thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--The 2020 Emmy Nominations Are Filled With Snubs And Surprises

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There’s no denying 2020 has been an unpredictable year. But in a very welcome twist, the 72nd Emmy Award nominations are pretty standard.
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On Tuesday, host Leslie Jones and virtual presenters Josh Gad, Tatiana Maslany and Laverne Cox announced the Television Academy’s Emmy nominees. Watchmen reigned supreme with 26 nominations, beloved Schitt’s Creek actors were honoured and Netflix programs popped in all across the board.
Still, there were plenty of snubs ― Merritt Wever! Reese Witherspoon! ― and a few exciting surprises ― Zendaya! Cousin Greg! Even The Mandalorian!
Below, HuffPost reporters break them all down.
Zendaya in "Euphoria." Men's Health
SNUB: Reese Witherspoon, Lead Actress in a Drama Series and in a Limited Series or Movie
Over the past few years, Reese Witherspoon has seemed like the most omnipresent actress working today. She had three shots at Emmy nominations this year: The Morning Show, Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere. Maybe overexposure cursed her. Witherspoon lost out across the board, missing two potential shots in the drama field (Morning, Lies) and another for a limited series (Fires). All three shows were spotlighted in other categories, so it’s not as if voters didn’t appreciate the material. Still, her snootier-than-thou characters in Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere were fairly similar, and co-star Jennifer Aniston outshined her in The Morning Show at every turn. Witherspoon, who has also become a producer extraordinaire, may have been the victim of industry fatigue. — Matthew Jacobs
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SURPRISE: Zendaya, Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Zendaya was obviously phenomenal in Season 1 of HBO’s Euphoria as Rue, a recovering drug-addicted teenage girl navigating life and love. This is the kind of performance that should get an Emmy nomination. It was the first time we got to see Zendaya play a character with real edge, with complexity, with dark humour ― a far cry from her Disney Channel days. So yes, she should have been nominated but it’s kind of wild that she actually was. If you look at Emmy noms, especially for acting, they tend to stay very consistent, very safe ― you rarely see newcomers. But this year, the Emmys tied the number of nominees to the number of submissions, resulting in more slots in certain categories and offering up the chance for new faces. To see such a young first-time nominee from a show that was popular but also super divisive is pretty cool. ― Zeba Blay
SNUB: Tom Pelphrey, Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Tom Pelphrey stole the show in Ozark Season 3 as Laura Linney’s on-screen brother Ben Davis, who grapples with bipolar disorder amid the tensions of his family’s drug cartel dealings. Although he was thought to be a shoo-in for a nomination, Pelphrey’s name was left out in a seriously stacked category. The roster of nominees includes Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun and Kieran Culkin (Succession), Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale), Billy Crudup and Mark Duplass (The Morning Show), and Jeffrey Wright (Westworld). ― Leigh Blickley
Emmy nominees include Little Fires Everywhere, Watchmen, Ozark, Big Little Lies and Schitt's Creek. Illustration: Damon Dahlen/HuffPost; Photos: Zach Dilgard/HBO/Netflix/Hulu/PopTV
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SURPRISE: Nicholas Braun, Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
As expected, the second season of HBO drama Succession got a lot of well-deserved Emmy love across the board, netting 18 nominations, which somehow still doesn’t seem like enough. As HuffPost’s resident Succession Correspondent, I was pleasantly surprised to see Nicholas Braun’s *chef’s kiss* performance as Cousin Greg included in the supporting actor category, alongside co-stars Kieran Culkin and Matthew Macfadyen, whose nominations had been more expected. As the misfit on the outside looking in at the Roy family and its business empire, Cousin Greg is both the show’s comic relief and as close to a moral centre as it has. Whether he’s being pelted with water bottles, fumbling through congressional testimony, or raising concerns about the Roy family’s malfeasance, Braun carries it off with seamless aplomb. — Marina Fang
SNUB: Pose, Drama Series
While Billy Porter rightly received a nomination for his stellar performance as Pray Tell on the FX drama series Pose, it’s frustrating that for yet another year the rest of the Pose cast and creators have been snubbed. The show received no directing or writing noms, particularly for producer Janet Mock. MJ Rodriguez, arguably the heart of the show, has yet to be recognised for her acting. Neither have supporting stars Dominique Jackson or Indya Moore. Angelica Ross, who turned in a poignant and moving final performance as Candy, was the best thing about Season 2. It’s great that a gay Black man like Porter is receiving this kind of recognition. But given the fact that the majority of the characters and stories on Pose are about uplifting Black trans women, it’s a shame that these women (and non-binary folks like Moore) aren’t receiving an equal share of that recognition. ― ZB
SNUB: Late Night with Seth Meyers, Variety Talk Series
Emmys, it’s time for a closer look. Why have you yet again snubbed Late Night with Seth Meyers in the variety talk series category? The show repeatedly gets nominations for writing for a variety series, so we know you know it exists. Both awards go to John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight every year, rightfully so for that show’s ability to dive deep into various topics. But Late Night does deep dives multiple times per week with its ‘A Closer Look’ segment. They have so many deep dives there’s now a pirate-like sea captain in the background of the show. Arrrr you kidding me, Emmys? Additionally, Late Night writer Amber Ruffin’s poignant segments recalling disturbing police encounters are in a league of their own when it comes to late-night TV. Emmys, by snubbing Late Night, you just lost all credibility. Ya burnt. — Bill Bradley
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SURPRISE: Octavia Spencer, Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
I’m mostly surprised by this because I couldn’t get through Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker. Several writers have articulated — better than I can in this blurb — their problems with the series overall. I suppose Spencer did as well as anyone could with the script. But the series was full of Black stereotypes and didn’t do justice to Madam C.J. Walker’s story and legacy. Just ask her great-great-granddaughter, A’Lelia Bundles. ― Erin E. Evans
SNUB: Pamela Adlon and Better Things, Comedy Series
Creator, writer, director and star Pamela Adlon’s heartfelt, deeply lived-in FX comedy is consistently daring in its format-breaking episodes and singular vision, so it was maddening to see the entire show, but especially Adlon, excluded.
