thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--How Celebrity Endorsements Might (This Year) Be A US Election Game-Changer

Celebrities muscling in on politics is nothing new, and certainly not Stateside, where the line between politics and entertainment has often been blurred.
JFK was as much of a celebrity as he was a politician, and Ronald Reagan and Trump, arguably the world’s biggest reality TV star, both became famous in front of the camera before they took their seat behind the desk in the Oval Office.
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But given all the A-List celebrities that supported Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016, we all know how that turned out. So what went wrong?
“I think the whole celebrity endorsement on political campaigns has slightly been undone,” says PR expert Mark Borkowski.
Referencing Clinton’s 2016 campaign, he says: “You couldn’t move for Beyonces, Jay Z’s, Bruce Springteens, and it had absolutely no impact. The glamour of a celebrity picking up on a political cause has actually devalued over the last ten to fifteen years. Call it the Bono factor if you like. I don’t think there is the same trust.”
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is joined by Jon Bon Jovi during campaigning in 2016 - but for little reward. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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However, despite the failure of Clinton’s campaign, Adrienne Elrod, Biden’s Director of Surrogate Strategy in charge of working with celebrities and influencers for the campaign, believes that celebs can still be incredibly powerful endorsements for politicians - and could be game changers this time around.
Joe Biden’s campaign may feel less ostentatious than Clinton’s, but there are still plenty of stars backing the democrat candidate. Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, The Rock, Lady Gaga, Kristen Bell and Billie Eilish are just a few of the A-list names to have expressed their support for Biden.
“They feel a different sense of duty and responsibility to get involved in a more heightened way this cycle: In 2016 we’d never lived under four years of Trump, right?” laments Adrienne.
“There’s no dollar figure that you can put on the significance of an authentic endorsement.”
Getty/PA
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One of the reasons things could be very different this time around is that social media has been used in a more comprehensive and targeted way than ever before.
Although a handful of celebrities including Magic Johnson, Lizzo and Kerry Washington have gone out on the road in the final few weeks of the campaign, most of this year’s campaigning has been done virtually.
Adrienne says Instagram Lives with the likes of Miley Cyrus and online conversations between Biden and stars like The Rock have been fundamental.
“He has significant reach with voters who are not watching CNN every single day like I am,” says Adrienne of The Rock’s involvement. “You cannot buy that with paid media, there’s no dollar figure that you can put on the significance of an authentic endorsement like that.
“There’s no comparison in terms of the effectiveness of how that resonates, helps us bring in new voters and helps validate us with constituents who might be on the fence, undecided in this election, or might even be Trump supporters.”
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Endorsements focus their reach on key swing states like Florida, where convincing a few thousand more people to go out and vote can potentially change the result of the election.
A-Rod and Jennifer Lopez have been campaigning toward the Latino and Cuban communities in The Sunshine State. “Two very important sectors of the Floridian vote,” says Adrienne. “That’s going to help us hopefully push us over the edge to victory.”
But just how hard is it to measure the effect of such endorsements? It’s certainly easier than four years ago.
Despite challenges, technological advancements such as Instagram Live that didn’t exist during the Clinton campaign (which Adrienne also worked on), alongside new tracking technologies have made the process of targeting voters using celeb endorsements more clear cut.
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Tech means Adrienne and her team can now track the number of followers that somebody has regionally: determining how many of them are US based, and where they are located when it comes to each state. “That has been very helpful,” says Adrienne.
Commenting on the rise of Instagram Lives she says: “We’re not just asking a celebrity to introduce a candidate at an event, we’re actually saying, ‘Hey Deborah Messing, let’s do an Instagram Live that you host, and through you we will bring in your followers into the campaign.’” Adrienne says around 10-15 daily live social media experiences are available with celebrities as part of the Team Joe Talks initiative.
Adrienne Elrod Getty
Adrienne explains how she works with celebrities: “We educate them on how to vote, we will make sure they have a firm understanding of the candidate’s policies, we will make sure they understand how to encourage their network to volunteer for the campaign, and that is such an important, invaluable asset we’re able to bring in to the campaign through their followers.”
Rob Blackie, political strategist, agrees that celebrities have the potential to cut through to audiences that politicians can’t reach.
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“A politician saying something isn’t going to be heard by or influence swing voters, or flaky voters who don’t turn out,” he tells HuffPost UK.
“Most of this group won’t watch or read traditional news. But if Kim Kardashian talks about Armenian politics or Taylor Swift talks about American politics, they’ll see on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. This group may be influenced to change their point of view of a politician through which celebrity they are associated with.”
Antara Chowdhury, who runs a celebrity fanzine with a particular focus on Taylor Swift, has watched some of this year’s Biden endorsements and personally acknowledges the effectiveness of celebrities partnering with political campaigns.
“I would have been heartbroken if the artist I most admire, the one I have spent so much time, energy, and money on, turned out to support politicians or policies that help uphold social inequalities,” she tells HuffPost UK.
“I was therefore ecstatic when Taylor broke her political silence in 2018, outlined her beliefs that she bases her vote on, and endorsed a candidate for the first time. It means a lot to me that she has continued to speak up about gender equality, LGBT rights, systemic racism, and police brutality over the past two years.”
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Taylor Swift has advocated for Biden VALERIE MACON via Getty Images
But Antara calls out generic ‘remember to vote!’ messaging in favour of more constructed, specific advice.
“What is helpful is providing specific information, linking to resources, and including calls to action,” she says. “I like that Taylor has a “vote” tab right at the top of her website which directs you to voting resources. She also sent out a “Vote” card with merch orders that contains a QR code bringing you to the same link.”
Tasnim, who runs a Queer Eye fan page, agrees. “Honestly, anyone speaking about political engagement in general is encouraging,” she says of the show’s stars Tan France and Jonathan Van Ness, who have been vocal on social media in their support for Biden.
“Even if it doesn’t align with my political views, because it makes politics and political engagement seem fun and cool rather than boring and complex, which is a popular opinion among a lot of young people.”
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Jasmine thinks “non newspaper reading individuals” are the likeliest to buy into endorsements from the Queer Eye set. That cohort may include sceptics and those bored with the mainstream media coverage and looking for an alternative take. “I have seen on many occasions Jonathan correcting misinformation that is out there,” says Jasmine.
Tan France has supported Biden Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
Speaking out can be good PR for celebrities - but the risk can also be high. In 2020, Taylor Swift’s Netflix film Miss Americana captured well the anxieties and stresses a celebrity goes through before ‘coming out’ in support of a political party.
The film documented the months before the singer first spoke out against the Republican party in 2018. Some of her team strongly advised her against it. Would she alienate the scores of Republican voters that helped her rise as a country star in her formative years? She spoke out anyway - and when celebrities take bigger risks in order to stand forward, it can feel even more powerful, says Tasnim from the Queer Eye fan account.
“It is particularly uplifting when the Queer Eye cast vocalise their opinions as they represent not only a marginalised community but they share deeply personal experiences relating to immigration, race and the flawed healthcare system, which celebrities stay away from mentioning,” she says.
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Responding to Tan France’s latest support for Biden she said: “Tan France recently posted a Instagram story after endorsing Joe Biden, saying many people were unfollowing him and his reaction was pretty much good riddance. He was not going to stop speaking up against an administration that has and continues to target groups of people who are already discriminated against socially and economically.”
Coming out in support of Trump, of course, is potential career suicide. Kanye West, the most mainstream of his supporters, has since retracted his endorsement. Other than Kanye, those supporting the president publicly have been few and far between, typically relatively minor reality show stars or musicians.
Given how Hillary Clinton’s campaign went, Trump may not care about having a stampede of Hollywood support.
But with the advent of new technologies making it easier for campaigners to track the effectiveness of celebrity endorsements, Biden’s star-dusted campaign may be the silver bullet that future-proofs the effectiveness of advanced social media platforms to bring people out to vote.
Trump may be America’s biggest reality TV star - but if current predictions ring true, Biden’s cohort of famous faces may well be the headline news come November 3rd.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--3 Batch Cook Recipes To Jazz Up Your Weekday Lunches

