thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Madonna's Final Madame X Tour Shows Cancelled Due To Coronavirus

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Madonna’s ill-fated Madame X tour has been prematurely cut short due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Since hitting the road last year, the Queen of Pop’s tour has hit a series of bumps in the road, including technical issues causing her to postpone several performances, as well as having the curtain brought down on her when her show ran late.
Most notably, she’s had to cancel a total of 11 shows due to an undisclosed painful injury which has affected her knee and hip.
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With two shows left to go, it’s now been confirmed that the final performances of the Madame X show will no longer go ahead, due to action taken by the French government to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Madonna performing at Eurovision last year Michael Campanella via Getty Images
France has banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people, meaning the shows at the Le Grand Rex theatre – which has a capacity of 2800 – are no longer able to go ahead.
A statement shared on Madonna’s website read: “Following official notification from the Office of the Police this morning prohibiting all events with an audience attendance of over 1000, Live Nation regrets to announce the final two Madame X performances previously re-scheduled to 10-March and 11-March are forced to be cancelled.
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“Tickets are refundable at point of purchase. We regret the disappointment to fans.”
Madonna has not commented on the final shows’ cancellation personally.
Other stars including Avril Lavigne and Swedish singer Tove Lo have also been forced to cancel shows in France due to the restriction.
Meanwhile, rock group Pearl Jam have announced they’re postponing their North American tour due to the outbreak.
In a series of posts on their official Twitter page, the band took aim at Donald Trump’s handling of the outbreak and said it was with “deep frustration and regret” that they were pushing back their forthcoming tour.
(1/10) As residents of the city of Seattle, we’ve been hit hard and have witnessed firsthand how quickly these disastrous situations can escalate. Our kids’ schools have closed along with universities and businesses. pic.twitter.com/SRcZasIVsk — Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) March 10, 2020
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(2/10) It’s been brutal and it’s gonna get worse before it gets better.
So we are being told that being part of large gatherings is high on the list of things to avoid as this global health crisis is now beginning to affect all of our lives. — Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) March 10, 2020
(3/10) Unfortunately, communing in large groups is a huge part of what we do as a band and the tour we’ve been busy planning for months is now in jeopardy...
We have and will always keep the safety and well-being of our supporters as top priority. — Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) March 10, 2020
(8/10) Having no examples of our national health department’s ability to get ahead of this, we have no reason to believe that it will be under control in the coming weeks ahead. — Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) March 10, 2020
(10/10) Just as we look forward to our next concerts and the ability to gather together and play loud songs as energized as ever.
We are so sorry…
And deeply upset..
If anyone out there feels the same based on this news, we share that emotion with you.
- Ed & Pearl Jam — Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) March 10, 2020
Miley Cyrus has also postponed live dates in Australia due to “the recommendations of local, state, federal and international government authorities”, while Mariah Carey pulled a show in Hawaii, citing travel concerns.
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It was previously announced that Stormzy would be postponing the Asian leg of his world tour due to “health and travel concerns”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Harry Redknapp Feels 'Misled' And 'Deceived' Accepting Money To Promote Fake Charity

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Harry Redknapp has said he feels “deceived” and “misled” after being the subject of an undercover investigation organised by Channel 4’s Dispatches.
In Monday night’s episode, titled Celebs For Sale: The Great Charity Scandal, Harry and fellow star Caitlyn Jenner were seen accepting payment from a made-up charity called CUPPA, which they were told was aiming to “stop plastic pollution in Africa”.
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Former I’m A Celebrity winner Harry was seen charging £15,000 for an Instagram post about the fake organisation and an additional £5000 for a photo-shoot, in which he was seen sporting a CUPPA mug.
Speaking ahead of the Dispatches episode, Harry’s spokesperson slammed the programme, and pointed out the former footballer and manager’s track record with charities.
Harry Redknapp PA
“As everyone knows, Harry does a massive amount of work for charities big and small, and has done for many years, which he doesn’t charge for,” they said, as reported by Metro.
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“He is disappointed that he was deceived into believing that private investors wanted to engage his services, and would not have accepted payment if he had been told this was being paid for by the charity in question.
“Harry’s 2019 theatre tours raised over £160,000 for charity, and is doing the same again this year.”
They added: “Harry is shocked and upset that he was misled in this way and is donating the money he was paid to the charities he works with so that it can be put to good use.”
Harry poses with his CUPPA merchandise Channel 4
Caitlyn’s spokesperson was similarly displeased, saying: “The claims by Channel 4 that Caitlyn Jenner is non-charitable are false, defamatory, and hurtful. In general terms, the allegations are false because Caitlyn is a strong believer in the spirit of charitable giving.
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“She was taken advantage of and exploited by a secret camera crew pretending to be a charity – her only intention was to promote the ‘charity’.”
Her rep then stated that Caitlyn had donated the money she earned from posting about CUPPA to her own charity, The Caitlyn Jenner Foundation.
Caitlyn poses with her CUPPA mug and t-shirt Channel 4
They went on to describe the organisation as one “whose mission is to promote equality and combat discrimination by providing grants to organizations that empower and improve the lives of transgender people (including youth), provide support to bullying victims, help to prevent suicide, and provide healthcare, housing and employment support”.
Caitlyn set up the foundation in 2016, the year after she came out as transgender in a TV interview with Diane Sawyer, later appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Trump Not Tested For Coronavirus Despite Contact With Self-Quarantined Lawmakers

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The White House said on Monday that President Donald Trump has not been tested for Covid-19 – even though the 73-year-old leader had direct contact with at least three people who’ve since put themselves under self-quarantine after possibly interacting with an attendee of the Conservative Political Action Conference who tested positive for the coronavirus.
The president was also at CPAC — but officials said he was not in close proximity to the infected individual.
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Trump did, however, come into contact with Doug Collins, Matt Gaetz and Mark Meadows – the incoming White House chief of staff – in the days after the conference. All three lawmakers have since placed themselves under self-quarantine after being informed that they’d potentially come into contact with the coronavirus patient during CPAC.
Collins shook Trump’s hand during the president’s visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, and Gaetz rode with Trump in the presidential limousine and Air Force One on Monday, CNN reported.
Meadows, who was named Trump’s new chief of staff last week, attended a recent White House meeting, Politico said.
President Donald Trump was greeted by Congressman Doug Collins, who later announced that he was self-quarantining after coming in contact with a person who tested positive for #coronavirus https://t.co/l89JeCSs7t pic.twitter.com/FzphIZkbFh — Reuters (@Reuters) March 10, 2020
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Despite these interactions, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that Trump had “not received Covid-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed Covid-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms.”
“President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him,” she added. “Per current CDC guidelines, medical professionals should base testing decisions on patient symptoms and exposure history.”
Vice President Mike Pence, who also attended CPAC, said earlier in the day that he too had not been tested for the novel coronavirus.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Trump Can Keep Lying About Coronavirus, But He Won't Be Able To Hide The Deaths

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President Donald Trump has gotten away with a staggering amount of lying over the course of his public life and has been particularly successful at using numbers to mislead and obfuscate.
So far, Trump has lied about coronavirus a lot, and always to make it seem like things are better than they are.
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Trump lied when he said the number of Americans infected with coronavirus was declining even as health officials told him and the public the truth about it rising. He lied when he said there were enough coronavirus tests for every American even when Vice President Mike Pence – who’s leading the administration’s response – said that wasn’t true, and he lied when he blamed the shortage of tests on former President Barack Obama. He lied when he compared a year’s worth of influenza deaths to a few months’ worth of coronavirus fatalities in an effort to mislead Americans about the severity of the new disease.
But his constant downplaying of the severity of the coronavirus outbreak is about to run headlong into reality.
When the number of Americans dying from this virus grows, everyone is going to notice. Everyone is also going to notice the increasing disruption of their daily lives as schools and businesses close, Americans miss work because they’re ill or afraid of getting sick, and as the economy suffers.
And people are paying attention. More than 90% of Americans have heard about coronavirus, according to a survey by Public Opinion Strategies, a Virginia-based pollster. “This has already become one of the top news events of the last decade in terms of Americans’ familiarity,” according to a statement from the firm.
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Nobody yet knows how far coronavirus will spread in the United States nor how many people will get seriously ill or die. A handful of domestic fatalities have already occurred, and, if the experiences of other countries suffering worse outbreaks to date are any guide, there will be more. There are more than 100,000 reported cases of Covid-19 worldwide, and the death toll is approaching 4,000.
Countries with more severe coronavirus outbreaks than in the United States are already taking increasingly drastic measures to stop the spread – measures that may soon be needed in the US.
As of Monday, all of Italy is locked down as authorities attempt to slow the advance of the virus throughout the country and the rest of Europe. Public events like sports matches and public spaces like museums are closed. There are approximately 60 million people in Italy who have been instructed to self-quarantine, which is equivalent to the combined populations of California and Florida. Covering up that much upheaval would be challenging, even for Trump.
Trump and his surrogates can try to keep lying about it, but it’s much easier to trick people into thinking that positive economic indicators during Obama’s presidency were fake, that Trump’s margin of victory against Hillary Clinton in 2016 was larger than it was, or even that the crowd at his inauguration was bigger than Obama’s.
The president’s lies about Obama and Clinton before and during the 2016 presidential campaign were too varied and numerous to count. As president, he’s lied about his vaunted wall at the US-Mexico border. And, of course, he lied about Russia and Ukraine.
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Those lies, and the many more like them, are qualitatively different from his lies and misinformation about coronavirus. They can be viewed as political in nature, and, even though proving the falseness of those claims isn’t difficult, Trump supporters have demonstrated a willingness to reject any facts that contradict Trump’s untruths and a hostility toward anyone who challenges them.
That’s because about half the country is primed to take Trump’s word over that of Democrats or the news media or anyone with actual expertise. It’s also because things like jobless numbers or crowd sizes are abstractions.
But there’s nothing abstract about human suffering compounded by a president who’s either in denial or so maniacally focused on his reelection that he’d rather lose a few citizens that admit things have taken a bad turn. There’s nothing abstract about a dead family member, friend, neighbour, co-worker or acquaintance.
What’s more, coronavirus is hitting some of Trump’s staunchest supporters. Reports that an attendee at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington last month has been diagnosed with Covid-19 has already caused four Republican lawmakers who attended to self-quarantine.
One of those is Matt Gaetz, who just last week tried to carry on the failing effort by Trump and his allies to label coronavirus a hoax by mockingly wearing a gas mask on the House floor. Trump and several members of his administration also attended CPAC.
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Viruses don’t care who you voted for in 2016, and only the most committed Trump supporters may be able to convince themselves that his administration’s bungled response to the coronavirus outbreak didn’t happen once the funeral notices start coming in.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Ofcom Throws Out Complaints Over Dave's Brit Awards Performance

