thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--6 Secret Staycation Spots, Recommended By HuffPosters

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You’re reading our series Summer’s Not Cancelled, where we celebrate summer in this new normal. From rediscovering nature and cherishing time with friends and family, to virtual festivals and unforgettable staycations – summer’s still here, it’s just different.
With our summer travel plans up in the air (excuse the pun), you may have set your sights on some of the popular staycation destinations the UK has to offer. After all, there is no place like home. But rather than add to the crowds on Bournemouth and Brighton beaches, why not try somewhere less known?
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Everyone has a best-kept travel secret that they like to keep quiet — surprise finds that have become firm favourites, off-duty destinations and attractions away from the crowds. So we asked the HuffPost UK team to spill the beans and share those finds, whether it’s childhood summer spots, hidden hiking gems or Hobbit-esque holiday homes. It’s all here on your (almost) doorstep.
Isle of Mull, Scotland
Charlie Lindlar Isle of Mull, Scotland
“A fixture of my childhood summers, my mum would pack us four kids up and drive the million hours up to the always-rainy town of Oban, where we’d catch an always-wobbly ferry out to the somehow always beautiful isle of Mull.
“Here, we’d walk among ox, play on windy beaches, play board games beside the fire, and lose ourselves in the colourful streets of Tobermory. Even in the pre-digital 90s it felt like a detox like we were switching off from home and grounding ourselves in each other’s company.”
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– Charlie Lindlar, Personal editor
Porthchapel, Cornwall
Nancy Groves Porthchapel Beach, Cornwall
“Visitors to Cornwall don’t always make it as far as West Penwith, the county’s furthermost peninsular beyond Penzance. Along the southern coast before Land’s End lie a series of coves, some filled with fishing boats (Mousehole and Lamorna), others with swimmers – their waters breathtakingly turquoise and cold enough to take your breath away, too – even on a sunny day.
“Porthcurno is the busiest beach, thanks to its golden sands and cliffside Minack Theatre. Porthgwarra, once sleepier, is a bit more touristy now, since featuring in Poldark. But Porthchapel, on the South West Coast Path between the two, is our family favourite. It’s not the most accessible – the descent to the beach involves a scrabble down rocks and chucking your bag to the crunchy, shell-flecked sand below. But it more than rewards you.”
– Nancy Groves, Head of Life
Winterton, Norfolk
Host Unusual Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk
“Winterton-on-Sea is a picturesque village in Norfolk that I discovered almost by accident while at university in nearby Norwich. After exhausting the hotspots of Yarmouth and Cromer, we looked at a map of the coast and headed there on a whim. I’ve been back several times since.
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“Truth be told, there’s not a lot there – but that’s what makes it so perfect. I’d recommend enjoying the day on the quiet, unspoilt beach, popping into a local tea room for refreshments and ending the evening with some hearty food at the village pub. If you’re staying overnight, the roundhouses that overlook the coast (like small, Hobbit huts) are fairly basic inside but provide everything you need a stone’s throw from the sea.”
– Rachel Moss, Life reporter
Stackpole, West Wales
Angela Hui Stackpole, West Wales
“It’s not the most obvious choice in west Wales, as its neighbours Tenby and Pembroke usually gets all the attention. But make a beeline for Stackpole nature reserve instead, it’s a beautiful stretch of coastline with plenty of attractions and some of the country’s best beaches like Barafundle Bay along the way.
“The picturesque Bosherston Lakes near Stackpole Court is a serene place to wander around and if you go at the right time of year (between June and July), you’ll be treated to a beautiful nature walk surrounded by lily ponds. For adrenaline junkies, they can try their hand at kayaking or coasteering in the area too, as well as plenty of delicious local produce to sample in the Boathouse at Stackpole Quay.
– Angela Hui, freelance Life reporter
Little Watlington, Oxfordshire
Amy Packham Little Watlington, Oxfordshire
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“As we eased out of lockdown and were able to drive further afield, my boyfriend and I drove to this small market town in Oxfordshire to tackle the big Watlington Hill. It gives the most incredible views of the Chilterns and was a tough walk up, but the scenery made it all worth it.
“Nothing was open at the time, but we had a wander into the village and we can’t wait to go back: mmall vintage charity shops, sweet cafes, a local pub, interesting buildings. If you’re after a bit of R&R (and total quiet), this is ideal. There are a few B&Bs nearby, and you’ll have a weekend full of walking and picnics! We’ll be going back this year for sure.”
– Amy Packham, Life editor
Keswick, Cumbria
joe daniel price via Getty Images Autumn Colours, Ashness Bridge, Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria, England
“The Lake District isn’t just a destination for walkers and those who love challenging hikes or traipsing high into the mountains – believe me, arduous climbs don’t appeal to me. Instead, it’s about escaping the madding crowd and switching off from normal life while wandering through the tranquil villages and soaking up the natural beauty of the lakes, fells and woodland.
“We love visiting Keswick and going for some of the many scenic walks nearby. It’s nice to get out walking in quieter areas away from the crowds. We also use my in-laws caravan in Keswick as a base to visit other beautiful Lake District villages such as Ambleside and Grasmere.
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“It’s a great foodie hotspot with local delights like Kendal Mint Cake, Cartmel’s delicious sticky toffee pudding and not forgetting Grasmere’s gingerbread, handmade to a secret recipe, which our children make us buy on every visit.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--What Social Anxiety Feels Like: 'There Isn't Enough Air In The Room'

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Listen to our weekly podcast Am I Making You Uncomfortable? about women’s health, bodies and private lives. Available on Spotify, Apple, Audioboom and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
“I liken the experience to being a duck or a swan,” says Helen, 41, who is based in Leicester. “Appearing graceful above but paddling like mad to stay afloat underneath. People often question me when I say I struggle with social anxiety, because of how I appear.”
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Social anxiety – defined as experiencing extreme fear or anxiety triggered by social situations – is one of the most common anxiety disorders, according to NICE. Yet it is also largely misunderstood.
Myths surrounding the condition persist, including the idea that sufferers are shy, or simply unsociable. To set the record straight, we talk about the topic in the latest episode of Am I Making You Uncomfortable?, HuffPost UK’s weekly podcast.
Oliver Rossi via Getty Images
“My ability to make decisions disappears and I can become disorientated.” - Helen, 41
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Helen, who chose not to share her surname, experiences social anxiety before and after events, but rarely experiences symptoms during them. “I come across as confident and together, but instead I am drowning,” she says.
She often experiences panic attacks before events where she can’t control her breathing and heart rate increases. Anxiety about an upcoming event sometimes leads to self-harm.
“My ability to make decisions disappears and I can become disorientated and angry with myself at these times – hence the self harm,” she says. “These periods tend to be followed by self-loathing and large amounts of regret.”
Helen is a primary school teacher and finds her social anxiety is triggered in situations where she has to meet new people, making parents’ evening extremely difficult.
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“Situations where I have to speak to people I don’t know, such as servers at restaurants, are also triggering,” she says. “Anytime where I have to communicate with new people in general causes me anxiety – even down to emailing someone I haven’t contacted before.”
After a social occasion, Helen’s anxiety causes her to spend time analysing her interactions with others, while “flashbacks of awkward moments” often lead to sleepless nights.
Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
Sophie Nightingale, 26 and based in Leeds, says social anxiety “feels like there isn’t enough air in the room”.
“It’s like you’re sat on the edge looking in, with everyone thinking you’re out of place,” she says. “I start to crave fresh air, space and silence while also having an overwhelming feeling that I’m just not a nice person and that I don’t fit in.”
Sophie has only recognised her anxiety for what it is this year, after reading more about the condition and hearing others share their experiences. “I just used to think I got this weird feeling sometimes and that I didn’t fit in,” she explains.
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Her social anxiety is most frequently triggered when she’s in social situations with people she doesn’t know particularly well – such as a friend’s birthday party – where she feels “a pressure to perform [and] to be liked”.
“My stomach cramps and I can’t eat or drink, which adds to the worry of what other people there might think of me,” she says. “I start to question, why am I not more funny? Why don’t I look like them? How can they make conversation so easily?”
“There’s a sensation of things moving very quickly.” - Marcus, 41
For Marcus Reeves, 41 and based in south London, social anxiety manifests itself by making him become “fixated” on the situation that he “can’t escape”.
“There’s a sensation of things moving very quickly and being in your head rather than present in your body,” he says. “If I feel challenged I can quickly get quite tearful which then makes me feel even more self-conscious.
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“There’s a sense of wanting to flee, go home and shut out the world, but if you follow that path there’s a very real feeling of being left out and shame for letting people down.”
Marcus recognised his social anxiety a few years ago, when he noticed he’d been having an increasing urge to cancel plans last minute.
“A friend asked why I didn’t want to go to an event and I said ‘I guess I’m just worried that I don’t know who’ll be there’ and I realised that was an element of feeling out of control of the situation,” he says. “I had stopped drinking and realised that like many people I’d been using alcohol to deal with challenging situations since my teenage years.”
RichVintage via Getty Images
Now, he finds his anxiety is triggered by groups of people, crowds and places with loud music.
“Ironically up until the pandemic I was working as a performer, which seems contradictory to having social anxiety,” he adds. “But the processes of performances are usually quite structured and although it’s a medium that’s sometimes unpredictable, there is at least the illusion of control.”
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Everyone will have different coping mechanisms for dealing with social anxiety. Sophie has found that the only tactic that reduces her symptoms is going outside for some fresh air by herself, or with a close friend who she trusts to help her control her breathing.
Helen takes medication for her anxiety and engages in therapy with a psychotherapist. She also finds the ‘SOS meditation’ sessions on the Headspace app useful when panic feels imminent.
“But what helps most of all is talking to my friends and realising the anxiety I feel is quite often similar to that experienced by others but it just manifests itself differently,” she says. “It helps having a group of friends who I can dissect events with and also laugh at any of my socially awkward moments that would otherwise keep me awake at night.”
Marcus tends to wear headphones so he can listen to upbeat music or podcasts as a distraction in crowded places. He also previously did a course of cognitive behavioural therapy, which he says helped “a great deal”.
“It can help you at least understand what’s going on and work towards minimising the thoughts that can trap you,” he says. “I’ve had to accept that some situations are not enjoyable for me, but reframing can sometimes help. ”
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If you think you may be experiencing social anxiety, speak to your GP who can direct you to the treatment and support available.
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Musicians Like Me Are Losing Work, And Purpose. I’m Worried About Our Mental Health