In the sixth episode of its most recent season, Adlon’s character, Sam, goes to New Orleans to attend a friend’s wedding. The dream-like episode takes place over one weekend, following Sam as she day-drinks, takes in street performances and gazes at the ornate houses in the Garden District. As viewers, we, like Sam, get to escape. Coincidentally, the episode aired during the height of the COVID-19 quarantine, lending it an added sense of longing and wistfulness. The gorgeous episode perfectly encapsulated what makes the show and Adlon’s vision so great. — MF
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SNUB: Zoë Kravitz, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Many more people likely watched Zoë Kravitz get away with murder on Big Little Lies, but it’s downright criminal that she wasn’t recognised for her performance on Hulu’s High Fidelity reboot. Kravitz takes the mic from John Cusack as the melancholic record store owner Rob in a reimagining of the 2000 comedy, which also starred her mother, Lisa Bonet. But that’s where the comparisons end. Instead of churning out another derivative reboot, the creators reinvented the story of a lovelorn music fiend not only to suit Kravitz’s strengths but also to show us her potential. Here the actor not only carries the emotional weight of the series, as her character traverses her romantic history, but she’s also allowed, for once, to be funny, trading barbs with friends, fuckboys and future soulmates alike. Her performance is incredibly lived-in, as the series forgoes traditional pacing for an endearing hang-out vibe, which finally allows Kravitz to relax into her many talents. ― Cole Delbyck
Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones on Hulu's "Normal People." Hulu
SURPRISE: Paul Mescal, Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
In a slight twist, Paul Mescal earned a lead actor nomination for his nuanced portrayal of Connell in Hulu’s Normal People. Slipping by the likes of Russell Crowe (The Loudest Voice) and Aaron Paul (El Camino), Mescal proves you don’t need to be an established Hollywood actor to earn some well-deserved recognition. His heart-wrenching and honest performance in Normal People deserves all the praise. ― LB
SNUB: The Good Fight, Drama Series
Once again, the Emmys failed to recognise that The Good Fight is one of the best shows on TV. Having recently concluded its fourth season, the starry Good Wife spin-off has been lost in the netherworld of CBS All Access, which is a shame because Christine Baranski, Delroy Lindo, Audra McDonald, Cush Jumbo and Sarah Steele just delivered series-best work. The lack of attention paid to Fight is evidence of the overall streaming bloat. A program this great should not be a throwaway. — MJ
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SNUB: Susan Kelechi Watson, Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Justice for Susan Kelechi Watson! She still hasn’t been nominated for an Emmy for her role as Beth Pearson in the addictive and emotional roller-coaster series This Is Us. Yet she continues to wow in her role just as much as her on-screen husband, Sterling K. Brown, who earned another nomination this year. — EEE
SNUB: Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever, Lead and Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
In Unbelievable, the consistently great Merritt Wever shines as a tireless, patient and compassionate police detective trying to connect the dots in a series of sexual assault cases. Kaitlyn Dever, who has proven that she’s one of the most versatile young actors working today, plays a sexual assault survivor in an investigation completely mishandled by a different police department. Both give quietly powerful performances in the Netflix limited series, which treads carefully in illuminating sexual trauma without sensationalising it and which was widely hailed as one of the best shows of 2019. While the limited series categories have become impossibly competitive, these two omissions are just so glaring. The Emmys recently expanded the comedy and drama series categories because there is so much more good TV these days. I wish they’d do the same here. — MF
SURPRISE: The Mandalorian, Drama Series
The Force is stronger with The Mandalorian — referred to from here on as The Baby Yoda Show — than we thought. Even more unlikely than a helmet-haired bounty hunter teaming up with a 50-year-old green baby, somehow The Baby Yoda Show eked out a nomination for outstanding drama series. What? Star Pedro Pascal’s armour must have some stealth mode because The Baby Yoda Show wasn’t really on the radar in that category, which also includes Better Call Saul, The Crown, The Handmaid’s Tale, Killing Eve, Ozark, Stranger Things and Succession. But the live-action Star Wars series has a lot of heart, and a lot of Baby Yoda, which clearly connected with fans and critics. (The show received 15 noms overall.) Now all that’s left is to get Baby Yoda a nod for best actor in The Baby Yoda Show Season 2. Do or do not, Emmys. There is no try. — BB