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Ofcom has rejected the complaints they received following Dave’s performance at the Brit Awards last month.
The TV watchdog received a total of 309 complaints after Dave performed his track Black, in which he was heard rapping: “Black is pain, Black is joy, Black is evident. It’s working twice as hard as the people you know you’re better than.”
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Dave also debuted a new verse during the ceremony, in which he called Boris Johnson a “real racist” and lambasted the media’s treatment of Meghan Markle, comparing it to how Kate Middleton has been written about in the press.
“It is racist, whether or not it feels racist,” Dave rapped. “The truth is our prime minister’s a real racist. They say you should be grateful we’re the least racist, I say the least racist is still racist.”
Dave on stage at the Brit Awards Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
Ofcom has now said that they will not be taking the issue any further, insisting: “In our view, the performance was likely to be within most viewers’ expectations of this well-established awards ceremony, where it’s not uncommon for artists to express personal political views during their performances.”
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Following his performance, Dave doubled down on his criticism of Boris Johnson, after Conservative MP Priti Patel slammed his performance during a discussion on Sky News.
Patel branded the suggestion that Johnson is racist “utter nonsense”, saying: “I don’t know what those comments are based on.”
The rapper then shared a snippet of Patel’s interview on social media, alongside past comments made by Johnson which have sparked accusations of racism.
Among them were excerpts from columns Johnson had written, including one containing the phrase “flag-waving piccaninnies” and another in which he said: “Africa is a mess, but we can’t blame colonialism… the problem is not that we were once in charge, but that we are not in charge anymore.”
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The album was previously awarded the Mercury Music Prize in 2019, beating stiff competition from The 1975, Little Simz and Slowthai.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Exclusive: UK Scrambling To Hire 135 Trade Experts As Talks Over US And EU Deals Open

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Boris Johnson’s government has been accused of “heading towards a cliff edge” after it was revealed ministers bidding to sign multiple new trade deals are short of 135 experts.
The UK has opened post-Brexit trade deal talks with the EU and has ambitious plans to run parallel negotiations with the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan in the months ahead.
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But data disclosed to HuffPost UK, via a Freedom of Information request, has shown the government is still desperately short of staff, with trade secretary Liz Truss aiming to fill 135 vacancies for new jobs, including policy, legal and technical experts.
Her Department for International Trade (DIT) is scrambling to plug the workforce gap by the end of June, meaning it is aiming to hire at least one expert every day.
Campaign group for ethical trade Global Justice Now says the “lack of expertise” at the heart of government means ministers run a “real risk” of damaging the economy.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss heads a department short of 135 staff, which is aiming to negotiate deals with both the US and EU in the coming months. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS via Getty Images
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Director Nick Dearden said, if left unchecked, the staff shortage could see Britain crashing out of the UK-EU transition period in December and signing a “toxic” trade deal with Donald Trump “on the worst terms possible”.
The National Audit Office sounded the alarm in May that the DIT was short of staff, warning: “The new trade deals are large, complex, resource-intensive deals, and will require both specialist skills and staff from other government departments who have also created trade teams.”
But the FOI response shows the government has made little progress over the last 10 months, despite having spent £224,000 on recruitment.
People from across Whitehall with expertise in “policy, legal and analysis” have been drafted in to help both permanently and on an “ad hoc basis”, the government said.
“The country is heading towards a cliff edge here, where we are in serious danger of being forced to sign a toxic trade deal with Trump on the worst terms possible.” - Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now
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Chiefs have turned to specialist recruitment agencies Veredus and Russell Reynolds and are publishing job adverts both in the UK and overseas in a rush to fill the roles.
Negotiations with the EU opened earlier this month and the government has published a document setting out what the UK wants from a trade deal with America.
He has also repeatedly insisted a fast-track deal can be struck with Brussels by December and refused to countenance any extension to the transition period, underlining that the public want to “get Brexit done”.
Dearden said “serious danger” remains.
He told HuffPost UK: “The government has been warned for months now that they lack the capacity and expertise to negotiate the trade deals which they’ve told us will be done and dusted by the end of the year.
“The idea that a country so lacking in trade expertise can do a deal with two of the world’s biggest trading blocs in under a year is both farcical and a real risk.
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“The country is heading towards a cliff edge here, where we are in serious danger of being forced to sign a toxic trade deal with Trump on the worst terms possible.”
Barry Gardiner, Labour’s shadow trade secretary, added: “The department’s own assessment of its lack of negotiating power says it needs to hire one new trade negotiator every day from now until the end of June.
“It also says the EU free trade agreement will be negotiated by the end of the year. The public will make up their own minds as to how compatible those two statements are.”
A spokesman for the government said the UK’s negotiating team was comparable in size to America’s.
He said: “We have a similar number of negotiators to our largest trading partner, the US.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--The Psychology Behind Panic-Buying – And How To Avoid It

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng confirmed a “very narrow” list of sectors whose workers will be exempt from isolation rules will be published on Thursday afternoon. He would not confirm if this list will include the food sector, but he also urged the public not to panic buy.
Why panic buying doesn’t help the situation
While panic-buying is an understandable reaction to an uncertain situation, it could have a profound impact on supply chains – and people’s lives.
HuffPost UK previously spoke to therapists about how to resist the urge to panic buy and the message was clear: focus on alleviating your anxiety, not filling your shopping basket. Panic buying only perpetuates further shortages, leaving some of the most vulnerable people without.
Ratula Chakraborty, professor of business management at the University of East Anglia, told HuffPost UK that stocking up on supplies is really only advised for elderly people or families with members who have underlying health conditions.
Amid the panic buying of the pandemic lockdowns, she said: “People are just taking whatever they can lay their hands on – that’s not a very sensible reaction at all. In the process, they’re making other people anxious that they won’t find their stuff, so it leads to a domino effect.”
Why actually makes us panic buy?
Psychotherapist Nick Blackburn said people are trying to “solve” their anxiety by buying supplies, but when they get to the shops, they’re likely to experience more anxiety because items are running low.
Then there’s the added stress of being criticised or hearing snarky comments by others for doing it – in the supermarket or all over social media. “That’s not the way to make fearful people feel better,” Blackburn told HuffPost UK.
Hansa Pankhania, a therapist of 25 years and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), believes panic buying is also driven by helplessness, fear and loss of control. When people panic-buy it’s a “gesture”, she said – they’re doing something to help themselves in an otherwise helpless situation. When we have no control over the bigger picture, we crave control in our “micro world” – our home and daily routines. And in this case, people are doing it by buying up supplies. That’s not to say you shouldn’t plan ahead. “I suppose if you’ve planned the panic-buying then it isn’t panic-buying,” Blackburn told HuffPost UK. “It might not be possible to plan as far ahead as we might like to, but try to focus on what’s practical to get now.” Having a plan already lessens the anxiety.
So, the message: avoid panic buying but try not to scroll or share scaremongering posts on social media either. And remember, if your local supermarket is out of a certain item, you can always try independent corner shops which are often well-stocked with goods, as well as local suppliers, farms and wholesalers, many of whom will deliver to your door.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--What To Know About Coronavirus If You're Pregnant Or Have A Newborn