Musicians playing the violin close up. papa42 via Getty Images
For those of us in the performing arts sector, we find ourselves as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic looking at our industry with a very different reality.
There are concerns across the sector: financial strains, threat of closure to venues and organisations, the unknown viability of live performances, even whether there’ll be sufficient audience for the arts to continue. Combine this with frequent changing updates and forecasts for the future and we find ourselves at a crisis point.
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I pause, however, to look at the effects that this pandemic is having on our mental health. As a professional freelance violinist, I am experiencing these effects first hand, but as a performance mentor I’m also working with clients who are experiencing these same effects. Suddenly, we’re aligned in a way that life doesn’t usually present, creating an unexpected togetherness and sense of solidarity as we plot our way through this.
The effects on mental health are significant and profound: both anxiety and stress levels have risen as many in arts and culture continue to face huge, even complete loss of income, while facing a very uncertain future as an entire industry. When will we return? What will the future for our careers look like? How long will the devastation last?
“We have to sit and watch other sectors going back, with no idea what’s in store for ours.”
We’re therefore dealing with the unknown – and fear of the unknown can be a major trigger of anxiety and stress. We’re also facing a loss of control as our industry has been shut down and as of yet can’t re-open (at least not in any meaningful way). Instead, we have to sit and watch other sectors going back, with no idea what’s in store for ours. The government’s injection of £1.57billion to protect the cultural, arts and heritage institutions is a much-needed boost for us all in the sector, but concerns remain as to how far this will go – and of course it won’t extend to individuals such as freelancers.
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Those in the performing arts live a very unique routine that for all of us now looks very different. There’s not only a loss of the social element of my work – the orchestra I play in is like a big family, going through so much together as we work and travel – but the loss of the playing routine is significant too. We are used to the important and necessary continual development of our highly-honed skills, and not being able to play together in order to maintain our world class standard is challenging. For many of my colleagues, this is leading to a real lack of motivation and sense of isolation, not to mention the anxieties and loss of confidence that will likely arise through this detached period as we lose our exposure to the high pressure environment and frequency of performing which keeps us at the top of our game.
And it makes looking to the future difficult too. Those in the performing arts are faced with the uncertainty and fear that they may even need to step away from their highly-skilled job – something which they’ve not only dedicated themselves to but also define them – and tide themselves over with something completely removed from their profession in order to pay the bills. How could this not create an industry-wide feeling of fear?
“When orchestras can go back, assuming they will even survive, it will be a long time before I’m be called for work.”
My experience is not unique, and I know others in the sector are experiencing different and even more challenging realities. Aside from performing, I make my living from performance mentoring and violin teaching too. While I have lost the majority of my income, I have benefited from the greatly appreciated government grant – I am lucky, many people haven’t due to falling between the cracks, leaving them in serious financial distress whose only options has been to rely on the kindness of those who have donated to emergency funds such as Help Musicians UK, Musician’s Union Coronavirus Hardship Fund etc.
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But even benefiting from this grant, I am faced with the question of how long this will have to last? It’s highly stressful – when orchestras can go back, assuming they will even survive, it will be a long time before I’m called for work.
I have taken control of what I can, but this doesn’t take me far. I have had to accept my vulnerable position. Do I feel lost? Yes. Do I feel worried? Yes. Do I know how I will cope? Not really. To suddenly find myself questioning my route forwards, taking me away from work that was well-developed and reliable is like a rug suddenly being pulled out from underneath me. I can’t draw upon experience or knowledge to lead me forwards on this one. We’re all stepping forwards into unknown and scary territory.
Amy Littlewood is a violinist and performance mentor. For more information on her work, visit ppmentoring.co.uk and performingartswellbeing.co.uk
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--'I Wish Her Well': Trump Comments On Ghislaine Maxwell During Revived Covid Briefing

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Donald Trump has said he wishes Ghislaine Maxwell “well” as Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend faces charges of sex trafficking young girls.
The US president was asked about whether the British socialite will “turn in powerful people”, including the Duke of York, during his first revived coronavirus press briefing.
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President Trump said: “I don’t know, I haven’t really been following it too much.
“I just wish her well frankly. I have met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach and I guess they lived in Palm Beach.
“But I wish her well, whatever it is.”
He added: “I don’t know the situation with Prince Andrew. I just don’t know. I am not aware of it.”
Last week, Maxwell denied that she helped recruit girls for the disgraced financier - who died in custody - as she was charged in New York.
The daughter of late UK media mogul Robert Maxwell was denied bail as the judge stated she was a risk to flee.
Maxwell will go on trial in July 2021.
Epstein had a wide circle of friends including Prince Andrew, former US president Bill Clinton and Trump himself.
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The duke has also been urged to come forward and be interviewed about his friendship with Epstein, calls that were renewed after his friend Maxwell appeared in court.
The duke’s legal team has stressed he has made three offers to help US prosecutors.
Andrew stepped down from public royal life in November last year after his disastrous Newsnight interview in which he failed to show remorse over his friendship with Epstein.
One of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by the financier, alleges that Andrew had sex with her on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Prince George Gives A Cheeky Grin In Official Photos To Mark 7th Birthday

HuffPost UK The Duchess of Cambridge
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Prince George looks every inch the happy royal in new photographs released to mark his seventh birthday on 22 July.
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In the two photos, the young royal is grinning at the camera. In one, he’s wearing a green camouflage top and seems to be playing outside.
The photos were taken earlier this month by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kensington Palace said.
HuffPost UK The Duchess of Cambridge
The family release new photos to mark the young royals’ birthdays every year.
In 2019, they shared photos of George laughing as he lay in the grass wearing an England football shirt. In another, he smiled at the camera, showing his bottom two teeth had fallen out.
PA Wire/PA Images
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PA Wire/PA Images
George had a similarly cheeky grin as he turned five.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share a new photograph of Prince George to mark his fifth birthday – thank you everyone for your lovely messages 🎈
📷 @mattporteous pic.twitter.com/KJ4c73ospG — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2018
Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge was born in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, at 4.24pm on July 22 2013, weighing 8lb 6oz.
He made his public debut in front of the world’s media on the hospital steps one day later, wrapped in a white merino wool shawl, cradled in his proud parents’ arms.
A great-grandchild to the Queen, he will be the 43rd monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England if, as expected, he follows the reigns of his grandfather, the Prince of Wales, and then his father, William.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Why The Battle Between Boris Johnson And The Intel Committee Should Worry Us All

