thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--She Split Up With A Cop. Then He Had Her Arrested – 10 Times

Alexandra Heal, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

At 2.45am one night in 2016, Tracy’s father was woken up by torch lights darting around his garden.
Then there came an urgent thumping on the front door. He went downstairs to find police officers on his porch. They were looking for Tracy. They said they wanted to arrest her for harassment.
It was not the first time Tracy had been arrested, she said.
This was the latest in a series of incidents she feels her ex-partner had sought to orchestrate, using his position as an officer with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), to intimidate her by getting her in trouble with police. She sees this as a form of coercive control only available to a police officer.
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“I’d sent something like 10 messages in seven days,” Tracy, whose name has been changed, told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
She had been texting her ex-partner, an officer with GMP, because he had not been allowing her any contact with their young daughter.
When the police called at her parents’ house, Tracy was in fact staying with her sick grandmother more than 50 miles away. So the following night, officers from GMP paid that house a visit instead. They arrested Tracy just after midnight. Her grandmother collapsed soon after and had to be seen by paramedics, Tracy believes due to shock.
“I believe his use of the law and the system, and his knowledge of police procedures, has made him able to do things, and the police have taken him more seriously because he was a police officer,” Tracy said. When she once threatened to report her ex-partner to the force over concerns about his behaviour, she said he replied, “I am the police”.
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“It is breathtaking that victims in this position are often sure, as this one is, that they have been treated badly by police for complaining against one of their own.” - Vera Baird, Victim's Commissioner
Tracy feels some police officers responded to her ex-partner’s allegations against her with undue severity because he was a police officer. She said she was arrested 10 times in four years. Two of these occasions led to convictions.
GMP later failed to take disciplinary action against him, she believes.
The force found in a misconduct investigation that he had given “factually incorrect” and incomplete information to courts and to police, knowing it would likely lead to Tracy’s arrest, but the force said he had no misconduct case to answer because he had not been acting in the course of his job as a police officer when the events occurred.
The Victims’ Commissioner, Vera Baird, said GMP’s reasoning was not acceptable.
“Stories such as this one bring the police into disrepute,” she said. “It is breathtaking that victims in this position are often sure, as this one is, that they have been treated badly by police for complaining against one of their own. They see their adversary protected, as in this case, where the police hierarchy failed to impose even a disciplinary penalty ... A victim has nowhere else to go for help but their local police force.”
Tracy’s story follows the Bureau’s reporting on the experiences of those abused at home by police officers. Multiple women told us their abusive officer partners had misused their professional positions to further intimidate or harass them.
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Accounts included the stalking of an ex-girlfriend in a marked police car; threats of police loyalty and getting the women “put in prison”; and provoking and then recording the women at home, suggesting it would later be used against them.
Nearly 100 women from around the UK have come forward to share experiences of domestic abuse by partners in the police. In an attempt to force action, lawyers from the Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) have launched an official “super-complaint” about forces’ handling of such allegations, covering all forces in England and Wales.
The complaint, which police regulators are now investigating, calls for changes in forces’ procedures, such as appointing another force to investigate allegations and automatically bringing in the Independent Office for Police Conduct for oversight.
There is no suggestion Tracy reported her ex-partner to any police force for domestic abuse. Yet she feels his use of legal and policing systems against her was a form of emotional abuse – only available to a police officer – from which she is only now starting to recover.
The Bureau shared her case with CWJ’s lawyers who in turn alerted the Greater Manchester deputy mayor for policing, Bev Hughes. She told us she had raised concerns with GMP’s chief constable and that discussions about the case were ongoing.
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Hughes said she had also asked GMP to review the wider issues raised in the nationwide super-complaint and that the force has since developed a detailed action plan in response. “Retrospective examination of criminal investigations has also taken place to scrutinise investigations, decision-making and to identify any learning that can be done,” she said.
Commenting on the super-complaint, Hughes added: “I am very clear that allegations of police perpetrated domestic abuse must be effectively and appropriately investigated, just the same as for any other member of the public. I understand that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary will commence an investigation into the super-complaint shortly and I welcome that investigation.”
‘The beginning of hell’
Danny Noble for TBIJ
Tracy told the Bureau her saga began in 2013 when she and her ex-partner were still together. “He called me a ‘fat bitch who couldn’t even get having a baby right’,” she said of an argument after their daughter’s premature birth. “So I slapped him across the face. He rang the police because he said I needed teaching a lesson.”
GMP arrested her for the first time and kept her in a cell overnight, then released her with no action, she said. “That was the beginning of hell, a situation I thought I would never get out of.”
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The couple split up and their young daughter lived with her father. Soon after, Tracy said, she was served with her first court order.
“At 6am there was a knock on the door, and a man from the court handed me a ‘non-molestation order’,” Tracy said. It transpired her ex-partner had taken the injunction out against her, and it meant she could be arrested if she contacted him.
“I went to a solicitor who said we’d challenge it. But in the interim I sent him a message saying ‘I’m sorry, please let me see [my daughter]’, because he was withholding her,” she said. “A week later there was a knock at my mum and dad’s door at 7am and it was the police to arrest me for it.”
“What woman separated from her baby wouldn’t look at a piece of paper and break it to see her baby? I don’t believe any woman on Earth wouldn’t break it.” - Tracy
This, Tracy told us, set the pattern for her ex-partner’s behaviour: in her view misusing his legal and policing knowledge to emotionally abuse her by getting her in trouble with the police. Over the following six months, she said, she was arrested four more times on his reports to the police of her breaking the injunction.
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“What woman separated from her baby wouldn’t look at a piece of paper and break it to see her baby?” Tracy said. “I don’t believe any woman on Earth wouldn’t break it.”
Two of these arrests led to her spending the night in police custody. “Twelve hours. That was a long, long time,” she said.
She got so used to time in police cells that she would take some books to read, she said, but this did not eradicate the “feelings of panic, like the walls are closing in”.
A few years later, her ex-partner’s pattern of behaviour started all over again. When he was looking after their daughter he would block Tracy’s contact with her, so she would text and email him. He would then report her to GMP for harassment, without telling the police why she was contacting him.
This led to the 2.45am visit to Tracy’s parents’ house, and the midnight arrest at her grandmother’s home the next day. The police de-arrested her that night when she said she could not leave her sick grandmother; when she voluntarily attended a police station the next day, they arrested her again. She spent 11 hours in custody before being released with no further action.
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Tracy told us she never thought she would end up in a police cell. “Before ... I had a good flat, a good job, a good social life, then my life was turned upside down,” she said. “I just felt hunted.”
She described how her self-esteem was eroded and she had no voice to push back on the injunctions or allegations being made against her. “I had police and social services all saying ‘you are the abuser and [your ex-partner] is the victim’.” She said she felt they were publicly saying they understand coercive control but not looking adequately at the evidence in this instance.
She was in constant fear of the police and said at times she felt suicidal. “Eventually I got to the point where I thought I’m either going to die or I’m going to have to stand up for myself,” she said. “So I started writing the police letter after letter.”
‘Honesty and integrity’
Tracy’s letters of complaint led to GMP undertaking an internal misconduct investigation. The resulting report stated that her ex-partner had twice failed to tell the police, when reporting Tracy for harassment, that she was contacting him because he had not let her speak to their child.
It also said he had “failed” to tell this to a court in a sworn statement, when successfully applying for a second injunction against Tracy for harassment.
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The report found that Tracy’s ex-partner would have been aware, “with his knowledge of police procedure” that withholding key information from both the court and police would most likely lead to her arrest.
The injunction, it said, “had a power of arrest which [Tracy’s ex-partner] would then use … against her … by reporting her to the police”. He did exactly that, which led to what Tracy says was her 10th arrest.
GMP concluded, however, that he had no misconduct case to answer. “His actions were carried out in his capacity as a private individual in his own time and not in his capacity as a police officer and although his personal actions might discredit him, they do not discredit the police service as a whole,” the report stated.
Kay Neve, a former detective constable with Kent police who worked on professional misconduct and domestic abuse cases, disagrees with GMP’s conclusions. She told the Bureau that she would think a member of the public would be very concerned if they found a police officer had given factually incorrect information in a court statement. She added that in her view continuing as an officer in such circumstances would usually be untenable.
“How can you then, with any degree of confidence, allow that police officer to end up in a magistrates’ or crown court and be 100% guaranteed that what they are saying under oath is the full truth?” she continued. “It questions the very integrity of that person to the extent it could potentially bring discredit on the force.”
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Tracy’s ex-partner eventually resigned while under investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to charge him for perverting the course of justice.
GMP told the Bureau it would be inappropriate to comment on the case in detail. “[Tracy’s] complaint was investigated by GMP’s Professional Standards Branch with evidence sent to the CPS for their consideration. The rationale for there being no criminal, or disciplinary action taken against any party can be found in the investigation report sent to [Tracy].”
Double standards
Tracy believes some officers may have treated her more harshly than usual because the person making the accusations against her was an officer; she feels she was subjected to “nothing short of harassment by the police”.
On what Tracy described as the worst day of her life, she was with her daughter at a friend’s house. She had been drinking and told the Bureau she had planned to stay the night, but said she then got a call from her ex-partner asking her to drive their daughter back to him.
“He said if I didn’t get her back to the house he would send the police round. There was always the threat of the police believing him,” Tracy said. By this point, she had already been arrested six times – including five times for breaking the injunctions he had taken out against her – and convicted in a magistrates’ court of breaching the orders and assaulting him (which she says she now plans to appeal).
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“I put her in the car and to this day, I don’t know why I did that… why didn’t I just ring a taxi?” she said. “You can judge me, because this is just the worst thing ever... I don’t ever try to excuse or defend it.”
Tracy said when she arrived at his house, officers from Lancashire police were waiting with her ex-partner for her to arrive. They arrested her and she was later convicted of drink-driving.
A Lancashire constabulary spokesman said: “Lancashire constabulary expects the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from all our staff. The vast majority of our staff adhere to these standards, including adhering to correct decision-making and legal constraints, no matter who the informant may be. We take great pride in delivering a first-class policing service every day.”
Tracy feels her ex-partner’s allegations were handled differently by the police than if he had been an ordinary member of the public. She said GMP made no effort to contact her or ask her to attend a police station voluntarily before officers went to her parents’ house at 2.45am to arrest her.
“I don’t believe, if he’d been a civilian, that the police would have taken such a heavy-handed approach,” she said.
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Neve said the fact the GMP officers de-arrested Tracy that night so she could care for her grandmother suggested they did not need to arrest her in the middle of the night in the first place.
“By [de-arresting her] they obviously trusted she would present herself to a police station voluntarily, because their other option would have been to ring round and get somebody else to sit with the grandmother,” she said.
The GMP report considered whether there was collusion between Tracy’s ex-partner and other officers “to control and intimidate her”. It concluded the officers had “done nothing wrong”.
‘I have lost that part of her childhood’
Danny Noble for TBIJ
Seven years after she was first arrested, Tracy finally lives with her daughter again. She said she is only now starting to recover from her ordeal.
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“I’ve been arrested 10 times over the course of these events. And I believe one of them I deserved, that was the drink-driving. None of the others I deserved. I slapped [my ex-partner] in 2013 and from then my life just fell away. That has given him so much power.”
“There are not many types of psychological abuse worse than not being able to see a child.” - Tracy
Tracy told us she was separated from her young daughter for a year in total throughout the saga. “I just existed,” she said, claiming that once her ex-partner did not let her speak to the child on her birthday. “She thought her mummy didn’t want to speak to her.”
“There are not many types of psychological abuse worse than not being able to see a child.”
She said that in her view, “you read over and over again about women being abused by men and the police don’t do anything,” she said. “And there’s a police officer here who, it seems to me, utilised injunctions as a tool to try to abuse me, and the slightest reaction I then had, I got arrested for. ”
In her eyes, the failure to discipline her ex-partner has left him emboldened to continue discrediting her. Months after GMP closed its investigation, he told a third party through Facebook that she was a domestic abuser with cautions for breaking injunctions but that he, on the other hand, had “never been arrested, cautioned or convicted of any offence”.
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When the Bureau approached him for comment he vehemently denied all the allegations in this article. He said he had never been arrested, charged or convicted “by the police or any other authority for any of the allegations she has made”, adding that meanwhile Tracy has been convicted of assault, breaching injunctions and drink-driving.
He also disputed the GMP report. “I was unhappy with the content of the report as it is factually incorrect,” he said. “I was not found guilty of any offences and not subject to any disciplinary action.”
Tracy is planning to try to appeal her assault conviction, and otherwise she is trying to move on with her life, reunited with her daughter.
“I don’t have a lot of memories of her. I have lost that part of her childhood, but I try not to dwell on it,” she said.
“I just want to be a normal mummy, picking her up from school, giving her her tea.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Exclusive: Majority Of Business Leaders 'Open' To A Four Day Week, Poll Suggests