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The coronavirus outbreak is a source of stress for many parents who wonder what it might mean for their kids. And it can be particularly scary for two groups: Soon-to-be parents and mums and dads who have babies at home.
For good reason. New babies have new immune systems, and even mild infections can be a big deal. If a baby under two months old develops a fever, they might have to go to A&E. And pregnant women are also known to be more susceptible to certain types of illnesses, which can have implications for themselves and their little ones on the way.
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Pregnant? Have a newborn at home? Here are the basics on Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
KidStock via Getty Images
First, there is a lot we don’t know.
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, we simply don’t have much scientific research telling us whether pregnant women are more susceptible to the coronavirus — or whether they’re more likely to come down with more serious symptoms. We don’t know if the virus increases risk for preterm birth, miscarriage or possible birth defects.
Of course, this isn’t especially helpful if you’re pregnant and freaking out.
So here’s what we can say. In general, pregnant women do undergo immune changes that can make them more susceptible to respiratory infections. Those changes can also mean pregnant women get sicker than they usually would.
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That said, the limited information that has come out of China is potentially heartening.
“One small study that compared pregnant women who came down with coronavirus with others who came down with it found that they generally weren’t any sicker ... which is slightly reassuring,” said Dr. Jessica Madden, an Ohio-based paediatrician and medical director of Aeroflow Breastpumps. She also pointed to a recent case study looking at nine women who had coronavirus during pregnancy whose babies were born healthy and symptom-free — although she stressed again that the available research is just pretty darn thin.
If you’re not feeling well, you should absolutely talk to your doctor or midwife about it.
“It’s always important for pregnant women to report any fevers [or] respiratory symptoms — cough, shortness of breath, etc. — to your midwife for your further evaluation,” said Dr. Natali Aziz, an OB-GYN at Stanford Health Care. “Most likely, symptoms will be due to other viruses.”
However, if you have symptoms and also have other risk factors — like if you’ve traveled to an affected region — you should be tested for Covid-19, Aziz said.
If you’re planning on breastfeeding, go for it.
Yet again, the official word from the CDC at this point is that we simply don’t know if the coronavirus is spread through breastmilk. However, experts say that is not actually their primary concern right now — probably because in the limited cases they’ve looked at so far, there’s been no evidence of the virus in the breastmilk of women who have Covid-19. Instead, doctors are more focused on the potential risk of a mother who is infected with the virus transferring it to her baby via respiratory droplets. Of course, this could also happen when feeding a baby via bottle.
“Ultimately, this is a case of 'you do you.' Set boundaries that make you comfortable — and don’t feel for a second like you have to justify them.”
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Basically, there is no reason at this point to change any of your infant feeding plans.
“Knowing what we know about other viral illnesses, I would strongly encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding,” said Madden. In part, that’s because breastfeeding generally helps babies’ immune systems.
However, experts do now say that women who have the virus should wear a face mask around their babies.
Hand wash, hand wash, hand wash.
Yes, you’ve heard that advice in every single news item you’ve seen or read about coronavirus. Here it is again.
“It is not an exaggeration that most viruses are avoidable with good hand washing,” said Dr. Anita Juvvadi, a paediatrician with Stanford Children’s Health. “How do you think doctors and nurses stay healthy?”
That directive goes for parents and anyone else who even thinks about coming close to a newborn, older siblings included. “Of course, all visitors must wash hands before picking baby up,” said Juvvadi.
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She said that generally speaking, “young visitors” — like lovable, eager toddlers who may not fully grasp the concept of good hand hygiene — should kiss a baby’s feet, but not their hands or face.
You get to make the call on visitors and public spaces — no one else.
Here’s the good news: “Eliminating visits [from] healthy individuals is not recommended by physicians and the CDC,” Aziz said.
So symptom-free visitors are perfectly OK, as is taking your baby out into the world — with the usual precautions.
“The fresh air would be good for baby and new parents,” Juvvadi said. “Our standard recommendations are to stay away from malls [and] grocery stores with a newborn anyway ... until baby is at least a month old and has built some immunity.”
But while physicians and medical groups aren’t necessarily advising parents keep their babies away from visitors and crowds, this is a case of “you do you.” Set boundaries that make you comfortable — and don’t feel for a second like you have to justify them. If you’re wary of having people over, maybe meet them outside, so you’re not in a confined space. Or set some ground rules around kissing. Or just say no to visitors altogether.
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“You have the power. If you know your uncle’s coming to visit and he’s recently been sick, he can’t come visit,” Madden said. “Say there’s a big playdate set for your 3-year-old and a bunch of friends at a bouncy house place and you don’t want to go, don’t go. You might have pressure from family and loved ones to participate, but you don’t have to. That’s one thing you have control over. ”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Royal Fans Can't Stop Analysing This Video Of Harry, Meghan, William And Kate

Harry later spoke about his relationship with his brother in October, acknowledging that the two have “good days and bad days.”
“We are brothers. We will always be brothers,” the prince said during the ITV documentary, “Harry & Meghan: An African Journey.”
“We are certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him as I know he will always be there for me,” he said. “We don’t see each other as much as we used to because we are so busy but I love him dearly. The majority of the stuff is created out of nothing but as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days.”
Shortly after the documentary aired, the royals took a six-week sabbatical from royal duties. When they returned from spending the holidays with Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland, the couple announced on Jan. 8 their decision to step back as working members of the royal family.
Harry and Meghan’s royal duties will officially draw to a close on March 31.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Bernie Sanders Slams Trump For Saying 'Stupid' Things As Coronavirus Spreads

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Senator Bernie Sanders criticised President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus in a Fox News town hall on Monday, describing some of the president’s remarks as “absurd” and “stupid.”
“You got millions of people in this country today who may feel they have a symptom — but you know what? They cannot afford to go to a doctor. And then they’re gonna go to work,” Sanders said at the Detroit event a day before Michigan’s Democratic primary. The senator is trailing Former Vice President Joe Biden in national polls, and notably in Michigan.
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“You have a president of the United States: ‘You know, doesn’t matter, go to work.’ We have a president who says absurd things,” Sanders added.
Later at the event, Sanders denounced Trump’s statement in a recent press conference that “maybe” he had a “natural ability” to understand issues like the coronavirus.
“As a president, I don’t claim I’m the world’s greatest scientific expert,” Sanders said. “You listen to the scientists, you don’t stay stupid things. You don’t suggest people go to work.”
Sanders appeared to be referring to Trump’s interview last week with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, in which the president suggested people with mild coronavirus symptoms could still go to work.
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“A lot of people will have this and it’s very mild. They’ll get better very rapidly,” Trump told Fox News.
“So, if you know, we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work. Some of them go to work, but they get better,” Trump added.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that infected individuals stay home. There were at least 26 people dead from Covid-19 across the US as of Monday, with over 600 reported cases in at least 35 states, reported The Associated Press.
The White House and Trump’s re-election campaign team did not immediately reply to HuffPost’s request for comment.
With the spread of coronavirus, we have already seen people hit with massive medical bills, simply for doing the right thing by getting tested.
Others may face massive bills for hospitalization, treatment and quarantine if they need it.
This must end.
We need Medicare for All. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 9, 2020
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During his Fox News town hall event, Sanders pushed his tentpole “Medicare for All” policy as much-needed during a public health crisis. He also called out America’s lack of federal paid sick leave, which means some people may have to choose between going to work sick or going without a paycheck to support their families.
Last week, Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill to ensure U.S. workers get paid sick leave during the coronavirus outbreak, with the proposed legislation requiring employers to grant 14 paid sick days for use in a public health emergency.
Several states, including California and Washington, have also ordered health insurers to waive deductibles and copayments associated with getting tested for the virus if a doctor deems it necessary.
In the Monday town hall, Sanders broadly attacked the Trump administration for “not believ[ing] in science” and for thinking climate change is a “hoax,” adding: “How do we trust this administration?”
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Sanders also criticised Trump’s decision to appoint vice president Mike Pence as the administration’s lead on its coronavirus response, saying: “You need scientists leading the effort, not politicians.” Pence has no medical background and as governor of Indiana, oversaw an HIV crisis in his state.
When asked by Fox News’ moderators if, in response to the coronavirus, Sanders would close the nation’s borders, the candidate had a blunt answer: “No.”
Sanders then criticised Trump for promoting “xenophobic” ideas in response to the virus and said that a president should listen to what scientists recommend is “appropriate,” whether it’s self-quarantines or limiting public gatherings.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--White House Says We're Doing A ‘Remarkable Job,’ Can’t Say How Many Tested For Coronavirus

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The White House sought to quell growing anxiety on Monday as financial markets wobbled and cases of Covid-19 continued to surge around the US.
Vice president Mike Pence, who was tapped last month to lead the country’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, touted the leadership of President Donald Trump while saying officials were still unclear how many people had actually been tested for the virus.
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“The men and women standing behind me and all the men and women standing behind them have done a remarkable job responding to this,” Pence said during a news briefing. “I really do believe that the American people can see that this president is putting the health of the American people first.”
The assurances came amid skyrocketing anxiety both in the US and abroad. Officials were preparing to quarantine thousands of people stranded aboard a second cruise ship linked to the outbreak that docked in Oakland, California. Schools in multiple states have shut down, others have said they may soon do the same, and some universities have announced classes will be moved online for the foreseeable future. Two Republican lawmakers who interacted with the president in recent days also said they would self-quarantine for two weeks after coming into contact with a carrier of the disease.
The Trump administration said Monday there were now more than 500 confirmed cases of coronavirus in 35 states and the District of Columbia, but said the risk to the American public remained low. Officials stressed that populations most at risk included people over the age of 60 and those with underlying health issues, in line with previous guidance.
President Donald Trump speaks in the Brady press briefing room of the White House on March, 9, 2020, about the coronavirus outbreak. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
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At the same time, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar couldn’t say how many Americans had actually been tested for coronavirus.
“Right now, I could not give you a number of how many Americans ... have received a test,” Azar said, noting the government was “actively building” the computer systems to allow HHS to see those figures. He said the Centres for Disease Control and prevention had shipped 75,000 test kits around the country and that private companies had developed another 900,000 or so.
But those claims come amid reports that test kits and other medical equipment like face masks are in short supply around the nation.
Pence said he was unsure if Trump himself had been tested, but pledged to get reporters an answer by the end of the day. The president is 73 and has interacted with the lawmakers who had contact with a coronavirus patient.
Trump spoke briefly at the press conference on Monday, teasing a bevy of economic measures meant to avert economic unease that led to Wall Street’s worst day in a decade, including a program to extend loans to small businesses and some sort of payroll tax relief. He also suggested that he could move to protect hourly wage-earners — a vast portion of America’s workforce — so they don’t fear calling in sick to work.
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“We have a great economy. We have a very strong economy,” the president said, before handing the spotlight over to Pence and abruptly leaving the briefing. “This blindsided the world, and I think we’ve done very, very well.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said it was premature for any type of ban on group activities, but said he wouldn’t criticize any local leaders for doing so out of an “abundance of caution.” He refused to give any guidance in terms of campaign rallies, which are at their peak and a favored activity of Trump throughout his presidency.
“I can’t comment on campaign rallies,” Fauci said in response to a reporter’s question. “It really depends. As we all said, this is something in motion, this is an evolving thing.”
Pence closed the briefing by urging Americans to unify in the face of the outbreak, once again trumpeting Trump’s efforts to combat the virus.
“The president’s leadership has made the difference here… We literally are working seamlessly on behalf of the health of the American people,” he said. “Together, we’ll get through the coronavirus.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--How To Cook Eggs Without Making These Common Mistakes