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Russian to judgement
Sheer complacency in No.10, dire strategic planning, suboptimal expert advice and inadequate cross-Whitehall coordination. That may sound to some like Boris Johnson’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, but in fact it’s the picture painted by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) of the UK’s preparedness for Russian interference in our elections.
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The long-awaited ‘Russia Report’ had been played down so relentlessly in recent months that it was a surprise to find it was more hard hitting than some expected. Yes, there was no ‘smoking gun’ to suggest Moscow had skewed the 2016 Brexit referendum. But instead there was a withering verdict that no one had even bothered to look for any gun or gunsmoke - before or after the historic vote.
The scenario set out by the report, that successive UK governments failed to grip the Russian threat, certainly seems plausible. In the run up to the referendum, David Cameron was so complacent that he even confided to fellow EU leaders he would walk it. Theresa May had zero interest in unpicking the result and as little inclination to analyse it. And Boris Johnson is the last person who would want to taint the Vote Leave triumph.
Of course, it’s worth saying that 17 million people voted for Brexit and you can bet every one of them would find it deeply insulting to say they were somehow brainwashed by Russian bots. Moreover, although the percentages were 52% to 48%, the 1.3 million vote margin of victory of Leave over Remain was so big that it suggested a groundswell of pent up frustration rather than Moscow manipulating useful idiots.
But that’s not to say that Vladimir Putin’s larger goal of splitting Western alliances wasn’t served by the Brexit vote, just as it was by Trump’s victory in the US in the same year. One only has to look at how Trump’s handling of Nato, let alone the free pass he gave Putin in Syria and on Ukraine, to see why the Russians worked hard to hack the outcome.
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Which brings us to the UK government’s formal response to the ISC’s central charge of a lack of pre-emptive action. “We have seen no evidence of successful interference in the EU Referendum,” it said. But that word “successful” sounds pretty important; what about any unsuccessful interference? The ISC also points out that conducting a retrospective assessment of Russian actions would reassure the public the referendum and other political process were safe.
One of the most fascinating nuggets in the ISC report was its revelation that after the US presidential election, UK intelligence agencies learned lessons. “In May 2017, the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) concluded that “***” and that “***”.” it states. Even with the redactions, the next sentence is startling. “Had the relevant parts of the Intelligence Community conducted a similar threat assessment prior to the [Brexit] referendum, it is inconceivable that they would not have reached the same conclusion as to Russian intent, which might then have led them to take action to protect the process.”
The criticism of not just ministers but also UK intelligence agencies makes worrying reading. ISC chair Julian Lewis and member Kevan Jones were careful not to blame the agencies directly. Jones told me today “I wouldn’t want to live in a society where our security services are politically directed”. But the report does point out MI5 is ‘self tasking’ and does not need ministers to tell it to be on its guard and report Russian meddling in elections. Hostile state interference is hostile state interference, even when it’s about politics and democracy.
The committee expressed its irritation at the way MI5 provided a mere six lines of text initially in response to its queries. I noted too the ISC complaint that the intelligence agencies too often hid behind the 2013 Justice and Security Act exemption that means they can refuse to comment on an issue if it relates to ongoing operations. The lawyerly voice of former chairman Dominic Grieve can be heard in the section that states the Act does not give a blanket exemption and “it is disappointing that in relation to a subject of such public interest this option has been exercised quite so broadly”.
Just as big a problem as Russian bots are Russian oligarchs, the ISC suggests. “The extent to which Russian businesses are using access to UK businesses and politicians to exert influence is ****” You don’t need to know the censored word to realise its importance. “Several members of the Russian elite who are closely linked to Putin are identified as being involved with charitable and/or political organisations in the UK, having donated to political parties”. No wonder Boris Johnson wanted that conclusion delayed.
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Where does all this leave the very thing that was supposed to be the ambition of the Brexit referendum: greater UK sovereignty? Some believe we are now more reliant on America than ever. There was an awkward moment today when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joked to Dominic Raab “I’ll take your questions” about Huawei. Raab denied the UK had been “strong-armed” but he did point to the “reality” of US sanctions that ensured our policy shift. “We support those sovereign choices, we think ‘well done’,” Pompeo added, artlessly.
But perhaps the most concerning aspect of the government’s response to the ISC report that it was more aggressive than it would be to a normal select committee. It had a detailed eight-point rebuttal, unusually issued the moment the committee released the report, and No.10 flatly rejected criticisms about the delays to publication. Usually, No.10 would work with the ISC and would take on board its concerns, precisely because the committee is seen as non-partisan and has a unique responsibility in overseeing our spies.
The sins of omission and commission in the UK’s preparedness for Russian interference may well have echoes to many of its preparedness for coronavirus. If No.10 is going to treat the ISC like it treats Keir Starmer, the damaging outcome to the government’s reputation may be similar in the long run. But the whole ethos of our carefully balanced scrutiny arrangements for British intelligence may suffer too.
Quote Of The Day
“The UK Intelligence Community should produce an assessment of potential Russian interference in the EU referendum...and an unclassified summary of it be published.”
Intelligence and Security Committee
Tuesday Cheat Sheet
Chief medical officer Chris Whitty rejected claims that ministers failed to respond quickly enough to advice on the lockdown, and said the R number fell ‘well before’ the PM’s big announcement. He also admitted that on care homes, he had not recognised the risks of agency workers not paid sick leave and visiting several premises.
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Rishi Sunak warned public sector workers to expect a renewed squeeze on pay as he ordered government departments to find cost savings in response to the downturn unleashed by Covid-19.
Matt Hancock said he had been told by the Chancellor that his 100,000 test a day target was a ‘big, hairy, audacious goal’. He also announced that residents of sheltered housing would get routine tests.
Home Office minister Kit Malthouse said that police will not patrol shops to enforce face covering rules. This was after Devon and Cornwall Police became the first force in the country to announce that it would not respond to calls about shoppers refusing to wear face coverings.
Tory MP Rob Roberts is under investigation by the Tory party and has been referred to the parliamentary standards commissioner after BBC Wales revelations he sent WhatsApp texts to a young female intern and a male parliament worker.
What I’m Reading
My Statement On Foreign Interference In Elections - Joe Biden
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week

[if I talked like my 5 year old]
Husband: Hey have you seen the spatula?
Me: No. Well yes. Cause there was a fly? And so I chased the fly but then it flew into the closet like the bad guy in Iron Man and on YouTube there was a FLYING TURTLE and my favorite turtle is Raphael and


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Sadiq Khan Points Out Massive Flaw In Government's New Pay Rises For Police Officers

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The government’s plan to give police officers a pay rise will actually result in fewer of them being recruited in the future, the mayor of London has claimed.
In a tweet posted on Tuesday, Sadiq Khan said it was “absolutely right” to announce the raise – but that the Conservatives hadn’t actually allocated any more money to implement it.
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Khan said this would mean the Met Police would need to find £40m in its existing budget to cover the cost.
While it’s absolutely right that our hardworking police officers should get a pay rise, the Government has not committed any additional money to pay for it, leaving the Met to find an additional £40m a year. 1/2 — Mayor of London (gov.uk/coronavirus) (@MayorofLondon) July 21, 2020
He added: ”This would mean yet another cut to the policing budget, which will lead to fewer police officers on the streets and less of the technology and forensic support they need to prevent and detect crime.
“The government must fully fund our police service.”
This would mean yet another cut to the policing budget, which will lead to fewer police officers on the streets and less of the technology and forensic support they need to prevent and detect crime. The Government must fully fund our police service. 2/2 — Mayor of London (gov.uk/coronavirus) (@MayorofLondon) July 21, 2020
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HuffPost UK understands this is true of all other police forces, too, meaning the pay rises must be funded from budgets allocated last year.
The chancellor announced earlier in the day that public sector workers on the front line of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic will be given a pay rise.
Doctors, teachers and police officers are among those who will see extra money in their pay packet after a testing few months since Covid-19 hit the UK.
But social care workers will not receive anything extra. Policing minister Kit Malthouse blamed this on privatisation, saying the government could not control pay rates set by agencies.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated Sadiq Khan was claiming some officers could lose their jobs. He was in fact claiming it would mean fewer could be recruited in the future.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Couple Ties The Knot At Canada-U.S. Border

Couple Ties The Knot At Canada-U.S. Border
Kadee and Jaxson Jensen had planned to get hitched in June but then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing the couple to think creatively so they could bring her American and his Canadian family together for the ceremony.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Dominic Raab Denies US 'Strong-Armed' UK Into Huawei Ban

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Dominic Raab has denied the UK was “strong-armed” into taking a tougher line against China, including the decision to ban Huawei from the 5G network.
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The foreign secretary met US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in London on Tuesday.
Pompeo also held talks with Boris Johnson and a group of China-sceptic Tory MPs.
In a short press conference this afternoon, Raab was asked if the UK had been “strong-armed into its China position”.
Raab acknowledged the British government’s decision to U-turn on its initial plan to allow Chinese-owned Huawei to be involved in the UK’s 5G infrastructure was a “result of US sanctions” on the firm.
But he added: “I don’t think there is any question of strong-arming. Mike and I aways have constructive discussions.
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Raab added that “the vast majority of the time our views overlap and we work together very well”.
Pompeo welcomed the UK’s response to China and said the UK had taken a “sovereign” decision when it came to Huawei.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the British government for its principled response to these challenges,” he said.
“I think the United Kingdom made a good decision, but I think that decision was made not because the United States said it was a good decision, but because leadership here in the United Kingdom concluded the right thing to do was to make that decision for the people of the United Kingdom,” he added.
Tensions between the UK and China have escalated in recent weeks, following the imposition by Beijing of a new national security law on Hong Kong.
The British government has said the new law, which restricts civil liberties, violates the Sino-British Joint Declaration that was supposed to guarantee Hong Kong’s way of life for 50 years after the handover of the former British colony in 1997.
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Yesterday Raab immediately suspended the UK’s extradition treaty with Hong Kong to prevent anti-Beijing dissidents being taken to China.
Raab has also accused Beijing of committing “gross, egregious human rights abuses” against the country’s Uyghur population in the north-western Xinjiang province.
The Chinese ambassador to London, Liu Xiaoming, told the BBC the UK was “dancing to the tune” of the US and accused Western countries of trying to foment a “new cold war”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Why Some Women Don't Need Pain Relief During Childbirth