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An overwhelming majority of business leaders are open to the introduction of a four day working week, a new poll suggests.
A total of 79% of more than 500 business leaders said they were either “very open” (47%) or “quite open” (32%) to a four day week, the Survation poll shared with HuffPost UK showed.
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The survey, commissioned by the 4 Day Week Campaign and the think-tank Autonomy, also referenced concerns that firms could see their wage bills increase if a four day week was introduced without workers having their pay cut.
But the positive response to the idea suggested that this is not a major issue for companies, the 4 Day Week Campaign said.
Britons work longer hours than almost all other countries in western Europe but its productivity lags behind many EU rivals.
Earlier this month, Labour’s shadow employment secretary Andy McDonald said a four day week should be “increasingly trialled with the introduction of more pilot schemes”.
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Treasury minister Kemi Badenoch met with Labour MP Clive Lewis to discuss the idea at the end of July and agreed to keep a dialogue going on the issue.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has also replaced the coronavirus furlough scheme with a scheme that will see the government support workers doing shorter hours in a bid to help them keep their jobs during the Covid recession.
Joe Ryle, a campaigner with the 4 Day Week Campaign, said: “This is exactly the right moment to introduce a four day week with no reduction in pay across the country.
“The four day week is no longer seen as a scary idea to business because they are realising that it would boost productivity and give workers a much better work-life balance.
“It’s time for business, working with the trade unions and the government, to make it happen.”
Will Stronge, director of research at Autonomy, said: “The four day week is popular with businesses, trade unions and even Conservative voters.
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“Some businesses have already begun getting on with it themselves post Covid-19 but this added support from business leaders should put the rocket boosters on.
“The UK has a unique opportunity to be a pioneer for the four day week and it’s about time we get on with it.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--The Difference Between Stress And Burnout (And How To Tell Which You Have)

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You’ve been feeling exhausted, depleted and disengaged from work for a while now. Is it job stress? Or is it burnout?
The terms “stress” and “burnout” are sometimes used interchangeably. They exist on the same spectrum, but there are some key differences.
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For one, stress that’s temporary or tied to a particular event is a normal part of life that we all experience from time to time.
“We feel stress when our mental, physical or emotional reserves are pushed past our comfort level,” Ryan Howes, a clinical psychologist in Pasadena, California, told HuffPost. “It’s important to note that stress can be negative, like trying to please a demanding boss or pushing to meet a deadline, or positive, like working out or throwing a party. Each of these push us out of the comfort zone, but the effort seems temporary and may actually help us grow and achieve a desired goal.”
Burnout, however, is a response to extended, excessive stress that leaves you mentally and physically drained, cynical, detached and less effective as a result. Left unresolved, burnout can give way to mental health conditions like clinical depression.
“Suppose we continually experience stress for a prolonged period of time, without being able to change it,” said Lee Chambers, an environmental psychologist and wellbeing consultant. “In that case, we can begin to feel empty, lacking motive, pessimistic and generally careless about life. This is burnout.”
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When you’re dealing with burnout, you may feel hopeless about your situation. You have trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
“The overarching feeling is scarcity of energy, motivation and purpose, and feeling like it won’t change,” Chambers said.
Another way to look at it? “Stress can be characterised by over-engagement — or doing too much — whereas burnout often leads to disengagement — or not doing enough — and feeling emotionally blunted,” said Zainab Delawalla, a clinical psychologist in Atlanta.
In 2019, the World Health Organisation classified job burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” (not a medical condition) in its International Classification of Diseases. Generally, the term burnout is used in the context of work, but it doesn’t just happen to people who are overworked. It can also occur when you’re being under-challenged professionally or because of unfair treatment in the workplace.
Burnout can also apply to other areas of life, such as parenting — and more recently, the coronavirus pandemic. Whatever the source of continued stress may be, you’ll start to feel like you’re running on fumes, making it more difficult to handle basic responsibilities and enjoy the once-pleasurable aspects of your life.
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fizkes via Getty Images There's a difference between stress and burnout, and it's important to have healthy coping mechanisms for both.
Signs You May Be Experiencing Burnout
Some symptoms of burnout are similar to those that pop up during times of stress. With stress, however, the symptoms generally subside when the event (like a big presentation at work, for example) has passed. If the symptoms are more severe and persist over a longer period of time, they could be indicative of burnout.
“This is because the difference between stress and burnout is a matter of degree,” psychologist and author Sherrie Bourg Carter wrote in a blog post for Psychology Today. “So the best way to prevent burnout is to identify the symptoms as close as possible to the less severe end of these continuums, because the less severe the symptoms, the easier they are to relieve.”
Here are some signs you’re experiencing burnout:
1. You have sleep issues.
You’re permanently tired — physically, emotionally and mentally. But no matter how much sleep you get, you never feel rested.
You might be oversleeping or you might struggle with insomnia because thoughts of work keep you up at night, Delawalla said.
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2. You dread going to work.
Just thinking about your job fills you with angst.
“You know you’re starting to feel burned out when the Sunday Scaries are your least favourite time of the week. When the idea of being fired or made redundant seems like a positive outcome. When your first thought when you begin your work day is how good it will feel to leave work at the end of the day,” said Howes, author of the “Mental Health Journal for Men.”
3. You get sick a lot.
The prolonged stress can tax your immune system, which means you get ill more often and it takes longer to recover when you do, Delawalla said.
You may also experience other physical symptoms like frequent headaches, digestive issues and muscle tension.
4. You’ve lost your motivation and sense of purpose.
The physical and mental exhaustion wear you down over time. You have trouble pushing yourself to complete tasks and assignments because your work feels pointless.
“The overarching feeling is scarcity of energy, motivation and purpose, and feeling like it won’t change.” - Lee Chambers, environmental psychologist
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“This comes with a feeling of pessimism with everything in life, negative attitudes towards others in our lives, continued low mood and feeling detached from reality,” Chambers added. “We have low morale and ask ourselves: Is it worth bothering?”
5. You’re isolating yourself.
Chatting with co-workers and making plans with friends and family used to be a bright spot in your week. Now you feel like you can’t afford to take a break, nor do you have the wherewithal to engage with other people. (And now, with the coronavirus, it’s much harder to do those things anyway.)
“You have no desire to seek help or even socialise, often fuelled by feelings of guilt,” Delawalla said. “Like, ‘If I can’t find the time to do X, I certainly don’t have time to hang out with my friends.’”
6. Your work performance is suffering.
Your concentration and creativity are shot, which means you’re less productive and making more mistakes.
“You may find yourself having to re-read things or asking colleagues to repeat themselves,” Bourg Carter said. “Because you can’t focus, it takes longer to get your work done, so things begin to pile up, causing more stress. At its worse, these symptoms prevent you from getting anything done, and you simply can’t keep up.”
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You may also find it difficult to maintain positive relationships with your colleagues, romantic partner and friends.
“Cynicism and poor emotional regulation also lead to increased conflict and feelings of frustration and irritability,” Chambers said.
Advice On Dealing With Burnout
Geber86 via Getty Images Experts recommend checking in with yourself often so you don't get to the point of complete burnout.
The earlier you recognise the signs of burnout, the better. Unfortunately, it’s often not until things get dire that people realise just how burned out they really are. So remember to check in with yourself often.
Think you’re dealing with burnout? Here’s what experts recommend doing to combat it.
Look for ways to make your work feel meaningful.
Some aspects of your work life (like the company culture or project deadlines) may be outside of your control, so focus on what you can change. Are there any steps you can take that might make your job more enjoyable and fulfilling? Have a conversation with your boss about tackling a project that actually excites you and delegating some of your other responsibilities. Perhaps there’s another role at the company that would be a better fit for you.
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“Maybe your actual job description doesn’t align with your passion of bringing joy to others, but is there another way you can bring joy to co-workers or clients that could scratch that itch?” Howes said.
Carve out time to do the things that make you feel good.
When you’re burning out, taking time for yourself may feel impossible, but it’s even more essential. Incorporate whichever activities feel enriching and restorative to you: journaling, running, doing yoga, going to the beach or playing guitar, to name a few.
“Looking at what you do as hobbies and interests: Are these things which recharge you both from enjoyment and the people you are surrounded with?” Chambers said. “Sometimes we can burn out because we feel we have to be everything, or can’t say no, and we end up doing lots of things that other people enjoy. It is vital that we find the things that make us smile, laugh and feel warm inside.”
Creating a self-care routine can also be beneficial, but don’t put undue pressure on yourself to execute it perfectly each day.
“It’s important that we don’t try to rigidly shoehorn self-care into our lives, as this can potentially cause us to fire the perfectionism, which might have been a factor in burnout,” Chambers said.
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Take some time off work, if you’re able to.
That may include incorporating regular breaks throughout your day, keeping more consistent work hours or requesting time off to regroup.
“Taking an intentional break is vital to rest and recharge the body and mind,” Chambers said. “Taking yourself away, especially into a natural environment, induces feelings of grounding and serenity, and the solitude can give us the headspace to start to process the bigger picture.”
Reach out for support.
It’s not uncommon to withdraw from friends and family when you feel burned out. But during this time, you need to be reminded that you’re not alone and that there are people in your life who want to help — and may have even dealt with burnout themselves.
“Planning where to turn in challenging times is also essential,” Chambers said. “Having the knowledge that there are people who can support you, resources you can access, and a whole network out there to use makes us feel more connected and that we no longer have to find all the solutions ourselves.”
In addition to talking to people in your circle, you may also want to consider speaking with a mental health professional.
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“Leaving a position that burns you out may be the best decision you ever made.” - Ryan Howes, psychologist
“Stress can often bring underlying anxieties to the surface and burnout shares many of its characteristics with clinical depression — like disengagement, lack of motivation, fatigue, sleep problems,” Delawalla said. “Therapy can not only offer a neutral lens through which to evaluate your current circumstances, but also teach you the skills to manage stress before it leads to anxiety or depression.”
If the situation isn’t improving, it may be time to look for a new job.
Tried implementing some of these strategies and still miserable? That may be an indication you need to explore other career opportunities.
“Your job isn’t as important as your health, and facing burnout means it’s time to accept a change is needed,” Chambers said.
Start by taking small steps like updating your CV, making a list of what you’re looking for in a new job, connecting with a mentor or researching available positions to get some momentum going. Taking action feels empowering and makes you more hopeful about the future, Chambers said.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Why I'm Removing My Republican Tattoo After 21 Years In The GOP