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Mediocre eggs can make or break a breakfast plate, and there’s no need to settle when just a few tweaks can take your home-cooked eggs from good to great. To help you achieve perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs (with cooked whites and runny yolks), hard-boiled eggs that are easy to peel, silky scrambled eggs and more, we’ve asked professional chefs to share the top mistakes they see people make in the kitchen and how to fix them.
The key thing to master when cooking eggs is heat control. “No matter the style or technique, it’s important to use the right level of heat and understand your desired end result,” Nick Korbee, partner at Egg Shop, told HuffPost. “It’s all about building confidence in the ability to control the temperature of your cooking implement. If your pan is smoking hot, fear not. You can always remove it from the heat for a few minutes and start over. While you can’t undo overcooking, you can learn to master heat.”
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Sunny Side Up
Mistakes: Overcooking egg yolks, undercooking egg whites and moving eggs too much while cooking
Solutions: Cook eggs low and slow, and cover briefly if necessary
David L. Reamer from "Eggs On Top" Perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs.
When cooking sunny side up eggs, Frank Proto, director of culinary operations at the Institute of Culinary Education, cooks with a lower heat to ensure the egg whites cook through while the yolk stays runny. He starts at a medium to low heat with oil or butter in the pan, even if it’s nonstick. “I always put oil or butter in the pan, something that’s gonna add flavour to the actual dish,” Proto said.
Crack your eggs into the pan and simply let them cook. “Sometimes people get a little nervous and start moving [the eggs] around. Just let them cook,” Proto said. And don’t forget to season; Proto keeps it straightforward and uses salt and pepper.
For home cooks who cover the pan when cooking sunny side up eggs, Proto warns that leaving the cover on for too long can cook the yolks, in addition to the whites. “For sunny side up eggs, the yolk should be soft, so I’ll leave it in the pan until the whites just set,” Proto said. “If you cover it, you’re adding a little steam, which might cook the yolk a little too much, so I tend not to cover it.”
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If speed is your main concern, Jen Toomey, chef de cuisine at Huckleberry Bakery and Café, Milo and Olive and Milo SRO in California, shared a hack that she finds particularly helpful during the breakfast rush on weekends. “Start with a hot pan, a nice little smear of butter, obviously, and then the trick we use the most to make sure the whites are cooked evenly is we just break the whites open with a spatula and let them run through,” Toomey told HuffPost. “We break it through a couple times so that the whites drop to the bottom of the pan; it helps it coagulate so much faster and then you get an evenly cooked, nice runny yolk but a firm white.”
Scrambled Eggs
Mistakes: Overcooking and not moving the eggs around in the pan
Solutions: Remove eggs from the heat while they’re still a bit glistening and moist, and stir and fold eggs constantly while cooking
David Malosh from "Egg Shop The Cookbook" From left to right: The first few steps of scrambling eggs.
David Malosh from "Egg Shop The Cookbook" The final two stages of making perfect scrambled eggs.
There are rubbery, overcooked scrambled eggs that you may find at a breakfast buffet and then there are soft scrambled eggs: fluffy, delicate and a touch gooey (in a good way). To achieve the latter, don’t overcook your eggs (read: take them off the heat while they’re still moist), keep them moving in the pan and make sure you season them.
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“A soft scramble should be nearly pourable with small ‘curds,’ and is best accomplished over low heat with constant stirring and folding,” Korbee said. “Never scramble eggs over high heat or forget to stir and fold!” He also recommends waiting until the end to add salt. “Salt will draw moisture from the eggs during the cooking process, which will negatively impact the texture.”
Hard-Boiled Eggs
Mistakes: Cracking the eggs when placing them in the pot, overcooking and mangling your eggs when peeling them
Solutions: Add eggs to hot water, and place them in an ice bath right after cooking
Approaches varied between the chefs on this particular topic, with some putting eggs in cold water and bringing it to a boil and others putting their eggs in the water only after it’s boiling. Timings also varied — 10-12 minutes in boiling water for eggs placed in cold water and 8.5-13 minutes for eggs placed in hot water. What the chefs did agree on, however, was that submerging boiled eggs in an ice bath is essential to prevent further cooking and that unattractive green-gray ring around the yolk.
Cookbook author and food stylist Andrea Slonecker was particularly passionate about this method of cooking eggs, and shared with us her tried and true method that she studied when writing her book “Eggs on Top: Recipes Elevated by an Egg.”
“All you have to do is bring the water to a boil, reduce it to a gentle simmer, add your eggs, and cook for 12-13 minutes depending on how many eggs you have in the pot,” Slonecker told HuffPost. The more eggs you add to the water, the longer it will take to bring the temperature back up.
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Slonecker avoids adding eggs to water that’s at a full boil (as the eggs will knock into each other and the sides of the pot) and uses room temperature eggs, which “prevents the shock of the cold eggs hitting the hot water and the eggs cracking before they’re done.”
Poached Eggs
Mistakes: Using a pan that’s too deep, overhandling the eggs and not draining the eggs after cooking
Solutions: Use a low-sided pan with straight sides, avoid moving the eggs too much when cooking, and use a slotted spoon and paper towel to drain the egg before serving
David L. Reamer from "Eggs On Top" Poached eggs from start to finish.
Proto’s method for poached eggs is relatively unfussy and requires no need for a vortex (a method of swirling the water, which he doesn’t teach, as there are many ways it can go wrong). He uses a sautoir, a pan with short, straight sides.
“You want the egg to be submerged fully, but you don’t have to have so much water. If you have a high-sided pan, you can’t really reach in all that well without burning your fingers on the side of the pot.” Proto seasons his water with salt and adds plain distilled vinegar to help set the egg white right after it’s dropped in.
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When the water is just under a simmer (around 180 degrees Fahrenheit), Proto drops in his eggs. “I crack my eggs into a small coffee or tea cup and drop them in one at a time, putting the cup into the water and then just sliding the egg out nice and easy.” He lets the eggs cook for 3-5 minutes, and is careful not to push the eggs around as that can cause them to split in the water.
Use a slotted spoon and place your poached eggs on a paper towel to drain fully before serving — the last thing you want is a soggy English muffin.
Omelet
Mistakes: Overcooking, and adding raw fillings to your eggs
Solutions: Remove the omelet from the pan while the inside is still moist, and pre-cook fillings like mushrooms and onions
While you can get away with sprinkling some cheese in the centre of your omelet just before folding it and serving, Slonecker notes that any toppings you’d like to be cooked through need to be precooked before adding them to your eggs.
As usual, overcooking is a common pitfall. “People need to stop cooking the eggs while they’re still a little bit moist as they will continue cooking off the pan,” Slonecker said. “My biggest pet peeve is how almost everyone way overcooks omelettes and scrambled eggs. I keep them pretty moist because I actually like my eggs to not be totally set.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--'A Little Butter Won't Harm You': Vegans Are Sick And Tired Of Being Fed Non-Vegan Food