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Childbirth is a painful experience. However, each woman’s level of discomfort and pain during labour varies substantially – to the relief of some and the loud screams of others.
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Turns out there could be a reason for that. Women who don’t need pain relief during childbirth may be carriers of a key genetic variant that acts a “natural epidural”, a new study suggests.
In the journal Cell Reports, scientists at the University of Cambridge explain how this genetic variant limits the ability of nerve cells to send pain signals to the brain.
A collaboration between scientists based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and the University of Cambridge investigated why some mothers report less pain during labour.
A group of women were recruited by the team led by Dr Michael Lee from the University’s Division of Anaesthesia, all of whom had carried their first-born to full term and gave birth in an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, without requesting pain relief.
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Dr Lee and colleagues carried out a number of tests on the women, including applying heat and pressure to their arms and getting them to plunge their hands into icy water. And the results were telling.
Image taken by Mayte Torres via Getty Images
Compared to a control group of women who experienced similar births – but were given pain relief – the test group showed higher pain thresholds for heat, cold and mechanical pressure – consistent with them not requesting pain relief during childbirth. The researchers found no differences in the emotional and cognitive abilities of either group, suggesting instead a difference in their ability to detect pain.
“It is unusual for women to not request gas and air, or epidural for pain relief during labour, particularly when delivering for the first time,” said Dr Lee, joint first author. “When we tested these women, it was clear their pain threshold was generally much higher than it was for other women.”
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Next, senior co-author, Professor Geoff Woods, and his colleagues at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research looked at the genetic code of both groups of women. They found those in the test group had a higher-than-expected prevalence of a rare variant of the gene KCNG4. It’s estimated that approximately one in 100 women carry this variant.
KCNG4 provides the code for the production of a protein that forms part of a “gate” – controlling the electric signal that flows along nerve cells. As Dr Van Lu showed, the rare genetic variant reduced the sensitivity of this “gatekeeper” – which limited the ability of nerve cells to send pain signals to the brain.
This was confirmed in a study involving mice led by Dr St. John Smith, who showed that the threshold at which the ‘defective’ gates open, and hence the nerve cell switches ‘on’, is higher.
Dr Smith explained: “The genetic variant that we found in women who feel less pain during childbirth leads to a ‘defect’ in the formation of the switch on the nerve cells. In fact, this defect acts like a natural epidural. It means it takes a much greater signal – in other words, stronger contractions during labour – to switch it on. This makes it less likely that pain signals can reach the brain.”
Commenting on the study, Zeenath Uddin, head of quality and safety at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “Every woman is different, and every birth is unique; what is important is that you get the pain relief that is right for you.
“Midwives will ensure you are getting all the available information during your pregnancy when it comes to pain control and birthing techniques, so you can make the choices that are right for you.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Five Things We Didn't Learn From The Russia Report

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Any concerns that the long-awaited Russia report would be a damp squib were blown out of the water on Tuesday, when a slew of revelations painted a damning picture of how the UK is dealing with the threat from a hostile foreign power.
The government only “belatedly” realised the kind of threat Russia could pose to democracy and Tory ministers and intelligence agencies have not done enough to mitigate the menace, the 55-page ISC report said.
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But there is also a lot we didn’t learn. Including footnotes, there are a grand total of 175 redactions in the report, indicated simply by three asterisks.
Of course there is one inference we can make about all of them – they’re redacted because they’re super juicy and top-secret.
Here are the main ones.
1) What is being targeted by Russian cyber-attackers?
“Russia has also undertaken cyber pre-positioning activity on other nations’ Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has advised that there is *** Russian cyber intrusion into the UK’s CNI – particularly marked in the *** sectors.”
The report notes that Russia has already taken “cyber pre-positioning” into the infrastructure of other countries. This refers to identification of weak points in computer systems that control vital services such as the power grid or communications. These can then be exploited in the event of a conflict causing chaos.
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It has previously been reported that the US and Russia are involved in a low-level programme of infiltrating each other’s systems and the report says Russia has already been targeting the UK though it redacts just exactly which sectors – though it’s bad news no matter which ones it is.
The UK has 13 national infrastructure sectors and they’re all crucial – chemicals, civil nuclear communications, defence, emergency services, energy, finance, food, government, health, space, transport and water.
2) Just how much influence do Russian expatriates have in the UK?
“The extent to which Russian expatriates are using their access to UK businesses and politicians to exert influence in the UK is ***: it is widely recognised that Russian intelligence and business are completely intertwined.”
The report confirms the long-held belief that wealthy Russians living in the UK hold a certain amount of power and influence among the country’s business and political elite.
Just how far this power and influence goes has, unfortunately, been redacted from the report – though journalist Christo Grozev had a good stab at what might be missing.
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3) Why did MI5 provide open-source materials?
“In response to our request for written evidence at the outset of the inquiry, MI5 initially provided just six lines of text.”
In a section that looks at the EU referendum as a case study of possible Russian interference, the report highlights the remarkably small amount of information provided by MI5, the UK’s domestic security agency. The six lines themselves have also been redacted.
The report highlights how MI5 – in response to a query on whether there was secret intelligence to back-up publicly available open-source studies into Russian influence – then cited open-source and publicly available materials in its evidence.
The report goes on to note that it is indicative of the intelligence agencies’ reluctance to involve themselves in the democratic process of the UK.
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What isn’t made clear, however, is whether MI5 (a) has information but didn’t provide it for political reasons or (b) didn’t even gather information in the first place because of political reasons.
4) Did Russia actually meddle in the Scottish independence referendum?
Despite making the front page of The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, the report’s conclusion about possible Russian meddling in the Scottish Independence vote was very short and very unhelpful.
“There has been credible open source commentary suggesting that Russia undertook influence campaigns in relation to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014.
“However, at the time ***. It appears that *** what some commentators have described as potentially the first post-Soviet Russian interference in a Western democratic process. We note that – almost five years on – ***.”
With the redactions as they are, it’s impossible to conclude either way at this stage.
Tuesday’s @Telegraph says the long awaited #RussiaReport will disclose that the Kremlin tried to “influence” the result of the Scottish independence referendum but not the Brexit vote. pic.twitter.com/zQlPKf6o7N — Stuart Hughes (@stuartdhughes) July 20, 2020
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5) What is the Intelligence Community focused on?
“Most surprising, perhaps, was the extent to which much of the work of the
Intelligence Community is focused on ***.”
The report expresses surprise and shock that the UK’s intelligence agencies aren’t as focused on the threat from Russia as should be expected given the extent of the country’s interference in the UK.
One of the apparent reasons for this is that resources are concentrated mostly on something that has been redacted.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Mike Pompeo Tells Tory MPs UK Needs Tougher 'Grand Strategy' On China

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US secretary of state Mike Pompeo arrives at the In And Out Club in London to meet backbench MPs and members of the Henry Jackson Society. PA
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US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has told Tory MPs the UK must be less naive about China and develop a “grand strategy” for a tougher approach to Beijing, HuffPost UK has learned.
Pompeo held the controversial private meeting with China-sceptic Tories before talks with Boris Johnson on Tuesday.
But the secretary of state told MPs that he wants to see the UK now adopt a harder “grand strategy” across Whitehall to counter Chinese influence in the West, a source said.
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“It’s clear that the US wants the UK to move further and faster in this area,” they said.
Another source described Pompeo taking a “collegiate” approach as part of a mission to build a “coalition” of people with “significant concerns” about China and a “shared sense of values”.
Paraphrasing the secretary of state, they said his concerns were broadly that “China was a one party state, was not a friend to democracy, did bad things at home and we need to be less naive really about it, which I agree with.”
Pompeo is said to have told MPs that the West needs to be more “realistic” about Beijing.
Following Johnson’s subsequent meeting with Pompeo, No.10 said the pair discussed the situation in China and the need for members of the Five Eyes security alliance to work on the “technologies of the future”.
Prime minister Boris Johnson welcomes the United States secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, to Downing Street ahead of a private meeting. PA
They also spoke about “shared global security” and the situation in China’s Xinjiang province, amid fresh outrage over the apparent persecution of Uighur people after a video circulated online showing prisoners bound and blindfolded in a train station.
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Frosty relations between the US and China led to president Donald Trump’s administration imposing sanctions on Huawei over security concerns – a decision that played a major part in the UK government’s move last week to demand that the Chinese technology giant’s equipment is stripped out of the country’s burgeoning 5G network by 2027.
Pompeo’s arrival also came after the UK not only suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong but also slapped an arms embargo on the territory in response to China’s national security law.
Britain has already offered citizenship to overseas nationals in Hong Kong who wish to flee amid fears of a crackdown by Beijing.
Backbench Tories have been pressing for a tougher approach to China, particularly in relation to its role in building nuclear power plants in Britain.
But the government’s U-turn on Huawei – a reversal of the announcement in January allowing it a limited 5G role – and approach to Hong Kong has left China aggrieved.
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On Tuesday, China warned Britain will “bear the consequences” of going “down the wrong road” after the UK suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said Beijing had expressed its concerns over the UK interfering in Hong Kong affairs “which are internal affairs of China”.
“Now the UK side has gone even further down the wrong road in disregard of China’s solemn position and repeated representations,” the spokesperson said in a statement on the embassy’s website.
“It once again contravened international law and the basic norms governing international relations and blatantly interfered in China’s internal affairs in an attempt to disrupt the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong SAR and undermine the city’s prosperity and stability.
“China urges the UK side to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, in any form.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Live: Mike Pompeo In London As China Tensions Rise

Live: Mike Pompeo In London As China Tensions Rise
The US secretary of state is joining foreign secretary Dominic Raab for a press conference following meetings to discuss rising tensions with China. Pompeo will also hold talks with the Labour leader and backbench MPs during his visit.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Should Face Masks Be Mandatory At Work? We Asked Experts