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It’s a long story involving online college Jeopardy, the University of Colorado at Boulder and too much cheap vodka, but suffice it to say that late one night in the fall of 1999, when I was newly 18, I got the Republican elephant tattooed on my body.
For a while, I was quite pleased with that decision, willingly going to battle against my liberal friends and roommates, always leaning on my conservative values of fiscal responsibility, limited government, personal accountability and private sector efficiencies.
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Fast forward 21 years to an all-time high deficit, beyond questionable extensions and abuses of federal power, astounding private sector corruption, and a president who insults everyone who calls him out on his lies as fake, weak, nasty dummies, and my previous Republican defences are out the window. That little red-and-blue pachyderm represents something different today than it did at the end of the Clinton years.
This isn’t the first time I’ve thought about removing my one and only tattoo. I sent emails inquiring about laser removal when Donald Trump won the GOP nomination in 2016, having been against his selfish slash-and-burn business practices for years and certainly opposed to his total lack of moral character. But I didn’t really think he’d get elected. My party, you see, likes morals and hard work and fairness. There’s no possible way, I thought, that my fellow Republicans could vote for this guy.
You know how this story ends, but yet, it’s not over. I was confused four years ago, and I’m even more confused now.
To me, Trump is about as un-Republican as someone can get. So why are we rallying around this guy? Here, a quick roundup of the proof that his values don’t align with those of traditional conservatives: He allowed unmarked federal agents to detain protesters in Portland, Oregon (someone should brief Trump on federalism). He convinced his fans that credible media outlets are the public’s greatest enemy, when our founding Republicans, or anyone with sense, will tell you that the media are the everyday citizen’s greatest weapon. He continued to allow already vulnerable children not just to be separated from their parents when they tried to immigrate to the US, but to be locked in cages. He suggested delaying the November election (totalitarian, anyone?). Then there’s the spending — my God, the spending ― and trying to limit states’ rights to regulate drugs (again, federalism). Not to mention engaging in childish tweet wars; presenting America as a selfish, dumb bully to the rest of the world; the nutso trade deals; and, oh yeah, the whole publicly-mocking-a-disabled-person thing. (Sadly, as an American, I’ve already been conditioned to expect my leaders to be sexual predators, so I won’t even go down that road.)
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For the so-called Republicans who don’t think I’m really a Republican in spite of marking myself with our symbol, know this: I’m all about the tax cuts; I hated Barack Obama’s health insurance requirement and was thrilled it got (essentially) repealed; I’m pro the Second Amendment, capital punishment and capitalism; and I’m anti abortion, lofty minimum wages and bankrupting our country. I believe in individual freedoms, like praying in school or marrying anyone you want.
Increasingly, though, my little elephant represents overreaching government power, empty moral soapboxing, racism and a lack of regard for anyone who doesn’t fall in line with the powers that be. Some of this may have existed within the party long before Trump, but now it’s taken over. The racism, especially, I ignored for too long — resting on my laurels as a member of the party of Lincoln that ended slavery — but that small sector of our party has swelled and taken over, and I can no longer ignore it.
As if having a Republican elephant tattoo hasn’t become embarrassing enough, it’s faded and in a regrettable (yes, tramp stamp) part of my body. Remember, I was 18. Courtesy of Allyson Reedy
I know there are others out there like me. Republicans who gravitated to the party for those same conservative values that I used to wield like swords against my liberal friends: fiscal responsibility, limited government, personal accountability and private sector efficiencies. Trump and too many of the conservatives speaking for us over the past several years share none of these values.
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My hope has been that the traditional Republicans would step up and take back control, talking common sense to a president who has none, denouncing the spending, the racism, the atrocities, the incendiary comments, the overreaching government power. But that hasn’t happened. The radicals speak like they’re the majority of the GOP, and I’m finally believing them.
Our party has been hijacked, and I think our best chance of getting it back is to not vote for Trump. We need to send the message that a candidate like this is unacceptable. If Trump-despising Republicans vote for him because we’re afraid of the alternative, our party will slip further and further away. If we want a chance at a decent candidate four years from now, we need to let this one go.
I’m not saying we should all vote for Joe Biden ― I don’t plan to ― but if we choose a third party that aligns more with our core values (like, say, the Libertarians), we can actually make a difference and steer our party back in the right direction.
For now, though, it’s time for my elephant tattoo to go. I’m no longer an 18-year-old kid drinking too much cheap vodka, and in fact, I’ve got kids of my own. Hopefully, by the time they’re 18, the GOP will be something worth inking again.
This article first appeared on HuffPost Personal
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--How Dirty Is Cash Anyway?

How Dirty Is Cash Anyway?

