thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Russell Brand Urges ‘Kindness, Forgiveness And Compassion’ Following The Death Of ‘Dynamo’ Caroline

Russell Brand Urges ‘Kindness, Forgiveness And Compassion’ Following The Death Of ‘Dynamo’ Caroline Flack

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Russell Brand has urged people to be kind and compassionate in the wake of Caroline Flack’s death.
In a powerful statement, the actor and comedian urged readers to reevaluate their actions and embrace the “power to heal” one another to help stop further tragedies.
The 40-year-old Love Island presenter died on Saturday afternoon after taking her own life.
On Monday, Russell shared a lengthy post on Instagram.
Russel Brand and Caroline Flack Rex
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He wrote: “I recently performed a monologue, a “verbatim piece” made up of extracts of the last written words of people who had taken their own lives. I was grateful to the surviving family members for allowing me such intimate access to such a painful and personal artefact.
“There is so much shame around suicide, so much shame and so much pain. The writing itself; some in the form of emails, some blogs, some old fashioned notes, provided a blurred portal into the mind of the person that would go on to take their own life.
“I sensed a familiar resonance throughout these varied pieces, a common tune in the expression of these distinct people; it was ‘ordinariness’. The ordinariness of the thoughts, feelings and events that led them to make the ultimate act of self sacrifice. ‘I don’t feel good enough’, ‘I’m lonely’, ‘I’m worthless’, ‘I’m scared I’m in too much debt’, ‘I’m scared I’ve hurt too many people’, ‘I am unlovable’. Normal feelings that I’ve felt many times, that I suspect we all feel at times.
“The line then that separates people who kill themselves and people that don’t is vague and uncertain, it is a line within each of us, not between us. We just don’t know who will or who won’t be pushed to a point of such inward pain and desperation that the dreadful certainty of suicide and the despair it inflicts on those left behind are insufficient deterrents.”
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Russell continued: “I am angry and sad that Caroline Flack found herself in that place. I am sad because she was a lovely little person, a real laugh, a dynamo and the idea that she had been so drained of hope by her circumstances chokes me.
“I am angry because I have watched this play out before with vulnerable people in the public eye and I would like to slay with some righteous sword the salacious, foaming, incessant poking, trolling judgement that chased her to the grave. The way it did with Jade Goodie [sic], the way it did with Amy Winehouse. I know there is no single “media” or “social media”. I know they are complex machines that comprise, by their nature, millions of participants.
“But our systems operate in accordance with values and the way these values are set and the consequences of these values are obviously in serious need of reevaluation.
“I have resigned from fame because it brought out the worst in me, vanity, insecurity, jealousy, competitiveness. Most people I’ve spoken to have comparable experiences, it’s hard to endure what celebrity does to your mental health without a robust constitution or strong counter measures to ground and protect you.
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“There is little to be gained from allocating blame now that Caroline is dead. Her vulnerability was obvious when the CPS pursued her case and when she took another turn in the barrel with the media and social media.
“I’ve seen that there are petitions to regulate the press and I admire the optimism of the enterprise. But the media is made up of people, the world of celebrity is made up of people, social media is made up of people. All culture, all values pass through the consciousness of individuals and collectives. If we want the world to change, for less people to die in pain and shame then we should pause before we next vent a pleasurable stab of vindictive judgement or jeering condemnation.”
Caroline Flack Lia Toby via Getty Images
He concludes: “Social media is a network of connections. We can use those connections to convey love and support and kindness, all ideas that can be rationally understood as expressions of our unity.
“While we are unique and different, beautiful in our vast and distinct identities – and all identities can be honoured, we are all capable of kindness, we are all capable of redemption, we are all worthy of love.
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“Caroline was surrounded by friends and families that loved her, that love her still through a shattered lens of anguish, and that love could not incubate her or protect her from the pain and shame that ended her life.
“We have the power to hurt one another and the power to heal one another, perhaps that’s the only power we have. We can never see the positive impact of our actions, the times when our kindness and compassion may have saved a life but we can see what happens in its absence.
“As long as our public values continue to be an expression of lower human instincts none of us are exempt from the pain and shame that closed in on the bright and playful light that used to shine from Caroline.
“Our best hope is to build relationships and communities based on kindness, forgiveness and compassion, not easy values to maintain given the complexity within us and without us but Caroline’s death shows us that the alternative is just too sad to bear.”
Love Island paid tribute to its former host on Monday night’s episode, which opened with the show’s voiceover Iain Stirling remembering his friend and colleague.
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Speaking over a montage of beach scenery and crashing waves, Iain said: “We are absolutely devastated by the tragic news that Caroline, a much-loved member of our Love Island family, has passed away.
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this dreadful time. Caroline and me were together from the very start of Love Island and her passion, warmth and infectious enthusiasm were a crucial part of what made the show connect with millions of viewers.”
He continued: “Like many of you, right now we’re all just trying to come to terms with what’s happened. My only hope is that we can all try to be kinder, always show love and listen to one another.”
Becoming emotional, he concluded: “Caroline, I want to thank you for all the fun times we had making our favourite show. You were a true friend to me. I’m going to miss you, Caz.”
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Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 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.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
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 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--EastEnders: 11 Behind-The-Scenes Facts You Won't Have Known About The 35th Anniversary Episodes

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In the 35 years that EastEnders has been on air, never has there been a stunt as ambitious as the one currently unfolding over the course of this week.
The special set of anniversary episodes sees a Titanic-style disaster strike the Walford residents, as a booze cruise on the Thames to celebrate the Queen Vic’s recent Pub Of The Year win turns into a watery nightmare.
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As several key storylines reach their climax in dramatic scenes aboard the boat, one Walford resident won’t make it out alive, which will undoubtedly have long-lasting ramifications.
Tasked with executing a celebration befitting of the soap’s milestone birthday were the BBC’s head of continuing drama Kate Oates and executive producer Jon Sen.
With fans already hooked on the drama after the first of the week’s episodes aired on Monday, Kate, Jon and cast member Kellie Bright (aka, Linda Carter) revealed just what it took to get the anniversary episodes to air – just as the boat went down...
The whole idea was inspired by the show’s iconic opening titles
The EastEnders title card was given a night-time makeover for the 35th anniversary episodes BBC
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As well as Ian Beale, one other thing has been consistent since EastEnders started in 1985 – the River Thames in the opening titles. So, it seems fitting then that the whole idea for the 35th anniversary was born out of the east London map.
Jon reveals that he and fellow bosses realised the idea had been staring them in the face during a brainstorm about the episodes.
He says: “We wanted to do something epic, obviously. But we were aware that for the 25th and the 30th, they’d done these live episodes. We wanted to do something different that was equally iconic and a big audience event.
“We all got together and listed everything we wanted... to celebrate about EastEnders – London, contemporary, compelling.
“Then we have the shot of the Thames in the opening credits, and we went, ‘Ah! There’s the idea,’ and it came from there really.”
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About 150 people helped bring the storyline to life
Bringing a storyline of this scale to a soap that is always shooting two hours of drama a week is no mean feat, and there was a crew of around 150 people that worked on anniversary week.
“It’s a huge operation,” Jon explains. “We took a team that are used to a more sedate soundstage in Elstree, and said, ‘There you go, there’s the Thames. In the middle of Storm Brendan [in January].’
“It was a crew of about 150 in total, including all the support services. They were all incredible. They loved the challenge and really rose to it given the elements.”
And even with that many people, there was still a whole lot of challenges
Over 150 crew were involved in shooting the episodes BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes
“There’s just no room for error, you have to get it,” Kate says.
“We’re against the clock normally anyway, but when you’ve got a shoot like this with extra days, plus Christmas, the logistics of cast availability and all that stuff, it really, really was a minefield for the whole team to navigate.
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“It was a real team effort with everyone from the production office, story and editorial to all of the crew. It’s the EastEnders family at its best of pulling together.”
All the exterior scenes had to be filmed much later than the rest of the episodes
That’s because the Thames was lit up for Christmas decorations, which would definitely have looked out of place with the episodes going out in February.
As a result, it all had to be shot out of sequence, with the interior boat scenes – shot in a water tank – filmed first back in December. Kellie revealed that she was in the water for nearly a whole week capturing her scenes.
Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright filmed these scenes in a water tank BBC
The exterior scenes were then filmed in January over nine consecutive night shoots, with all four episodes taking about six weeks in total to bring to life.
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“As actors, we come in and out of that. But for the crew, it was a huge, huge ask,” Kellie says. “And even down to those nine night shoots in a row, which was towards the end of the shoot when everyone was exhausted, the crew are out there for the whole thing.
“I remember looking at some of our camera crew and they were wrapped in plastic, the cameras were wrapped in plastic and they were literally holding things like lights to stop them blowing over.”
The cast filmed scenes on the Thames during nine successive night shoots BBC
Many scenes also had to be shot twice
It wasn’t just the interior scenes that had to be shot in the water tank, as some of the exterior ones did too.
However, unsure of the weather they would encounter when it came to shooting other scenes outside, producers had to film two options for the sake of continuity in the edit.
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Jon laughs: “We had to make sure for all eventualities, so all the stuff in the tank was done with rain and without rain. So when Storm Brendan came in during January, we were glad of the footage with rain!”
Kellie Bright and Linda Henry had stunt doubles for *that* iconic catfight
Monday’s episode saw a classic EastEnders scrap take place between Linda and Shirley Carter, with slaps, insults and even glasses hurled. It was something Peggy and Pat would have been truly proud of.
However, the EastEnders crew took the health and safety of the two actors very seriously, enlisting the help of two stunt doubles – even if Kellie and Linda didn’t really need them.
Kellie laughs: “We did have stunt doubles for part of it, but you end up sort of repeating it anyway.
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“Linda and I love each other dearly, and so we were going, ‘I don’t want to hurt you! Are you OK?’”
Kellie’s foot got caught for real during her scenes on the boat
In tense scenes during Monday’s episode, alcoholic Linda ended up getting her foot caught between a kitchen surface and an appliance as she suffered a mishap while reaching for a bottle of wine.
Trapped, her life is in danger as the boat fills up with water and husband Mick is unable to release her.
Kellie got her foot "properly stuck" while filming BBC
Shooting the scenes also proved to be a bit of a worry for the crew too, as Kellie explains: “It was actually quite awkward keeping my foot in there, I’m not gonna lie. Once it was in, it was properly, actually stuck. That was the thing that everyone was worried about as I couldn’t just release myself if anything happened to the set in the water.
“When I was pulling against it, I did end up with a few scrapes and bruises, but it was worth it.”
She adds: “But safety is the most important thing. You can’t see them, but there were lots of people around us, lots of divers there.”
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There were arguments in the writers’ room about the dead character’s fate
While their identity is currently a closely-guarded secret, we know that this week will end with one Walford resident in a body bag. And while that was always the plan, it doesn’t mean the decision to kill off the character in question was without its disagreements.
Kate says: “We discuss it in depth, and we actually had a lot of arguments about it too. The story room is a vibrant room and we discuss a lot of different options, but we knew in our hearts that this was the story.”
Who dies? BBC/Kieron McCarron/Matt Burlem/Amy Sharp
Producers used a code name for the dead character
In order to avoid the identity of the character who dies leaking on social media or the press, bosses gave them a code name when discussing them on set or mentioning them in the script or story documents.
We’re not allowed to reveal what that code name was just yet, with Jon saying of the measures they take: “We just don’t want the audience to ever have their enjoyment spoiled.”
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Kate adds: “I’ve learned over the years that the reward that comes with a twist is just brilliant. I used to come from the other side of the fence and think that you want to get people watching and that you want to reveal stuff, but I think people have had enough of that now.”
Kate and Jon thought carefully about the structure of the week’s episodes
In the end, they decided to tell the same day from the perspective of three different family groups – the Carters on Monday, the Beales and Fowlers on Tuesday and the Mitchells on Thursday – across the first three episodes, with the culmination of events on the Friday.
“Kate and I both discussed how stunts unfold on soap – you usually have the event and it happens very quickly, but this structure creates intrigue,” Jon says.
Kate continues: One of the nice things about playing the stories out of order is that there will be moments of intrigue.
“On Monday, you see Phil on a boat, a gun has gone off, you see Ben running round a dock, we know that Sonia has opened the door to the police, but we don’t know necessarily know how all of these things are going to fit in with the larger narrative. That’s why you have to watch the whole week!”
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Producers said moments like these are supposed to create intrigue BBC
There are some easter eggs hidden in the episodes for superfans
Wondering why the boat name the Smith-Holland is familiar? That’s because it is named after the soap’s creators, Julia Smith and Tony Holland, whose names have been on the credits for the past 35 years.
The dock where the boat sets sail from is also called Fassett Dock, and Fassett Square is the name of the real-life location in Dalston, east London on which Albert Square was originally based.
EastEnders’ 35th anniversary continues Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30pm and Friday at 8.30pm on BBC One.
Some quotes have been edited for clarity and length.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--We Must Stop Racists Getting Into Downing Street, Says Tory Minister