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HuffPost UK
Nobody wants to be stuck in a food rut. Luckily for you, Sam Gates, author of The Batch Cook Book, has created a series of budget-friendly, low-waste recipes for those wanting no-fuss meals.
The book, which costs £18.99, is inspired by Gates’ experience of juggling family, work, life and cooking during the pandemic. Recipes include smoky bean breakfast burritos; honey, soy and five-spice baked chicken; and smoky aubergine and fennel tagine.
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From veggie sausage rolls filled with butternut squash, pine nuts and harissa; to stuffed jacket potatoes with cheese, mushrooms and pancetta, you won’t be disappointed with these delicious dishes. Bon appétit!
Squash, Pine Nut And harissa ‘Sausage’ Rolls
Makes: 16
Sam Gates 'Sausage' rolls
Ingredients
750g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and roughly chopped into 2cm chunks
2 red onions, halved
2 tbsp olive oil
1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
4 tbsp pine nuts
1 tbsp harissa paste
1 ready-rolled sheet of puff pastry
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp sesame seeds
Salt and black pepper to season
Method
1. If serving straight away, preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/Gas mark 6.
2. Combine the squash, onions, oil and chilli in a baking tray and season well. Roast for 40 minutes, stirring from time to time until the squash chunks are soft throughout and caramelised around the edges.
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3. While the squash is roasting, toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan on a medium–high heat until lightly golden (watch they don’t burn!). Roughly chop and set aside.
4. Remove the baking tray from the oven, transfer the pieces of butternut squash to a mixing bowl and roughly mash.
5. Chop the roasted onion and tip it, along with any chilli bits and oil left in the baking tray, into the mixing bowl and mix well. Stir in the harissa and pine nuts and season to taste.
6. Unroll the puff pastry sheet on to a piece of greaseproof paper (or use the paper it comes wrapped in) and cut it in half down its length, into 2 strips. Halve the butternut mixture and use each half in turn to create a line of filling down the centre of each pastry strip.
7. One strip at a time, paint a line of beaten egg down one side, and bring the other side over to cover it. Press lightly to seal, then roll the 2 pastry tubes over so that the seams are underneath. Cut each length into 8 equal pieces, and place on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper or a reusable liner. (See freezer notes now if you intend to freeze.)
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8. When you are ready to cook, lightly brush the rolls with egg and scatter sesame seeds over the top. Bake for 25–30 minutes until the rolls are puffed up and gloriously golden. Eat warm for maximum tastiness.
To freeze: put the unbaked rolls between layers of greaseproof paper and place them in an airtight box or bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. To bake from frozen, lightly brush the rolls with egg and scatter sesame seeds over the top. Bake as in the method.
Stuffed Jackets With Mushrooms And Pancetta
Feeds: 4
Sam Gates Stuffed jackets with mushrooms and pancetta
Ingredients
4 large baking potatoes
2 tsp olive oil, plus extra for frying
50g butter
300g any medium-sized mushrooms, sliced
160g pancetta or streaky bacon, sliced into small pieces
2 tbsp chopped chives, plus extra to serve
50g Parmesan or mature cheddar, finely grated
4 tbsp milk
Maldon salt and black pepper
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/Gas mark 6.
2. Prick the potatoes a few times with a fork then rub a little olive oil over the skins. Place them on a roasting tray and scatter with a teaspoon of salt.
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3. Bake for 60–90 minutes until the skins are crisp and the potatoes are cooked through. Set aside for 15 minutes until cool enough to handle.
4. While the potatoes are cooking, melt the butter in a frying pan on a medium–high heat, add a good pinch of salt and fry the mushrooms for 8–10 minutes until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside in a mixing bowl. Add the pancetta or bacon pieces to the pan and fry quickly until crispy all over, adding a little olive oil if needed. Tip into the mushroom mixture, add the chopped chives and grated cheese and stir well.
5. Cut the potatoes in half lengthways and, without breaking the skins, carefully scoop out the flesh and mash it in a bowl together with the milk. Stir the mashed potato into the mushrooms and bacon and season to taste. Divide the mixture equally between the potato halves. (See freezer notes now if you intend to freeze.)
6. If you’re eating straight away, place in the oven for 15–20 minutes until golden on top and warmed through.
To freeze: Cool the filled (but not re-baked) potatoes completely, then place in an airtight container or foil freezer container and freeze for up to 2 months. To cook from frozen, loosely cover with foil and place in the oven at 200°C/180°C fan/Gas mark 6 for 30–35 minutes until golden brown and warmed through.
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Fast And Furious Quinoa ‘Bolognese’
Feeds: 4
Sam Gates Quinoa ‘bolognese’
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
2 red onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
Small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, stalks and leaves
Finely chopped separately
2 courgettes, finely diced
3 tbsp chopped capers
2 tbsp tapenade or sun-dried tomato paste
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
generous pinch of sugar
250g sachet of ready-cooked quinoa
½ tsp salt, plus extra to season
4 tbsp pine nuts, toasted
4 large red peppers
Black pepper to season
Method
1. Heat the olive oil in a large, shallow pan over a medium heat and gently fry the onions, garlic and parsley stalks for 8–10 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent. Remove from the pan with a slotted spatula, increase the heat and fry the diced courgettes quickly until golden.
2. Return the onions to the pan and add the capers, paste, tomatoes, sugar and quinoa. Stir in the ½ teaspoon of salt and season with plenty of pepper. Cook for 10–12 minutes until the sauce thickens. Taste and add more seasoning if desired.
3. Remove from the heat and stir through the chopped parsley leaves and the pine nuts. (See freezer notes now if you intend to freeze.)
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4. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas mark 4.
5. Slice a ‘lid’ off the top of each of the peppers. Remove the seeds and white pith from the insides and rub the skins with olive oil. Stuff the peppers with the sauce and place in a greased baking tin. Cook for 30 minutes until piping hot, then serve.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--The 10 Most Popular Instagram Recipes From October 2020

The world is a jumble of unpredictability these days, but there’s one thing that has held rock steady ― the comfort we get from unapologetically autumn foods.
Whenever we want a glimpse of what our readers love to cook (and eat) at any given moment, we take a look at the HuffPost Taste Instagram account. This October, readers’ favourite recipes were basically warm blankets of creaminess and comfort. There were braised short ribs, chicken with white wine sauce, salmon with a rich cream sauce, two pumpkin pastas and a soup that’ll knock your socks off.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Trump Reportedly 'Plans To Declare Victory Before Election Is Called'

He has explicitly said that he’s against expanding this form of voting because he believes that the more people who turn out, the more likely it is that Democrats will win.
At a rally in September, he told supporters the only presidential election he would accept as legitimate would be the one he wins.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Jacqui Smith Is The First Celebrity To Leave Strictly Come Dancing

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Jacqui Smith has become the first celebrity to be voted off this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
The former Labour MP and her dance partner Anton du Beke found themselves in the bottom two alongside Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer on Sunday night’s results show.
Strictly host, Tess Daly. BBC/Guy Levy
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The judges’ scores this week were added to those from last week, and were then combined with the results of the viewers’ votes to decide the lowest scoring two couples.
Both then had to perform again in the dreaded dance off, with Jacqui and Anton performing their Samba to Help Yourself by Tom Jones, and Jamie and Karen performing their American Smooth to Night and Day by Frank Sinatra in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
But it was Jacqui who lost out after all three judges voted to save Jamie.
(L-R) Karen Hauer, Jamie Laing, Jacqui Smith and Anton du Beke. BBC
After both couples had danced a second time the judges delivered their verdicts:
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Jamie and Karen, saying: “Based purely on dance merit and what I thought was the better dance of the evening, I’d like to save Jamie and Karen.”
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Motsi Mabuse also chose to save Jamie and Karen.
She said: “First of all I’d like to say that both couples did very well, I felt that both couples picked up a notch this time. I just have to say that for me personally I think that one couple was a little bit on a higher level so I’m going to save Jamie and Karen.”
Head Judge Shirley Ballas said she would also have chosen to save Jamie and Karen.
Jacqui Smith and Anton du Beke BBC
When asked by host Tess Daly about her time on the show, Jacqui said: “I had the greatest adventure it’s possible to imagine. I’m just sorry I can’t continue it with this man who has been absolutely fantastic and gorgeous to be with.
“But I don’t feel too much shame in losing to these guys because they are a fantastic bunch of dancers, they really are. So I’ll be watching you and supporting you.
“To Anton I would like to say you have been just an absolute joy to be with. I am so pleased and proud to have spent this time with you. And to everybody on the programme I don’t think people realise just how brilliant the team is that put this programme together and if ever we need Strictly, we need it now so thank you so much.”
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Anton said he’d “loved every second of being in the studio” with Jacqui.
“We have laughed, you have a shocking sense of humour I can’t begin to tell you,” he said. “You are just the best and I’ve loved it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The remaining eleven couples will take to the dance floor next week for a Movie Special, when Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One at 7.25pm.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--NHS Covid App Failed To Contact Thousands Due To Software Error

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A software setting error in the NHS Covid app has meant thousands of people were not told to self-isolate after they came into people infected with the coronavirus.
Software developers behind the app have admitted its algorithm has since been updated – weeks after it was first released on Sep 24. The app has been downloaded by more than 19 million people in England and Wales.
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It uses Bluetooth signals to track who an individual comes into close contact with and sends an alert to those people if they become infected with Covid-19.
But on Thursday developers behind the app said an update to the “risk threshold” had been made to take into the account the element of “infectiousness”.
“The ‘risk threshold’ was due to be lowered, but this change did not take place at that time,” wrote Randeep Sidhu and Gaby Appleton in a blog post.
“The updated version of the app addresses this by lowering the threshold at which users are deemed to be at risk of having caught the virus and alerted to self-isolate.
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“The update to the risk threshold is expected to increase the number of people asked to self-isolate by the app, having been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.”
The result of this software setting means users who should have received an alert telling them to self-isolate were not contacted, according to The Times.
The paper quoted a source saying “shockingly low” numbers of users had been sent warnings, and that users of Android devices were among the worst hit.
The smartphone app has experienced technical issues since its launch after months of setbacks.
In October the government was forced to upgrade the app after users received alert messages suggesting they had been exposed to the virus.
In many cases, the so-called “ghost notification” would simply disappear once clicked on and was not followed by any official confirmation of contact with others who carry coronavirus.
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“This was confusing for app users who would receive a ‘possible exposure’ message,” Sidhu and Appleton admitted in the same post.
“We recognise this is still an inconvenience and cause for concern for some app users.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Donald Trump Pays Tribute To Sean Connery And Manages To Make It All About Himself