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During the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve all become more aware of the many places germs can live, from certain surfaces of buildings to everyday objects. One frequently touched item that people are rethinking is cash.
Over the past six months, many shops and restaurants have gone cashless, instead limiting forms of payment to debit and credit cards or digital systems like Apple Pay. In March, South Korea removed all bank notes from circulation for two weeks for disinfection — and even burned some — to slow the spread of the disease. China took similar steps in February.
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Months into the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clarified that transmission through surfaces might not be as common as originally feared. But that doesn’t mean paper money is totally germ-free. So how dirty is cash anyway?
“As humans, we’re bathed in microbes,” Philip M. Tierno, a professor of microbiology and pathology at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, told HuffPost. “They’re all over us and the things we handle.”
In 2014, researchers from NYU’s Center for Genomics & System Biology identified roughly 3,000 types of bacteria on cash notes from a Manhattan bank. These microbes included bacteria linked to food poisoning, staph infections, gastric ulcers and pneumonia.
“As humans, we’re bathed in microbes.” - Philip M. Tierno, professor at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine
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Cash money tends to circulate for about 6.6 years, according to the Federal Reserve, so there’s plenty of opportunity to pick up germs. A 2002 study from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio tested 68 cash notes and found that 94% were contaminated with bacteria.
“Typically humans deposit bacteria from three areas of the body ― respiratory secretions from the nose and mouth like streptococci, skin organisms like staphylococci, and faecal matter. As a society, we’re actually bathed in faeces,” Tierno said.
“Luckily for us, not everything is a pathogen, and we do have an immune response which tries to combat infection,” he added. “In addition, it takes a certain number of organisms to cause an infection, which varies depending on the pathogen. In order for the body to be infected with salmonella, you’d need to take in or ingest a high amount of bacteria to overcome your normal gut flora, while theoretically only a few viral particles can give rise to an episode of noro-virus.”
He added that scientists are still studying the coronavirus to see how many viral particles are generally needed to overcome immunity.
Tierno also noted that he’s found more microbes on paper money than on coins.
“Coinage has metal components like nickel, copper, silver and zinc, some of which can be antimicrobial,” he explained. “So on coinage you’ll find lower amounts.”
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MarioGuti via Getty Images Newer bills typically don't have as many microbes as older money.
Other factors that affect the microorganism count include how old a cash note is and the time of year.
“New money has a proprietary antimicrobial substance in it, so they’re less likely to support microbes,” Tierno explained. “But it wears out over time, so the older the money is, the more likely there are microbes on it. Heat and moisture also make a difference, so you might find large quantities of microorganisms on money handled by a food vendor in the summer who’s dealing with oily materials that help microorganisms survive more readily.”
Research also suggests that lower-denomination cash notes are likely to have higher quantities of microorganisms because they’re handled more often.
Other substances frequently detected on cash? Drugs.
There are traces of cocaine on as many as 80% and 90% of cash notes. A 2001 study detected heroin on 70%, methamphetamine on 30% and PCP on 20% of cash.
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“Money is not necessarily the biggest conduit for infection, but any object touched multiple times in the day by different people, like your phone, can be a problem.” - Tierno
Yeast, mould, animal DNA and food particles are just some of the other things found on paper currency that might make you want to sanitise your hands a little more often.
Tierno noted that you’re not extremely likely to get ill from cash but emphasised that it’s a good idea to wash your hands when handling money or other high-touch items, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Prior to touching your mouth, eyes or nose ― big points of entry into your body from your hands ― you should wash your hands,” he said. ”Money is not necessarily the biggest conduit for infection, but any object touched multiple times in the day by different people, like your phone, can be a problem. That’s why you should periodically disinfect your phone as well.”
When it comes to slowing the spread of the coronavirus, Tierno has summed up his views in his new book, “First, Wear a Face Mask: A Doctor’s Guide to Reducing Risk of Infection During the Pandemic and Beyond.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--12 Baby Names Beautifully Inspired By The Four Seasons

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At the autumn equinox, the weather changed almost overnight: from heady, hot summer sun to cool rain and the glow of copper leaves on the ground.
If you want to channel the time when the earth settles into a new season, what better way than to give your little one a name inspired by this special shift in time?
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We have a wealth of baby name inspiration on HuffPost UK Parents, but here are 12 monikers that beautifully represent the changing of the seasons.
Angelique Tuomivaara / EyeEm via Getty Images Photo Taken In Finland, Oulu
Autumn
Amber
In Arabic, the meaning of Amber is ‘jewel’. You may know it by the honey-coloured stone that’s actually made of fossilised tree resin.
Ash
In Hebrew, the meaning of the name ‘Ash’ is happy. It’s also a beautiful tree.
Autumn
Call a spade a spade! One of the most perfect names for a baby born in autumn is... Autumn, from the Latin word ‘autumnus’.
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Summer
Kyra
Krya comes from the Egyptian word for ‘sun’.
Skye
This pretty name means sky and is taken from the old Norse ‘sky’, meaning ‘cloud’.
Summer
Once again, the straightforward English name Summer – associated with the warmest season of the year – wins our vote!
Ivlianna via Getty Images
Spring
Blossom
Of English origin, this name means ‘flower’ or ‘bloom’.
Dawn
Old English in origin, Dawn takes its meaning from the first appearance of light, or daybreak.
Hazel
Hazel comes from the name of the tree, or the colour, and was originally spelled hæsel in Old English.
Winter
Holly
This comes from the Old English, meaning, ‘dwelling by the clearing by the hollow’. But of course, it conjures up thoughts of the perfect Christmas plant.
Jack
Jack, meaning ‘God is gracious’, is forever tied to Jack Frost – a figure representing ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold in books, stories and film.
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Niamh


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--How A 'Design Flaw' In The Universal Credit Algorithm Is Forcing People To Go Hungry

Universal Credit claimants are being forced to go hungry, fall into debt and face psychological distress because of a “design flaw” in the benefit’s algorithm, a human rights charity said.
A new report by the Human Rights Watch claims the “poorly designed” system, which relies on an automated means-tested computer algorithm to calculate social security benefits to people out of work or on a low income, “threatens the rights of people most at risk of poverty”.
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It has called on the UK government to implement a comprehensive redesign of the algorithm at a time when up to nine million workers risk facing redundancy with the end of the furlough scheme looming.
Universal Credit claimants are entitled to receive payments based on changes to earnings, but the charity claims the data only uses the wages people receive within a calendar month and ignores how frequently people are paid.
In cases where an individual is paid multiple times in one month (as is common among people in irregular or low-paid jobs), the algorithm can overestimate earnings and “drastically” shrink Universal Credit payments.
One claimant, who had been paid two sets of wages over an eight-week period, said he had been forced into rent arrears after receiving a lower-than-expected payment from the DWP.
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“You’re banging your head on a brick wall with Universal Credit,” he said. “I like work … it gives me some pride but I just don’t understand how [the payments] work out. Doesn’t make sense, does it? I am worse off going to work.”
Another person described the payments she had received as being “random” and said she was “always on eggshells” after receiving £1,000 short of what she needed to pay the rent, bills and support her two children.
“I am living on whatever I can find in my cupboard at the moment,” she said. “I skip a meal so my children can eat and to ensure that the bills are paid.”
The DWP has estimated that a record 3.4 million people in the UK applied for Universal Credit between March and June. Matthew Horwood via Getty Images
People are also having to wait five weeks for their first payment, which can force already vulnerable people into further financial hardship.
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Chloe*, 32, was forced to claim Universal Credit after leaving her job at a design agency to start her own company – just weeks before the global pandemic hit, when opportunities dried up completely.
The five-week wait for her first payment was “painful”, particularly as her north London landlord refused to grant any rent reduction. She found herself having to borrow money from friends and family to pay her bills and “ate a little less, sometimes one meal a day”.
“I was really stressed and anxious waiting for that first payment,” she told HuffPost UK. “I was also really worried I wouldn’t get it on time, with so many people applying for Universal Credit at the beginning of lockdown.
“It was just ridiculous because the government kept saying it was rolling out all these so-called ‘amazing’ schemes to protect people, but for no fault of my own I was going to bed hungry on some nights hoping a computer system would just hurry up and approve my application.”
People who lack digital skills or do not have access to reliable internet are also being disadvantaged by the “predominantly digital” Universal Credit system, Human Rights Watched added. It said it had spoken to people who had struggled to fill out the “long” and “cumbersome” online application forms.
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The DWP has estimated that a record 3.4 million people in the UK applied for Universal Credit between March and June. Government statistics show that overall a total of 5.5 million people are now claiming it.
“The government has put a flawed algorithm in charge of deciding how much money to give people to pay rent and feed their families,” said Amos Toh, a human rights researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“The government’s bid to automate the benefits system – no matter the human cost – is pushing people to the brink of poverty.”
Up to nine million workers risk facing redundancy with the end of the furlough scheme looming at the end of October. Polly Thomas via Getty Images
In July a report by the cross-party Lords Economic Affairs Committee claimed Universal Credit “punishes the poorest” and said the five-week wait for claimants to receive their initial payment “entrenches debt, increases extreme poverty and harms vulnerable groups disproportionately”.
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Tory peer and committee chair, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, described Universal Credit in its current form as having “led to an unprecedented number of people relying on food banks and not being able to pay their rent.
“The mechanics do not reflect the reality of people’s lives,” he said. “It is designed around an idealised claimant and rigid, inflexible features of the system are harming a range of claimant groups, including women, disabled people and the vulnerable.
Dame Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “Universal Credit has been a lifeline for millions in this crisis, but it doesn’t always fit with the reality of people’s lives.
“Those in irregular work can find themselves struggling to budget from month to month, while new claimants risk facing hardship or debt while they wait for a first payment.
“With the potential for a fresh avalanche of job losses this winter, it’s critical the government further strengthens the safety net. That means turning advance payments into grants to help people weather the five-week wait and ensuring the system can respond flexibly to people’s circumstances.”
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A DWP Spokesperson said: “Universal Credit was designed to mirror the world of work, where the majority of employees receive wages monthly, and to help people get back into employment as soon as possible. The monthly assessment and adjustment period reflects this, and ensures that if a claimant’s income falls, they won’t have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit.
“Urgent advances are available for those who need them, and we have taken steps to make debt repayments easier.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Live Updates On The First 2020 US Presidential Debate