SNUB: Never Have I Ever, Comedy Series
Never Have I Ever isn’t historically the type of show the Emmys would recognise: It’s a Netflix teen rom-com, with a mostly non-white cast featuring a lead performance from an actor with no prior credits. While none of those things should be disqualifying, they’re perhaps likely why the Mindy Kaling-created series, which has much more to offer than your average high school comedy, was overlooked across major categories. Beneath the surface, there is a quietly revolutionary story that finally puts an Indian American teen (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) at the forefront, as the series explore topics like grief, marriage and identity through an intergenerational lens. While Ramakrishnan is certainly the breakout star, Poorna Jagannathan’s turn as her widowed mother struggling to parent her daughter and keep herself afloat stuck with me long after the final episode. It’s a powerful counterpoint to the tired Indian mother stereotypes we’ve seen onscreen before and a performance that deserves to be in future awards contention. ― CD
SNUB: Kay Oyegun, The Dinner and the Date for This Is Us, Writing for a Drama Series
I still think about this episode of This Is Us, especially the conversation between Malik’s parents, Darnell and Kelly (portrayed perfectly by Omar Epps and Marsha Stephanie Blake), and Beth and Randall (Susan Kelechi Watson and Sterling K. Brown). It felt exactly like a real conversation among Black parents, with cutting dialogue and subtle jabs, who will say and do anything to protect their children. When Darnell pulls off his shirt to reveal his tattoos and reads Randall for filth, I lived and died all in the same moment. — EEE
Michele Fitzgerald, Tony Vlachos, Sarah Lacina, Ben Driebergen, Denise Stapley, Jeremy Collins and Nick Wilson at Tribal Council during an episode of "Survivor: Winners at War." CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images
SNUB: Survivor, Competition Program
After a controversial Season 39 last fall, 2020 marked the return of the glory days of Survivor. Winners at War, earned the series its highest ratings in years and entertained quarantined viewers as it featured 20 former champions battling it out for the title of “best of the best” and a $2 million prize. Although the long-running reality series hasn’t been nominated in the competition program category since 2006, the highly entertaining Season 40 ― starring the likes of Yul Kwon, Sandra Diaz-Twine, Rob Mariano, Parvati Shallow, Jeremy Collins and Tony Vlachos ― deserved a bit more recognition. (At least there’s still Top Chef.) ― LB
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SNUB: The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, Limited Series or Movie
This Lifetime biopic about the legendary gospel group The Clark Sisters should have been nominated for best television movie. At the peak of the pandemic — in New York City, anyway — watching this movie felt truly like the communal balm a lot of us needed, especially if you grew up in the Black church. Aunjanue Ellis truly embodied the spirit and tenacity of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, the matriarch of the Clark family who helped them reach superstardom status. She deserves some recognition as well. ― EEE
SURPRISE: Quibi, Short Form categories
Quibi, Jeffrey Katzenberg’s struggling streaming platform that launched smack in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, earned 10 nominations in the short form categories. Yep. That’s all. ― LB


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--There Are 2 Types Of Work-From-Home Personalities. Which Are You?

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Are you happier when work stays at work, or do you prefer when work can be intertwined with the rest of your day?
Your answer could explain if you are a “segmenter” or an “integrator.” Researchers classified these two different work personality types based on an individual preferences for the ideal boundaries between home and work.
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Although these personality types were identified long before we were forced to work from home because of the coronavirus pandemic, it may matter now more than ever which one you are: Working during this ongoing upheaval is draining enough on its own; working against your type may be compounding all those feelings of exhaustion or burnout.
How To Tell If You Are A Segmenter Or Integrator
Segmenters “want to keep as many boundaries between their work life and their personal life as possible, whereas integrators don’t mind going back and forth, [like] ‘I might do a little bit of work and then I’ll go spend some time with my family or do something around the house, and then I’ll go back to work,’” said Laurens Steed, an assistant professor of management in the Farmer School of Business at Miami University.
Steed noted that it’s helpful to note that integrators and segmenters fall on a continuum: You might be an extreme segmenter, extreme integrator or fall somewhere in between.