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Face masks should be mandatory in workplaces where people can’t physically distance, health experts have said.
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With face coverings already compulsory on public transport and becoming mandatory in shops and supermarkets in England on July 24, experts say it seems reasonable that indoor workplaces should also follow suit.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the British Medical Association council, said requiring people to wear masks in shops, but not other situations where physical distancing isn’t possible – like work – is “illogical and adds to confusion” surrounding mask messaging.
Alexander Shelegov via Getty Images
Will masks be made mandatory at work?
It’s unlikely mask-wearing will be made mandatory in all workplaces, as they can be very different. People can work indoors, outdoors, in large offices that are ventilated and spaced out, or in small offices with no windows. They can work on construction sites with plenty of fresh air, or studios with others close by.
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However, in indoor workplaces where physical distancing isn’t possible – if you can’t keep 2m away from others – it would make sense to wear a mask, health experts tell HuffPost UK.
Dr David Strain, a clinical academic at the University of Exeter Medical School, believes masks should be worn wherever 2m physical distancing can’t be maintained, such as shops, workplaces, hairdressers and even takeaways. “We have a short window to get the prevalence down to ‘viral eradication’ before we start battling Covid-19 along with flu, and a second peak becomes inevitable,” he says.
Mask-wearing at work should be legally mandated, he says, because if it’s left to companies to enforce the rules themselves, they’ll likely choose not to. “We know that as soon as something is mandated by law, people just do it.”
“We know that as soon as something is mandated by law, people just do it.” - Dr David Strain, a clinician at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
Others disagree with legally mandating mask-wearing at work. Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, an expert in primary care at University of Oxford, believes there should be national guidelines for employers that can be flexibly interpreted. Employers should take into account how closely people work together throughout the day, and how long they’re in close contact for, she says.
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“Imagine 50 people in a big boardroom meeting, all just 1m apart, and one of them coughs,” she says. “It will be more risky than two people meeting in an office, also 1m apart”.
Ventilation is important, too, she says. “Draughty is good, negative pressure ventilation is good, but we’ve all heard about the Chinese restaurant where the air con seemed to suck in germs from one table and recycle them to another,” she says. She refers to the study of an air-conditioned restaurant in Guangzhou, China, where Covid-19 spread to three separate families eating in the restaurant – all of them sitting in proximity of the air conditioning unit. Researchers suggested strong airflow could have propelled the droplets between tables.
The last consideration for wearing a mask at work is the action you do while you’re working, says Prof Greenhalgh. “Speaking, shouting, singing are all bad,” she explains, indicating you’d want to wear a mask in environments where this happens. “If everyone’s quietly working at their desk, they have less need to wear a mask than if in a meeting.”
What mask should I wear to work? Dr Strain, who is also a clinician at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, recommends people wear a homemade mask made from three layers of tightly woven material, such as cotton. For people who are in high risk groups, he recommends water resistant surgical masks. He advises against wearing masks with valves “because they focus any droplets into one jet stream”, as well as face shields. These are not protective on their own and should be worn in addition to a face mask, rather than as a replacement, he says.
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What are the benefits of mask-wearing at work?
Firstly, there’s the health justification, says Dr Strain. If we all wear one, we’re helping to protect each other from the possible spread of coronavirus. “The health point of view is clear – it’s the best way to prevent this virus spreading,” he says.
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Dr Alison Pittard, head of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, agrees. She told The Guardian: “People might think Covid is over [and ask]: why do I have to wear a face mask? But it isn’t over. We still have Covid patients in intensive care. If the public don’t physically distance and don’t wear face coverings we could very quickly get back to where we were earlier this year.”
It also makes some economical sense to wear masks at work, suggests Dr Strain. From an employer’s point of view, if everyone is wearing a mask, the virus is less likely to spread and therefore they’d avoid “losing an entire office”.
An alternative to masks in the workplace could be perspex screens, like you see in hair salons and at supermarkets. “If employers want to erect those perspex-type screens into cubicles, that would give the same impact – and then people would need to wear masks when they go to the breakout areas,” he adds.
And the downsides?
Comfort, or the lack of it, is often cited as one of the key reasons people don’t wear masks. While wearing a mask on public transport or during a food shop might be manageable, some might struggle to wear one for a full working day. That said, if nurses and doctors can do it – why can’t everyone else?
There are concerns that using face masks might provide a false sense of security, too, meaning people won’t physically distance from others, wash their hands as often, or self-isolate if they do become ill.
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And there’s a risk that improper removal of face masks, handling of a contaminated face mask, or an increased tendency to touch the face while wearing a face mask might increase the risk of transmission.
So, what happens now?
Downing Street has said it will keep the guidance on face coverings in other settings, such as offices, under review for now, the BBC reported.
If you’re worried about returning to work, speak to your employer about how they’ll ensure physical distancing and cleanliness in your workplace. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says if workers choose to wear face coverings, employers should support them to do so.
In the meantime, Dr Strain says he agrees with Sir Vallance that “there is no real reason for the majority of people to return to work in an office, and working from home is still the better strategy”.
“We should follow the guidance of most European countries suggesting that if you cannot work from home, then you should be wearing a mask in any situation at all where the 2-metre rule can’t be followed,” he says.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Inside The UK’s First Socially Distanced Music Festival

You’re reading our series Summer’s Not Cancelled, where we celebrate summer in this new normal. From rediscovering nature and cherishing time with friends and family, to virtual festivals and unforgettable staycations – summer’s still here, it’s just different.
The idea of a music festival in 2020 was an absurd thought only a month ago, when the general consensus was that festivals and live, large scale events wouldn’t return until 2021 at the earliest.
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Earlier this year, one by one, favourites of the UK festival circuit uploaded inevitable cancellation notices onto their social media accounts as the virus took hold. Glastonbury, Latitude, Wilderness and We Out Here were a handful that lamented the loss of the 2020 festival summer with heartfelt notes.
Festivals, experts said, would be the last to reopen because of their scale, which meant social distancing was surely almost impossible: what would a socially distant mosh pit look like? Or a socially distant rave tent? It seemed a foregone conclusion.
Gisburne Park Pop Up: festivalgoers must remain within their hexagonal pods at all times to socially distance HuffPost UK
Fast forward to July, and restrictions were easing quicker than some predicted (quicker than some may have liked). Newly relaxed social distancing rules meant that although festivals still seemed unlikely, and perhaps made for an uncomfortable thought, they were now technically possible - if the right person fancied taking on the Herculean challenge of negotiating with their local council to forge a ‘covid secure’ venue.
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Enter events organiser and entrepreneur Robyn Isherwood. As restrictions lifted, Robyn, who grew up in Gisburne, created a blueprint for the UK’s first socially distanced festival on the Gisburne Estate in Lancashire in just a few days.
No one had done anything like this before, but Robyn’s credentials meant she had a fighting chance: her day job as an organiser of lavish events for high-net-worth clients means she is used to finding solutions for seemingly impossible tasks.
Usually reserved for weddings, the lush country estate became the Gisburne Park Pop Up festival only two days after outdoor events were given the go ahead. Only weeks ago, this would have all seemed impossible.
“When the first headline hit, calling us ‘the UK’s first socially distanced festival,’ I thought, oh gosh, what am I doing? I’ve never done a festival before,” Robyn told HuffPost UK from the Gisburne Park Pop Up midway through the second weekend of events (the festival runs until the end of August across weekends and on selected midweek nights).
We were slumped in soggy deckchairs on a Saturday afternoon, minutes after one of the family-friendly shows scheduled as a part of the festival’s line-up had finished.
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“I’ve never had such a large health and safety document, we worked together with the council to get it right,” says Robyn, her tone brightly confident. “They came down on the opening night!”
Etched onto the grass that forms the bank of a river in the valley on the estate are tens of newly-drawn hexagonal shaped pods, each designed to house six festivalgoers who stay inside their pods, socially distanced from other guests during their visit to the festival.
In each pod are chairs, tables and umbrellas (it rains a lot up north...) facing a stage, which is located on the other side of the water. It’s a proper festival stage with pyrotechnics.
The idea is for guests to book into socially distant yurts, located on the estate a few minutes’ walk away, and ferry themselves back and forth to the festival site on foot over the weekend. You book to see DJs and live bands play individual shows spread out throughout July and August, rather than buying a traditional all-in-one festival ticket.
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The vibe differs depending on the event you book, but throughout the three events HuffPost UK attended, ticket-holders stayed socially distant and the vibe was relaxed.
On Saturday afternoon, a family musical show suffered from downpours but the children gazing across the river to the stage seemed to connect with the performances despite the weather.
Parents kept warm with bottled cocktails. Musical numbers were from shows like Mary Poppins and Frozen and looked particularly pretty performed against the rugged limestone backdrop behind the stage and the water trickling along in front.
Gisburne Park Pop Up's main stage, with the water separating punters from the entertainment HuffPost UK
For theatre shows like this, there’s a slight lack of intimacy, given the obvious challenges with the layout, but that feeling dissipates with the main live DJ shows at night, when there’s less of a need to watch performers and more of a broad audio-visual experience with pyrotechnics, like lasers and glitter cannons.
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The site was pushing towards full capacity for Hot Since 82, the main DJ act on the Saturday night, and the atmosphere felt energetic.
In the evening you feel more restrained in your hexagonal pod, because people are dancing around you, so at first it’s strange not to join them - but that’s forgotten by nightfall: without the light reminding you of the white lines surrounding you in your pod, you forget the odd circumstances and just dance.
Robyn designed evening events to start at 5pm and finish at 11pm, and in what she describes as the ‘witching hour’, from around 9.30 inebriated folk occasionally attempt to bumble into their friend’s socially distant pods. They’re quickly removed and warned by lurking security.
Food and drink is available on digital menus, accessible by scanning a barcode left on tables, and everything’s comically delivered in brightly coloured wheelbarrows. Staff gently slide plates onto tables, their faces obscured by visors and masks. Colour-coded areas mean staff reduce their contact, and service is very good.
Gisburne Park Pop Up's socially distant yurt camping facilities HuffPost UK
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You can only escape the pod to go for a quick wee, and on the Sunday, during an afternoon show from a local band playing greatest hits, I may have snuck off for one extra toilet visit than I truly needed, just to move my body and break things up.
But the idea is a little bit of dancing, a little bit of sitting down, and with dinner in-between, you have enough variety to stomach the idea of being kept in a pod. And the general vibe is strong enough to make you not mind anyway: with no one else escaping their pods, it’s straightforward enough to adapt to this newly engineered form of socialising.
In fact, Robyn’s idea for pods may transcend the lockdown and become a newly established way to do festivals.
“The biggest amount of comments we’ve had back is guests asking why more festivals can’t be like this,” says Robyn. “It’s nice having your area, and your flag to order your drinks instead of queuing for an hour, you don’t want to dance the whole time…”
It may allow for comfort, but Gisburne Park Pop Up doesn’t allow for getting blissfully lost with new friends, or going deep into a crowd to get nearer a band. And ticketed events don’t go on longer than five-and-a-half hours, so it’s all about getting immersed in the entertainment quickly.
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This is certainly no ordinary festival experience, but there’s no doubt that Robyn Isherwood has achieved something genuinely iconic with her hexagonal social distancing pods, which allow staff and punters to co-exist safely - more than that, they provide the only way for festival fans to rave at all this summer. And she has a point about it being a luxury to have a comfy seat in front of a stage.
On more of a mass scale, all sorts of logistical challenges may crop up with expanding this model to a bigger site - but on a small, luxury scale such as Robyn’s, Gisburne Park Pop Up offers perhaps the most hedonistic experience this side of 2021.
Stumbling back through the fields to my yurt along the rows of twinkling lights and hearing the crackle of punters’ late night fires, I felt the first proper dose of freedom from the constraints of lockdown - and that’s worth the ticket price alone.
Gisburneparkpopup.com, tickets start from £20