The debate is taking place at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. It starts at 2am UK time and will last for 90 minutes. The debate is being moderated by Fox News’ Chris Wallace, who has said he will try to be “as invisible as possible” and likely won’t fact-check the candidates.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Priti Patel 'Wanted To Send Migrants To Remote Atlantic Island'

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Home secretary Priti Patel reportedly ordered officials to explore plans for building an asylum processing centre on a remote volcanic island in the south Atlantic – more than 4,000 miles from the UK.
Home Office officials were instructed to look into the feasibility of transferring asylum seekers arriving in the UK to a centre on Ascension Island, a British overseas territory, according to the Financial Times.
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Another option said to have been considered was to construct an asylum centre on St Helena, another island in the group where Napoleon was exiled after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.
The Foreign Office was consulted on the proposals, according to the paper, and provided an assessment on the practicalities of shipping migrants to such remote locations.
In the end, it appears that Patel decided not to go ahead with the scheme, however the Home Office made no attempt to deny that the idea had been considered.
Labour condemned the scheme as “inhumane, completely impractical and wildly expensive”.
A Home Office official said: “The UK has a long and proud history of offering refuge to those who need protection. Tens of thousands of people have rebuilt their lives in the UK and we will continue to provide safe and legal routes in the future.
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“As ministers have said we are developing plans to reform policies and laws around illegal migration and asylum to ensure we are able to provide protection to those who need it, while preventing abuse of the system and the criminality associated with it.”
Ascension Island, which is used as a staging post to supply and defend the Falkland Islands, has an RAF base and population of fewer than 1,000.
Home secretary Priti Patel. POOL New / Reuters
Moving asylum seekers there and keeping them supplied was said to represent a considerable logistical challenge.
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “This ludicrous idea is inhumane, completely impractical and wildly expensive. So it seems entirely plausible this Tory Government came up with it.”
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The proposal appears to further reflect the influence of Australia – which has used offshore processing and detention centres for asylum seekers since the 1980s – on the UK’s immigration and asylum policy.
The government has based its post-Brexit points-based immigration system on that developed in Australia.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--What It's Like To Receive Blood Plasma To Treat Covid-19

NHS Blood and Transplant John Curtis
A taxi driver from Romford, Essex, has spoken about his experience of receiving blood plasma after contracting Covid-19.
John Curtis, 58, came down with the virus not long after lockdown. He’d gone back to work, but developed a dry cough shortly after. Initially, he put it down to the air conditioning in his car but it worsened, so he went to a drive-through Covid-19 testing facility and his results came back positive.
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“The next day I woke up and felt like I’d run a marathon up and down the stairs,” he says. “I phoned 111 and had to break off from talking to get my breath. They sent an ambulance and I was taken into the Queen’s Hospital in Romford.
“I felt frustrated I hadn’t got things sorted properly for my kids. I felt like I could walk out alive or get carried out.”
On the ward, Curtis was told he could join a trial to try one of three different treatments – one of which was convalescent plasma.
This type of treatment involves plasma being collected from donors who have recovered from Covid-19, via their blood. The plasma contains antibodies that help the body fight against the virus.
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When the antibody-rich plasma is transfused into newly-infected patients, it’s thought it gives their immune systems a fighting chance in staving off the worst repercussions of infection.
“I said I will take part in anything to try and combat this thing,” says Curtis. “I had to sign a form and they came around with the plasma.
“It was like a bag of orange fluid, about half a litre. I had one unit a day for two days. It went through me in about half an hour.”
Did it work?
The father-of-two is still recovering from Covid-19, but believes the plasma has had some impact. “I like to think it helped, though the trial is still going on,” he says. “My son is a doctor with some experience of it and he thinks it helped.
“I did speculate a bit about who donated but at the end of the day it’s another human being. I am planning to donate next month after I feel better than I do now. I hope to help someone myself.”
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There is promising evidence for the effectiveness of convalescent plasma but before general use, patient benefit needs to be demonstrated in randomised control trials. Researchers previously told HuffPost UK they anticipate results from the plasma trial in the last quarter of 2020.
More donations are needed With Covid cases rising in the UK, NHS Blood and Transplant said it urgently needs more people who’ve had Covid-19 to donate convalescent plasma, as transfusions reached a new high during September.
Around 220 or more people received convalescent plasma for medical trials this month, which is the highest monthly figure since the first plasma transfusions in May. It’s also more than four times the number of plasma recipients during August.
NHSBT holds around 6,000 units of donated convalescent plasma with high enough antibody levels for the trials. A further 2,000 units have been issued to hospitals and have either been transfused or are in local storage.
Donations are needed, though, so that if the trial confirms patient benefit, stocks can be made available for general use.
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“Our stocks are good but it will only stay that way if people keep donating.” - Sheila MacLennan, NHSBT transfusion consultant and clinical lead for the Convalescent Plasma Programme
Sheila MacLennan, NHSBT transfusion consultant and clinical lead for the Convalescent Plasma Programme, said: “Our stocks are good but it will only stay that way if people keep donating. We especially need men to donate as they are more likely to have high enough antibody levels for the trial.”
The increase in demand is believed to be partly a result of the national rise in coronavirus cases, but also because more hospitals are taking part in plasma trials.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, urged people to do two things: consider volunteering for clinical trials if you get Covid-19 – “these are the only way to obtain really high quality evidence about what works and what doesn’t,” he says – and to donate plasma if you’ve previously had the virus.
“We need to build up the amount of plasma we have now, so it can be used in the future,” he said. “Both of these are concrete actions you can take and possibly save someone else’s life.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Two In Three Britons Want Higher Paternity Pay To Boost Equal Childcare, Poll Finds

dusanpetkovic via Getty Images
Two in three Britons think that more government cash should be spent on helping men to take an equal share of childcare and care for elderly parents, a new poll has found.
The figure rises to 76% in former “Red Wall” parliamentary seats that switched from Labour to the Tories at the last election, according to the survey by pollsters Survation.
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Both findings are contained in a new report by the Commission on a Gender-Equal Economy, which calls for sweeping changes to UK policy on welfare, tax and social policy, including a proposal to put paternity leave on the same legal footing as maternity leave.
The study, “Creating a Caring Economy: A Call to Action”, recommends universal free childcare, a universal basic income for all pensioners, independent taxation of income for partners and a corporation tax of 24% to help fund the changes.
In the UK paternity leave lasts for just two weeks, while maternity leave lasts up to a year. Although shared parental leave was introduced by the Tory-Lib Dem coalition, its pay rates are so low that just 2% of eligible couples used it last year.
The policy allows couples to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of statutory shared parental pay between them, but at a maximum rate of £151.20 per week that many find impossible to live on.
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In its report, the Commission - set up by the Womens’ Budget Group in early 2019 - calls for “equal legal entitlements to paid caring leave for all employees and self-employed people”.
Just 208,000 fathers claimed paternity pay last year, compared to 649,000 women who received maternity pay.
Some companies such as insurance giant Zurich UK have been leading the way, offering 16 weeks full pay to both mothers and fathers, but campaigners say government needs to step in to equalise rights.
Zurich revealed on Tuesday that almost three-quarters (70%) of its employees who have become new fathers take advantage of its new paternity benefit, with most taking at least three months of leave.
The Survation poll found that nearly four in five of all respondents (79%) and three in four men (75%) agree that women and men should share care tasks for children or older and disabled relatives equally.
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A total of 61% of Conservative voters believe that men should be “encouraged and financially supported by the government” to do more care, with 72% for all men aged 18-34 agreeing.
Mary-Ann Stephenson, director of the group, said that there were serious legal barriers on leave policy, as women were granted 12 months’ leave and men just two weeks paternity pay.
Stephenson added that the 43% gender earnings gap meant it made economic sense for many women to take time off work rather than a male partner.
“Then there are cultural barriers. There is an expectation among employers that women will take leave and that men won’t. In male dominated sectors that can mean that there is no culture of men taking leave and managers may be very unsympathetic,” she said.
Marion Sharples, project manager of the Commission, and author of the report, said: “This report has launched as we are entering a second wave of coronavirus. For far too long the government has been tinkering with policies and expecting these tweaks to deliver wholly different outcomes.
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“What the polling and the Commission’s report show us is that in order to have an economy that works for everyone we need a bold vision of an economy that includes everyone.Both women and men want to change this and they are willing to pay for it through higher tax
“Care is central to this vision. We will all require care at some point in our lives. At the moment care work isn’t shared fairly, with women doing the majority of care, both paid and unpaid. This means women have less time for paid work and other activities, so they earn less, own less and are more likely to be living in poverty.”
Some 75% of respondents say they would pay more tax to support investment in free social care for all adults over the age of 65 and disabled people. A similar percentage (74%) would be willing to pay more tax to support a pay rise for all key workers.
Caroline Nokes, Tory chair of the women and equalities select committee, urged ministers to consider the “bold and ambitious” proposals.
“The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the inequalities in our society, especially gender inequality. It is now impossible to ignore,” she said.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Labour Launches Attack Ads Ridiculing Rishi Sunak’s Signed Tweets Amid Job Fears