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Downing Street needs to examine its vetting process for staff to “prevent racists” working for Boris Johnson, a Conservative minister has said.
Andrew Sabisky left his job as a government adviser last night following an outcry over past comments had made about women and black people.
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The 27-year-old had once suggested black Americans have a lower average IQ than white Americans.
He also advocated enforcing the uptake of contraception to stop unplanned pregnancies creating a “permanent underclass”.
Kwasi Kwarteng, a business minister, said on Tuesday morning Sabisky’s remarks were “racist” and “offensive”.
“It’s been objectionable, offensive and he’s left the government. I think it’s unfortunate he was hired. He’s now left and we can now all move on,” he said.
Asked by BBC Radio 5 Live if the hiring process for Downing Street staff should be looked at, Kwarteng said: “Yeah, I think you’re right, we should prevent racists from coming into No.10.”
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Kwarteng also said the “message has been clear” from government that Sabisky’s views were “totally unacceptable”.
But a spokesperson for the prime minister yesterday repeatedly refused to condemn Sabisky’s views or to say whether Johnson agreed with them.
Andrew Sabisky left his job at No.10 following a backlash over his past comments about race and women. BBC
Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, the chair of the Commons women and equalities committee, said she was “relieved” Sabisky had resigned, but criticised the “silence” from Downing Street.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday morning: “I was disappointed that yesterday there was silence from Downing Street regarding [Sabisky’s] previous comments and it does seem that when the call went out for ‘misfits and weirdos’, that was exactly what Downing Street got.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Yes, 'Whisky Dick' Is Real (And Here's What To Do If It Happens To You)

Drink responsibly, or you might fall victim to “whisky dick.”
There are few men of drinking age who haven’t experienced some performance challenges after a night of heavy drinking ― whether they struggle to get an erection or reach climax.
In the moment, it feels like your body has cut power to your penis at the worst possible time, said Garrett, a 32-year-old sales executive from Seattle. (Many of the men who spoke to HuffPost requested that we only use their first names to protect their privacy.)
“I think it’s my brain’s way of saying, ‘Hey, you’re not sober enough to use this responsibly, so I’m gonna turn it off for a bit,’” he told HuffPost.
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Because his partner handled it well the first time it happened, Garrett hasn’t fretted too much about it since.
“The girl I was with had a huge impact on how I felt about it,” he said. “I couldn’t get an erection, but she was completely understanding and said it was normal and shut down my apology in a really positive way. I was really grateful for that.”
Kelvin, a 31-year-old from Sydney, said he can “get his motor running” after over-drinking, but getting to the desired destination with his partner is touch-and-go.
“It’s much harder to reach full operation after drinking,” he said. “It takes about 25 to 30 minutes instead of the usual 10 to 15 ― but the destination is eventually reached. My apologies are usually duly offered to the passenger.”
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A quick apology and an understanding partner are ideal, but still, once you’ve experienced whisky dick — technically known as alcohol-related erectile dysfunction — you don’t want it to happen again. Below, urologists and sex therapists explain the phenomenon, how to avoid it, and what to do in the moment to get back to the business of boning ASAP.
skaman306 via Getty Images Be mindful of how many drinks you're throwing back, or your night may end in disappointment.
Why does it happen?
To get a satisfying medical explanation for alcohol-related erectile dysfunction, you have to understand just how complicated the process of getting an erection can be, said Mike Bohl, a senior medical writer at Health Guide from Roman, a digital clinic for men’s health.
“First, there has to be sexual arousal, which requires concentration,” he told HuffPost. “Second, the brain needs to effectively send signals to the penis to tell it what to do. Third, there needs to be enough blood in the body to fill the penis, which is why it’s important to stay hydrated. And fourth, the blood vessels need to relax, allowing blood to rush into the penis.”
Alcohol has the ability to impede every step in that process, Bohl said.
“First, being intoxicated may make it more difficult to concentrate or be coordinated,” he said. “Second, alcohol is known as a central nervous system depressant, which means it slows down the electrical activity in the brain and nerves. Third, alcohol is dehydrating ― think about how much you pee when you drink ― your body is losing a lot of volume.”
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And fourth, drinking alcohol affects the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the body: “This is a fancy way of saying alcohol can make the blood vessels constrict, which is the opposite of what you want when you are trying to get an erection,” Bohl said.
Even if you’re able to rise to the occasion, you’re not out of the dick-debilitating woods: Too much alcohol can also make it harder to climax, for some of the reasons mentioned above.
Is there any alcohol that won’t cause this?
It doesn’t take a rocket ― er, dick scientist ― to know that it’s not just whisky that causes whisky dick. Vodka drinkers get it, so do gin guzzlers. But are there any drinks that are less likely to cause the phenomenon?
“There isn’t really a good alcohol or a bad alcohol as far as this is concerned,” said Aaron Spitz, a urologist and author of “The Penis Book: A Doctor’s Complete Guide to the Penis.”
“Although wine has phytonutrients ― plant-based compounds that can improve your health ― it can leave you hangin’ just like the rest of them,” he added.
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It’s probably not the answer you want to hear, but your best bet is to slow down on your drink of choice.
“Having a low-proof beverage, like beer or wine, or having mixed drinks as opposed to straight liquor may help reduce the total amount of alcohol consumed at one time,” Bohl said.
Is there a female equivalent?
Men aren’t alone in the struggle. The effects of too much alcohol are less noticeable for women, but they can suffer from “whisky clit” in the heat of the moment as well, according to Stephen Snyder, a sex therapist and author of “How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long-Lasting Relationship.”
“The female brain is subject to the same arousal-suppressing effects of alcohol,” he said. “Decreased arousal leads to decreased blood flow to the vagina and clitoris, resulting in loss of lubrication and difficulty reaching climax.”
Erik Witsoe / EyeEm via Getty Images Women's sexual arousal can also suffer from too much alcohol.
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How do you avoid whisky dick?
Again, the answer is to drink less. Yes, drinking might calm your nerves before sex, but you don’t want to be drinking so much that it interferes with your erections.
“Instead of drinking to excess, enjoy the ‘natural high’ that comes from being genuinely aroused,” Snyder suggested. “Good sex can take you places emotionally that alcohol just can’t. I like to say drinking too much before sex is like bingeing on Cheetos before going to a great restaurant.”
If you know you’re going to be throwing back a few more than usual, plan accordingly.
“I usually advise couples to have sex first, then go out to eat and drink afterwards to celebrate,” he said.
One fix that isn’t likely to work? Taking pills like Viagra, Cialis or Stendra to counteract the effects of drinking.
“That’s not likely to help,” Spitz said. “The pills won’t work with too much alcohol since there’s not enough nitric oxide in your blood vessels to work with. Nitric oxide is the molecule that causes blood to pump up the penis.”
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Is “weed dick” a thing?
Many men vouch for weed’s ability to increase sexual satisfaction ― but you might just think sex is better after smoking because weed has altered your perception of time, said Heather McPherson, a couple’s therapist and sex therapist in Austin and Denver.
Looking at some preliminary research, weed actually might be a boner-blocker as well.
“What the research shows is with higher doses or daily smokers, weed might actually cause an issue for penis owners and lead some men to experience erectile dysfunction,” she said. “However, all this research is in its infancy, so we should not jump to definitive conclusions.”
“Coke dick” is definitely real though, according to Snyder.
“Many guys get extremely horny on cocaine, but can’t get hard at all,” he said. “Several men in my practice have described similar problems on Adderall, so this is something I now routinely ask about.”
Blaine Harrington III via Getty Images More research is needed before we can definitively say "weed dick" is a thing.
If you repeatedly suffer from whisky dick, you might need to seek help.
Sometimes, it’s more than just temporary erectile dysfunction at play.
“Alcohol is also a nerve toxin, and too much can destroy the nerves that stimulate the penis, making it harder to get hard,” Spitz said. “There are a lot of alcoholics who suffer from erectile dysfunction. If you are repeatedly suffering from whisky dick, it may be a sign of an alcohol problem and you should consider seeking help. ”
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What can you do in the moment to bounce back faster?
If you want to get back to the boinking, your best friend is time, plus staying hydrated, Bohl said.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do for a quick fix besides that,” he said. “The biggest problems are the slowed nervous system and the reduced blood flow to the penis, and neither is likely to improve until the body stops metabolising the alcohol and you sober up.”
Garrett, one of the men quoted earlier in the story, has a few suggestions to make the experience a little less disheartening.
“A lukewarm or cold shower ― preferably with a friend ― two glasses of water and cuddling under a blanket with my partner always helps,” he said. “What’s more important is having a partner be supportive and chill about it.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Jeff Bezos Pledges $10 Billion To Fight Climate Change: 'We Can Save Earth'