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The James Bond actor’s family confirmed he had died on Saturday, and on Sunday the US president took to Twitter to remember the acting legend.
Starting off by describing the Scottish star as a “great actor and an even greater man”, the president, who is up for re-election this week, then reminisced about a time the actor allegedly helped him win planning for a controversial development.
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Sean Connery and Donald Trump AP
In 2007 Trump’s plans to build a luxury golf resort on the Menie Estate near Balmedie in Scotland were thrown into disarray, when Aberdeenshire Council refused to grant him planning permission for the project.
The Scottish Government then “called in” the planning decision, and in November 2008 ministers approved the development, as they said it would have “significant economic and social benefit”.
In a tweet, the president said the involvement of the 007 star had been key to him getting the green light.
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The legendary actor, 007 Sean Connery, has past on to even greener fairways. He was quite a guy, and a tough character. I was having a very hard time getting approvals for a big development in Scotland when Sean stepped in and shouted,“Let him build the damn thing”. That was.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2020
....all I needed, everything went swimmingly from there. He was so highly regarded & respected in Scotland and beyond that years of future turmoil was avoided. Sean was a great actor and an even greater man. Sincere condolences to his family! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2020
“The legendary actor, 007 Sean Connery, has past (sic) on to even greener fairways,” he tweeted. “He was quite a guy, and a tough character.
“I was having a very hard time getting approvals for a big development in Scotland when Sean stepped in and shouted, ‘Let him build the damn thing’. That was all I needed, everything went swimmingly from there.”
Trump added: “He was so highly regarded and respected in Scotland and beyond that years of future turmoil was avoided. Sean was a great actor and an even greater man. Sincere condolences to his family!”
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Sir Sean’s wife has revealed her husband’s final months were blighted by dementia but the actor “got his final wish to slip away without fuss”.
Micheline Roquebrune, who was married to Sir Sean for 45 years, told the Daily Mail that he had died peacefully in his sleep.
Sir Sean Connery and wife Micheline Roquebrune Charles Eshelman via Getty Images
“He had dementia and it took its toll on him,” she said. “He got his final wish to slip away without any fuss.
“It was no life for him. He was not able to express himself latterly. At least he died in his sleep and it was just so peaceful. I was with him all the time and he just slipped away. It was what he wanted.
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The 91-year-old Moroccan-French painter, who met the Sean in 1970 at a golf tournament and became his second wife, added: “He was gorgeous and we had a wonderful life together. He was a model of a man.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Young Children Will Be Exempt From Two Person Lockdown Rule To Help Mothers, Government Announces

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The government has agreed to change its new lockdown rules for England so parents of young children can meet up with each other.
Under the restrictions that come into force on Thursday, people are only allowed to meet with one person outside from another household.
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The initial plans counted a parent and their baby as two people. This would have meant a mother or father would have been unable to meet up with another person while looking after their child.
MPs had called on the government to loosen the rule before it comes into force.
On Sunday afternoon, health minister Nadine Dorries announced children under school age who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside.
Children under school age who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside. This will mean that a parent can see a friend or family member with their baby or young children. — Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧#StayAlert (@NadineDorries) November 1, 2020
Children and adults who are dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, will also be included. The guidance will be updated to reflect this. — Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧#StayAlert (@NadineDorries) November 1, 2020
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Conservative MP Alicia Kearns had called for the rule to be amended on Sunday. “As we prepare to go into a second lockdown, it’s important that we support new mums. I remember the loneliness,” she said on Twitter.
“I’ve asked for any parent with a baby to be able to meet, and also that it’s children under school age.
The MP for Rutland and Melton said it was important that “two new mums can meet together in lockdown”.
She added: “I recognise the goal of lockdown is to reduce contact between different households.”
Labour MP Stella Creasy added: “Hard to see how a baby is distinct from parent in transmission stakes at such a young age and given growing crisis of post natal maternal health vital mums not stuck at home this next month.”
Pregnant Then Screwed said it understood the importance of reducing the spread of coronavirus, but also called for a change.
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“But babies under 18 months should not be counted in these figures. New mums are having a hard enough time as it is,” the charity said.
’They need support and company from other mothers to improve their mental health.
“If they are breastfeeding they have no other choice but to go everywhere with their baby. Have new mothers been forgotten here?”
In Scotland, children under 12 do not count towards its household limit rules.
From Thursday, pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential retail will close from Thursday for four weeks across England, with furlough payments at 80% extended for the duration of the new measures.
Yet unlike in the lockdown during the first wave of the pandemic, schools, colleges and nurseries will remain open.
Boris Johnson said the restrictions would end on December 2, when the government would reintroduce local restrictions based on the latest data and trends.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Second Lockdown Rules: Here's What The New Restrictions Mean

England is to go into a second national lockdown at one minute past midnight on Thursday morning, Boris Johnson has announced.
Here’s what we know:
What are the new rules?
All pubs, restaurants, hospitality venues and leisure facilities will close but nurseries, schools, colleges, universities and essential shops will stay open.
As during the shutdown March, takeaways can stay open but only for delivery services.
People should only leave their home for education, work, to shop for essential items, recreation outdoors, for medical reasons or to escape harm. When outdoors, they should only mix with people from their household or with one person from another household.
All other non-essential retail will close and there will be a ban on households mixing indoors as part of a bid to slow down the Covid-19 second wave.
Support bubbles for single-adult households are still permitted, and children who live between two different households will still be able to move between parents.
When could a second national lockdown end?
Johnson said he expects the lockdown to remain in for four weeks until December 2 – but those with longer memories will recall the March measures had an expected timeframe of at least three weeks.
Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sunday morning, Michael Gove said if the data on the spread of the virus doesn’t improve then the full national lockdown will continue.
The Cabinet Office minister said the government would be “driven by the data” when it came to making the decision but added it would be “foolish” to predict what would happen with the pandemic over the next four weeks.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-03--All Liverpool Residents And Workers Offered Covid-19 Testing In Massive Pilot Scheme

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Coronavirus tests will be offered to everyone across Liverpool in a pilot of mass testing in England.
Anyone living or working in the city can be tested regularly from Friday, even if they have no symptoms, in an approach which Boris Johnson said “has the potential to be a powerful new weapon in our fight against Covid-19”.
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The provision of around half a million new, rapid turnaround tests is happening at the request of and in close collaboration with local leaders, the Department of Health and Social Care said.
The aim is to find asymptomatic cases in order to help prevent and reduce transmission in the community.
Liverpool recorded 366.4 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to October 29.
Testing will be carried out using a combination of existing swab tests, as well as new rapid turnaround lateral flow tests and around 2,000 military personnel will be on hand to help with planning logistics locally, and delivering the extra capacity.
There will also be Lamp (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) technology deployed in Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for NHS staff, promising to deliver significant volumes of tests.
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The department said the pilot will help to “inform a blueprint for how mass testing can be achieved and how fast and reliable Covid-19 testing can be delivered at scale”.
Testing will be carried out in new and existing sites across the city, including in hospitals, care home settings, schools, universities, workplaces and using at-home kits.
People can book a test online, by walk-up, or by invitation from the local authority and Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged people to “play their part” by getting a test.
A covid alert level sign in Liverpool. PA
The prime minister thanked local leaders for volunteering to be part of the first city-wide population testing pilot.
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Johnson said: “These tests will help identify the many thousands of people in the city who don’t have symptoms but can still infect others without knowing.
“Dependent on their success in Liverpool, we will aim to distribute millions of these new rapid tests between now and Christmas and empower local communities to use them to drive down transmission in their areas.
“It is early days, but this kind of mass testing has the potential to be a powerful new weapon in our fight against Covid-19.”
Also thanking local leaders, Hancock said: “Using half a million of the very latest rapid tests, this rollout can help suppress the virus and give residents and workers some peace of mind.
“Everyone in Liverpool can help play their part by getting a test and following the rules, including the critical basics of hands, space, face.”
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Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “We are pleased that our numerous conversations have resulted in Liverpool becoming a pilot for mass testing, which will help to quickly identify people who have the virus and reduce transmission substantially.”
Interim executive chair of the National Institute for Health Protection Baroness Dido Harding said the pilot is a “really important step forward”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Why Rishi Sunak Is Now As Much In Labour’s Sights As Boris Johnson