Labour Sunak advert HuffPost UK
Labour is launching a series of attack ads that link chancellor Rishi Sunak’s personally signed tweets with the prospect of rising unemployment.
Titled “It’s Got His Name All Over It”, the Facebook campaign will from Wednesday target Tory seats which the Opposition claims are set to lose jobs because of a lack of targeted support from the government.
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The party says that key sectors such as aviation, tourism and hospitality are at most risk from Sunak’s refusal to offer specific alternatives to his furlough scheme that is due to end next month.
The chancellor’s recent “Winter Economic Plan” set out new moves to subsidise the pay of workers who move to part-time hours, but critics have claimed that they fail to offer employers sufficient incentives to keep staff on.
Sunak began his signature tweets earlier this year, adding his autograph to various PR campaigns to highlight his jobs support plans, stamp duty and VAT cuts, and his “Eat Out To Help Out” discounts for restaurants in August.
But Labour estimates that more than half a million jobs are at risk in parliamentary seats that switched to the Tories in the general election last year.
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Sunak raised eyebrows even among some Conservative backbenchers when he launched his branded social media posters in the summer, prompting suggestions that he was preparing a future leadership bid.
As our response to coronavirus adapts, tomorrow afternoon I will update the House of Commons on our plans to continue protecting jobs through the winter. pic.twitter.com/eP6aqcocxd — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 23, 2020
House sales rose 15.6% in August following the stamp duty holiday introduced in our Plan For Jobs.
This has helped to protect nearly three quarters of a million jobs in the housing sector and wider supply chain. Read the new figures out today: https://t.co/IFo4kN7Ezk pic.twitter.com/eVuihACHzn — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 22, 2020
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said: “Last week the Chancellor should have protected jobs with a proper work sharing scheme that incentivised employers to keep more staff on. Instead, he’s telling British business to start laying people off because no more help is coming.
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“This wasn’t by accident – it was by design. The Chancellor’s sink or swim mentality is a throwback to the worst days of Thatcher, and just like in the 1980s people on the lowest incomes will pay the highest price.”
The Treasury has pointed out that it has pumped unprecedented amounts of money into saving jobs but that such levels of support cannot continue indefinitely and only “viable” jobs were likely to be saved.
Sunak said last week that he hoped that his new Job Support Scheme – where government will help top up part-time workers’ wages with employers to at least three-quarters of their full-time pay – would “benefit large numbers”.
Health minister Helen Whately said on Monday that “it doesn’t make sense to continue supporting jobs where there simply isn’t work at the moment”, a comment that led critics to suggest the government was abandoning sectors like hospitality.
Hours later, the Tory party issued its own counter-attack ad, mocking Labour for seeking to claim credit for Sunak’s previous announcements.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--The Many Times The Government Has Botched Its Own Coronavirus Advice

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Boris Johnson on Tuesday apologised and said he “misspoke” after struggling to explain his own new Covid-19 restrictions imposed on the north-east of England.
But it’s not the first time the PM and his ministerial colleagues have given mixed and even contradictory messages on how to deal with coronavirus.
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Johnson apologises for local lockdown confusion
The PM was forced to apologise as the government’s handling of local lockdown measures in north-east England descended into farce.
The prime minister stumbled over his explanation of the ban on households mixing, which is due to come into legal effect on Wednesday – just hours after another member of his government was unable to say whether the prohibition extended to pub beer gardens.
Johnson said he “misspoke” but the confusion comes as the government is under pressure from Tory rebels to give MPs a greater role in scrutinising and voting on new measures before they are implemented.
Prime minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street on September 22 PA
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The new regulations in Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham will see fines imposed if people mix with others from outside their household or bubble in indoor settings, including pubs and restaurants.
But with the rules yet to be published in full, ministers faced questions about whether they would apply in settings such as beer gardens.
Johnson said in response to questions: “In the North East and other areas where extra-tight measures have been brought in, you should follow the guidance of local authorities but it is six in a home, six in hospitality but, as I understand it, not six outside.”
But he later tweeted: “Apologies, I misspoke today. In the North East, new rules mean you cannot meet people from different households in social settings indoors, including in pubs, restaurants and your home. You should also avoid socialising with other households outside.”
Minister fails to clarify Covid rules
Earlier in the day, a government minister was unable to clarify whether new restrictions banning households in swathes of the north-east of England from meeting indoors applied to pub and restaurant gardens.
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Gillian Keegan said she did not fully understand the new rules, some 15 hours before they were to be imposed on Wednesday.
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday, education minister Ms Keegan said: “I’m sorry I can’t clarify that.
“I don’t know the answer to that question but I’m sure they can find out the answer to that question.”
Pressed on how people are meant to keep up to date with the latest restrictions when ministers cannot, she said: “I’m sorry I can’t answer that question. I’m sure there are many people who could. I don’t represent the north east.
Defence secretary apologises for handshake
Ben Wallace shaking hands as MPs returned to Westminster for the new term of parliament. Sky News
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Defence secretary Ben Wallace was forced to apologise for breaking social distancing rules, after he was filmed shaking hands with someone earlier this month.
Footage of the handshake on Tuesday morning was captured by Sky News as MPs returned to Westminster for the new term of parliament.
Johnson’s spokesperson said: “The defence secretary recognises the mistake and apologises for slipping up.
“He knows the importance of social distancing and will be extra careful in future.”
In April Wallace revealed he had spent time self-isolating after developing coronavirus symptoms.
Matt Hancock’s social distancing slip-up caught on camera
In June, health secretary Matt Hancock was filmed slapping a colleague on the back in the Commons chamber.
Hancock, who suffered from coronavirus symptoms in March, later said he was “so sorry for a human mistake on my part”.
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“Like all of us, I instinctively wanted to reach out to a friend I’d just seen - in this case, for the first time in many weeks. I realised my mistake and corrected myself,” the health secretary said.
He said it shows how hard social distancing can be, but added it is “so important that we all keep trying to do our bit”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock social distancing slip-up caught on camerahttps://t.co/GrSxHZEsgw — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) June 17, 2020
In a clip which quickly garnered thousands of views after it was posted on Twitter, the health secretary can be seen putting his arm across a colleague’s shoulder as he enters the Commons.
A third MP then comes and stands beside both of them, before the man in the middle steps back.
Hancock then steps across to fill the gap to speak to the third MP, before moving back again.
Johnson continued to shake hands
Boris Johnson poses for a handshake with the president of Malta. George Vella, at Downing Street on March 5. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The prime minister infamously boasted on March 3 of having shaken hands “with everybody” he met in a hospital which had a confirmed coronavirus case.
On the same day the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) body had told ministers they should “advise against greetings such as shaking hands” in an effort to curb the spread of the illness.
Johnson later developed coronavirus symptoms and was taken to intensive care in a London hospital.
The prime minister made a point of shaking hands with Phillip Schofield, even though the presenter kept his hands to his sides when he interviewed him on ITV’s This Morning.
He was then photographed on March 9 shaking hands with the boxer Anthony Joshua at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said that Johnson would not have been aware at the time of the SPI-B paper, which did not at that point represent the considered view of Sage.
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Johnson told reporters at a press conference in Downing Street: “I am shaking hands. I was at a hospital the other night where I think there were coronavirus patients and I was shaking hands with everybody, you will be pleased to know, and I continue to shake hands.
“People must make up their own minds but I think the scientific evidence is … our judgment is that washing your hands is the crucial thing.”
Confusion over sandwich shop masks
In July, Downing Street contradicted Hancock on whether face coverings will be compulsory in sandwich shops after he defended Cabinet colleague Michael Gove’s maskless purchase in Pret A Manger.
The health secretary said coverings would need to be worn in shops when the law is enforced to tackle the coronavirus spread in England from July 24.
But No 10 later said there would be an exemption for takeaway purchases.
The contradiction came after senior Cabinet Office minister Gove, who had earlier sparked confusion by suggesting face coverings would not be compulsory, was photographed uncovered in Pret A Manger despite insisting it was “basic good manners” to wear a mask.
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It was in stark contrast to International Development Secretary Liz Truss, who minutes earlier had left the same shop in Westminster wearing a blue covering.
Questioned over who was correct, Hancock told Sky News: “You do need to wear a face mask in Pret because Pret is a shop.
“If there’s table service, it is not necessary to have a mask. But in any shop, you do need a mask. So, if you’re going up to the counter in Pret to buy takeaway that is a shop … but if you go to your local pub you can’t go to the bar.”
Not sure why people are confused
❌ Gove doesn't wear mask in Pret
😷 Truss wears mask in Pret
😷 Hancock says people should wear mask in Pret
❌ No10 says people don't have to wear mask in Pret
😷 Sunak wears mask in Pret — John Stevens (@johnestevens) July 15, 2020
But Johnson’s official spokesperson later gave an alternative explanation.
“We will be publishing the full guidance shortly but my understanding is that it wouldn’t be mandatory if you went in, for example, to a sandwich shop in order to get a takeaway to wear a face covering,” he said.
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“It is mandatory … we are talking about supermarkets and other shops rather than food shops.”
Hancock had defended Gove by saying that the photographs were taken “before I announced the change in policy to the House of Commons” on Tuesday afternoon.
However, the pictures were taken on Tuesday morning, after the policy was announced in a press release to journalists.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who was previously criticised for not wearing a face covering during a visit to Wagamama, later came down on the side of wearing masks in Pret when he posted an image of himself during a well-covered visit to the sandwich chain.
Dominic Cummings breaks lockdown and nothing happens
Dominic Cummings broke the coronavirus lockdown rules when he visited Barnard Castle with his wife and son to test his “eyesight”.
Boris Johnson’s top adviser was under intense pressure from Tory MPs to quit after it was revealed he travelled to Durham from London in March.
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During his time in the north of England Cummings also drove to the town of Barnard Castle.
He claimed he took the trip to see if he was fit enough to drive before returning to London for work.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--He’s Gaffe-Prone, But Will Boris Johnson Outwit His Backbench Critics Again?