In her 1996 book, “Home and Work: Negotiating Boundaries Through Everyday Life,” sociologist Christena Nippert-Eng found that segmenters often draw the line between work and home through objects ― for example, by having separate calendars, uniforms or sets of keys for each place or activity.
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Pra-chid via Getty Images Do you need to have separate planners and calendars for work and home appointments and to-dos? If so, you may be a segmenter.
In the book, Joan, an office worker who prefers segmentation, keeps both a desktop calendar of deadlines and appointments and a big wall calendar filled with vacation days and family visits. She looks at the latter when she needs a mental respite.
Steed said that it may be easier for such segmenters to “shut off” work, while it can be harder for integrators to resist going back to the computer and, say, responding to an email late at night.
You may be more likely to be an integrator. Google, which used Nippert-Eng’s research in a study of its own staff, found that more than two-thirds of employees identified as integrators and often agreed with the statement, “It is often difficult to tell where my work life ends and my non-work life begins.”
If you are still confused about whether you may be an integrator or a segmenter, track for a week or two how you work to identify patterns, said Cynthia Pong, feminist career strategist and author of the upcoming book, “Don’t Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Colour.”
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“Track in a journal or in a diary when you are working, how you are working, and see if you are a person who likes to naturally separate or if you work better when you’re blending,” Pong said. She said that when she started her business, people told her to make strong boundaries, such as “always end [your workday] at a certain time and leave the work space,” but that was not realistic considering her preference for a fluid work and home life.
Unfortunately, how you work may not always be up to you. Now that your home may also be your office thanks to coronavirus, it can be all too easy to blur the lines between your job and the rest of your life. Steed also noted that your organisation’s culture around working hours may enforce integrating or segmenting even when you would prefer the other.
If you’re a people manager, you should be aware that some team members may prefer to set hard boundaries around their work life, even if you don’t. For work communication after hours, ask yourself, “Does my team need to respond immediately? Can I let them know in the email, ‘Hey, this can wait until the morning?’” Steed said.
Tom Werner via Getty Images For at-home workers, knowing and advocating for your preferred working style can help you do your job better.
What Recovery May Look Like
No matter what your personal preference is, everyone needs a break from work to recharge. Steed co-authored a 2019 analysis of 198 studies and found that recovery time from work improved sleep, well-being, and job performance.
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True recovery time should include detachment from the job, relaxation, a sense of mastery (such as learning how to ride a bike) or a sense of control over how the time went, Steed said. Keep in mind that what may be a restful, recharging activity for you on one day may be a stressful event on another. Sometimes, spending time with your kids can offer a sense of recovery, Steed said, but on days in which your kid doesn’t want to eat dinner or be put to bed, that may be more draining.
The length of a recovery break can also differ. Segmenters may prefer to say, “I’m done at 5:30pm, and I spend the rest of my evening doing my home life,” Steed said. “Integrators might be more comfortable building in short breaks during the day, like, ‘Maybe I’ll take 30 minutes and go for a walk.’”
If you find it hard to end the work day, try building some type of accountability mechanism ― perhaps an evening workout class you paid for ― until it becomes a routine, Pong said. That will force you to make the most of your work day, and create time for recovery.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--I'm An Angry Disabled Woman. Here's What I Want You To Know About Inaccessibility

Illustrated by Reyna Colt-Lacayo The author in an illustration.
Recently, I was in the grocery store, minding my own business, when I heard, “Daddy, what’s wrong with her legs?” I looked to the right and saw a young boy with a now-embarrassed father, who quickly shushed his son. The dad made eye contact with me, trying to relay his remorse through his furrowed brow. I stepped in, as I have been trained to do, before he could verbally apologise for his son. “It’s no problem, I am in a wheelchair because I was born with a disability.” The father’s shoulders sagged in relief. He introduced his son and I am cued to teach the boy about disability etiquette.
I know how to have these conversations because I have been having them for as long as I can remember. Let’s ask the disabled student about disability! What is it? Why do you have it? I’m so sorry! Wow, your wheelchair sure does look fun! I was born with a neuromuscular disability (similar to Muscular Dystrophy). I have used adaptive equipment my entire life and began using a motorised wheelchair full time in elementary school. I have always faced obstacles surrounding accessibility and inclusion, which, from a young age, has led me to deal with overwhelming anxiety. Now, I am a 19-year-old undergraduate student and I can see that my mental health is intrinsically linked to my disability. There is no way to separate the two.
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I learned very early on that able-bodied people know it is rude to ask extremely personal questions to other able-bodied people, yet they expect me to divulge personal information at their request. People feel emboldened to ask me personal questions as if we know each other. Throughout my life, this has always confused me. What is it about me that makes perfect strangers feel comfortable asking me about my body? Do they think that just because I am in a public space I am open to public inquiry? Sometimes when I am strolling through Safeway, I feel as though I am a guest on a late-night talk show: No question is off the table.