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Lindsay Lohan Dishes On How She Pulled Off Playing Twins In Parent Trap During Cast Reunion

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Lindsay Lohan nailed her performance as twins in Parent Trap so effortlessly that even her co-stars wondered if she was two people.
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In the cast’s first reunion since the movie’s 1998 release, they recalled some of the tricks it took to pull it off.
The virtual special ― a celebration of the Nancy Meyers remake’s 22nd anniversary ― was released on Katie Couric’s Instagram on Monday to support José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, which is aiding Covid-19 relief efforts.
“I remember testing when we had to do the nail polish to see how long the blue hard candy nail polish would take to put on and take off,” Lindsay said, as a clip of her 11-year-old self as Hallie Parker in the iconic summer camp poker scene flashed across the screen.
“And I would just run, sit there, change everything, and ‘then start talking like this,’” she added in a British accent.
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Lindsay, now 34, said putting on her wig made her feel entirely different, which helped her sink into her other role as Annie James.
“And I feel like almost people treated me differently when I was Annie. Because Annie was so much nicer, and I feel like Hallie was kinda like me,” she said.
Her parents’ separation, which was happening around the time of filming, helped her to understand her characters, Lindsay shared.
“Without this movie, without this, I wouldn’t have gotten that acting bug,” she added. ”The Parent Trap ― it’s beautiful, it’s timeless and it’s special.”
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Lindsay soared to stardom after her performances as twins Hallie Parker and Annie James, who were separated as babies, then met at summer camp more than a decade later.
After getting off to a rocky start, the two girls uncover some unsettling similarities and finally realise they’re twins. They hatch an elaborate intercontinental plan to switch places and get their divorced parents back together.
Nancy Meyers, who wrote and directed the film, said it was a challenging feat to pull off in 1998. She shouted out Lohan’s look-alike body double Erin Mackey, who she said was present every day of the shoot.
Erin, who was roughly the same height and sported the red hair to match, helped Nancy’s vision come to life with the help of the far-less-advanced CGI of the day.
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“If you turn just a little bit too much, you could see that it wasn’t Lindsay, but it was ultimately a fun experience and experiment. It worked, and even if you look at it now, it looks pretty good,” she said.
The special also featured key cast members Dennis Quade (Nick Parker), Elaine Hendrix (Meredith Blake), Lisa Ann Walter (Chessy), Simon Kunz (Martin) and Meyers’ co-writer and producer, Charles Shyer.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Home Office Staff To Be Trained To 'Appreciate The History Of Race', Priti Patel Announces

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Home Office staff are to be given training so that they “understand and appreciate the history of migration and race” in the UK in response to the Windrush scandal, Priti Patel has announced.
Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, the home secretary assured MPs that lessons had been learned from the disaster, during which people with a right to live in the UK were wrongfully detained or deported to the Caribbean.
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Patel said her response to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review has been “swift, strong and uncompromising” and announced a number of changes in the way Home Office staff would be hired and trained.
She said: “Mandatory training is being introduced for new and existing members of the Home Office staff to ensure everyone working across the department understands and appreciates the history of migration and race across the country.
“There are simply not enough individuals from Black, Asian or minority ethnic staff working at the top in senior roles and there are far too many times where I am the only non-white face in the room.
“Action must happen now. So right now, I am introducing more diverse shortlists for senior jobs, specialist mentoring and sponsorship programmes to help develop a wider pool of talent and drive cultural change.”
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Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the Windrush scandal “must lead to real and lasting change”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--People In Sheltered Housing To Get Covid Tests, Says Matt Hancock

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Vulnerable people in sheltered housing will get coronavirus tests regardless of whether they have symptoms, Matt Hancock has said.
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The health secretary says a testing programme will begin this week for people in places like retirement villages and sheltered accommodation.
He told MPs on the science and technology committee that asymptomatic testing will now be rolled out in places “like care homes”, which are registered with the Care Quality Commission.
“The systematic rollout of asymptomatic testing to environments that are essentially sheltered accommodation that aren’t care homes – that rollout [...] will start this week,” he said.
It comes after Mark Adams, chief executive of charity Community Integrated Care, said that more frequent routine testing of care home staff and residents was needed.
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Giving evidence to the Commons Science and Technology Committee on the coronavirus pandemic, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs that the Government “took the best decisions” it could with the information available at the time.
Asked by chair Greg Clark if it was his view that all the right decisions had been taken at the right time, Mr Hancock replied: “It’s my view that we took the best decisions that we could, with the information that we had, at the time.
“And that people worked in the best possible interests of trying to tackle the pandemic.
“Now, hindsight in a wonderful thing, it’s also a very important part of learning lessons from a crisis like this, so I’m absolutely sure that there’s lessons that we can learn through this process.
“And largely because that will build on lessons that we have been learning all the way through.”
Hancock was also asked about other areas of the government’s response to the pandemic.
He said that his priority is “controlling the virus and preparing for winter”.
When asked if he was engaged in reforming Public Health England (PHE), Hancock said: “Well there will be a time for that, my priority now is on controlling the virus and preparing for winter.
“For now, my focus is on getting the virus down, controlling the level of the virus and preparing for winter.”
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Asked by committee chair Greg Clark if it was his view that all the right decisions had been taken at the right time, Hancock said: “It’s my view that we took the best decisions that we could, with the information that we had, at the time.
“And that people worked in the best possible interests of trying to tackle the pandemic.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Business School Graduates Want Refund If Uni Drops Slavery Link From Its Name