Boris Johnson looks at a piece of wood in a vice during a visit to Exeter College. PA
You’re reading The Waugh Zone, our daily politics briefing. Sign up now to get it by email in the evening.
In the 1970s, there was a spoof American soap opera called Soap which began with a brief summary of its complex plot, followed by the narrator’s line: “Confused? You won’t be after this week’s episode…” After Boris Johnson’s car-crash attempt to explain lockdown regulations in the north east on Tuesday, it seems his own communications strategy is now bordering on low farce too.
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It’s to be hoped that the PM’s press conference alongside Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance on Wednesday will be much clearer than the baffling, bumbling performance the poor public had to endure today. The fact that he had to put out a tweet correcting himself (it’s illegal to mix households in any indoor setting in the north east, and advisable to avoid mixing even outdoors) said it all.
There was even a phenomenon rarer than hen’s teeth, an actual Johnson apology, though only for misspeaking rather than any policy error. But that hint of regret was in fact nowhere near as strong as the PM’s overall bullish approach to the local lockdowns. They were for the good of those involved, and that was it.
There was a similar note of defiance too in his skills speech today, as he went out of his way not once but twice to stress that his planning reforms were essential to getting more affordable homes for families. One Tory backbencher said to me recently that the rebellion over the planning changes would be “miles bigger” than either the Covid revolt or the unease over breaking international law.
But although the PM is authorising concessions on both Covid accountability and the Internal Markets Bill, neither really means giving up real power. The Neill amendment melted in the face of government flattery and so too may the coronavirus rebellion (no one is really changing the fundamentals of the 1984 Public Health Act’s draconian powers).
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Similarly, while there may at some point be some small tweaks to his planning reforms, it seemed today that this was a PM who has made his mind up and wants to just get on with it. That Dominic Cummings is a big backer of the housing development drive to end Nimbyism is not a coincidence. And while Johnson doesn’t share Cummings’ dripping contempt for Tory backbenchers, some may think he’s hoodwinking them nevertheless.
And on Covid more generally, it seems that Johnson is sticking to his strategy (stubbornly his critics will say, doggedly his admirers will say) of avoiding a second national lockdown. Today’s big jump in the number of cases of Covid in the UK will worry many that Whitty and Vallance’s projections are coming true, but figures for hospitalisations and deaths are what seem to really be the PM’s focus.
And on both, his supporters think there are glimmers of good news, with both either rising slowly or plateauing in recent days. While some measures don’t appear to have prevented big case rises in certain areas already in lockdown, the low hospitalisations and deaths are at least encouraging.
If they do start ticking upwards, however, the PM will be in very difficult territory. Being gaffetastic about the rules is one thing, looking like you’ve lost control is another entirely. Defiant adherence to a plan could easily curdle into dangerous deafness.
If hospitalisations do indeed spike, he may have to consider not just a national lockdown, not just heavy penalties for those who break the rules, but also something he’s not been willing to envisage so far: a generous, realistic wage subsidy for those forced to self isolate but who can’t currently afford it. Maybe the really bold thing to do would be to get on with that now, without waiting to see if numbers rise or stabilise.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--The Wildest Thing About Trump's £55,000 Hair Care Bill

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When it comes to having hair like President Donald Trump, you have toupee.
On Sunday, The New York Times released a bombshell story reviewing more than two decades of Trump’s tax information, revealing that the president hasn’t paid income tax in 10 of the last 15 years.
Jimmy Fallon discussed the news on The Tonight Show on Monday, joking that “when it comes to avoiding taxes, Trump knows every loophole. For instance, on next year’s taxes he plans on claiming his coronavirus response as a total loss.”
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Among the revelations from the Times report that have generated a lot of buzz are the president’s alarming business expense costs, including “more than £55,000 ($70,000) paid to style his hair during The Apprentice.”
Considering this HuffPost reporter’s personal research, which shows you can get in and out of Supercuts for around £15, that’s a bit steep. But Fallon pointed out something about the hefty price tag that everyone’s missing.
After hearing about the styling costs, The Tonight Show host, who infamously tousled Trump’s hair in 2016, quipped, “The crazy part isn’t that he spent $70,000 on his hair, it’s that clearly $70,000 wasn’t enough.”
“Should’ve went with $150,000,” he added.
An even more damaging part of the Times story reveals that the president is facing a personal debt of $421 million (£327m), which Fallon believed was a “huge shock.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Gordon Ramsay's Baby Son Oscar Has Already Nailed The Chef's Trademark Scowl

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Gordon Ramsay’s youngest may only be 18 months old, but it seems he’s already in training to take over the family business.
That’s because young Oscar Ramsay has already nailed his dad’s trademark scowl, which he is famed for on his cookery shows.
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Gordon shared a picture of Oscar on his Instagram looking every inch his mini me.
And it seems the chef was in agreement, as he also posted a picture of himself for comparison, along with the caption: “Good morning like father like son.......”
Posting the same photo, Gordon’s wife Tana joked it was the “face I get when I am late with his porridge”.
Davina McCall also saw Oscar’s resemblance to his father, commenting: “Omg it’s Gordon.”
Victoria Beckham, who is close pal of the couple’s, added: “We love baby Oscar so much!!! X kisses.”
Gordon and Tana Ramsay Paul Archuleta via Getty Images
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Gordon and Tana welcomed their fifth child in April last year.
They are also parents to 22-year-old Megan, 20-year-old twins Jack and Holly, Matilda, 18.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Matt Ratana Shooting: Suspect Still Critical As Police Search Surrey Farmland

Sergeant Matiu Ratana, known as Matt, who died after being shot at a police station in Croydon, south London. PA
The suspect in the fatal shooting of Sergeant Matt Ratana remains in critical condition and detectives have not yet been able to speak to him, the Met Police have said.
Ratana died in hospital after being shot by a handcuffed suspect at a custody suite in Croydon, south London, on Friday.
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In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, the Met Police said they were carrying out “detailed searches” at an address in Southbrook Road, Norbury and another address off Park Road, Banstead, Surrey.
Police said the second location includes access to several derelict buildings and more than 30 acres of land, with the “complex” search expected to take days.
A suspect, named as Louis De Zoysa, 23, remains in critical condition in hospital. Police said they have not yet been able to speak to him.
A second suspect remains in custody after being arrested on Sunday in Norwich, Norfolk, on suspicion of supplying a firearm.
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The murder of Sergeant Ratana has sent shockwaves through the Met. Nevertheless, his colleagues are determined to find justice for him and his family.
DAC Cundy: "It is four days since the murder of our colleague and our work continues at a high tempo."https://t.co/uetGFzHfsg — Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 29, 2020
Deputy assistant commissioner Stuart Cundy, who is leading the investigation, said: “It is four days since the murder of our colleague and our work continues at a high tempo.
“We have traced a number of witnesses who have been able to contribute significant information about the events leading up to the shooting.
“We continue to pursue multiple lines of inquiry and consider the results of initial forensic examinations, including of the gun recovered from custody.
“The murder of Sgt Ratana sent shockwaves through the Metropolitan Police Service. Nevertheless his colleagues are determined to find justice for him and his family.”
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The statement came after Sgt Ratana’s partner, Su Bushby, paid tribute to the 54-year-old, saying: “There aren’t really any words for how I am feeling right now about the loss of Matt; about losing someone I loved and was so close to in such a tragic manner.
“I know Matt touched many, many people’s lives with his friendliness, patience, kindness, enthusiasm and caring ways.
“I had the pleasure of sharing five years of my life with this lovely man – my gentle giant, with his infectious smile and big heart. I think of him with tenderness and love.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Boris Johnson’s Covid Restrictions Could Face Legal Challenge, Top MPs Warn

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Boris Johnson has been warned that his coronavirus restrictions could be “challenged in law” unless MPs are granted the right to vote on them in advance.
Parliament’s top backbenchers said the current system whereby the government can make new regulations without prior approval is “not widely acceptable” and may be “challenged in court”.
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The pressure from the Commons liaison committee, made up of all select committee chairs, came as the prime minister attempted to strike a deal with dozens of Tory rebels who are threatening to defeat him over the issue tomorrow.
The MPs are lining up behind an amendment from Sir Graham Brady, powerful chair of the backbench Tory 1922 committee, which would give them the right to veto new Covid-19 rules.
There is increasing anger on the Tory backbenches at the government passing new regulations “by decree”, and the PM’s confusion over his own local lockdown rules for the north-east of England is likely to have added to the distress.
Brady’s amendment is thought unlikely to be selected for debate on Wednesday.
But he was in talks with Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg on Tuesday night, with the government hoping a compromise can be thrashed out to avoid explosive scenes on Wednesday.
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One of the rebels told HuffPost UK that shortening the time before MPs can approve or strike down regulations in retrospect from 21 days to five days is one idea that has been discussed.
But many of the disgruntled backbenchers are unlikely to be happy unless they can get a veto in advance.
Reports also suggest that MPs could be given the right to vote on regulations in advance except in emergencies when the government needs to act very quickly to control the spread of coronavirus.
In a letter to Johnson, liaison committee chair Sir Bernard Jenkin said: “Various proposals are being made that would require the approval by a vote of the House of Commons before or immediately after new restrictions come into force.
“The majority of us support this principle and expect that the government will also wish to accept it.
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“The idea that such restrictions can be applied without express parliamentary approval, except in dire emergency, is not widely acceptable and indeed may be challenged in law.
“We trust the government will accept a suitable amendment or agree a motion to that effect, at the earliest possible opportunity at or before the debate on Wednesday.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Strictly Come Dancing's Kevin Clifton Reveals He Nearly Backtracked On Decision To Quit