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Sometimes, telling people you’re vegan seems to fall on deaf ears.
Last weekend’s episode of Sunday Brunch featured comedian and vegan Jon Richardson, who was served Massor dhal made with ghee, a clarified butter.
Unfortunately, the scene – and the laughter-filled apology that followed – didn’t come as a surprise to some vegans, who say their food choices aren’t always taken seriously.
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Vegans on Twitter told HuffPost UK comments such as “a little butter won’t harm you”, “it’s no big deal” and “it’s the same thing” are all too common.
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Sunday Brunch John Richardson on Sunday Brunch.
Amelia-Eve Warden, 26, from London, says nonchalance towards her lifestyle is particularly strong at Christmas.
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“I’ve been vegetarian for nine years, vegan for one-and-a-half years and my mum, every year, has given me potatoes in goose fat, plus veggies in honey and butter,” she says. “She didn’t tell me until last year when I got a dodgy stomach.”
Annabel Stiles, from Bristol, has also had problems with her mum’s cooking. “My mum roasted me a portobello mushroom for a Sunday roast once, and then served it to me on top of a roast chicken,” she says. “It was frustrating but it was so utterly ridiculous I just laughed. It’s become one of those family stories!”
Every family meal tends to start with a conversation about her food choices, though, which Stiles describes as “very frustrating and quite draining”.
“I actually really try to not push my choices onto other people, but I give my opinions when I’m asked and it can make people angry and defensive,” she adds.
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Lucy Jones*, 23, from Newcastle, says in her experience, ignorance, rather than malice, is the main reason people get it wrong – but it’s still hard to deal with. Last summer, she reminded her aunt she was vegan before attending a family barbecue and offered to bring her own food, but her aunt said not to worry.
“I turned up to Quorn sausages, which are vegetarian but not vegan, and halloumi, again... vegetarian but not vegan,” she says. “I felt really awkward as she’d obviously gone to some trouble to cater to me, but had not quite got it right. I nibbled salad and pretended not to be hungry.”
Multiple occasions like this have left Lucy feeling “uncomfortable and anxious” about going to food-based gatherings. “My current protocol is to not go anywhere without a snack in my bag just in case,” she adds.
Much of the criticism of Sunday Brunch centred upon the presenters’ light-hearted apology, with laughter from the crew clearly heard in the background.
John Dee, 44, from Byron Bay, Australia, is fed up with veganism being treated as a joke. A vegan of 21 years, he says a family member put meat in his meal “as a prank” in the past. They’re more understanding these days, he adds, but his food choices are still the butt of jokes.
“I’m good with jokes and can sling a few back when I need to,” says Dee. “It’s sad we live in a society where doing something altruistic gets put down and shamed. But I’ve developed a thick skin and continue to stand for what I believe is a noble cause.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--You Never Know Who Is Vulnerable To Coronavirus. That's Why It's Vital We All Play Our Part

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You’re on the 61 bus and you sneeze into your hand because you don’t have a tissue. It’s no big deal. If you have coronavirus and pass it onto the woman sitting next to you, she’s in her 20s and looks healthy enough. She can’t be one of the “vulnerable” people the government keeps mentioning, right?
Wrong. It is quite possible the woman sitting next to you is one of thousands of people in the UK with an invisible disability that makes her far more at risk from Covid-19.
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As the infection figures rise, this community, along with the elderly and visibly disabled, is the reason all of us have a public responsibility to follow government advice about hand washing and social distancing, to save lives.
I have multiple sclerosis: my immune system is mistakenly attacking my body. I don’t use a wheelchair or a cane. On good days my symptoms don’t show. If you passed me on the street, you wouldn’t know my ability to fight infection has been compromised. There are 130,000 people with MS in the UK. Most are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s when they appear fit and can be active. I know people with the condition who play physically challenging sports like rugby or run marathons.
Over time, symptoms such as spasms, fatigue or vision issues progress. It is a horrible reality of MS that you can feel fine one day, then experience such painful muscle spasms the next you can’t dress yourself.
There is no cure, so the best way to tackle the condition is to slow down or halt the progressive onset of symptoms.
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Some of the most effective drugs available to stem the progression of the disease work by suppressing the immune system. But slowing down symptoms reduces the body’s ability to fight infections from outside - infections like flu, pneumonia and now Covid-19.
When I had immuno-suppressant treatment four years ago I was at greater risk of infection.
To our community, and I include here some 80 autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s, lupus and Type 1 Diabetes, worries about developing pneumonia or any other respiratory condition have stepped up a few gears with the arrival of coronavirus to our shores.
A common symptom of MS is anxiety. Given the population at large is worried about coronavirus to varying degrees, you can imagine anxiety is heightened in the MS community with every new figure that is released. We are seeing it constantly now on our social network and our social media channels. Members are discussing whether to avoid going out but also whether to start new courses of medication at all.
We want to reassure members there is no need to panic and that if they keep up-to-date with government information, speak to their health care professionals and follow medical blogs like Barts MS Blog, they can protect themselves. But we need your help. Follow the guidelines. Do all you can to delay the spread of this pernicious virus. Don’t stockpile. Chances are we will need those hand sanitisers before you get the third bottle out of your cupboard.
We are not a nanny state, but in this case we need to follow the guidance. In China where people are sticking to the rules, they are now seeing the number of new cases go down.
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The Connect Immune Research umbrella group estimates four million people in the UK are living with an autoimmune condition – more than 6% of the population.
Protect your family and loved ones – but also think about the wider implications for the people around you, and certainly that woman on the 61 bus.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--How Heart Specialists Keep Their Tickers In Tip-Top Shape

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The heart is pretty crucial to our existence, but many things we choose to do – smoking, drinking, or eating eye-watering amounts of fatty food – negatively impact how the organ functions.
With heart disease being one of the UK’s biggest killers – heart and circulatory diseases account for more than a quarter of deaths in the UK, almost 170,000 each year – we all need to prioritise our tickers.
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While heart issues can be hereditary, our lifestyles play an equally important part. And, unlike genetics, it’s something you have some degree of control over. “Working in the cardiovascular field, you realise you have to look after yourself,” says Dr Mahmoud Barbir, a consultant cardiologist at Bupa Cromwell Hospital. “Genetics play a large role in heart health but you can still take preventative measures for heart disease.”
So, what do experts in the field recommend when it comes to promoting good heart health? Here, they tell HuffPost UK how they (mostly) practise what they preach.
Jolygon via Getty Images
Power walk to work
We all know exercise is good for the heart, but sometimes it can seem impossible to find the time to do it. Vanessa Smith, a British Heart Foundation (BHF) senior cardiac nurse, struggles with this. “That’s why I made a simple change to my daily commute to include a 15-minute fast walk to the office and back,” she says.
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“It’s an easy way to get 30 minutes of exercise in every day and building it into my routine made it effortless. I also find it a great way to wake me up and clear my head after work.”
Professor Gershan Davis, professor in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), says he started parking a bit further away from work, as well as always taking the stairs.
Grill, don’t fry
“Trying to eat healthily can be challenging to do all the time, especially if you’re too strict,” says Smith. Making small changes to her diet made it easier for her to manage, because they eventually became automatic choices.
She swapped butter and dairy for low-fat versions, and now grills food instead of frying it. “These tiny tweaks, coupled with more walking, helps to maintain a healthy weight – and heart – with little effort.”
Avoid crash diets
Consultant cardiologist Professor Mark O’Neill steers clear of extreme diets and excessive snacking – studies have found crash dieting can have a negative impact on heart function.
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“It’s not always the easiest advice to follow, but I try to maintain a balanced diet with regular exercise,” adds Prof O’Neill, from The Heart Rhythm Clinic at HCA and Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
“It’s also not about a perfect diet as everyone deserves a treat from time to time – and doctors struggle too, as grateful patients often leave tempting treats on the wards.”
Cut meat intake
Dr Barbir avoids meat as much as possible. While there are some benefits to eating meat – it can be a source of protein, iron, and vitamin B12 – studies have found too much of it can impact the heart and circulatory system, as it increases your “bad”, cholesterol.
Generally speaking, we should avoid foods containing saturated fats – so sausages and fatty cuts of meat, butter, ghee, cream, hard cheese, cakes and biscuits – and opt for unsaturated fats instead. These have been shown to increase levels of “good” cholesterol and help reduce blockage in the arteries. Foods high in unsaturated fat include: oily fish; avocados; nuts and seeds; and sunflower, rapeseed, olive and vegetable oils.
If you still want to eat meat, stick to leaner cuts, advises the BHF.
Manage stress
Prof O’Neill is a firm believer in looking after his mental wellbeing, as high levels of stress negatively impact his health. “As with any job, there are unavoidable times of stress in medicine,” he says. His way of dealing with stressful periods is to keep his loved ones around him and value his colleagues, “as family and friends are more important than any job”.
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Dr Barbir also believes stress management is key to keeping his heart healthy. He values the importance of getting out in nature (he loves walking in local parks), taking holidays and breaks from work when possible. “Our relationships are also key to our health and stress management – have fun through laughing and joking with friends,” he adds. Twice a week he’ll go swimming, a stress-buster which doubles up as a great form of cardio.
Professor Davis meditates and goes to yoga to reduce his stress levels.
Prioritise sleep
Dr Barbir aims to get between seven and eight hours sleep a night, “as this is good for stress levels and overall heart health”. Sleep deprivation can impact the heart. According to the Sleep Foundation, people who don’t sleep enough are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease—regardless of age, weight, smoking and exercise habits.
Be aware of risk factors
It’s also important to know your own risk factors, advises Dr Barbir. He says he’s always aware of what’s going on in his body – his blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels and weight – all of which can impact heart health in some way.
If you’re over 40, you’re entitled to a free health MOT through the NHS to check whether you’re at a higher risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or stroke. The check involves being asked questions about your lifestyle and family history. They’ll also measure your height and weight, take your blood pressure and do a blood test.
Dr Carl Shakespeare, consultant cardiologist at The Lister Hospital (part of HCA UK), says the largest contribution to the reduction of heart disease is risk factor modification: with reductions in blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Emotional Abuse Isn’t Over When You Walk Out. It’s Still Impacting Me Now