I often feel that the easiest and fastest way to exit these conversions is to give people the details and explanations they want. What is the alternative? I tell this young boy that his question is inappropriate and he moves forward in life seeing disabled people as rude or intolerable? Instead, I play the role of resilient neighbourhood role model, always up for inspiring those around me and offering insightful metaphors for life’s obstacles before returning to my actual life
“I have always faced obstacles surrounding accessibility and inclusion, which, from a young age, has led me to deal with overwhelming anxiety.”
When people talk about me, they tend to mention how happy and friendly I am, how they are comforted by my approachability and welcomed by my easy-going nature. While I think these things are true, I also understand that under the layers that disguise me is a rage I struggle to come to terms with.
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For my entire life, anger has been a part of my essential self. I lose all ability to walk on my own: angry. I have to be separated by my class to use the elevator: angry. I cannot share a limo with my friends at prom: angry. I am a complex and multidimensional person who, along with being very positive, is also mad a lot of the time. Some of this anger streams from the interactions that I have either in person or online.
People commonly stop me while I am running errands, to say hello or ask how I am. These strangers check in on me as though I am not equipped to take care of myself. Even people I know, give me patronising comments with suggestions on my writing or approving pats on the back for sharing my story. As I have aged and the impact that my disability plays in my life has expanded, I have been taught to suppress my urge to scream and throw things; I know that is not what others want from me because rage is scary. I have always wondered: If inaccessibility enrages me, why can’t I be mad?
Marginalised communities are historically chastised when they react to oppression with fury. When trans people fought against police brutality at Stonewall, it was seen as a riot rather than a protest; when women fight for the right to regulate their own bodies, they are accused of behaving irrationally; when BIPOC protest against racial injustice, white supremacy and police brutality they are seen as overreacting. Time and time again, marginalised communities have been demonised for expressing their anger, as though their feelings of rage are unjustified.
“As I have aged and the impact that my disability plays in my life has expanded, I have been taught to suppress my urge to scream and throw things; I know that is not what others want from me because rage is scary.”
People are most comfortable with me when I am not talking about the injustices that I face within a world that is not built around the needs of the disabled community. Society prefers I talk about how I overcame my obstacles and how they, too, can be resilient like me! When I am smiling and happy, I am the perfect role model, the disabled woman they allow to participate out of the goodness of their hearts, as a way to give back to the less fortunate.
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While anger is only a small portion of who I am, it is a part of me that I have been careful to suppress out of fear of further rejection. Motivated by the discomfort expressed around me when I am angry, I have spent years reprogramming my emotions, reverting to sadness instead of rage. Melancholy is something that I can control, something that I bring upon myself rather than anger brought on by the actions or inactions of others.
I remember when I was a sophomore in high school, I was invited to a birthday party. The host of the party showed me images of her front steps, assuring me that I would be able to get in with one of my portable ramps. I was convinced this plan would work despite the fact that I had been let down so many times in similar situations. And so I dressed up, put on makeup, asked my sister for advice on my outfit, excited for this high school experience that I often missed out on.
When I got to the party, I saw that the staircase to her home was too steep for the two-foot ramp she told me to bring. I was again met with crushing disappointment. I turned around and went home as my friends made their way into the house, spending the night neurotically checking social media to see what I was missing. I was furious, at my friends for going to the party without me, at the host for getting my hopes up, and at myself for being so naive. I wanted to hold onto my fury, to go home and throw my things across the room, to break dishware, to scream and cry and yell at those who had wronged me, to curse the world that constantly worked against me. Instead, I went home and spent the night crying.
“When living with a disability, coping is one of the first things you learn. In order to survive, you have to learn how to accept things and move on.”
When living with a disability, coping is one of the first things you learn. In order to survive, you have to learn how to accept things and move on. My sister moves into her first apartment, but it is not wheelchair-accessible; okay, I’ll get a hotel. I have to make my high school class schedule around the accessibility of classrooms; okay, I will find new classes. I cannot see a movie because the theatre is not accessible; okay, I will watch a different movie. I cannot go into this bookstore because it does not have a ramp; okay, I will shop online. The aisle at the store is too small for my wheelchair; okay, I will leave. I cannot go on the school field trip because the destination is not accessible; okay, I will stay home.
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If I allowed myself to be angry, I would be furious all the time. Every day I am shown a new example of inaccessibility ― physical or systemic ― and no matter how hard I try to ignore it, the ignorance around disability will always infuriate me. I should not have to cope with injustice. I have worked for years to find a role that anger can play in a healthy lifestyle.
Rage has a funny way of feeding into itself, growing bigger and stronger as you give into it. If I have a well-deserved tantrum, I find that I have lost even more control over myself than I had before, and what was perhaps supposed to liberate me has instead done just the opposite. The internal battle that I am forced to fight ultimately leads to a feeling of weakness and depression. This is a cycle that I am very familiar with, one that I have participated in too many times.