The group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice said last month that its leaders had been threatened and questioned by Amazon’s human resources department about comments they made in the press last year. They had claimed that the company’s threats of job termination was a form of “targeting” meant to keep employees from speaking out further.
Bezos’ pledge of billions to climate change is a staunch departure from his previous giving behavior. Amazon has long been the subject of ire because Bezos is one of the few top U.S. billionaires who has not signed the Giving Pledge, a campaign founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to encourage extremely wealthy people to contribute a majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. Notably, Bezos’ now-ex-wife, MacKenzie Bezos, signed the pledge last year.
Bezos was also called out just last month for not being philanthropic enough when he announced that Amazon would donate $1 million Australian dollars (around $690,000 USD) to the ongoing wildfire crisis. Critics pushed back on the gesture, comparing the percentage of his donation to his massive wealth as well as those of other public figures who are worth far less than he is.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Sharon Osbourne’s New Hair Is Giving Us Meryl Streep In The Devil Wears Prada Vibes

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Sharon Osbourne’s trademark red hair is no more.
Yep, in news that will send ripples throughout the entertainment world - and will send sales of red hair dye plummeting - the former X Factor judge now has a shock of white hair.
And it’s very Miranda Priestly…
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Let’s contrast and compare...
Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
Uncanny.
Sharon enlisted celebrity colourist Jack Martin – the man responsible for Jane Fonda’s grey pixie cut debuted at the Oscars – who revealed Sharon’s new look on Instagram.
He shared side-by-side pictures showing her old look alongside the new white hair and explained why she decided to change.
“Sharon has 100% white hair and she was colouring her hair once a week dark vibrant red for the past 18 years,” he wrote.
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“She explained to me that she wanted to do this transformation a long time ago but every time she attempts it ends up with a disaster.”
Jack said it took a total of eight hours to dye Sharon’s hair, adding she would no longer need weekly touch ups.
Phew.
The celebrity hair stylist made headlines earlier this month when Hollywood star Fonda, 82, debuted her new grey pixie cut while presenting Best Picture at the Oscars.
Sharon has been married to heavy metal star Ozzy Osbourne since 1982.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--As A Female Politician, I Spent 20 Years Keeping Quiet About Sexism. Now I'm Speaking Out

Associated Press HuffPost UK
Over the course of my 20 years as a New Jersey state legislator, it never occurred to me to disclose what’s to follow. I was too afraid of being stigmatised and destroying my career in public service. So I didn’t speak up after I was elected as the first female Senate majority leader. Not after I had the honour of serving as the first woman to chair the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Even after running as the first female Democratic Party candidate for governor in 2013, my secrets remained unspoken.
Starting out as an idealistic – some might even say naive – female politician, I approached my job with the expectation I’d be treated as a co-equal partner by male colleagues. I took comfort in believing all of the carefully honed grit and tenacity that landed me in office would overcome – or at the very least, keep in check – any sexist behaviour. I figured it would be easier navigating it now than it had been as a teenager new to my first paying job as a waitress. That was the first and last time I quit my job because I felt denigrated and threatened by a man.
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Little did I know how outmatched I was.
I was not prepared to deal with predatory behaviour ranging from overt assault to casual verbal misogyny. So I kept quiet. I put my head down and charged ahead, bobbing and weaving as I went. I became an expert at deflecting and pretending outrageous behaviour had not just occurred.
While fear and embarrassment kept me from speaking out in real time, after reading the most recent accounts by New Jersey women – many of whom I know and deeply respect – exposing the ongoing toxic workplace culture of sexual harassment and assault in the body politic, I feel compelled to raise my voice now. I regret remaining silent this long.
Hostility toward strong female leaders is endemic to the New Jersey political establishment. Today it might surprise some that in 2012 I was met with a collective gasp after invoking the term “misogynist” to call out a reporter who criticised me as “too ambitious” to run for governor. As women, we knew even just acknowledging gender discrimination would be treated as a sign of weakness. Invoking misogyny would be used by our detractors as proof that women must resort to concocting excuses for not succeeding.
Swimming with the sharks. The art of compromise and high-stakes brinkmanship at work as a bipartisan gaggle of senators huddle on the Senate floor in search of votes to pass a new school funding formula. It took three hours on Jan. 8, 2008, to successfully break the stalemate and pass my legislation. I’m standing in the middle of the group of about 17 senators. Photo Courtesy of Barbara Buono
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What follows are just three instances of sexual improprieties I experienced during my 20-year tenure in New Jersey politics. This list is not exhaustive – not by any means.
Let’s start in 1994, when I was a new member of the New Jersey General Assembly. The state had elected its first female governor, Christine Todd Whitman, but as I quickly learned, Trenton remained an all-boys club. It was the kind of place where a male colleague felt free to tell me to bend further over the desk where I was standing one day in our caucus room. New to the legislature and alone with him, I was mortified. His lewd comments haunt me to this day.
Fast forward years later to a county fair, where another elected official, my running mate who has since passed away, smacked my behind. We were in public. We both were attending in an official capacity. He didn’t care. When I turned around looking shocked and upset, he met my gaze with an arrogant glare, daring me to say something. I felt angry but utterly powerless.
I’m years removed from New Jersey politics but not from the memories of one powerful Democratic Party county chairman’s aggressive behaviour. He used the guise of meeting about policy and political strategy – the work I was elected to do as a legislator – to lure me into one-on-one meetings where he repeatedly propositioned me. Out of desperation, I resorted to enlisting help from another powerful Democratic leader. The behaviour stopped only when that male ally spoke to him on my behalf. My initial relief was short-lived as I felt the crushing defeat of needing to ask one Democratic Party boss to rescue me from the clutches of another even more toxic juggernaut. Again, I kept it to myself.
Practicing the politics of persuasion. I’m on the Senate floor trying to wrangle a yes vote on the school funding bill from Republican Sen. Joseph A. Palaia, with Senate President Dick Codey looking on. In the end Sen. Palaia switched his no vote to a yes. Photo Courtesy of Barbara Buono
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The overt, sexually-charged behaviour diminished as I rose through the ranks of the Democratic Party to assume powerful positions as the first woman to serve both as Senate majority leader and chair of the Senate Budget Committee as well as chair of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee. After my many years in the legislature, the power dynamic had changed. But as the saying goes, the more things changed, the more they stayed the same.
By the time I ran for governor in 2013, the sexism I experienced was recalibrated in remarks to intimidate, humiliate and handicap me to ensure this would be the last time I ran for the highest office in our state. At one point, former Gov. Tom Kean (R) called me “a nice lady” who was “unqualified” to run for governor.
I’ll never forget walking onto the set of Hardball with Chris Matthews when I was running for governor in 2013, ready to talk about the issues affecting New Jersey’s families. After years of watching Gov. Chris Christie (R) pursue policies that set the state’s residents back, I looked forward to letting viewers know how I’d be a different kind of leader. But right before the interview began, Matthews asked if he could call me “attractive.” When the cameras started rolling, I had to pretend I hadn’t just traveled to Washington, DC, to experience the same objectification that was all too familiar to me at home in New Jersey.
During the time I was involved in politics, beginning in the ’90s until the mid-teens of the 21st Century, it was rare to see women publicly come to the collective defence of one another. If any thought at all was given to it, the conventional wisdom was that it was all just too risky and yielded no benefits.
But the political climate has shifted dramatically where more and more women no longer feel the need to tolerate or even excuse behaviour ranging from sexual assault and harassment to casual misogyny. Ultimately, I decided to write about my own experience, because refusal to do so would render me complicit in a system rooted in and perpetuated by misogyny. Remaining silent would be acceptance of a set of unspoken rules designed to keep women in their place resulting in systemic discrimination where overwhelmingly white men monopolise the most important, powerful positions. And they want to keep it that way. Why wouldn’t they?
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By standing in solidarity with one another, we are putting others on notice that we will no longer hesitate to call out predatory behaviour. Equally important though is that we refuse to be intimidated into not running for office and we must fight to achieve positions of power within the current framework.
Only by persevering and staying in the game do we have a real shot at reshaping history for women by transforming this toxic system that belongs to men. And in declaring this to the world, we simultaneously are reminding ourselves that together we are a force to be reckoned with.
This article first appeared on HuffPost US Personal