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For most people, dropping a wine glass would be just a mild annoyance. But when I smashed that glass after our prosecco-fuelled housewarming, I was transported back two years – back to another life.
Panicking, I scrabbled up the glass, cutting my hand. Barely able to breathe, my best friend stayed on the phone for half an hour to calm me down and remind me I was safe. It’s only a glass. My boyfriend wouldn’t be angry. He wouldn’t hurt me. I was safe.
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My last relationship was much different.
I kick myself now for not seeing the signs – taking jabs at things I liked, insulting my friends, blowing up about tiny mistakes. I always excused it as just wanting to take care of me, wanting me to be my best. He belittled my loud boisterous nature until I became a shell, always worried that what I said or how I acted could make him explode. The shouting was scary but the silence was worse – I craved his forgiveness or for him to just speak to me.
When we moved in together there was no escape from the subtle comments judging how I talked, what I wore, even what I read. I lost most of my close friends, who hated him – and hated the person he was turning me into. A night in the pub would almost always end in an argument between us two.
I’d always had reproductive problems and almost died after a bad experience with contraception. I’d always told him I didn’t want children, but he kept pushing it on me until I wanted it myself. Then he told me he could never care for me or my “crippled babies”.
“One day, he decided he'd had enough of me. With nothing else, I begged for forgiveness. But I’m glad now it didn’t work out...”
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And then, one day, he decided he’d had enough of me. With nothing else, I begged for forgiveness. But I’m glad now it didn’t work out – it was only after talking with friends after we broke up that I realised I’d been a victim of emotional abuse.
I felt humiliated. I couldn’t believe that I’d allowed myself to be manipulated and controlled by someone; and I knew that if I’d seen this happening to a friend, I’d have tried every way possible to help get them out.
It’s been a difficult few years of healing. I was diagnosed with PTSD, and still have nightmares where I feel unsafe and can’t explain why, where I’m trapped by a faceless person, until it’s his face that comes into view.
Letting myself be loved again has been the hardest part. I was scared I’d open myself up again and be hurt, that I would never be loveable again. It made me feel small and broken, like he would always have a hold over me. Yet when I finally opened myself up to a new relationship, I found a man the complete opposite of him: observant instead of jumping in with his opinions, thoughtful instead of trying to have things his way. He is the most caring and selfless person I’ve ever met.
“When my ex left me, I felt completely unworthy of love – but I know now that his version of love was wrong, not me”
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Though I wish it didn’t, my abusive relationship affects my new relationship in large and small ways. For example, I still find myself constantly seeking my husband’s approval on things he couldn’t give a stuff about; and I imagine he definitely wasn’t expecting the kids conversation on our first date, but given my history it was something I had to get out there. But from day one he’s always told me I’m more important to him than kids.
I’ve worked hard over the years to control my triggers and reactions and with most I would say I’m a lot better, but I know I’ll never be fully healed. I used to blame myself for not being enough for him, but I know now I was too much for him. Some men see a strong confident woman and feel so threatened they have to break her down. When my ex left me, I felt completely unworthy of love – but I know now that his version of love was wrong, not me.
Everyone assumes that the abusive relationship ends when you walk out the door, but I know the impact on the victim can last for years, even decades. You can’t expect to just magically heal from something that’s been inflicted on you for so long.
The most important thing is that no matter how hard he tried, he didn’t destroy me. I emerged from the destruction and have only grown stronger. I know it doesn’t matter that I forgot to put the clothes away. I know it’s okay to be mad sometimes. I know now that a glass is just a glass.
I know that I am safe.
Alice is a writer and survivor of emotional abuse, writing under a pseudonym
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com
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If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you are not in immediate danger, you can contact:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--I'm A Mom Who Nearly Died Of Sepsis Because I Didn’t ‘Have Time To Be Sick’

HuffPost UK Courtesy of the author
What does self-care look like for a mom? I know magazines and social media make self-care look like a day reading a novel on the beach, or an afternoon watching Hallmark Channel movies. But for me, on a beautiful spring day in 2015, self-care looked like accepting the need for medical treatment so I wouldn’t die.
I had made it through that winter without getting sick, which is basically a miracle when you’re a mom of two young children, and I was happy, at peace, and feeling good!
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Then I started feeling… not so good. I figured it was allergies, or even a cold catching up to me after a healthy winter. I ignored it, as most moms with young kids tend to ignore anything less than a full-on medical emergency, and pushed on, taking some vitamin C and ibuprofen. I remember thinking “just my luck” and being annoyed at the nuisance of feeling lousy during a busy week that included Easter and my husband’s birthday.
Within 72 hours of grudgingly climbing into bed immediately after dinner because I was too exhausted to stay up any longer, I was in the back of an ambulance headed for the hospital. What happened? The hours in between are a blur of memories: My little boys standing by the bed asking if I felt like playing, my husband checking on me to see if I needed anything, and me saying, “I’m okay. I just need more sleep.”
But it turned out I didn’t need more sleep. I needed emergency medical care. In addition to having pneumonia, I was in septic shock, a condition where the toxins from infection trigger a full-body inflammatory response. My kidneys were failing and my blood pressure and electrolytes were dangerously low. I was, quite literally, dying. And I didn’t even know it.
Riding in the back of an ambulance, feeling every bump and turn, my few coherent thoughts ricocheted from, This is silly. I’m not that sick to, Oh my God, what have I done? I had a birthday cake to bake and Easter baskets to build. I had responsibilities and deadlines. I didn’t have time for this. It’s funny now, in a morbid sort of way.
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It wasn’t until after I had spent 12 hours in the emergency room and was finally moved to a bed in the intensive care unit that I learned the severity of my condition. The diagnosis of septic shock and severe sepsis didn’t really set off any warning bells for me. I had heard the terms only while watching TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy. I had some vague sense that my condition was a serious one, but I was too foggy-brained to consider what that meant in real life, to my life.
Sepsis, I learned, is the body’s dangerous and life-threatening response to an infection. My body was shutting down due to severe infection. I experienced everything that was happening to me in a haze — the three IVs in the ER, the move to the brightly-lit and extremely well-staffed ICU, the cavalcade of doctors and nurses who came in and out of my room. It felt like I was watching it all from a distance. This wasn’t happening to me. It was just a dream. I’d sleep for a few hours and wake up refreshed.
Later, the consensus of the doctors would be that I had rapidly progressed from norovirus to pneumonia to sepsis. The mortality rate for severe sepsis is around 50%. Fifty per cent.
Nearly everything I learned about sepsis came after the ER and ICU, when I was finally able to keep food down and sit up on my own, when I was starting to feel like myself again. When I was no longer in danger of dying. One of the many doctors I saw during my week-long stay in the hospital told me, “If you’d waited even 12 more hours, you’d likely be dead.”
Photo Courtesy of Kristina Wright The day before I was discharged.
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If my husband hadn’t forced me to go to the doctor, I would likely have gone into cardiac arrest and died. I was lucky to be alive. It was a refrain repeated again and again. I had come this close to dying. More than four years after the fact, it’s still a difficult thought to process.
How did it even happen? We’ll never know. At one of my follow-up appointments, I asked my primary care physician what I could have done to prevent it. She smiled gently and said, “You could have come to me sooner.”
I had nearly died of sepsis, yes, but the sepsis had been a response to infection and the infection had been a response to… a lack of self-care. Maybe that’s too simplistic, but that’s how it felt.
Before my trip to the hospital, I had a three-day rule for illness: If, after three days of rest and fluids, I still wasn’t feeling better, I’d go to urgent care or call my doctor. That Monday, I had started really feeling like I was sick; on Tuesday it had been body aches and chills. On Wednesday, it was vomiting and diarrhoea. By Thursday, I was in the emergency room, dying. My three-day rule, a practical attempt at self-care, had failed me.
Recovering from sepsis takes time. While I had ‘recovered’ at a surprising rate once I received medical care and was able to go home after a week, the real recovery was in the months that followed. My energy level was the lowest I’ve ever experienced in my life. Basic chores were exhausting. And I still had two little boys who needed my care and a husband whose Navy and school schedules had been as accommodating as they could be while I was in the hospital.
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Once I was home, my responsibilities and routines resumed – but I was far from better. And my feeble attempts at self-care had to take a backseat to caring for my kids and maintaining some sense of normalcy for them.
In the weeks following my discharge from the hospital, I joked that I’d always thought a near-death experience was supposed to bring a life-changing epiphany — but that didn’t happen for me. There was no a-ha! moment of self-awareness, no sense that I should be doing something different with my life. My life was exactly as I wanted it to be, I had everything I wanted. Nearly dying of sepsis became a Very Bad Thing that happened to me in a year that was filled with good things. What did it all mean? What was I supposed to learn?
I want to be able to say that I learned to take better care of myself, but nearly dying didn’t relieve me of the responsibilities of motherhood. Even though my husband was hyper-vigilant in the months that followed my illness, wary of every cough or ache, I soon returned to complacency and the belief that I’ll be okay — because I have to be okay. For my family.
“I don’t have time to be sick,” I joked breathlessly from the ICU bed, my body connected to wires and tubes, monitors beeping steadily behind me. I said it, not just to ward off the sudden terror of knowing I almost died, but as a reflex to every encouragement I’ve ever received to slow down, get some rest, take better care of myself. Self-care wasn’t something I took seriously before my ambulance ride to the ER – and it’s still not something I’m very good at. Taking care of myself feels frivolous, an indulgence I do not have time to accommodate. Yes, even now.
It’s hard to overcome something so ingrained, so I’m both proud of myself and slightly embarrassed when I do. I recognise that my belief stems from unfair burdens placed on women and mothers, from the lessons of my own mother, who saw anything less than maternal martyrdom as parental neglect, and from my own compelling need to be fully self-sufficient and strong, always. But I also know I’m not doing myself, or my children, any favours by being this way.
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And maybe that’s why, two years later, I took myself to urgent care as soon as I recognised the tell-tale symptoms and told those attending to me that I thought I had pneumonia. I felt validated when the X-rays confirmed what I sensed, but I was also annoyed that I had to rearrange my schedule to deal with my own inconvenient illness.
In my case, self-care isn’t spa days and Netflix binge-watching, it’s accepting that my routines and deadlines and expectations – both external and self-imposed – must sometimes be put aside in service to my own health. It’s a lesson one would think I learned from nearly dying, but it’s one I keep having to re-learn.
This article first appeared on HuffPost US Personal.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-09--On Coronavirus, Will Boris Johnson Prove More Sensible Than Rory Stewart?