I do not want to live a life fuelled by frustration and pain, but I also believe that I should not feel shunned by society for my rage. I saw my first therapist at the age of 10 to handle the aggression I felt and to have a safe space where I did not feel ashamed of my fury. I know now that I am allowed to be angry. The only way that the blazing fire within me will go away is when the injustice around me does not ignite it. I am still furious at the world and at my body for betraying me, but I have had to find a way to live with this anger.
“I fight to be seen as a person in the classroom, I write about my pain and the mistreatment I receive because of my disability and I educate myself and others on what needs to be done so that we can live in an equitable society.”
The only solution that I have personally found for this anguish is to fight. I fight to be seen as a person in the classroom, I write about my pain and the mistreatment I receive because of my disability and I educate myself and others on what needs to be done so that we can live in an equitable society. I have implicitly been doing this my whole life, advocating for my needs and explaining my disability to those around me. However, it was not until I made my first short film in 2016 about disability and sexuality that I felt the power of my rage. I had taken my anger and frustration and created a piece of art I was proud of, a film that was loud and unapologetic, that illustrated how utterly misunderstood I felt. I was met with discomfort and shy glances but I felt strong and seen.
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Rebelling against the stereotype that I have conformed to for so much of my life has allowed me to live. I no longer have to hold onto these feelings of rage and let them simmer inside me, instead I embrace my fury and do something with it.
It felt as though I was taking off my costume as the role model and embracing a new position, I was getting the opportunity for the first time in my life to be my true self, anger and all. This inner awakening gave me the courage to push back against the expectations others have of me, even if that means making them uncomfortable. I look forward to the day that I am no longer held to this standard.
This article first appeared on HuffPost Personal


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--I Worked At A Phone Sex Hotline. This Is What It’s Really Like

drante via Getty Images Pop art style comic book panel with girl talking nonsense on vintage phone gossip chatter in speech bubble vector illustration
I have always been one of the broke students.
Extortionate student accommodation prices pushed me into working two jobs throughout my first year to get by. Naturally, this took a hit on my social life – I was working weekdays at a tuition centre and weekends at my student union bar, which left little time for studying, let alone socialising. By the end of my first year, I had exhausted every internet search for “ways to make money easily”, but none of these gave me much hope to be able to leave one of my jobs.
Then, I thought I found my solution. I joined a phone sex hotline.
Friends and I had joked about doing sex work, and I know of a few students who do adult work in clubs and online. As sex work becomes more accepted and platforms such as OnlyFans continue to rise in popularity, it’s no surprise that one in five students have considered turning to sex work to help fund their studies. With a lack of financial support available to middle-class students, rising accommodation costs and increasing daily living expenses, many students, just like me, struggle to make ends meet.
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Uncomfortable with face-to-face work, or anything that compromised my identity – I didn’t want to risk videos or photographs of me being on the internet – I fell quickly and deeply into the world of adult phone hotlines, which allowed me to sell adult content but remain in full control.
“The only skills I really needed were to be able to perform and sound believable, which I was sure I was capable of, hold a straight face.”
I read that the pay can be tough, but at worst similar to my minimum wage job. The only skills I really needed were to be able to perform and sound believable, which I was sure I was capable of – I had done some acting before so was confident I could improvise content – and hold a straight face. Most importantly, the job requires you to put up a mental block to the adult content. It turned out I couldn’t do this as well as I thought.
On my first day, I acquired a handful of regular callers, which allowed me to schedule hours to suit theirs. One of my first regular callers was an older man who was interested in astrology. He wanted to know my star sign and to discuss how compatible we were, and to check in daily to tell me my horoscope. Another regular caller just wanted me to give him permission to do certain sexual things, essentially I would just repeat instructions to him. It wasn’t overly traumatic.
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In the grand scheme of things, I became a successful worker: as a “barely legal” worker, I was very popular on the lines, and easily earned enough to leave one of my other jobs. Generally, I found the calls were quite amusing. I learned to get creative, simulating noises like walking in high heels and, when men would all too often ask to hear me pee, squeezing water out of a bottle into a cup to make an accurate sound. And honestly, most of the talk wasn’t overly crude.
But I found that ‘blocking out’ what men said to me was more difficult than I had imagined. Due to my “barely legal” age, callers would often comment on how ‘young’ my voice sounded. Callers made comments about “training bras” and “big-girl knickers”, and frequently spoke down to me as though I was a young child who didn’t understand sex.
“Even in this job, using an anonymous hotline where I had no visual connection to clients, I still felt vulnerable.”
The chat line is supposed to protect its workers from calls of an illegal nature, but so long as the caller didn’t explicitly mention age, everything else was considered roleplay. On occasion, I would feel so uncomfortable with the nature of these calls that I would hang up the phone, which would leave me answering to the line manager, who would lecture me about disrespecting clients and threaten to block me from working. Even in this job, using an anonymous hotline where I had no visual connection to clients, I still felt vulnerable.