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When Boris Johnson got up in the Commons to confirm the second UK national lockdown, it was not surprising that he lacked his usual ebullience. That characteristic Johnsonian optimism, seen as Tigger-ishly refreshing by his admirers but recklessly inappropriate by his critics, was tempered by his grim warnings about the “existential threat” to the NHS posed by the Covid second wave.
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Of course, it doesn’t get grimmer than warning that inaction would mean doctors and nurses could be forced to choose “which patients to treat, who would live and who would die”. But over two hours of facing 100 questions from MPs, the PM was once more at pains to stress the light at the end of the new tunnel.
Despite Michael Gove’s weekend admission that the lockdown (sorry, “tougher national measures” as the PM and No.10 prefers to call it) could last more than four weeks, Johnson insisted this was a time-limited set of rules that will end on December 2. The wriggle room – he said “we intend” to return to a tiered system after that – was so slight that only around a dozen Tory backbenchers sounded upset.
Johnson even had a stab at “what is an exit strategy, what is the way out”, revealing it involved getting the R number below 1 and giving fresh details of his “moonshot” plan to use rapid testing to test whole towns or cities. The Army’s new Winter Defence Force of 7,000 personnel will help on logistics of the mass testing “in a matter of days”.
Yet it was when he said that his new national restrictions would “use this moment to exploit the medical and technical advances we are making” that Keir Starmer looked singularly unimpressed. Starmer was withering about the fact that the PM had dithered for 40 days since Sage first recommended a short lockdown that would indeed have used the breathing space to rebuild test-and-trace and protect hospitals from being overrun. He rightly pointed out that doing it over half-term would have had the added benefit of school closures too.
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The case was made even more forcefully hours earlier when Sage member and UCL Professor of epidemiology Andrew Hayward said: “We can’t turn back the clock, but I think if we had chosen a two-week circuit break at that time we would definitely have saved thousands of lives.” But it was Hayward’s second point that perhaps stung the government as much. An earlier short circuit break “would clearly have inflicted substantially less damage on our economy than the proposed four-week lockdown will do”, he said.
It’s this point, that the delay could mean greater harm to both health and wealth, that is a political double whammy for Johnson. But it is also just as potentially wounding to Rishi Sunak, who was seated near the PM in the Commons with a very grave expression indeed. He looked like he was attending a funeral, which was no surprise given that Starmer had spent the day suggesting it was the chancellor’s reputation that had been buried in recent weeks.
With one eye on his possible next opponent at the general election, the Labour leader used his CBI speech to declare Sunak’s move to block a circuit breaker meant that “the chancellor’s name is all over this” raft of extra job losses, closed firms and damage to the public finances. Added to his much more robust anger with Johnson, Starmer is now regularly ridiculing Sunak’s handwritten social media slogans and his repeated botched attempts to anticipate the second wave.
In fact, ‘get shirty and get shorty’ seems to be the new Starmer strategy as he welds Johnson and Sunak’s failures together. It can only be a matter of time before the PM and chancellor appear in Labour ads as Laurel and Hardy (one is skinny and clueless, the other is fat and conceited, both leading the country into “another fine mess”). Or for 1970s viewers, a Tory Little and Large, without the laughs.
The way Sunak’s cringetastic “thanks, PM” moment last week went viral suggests the gloves are already off. Add in the study suggesting EatOutToHelpOut added up to 17% of Covid cases (Sunak ducked this when I asked him about it in a press conference recently) and the shine has come off his reputation as quickly as it was first burnished. His tone may be more reassuring than Johnson’s, but it’s his actions (or lack of them) that is now Labour’s increasing focus.
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On the Today programme, Sunak failed to give any answers on very pressing issues such as whether statutory sick pay and isolation payments should be extended and increased. As with the lack of food parcels for those shielding (one to watch), the chancellor is susceptible to the charge that he has ditched his pragmatic largesse at the start of this pandemic for an ideological attempt to tackle the second wave on the cheap, all to win some praise from some Tory MPs.
It was notable that Johnson today stole from Sunak what would normally be a chancellor’s announcement, on raising self-employed support levels. I spotted too several hints from the PM of further largesse, from self-isolation payments (“we will be making a big push on that”) to the three million freelancers excluded (on “those tough cases we will do everything we can to help them through this”). Could the minimum floor for universal credit even be extended too? The First Lord of the Treasury (ie the PM) could yet splash more cash, though it will be seen by many as too little, too late.
The worrying thing for both Johnson and Sunak is the growing number of both Tory and Labour MPs demanding an economic impact assessment of their plans to date and to come. Any such assessment could lay bare how many jobs could have been saved by earlier extension of furlough or an earlier, shorter lockdown. Just as with Brexit no-deal plans, the post-Hammond Treasury is unlikely to provide its own estimates. ”What’s the damage?” is not a question it likes at the best of times, yet you can bet others (perhaps the OBR) will do the estimates for them.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Prince William Slammed For Coronavirus Cover-Up That May 'Haunt' Him

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Prince William is facing backlash after reports emerged Sunday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus in April and kept his diagnosis secret.
The Sun, which first reported the news, said that the Duke of Cambridge was “hit pretty hard by the virus” and at times “was struggling to breathe, so obviously everyone around him was pretty panicked”.
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William reportedly hid his diagnosis “because he didn’t want to alarm the nation” and continued to carry out engagements via video, though he took a week off, according to The Sun.
The prince’s wife, Kate Middleton, and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis reportedly did not test positive.
Kensington Palace did not have an on-the-record comment for HuffPost on Monday, though its communications team did not deny the story.
Many criticised the prince, who is second in line to the throne, for hiding his diagnosis while his father, Prince Charles, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson were both struggling with the coronavirus at the same time.
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Richard Palmer, royal correspondent for the Daily Express, said William’s decision to keep his positive diagnosis private may “haunt” him.
“The UK expects honesty from public figures, particularly during a pandemic. This may be a cover-up that will haunt William and those advising him,” Palmer tweeted on Sunday.
“If the future King contracts a potentially fatal virus that the entire world is worried about during a lockdown and he and those around him cover it up, that raises serious questions about whether we can trust anything he or his advisers say,” Palmer added.
I’m on holiday but it seems Kensington Palace is confirming that the Duke of Cambridge had Covid-19 in April and kept it secret. The UK expects honesty from public figures, particularly during a pandemic. This may be a cover-up that will haunt William and those advising him. — Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) November 1, 2020
If the future King contracts a potentially fatal virus that the entire world is worried about during a lockdown and he and those around him cover it up, that raises serious questions about whether we can trust anything he or his advisers say. — Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) November 1, 2020
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Palmer added that it made no sense to praise the future king for his cover-up when other global figures like Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Donald Trump and others would’ve been criticised for the same thing.
If Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, or Joe Biden had covered up a positive test for Covid-19, many people would not be praising them for “not wanting to worry people”. — Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) November 1, 2020
Others pointed out another reason the prince should’ve come forward: the British line of succession.
“If the unthinkable had happened and the Queen, Charles and William all passed away, the next in line would be Prince George, who is seven years old,” said Kate Williams, a historian, novelist and professor of public engagement with history at the University of Reading, told CNN Monday.
The public clearly expects transparency from other members of the royal family. People are still upset that William’s brother, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan didn’t publicly name their son Archie’s godparents, for example.
And while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were the first in the British royal family to wear masks while attending engagements or volunteering, the Duke of Cambridge recently attended an event with the queen where the two didn’t wear masks.
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“I bet everyone’s like ‘I’ve got coronavirus, I’m dying,’ and you’re like, ‘No, you’ve just got a cough,’” William said during a royal tour of Ireland while speaking with first responder Joe Mooney on March 3.
The prince also asked Mooney if the crisis had been “a little bit hyped up” by the media and also joked about spreading the virus in separate video captured at the event.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--North West Ambulance Service Declares 'Major Incident'

Ambulances outside the Accident and Emergency Department of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. PA
The North West Ambulance Service has declared a major incident due to a high level of calls.
The ambulance service said it was “exceptionally busy” on Monday evening and warned patients to expect delays.
“We’ve declared a major incident due to the high level of calls,” a statement said.
“If your call is not life-threatening, you may be asked to seek an alternative source of care or make your way to hospital.”
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The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said there has been a “high level of activity” in the region, especially the Greater Manchester area.
A statement on Facebook said: “You can help us reach the patients that urgently need our help by not calling 999 unless the condition is life-threatening or potentially life-threatening, not calling us to find out where your ambulance is or calling to cancel any ambulance that you no longer require or feel is necessary.
“We are trying our best to reach patients as soon as we possibly can and apologise for any delays in our response. Please bear with us.”
Staff had agreed to cancel breaks for two hours between 5pm and 7pm, according to the NWAS branch of the trade union Unison.
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NWAS Unison said on Twitter: “Please help our crews by only calling if you really need us.
“They are being run ragged at the moment and they will get to you as soon as they can. Please consider using 111 first. Thank you.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Exclusive: Home Office To Continue Deportation Flights – While Banning Overseas Travel For Public

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The government will continue its deportation flights during lockdown despite a ban on outbound international travel when new restrictions come in on Thursday, HuffPost UK can reveal.
The prime minister was forced to announce a second national lockdown at a hastily arranged press conference in Downing Street over the weekend after details were leaked to newspapers.
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In a strongly-worded statement, a Home Office spokesperson said it will prioritise targeting individuals who “exploit” the immigration system.
“We will continue to remove foreign national offenders who abuse our hospitality and those who have no right to remain in the UK,” the spokesperson said.
“The government is fixing the broken asylum system to make it firm and fair. It will be compassionate towards those who need our help, welcoming people through safe and legal routes, but will stop the exploitation of the system through illegally-facilitated crossings and often unfounded and meritless claims to remain.”
Under the new lockdown, members of the public are advised not to travel unless for essential reason. Those who are already on holiday will be able to return to the UK.
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People can travel for work, if unable to work remotely, and there are exemptions for overnight stays and second homes for work purposes.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said on Monday there won’t be refunds for November flights.
“If the government wants to change that advice and provide refunds themselves, they can feel free to do so,” he said.
“If the government wants to change that advice and provide refunds themselves, they can feel free to do so”
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary tells #BBCBreakfast there won’t be refunds for flights still operating. https://t.co/jX0hKM8Yud pic.twitter.com/lGJizDvrY2 — BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) November 2, 2020
Meanwhile Easyjet has announced that much of the airline’s UK schedule is likely to be cancelled during the lockdown.
Further restrictions will see pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential retail closed for four weeks; schools, colleges and nurseries will remain open.
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People will also be allowed to exercise and socialise in outdoor public spaces with their household or one other person.
On Monday, human rights organisation Liberty wrote to the PM urging the government to take “urgent life-saving steps” to immediately reduce the number of people in immigration detention centres


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Keeping Schools Open In Lockdown Has Polarised The UK. Here's What The Experts Say