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Time after time
In politics, as in comedy, timing is everything. For Boris Johnson, the time was out of joint in 2016, when he first tried to become PM. Three years later, with his party and the country sick of Brexit delays, he cruised to victory in both the Tory leadership race and the general election.
Today, as he tried to reassure the nation about coronavirus, Johnson’s overarching message was that it was not just a question of what to do, but when to do it. Making “the right decisions at the right time”, based “on the latest and best evidence”, was critical to the fight against the disease in the UK, he said.
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As he stood once more between chief medical officer Chris Whitty and the chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance, the prime minister conceded that it sounded “slightly counter-intuitive” to point out that shutting schools and cancelling football matches could do more harm than good.
Whitty offered invaluable support, stressing that there was a real risk that if the government intervened too early in restricting normal daily life, the public would “understandably get fatigued and it will be difficult to sustain this over time”.
Politically speaking, what was really “slightly counter-intuitive” was the sight of Johnson himself resisting the cheap headline of a draconian crackdown, and the tempting rhetoric of an all-out “war” on the virus. He couldn’t resist a spot of hand-shaking in Westminster Abbey today, but did dutifully point out he ought not to because alternative greetings sent the ‘subliminal’ message that hand-washing was very important.
It was 20 years ago this year that Tony Blair famously called for “eye-catching initiatives” to maintain his popularity, and all his successors loved to be seen ‘doing something’ in a time of crisis. Actually not doing something (yet), even if that’s what the best advice suggests, is a difficult concept for most politicians of all stripes.
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Rory Stewart, who was meant to be unlike most politicians, proved today he is all too like them. In what felt like an act of desperation in his battle to get Londoners to realise he’s running for the mayoralty of their city, Stewart called on the government to act “much more aggressively” to contain coronavirus, demanding schools be closed, all “medium and large gatherings” cancelled, all passengers coming from hotspots “tested and quarantined”.
To be fair, some of this seems to stem from Stewart’s frustration when he was International Development secretary, when the World Health Organisation delayed in designating as a global health emergency an Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo. But given the weight of UK scientific and medical advice about coronavirus, Stewart’s call to arms felt like populist tripe.
That’s not to say populist tripe can’t be, well, popular. No.10 knows there is a growing drumbeat among some of the public for tougher action, not least as other countries seem to be taking stringent measures. True to form, Nigel Farage was quick to claim the government seemed to think “the economy matters more than saving lives”.
Yet, to take just one example, the chief scientist today pointed out taking temperatures at airports was largely pointless because many of those arriving from Italy would show no symptoms. Government sources added that some countries have gone ‘too soon’ on some plans that since backfired.
The one area where the government’s critics do seem to have a point is on what arrivals from Italy should actually do. While testing them all may be needless, advising them to self-isolate makes much more sense. And tonight, the Foreign Office finally said those arriving from Italy ″subsequent to Italian government decision’ should do just that, and stay at home for 14 days.
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It was left to health secretary Matt Hancock, during his Commons statement, to throw some severe shade in Stewart’s direction today. “The broader point about the response to this virus is that it is very different from Ebola,” he told MPs. “It spreads in a different way and its mortality rate is very different, so it is very important that we fight this disease rather than fighting the last war.” Feel the burn, Rory. The message was direct: you’re not just in bad company with Farage, you’re facts are wrong.
None of which is to play down how serious this crisis is, and will be. Within a fortnight, the government is likely to be advising even those with mild respiratory symptoms (ie a common cold) to self-isolate for seven days. The NHS is gearing up for a massive challenge, buying respirators, reducing testing times and taking on 700 extra staff for 111 calls.
But as No.10 continues to follow the advice of its experts, perhaps the best statistic we learned today came from the chief scientist. Delay, with the right steps at the right time, could reduce by 50% the numbers affected at peak of this outbreak in Britain, he said. And the mortality rate could be reduced by up to 30%.
There’s a long way to go and there’s the risk of a fresh outbreak next winter too. But if Johnson does indeed manage to keep deaths in the UK to a minimum during a summer ‘peak’, even his strongest critics may have to admit that he’s acted responsibly. Perhaps the most responsibly of his entire career. For all our sakes, we had better hope it’s not been in vain.
Quote Of The Day
“It’s absolutely critical in managing the spread of this virus that we take the right decisions at the right time.”
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Boris Johnson
Monday Cheat Sheet
A fifth person died due to coronavirus in the UK.
Share prices around the world suffered their biggest falls since the financial crisis, following the twin impact of coronavirus and crude oil price drops. The new “Black Monday” saw London’s top shares fall nearly 8%, equivalent to £125bn wiped off the value of major UK firms.
The House of Commons and the House of Lords commissions insisted there are no plans to suspend parliament and they would act entirely in line with the advice of Public Health England. Matt Hancock told MPs: “I will be doing all that I can to make sure Parliament stays open through this process.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned the UK now had to “think about the trade-offs” in any UK-EU trade deal.
Former equalities chief Trevor Phillips described as “pure political gangsterism” Labour’s decision to suspend him over allegations of Islamophobia. He was supported by shadow minister Khalid Mahmood.
A former Scottish government official has accused Alex Salmond of “pouncing” on her and taking her clothes off in his official residence while he was the country’s first minister. Salmond denies carrying out a total of 14 sexual assaults on 10 women.
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What I’m Reading
How Trump Is Struggling To Control The Coronavirus Narrative - Vanity Fair
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-09--Coronavirus Fears Over 'Zero Checks' Made On Passengers Flying From Italy To UK