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Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton has revealed he nearly U-turned on his decision to quit the BBC ballroom show.
The dancer quit after seven years on the pro line-up back in March – just before the pandemic locked down the UK – explaining he’d been offered his dream role in a new production of Strictly Ballroom The Musical.
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However, the stage show was later pushed back due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Kevin Clifton Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images
In an interview with The Sun, Kevin admitted he’d experienced second thoughts about leaving Strictly, saying: “There were a couple of conversations about it, like, is it worth talking about it?
“But then I thought, I’ve just made this big announcement. I don’t want to look like an idiot.
“I like doing different things and I don’t want to get in a moment where I’m doing the same thing for the sake of it because it’s perceived to be successful.”
However, Kevin said he has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the Strictly ballroom in the future.
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He continued: “When I was having the conversations with Strictly about when is the right time for me to make this decision, I am thinking about it this year but maybe not, maybe in another year or two, I don’t know.
“We’re having a constant conversation, and at the moment I feel I’ve pretty much done everything there is to do on the show.”
Kevin was one of two pros to announce they would not be taking part in Strictly this year, with AJ Pritchard also exiting the show.
It has since been revealed that four of the remaining dancers will not receive a celebrity partner for the upcoming series, due to there being a reduced number of stars on the line-up because of the pandemic.
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Neil Jones, Graziano Di Prima, Nadiya Bychkova and Nancy Xu will all sit out the competition, but will still appear in the group routines, which were filmed over the summer after the pro dancers isolated together in a hotel.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--7,000 New Covid Cases And 71 Deaths In Worst Daily Jump For Months

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The UK has recorded more than 7,000 new cases of coronavirus and 71 deaths, according to the latest government statistics.
As of 9am on Tuesday, there have been a further 7,143 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, taking the overall number of cases confirmed to 439,013.
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The figure is the highest since the outbreak of the pandemic, while 71 deaths were also recorded – the highest figure since July 1.
Of those, 68 were in England and three were in Wales. It takes the total number of deaths to 42,072.
It comes as tougher restrictions banning people from mixing with other households are introduced in large parts of north-east England.
From midnight on Wednesday, it will be illegal for two households to mix in any setting in Northumberland, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham.
On an international level, more than one million people have now died of Covid-19 worldwide, just six and a half months after the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Dolly Parton's New Christmas Film Just Might Be About To Save 2020

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Looking back at the last few months… we’re just going to come out and say it… we don’t think 2020 has been all that good a year.
In fact, it’s been a bit rubbish really, hasn’t it?
Well if ever you needed proof that there’s still time for things to turn around, get a load of Netflix’s new announcement: we’re just two months away from a new musical Christmas film starring none other than Dolly Parton.
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And with Jenifer Lewis and Christine Baranski completing the cast, what’s not to love?
Dolly Parton NBC via Getty Images
The project was announced a little while ago, but Netflix revealed on Tuesday that the film will debut on 22 November.
And the latest news was accompanied by this rather stunning poster:
Heading home for the holidays with our collective mom @DollyParton!
Directed by @msdebbieallen, DOLLY PARTON'S CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE will star Christine Baranski and Jenifer Lewis. Coming to Netflix 22 November pic.twitter.com/JYLVLdmb6d — NetflixFilm (@NetflixFilm) September 29, 2020
Just in case all of that wasn’t camp enough, just wait until you hear the plot of the film.
In a nutshell, Christine’s character wants to sell her father’s old land to a shopping mall developer, but gets talked out of it by – you guessed it! – her guardian angel, played by Dolly Parton.
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Quite how Christmas plays into the whole thing remains to be seen, but Christine’s got her coat and gloves on in the poster, so we’re guessing there’s a festive twist at some point or another.
Christmas On The Square will also feature a total of 14 (!!!) original songs, performed by the country music icon.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Michaela Coel Gets Candid About Her Decision To Freeze Her Eggs

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Michaela Coel has said she is planning to have her eggs frozen in case she wants to have children in later life.
The I May Destroy You writer and star told GQ magazine that she sometimes worries she does not think about having children “as much as I should”.
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In conversation with US actor and musician Donald Glover for the British edition of the magazine’s upcoming Heroes issue, Michaela also said she had considered adoption.
Michaela Coel Mike Marsland via Getty Images
She said: “Sometimes I worry that I don’t (think about having children) as much as I should, which is why, just in case I ever think about this more, I’m freezing my eggs, just in case.
“I’ve never been too thinky about bearing my own children through my vagina. I have thought about adopting. That I’ve thought of more than vaginal children.
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“But in case I changed my mind, because I don’t know, they say it happens… Like, you reach this point where suddenly you really want babies and all you can think about is you want a baby and the clock’s ticking.
“I don’t ever have that. I’ve never felt it. I’ve never even said, ‘I want to have a baby,’ ever in my life. So I’m freezing them in case that hits me later.”
During the interview, Michaela also spoke about how she is taking time out from work, following the huge success of I May Destroy You earlier this year, but that hasn’t stopped her from thinking of her next project.
She added: “I’m asked this question and I have an answer that I give, which is, ‘I’m taking a break.’ However, it’s been a while now.
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“And even though I’m still technically working, because, hey, we’re doing press, there is, like, there’s a tiny seed far away. I’m just on the edges. I don’t know. I have something in my womb.
“I sometimes equate my show with children. So the inception might be beginning. There’s something, but for now, I’m trying to just live for a minute. I think I’ve given myself September to just live.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--BBC Boss Defends Gary Lineker And Zoe Ball's Million-Pound Salaries

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BBC chief Tim Davie has defended the corporation’s top earning stars’ million-pound pay packets, insisting they’re worth what they’re paid.
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Appearing before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee on Tuesday afternoon, Davie insisted he was happy with the figure both stars were taking home.
Tim Davie Andrew Milligan - PA Images via Getty Images
Specifically speaking about Gary Lineker – who recently negotiated a new five-year deal with the BBC that would see him take a 23% pay cut – Davie said: “I watch Match Of The Day and I’m a religious fan of Match Of The Day, on intravenous drip on numerous commentaries, I also listen for outstanding analysis, proper curation of that.
“I honestly think people are tuning in for the debate on whether the handball was a handball, to talk of one (example) recently. All of that is important to the analysis.
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“And by the way, that’s why our competitors pay their sports pundits multiples, often, of what we pay. So they obviously see the value.”
Gary Lineker Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images
Davie added that the issue of top pay was “very uncomfortable territory but the truth is in a couple of spots, and that is high-end TV entertainment and the main breakfast show of Radio 2 we’ve always been in the market.
“Go to Google and have a look at some of the speculated prices on other networks that people are paying, that we pay serious money.”
Addressing the fact that Zoe’s listening figures were recently reported to have fallen, he continued: “I understand the point, but this is still 0.1 pence per listener hour, I still think Zoe is an exceptional broadcaster…
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“Having said all of that and you’ll see the negotiation we’ve done with Gary Lineker, I think we are renegotiating contracts and we, and myself, want to get good money for you as a licence fee payer.”
Zoe Ball Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images
It was recently reported that Zoe was negotiating her salary to take a pay cut as she felt “uncomfortable” with how much she was being paid, although neither the presenter nor the BBC has addressed these claims.
Other high-profile presenters on this year’s list of the BBC’s top-earning talent included Graham Norton, Steve Wright and Huw Edwards, in third, fourth and fifth place, respectively.
This year’s top 10 included more female talent than previous years, with Lauren Laverne and Fiona Bruce named for the first time, alongside Zoe and fellow radio DJ Vanessa Feltz, who previously featured in 2019.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-29--Amanda Holden's Response To Ofcom Complaints About Her Britain's Got Talent Dress Could Not Be More

Amanda Holden's Response To Ofcom Complaints About Her Britain's Got Talent Dress Could Not Be More Amanda Holden

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Amanda Holden has issued a very Amanda Holden response following Ofcom complaints about her Britain’s Got Talent wardrobe.
On Saturday, the TV judge wore a blue boned corset dress for the most recent semi-final of the talent show, but her outfit was the subject of more than 200 complaints to Ofcom.
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A total of 277 people complained to the broadcasting watchdog over the episode, with 235 of those relating directly to Amanda’s dress.
Amanda Holden on Saturday's Britain's Got Talent Dymond/Thames/Syco/Shutterstock
After some media reported on the complaints and linked them to tweets from viewers who had wondered whether she’d suffered a wardrobe malfunction during the show, Amanda took to Instagram to set the record straight.
Posting on her Story, she wrote: “Mmmm really?! Who has nipples this close to their cleavage?!”
“FYI. A boned corset dented the girls all night,” she added, along with two fried egg emojis.
Amanda Holden Instagram
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As is standard procedure, Ofcom will now assess the complaints they have received before deciding or not whether to investigate.
However, Amanda’s outfits have actually been the subject of complaints on a number of occasions during her time on the BGT panel, with no formal investigation ever brought about.
Earlier this year, Mandy had spoken of her hopes that people would find bigger things to worry about than her outfit choices on the show, given the pandemic.
Speaking to The Sun, Amanda said: “I’ll continue to do a lack of dress. I know how popular that is with Ofcom.
“You never know what’s going to offend people, but I’d hope that in light of all the things that are happening now, that when the show does go out, a bit of side-boob will be less offensive after all we’ve been through.
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“The side-boob of a nearly 50-year-old woman, I’d add.”