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The calendar might say November.
But, following the announcement from Boris Johnson that England is going into a full-on lockdown from Thursday, in many ways it feels like we’re back in March.
In a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus – which has once again spiralled out of control – pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops will shut their doors until at least December 2.
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Meanwhile, people will once again be told to stay at home and banned from mixing with people outside their household or bubble.
But there is one big difference between the forthcoming lockdown and the restrictions enforced back in March.
In the spring, it was only vulnerable children and the kids of key workers who were able to go into school – everyone else was taught at home, or that was the idea.
This time around, schools will remain open for all students.
The move has triggered fierce debate between teaching unions, parents and scientists, with some arguing that children’s education must be the priority and others saying it will undermine the success of the lockdown.
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Not sure what to think? Here’s what the key players say.
What does the government say about schools remaining open?
Prime minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus PA
It was announced by the prime minister on Saturday night that schools would remain open for all pupils during the second lockdown.
In the government’s guidelines about the upcoming month-long set of restrictions, it says that ministers will keep schools open “to prioritise the well being and long-term futures of our young people”.
“It remains very important for children and young people to attend, to support their wellbeing and education and help working parents and guardians,” the advice reads.
“Senior clinicians still advise that school is the best place for children to be, and so they should continue to go to school. Schools have implemented a range of protective measures to make them safe.”
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The government has also argued that, with exams set to go ahead next summer, schools need to keep their doors open to make sure they get that pupils get all the support they need to get their qualifications.
What data do we have about schools and the spread of Covid-19?
Each week, Public Health England (PHE) logs the places that people who have tested positive for Covid-19 went before they started showing symptoms, to try to work out where they were infected.
If more than two cases are associated with a location, it’s counted as a “common exposure” – what you and I would probably call an outbreak.
Between October 19 and October 25, secondary schools accounted for 6.8% of all “common exposure” incidents in England, while primary schools made up 5.7%. In total, that’s 12.5%.
That is the highest total figure, closely followed by supermarkets (11.2%), pubs and bars (7.4%) and restaurants and cafes (7.0%).
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How many visits? PHE has admitted that it hasn’t made adjustments for how often a location is visited in its outbreak data. That means that locations with more visits are more likely to be identified as the sites of common exposures. So how many visits are there to schools and supermarkets? In 2012, England contained 24,372 schools, with more than 8.2m pupils. It’s surprisingly hard to find an average number of supermarket visits in England, but to give some idea of the scale, UK shoppers made an *extra* 79m grocery shopping trips in the four weeks before lockdown, according to Nielsen, on top of their normal visits. That accounted for a 20.5% jump in sales, suggesting the normal figure may be something like 400m visits every four weeks. By contrast, if every schoolchild “visits” school five times a week, that’s about 165m “visits” in four weeks. These are ballpark figures, but if supermarkets are producing more visits than schools, yet schools are generating more outbreaks, that suggests schools really are key places for infection to spread. That could be because people spend longer in schools than supermarkets, and mix more closely with each other.
What do scientists think?
inside of a classroom in kindergarten with small chairs and tables ChiccoDodiFC via Getty Images
On Monday, Andrew Hayward – a professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at UCL – warned that there is “substantial transmission” of coronavirus within secondary schools in particular.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We are of course needing to prioritise education and we know that children who are infected in schools are very unlikely to have severe consequences.
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“But I think one of the consequences of not closing secondary schools would be that we may need to be in lockdown for longer than we might otherwise have to be.”
But Dr Zubaida Haque, a member of the Independent Sage group of scientists, said that while the lockdown could have to go on longer to accommodate keeping schools open, schools were not to blame.
“The lockdown will not be longer because of schools,” she told HuffPost UK.
“It will be longer because the government wasted close to six weeks before they took action. They wasted time and dithered with local tiers, even though this is a national crisis.
“That’s why this will take longer. Arguably it may take a bit longer than four weeks because schools are open as well. But we can’t have schools closed for a month.”
It must not be forgotten that children have already missed six months of in-person schooling, Haque said.
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“That is unprecedented,” she said. “That is a long time to miss school and we know that has [...] had an impact on children’s ability to learn, especially on children from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Research by the educational charity The Sutton Trust found that in the most deprived schools, 15% of teachers said more than a third of their students would not have adequate access to a laptop or tablet to do lessons from home.
Meanwhile, these teachers were worried that a similar number of their pupils would not have good enough internet access.
“The negative impact [of school closures] – the educational impact, the psychological impact, the mental health impact – on children has been enormous,” Haque added.
What do teaching unions say?
Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
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The National Education Union, on the other hand, has demanded that the government must close schools and colleges during lockdown, warning that ministers have failed “heads, teachers, support staff, parents and pupils” by “cutting corners and taking half-measures on Covid”.
“We have seen a 50-fold increase in infections in secondary schools alone since September,” said the union’s joint general secretary Kevin Courtney, referring to ONS data that suggested around 1% of primary school students and 2% of secondary school students have coronavirus.
“Schools, clearly, are an engine for virus transmission. The lockdown would be much more effective in reducing virus levels if schools and colleges were a part of it.”
2% of secondary students have the virus - according to ONS figures.
Is that a low number?
There are things to think about:
- It means that in an average three classes on an average day you would exepct two of the students to have the virus.
thread 1/4 — Kevin Courtney #NEU💝NHS (@cyclingkev) November 2, 2020
According to the NEU, more than 150,000 teachers and support staff have backed its campaign to close schools to all pupils, except those who are vulnerable or the children of key workers.
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Meanwhile, the NASUWT teachers’ union has urged the government to publish the evidence “upon which it is relying to insist that keeping schools open fully will not impact adversely on children, their families, those working in schools”.
It has also argued that keeping schools open must not undermine the impact of the lockdown in bringing down Covid-19 rates.
“The government will need to do more in the coming days to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected at this critical time,” said NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach.
“Ministers have said that people should work from home where possible and that those who have underlying health conditions or who are most at risk from the coronavirus should stay at home.
“The same protections now need to be introduced urgently for those working in schools and colleges as apply to workers in other sectors.”
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What does the children’s commissioner think?
The children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, has welcomed the news that schools will remain open during lockdown.
Longfield, whose role is to promote and protect children’s rights, wrote on Twitter: “We’ve always said that schools should be the last to shut & first to open.
“It would be a disaster for children’s well-being and education if they were to close.”
Suggestions that schools will stay open during a forthcoming lockdown are very welcome. We've always said that schools should be the last to shut & first to open. It would be a disaster for children's well-being and education if they were to close. — Anne Longfield (@annelongfield) October 31, 2020
She added: “The fact schools are able to stay open is testament to the fantastic work schools and teachers have taken to make schools Covid secure.
“Our survey of children showed children were delighted to be back at school, felt safe, and understood all the rules.”
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How are parents feeling?
Images By Tang Ming Tung via Getty Images
The issue about whether or not children should be in schools during the second lockdown has also left parents divided.
Despite being “all for” school closures during the first lockdown, Valerie Fox – who lives in west London – is “completely against” schools closing over November after watching her children’s health, mental health and education “plummet” over spring.
“It massively affected their learning,” the 34-year-old said. “Even though I do not work and could stay home and had all the time in the world to help them, I’m still not a qualified teacher.
“So I can only imagine the stress for a full-time working parent who would have to juggle both – I don’t even see how it would be possible. I was doing lessons for hours.”
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Fox added: “Closing the schools for more than a couple of weeks is just completely detrimental to their mental health, not to mention how far behind they are academically. It’s really quite sad.”
For 35-year-old Khadija, who lives in Lancashire, it’s not such an easy decision.
She lives in a three-bedroom terrace house with her husband and four children – a situation that became really difficult during the first lockdown when everyone was working and learning from home.
With not enough laptops and tablets to go around for everyone to work on, they had to take it in turns “or use my phone, which is not ideal at all”.
She also found that while the school her middle children attend was good at engaging their students and keeping them focused, her youngest and eldest children were often left to their own devices by their teachers for long periods during the school day.
Back to school coronavirus covid 19 Ana Belen Garcia Sanchez via Getty Images
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Despite this, Khadija still thinks that schools should close. “I live in Preston, where we have been under very tight restrictions since August,” she said.
“Despite this, cases are amongst the highest in the country. We know so many people in hospital with Covid and who have died.
“Schools, colleges and unis are super spreaders for sure. Where cases are high, schools should be closed. Half-term would have been an ideal time to have a two- or three-week lockdown.”
Claire Thurgood, who lives in Norfolk, is also “not happy at all” that schools will remain open.
Earlier this year, both she and her 14-year-old daughter caught coronavirus – and they are still living with the effects of long-Covid. “We are both afraid of the infection,” the 58-year-old said.
“My daughter was very upset at having to go to school today. She doesn’t want to go.”
Despite the fact it initially looked like the teenager had mild coronavirus symptoms, she is still not better “but struggling on at school”.
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“I have considered taking her out of school during lockdown, but it would have to be backed up by our GP, who I will be contacting soon,” Thurgood said.
“If the GP backs me up, I will take her out of school. Last lockdown, I taught her myself for six months.”
But as a retired teacher, Thurgood acknowledges that she is at advantage in being able to help her daughter with her schooling.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Kendall Jenner Threw A Packed Party During The Pandemic And Twitter Lost It