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--17 Sweet Travel Destinations For Chocolate Lovers

People choose travel destinations for a variety of reasons ― weather, financial incentives, special events, convenience, nostalgia, etc. But sometimes the draw is something ... sweeter.
Chocolate tourism is a very real industry as travellers seek out famous chocolatiers, cocoa farms, museums and more to learn about the history and production of this delicious treat (and taste a million or so samples). Fortunately, there are many places where you can taste the magic around the world.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--I Quit Dating For All Of 2019, And It Was The Most Productive And Successful Year Of My Life

HuffPost UK Courtesy of the author
“Are you upset?” he asked.
Honestly, I was.
I was on a three-person date with a handsome Argentine whom I had been tasting Buenos Aires with for one wonderful month. Sure, I’d been forewarned that his ‘friend’ Valentina was coming along that night to finally make my acquaintance. I’d been told that her motivations lay in practicing her English with a tea-loving Brit. In reality, it was a ruse to orchestrate a threesome. That very moment, I decided I was done with dating.
‘Man drought,’ ‘dating diet’ or ‘self-imposed celibacy’; whatever you choose to call it, I was going to say yes to #NoMan2019.
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In fact, a trio of factors led me down this dry path. It dawned on me that I had invested so much time chasing the highs of dating that I failed to realise the heart-twisting terror that it actually caused me: assaults on the self-esteem, anxiety, drained energy and hours wasted in the throes of sorrow when things didn’t pan out.
The year before, I’d been deserted in the cruellest fashion by a partner of six months. From one day to the next, he simply never spoke to me again. The thing about ghosting is that it’s tricky to get closure because you’re not really sure why, what or when to grieve.
“My inability to locate Prince Charming somehow meant I’d failed – a lifestyle narrative that still plagues many women”
Secondly, I had never truly been single. To be frank, searching for a man who was willing to promise forever was my preferred pastime. Despite my success professionally and with platonic relationships, my inability to locate Prince Charming somehow meant I’d failed – a lifestyle narrative that still plagues many women.
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As such, I was always somewhere in the dating life cycle: in the heat of passion, recovery or hunting once more for those dizzy, eclectic times. Each relationship was effectively a rebound, as I never gave myself time to heal or self-reflect. Without carving out crucial breathing space, I’d keep wearing the habits of yesteryear’s loves and tarring every man with the same brush.
Not to mention, I’d grown bored of the monotony of the dating process and bogged down by the mental clutter that came with it. There had to be a better use for my time than feigning interest in Suitor X and his life story. Simply put, dating was no longer fun.
The rules of the ban were simple: Friendship was all I could offer anyone, and I deleted my dating apps. All and any men who approached me were swiftly informed of the rules, which was actually a fabulous exercise in communicating my boundaries and desires.
For the first time in my life, I went out into the world with my green light switched off and felt freer and lighter as a result; the pressure to snag the prize was off.
While I might have expected life without the pursuit of romantic relationships to bring up feelings of sadness or loneliness, all of this actually culminated in a mind shift whereby I stopped viewing solitude as calamitous. I could give up my subscription to the Must Have a Man Association and life would still go on; it could even be great. Accordingly, recent reports from the American Time Use Survey show that, surprisingly, unmarried women are actually the happiest population subgroup.
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Looking back, 2019 has been remarkable and fulfilling, and my decision to detox from dating yielded some significant takeaways.
Courtesy Of Rosie Bell During my man-free year, I danced at Rio carnival and learned the secrets of flamenco.
I relished in my singledom
You can do or be whatever you want when you’re single. It’s also a prime opportunity to have fun discovering what you want your life to be about. I’d come across this advice before but I needed to experience it firsthand to get it.
Being happily single is only possible when you’ve fully recovered from the pain of a previous breakup, something I never let myself do until now. Throwing myself into someone else’s arms as soon as the sheets were cold was never going to alleviate underlying heartbreak; it’s essentially panic buying. Not devoting sufficient time to recovery also meant I’d be stepping into any new relationship with unduly low expectations, which is unfair to any new partner.
I also developed an appetite for alone time. I understood that solitude is not sadness just as much as marriage isn’t sure-fire satisfaction. Being able to withstand just myself for company meant I wasn’t desperate for anybody else’s. When you’re happy on your own, you’ll wait for the right people and be selective about who you let infringe on your precious alone time. I’m not anti-men, I’m just pro-me. Extended periods of solitude stop us from being commitment-hungry and mentally marrying any old person with a Colgate smile.
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My passions and pursuits were all mine to explore
The time I clawed back from romancing helped me fall in love with the world again. I’m not usually one for unashamed country counting, but this year alone I’ve fraternised with Manneken Pis, Christ the Redeemer, the Eiffel Tower, Chicago’s Bean and the Panama Canal. I took a scenic ride on one of the world’s highest high-altitude trains through the depths of Salta’s Lerma Valley, went salsa dancing in Cuba and signed up for flamenco lessons. I felt absolutely zero guilt about wanting my life to be about my wishes because I realised just how delicious that could be.
My (platonic) relationships thrived
Because I invested more in self-care, I ultimately became a better, more well-rounded person to show up for the people in my life. I could be present for them when they had problems because I wasn’t reeling from another bout of heartbreak.
I got such deep satisfaction from spending time with my old friends and made numerous new ones. Studies of thousands of people around the world reveal that single people have more robust social networks than their coupled-up counterparts. They are far from alone and do more to maintain relationships. On a whim, I flew from Argentina to London to pay my sister a surprise visit and I didn’t have to check that a partner could make the trip, too.
Courtesy of Rosie Bell Solitude is not sadness, as I discovered.
I was regularly interrogated about the deadline
Many refused to believe I could genuinely be happy without the prospect of love; you’ll always invite criticism when you start to question societal norms. Did I sniff pity? Most certainly. I also spent a lot of time fending off questions about when I would finally bake a cake in my womb oven.
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Having a partner is prestigious and a traditional marker of success. Even the most accomplished women are deemed pitiful if they don’t have a “better” half. When friends told me they hoped I’d meet someone soon, I know they meant well. However, it’s apparent that singledom is still perceived as a problem to be solved hastily particularly for women in their pursuit of self-worth.
My business soared
Whereas dating had always been my project, my priorities shifted and I had fire in my belly career-wise. I spent time really fine-tuning my voice as a writer and the powers that be listened. My dream publication reached out to me and I wrote for some of the biggest names in media including Lonely Planet, the BBC and Shondaland. I was featured as a travel expert on NBC News and was invited to become an instructor on Skillshare where I’ve since launched various classes on all things writing.
Sometimes I still pinch myself when I remember that I’m a full-time travel writer, published author and receive remuneration for the miscellaneous thoughts in my head. My book “Escape to Self is a life design guide that one reader kindly described as “an empowering wake-up call” (thank you). I also started stitching together the proposal to expand my travel and lifestyle brand, Club Elsewhere. In 2020 we’ll be launching a booking platform to cater to a growing niche in wellness tourism.
My year without men has undoubtedly been my most productive to date. This isn’t to say that we can’t have love as well as ludicrous success; it’s the dating game itself that can hinder productivity and siphon one’s zeal. Sifting through candidates and conducting interviews is a job in itself.
Time and space are magnificent healers and this break ultimately freed me from the burden of viewing a life sans partner as a wholly wasted one. Coupled up or self-partnered, I have all the etchings of a full life. The term ‘spinster’ doesn’t define me, nor does it rile me up.
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Courtesy of Rosie Bell In my most productive year yet, I worked with some of the biggest names in travel.
The future beckons and perhaps the gates to my heart will reopen next year. The next person to walk into my life won’t simply be a cog in the wheel though; he’ll be someone I decide is worthy of spending time in my world, as I now know that’s a great place to be.
Rosie Bell is a roving travel writer, editor and author of “Escape to Self.” Follow her adventures on Instagram and Twitter @TheBeachBell. This article first appeared on HuffPost US Personal.
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--2020-02-18--Heartbroken By Brexit? Sadiq Khan Thinks You Should Be Able To Keep Your EU Citizenship

