can be diverse. Love more. #NationalComingOutDay https://t.co/FUa3lRYNpH pic.twitter.com/2ryuAxngZM — Amanullah De Sondy (@desondy) October 11, 2020
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as a queer who's also a Muslim and very much in the closet, this is a coming out story i was glad my friend showed me cause it came from someone who knows my struggle and understand the stuff i carry within me. @sufisun7#NationalComingOutDayhttps://t.co/UUCisLRSzL — plain ol' me (@youngandretro) October 11, 2020
What is your Jaat? I was interrogated by a god man.
My mother is ST. My father is Muslim but I have a Hindu surname. Today is #NationalComingOutDay so I guess I am also a little queer of caste.
Three indelible strikes against me. But the best use of my jaat.🙂
What's yours? pic.twitter.com/CWGgIGepoI — manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) October 12, 2020
This ones for all those who can’t come out to their families. Those who are from religious families, ethnic minorities and families where they don’t understand love.
As a bisexual Muslim myself - this is for you guys.
Hang on. We can do this. #NationalComingOutDay — 🕊 (@devilsvengence) October 11, 2019
"Black people exist at the intersection of every community, and as the openly gay leader of Color Of Change, I’m committed to ensuring that when we say Black people, we mean all Black people." @rashadrobinson #NationalComingOutDay #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://t.co/KyzG8O3NJp — ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) October 11, 2018
Today is not just #ComingOutDay #NationalComingOutDay it's also the #DayOfTheGirl, and #BlackHistoryMonth - and amongst #lgbtq and #queer people the world over who are already marginalised, women, particularly trans women, and particularly trans women of colour, are even more so — Krishna Omkar (@krishnaomkar) October 11, 2020
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On #NationalComingOutDay let’s also remember to look out for our trans, people of colour and religious friends who might be having a harder time #comingout — Martin Pong (@MartinPong) October 11, 2020
8. It can be hard... but that’s okay. It’ll be worth it in the end.
20+ years ago I wrote this coming-out letter to my dad. He died a few years later before I had the courage to send it. I know it can be hard to come out, but there is no greater gift you can give yourself than to live authentically. #NationalComingOutDay https://t.co/LM7BZXhqQQ pic.twitter.com/Qib0nSlcEk — Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) October 11, 2020
#NationalComingOutDay guys... i’m hot. it’s been hard for me to be honest with myself but i love who i am. my fat fucking ass can hide no longer. thank you for your support 🙏🏼 — joe bev (@gamergalblondie) October 11, 2020
Happy #NationalComingOutDay! Pulling the trigger can be one of the hardest things to do. I came out nearly 14 years ago at 15. It was HARD. Public perception was a bit different in January 2007. However, I’m so glad I did it. I’ve been able to live my authentic life since 😊 — Mr. Pop Charts (@MrPopCharts) October 11, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-12--Ian Hislop Takes On Criticism That Have I Got News For You Is 'Too Left-Wing'

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Ian Hislop has taken on critics who believe Have I Got News For You is too left-wing, asking: “Just how right-wing you would like us to be?”.
Along with Mock The Week, the BBC panel show has faced complaints over its jokes about the Conservatives and Brexit.
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But Ian, who has been a captain on HIGNFY with comedian Paul Merton for nearly 30 years, said critics of the show believe they are “Momentum-inspired, lefty lunatics”.
Ian Hislop on Have I Got News For You BBC
Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival to mark his 60th birthday, Ian said: “I feel there was a moment where again in this sort of polarised world, somehow the director general, or someone who was briefing others, got it into their heads that any criticism of the government on a panel show suggests this is a bunch of sort of Momentum-inspired, lefty lunatics.
“I just now quote from the Daily Telegraph, who have really got it in for Boris, and ask just how right-wing you would like us to be.”
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Ian, who is the editor of satirical magazine Private Eye, continued: “We’re sort of around the Spectator and the Telegraph editorial at the moment. There is quite a lot of that sort of nonsense about.
“We could be fired. That would be good.”
Ian’s comments come after it was reported new BBC director general Tim Davie was considering axing a number of comedy shows to tackle perceived bias.
Earlier this month, Mock The Week host Dara O’Briain dismissed the criticism, calling the debate about whether his show was too left-wing “frankly mind-numbing”.
Mock The Week host Dara O’Briain addressed similar criticism about his show earlier this month BBC
He told the PA Media news agency: “When a story pops up on Mock The Week, no-one is going, ‘How can I bend this to an agenda?’
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“You’re going, ‘What’s the gag? What is the joke here? Where can I find the joke?’”
During his speech, Ian said he “occasionally worries” about being sacked from Have I Got News For You, recalling one particular moment that he and Paul Merton went against the wishes of former BBC director general John Birt.
Ian with fellow HIGNFY team captain Paul Merton BBC
He said: “There was a point where Peter Mandelson was involved in both a sort of mortgage scandal and he was outed by Matthew Paris as gay.
“The director-general, who was a friend of Mandelson, sent round a memo to all BBC programmes saying there will be no mention of Peter Mandelson on this programme at all and nothing that happened in Peter Mandelson’s life will be mentioned.
“I was asked a question and I said, ‘Interestingly it turned out this week that Peter Mandelson turns out to be a home… owner’ at which point Paul Merton said, ‘Yeah, but why shouldn’t gay people have mortgages’.
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“Again, I think we’ve got form on this front.”