It quickly became clear managers only cared about keeping callers connected for as long as possible so the company could maximise their revenue, and their business policies supported this attitude. At first I presumed this job, being self-employed, would give me more control over my hours and allow me to earn money whilst also doing housework or writing up study notes. Instead, I began to realise I wasn’t going to be paid if I didn’t comply with inappropriate clients.
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While this is fair – I never expected to love dirty-talking men on the phone – I could never have imagined the nature of these conversations. It also struck me that while I was being paid a decent wage, the callers were paying around £2 a minute for the privilege of talking to me. I couldn’t deny the exploitative nature of the job, and after only a few weeks I decided to leave.
Fortunately, I was able to live at home through the summer where I worked as many hours as I could to save up more money. I then heard about students who had taken part in medical trials. Through this, I was able to make a decent sum of money which continues to support me, especially through the pandemic.
While sex work is becoming more commonplace, and more women are choosing to work for themselves to earn additional cash, I know first-hand there are clearly still issues with protect those workers. Young women seem to fall into the “trap” of a job which promises easy work. Being self-employed, working from home and earning over £10 an hour sounds like an ideal job for a full-time student, especially with the sleek advertising and five-minute sign-up process.
But while adult chat line jobs are practical and offer a sometimes much-needed solution for those who are struggling – and with sex work becoming more normalised – I learned first hand it can be easy to forget some of the difficult realities of a job in the adult industry – even when you’re only working over the phone.
Rosie Strathmann is a student at Edinburgh University
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Inside Jennifer Aniston And Brad Pitt's Wedding

At the turn of the millennium there was no one more famous on the planet than Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt.
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We were obsessed with the love affair between America’s sweetheart – who was still on our screens in Friends – and the Hollywood idol whose career had gone stratospheric thanks to his roles in Fight Club, Seven, Legends Of The Fall and Interview With The Vampire.
The then 31-year-old Jennifer and 36-year-old Brad had got together two years prior and had graced hundreds, if not thousands, of magazine covers in that time as the world basked in their fairytale romance.
So when it came to their big day, interest in all things Jen and Brad had reached fever pitch. It’s fair to say, they didn’t let us down...
1. It was seriously lavish affair
The couple’s big day set them back a cool $1million.
2. The venue was rented from TV exec Marcy Carsey
The five-acre, multi-million dollar Malibu cliff-top estate has stunning views of the Pacific ocean.
An aerial view of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's wedding venue in Malibu, CA Dan Callister via Getty Images
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3. Airspace above the estate was restricted during the ceremony
...but that didn’t stop the world’s press from getting plenty of aerial shots of the venue.
A Photographer takes an aerial view of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's wedding venue July 29, 2000 in Malibu, CA Dan Callister via Getty Images
4. Security for the event set the couple back $100,000
Security measures included every guest being asked to sign a confidentiality agreement, allegedly making them liable for a penalty of up to $100,000 if they talked about the wedding. The Los Angeles County Sheriff provided traffic control.
Guests are escorted by security into the wedding of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston in Malibu, CA Jason Kirk/Online USA via Getty Images
5. 200 friends and family attended
The guests, which included Jen’s Friends cast mates as well as actors Ed Norton, Salma Hayek and Cameron Diaz, were bussed in from the near-by Malibu High School.
Matthew Perry talks with unidentified guests at the oceanside wedding of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston in Malibu, Calif., Saturday, July 29, 2000 ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Courteney Cox greets a friend before boarding a shuttle for the oceanside wedding of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lisa Kudrow and her husband arrive in Malibu, Calif., for the wedding of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cameron Diaz talks with unidentified guests at the wedding of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston ASSOCIATED PRESS
6. Matt LeBlanc was the only member of the Friends cast who didn’t attend
The actor, who was filming the movie All the Queen’s Men in Budapest, was a no-show.
7. The venue was filled with 50,000 flowers
The blooms were provided by exclusive Beverly Hills florist La Premiere. Jen and Brad wanted a ‘zen garden’ look inside the marquee so every table was decorated with roses, wisteria and tulips.
An aerial view of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's wedding venue Dan Callister via Getty Images
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8. As well as the flowers, the wedding tent was festooned with lanterns
...and a mass of brown sugar candles imported from Thailand.
9. The only people to actually see Jennifer’s dress in full are those who attended the big day
What is known is that it was created by Milan designer Lawrence Steele and was glass-beaded, floor-length and low-backed in white satin and silk. Jen teamed it with a pair of custom-made ivory suede heels by Manolo Blahnik and a simple veil attached to a pearl and Swarovski crystal crown.
People magazine
10. Jennifer’s bouquet was was made up of Dutch Vendela roses
She made her entrance preceded by petal-throwing and bubble-blowing flower girls.