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Londoners who are heartbroken over Brexit should be allowed to keep their EU citizenship, Sadiq Khan has suggested.
Ahead of a visit to Brussels on Tuesday, the mayor of London urged the government to allow all British nationals to have ‘associate citizenship’ of the EU.
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This would allow British citizens to keep many of the rights they held before Brexit, including the right to move freely between EU member states.
Khan said: “Like so many Londoners, I am heartbroken that we are no longer a member of the European Union, but that doesn’t mean our country’s future can’t be closely linked with the rest of Europe.
“The prime minister says his job is to bring the country together and move us forward and I cannot think of a better way of reconciling the differences between British voters who wanted to leave, and the millions of Londoners and British nationals who still feel and want to be European.
“There would be support from millions of Londoners and British nationals who are devastated they are losing their rights as EU citizens.
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“As the UK and EU start their next phase of negotiations, I want this issue of associate citizenship to be at the heart of talks about our future relationship.”
London Mayor British Sadiq Khan speaks on stage in Parliament Square in central London on October 19, 2019, during a rally by the People's Vote organisation. ISABEL INFANTES via Getty Images
Khan will meet the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, during Tuesday’s visit to the Belgium capital.
The idea of European citizenship has been backed by the former chairman of the European Parliament’s Brexit steering group, Guy Verhofstadt.
He said: “The Maastricht Treaty created the concept of ‘European citizenship’ and I am in favour of using this now as a basis for people who want to keep their link with Europe.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--British Couple To Leave Quarantined Cruise Ship After Testing Positive For Coronavirus

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Confusion surrounds a British couple on board a cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Japan after they feared they had tested positive for coronavirus.
David and Sally Abel announced the news on Facebook, saying they were being taken to hospital, but a few minutes later said they were in fact going to a hostel “with no medical facilities”.
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In the same post he said he is “really smelling a very big rat here” and in a reply he added that neither he nor his wife had any symptoms of the virus.
The couple have been posting regular updates on social media about their situation and have garnered a huge following.
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Late on Tuesday, they posted again suggesting there had been a “massive communication error” with Japanese officials and that they might not have coronavirus after all.
Facebook
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Tuesday morning, their son Steve said his parents are “not getting any communication” from the UK.
He added: “They are very high-spirited people. There are cracks in the armour and they are getting down.”
“My mum breaks down in tears frequently, my dad is short-tempered.
“They are not getting any communication from our country, so they are in the ark and feeling very unloved.”
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Ten passengers were diagnosed with coronavirus on February 4 while the ship was in Japanese waters. It was taken to the Port of Yakohama for a 14-day quarantine where it remains.
Cases of the virus have steadily increased. On Monday, the Japanese Health Ministry confirmed 99 more people on board have been diagnosed with the illness, bringing the total to 454.
David and Sally Abel. Facebook
The news comes as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) announced it is is “working to organise” a flight back to the UK for British nationals on board the Diamond Princess.
The department has faced pressure to fly home the 74 Britons after the US chartered two planes and repatriated 340 of its citizens.
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“Given the conditions on board, we are working to organise a flight back to the UK for British nationals on the Diamond Princess as soon as possible,” a statement from the department said.
“Our staff are contacting British nationals on board to make the necessary arrangements. We urge all those who have not yet responded to get in touch immediately.”
Earlier, a Number 10 spokesperson said those on board the ship docked near Yokohama, Japan, were being contacted about the possibility of a repatriation flight.
Around 3,600 people are quarantined on board due to fear of spreading the COVID-19 Corona virus, the authorities said. SIPA USA/PA Images
According to the latest government figures, a confirmed diagnosis for the Abels would put the total number of Britons from the ship with coronavirus at six.
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The data comes after Sir Richard Branson said Virgin Atlantic was “in discussions” with the government over whether he could help those stranded.
Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz said the firm has worked with authorities to send more doctors and nurses on board the ship and has helped fulfil 2,000 prescription requests.
However, there is still uncertainty over whether passengers will be able to leave the ship at the end of the 14-day quarantine period on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the government has block-booked the Holiday Inn Heathrow Ariel hotel as a potential quarantine zone for international visitors to the UK who develop coronavirus, or for Britons evacuated from overseas.
As of Monday afternoon, 4,501 people in total have now been tested for Covid-19 in the UK, of whom nine have come back positive.
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The death toll in mainland China rose by 98 to 1,868, in figures announced early on Tuesday morning, while the number of people infected globally stands at 72,436, according to the country’s National Health Commission.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Huda Has Launched An Enzyme Face Scrub – Is It Any Good?

HuffPost UK
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change. Huda Kattan is, unquestionably, a makeup powerhouse. Her perfectly-contoured looks have earned her more than 40m Instagram followers, and she also runs a successful eponymous beauty brand that recently launched in Boots.
I’m an avid fan. I swear by the concealer, can’t get enough of the power bullet matte lipsticks and have mastered the art of lilac eyeshadow thanks to the colourful palettes. So when Huda unveiled the Yo Glow Enzyme Face Scrub – the first launch in her newly-created skincare brand, Wishful – I was intrigued.
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But I was also sceptical. Makeup brands and personalities launching skincare is nothing new – just take a look at Glossier, Kylie Jenner and Millie Bobby Brown. While the packaging is pretty and the pictures are nice, I often question how good they are – is there an element of jumping on the bandwagon to profit off consumers? After all, Kylie Jenner came under fire in 2019 following the launch of her walnut face scrub, widely criticised for being too harsh on the skin.
I’m someone with hormonal acne who’s constantly trying to cover up, so I want a product that works – not just to look pretty on my bathroom shelf. But I kept an open mind when I received Huda’s face scrub. I tested it over the space of a week – here’s what I thought.
The vegan Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub is a 100ml buttery yellow tube with metallic foil lettering decorating one side. It costs £34, which is pretty pricey. The scrub is full of pineapple and papaya enzymes with Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs).
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From years of trialling different skincare products, I’ve learned what these ingredients actually mean – I’m always interested in finding out what they are and why they’re good for you.
Pineapple extract contains bromelain, which gently exfoliates and has anti-inflammatory properties, while the mix of BHAs and AHAs slough off dead skin cells on the skin’s surface and decongest pores.
HuffPost UK Wishful YO GLOW Enzyme Scrub
The scrub has a clean smell – think fresh laundry and clean towels. After removing my makeup and cleansing my skin, I apply it to my dry face using my hands, as instructed on the packaging.
It’s a milky texture that spreads around my face easily to make a sort of paste, which I then massage in, focusing on patches of skin on my nose and forehead that get dry and flaky – glamorous I know. It doesn’t feel scratchy or grainy, like some face scrubs do (ahem, St Ives).
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After 20 seconds of rubbing, I rinse it off with warm water and pat my face down with a towel. First impressions? My skin is immediately smoother, softer and – dare I say – matte. With my oily skin, it’s a genuine life goal to be less shiny, so I’m pleasantly surprised.
When I return to the scrub a couple of days later, my skin hasn’t gone back to its usual dry state on my nose and forehead – and I get the same results. I start using it in the mornings as it’s a smooth base for makeup and makes my foundation sit better.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Why Boris Johnson's Clampdown On 'Abuse' Of Judicial Reviews Will Hit The Most Vulnerable Hardest