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Courting backlash is the Kardashian way.
And Kendall Jenner sure courted a lot of it by throwing a packed, maskless birthday and Halloween party over the weekend, as new coronavirus cases in the US climbed to nearly 100,000 per day.
Los Angeles County leads US counties in confirmed cases and deaths, but there seemed no awareness of that at Kendall’s birthday bash in Hollywood, which counted famous guests like The Weeknd, model Winnie Harlow, Scott Disick, Justin Bieber, Jaden Smith and more.
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not Kendall Jenner hosting a birthday party with all these celebrities in attendance 💀 pic.twitter.com/xCCj5FHKnt — DEMI Documentary out now! (@ctrlovato) November 1, 2020
Kendall, who turns 25 on 3 November, was “having a great time” and personally greeted guests, who numbered “at least” 50, E! News reported.
“Everyone was drinking and dancing on the outdoor terrace. It was a huge dance party,” an anonymous source told E!.
“Kendall was the star of the show.”
Kendall Jenner celebrates 25th birthday at star-studded Halloween party. 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Hu4Jkc8kbk — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 1, 2020
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The bash followed Kim’s own 40th celebration on a private island that drew what seemed like global outrage.
Also, a Keeping Up With the Kardashians episode revealed that Khloe Kardashian had tested positive for coronavirus earlier this year.
“Let me tell you, that shit is real,” Khloe said in a widely-shared clip from the episode. “But, we’re all gonna get through this.”
Perhaps in an attempt to limit the inevitable backlash to Kendall’s party, a note photographed at the celebration urged attendees not to share photos on social media. Nevertheless, both Kylie and Kim posted photos from the bash on Instagram.
Kendall later posted photos with friends from the party, but turned off the comments on her Instagram.
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Unfortunately for her, she couldn’t turn off the comments on Twitter:
Ok Kendall Jenner blowing out candles as a masked waiter holds her cake and tries to move out of the way was actually the scariest thing I saw on Halloween pic.twitter.com/o46ri7TJ9W — Nicholindz Cage (@lolzlindz) November 1, 2020
It’s Kendall Jenner hosting a party and making a “no social media” rule just for Kylie to post it everywhere for me! pic.twitter.com/zhpr8aQreL — KAY (@kaysopinions) November 1, 2020
not all these celebs posting about wearing a mask, social distancing then showing up to kendall jenners party. eat the rich pic.twitter.com/NmPkOXaU1x — katie (@katiiestyles) November 1, 2020
CAN ALL THESE CELEBRITIES AKA KYLIE JENNER, KENDALL JENNER, JUSTIN BIEBER, NIKITA DRAGUN, JADEN SMITH TO NAME A FEW STOP BEING IGNORANT TOWARDS THIS VIRUS THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING U DONT NEED A HALLOWEEN PARTY — ❀bec⁷ (@sixthirtyagbs) November 1, 2020
My face when I found out Kendall Jenner had a Halloween party of 100 guests and had them get rapid tested before entering while the rest of us can’t even get non rapid tested if we are in contact with someone with covid but have no symptoms.
I hate it here. pic.twitter.com/7wdprLQgR6 — Maura Andrews (@cya_to_maura) November 2, 2020
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The Kardashians + Jenners
Justin & Hailey Bieber
The Weeknd
Doja Cat
Saweetie & Quavo
were all in attendance, not sure who else. Yes they might have had tests, but it still sets a bad example morally and no, I’m not making a fuss just because I wish I was at a party.. — DEMI Documentary out now! (@ctrlovato) November 1, 2020
'Do not post photos on social media.' They know that what they're doing is wrong but they do it anyway 💀💀💀💀💀 — what's going on, puta zorra? 🕷 (@itsjujitis) November 1, 2020
Though Kim didn’t directly address the criticism of her over-the-top 40th birthday bash, she did caption an Instagram post: “Now that I have your attention... this a reminder to VOTE” and continued to post pictures of Kendall’s party.
It seemed as though Kendall’s party costume ― and her “vote” flag ― followed Kim’s messaging:
me as Pamela Anderson in Barb Wire ... GO VOTE!!! pic.twitter.com/eUaMWtb7Ii — Kendall (@KendallJenner) October 31, 2020
Though that didn’t work, perhaps Kris Jenner or another Kardashian-Jenner sister will appear on Ellen DeGeneres’ show to explain.
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Khloe addressed Kim’s celebration during an appearance on Ellen last week.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Surface Actor Eddie Hassell Has Died, Aged 30

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Eddie Hassell, an actor known for roles in the Oscar-nominated movie The Kids Are All Right and the sci-fi series Surface, was shot and killed on Sunday in what appeared to be a carjacking, his manager told Variety.
The 30-year-old Texas native was gunned down outside his girlfriend’s apartment in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie, representative Alan Mills told The New York Times.
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Grand Prairie police said on Twitter that officers “rendered first aid” for gunshot wounds at the scene before Eddie was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said they were still investigating the motive behind the attack and searching for suspects, but confirmed that a car was taken from the scene and later recovered.
Eddie Hassell pictured at a film premiere in 2013 Jason LaVeris via Getty Images
Eddie’s most prominent TV work came as a teenager in Surface. He appeared in 10 episodes of the drama, which focused on a dangerous form of sea life and an attempted cover-up, IMDB noted.
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On the big screen, Eddie played the drug-abusing friend of siblings who are being raised by two mothers but suddenly meet their biological father in the 2010 film The Kids Are All Right.
The film was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, but lost out to The King’s Speech.
Eddie’s other credits include TV’s Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip (2007), a recurring role on Devious Maids (2013), Longmire (2015) and the films 2012 (2009) and Jobs (2013).
His last listed role was as a waiter in the 2017 film Oh Lucy!.
In a 2013 Elle interview, Eddie said skateboarding and surfing were “a huge part” of his life, and he frequently posted pictures on Instagram of himself enjoying the pastimes.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Tory MPs Savage Boris Johnson Over 'Authoritarian' Second Lockdown

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Tory MPs have laid into Boris Johnson in the Commons after the prime minister announced there would be a second national lockdown for England.
The country will go into a second shutdown from Thursday until December 2, with pubs, restaurants, leisure venues and non-essential shops all ordered to close.
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Speaking in the Commons, the PM told MPs with the NHS due to run out of critical care beds by early December, there was “no alternative” to lockdown as UK would have faced a “medical and moral disaster”.
But several of his backbenchers spoke out against the “authoritarian” move.
Labour’s Keir Starmer, meanwhile, accused Johnson of a “catastrophic failure of leadership” for rejecting a shorter two-week “circuit breaker” lockdown when top scientists demanded one on September 21.
Reacting to news of the month-long lockdown, which MPs will vote on this Wednesday, senior Conservative backbencher Charles Walker said his constituents would “never ever forgive the political class for criminalising parents seeing their children and children seeing parents”.
Predicting 12 MPs would rebel, he told the Commons: “I will not be supporting the government legislation on Wednesday because as we drift further into an authoritarian, coercive state, the only legal mechanism left open to me is to vote against that legislation.
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“That’s all we’ve got left. If my constituents protest they get arrested.”
Tory MP for Shipley Philip Davies accused Johnson of a “failed strategy of lockdowns and arbitrary restrictions”, which were “collapsing the economy”.
He added: “Can the prime minister, therefore, tell me how many collapsed businesses and how many job losses he and his government believe are a price worth paying to continue perusing this failed strategy of lockdowns and arbitrary restrictions?”
Rebel ringleader and chairman of the powerful 1922 committee of Tory MPs, Graham Brady, also called for a full impact assessment, saying the economy will be battered by the new lockdown.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaving 10 Downing Street PA
He said: “Can I ask (Boris Johnson) before Wednesday to publish a full impact assessment setting out the cost of the lockdown in terms of jobs that will be lost, businesses that will fail and the enormous toll on people’s mental and other aspects of their health, the lives that will be lost as a result of lockdown, as well as those that we hope to save?”
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Johnson accepted the country had “already sustained” economic damage and that “many projections” cast ahead to further job losses.
Appealing for MPs’ support, he added: “But against them, we must set the tragic loss of life that would inevitably ensue if this House failed to act on Wednesday.”
Tory MP for Harrow East Bob Blackman asked for the PM to confirm how the government would judge whether to lift lockdown.
He said: “Most people will say we are prepared, obviously, to do the right thing in order to eliminate and defeat this virus – but could he set out the criteria that he will use to ensure that we can come out of this partial lockdown on December 2?”
Johnson promised MPs that the new restrictions will end on December 2 “whatever happens”.
He added: “The R is above 1 but it is not much above 1, it is not much above 1.
“And if we work hard between now and 2nd December I believe that we can get it below 1.
“But whatever happens these restrictions end on 2nd December and any further measures will be a matter for this House of Commons.”
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With Labour backing the new lockdown and the number of rebels not yet able to threaten Johnson, the government is expected to win the vote on Wednesday.
Starmer called on the PM to use the four-week shutdown to fix NHS Test and Trace.
He said: “The reality is that the two pillars of the prime minister’s strategy, the £12bn track and trace and regional restrictions have not only failed to stop the second wave, they’ve been swept away by it.
“At every stage, the prime minister has been too slow, behind the curve. At every stage, he has pushed away challenge, ignored advice and put what he hoped would happen above what is happening.
“At every stage, he’s over-promised and under-delivered. Rejecting the advice of his own scientists over 40 days was a catastrophic failure of leadership and of judgment.”
During the lockdown, schools, colleges and universities will remain open, Johnson said.
He also said England will return to a tiered system “based on the data” when the latest lockdown measures end next month.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Baby Shark Dance Is Now The Most-Watched Video On YouTube Ever