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Thousands of graduates are demanding a tuition fee refund because their London business school intends to drop the name of a slave trade company director.
Alumni of the Cass Business School – part of City, University of London – say the parent uni has a “poor reputation” and that removing the Cass brand will cause a “loss of value” to their degrees.
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City’s student union disputes this, saying the business school’s reputation is built on the hard work of students and staff rather than its links to Sir John Cass, who has been described as a “major player” in the transatlantic slave trade in the 17th century.
The university announced in July it would ditch Cass’s name – which was added to the business school following a donation from the Sir John Cass Foundation in 2002 – saying the connection had caused “great pain and hurt” to students and staff.
The decision followed a successful campaign by students, who argued that “people who benefited from the enslavement of individuals do not deserve the honour of a school named after them”.
“The name of the Cass Business School commemorates John Cass and by so doing embodies the racist and inhumane nature of his actions,” they said in a petition.
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According to the Sir John Cass Foundation, which has also vowed to change its name, part of Cass’ wealth came from his role as the director of the Royal African Company, which was involved in the trading of enslaved people. He has been described as a “major player” in the slave trade.
Despite this, more than 3,500 people have now signed a petition calling on City to backtrack on its decision to rename the school – or to refund the tuition fees of business students and alumni.
Campaigners claim that dropping the Cass Business School branding would “diminish” the value of their degrees.
Cass Business School petition change.org
Graduate Brian Robb, who launched the petition, said he fully denounces racism and slavery – but that he chose to study at City’s business school because of the strength of the Cass brand.
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“The reason why Yale and Stanford do not randomly change their names is because of the prestige and quality of education inherent in the brand,” the petition reads.
“For City to reverse, suddenly and precipitously, 20 years of marketing the Cass name will not only adversely affect all alumni, but take away the validity our degrees have in the external environment.”
The university has said that the business school will be known as City’s Business School until a new name is decided.
But the petition claims that this “further diminishes our degrees” because City’s reputation is not as prestigious as that of the business school.
“The direct and consequential losses to us all will be profound,” it reads.
Robb told HuffPost UK: “City has abandoned a brand name on which it enticed thousands of students over decades without any consultation to alumni or current students.”
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The business school was first named after Cass in 2002, following a donation from foundation.
Robb said: “When the university accepted my funds to attend for a master degree, [...] they never once expressed concerns over the name, or a racist association to Sir John Cass, of whom the business school was named after.
“And on City’s own currently expressed concerns, surely it should have refused the donation over 20 years ago? It can hardly be that conduct alleged in the 1700s was not visible at that time.”
Describing City’s decision to rename the school as “knee-jerk”, Robb said believed the move could be seen to play down racism “by trivialising the issue to one of a mere change of name”.
“To deny the past is intellectually fallacious: we must learn from the past, something that cannot happen if it is expunged,” he added.
Despite both City and the Sir John Cass Foundation setting out Cass’ specific links to slavery as the director of the Royal African Company, the petition accuses the university of being “obfuscatory” about how Cass was connected to the trade.
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It reads: “Serious allegations require serious discussions and consideration of competing considerations: nothing less should be expected from an organisation that purports to be a university.”
A statue of Sir John Cass is mounted on the wall of the Sir John Cass Foundation in central London on June 10, 2020 TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images
But Shaima Dallali – who set up the original petition calling for the university to rename the business school – said keeping the Cass branding in light of his connection with the slave trade would be “incompatible with our commitment to support the Black community and to actively oppose all forms of racism”.
“I strongly believe that there should be no room for racism or racists in our institution, past, present or future,” said Dallali, who is now a vice-president at City’s student union.
“The struggle for justice and equality do not conflict with the aspiration that the business school will continue to produce students that have been immersed in one of the most innovative business teaching environments.
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“John Cass’s contributions to academia cannot outweigh being involved in slavery, a system of murder, rape, imprisonment and forced labour of a group of people,” she added.
Meanwhile, City Students’ Union president Saqlain Riaz said the business school’s prestigious reputation was down to the hard work of students and staff.
The students’ union supports the decision by the university to cut its ties with Sir John Cass over his connections with the slave trade, he said.
“We recognise how this may impact our student members, both in terms of positive change as well as the perceived negative impact of a change in the brand name.
“Our business school has a prestigious reputation owing to the quality of teaching and learning from the hard work of staff and students alike.”
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The union will work to make sure the business school’s “hard-earned rankings and prestige” are maintained, Riaz added.
On 6th July, we announced that our Business School will no longer be known as Cass. We will refer to the School as our Business School while a rebrand takes place. For more information about what this means for our community, please read our FAQs here: https://t.co/CcjlFbef51 pic.twitter.com/8QOasARe7T — City, University of London (@CityUniLondon) July 15, 2020
A spokesperson for City, University of London said the continued use of the Cass name was incompatible with City’s values “because of its direct links to Sir John Cass and his involvement in the transatlantic slave trade”.
“We will be consulting our key stakeholders, including current students, alumni and staff on a new name for the school as part of the rebranding process,” they said.
“While the name will change, the quality of our business school and its worldwide reputation, which is evidenced in part by its position in all major league tables, will remain.
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“Our business school will continue to deliver the world class education and research for which it is globally known and we are strongly committed to ensuring that it is an inclusive place to work and study.”
City is not the only university to have binned its links to the Cass name.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Katie Price Tells Bankruptcy Hearing: 'I’ve Lost Everything'

Katie Price told a bankruptcy hearing she has “lost everything” as she spoke about being burgled and attending the Priory.
The reality star was declared bankrupt in November last year and joined a hearing at the insolvency and companies court at the Rolls Building in London on Tuesday via Skype.
Katie Price pictured in 2017 KGC-03/STAR MAX/IPx
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During the hearing, Katie discussed her current financial status and assets she has, telling the court she owns a house but is currently living in a rented property.
She also said she has a Beetle car, one horse and one pony, but nothing else.
Katie, who was once reported to be worth £40 million, said: “I haven’t got anything, I haven’t got absolutely anything left, everything has been stolen off me.”
She said she had been burgled and cannot get any insurance, adding: “I’ve lost everything.”
However, the court heard that the star had average recent monthly earnings of £45,000.
One of her representatives told the court that over the last three years he had been observing the “mental abuse” Katie had been on the receiving end of.
She told the hearing she had a “bad breakdown” last year and that she was an inpatient at the Priory for five weeks.
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Katie said she had experienced suicidal thoughts, but added: “I am here, I am sorting myself out.”
The former Loose Women panellist also spoke of her son Harvey’s recent health scare.
The 18-year-old – who suffers from partial blindness, Prader-Willi syndrome, autism, and learning and behavioural difficulties – was rushed to hospital earlier this month with a fever and difficulty breathing, and it was later revealed that he had been taken into the intensive care unit, where he remained for a number of days.
Katie with her son Harvey, who is currently in hospital PA Archive/PA Images
Katie told the court she was going to visit Harvey in hospital after the hearing, adding: “It’s one thing after the other.”
Judge Catherine Burton adjourned the case for a further hearing on 27 October.
At a hearing in October 2018, she was given time to negotiate a deal with the taxman over her finances and her proposal for an Individual Voluntary Agreement (IVA) was accepted.
An IVA is a formal agreement which lets people with debt repay their creditors at an affordable rate in a bid to avoid bankruptcy.
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However, the renewed bankruptcy proceedings last year were brought after she failed to meet the terms of the agreement.
With reporting from PA Media.
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--Cladding Victims Could Have To Pay Up To £78,000 As Minister Calls Charges 'Affordable'

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People living in flammable tower blocks have warned of a “shocking betrayal” after the government unveiled new legislation that could leave them paying tens of thousands of pounds each to make their homes safe.
On Monday, ministers published a draft version of their Building Safety Bill, hailed by housing secretary Robert Jenrick as “the most significant and fundamental changes to building safety legislation in decades”.
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The bill was driven by the many faults in safety regulations discovered in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, with hundreds of blocks fitted with flammable cladding, fire doors that failed tests and inadequate structures to stop the spread of fire.
The legacy of the tragedy, which saw 72 people die, continues today – more than 240 high-rise buildings with the same cladding blamed for the rapid spread of the Grenfell blaze have yet to see it fully removed.
But campaigners are alarmed the bill includes a new charge for leaseholders, which they are concerned could be exploited by unscrupulous landlords.
Ministers are proposing a new “building safety charge” which would be separate from the typical service charge for the upkeep of a building. The idea is to provide “greater transparency around costs incurred in maintaining a safe building”, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government says.
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While the government insists “it is our intention that leaseholders should not face unaffordable costs”, the government’s own impact assessment spells out how much the bills could be.
Leaseholders in the most expensive high-rise buildings – 18 metres tall or more – could shell out between £30,000 and £60,000. A similar building requiring “less façade work and fire stopping” might burden each leaseholder with costs of £15,000 to £35,000 to bring them up to scratch, the document states.
It goes on to say that, while the least expensive buildings will require work costing less than £1,000 per leaseholder, the average estimate is £17,000 each. A full breakdown of costs of “potential activities” – such as retrofitting sprinklers and replacing faulty fire doors – even suggests a “maximum cost” of £78,000 per leaseholder for buildings above 30 metres.
Ministry of Housing Ministry of Housing
The revelation has added to the financial and emotional misery being suffered by an estimated 500,000 people living with unsafe cladding as building owners have refused to take action.
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The government has committed £1.6bn to remove flammable cladding from all affected buildings, but only a fraction of the money has been allocated. The delay is significant as incomplete repair work is leading to a slew of additional costs which are not covered by the state.
As HuffPost UK reported in April, hundreds of buildings are having to pay for expensive 24/7 fire patrols or risk being evicted. These watches are costing some people as much as £840 a month – more than their monthly mortgage payment.
HuffPost UK also reported how insurance premiums are soaring for people living in buildings covered in cladding, with one Birmingham tower block facing a bill increase from £43,000 to £500,000. Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic has slowed down remediation work to a glacial pace.
Many leaseholders and campaign groups took to social media to express their anger at the new charge, which they argue they should be footed by the government because of failed regulation and developers who originally built the blocks.
1/2 @RobertJenrick @team_greenhalgh @ChrisPincher - the draft building safety bill pushes further costs onto innocent leaseholders for fixing safety issues created by the failed regs of YOUR dept @mhclg. It's also a way for you to not increase the size of the BSF. https://t.co/D4jTz8Xv5q — Rituparna (@ritustweets) July 20, 2020
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2/2 It's clear that @RobertJenrick has only considered the representations of freeholders & developers when drafting the bill, not innocent residents who have already been ruined financially & mentally to pay for @mhclg mistakes, & now face more horror, legalised by @mhclg. — Rituparna (@ritustweets) July 20, 2020
🚨 BREAKING: “A new ‘building safety charge’ will make it easy for leaseholders to see and know what they are being charged for when it comes to keeping their building safe,” says @mhclg. Another money-making opportunity for unscrupulous freeholders? https://t.co/3Z9bRFiiPm — Leasehold Knowledge (@LKPleasehold) July 18, 2020
Draft Building Safety Bill - as it stands, a catastrophe for leaseholders. Read sections 88 and 89. Leaseholders to pay ‘building safety charges’ within 28 days of demand. Enforceable in County Court. https://t.co/vUbKQ8OfQH No-one buy a leasehold property till this is sorted out — Nearly Legal (@nearlylegal) July 20, 2020
The UK Cladding Action Group told HuffPost UK that the draft bill places costs for “historic repairs to buildings we do not own, for defects we did not create [...] entirely on the shoulders of leaseholders”, and is urging the Ministry of Housing to work with leaseholder groups to amend the bill.
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They said: “After years of hearing the government say that leaseholders should not have to pay to fix fire safety defects not of our making, leaseholders have today woken to the disappointing news that the government’s draft Building Safety Bill imposes on innocent residents a ‘building safety charge’ that does exactly that.”
They urge that “the financial implications arising out of the failures of the building safety regulatory regime in this country are borne entirely by those responsible for the regulations, the government; and the failures of safe construction and development are borne entirely by those responsible, the developers”.
Their statement adds: “Any other outcome would be a shocking betrayal of the government’s repeated promises to suffering residents, 37 long months on from the Grenfell tragedy, and would cause unimaginable harm to the mental health, wellbeing and financial stability of hundreds of thousands of innocent people in this country.”
Writing in The Times, Jenrick said: “The draft bill introduces a new building safety charge, to give leaseholders greater transparency around the costs incurred in maintaining a safe building.
“These must be affordable and proportionate, which is why I have deliberately included numerous powers in the draft bill to limit the costs that can be re-charged to leaseholders.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-21--6 Not-So-Busy Staycation Spots, Recommended By HuffPosters