Activists outside the Supreme Court in London as the legality of the prorogation of parliament was challenged. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Mothers fleeing domestic violence, families facing homelessness and refugees could be left with no way to seek legal help if government plans to clamp down on judicial reviews go ahead.
Boris Johnson has pledged to cut “abuse” of the judicial review process – a legal mechanism by which the decisions of public bodies can be challenged.
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The PM’s actions are seen by some as a swipe at anti-Brexit campaigners, who used judicial review to fight his bid to prorogue parliament. They were described as being rooted in “revenge, not reform” by leading activist Gina Miller.
But lawyers rely on them to fight the corners of some of society’s most vulnerable. A family entitled to NHS care wrongly charged eye-watering hospital fees and a woman told she couldn’t be reunited with her refugee daughter after the girl was raped were just two of the cases we were told about.
“Many of these people have been forced to choose between paying their rent arrears or buying food, so have simply not eaten,” said Pamela Fitzpatrick, the director of Harrow Law Centre – which offers free legal advice and representation to about 1,000 north London residents every year.
“More than ever before, and certainly more in recent years, we are seeing people who have lost access to benefits and who literally have nothing come to us for help.
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“It’s truly shocking and not what you expect to see in the UK in 2020.”
Part of a network of law centres across the country, the facility is paid for partly by legal aid and partly through a collection of smaller grants and direct fundraising efforts.
Solicitors at Harrow, who specialise in welfare benefits, housing and immigration issues, use the judicial review process on a weekly, if not daily, basis.
“We have seen people with serious diseases, including cancer, who have had their benefits stopped due to bad decisions being taken by the authorities,” said Fitzpatrick. “The appeal process for a claim can take a year – many would be dead by then.”
Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller speaks outside the Supreme Court in London after it made its decision on the legality of Boris Johnson's five-week suspension of parliament. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The first step in the judicial review process involves a lawyer sending a “letter before claim” to the relevant body – which can often prompt a reversal of the original decision. This work is usually done free of charge, as lawyers cannot be funded through legal aid until a judicial review is given the green light to proceed through the courts.
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The number of judicial review applications fell significantly after the coalition government tightened processes around legal aid in 2013.
“Often the threat of judicial review is enough in cases where, for example, the Home Office has made a wrong decision on an asylum case, or a housing association is trying to evict a family unlawfully,” Fitzpatrick said.
“It’s something that can be relied on when you are operating in the shadow of the legal system on a vulnerable person’s behalf, and it’s often the last hope for people who have been left with literally nothing.”
One case dealt with at Harrow concerned a breastfeeding mum who had been left homeless, with no access to benefits. An EU national, her claim for settled status was wrongly rejected, despite her having lived in the UK since she was a toddler.
“She came into our office and she hadn’t eaten for days. She was obviously still feeding her baby and it was starting to affect them too. Before we could even start on helping her with her legal issues, we had to have a whip-round to get her some food,” Fitzpatrick said.
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“Luckily her benefits appeal was accepted second time around, but if it had been rejected we would have been relying on the judicial review process.
“Other judicial review cases we’ve taken on involved a schoolboy who came home one day to find his family’s housing association had changed the locks.
“Another saw an EU national come to us after his wife had a baby and he was presented with a bill for several thousands of pounds from the hospital, despite having rights to live, work and access healthcare in the UK.
“It had got to the point where bailiffs were involved and the hospital would not back down. If we hadn’t sent a letter before claim, he would still be being chased for a huge debt that he never owed in the first place.”
Cases dealt with by other law centres across the UK included a refugee who was separated from her young child while fleeing Somalia 17 years ago – a girl who was later found living in a camp in Uganda.
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“Her child had been raped and had a child herself as a result,” a spokesperson told HuffPost UK. “We sought to have the family reunited, but the Home Office refused – because her daughter had a child of her own she was no longer considered to fall within the definition of family member.
“We started judicial review proceedings and the Home Office backed down. Our client was reunited finally with her daughter after 17 years, and met her grandchild.”
Another case saw a woman fleeing domestic abuse who was told she didn’t qualify for emergency housing even though her violent ex-partner kept breaching his bail conditions and turning up at her home, in one case breaking in. Thanks to judicial review she was offered a new home in the same borough.
The relentlessness of the work can be depressing, Fitzpatrick said, but the pay-off is worth it when centres are able to change lives, and Harrow keeps a running commentary of its successful cases on its Twitter feed.
Today is one of those days you burst with pride at working in a Law Centre. Our client, an Afghan refugee called in to show us a film of her being reuinited with her mother after 6 years apart. Happy endings do happen sometimes thanks to Law Centres. — Harrow Law Centre (@HarrowLawCentre) February 14, 2020
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One of our immigration solicitors is assisting a recently arrived young refugee. Alone, frightened without friends or family. That is until our solicitor realised we previously assisted the boy's uncle with his asylum claim and he lives in Harrow. We have reunited the pair. — Harrow Law Centre (@HarrowLawCentre) February 14, 2020
But simply sourcing the means to keep the centre afloat day-to-day is a full time job, Fitzpatrick admits.
“We could expand and expand and not be able to keep up with how much demand there is, and that’s only going to get worse,” she said.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is currently overseeing the constitutional review promised in the Queen’s Speech, expected to examine the role of British judges and the use of judicial review. The PM promised the review would “come up with proposals to restore trust in our institutions and in how our democracy operates”.
Gove will reportedly work alongside justice secretary Robert Buckland and newly-appointed attorney general Suella Braverman, and a Cabinet Office spokesperson said further updates would be made “in due course”.
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But Harrow Law Centre, and others like it, remain unconvinced and believe those most in need of help are the ones who will suffer.
“This is undoubtedly a political performance which will just harm the most vulnerable people in our society,” Fitzpatrick said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--The Definitive Ranking Of The 35 Greatest EastEnders Characters Of All Time

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There was plenty of (ahem) lively debate when we revealed which EastEnders characters made numbers 35-21 and we’re expecting plenty more of the same for numbers 20-11.
Two words: Mick Carter.
As we celebrate 35 years of Walford woe, which EastEnders characters have made the Top 20?
Brace yourselves people, this could get ugly...
20. Arthur Fowler
Bill Treacher 1985-96
BBC
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Nick Berry may believe that Every Loser Wins, but poor Arthur would beg to differ. Although he was devoted to his wife Pauline, it’s no wonder that this decent and proud man loved his allotment so much, as nobody could think straight in the chaos of 45 Albert Square. When the long-term unemployed Arthur stole the Christmas Club money in desperation to pay for daughter Michelle’s wedding, it led to a nervous breakdown in scenes which are still shocking and harrowing now. (Even more gallingly, the wedding didn’t even go ahead as Michelle jilted Lofty at the altar).
19. Tiffany Mitchell
Martine McCutcheon 1995-99
BBC
Walford’s answer to Lady Di, kind-hearted Tiffany was a massively popular heroine in the 90s. A cheerful barmaid whose smile could light up a room, her friendship with Bianca epitomised Girl Power. But her involvement with Grant proved to be Tiff’s downfall. Yes, there was baby Courtney - named after Courtney Love - but there was also brutality and betrayal. Her discovery via baby monitor that Grant slept with her mum has been ripped off by Soapland ever since. Her death after being hit by a car was poignant and truly memorable. You could say it was a Perfect Moment.
18. Max Branning
Jake Wood 2006-
BBC
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‘Enders has always had a sleazy side, and nobody symbolises that more than Max. Walford’s women are powerless to resist his signature scent of Eau de Regret, and we can kinda see why. The very definition of ‘so wrong it’s right,’ Max’s inability to keep it in his pants has always been his downfall. His weaknesses have seen him lose his family and end up wrongfully imprisoned. But the Square would be a much less colourful place without his hangdog expression.
17. Cindy Beale
Michelle Collins 1988-90; 1992-98
BBC
A relationship with Ian Beale can do strange things to a woman. In vampish Cindy’s case it sent her into the arms of both Ian’s half brother Simon and then Simon’s half brother David. (Don’t ever try to untangle Walford’s family tree). In the end, peroxide piranha Cindy hired a hitman to finish off Ian. The murder attempt failed, she fled with the kids and ended up going down for her efforts. An off-screen death in prison means that Cindy remains top of the fan’s back-from-the-dead wish list.
16. Dan Sullivan
Craig Fairbrass 1999-2001
BBC
This charismatic man mountain caused a trail of devastation during his two years in the Square – and he did it all with a smile. Possibly the only hardman to ever beat Phil at his own game, he cheated his way into owning 50% of The Vic, causing Frank and Peggy to have an attack of the vapours. He seduced Mel, made an enemy of Steve Owen, destroyed Ricky and Bianca’s marriage and broke Carol’s heart. A solid gold ’Enders villain.
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15. Grant Mitchell
Ross Kemp 1990-99; 2005-06; 2016
BBC
One of the characters that defined the 90s, Grant was a volatile individual whose service in the Falklands had left its scars. Impulsive and keen to live up to the Mitchell name, his ‘punch first, think later’ approach caused all kinds of aggro. Despite his brutish ways he could also be very emotional, and several women thought they’d be the one to finally fix him. His sibling rivalry with Phil peaked during the epic ‘Sharongate’ saga, when Grant played a tape of his wife Sharon discussing her infidelity with Phil to a packed Queen Vic. Grant glowering at the pair while a single tear rolls down his cheek is just as gripping now as it was 25 years ago.
14. Pauline Fowler
Wendy Richard 1985-2006
BBC
If you look up the phrase ‘long suffering’ there’s a picture of Pauline Fowler pursing her lips. Life was one long slog for Pauline, who started off as a warm, loyal and doting mother. Relentless drudgery and a series of tragedies meant that she ended her days as a poisonous, smothering battle-axe. But along the way the original Walford matriarch embodied EastEnders and went through some huge challenges including a baby in middle age, coping with daughter Michelle’s teenage pregnancy and coming to terms with son Mark’s HIV diagnosis. All while keeping that fruit bowl fully stocked.
13. Mel Owen
Tamzin Outhwaite 1998-2002; 2018-19
BBC
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Arriving as the local vicar’s sister, girl next door Mel soon became massively popular with viewers as she crossed paths with Dan, Phil and Steve. Her Millennium Eve wedding to Ian remains iconic. Discovering that he’d lied about daughter Lucy’s cancer diagnosis, Mel walked out on Ian just moments after their nuptials with the killer line “Well guess what, Ian? I don’t love you. And I never have done.” The show was so huge at the time that it was shown on a big screen to New Year crowds in London’s Trafalgar Square. Mel caused all kinds of mayhem during her recent return, and deserved much better than being run over by a truck.
12. Mick Carter
Danny Dyer 2013–
BBC
Mick Carter was rocking waistcoats long before Gareth Southgate made them popular. Secure in his masculinity, Mick is also partial to strutting around in wife Linda’s pink bathrobe. On first appearances, the Vic’s current gaffer is your typical geezer, keeping Cockney rhyming slang alive and quick with the banter. But look a little deeper and he will surprise you. When the Carters’ then-youngest son Johnny came out as gay, Mick’s wife Linda was horrified. (She couldn’t handle her beloved ‘Sausage’ being a fan of sausage). However, in one of the show’s most genuinely moving scenes Mick reassured his son that he would always be proud of him. In typical Mick style he then lightened the mood by quipping: “So you’re the one we shoulda called Nancy?”
11. Linda Carter
Kellie Bright 2013-
EastEnders BBC
Linda’s love of pink, Princess Diana and flamingos immediately brightened up The Queen Vic when she took over the reins with childhood sweetheart Mick. Their marriage was rock solid and she was devoted to her kids. She’s since endured rape, cancer and all manner of family drama, which has only cemented her status as a classic ’Enders survivor. Linda always paints on a smile for the punters no matter how uptight she’s feeling. Her recent descent into alcoholism has been believable, dramatic and challenging to watch.
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Coming tomorrow: We reveal the top 10.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--I’m Sikh, Bisexual And A Dad – And Still Figuring Out What It Means To Be All Three