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Remember that period a couple of years ago when you couldn’t move for people singing Baby Shark, for some reason or another?
Well, the *ahem* divisive song has just reached an unbelievable new accolade, becoming the most-watched clip in YouTube history.
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On Monday, it was revealed that the version of the song performed by Pinkfong, a South Korean educational brand, has amassed a total of 7.04 billion views.
This means that – love it or hate it – Baby Shark has been watched more than any other video uploaded to YouTube, overtaking Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s Despacito music video, which previously held the record.
A photo taken during Baby Shark Live! last year Taylor Hill via Getty Images
In a statement, Min Seok Kim – the CEO SmartStudy, Pinkfong’s parent company – said: “Without the love and support of fans around the world, Baby Shark’s new record would have been impossible.
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“We’re very honored by this record and will continue to focus on delivering high-quality entertainment beyond the digital platforms.”
While Despacito is now at number two, Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You is at third place on YouTube’s most-watched videos list, after being played 5.05 billion times.
Other clips inside the top 10 include Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s See You Again (at fourth place, with 4.79 billion views), another children’s favourite Johny Johny Yes Papa (at sixth place, with 4.41 billion views) and Psy’s Gangnam Style (at eighth place on 3.84 billion views).
The popularity of Baby Shark has led to a merchandise line inspired by the song, which includes toys, clothing, bedding and even a breakfast cereal.
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Baby Shark also charted at number six in the UK in early 2019, as well as reaching number 32 in the US.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--These Are Your Rights If You Were Made Redundant Before Furlough Was Extended

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It’s hard to keep up with furlough. Hours before the financial support scheme was due to wrap up once and for all at the end of October, the government announced it would be extended until December – as part of the new month-long lockdown restrictions in England.
Now, chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed a second extension. The furlough scheme will run until the end of March for any businesses affected by local or national lockdowns.
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The additional financial support is on a par with the original scheme that first began in March, which paid 80% of the wages up to a maximum of £2,500 a month, winding down to 60% as the economy began to reopen this summer.
Speaking in the house of commons on Thursday, Sunak defended the repeated U-turns on financial support. “In the face of such an unprecedented crisis, the government must be flexible to ever-changing circumstances,” he said.
“It is not a weakness to be agile and fast-moving in the face of a crisis, but rather a strength and that will not change.”
However, many people are worried that due to the the eleventh-hour nature of the lockdown and both furlough announcements, it may be too late for businesses to retract redundancies made in anticipation of the original furlough coming to an end. Here’s what you need to know if this situation affects you.
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What is happening to the furlough scheme?
The extended furlough scheme will turn the clocks back to how things were during the first lockdown. Employees will receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 and employers will have to pay employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions.
Flexi-furlough will continue to be an option, so employees can work part-time and receive a furlough grant for unworked hours.
So far, about 10 million jobs have been claimed for and an estimated two million workers were still on furlough at the end of October. Around half of these are in the hospitality, arts and recreation, administrative, and aviation industries.
The extension of furlough will be UK-wide, covering Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. This follows devolved nations calling for the measure to support their own tightened restrictions weeks ago.
Who can go back on furlough?
To be eligible for the furlough extension, employees need to have been on an employer’s payroll on September 23 (and already furloughed), even if they were then made redundant afterwards in October.
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This has brought the latest furlough extension in line with the original scheme that allowed employers to re-hire employees who had been made redundant.
“Many furloughed employees were made redundant at the end of October on the assumption that the furlough scheme was ending on that date,” Lucy Lewis, partner at commercial law firm Lewis Silkin previously told HuffPost UK – before this new extension.
“What I think we will see over this month is a lot of pressure on the government to catch a significant group of people who are going to fall through the holes between the two schemes,” she added. “There is a really big gap and it’s inevitable that there will be redundancies.”
What if I’ve already lost my job?
If you were made redundant before the end of October, it’s worth getting in touch with your employer as soon as possible. “Businesses will have the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work on a part-time basis or furlough them full-time,” explains Matthew Bradbury from Citizens Advice.
There are no guarantees. “Even if re-hiring is allowed, employers will not be under any obligation to re-hire and should take legal advice before doing so,” Lucy Lewis told HuffPost UK at the start of November.
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“There’s a big barrier financial, administrative barrier and people will fall through the gaps in terms of employment changes and I think is inevitable.”
But there is help out there, says Bradbury: “If you’re struggling financially, contact your local Citizens Advice who can provide you with advice and support, including on what help might be available if you’ve lost income.”
Nuthawut Somsuk via Getty Images
What if I’m self-employed?
Two days after Boris Johnson’s announcement of the new national lockdown and furlough extension in England, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a fresh round of Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.
The government will be increasing support to the self-employed workers from 40% of trading profits to 80% at the end of November for the duration of the new England lockdown.
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Self-employed grants will be calculated over three months so this increases the total grant from 40% to 55% of trading profits for November to January, while the maximum grant increases to £5,160.
Grants will also be paid faster than previously planned with the claims window opening at the end of November rather than the middle of December. Now the government has extended the furlough for employees affected by lockdown, there are calls to provide additional support to those who are self-employed.
“Glad to hear that the govt is extending furlough scheme til March for all of UK,” tweeted Labour MP Tracy Brabin. “The Govt must support the self-employed to March too, not just January, & extend support to over 3 million self-employed who are still out in the cold.”
What happens when this lockdown ends?
A new Job Support Scheme was due to start at the beginning of November at the end of the original furlough extension. Under this scheme, if businesses are forced to close due to local restrictions in tier 3 areas, workers will be paid 67% of their wages, up to a maximum of £2,083.33. Sunak’s additional extension of furlough to the end of March has delayed the introduction of this scheme.
When England comes out of lockdown, the government suggests regions will be re-classed into tiers as before, based on their coronavirus risk level. This will be dependent on a vote from government on whether lockdown is extended again.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--The US Election Explained In 20 Minutes. It's Running Mate, Our Presidential Podcast For Brits

Running Mate is a US election podcast – just for Brits.
Last week, we brought our run of episodes explaining American politics to an end. This week, host Graeme Demianyk puts together a round-up of some the best insights from our US colleagues we’ve spoken to over the last two-and-half months.
That’s included: a shouting match masquerading as a TV debate, multiple protests against racial injustice, and the president wondering whether he would be “one of the die-rs” after contracting coronavirus.
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We’ll have a special episode on Wednesday, too, to explain the result for those in the UK who might be scratching their heads over the state of America (and, frankly, who could blame them?).


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Another National Lockdown Has Left Us Winded. How About You?

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It was the news we knew might come at some point, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear when it was confirmed by Boris Johnson on Saturday night.
Following the local, regional, tiered and, in the case of Wales, “firebreak” lockdowns of recent weeks, England will be entering a new national lockdown from Thursday November 5, which will last for at least a month.
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I don’t know how your mornings start, but ours begin by asking each other: how are you feeling? It’s the same question that’s echoed between colleagues, friends and family throughout the pandemic.
It’s also a question we’ve kept at the forefront of our coronavirus coverage. We first asked readers in April, driven by a sense that our mental health was going to be as much of the Covid-19 story as the daily health updates and politicking.
Hundreds of you responded using this Google form and hundreds more again when we asked in October for World Mental Health Day. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences – and continues to do so here.
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tommaso79 via Getty Images
Your responses have helped us seek out the most relevant advice to guide us through these challenging weeks and months – and you can find these articles and more resources on our dedicated How Are You Feeling? page.
Sometimes even the briefest answer speaks volumes. Just days before Boris Johnson’s latest announcement, a reader filled in the form with the word “apprehensive”. And this morning one of our reporters said, simply, “tired”.
Both those feelings will likely resonate with different people – and at different times. Because while we’re all in this together (as politicians keep telling us), lockdown is also an individual experience, hugely dependent on your personal circumstances and ongoing mental health, either of which might be in flux.
Our experiences of this pandemic are also increasingly defined by the social, health and economic inequalities that play out in so many areas of life. This is why it matters that we keep checking in with – and supporting – each other.
Covid-19 is more than a news story – it has changed every aspect of life in the UK. We are following how Britain is experiencing this crisis, the different stages of collective emotion, reaction and resilience. You can tell us how you are feeling here and find further advice and resources here.
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Useful websites and helplines


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Harry Vaughan: Teenage Neo-Nazi Terrorist Handed Two-Year Suspended Sentence

Harry Vaughan, 18 PA
A teenage far-right terrorist has been sentenced at the Old Bailey to two years’ detention suspended for two years for a series of offences.
Satanist and far-right extremist Harry Vaughan, 18, of south-west London, was sentenced at the Old Bailey for 14 terrorism offences and two child abuse image offences.
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Detectives arrested Vaughan on June 19, 2019, after a national counter-terrorism operation identified that he was one of a number of people posting messages on an extremist website.
Digital forensic specialists retrieved 4,200 images and 302 files, including an extreme right-wing terrorist book and documents relating to Satanism, Neo-Nazism and anti-Semitism, from Vaughan’s devices.
Police said incriminating files included graphics encouraging acts of terrorism in the name of the proscribed organisation Sonnenkrieg Division, a guide to killing people, and bomb-making manuals.
Detectives also identified that Vaughan had downloaded and watched two child abuse videos, classified category A – the most serious type.
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Vaughan developed an interest in right-wing extremism, Satanism, the occult, and violence after disappearing “down a rabbit hole of the internet” from the age of 14, the Old Bailey heard.
Sentencing, Mr Justice Sweeney said Vaughan had lived at home with his parents and had been an A star student.
“However, none of them knew from the age of 14 you had been involved in groups on the internet and thereafter until you were 15 going on 16 had become interested and involved in extreme right-wing ideology,” he said.
While the defendant had documents on explosives, the judge said there was no suggestion he was preparing to manufacture it himself.
The judge took account of the defendant’s young age and his diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder.
He also acknowledged a letter from Vaughan’s parents, who are committed to helping him “change for the better”.
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Vaughan’s mother had attended the sentencing by video link while his father supported him in court.
The defendant, who wore a face mask in the dock, reacted by confirming he understood the sentence.
The head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said the case showed that any young person can be susceptible to radicalisation.
Commander Richard Smith said: “Harry Vaughan is an intelligent young man who was predicted A-star grades and aspiring to study computing at university.
“Yet, online, he was an enthusiastic participant of right-wing terrorist forums.
“He made and published vitriolic graphics encouraging terrorism and signposted people to violent terrorist guidebooks online.
“His case illustrates it is possible for any young person to be susceptible to radicalisation, so today I really want to appeal to everyone to be as vigilant as possible for signs that a young loved one may be in trouble.
“If you have any concerns at all, act decisively – talk to the police before it’s too late.
“We have officers who are specially trained and ready to help people who are becoming radicalised choose a better life for themselves.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Selling Sunset's Christine Quinn Has The Tables Turned As She Shows Viewers Around Her Own Home