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Passengers flying to the UK from high-risk countries such as Italy have raised concerns about a lack of checks for coronavirus at airports.
One passenger travelling into Gatwick tweeted that they had experienced “zero checks” after arriving from Milan on Sunday, raising concerns online and drawing attention to similar stories of arrival into other airports.
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All of Italy has now been placed under lockdown as the crisis in the country worsens.
Italy has registered 1,807 more confirmed cases as of Monday evening, for a national total of 9,172, overtaking South Korea as the country with the most cases outside China.
The number of people with the virus who died increased to 463.
On Monday, Boris Johnson defended the lack of screening of passengers and pointed to the government’s chief scientific adviser stating “temperature screening in an airport doesn’t really have much effect”.
Just landed in London from Milan. Zero checks. No info. How can it be possible? #COVID2019 pic.twitter.com/4z81iKLtu1 — Federico Gatti (@federicogatti) March 8, 2020
Alongside a picture of arrivals at Gatwick, Federico Gatti wrote: “Just landed in London from Milan. Zero checks. No info. How can it be possible?”
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Other passengers arriving into the London airport reiterated their experience of “zero checks”, sharing pictures of the posters relating to coronavirus and pointing out how easily they could be missed.
Zero checks for #coronavirus at Gatwick airport. This is the extent of messaging I saw on it at arrivals, doesn’t exactly stand out. pic.twitter.com/NxMV8oXYaP — Will Worley (@willrworley) March 8, 2020
Shocking lack of obvious precautions at Gatwick airport today. Feel extremely sorry for the staff working there #coronavirus — Luke Tudor Griffiths (@tudor_griffiths) February 29, 2020
A Gatwick spokesperson said: “Gatwick is following the advice of Public Health England in full and – like other UK airports - has an advanced monitoring process in place for direct flights from affected areas, including Italy. The latest advice from Public Health England for passengers is also displayed throughout the terminals and enhanced cleaning is taking place in public areas across the airport.
“The airport remains in regular contact with the relevant authorities to ensure that all the appropriate processes are in place and we will continue to follow their advice on this matter in full.”
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Public Health England (PHE) told HuffPost UK that new measures had been introduced on flights to and from Italy, with processes in place for northern Italy since March 4, and the same routine is to be introduced for the rest of the country by March 11.
These include cabin crew receiving a briefing on symptoms and what to do if a passenger reports symptoms, and the captain making a call ahead to warn of any illness in order to allow for an early risk assessment.
If anyone on the flight is symptomatic, a general aircraft declaration (GAD) must be submitted to allow for a public health risk assessment and any required action to be taken before the flight disembarks at its destination.
There have been complaints made online about a number of airports in England after passengers were reportedly allowed to walk into the country with little or no checks made. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS via Getty Images
All flights arriving from Italy are met with PHE posters and leaflets at ports in nine different languages as well as information on established local arrangements for ensuring unwell passengers are taken care of.
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PHE has also sent a bespoke poster for Italy to all airports, seaports and international train terminals to provide clarity to passengers on which areas of Italy are affected.
A spokesperson for PHE did not respond to further questions about what processes were in place for passengers from other destinations, and did not clarify why different airports worldwide were approaching screening for, and safety measures around, the virus in a different way.
It might have found itself at the centre of a Twitter-storm on Sunday, but Gatwick is by no means the only airport in the country which has attracted negative attention online for its handling of the outbreak.
Another Twitter user, Michael Keohan, wrote: “Not to scaremonger – but I’ve just landed back from Italy at Heathrow. No thermal imaging, no info on Covid-19; just a bit of hand sanitiser if you fancied it. Unreal!”
Not to scaremonger - but I've just landed back from Italy at Heathrow.
No thermal imaging, no info on Covid-19; just a bit of hand sanitizer if you fancied it!
Unreal — Michael (@michaelkeohan) March 8, 2020
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I arrived London this morning from Singapore and shocked at the level of Coronavirus screening on arrival at Heathrow (ABSOLUTELY NON ) — kola Karim (@kolaKarim) March 1, 2020
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said: “The welfare of our passengers and colleagues is our top priority. A dedicated Public Health England team is operating at Heathrow to respond to any incidents at the airport, and we are working closely with them to ensure our colleagues are following their latest guidance in its entirety to protect themselves and our passengers.
“In line with Public Health England’s advice, we have enhanced thorough cleaning processes, increased the availability and provision of hand sanitisers for our colleagues and continue to advise anyone working or travelling through the airport to follow the government’s advice to maintain good hand hygiene.”
Concerns about flights from other affected areas have also been raised at airports such as Manchester.
Just arrived at Manchester Airport from Doha on a plane full of people from all over the Middle and Far East and not a single temperature or any other check. So much for precautions . #coronavirus #NotMyPM — Nigel Tomkins - #FBPE #NotMyPM #RejoinEU (@NtNigel) March 4, 2020
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the way the uk is handling the coronavirus epidemic really pisses me off, it’s like they don’t even care so far 🤦🏻♂ i came home from italy on sat. and walked right through the airport with no checks whatsoever, for all manchester airport knew, i could have come form lombARDY I- 😤 — Kooky Kelcie 🎸 (@heavenschiIdren) March 2, 2020
A spokesperson for MAG (Manchester Airports Group), which operates Manchester, East Midlands, and Stansted airports, said: “The safety and security of passengers and staff will always be our number one priority. We are following guidance from Public Health England.
“The vast majority of flights scheduled are currently arriving and departing as planned. Posters and leaflets are in place to give customers the latest public health guidance, including information about what they should do if they feel unwell on their return.
“We will continue to work with PHE to help determine what further steps would need to be taken, should circumstances change in the future.”
Another passenger, this time at Luton Airport, showed a crowded room full of passengers at a boarding gate waiting to board.
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While Corona virus is spreading rapidly in the UK meanwhile @easyjet is holding us for hours in a compact room in Luton Airport with no information. Just been told by a member of staff ‘virus is not in the uk’. Airports need to be actioned immediately to stop this madness! pic.twitter.com/ZBxsKHPPyw — Gabia Gulbinaite (@GabiaGulbinaite) March 7, 2020
The customer complained that they had been held for “hours”, and was allegedly told by a member of staff that there was no coronavirus in the UK.
A spokesperson for London Luton Airport said: “London Luton Airport continues to implement all guidance from Public Health England.
“This includes an enhanced cleaning regime and the provision of hand sanitiser throughout the terminal as well as displaying the latest public health information across the airport.”
The prime minister earlier said airlines are being allowed to continue flying between the UK and Italy because measures must be taken “at the right time”,
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British Airways has cancelled flights to and from Milan and Venice, but easyJet and Ryanair are continuing to fly to and from parts of northern Italy where there were restrictions on the movements of residents before a wider crackdown was announced.
Johnson said: “It is really vital, as we take these steps to protect ourselves and encourage everybody to protect everybody else, that we do it at the right time.
“It’s not what you do – of course, it’s partly what you do – but it’s when you do it.”
Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser to the government, spoke about why passengers arriving on flights from Italy are not being routinely screened for symptoms.
He said: “Temperature screening in an airport doesn’t really have much effect.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Coronavirus: UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries Diagnosed With Disease

“I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.”
The ally of the PM’s was one of the key figures in drawing up legislation in dealing with the outbreak in the crucial last few days.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-10--Where Will The Tory Budget Spending Splurge Leave The Labour Party?

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To borrow, and to borrow, and to borrow
When Rishi Sunak gets on his feet in the House of Commons on Wednesday, try this little exercise. Close your eyes, forget which party the chancellor represents, and just listen.
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£100bn for new road, rail, flood defences and broadband infrastructure; shifting 1,000 Treasury jobs to the north of England; more cash for homelessness; the scrapping of the tampon tax; a raid on the pension pots of high earners; a tax break to hire ex-servicemen; moves to ensure the elderly have access to cashpoints.
Yes, they’re all measures that could easily have been unveiled by Gordon Brown (apart from the tampon tax, perhaps, as he famously couldn’t bring himself to say the word). Having just won a big majority thanks to former Labour voters in the north and midlands, that’s not a coincidence, it’s a political strategy. “Levelling up” (copyright B Johnson) is the new “invest to save” (copyright G Brown).
It’s unclear whether Sunak will go the whole hog and signal a future hike in fuel duty (an easy cash-cow of the Brown days), and there will inevitably be some Tory rhetoric at least (expect attacks on Labour being financially illiterate and irresponsible). A ‘jobs tax’ cut could be the figleaf to Conservative backbenchers who want more traditional red meat. But overall this will be a Budget to target that former ‘Red Wall’.
Ahead of his big day, Sunak has tonight ‘announced’ he will be putting £100bn of infrastructure spending at the heart of his plans. In fact, that was the Tory manifesto pledge, so it would be a little bizarre if he wasn’t going to splash the cash to that extent. Still, judging by the excited headlines, it’s job done for the Treasury as far as PR goes.
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Boris Johnson and new chancellor Rishi Sunak. ASSOCIATED PRESS
And in another big win for Dominic Cummings, the Treasury ‘Green Book’ of public spending rules is being overhauled by Sunak to make it easier to back long-term projects built in the north. This has been a demand not just of northern Tories like Teesside mayor Ben Houchen, but also Labour metro mayors like Andy Burnham and independent figures like northern powerhouse chief Jim O’Neill.
And infrastructure is certainly a Boris Johnson priority. As he said during the election campaign, he is ‘instinctively’ favourable to funding big schemes such as HS2. Yes, he has a chequered history on vanity projects (Boris Buses, his Garden Bridge, his mad cable car failure), and some voters will be uneasy about living on the ‘never never’. But borrowing money at record low interest rates for long-term rebuilding puts him firmly in the mainstream centre of British politics.
Of course, the real political problem will not be infrastructure but day-to-day spending curbs to councils and social care. It’s much easier for a PM to point to big ticket projects than to reverse the death-by-a-thousand-cuts to things like youth clubs, probation, public health, Sure Starts, libraries and so on. If austerity turns out to be ‘baked in’ to Sunak’s figures, Labour could sharpen its attack lines.
It’s worth remembering too that a recession is not unlikely over the next few years, that coronavirus could still overwhelm the Johnson administration (and the Tory squeeze on NHS finances blamed for it) and that Brexit could go badly wrong if it means job losses and disruption.
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However, just imagine that on all those things the government somehow gets a fair wind. If the public give a warm welcome to the massive spending splurge unveiled tomorrow, it’s not inconceivable that ‘Red Wall’ Labour voters will stay Blue and back Johnson again at the next election. And as it heads towards 20 years in office, it could pick a young new leader to make Keir Starmer look like yesterday’s man.
When the Tories come to power after Labour, they often do so on a promise to ‘clean up the mess’ of the public finances left by their predecessors. When Labour comes to power after the Tories, it’s often on a promise to spend more on the crumbling public realm. If Johnson robs the Opposition of even that key weapon (thanks to new hospitals, rail lines, roads, broadband and flood defences) come 2024, some voters will be left asking: what is Labour actually for?
Quote Of The Day
“Please stop lecturing us and saying that there is no other provider and to stop lecturing us about this somehow killing broadband roll-out”
Iain Duncan Smith warns ministers on Huawei
Tuesday Cheat Sheet
A total of 38 Tory MPs rebelled against the government over its plans to allow Huawei access to the UK’s 5G network. A further 22 Tory MPs did not vote. As a result, Johnson’s majority was slashed from 87 to just 24.
A sixth Briton died of coronavirus as the number of cases of people tested positive for the disease rose to 373, up 54 from the previous day.
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Low-paid, gig economy and self-employed workers will all get financial support if they stay at home due to coronavirus, Matt Hancock has signalled.
Cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill dodged questions about Priti Patel’s conduct. He also warned against “over-defining” the ministerial code to change what constitutes bullying.
Sadiq Khan is on course for a landslide win in the London Mayoralty, according to a new YouGov/Queen Mary London poll in the Evening Standard. Khan is on 49%, Tory rival Shaun Bailey on just 24%, independent Rory Stewart on 13%.
What I’m Reading
How Trump Fuelled The US Coronavirus Outbreak - Politico
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