HuffPost UK Getty Images
Growing up, I don’t think I even really knew what bisexuality was.
I knew I wasn’t gay – I was attracted to both men and women – but not having any LGBT role models that looked like me prevented me from seeing who I could really be.
I knew I wanted children and a stable family too, but that just wasn’t seen as possible for a same sex couple in those days. Instead, there was never any doubt I would have an arranged marriage, have children, and live the future expected of me. At just 21, my family introduced me to a potential wife and, even though we had only met twice, we agreed to marry.
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Once we did there was an immediate expectation that we would have children, but we knew we weren’t ready. We wanted to get to know each other, get our careers off the ground and buy our own home before we had children.
We did just that, and then had two beautiful daughters, two years apart. But life as parents felt different. Our dissimilarities became more and more apparent and we seemed to drift apart. Our marriage ended when my youngest daughter was just two.
“Seeing a counsellor to help me deal with the breakup of my marriage, I experienced the turning point of my life.”
Seeing a counsellor to help me deal with the breakup of my marriage, I experienced the turning point of my life. For the first time, I said the words: “I am gay”. After years of ignoring my attraction to men and shutting it away deep inside, I had admitted to someone that I was gay. Her response? Simply: “That’s okay”.
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Understanding and accepting myself as a gay man, I now faced the challenge of reconciling my identity as a Sikh man who is gay – and as a gay man who is the father to two children. I didn’t know any Sikhs who were gay, and I was not convinced these two aspects of my identity were compatible – until I researched the Sikh view on homosexuality and learned (to my surprise) there was nothing forbidding or condemning LGBT people. Indeed, there was plenty of evidence of equality for all regardless of their faith, colour, race, sexuality, sex or any other personal characteristic.
Now more secure in my identity as a gay Sikh man, I then had to reconcile what it meant to be be a gay dad. Again, there was little information to be found – until I found a Facebook group for gay dads, where hundreds of men shared the experiences and challenges they faced, and took inspiration from positive gay dad role models. Getting involved in this community, I was able to learn from other dads’ experiences of coming out to others, particularly ex-wives and children.
I now identify as a bisexual man, which presents its own challenges. Bisexual people are themselves marginalised by not just wider society but by some gay and lesbian people too; we’re told we’re not fully accepting of our sexuality as a gay person, or we’re not ‘trustworthy’ partners.
“Although I had reconciled these parts of my identity, I kept thinking about why it was so hard for me to find anyone to look up to”
Being a visibly Sikh man with a turban and a beard had led to much prejudice in itself, but being a member of the LGBT community means I’ve faced far more discrimination and racism than I would in mainstream society. ’Coming out’ to potential partners as a dad to gay/bi men can also make dating difficult, and being a bisexual man within the Sikh community means I face yet more prejudice and homophobia.
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Although I had reconciled these parts of my identity, I kept thinking about why it was so hard for me to find anyone to look up to. So I signed up as a volunteer for a charity called Diversity Role Models, who facilitate LGBT awareness workshops in schools for young people, teachers and parents.
I decided I wanted to be a visible Sikh LGBT role model – both because within the Sikh community most LGBT people are unable to come out, but equally because I want it to be seen by the wider community that it’s possible to be religious and be LGBT. I want to inspire young people to be comfortable about who they are, so they can stride forward in life with confidence. By my last count, I have reached 1,369 young people and 71 staff and governors through working with DRM, and I feel incredibly proud.
I’m extremely proud, too, to call my own children my biggest allies. They join me for Pride in London every year and tell me they are proud to have a bisexual dad. Despite this, there is still a lot of work to do to eradicate prejudice for people, let alone people like me: LGBT people who are ethnic minorities, LGBT people who have a visible faith identity, LGBT parents. If I can make a positive difference to even just one person’s life, then I can feel a sense of achievement.
Deep Singh is a father, HR professional and facilitator for Diversity Role Models, writing under a pseudonym. He contributes to the Rainbow Dads podcast.
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--2020-02-18--The Independent Group Wasn't A Failure – It Was About Putting Country Before Party

The Independent Group, before it disbanded last year. PA
There have been reports that MPs will split from the Labour Party if Rebecca Long-Bailey becomes Leader. Whether this would happen is questionable. Leaving is a difficult and deeply personal decision. It is more than just leaving a job, though it is that too, it is walking away from your purpose, political family, breaking ties and friendships.
A year ago today, I watched Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna, Gavin Shuker, Angela Smith, Ann Coffey, Mike Gapes and my husband Chris Leslie, do just that.
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I was leading a small group who were helping the MPs plan how to communicate why they were leaving Labour and what they stood for as well as against. The to-do list was endless – a company; governance; name; narrative; questions and answers; media plan; website; raise, receive and report funding; employ staff; hold data; plan activity and a launch. All without telling anyone anything that could leak.
Parliament was in recess the week of 18 February 2019. Not ideal. After months of making sense of Brexit and arcane parliamentary procedure, no one would blame political journalists for taking the week off. We shortened the room to avoid empty space but they came in droves.
The seven MPs arrived – it had been eight (I was told he changed his mind because he didn’t want to upset his mum).
We had rehearsed everything. A group of adults walking to a stage and moving from chairs to lectern may sound straightforward but when you have a group where one is due a baby and another a hip replacement, best to leave nothing to chance.
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Luciana began: “My name is Luciana Berger and I am the Labour Member –”. Instinct. Luciana gave one of the most devastating and extraordinary critiques of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour, which at any other time, in any other party, would have sounded the death knell of a party’s leadership.
Chris was next. His voice caught as he said it had not been an easy decision. It is the only time I have seen him emotional in public.
Angela told her personal story from poverty to parliament, then Gavin with an excoriating description of the Labour leadership. Ann followed: “I thought I would be in the Labour party for the rest of my life”. Mike’s words were angry and sad but full of fight and determination just like Mike himself. Lastly, Chuka echoed the journey and regret that had brought us here, but with hope for the future.
The words were theirs but they were speaking for all of us who had reached the end of the road with a party unrecognisable from the one we joined.
The speeches and questions ended. It felt positive and full of emotion. Genuine. We had created The Independent Group. Now we had to survive.
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The media plan was stretched with the sheer scale of the bids versus the tiny team.
But this was politics and it is the unforeseen that smacks you in the face. As an adviser, you kick yourself for not thinking of every possible scenario but some things are literally unimaginable. There would be a few of these moments. The first came on day one.
I’d only stepped out for a sandwich but I returned to faces of “oh god”. A Daily Politics discussion had turned to racism and Angela had referred to people with a “funny tinge”.
Horrendous but we needed to get through horrified disbelief. Angela had to apologise – an understatement. She was devastated and wretchedly sorry. Clearly no excuse or explanation could lessen how awful this was, but Angela did apologise and meant every word.
Everyone was angry but we had no choice but to carry on.
Just as I was heading home to go and be a parent, while Chris stayed for Newsnight, he appeared in his office: “The Tories are coming.”
We had talked about a small number of Conservatives joining us but nothing was certain.
“We need another event, same as ours.” We had 36 hours.
TIG was going to be a rollercoaster, with no respite and we were just setting off.
When I did finally leave, Luciana’s picture beamed up at me from a pile of newspapers and people were talking about us on the train.
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Many take satisfaction in saying TIG failed but whatever happened next, the objective of that day a year ago was to say publicly what many would only say in private: that Labour in the grip of the hard left should not be trusted to be in government. Taking a stand is not failure. Those seven MPs (joined by Joan Ryan and the four Conservatives) put their country before party and themselves, when others did not. It is what we should expect from all our elected representatives. I am proud and grateful they did.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--How To Date A Co-Worker Without Making It Weird For Everyone Else