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We’re used to seeing her showing the wealthy elite of LA around fabulous (and completely unaffordable) homes, but Selling Sunset star Christine Quinn had the tables turned on her during her upcoming appearance on MTV Cribs.
In a preview clip for her appearance on the rebooted series of Cribs – which airs tonight – Christine is seen showing a camera crew around her home, including her living room and kitchen.
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And yes, it’s pretty much everything you would expect from the Oppenheim Group realtor.
Early on in the tour, Christine says her taste in home decor includes items that are literally “dripping in gold”, showing off a coffee table and side table as examples.
She then reveals she’s “just got back from the office”, and is seen lighting some sage to rid herself of any “negativity” that she’s inadvertently walked into the house.
Christine lights some sage in a bid to rid her home of negative energy MTV
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Christine then walks through to her kitchen, which includes two dishwashers (for some reason), before showing off the contents of her fridge to the world.
“You guys are probably looking for the food right now,” she explains, gesturing towards the shelves of Red Bull, champagne and bottled water in her fridge. “Let’s just say I’m enjoying a lot of five-star room service right now.
“There are obviously bottles of water, but that’s just for my dogs, because I’m not a monster, I’m not giving them LA tap water.”
Christine eyes up the contents of her fridge MTV
Finally, she arrives in the dining room, which only has two seats at its table, which Christine notes is a “great excuse to not have guests over”.
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Probably for the best, Christine, unless the guests in question are big fans of Red Bull and leaving with empty stomachs…
Christine recently confirmed that Selling Sunset would be returning for a fourth series, although it seems things could be looking a little different when it comes back, as many of the agents featured have left the Oppenheim Group for a rival company.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Self-Employed To Get Paid 80% Of Average Profits During Second Lockdown

Boris Johnson in the Commons Boris Johnson in the Commons
Self-employed people will get 80% of their average past trading profits during England’s second lockdown in November, Boris Johnson has said.
The prime minister said the government would boost government support for the self-employed from the lower figure of 40% to 80% for this month only.
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It comes as the country prepares to go into a national lockdown from Thursday until December 2, with most firms, shops and leisure facilities ordered to close.
During a snap press conference on Saturday, the prime minister confirmed that the furlough scheme would be extended for November too, with workers to get 80% of their usual salary from the emergency wages fund.
Trade unions have warned the government that many freelancers and self-employed groups were still excluded from support, however.
But underlining a sharp increase in coronavirus cases and hospitalisations, Johnson has said there could be twice as many deaths over the winter in comparison to the first wave.
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1/ We're increasing the support to the self-employed from 40% of trading profits to 80% for November.
SEISS is calculated over 3 months so this increases the total grant from 40% to 55% of trading profits for November to January and the max grant increases to £5,160. pic.twitter.com/CVhXTOzEI2 — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 2, 2020
2/ Grants will also be paid faster than previously planned with the claims window opening at the end of November rather than the middle of December.
The increase means £4.5bn of support for the self-employed between November and January. — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 2, 2020
MPs will vote on the second lockdown on Wednesday and the prime minister could face a backbench Tory rebellion as a growing number of his MPs demand an end to stringent Covid curbs on businesses and individuals.
Johnson said: “I am truly sorry for the anguish these measures will impose particularly for businesses which had just got back on their feet. Businesses across the country who had gone to such trouble to make themselves Covid secure, to install Perspex screens, to do the right thing.
“Each of these actions has helped to bring the R down and their hard work, your hard work, will stand them in good stead, will stand you in good stead, but it is now clear that we must do more together.
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“So the government will continue to do everything possible to support jobs and livelihoods in the next four weeks as we have throughout. We protected almost 10m jobs with furlough and we’re now extending the scheme throughout November.
“We’ve already paid out £13.7bn to help the self-employed and I can announce today that for November we will double our support from 40% to 80% of trading profits.”
Media and entertainment union Bectu said the support would not reach everyone, with freelancers in the creative sector remaining hard hit.
Head of Bectu, Philippa Childs, said it was “right” to extend support, adding: “But the elephant in the room remains the 2.9 million self-employed and freelance workers still excluded from government support, including thousands in the creative sectors.
“The government must urgently fix SEISS (the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme) and give security to these workers who have been ignored by the government since March.”
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TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady also said ministers “should not think their work is done”, adding: “It has taken the government far too long to set the level of self-employed income support at a fair and decent rate. And even now, the support at 80% will only cover a few weeks of the grant, meaning many people could still face hardship.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--I'm A Celebrity Start Date Confirmed By ITV – And There's Not Long At All To Wait

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ITV has confirmed the start date for the upcoming series of I’m A Celebrity, which will take place in the UK for the first time.
Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, the reality show is moving from its usual location in the Australian jungle to a new home at a castle in the Welsh countryside.
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It’s now been revealed that viewers can look forward to seeing how these new changes play out when the show returns to our screens on Sunday 15 November.
Ant and Dec James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock
Ant and Dec will once again be on presenting duties for the upcoming 20th series, which will be preceded by A Jungle Story, a highlights show looking back at some of I’m A Celebrity’s best ever moments, set to air the Sunday before the launch show.
It’s also been revealed that the pair took part in their first ever Bushtucker Trial as part of the one-off special, with them describing the experience as “just as hideous as we thought”.
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Well, we did it. We finally got talked into doing a #BushertuckerTrial 😬🤢 Don’t ask how but rest assured it was as hideous as we thought! See the full trial, and take a look back at 19 series of #ImACeleb, on A Jungle Story, 8:10pm next Sunday, 8th Nov on @ITV @WeAreSTV 🕷🐜🐛 pic.twitter.com/55qmQGQGpB — antanddec (@antanddec) November 1, 2020
Last month, a spokesperson for Gwrych Castle insisted that I’m A Celebrity would not be affected by the current lockdown situation in Wales, which is due to end on 9 November, days before the new series is set to begin.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-02--Ex-Unite Union Chief Tony Woodley Accepts Seat In House Of Lords

Tony Woodley PA
Former Unite general secretary Tony Woodley has become a Labour member of the House of Lords – just weeks after he said he was turning down a peerage.
Lord Woodley, who was the first joint leader of Britain’s second largest trade union, will be formally introduced in a ceremony on November 17, party sources told HuffPost UK.
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A close ally of Gordon Brown’s during the last Labour government, the Merseyside-born union official had been nominated by Jeremy Corbyn for a seat in the Lords but had turned down the honour as recently as August.
Woodley, who had previously ruled out a similar move in 2018, had said that while he was “deeply honoured” by the nomination by Corbyn and party chair Ian Lavery, he had decided to follow the example of his predecessor Jack Jones in rejecting the move.
But on Monday the House of Lords website listed him as having accepted the peerage, which follows the issue of a writ of summons.
In a new statement, Woodley singled out former PM Brown as key to his decision.
“I was proud to be recommended for a peerage by Jeremy Corbyn but some weeks ago I announced that I had decided I would prefer to remain a campaigner for working people from outside the House of Lords.
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“I have been particularly influenced by former Labour premier Gordon Brown, who is now leading the Alliance for Full Employment to help avert the looming disaster of the return of mass unemployment, particularly among the young.
“There could not be a cause closer to my heart and if I can help Gordon and Labour from within the Lords then I feel I have an obligation to do so.
“I know that this change of heart will disappoint those who reject peerages on principle, but those who know me will be assured that wherever I am on whatever title I hold I will always put the interests of working people first, as I have done all my life.”
Bill Morris, Woodley’s immediate predecessor at the T&G union, which merged with Amicus to form Unite, has been a peer since 2006. Other trade union general secretaries also help make up the Labour benches in the Lords.
Woodley was one of several peerage nominations submitted by Corbyn as part of his duties as outgoing Labour leader after the 2019 general election.
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In August, he issued a statement that read: “After the most careful reflection I have decided not to accept the peerage offered.
“The greatest honour of my life was to be elected general secretary of the historic Transport & General Workers Union [now part of Unite] by my fellow members.
“So I would prefer to follow the example of my hero and mentor Jack Jones, the greatest man to hold that job, and not accept a peerage.
“I will do whatever I can to advance Labour’s cause in the future, but I have determined that I will do it best as I did when I was first elected a union representative more than 50 years ago, as plain Tony Woodley.”
In 2018, he was on a longlist drafted by Corbyn for a peerage, but a Unite spokesperson said at the time he had “not sought a peerage and won’t accept a peerage”.
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Others who have accepted them include Sue Hayman, who lost her Workington parliamentary seat in last year’s general election, professor Prem Sikka, pensions expert Bryn Davies and ex-Corbyn aide Katy Clark.