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You’re reading our series Summer’s Not Cancelled, where we celebrate summer in this new normal. From rediscovering nature and cherishing time with friends and family, to virtual festivals and unforgettable staycations – summer’s still here, it’s just different.
With our summer travel plans up in the air (excuse the pun), you may have set your sights on some of the popular staycation destinations the UK has to offer. After all, there is no place like home. But rather than add to the crowds on Bournemouth and Brighton beaches, why not try somewhere less known?
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Everyone has a best-kept travel secret that they like to keep quiet — surprise finds that have become firm favourites, off-duty destinations and attractions away from the crowds. So we asked the HuffPost UK team to spill the beans and share those finds, whether it’s childhood summer spots, hidden hiking gems or Hobbit-esque holiday homes. It’s all here on your (almost) doorstep.
Isle of Mull, Scotland
Charlie Lindlar Isle of Mull, Scotland
“A fixture of my childhood summers, my mum would pack us four kids up and drive the million hours up to the always-rainy town of Oban, where we’d catch an always-wobbly ferry out to the somehow always beautiful isle of Mull.
“Here, we’d walk among ox, play on windy beaches, play board games beside the fire, and lose ourselves in the colourful streets of Tobermory. Even in the pre-digital 90s it felt like a detox like we were switching off from home and grounding ourselves in each other’s company.”
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– Charlie Lindlar, Personal editor
Porthchapel, Cornwall
Nancy Groves Porthchapel Beach, Cornwall
“Visitors to Cornwall don’t always make it as far as West Penwith, the county’s furthermost peninsular beyond Penzance. Along the southern coast before Land’s End lie a series of coves, some filled with fishing boats (Mousehole and Lamorna), others with swimmers – their waters breathtakingly turquoise and cold enough to take your breath away, too – even on a sunny day.
“Porthcurno is the busiest beach, thanks to its golden sands and cliffside Minack Theatre. Porthgwarra, once sleepier, is a bit more touristy now, since featuring in Poldark. But Porthchapel, on the South West Coast Path between the two, is our family favourite. It’s not the most accessible – the descent to the beach involves a scrabble down rocks and chucking your bag to the crunchy, shell-flecked sand below. But it more than rewards you.”
– Nancy Groves, Head of Life
Winterton, Norfolk
Host Unusual Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk
“Winterton-on-Sea is a picturesque village in Norfolk that I discovered almost by accident while at university in nearby Norwich. After exhausting the hotspots of Yarmouth and Cromer, we looked at a map of the coast and headed there on a whim. I’ve been back several times since.
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“Truth be told, there’s not a lot there – but that’s what makes it so perfect. I’d recommend enjoying the day on the quiet, unspoilt beach, popping into a local tea room for refreshments and ending the evening with some hearty food at the village pub. If you’re staying overnight, the roundhouses that overlook the coast (like small, Hobbit huts) are fairly basic inside but provide everything you need a stone’s throw from the sea.”
– Rachel Moss, Life reporter
Stackpole, West Wales
Angela Hui Stackpole, West Wales
“It’s not the most obvious choice in west Wales, as its neighbours Tenby and Pembroke usually gets all the attention. But make a beeline for Stackpole nature reserve instead, it’s a beautiful stretch of coastline with plenty of attractions and some of the country’s best beaches like Barafundle Bay along the way.
“The picturesque Bosherston Lakes near Stackpole Court is a serene place to wander around and if you go at the right time of year (between June and July), you’ll be treated to a beautiful nature walk surrounded by lily ponds. For adrenaline junkies, they can try their hand at kayaking or coasteering in the area too, as well as plenty of delicious local produce to sample in the Boathouse at Stackpole Quay.
– Angela Hui, freelance Life reporter
Little Watlington, Oxfordshire
Amy Packham Little Watlington, Oxfordshire
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“As we eased out of lockdown and were able to drive further afield, my boyfriend and I drove to this small market town in Oxfordshire to tackle the big Watlington Hill. It gives the most incredible views of the Chilterns and was a tough walk up, but the scenery made it all worth it.
“Nothing was open at the time, but we had a wander into the village and we can’t wait to go back: mmall vintage charity shops, sweet cafes, a local pub, interesting buildings. If you’re after a bit of R&R (and total quiet), this is ideal. There are a few B&Bs nearby, and you’ll have a weekend full of walking and picnics! We’ll be going back this year for sure.”
– Amy Packham, Life editor
Keswick, Cumbria
joe daniel price via Getty Images Autumn Colours, Ashness Bridge, Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria, England
“The Lake District isn’t just a destination for walkers and those who love challenging hikes or traipsing high into the mountains – believe me, arduous climbs don’t appeal to me. Instead, it’s about escaping the madding crowd and switching off from normal life while wandering through the tranquil villages and soaking up the natural beauty of the lakes, fells and woodland.
“We love visiting Keswick and going for some of the many scenic walks nearby. It’s nice to get out walking in quieter areas away from the crowds. We also use my in-laws caravan in Keswick as a base to visit other beautiful Lake District villages such as Ambleside and Grasmere.
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“It’s a great foodie hotspot with local delights like Kendal Mint Cake, Cartmel’s delicious sticky toffee pudding and not forgetting Grasmere’s gingerbread, handmade to a secret recipe, which our children make us buy on every visit.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-22--Some Care Home Residents In England To Be Allowed Visitors Again

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Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
Families and friends of some care home residents will be able to resume visiting their loved ones months after they were stopped due to the coronavirus crisis.
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Visits will resume in specific care homes once local directors of public health and local authorities decide it is safe to do so, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said on Wednesday.
Risk assessments will be undergone prior to homes being reopened, and visits that take place will involve face coverings and social distancing measures.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “I know how painful it has been for those in care homes not being able to receive visits from their loved ones throughout this period.
“We are now able to carefully and safely allow visits to care homes, which will be based on local knowledge and circumstances for each care home.
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“It is really important that we don’t undo all of the hard work of care homes over the last few months while ensuring families and friends can be safely reunited, so we have put in place guidance that protects everyone.”
In new guidance published today, he government said visitors should be limited to a single constant visitor per resident where possible.
DHSC also said all visitors should be screened for symptoms of acute respiratory infection before entering a care home.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-22--Keir Starmer Declares Labour 'Under New Management' As He Distances Himself From Corbyn

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Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
Keir Starmer has declared the Labour Party is “under new management”, as he distanced himself further from former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
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Speaking during PMQs on Wednesday, Starmer asked Boris Johnson “why on earth” he “sat on” a report by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) into Russian meddling in Britain’s democracy.
The report, published yesterday – months after it was completed – concluded the government “took its eye off the ball” and failed to respond to the threat from Moscow.
Johnson accused Starmer of having “sat on his hands and said nothing while the Labour Party parroted the line of the Kremlin” when Corbyn was leader at the time of the Salisbury poisoning.
But Starmer said he had been “absolutely clear” in condemning Russian aggression.
“I’d ask the prime minister to check the record and withdraw that,” he said. “Under my leadership national security will always be the top priority for Labour.”
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In an appearance on BBC Question Time on March 15, 2018, Starmer said he condemned the poisoning “without reservation” and it was the “right conclusion” that “responsibility lies with Russia”.
During PMQs today, Starmer called on Johnson to tackle “Kremlin-backed disinformation” and suggested the government should “look again” at the licensing for broadcaster RT, formerly Russia Today, to operate in the UK.
Johnson told Starmer he should have called out Corbyn “when he took money for appearing on Russia Today”.
Corbyn, as well as members of his shadow cabinet, regularly appeared on the TV channel.
Starmer hit back: “In case the prime minister hasn’t noticed, the Labour Party is under new management.
“No frontbencher of this party has appeared on Russia Today since I have been leading this party.”
The explicit distancing from Corbyn came hours after Labour agreed to pay “substantial damages” to whistleblowers who contributed to a TV expose of its handling of anti-Semitism under its previous leadership.