Illustration: Damon Dahlen/HuffPost; Photos: Getty When you embark on an office romance, your decision does not just impact you.
As long as professionals are forced to spend so many waking hours together in one place, the office will not just be a workplace but also a convenient dating pool of people with similar occupations and shared interests.
One in three adults is or has been in a workplace romance, according to a 2019 poll by the Society for Human Resources Management.
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Dating a co-worker ― even the right way ― can be high-risk, high-reward. Karen, a professional whose office romance at a software company blossomed into marriage nearly 28 years ago, called the relationship the “best decision” she ever made but also a choice that others should approach with caution. Initially, Karen kept her relationship with a co-worker from another department quiet “to the point where co-workers were trying to set us up with other people because they had no idea.” Karen wanted to know the relationship was more than a fling before letting her colleagues know. “For the longest time we didn’t tell anybody. Nobody at work knew until we had a strong feeling it would be more than a casual thing,” she said. “I’m trying to imagine if we had been out in the open and it had fizzled. I think it would have been really awkward.”
Still, not all office romances are quiet or successful. Both participants and bystanders have some basic tenets to consider for minimising the drama these relationships can cause to everyone in the workplace.
Thoroughly read your HR policies on dating a colleague.
Before you engage in any type of office romance, figure out your company’s applicable policies and whether you have to disclose. Office romances are sometimes entirely against company policy, and more often so if you are dating up or down the organisational chart. A 2013 survey of 384 HR professionals from the Society for Human Resources Management found that 99% of workplaces banned romances between a supervisor and a direct report and almost half banned relationships between employees of a “significant rank difference.”
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It’s not hard to see why, considering the rate of workplace sexual harassment. But even clearly consensual relationships can be out of bounds when there is a power imbalance. Take the recent example of McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook, who was ousted for having a consensual relationship with an employee. McDonald’s code of conduct states that “employees who have a direct or indirect reporting relationship to each other are prohibited from dating or having a sexual relationship.”
You should also know your reputation may be unfairly harmed, regardless of company policies. Women have more to lose from an office romance: Research has found that colleagues are more likely to assume an entry-level woman employee is using a workplace romance with a superior to get ahead in her career than a male peer who does the same.
If you can’t compartmentalise work and home, you shouldn’t undertake an office romance.
When a romantic relationship goes public in the office, it also has public consequences for co-workers.
Public displays of affection at work can be disruptive mood-killers to everyone who witnesses them, for example. One 2011 study in the Journal of Managerial Psychology found that when co-workers observed their peers and married co-workers flirt, these co-workers reported less job satisfaction and stronger intentions of quitting.
Co-workers can also feel uncomfortable when office romances suggest preferential treatment, said Lisa Orbé-Austin, a licensed psychologist who focuses on helping professionals manage their careers. “If you keep things as they were before, and it really feels like a business relationship at work, I don’t think people tend to feel very different,” she said. “It’s when there is the other thing going on like private lunches, time away from the office, ... glances at a meeting ― all of this stuff cannot exist, because that does make people feel uncomfortable, it makes people feel like, ‘What is going on here?’”
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Keeping romance out of work is key to making this relationship work for others. When professionals in advertising, public relations, and marketing were asked to weigh in on what made a workplace romance healthy for a 2017 study on these type of relationships, many answered that a healthy workplace romance was one which “if you didn’t already know they were dating, you would have no idea.”
Being careful to treat her partner like any other colleague was what Aimee Pierce did. She’s a client service professional who met and still works with her husband at the same marketing company. “If we didn’t inform new team members, I don’t think they would know,” Pierce said about her marriage. She and her husband share a boss who knows about their relationship, and she advises others who want to engage in an office romance to be transparent and to “personally review your actions for anything that could, even very slightly, look or be twisted to look like preferential treatment.”
For herself, “If my answer is even a ‘maybe’ when I ask myself this question, I bring it to our mutual boss or other neutral party and document it,” Pierce said.
Plan for your breakup.
Embarking on an office romance means preparing for the possibility of its end before it begins.
Orbé-Austin said that before professionals engage in an office romance, they should consider how they usually react after breakups. “You have to prepare for all scenarios when you work with somebody that you can maintain integrity to the work and to yourself in this process,” she said. “If you have a history of when you break up with someone, [of] never wanting to see them again, you probably shouldn’t date someone at work.”
Angela, who worked in customer service for a subscription business at the time of her office romance, said her experience made her not recommend it to anyone else. Angela “didn’t want a reputation at work,” so she and her co-worker kept their romance quiet, but the relationship soured after she learned he was already dating someone else long-distance. Even though the romantic relationship ended, the professional one had to continue, and that was hard.
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“I couldn’t stand being there sitting with the man who lied and used me,” Angela said. “I kept my mouth shut around my other co-workers about it, but found I would make snarky comments about him sometimes. I ended up leaving the job due to the travel time, but it was a huge relief.”
When relationships end, employees can face a tough decision: Keep their job or be forced to work with someone they dated and now hate. Six percent of workers in a CareerBuilder survey said they left a job after a romantic relationship with a colleague went bad.
Don’t talk about your romance at work.
When you date colleagues, your personal business can become everyone’s business. As HuffPost reader Mary wrote to us, “I once told a newly-divorced guy friend who wanted to date a co-worker, ‘If you dump her, every girl in the office will know how big (or little) your penis is and how long you last!’”
Discussing romantic prospects at work can be an invitation for your colleagues to analyse your personal life. Talking about office romance at the office “opens the door to boundary violations,” Orbé-Austin said. “Keep the boundaries up from the very beginning. Even if you have feelings for this person, don’t be sharing them with co-workers.”
Office romance stories are not neutral topics for watercooler conversations, either. Orbé-Austin said that when you share a story about your office romance, you are also inviting your co-worker to think, “OK, how is this going to impact me?”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-17--Dom And Dumber? What The Race And IQ Adviser Row Tells Us About No.10

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Dom and Dumber?
The driving narrative of Boris Johnson’s election campaign - and now of his government - is that he represents the mainstream, not the extreme. From sorting Brexit’s first stage, to pumping cash to the NHS, to being ‘tough’ on crime and immigration, he managed to unite former Labour heartlands with Tory Home Counties.
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Jeremy Corbyn was depicted as the party leader most out of touch and most on the fringe of political discourse. And as Labour is distracted by its own leadership contest, the PM has in many ways enjoyed quite a honeymoon since he secured that 80-seat majority in December. He’s made two big judgement calls, on Huawei and HS2, and the national polls continue to give his party a 20-point lead over the Opposition.
Don’t forget too that Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings is the person who tells him to keep focused on the signal, not the noise. So in many ways, it was no surprise that No10 appeared unbothered about what it may think is yet another ‘metropolitan media’ squall, this time over the views of one of the PM’s advisers, Andrew Sabisky.
Sabisky, in case you missed it, has in the past riffed on Black people having lower IQ than whites, appears to have talked of “the very real racial differences in intelligence” and for good measure talked of compulsory “long-term contraception at the onset of puberty” to prevent the growth of an ‘underclass’.
All pretty shocking to many people, but perhaps not to this No.10. When he was Mayor of London, the PM himself once said that it is “relevant to a conversation about equality that as many as 16% of our species have an IQ below 85”. And Cummings has his own record in dabbling in debates about eugenics.
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Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings in October. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Don’t forget the PM’s own view on the perils of political correctness, made plain at his leadership launch last summer. Asked about his remarks about ‘letterbox’ and ‘bankrobber’ Muslim women, he said it is “vital that we as politicians remember that one of the reasons people have become disillusioned with us as a breed is because too often they feel we are muffling and veiling our language”.
Was all this why the PM’s deputy official spokesman, when asked today repeatedly whether the PM believed that black people were less intelligent than whites, refused to answer? No.10 had had plenty of time to come up with a line and yet had none. The spokesman even suggested that cabinet minister Grant Shapps wasn’t speaking for the government when he said Sabisky’s remarks were “not my views and those are not the views of the government”.
Amazingly, even several hours after that briefing, Downing Street aides didn’t clarify the issue. Their silence was deafening. It seemed for a large part of today that, for whatever reason - complacency, incompetence, hostility to Westminster journalists - Boris Johnson was happy to let the public think he was perfectly relaxed about sharing the view that Black people were less smart than whites. For a PM who prides himself on representing ‘mainstream’ Britain, appearing to flirt with extremist Britain was an ugly look indeed. Allegedly clever people had never sounded so stupid.
In the end, it was Sabisky himself who decided to defuse the whole row by quitting his contract (note he was not a permanently employed adviser). There was no Downing Street statement. That left No.10 looking both impotent and unconcerned about allegations of racism. It will have also left some wondering just who was the ‘Dom and Dumber’ pairing on this issue of IQ and equality - Cummings and Sabisky, or Cummings and Johnson?
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Quote Of The Day
“It isn’t a simple negotiating position which might move under pressure – it is the point of the whole project.”
No.10 Brexit negotiator David Frost explains why the UK won’t accept EU supervision of ‘level playing field’ on trade rules
Monday Cheat Sheet
More than half of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) MPs say they have experienced racism, racial profiling and prejudice from fellow MPs, an ITV News investigation has found.
Donald Trump’s acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney is due to meet Dominic Cummings in No.10 this week in Downing Street, amid fresh signs the White House wants the UK to still ban Huawei from its 5G phone network plans, according to the Guardian.
Keir Starmer, asked whether he would decriminalise cannabis as PM, told the Channel 4 Labour leadership hustings: “I wouldn’t immediately”. Rebecca Long-Bailey said of Labour’s 2019 manifesto policies “there’s not one I would drop”. Lisa Nandy said of the Monarchy she liked the sound of ‘Queen Meghan’.
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Tory MPs Damian Green and Huw Merriman warned No.10 not to pick a fight with the BBC after reports it wants the corporation “massively pruned back”, with the licence fee replaced by a subscription service.
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