11. The two bridesmaids were old friends of Jennifer’s
Actress Andréa Bendewald is an old friend from Jen’s days at New York City’s performing arts high school, and documentary filmmaker Kristin Hahn-Stringer is one of the first friends she made when she moved to L.A. The bridesmaids wore pale green chiffon slip dresses. Brad wore a four-button black tuxedo by Heidi Slimane, while his groomsmen wore Prada.
12. The couple wrote their own vows
Brad promised to “split the difference on the thermostat” (what a wag) and Jen pledged to make his favourite banana milkshake. Awwww.
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt WireImage
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13. The nervous bride missed her cue for the formal part of the service
Jen joked, “Oh! I’ve never done this before!”
14. Brad’s brother, Doug, was best man
Nerves also got the better of him too, as he dropped the rings.
Doug and Brad Pitt Alex Berliner/BEI/Shutterstock
15. The couple issued just one, close-cropped black and white shot of their big day
The iconic snap shows Jen looking lovingly at her husband, and was covered by People magazine.
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt Ron Galella Collection via Getty
16. The wedding photos were taken by Robert Evans
He was also the official snapper at Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ nuptials.
17. The day featured an eclectic mix of music
As well as a Greek bouzouki band, a 40-member gospel choir performed a song from Blur’s 1999 album 13 as the couple’s wedding march. There was also a string quartet and a band playing Latin jazz and a special appearance from Melissa Etheridge, who sang an acoustic version of Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love.
18. The couple hired a barge to set up a £15,000 firework display over the Pacific ocean
It lasted 13 minutes and featured pyrotechnic hearts and smiley faces to a soundtrack of Radiohead, Garbage and Jeff Buckley. James Souza, who devised the display, said: “They wanted it big, grandiose... the greatest effects that we had.”
An aerial view of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's firework barge anchored off their wedding venue Dan Callister/Online USA via Getty Images
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19. Guests dined on caviar, shrimp and gourmet pizza
They washed it down with Dom Perignon champagne, before enjoying main courses of crab, lobster, peppercorn beef, risotto and pasta. Staff from the catering company had to lean on a local store when the party began running low on lobsters, champagne and ice.
20. The wedding cake was a huge six-tier white-frosted affair


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--'My Waters Didn't Break. That's Where Things Started To Go Wrong'

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In HuffPost Birth Diaries we hear the extraordinary stories of the everyday miracle of birth. This week, Nina Malone shares her story. If you’d like to share yours, email amy.packham@huffpost.com.
I found I was pregnant unexpectedly. I’d had a pain in my legs for weeks, but as a runner, I assumed I’d sprained or pulled something. I thought it would loosen up or that I could massage it out. But it stayed. Two and a half weeks later, my mum made me go to the GP, who told me to go to A&E. It was a blood clot. I’d been having my period this whole time, so I wasn’t phased when they asked me to do a urine test just to rule it out. Alas, I was pregnant – 13 weeks to be specific.
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It was a crazy way to find out, of course. I was in shock, but really tried not to panic. I was put on blood thinners for the clot and had to self-inject twice a day to my stomach. And from that point on, I had to start getting stuff in order – cancelling a big holiday to Mexico for my cousin’s wedding, sorting out my work. It was almost like rethinking my life.
Obviously I was high-risk, so there was a bit of the unknown. But giving birth? I was so excited! Really excited – I couldn’t wait.
When it came to it, I was overdue. I had one sweep and it did nothing, but when they monitored me, my baby’s heartbeat was steadily dropping and my iron was low, too. The second sweep got things moving.
I was at home when it started and my husband was out, so I called him to come back – my mother-in-law and sister-in-law came over, too, and my mum got the train down from Bristol. Despite having pains, my waters didn’t break so I went into hospital for them to manually break them.
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That’s where things started to go slightly wrong. The baby’s heartbeat was still dropping, my blood pressure was rising. I was pumped with so many drugs; I had a pill up my bum, three drips from each arm, and my adrenaline was high.
I’d been told if I thought I was going into labour, I shouldn’t inject the blood thinner that day – but I had. So they upped the dosage on a drip to flush out the thinner, but then they had to flush something else out, too. It was a lot.
“There were so many people in the room – a team for me, and a team for the baby – and so many words, jargon, things I didn’t understand.”
All I could hear during this time was “heartbeat dropping”. Part of my hysteria was panic – I couldn’t stop my heart racing. There were so many people in the room (a team for me, and a team for the baby) and so many words, jargon, things I didn’t understand.
I ended up having two epidurals – not for pain, but for medical reasons – and it meant pushing was fine. They needed to use forceps a little to get him out, but it wasn’t too bad. And when he did come out – six hours after going into hospital – oh, it was sheer relief.
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My husband and mum said I was incoherent at the birth, talking about random things. I tore right up to my rectum and needed 27 stitches – I was counting every single one, I could feel them. But I was just so happy my son was here.
HuffPost UK Supplied
Straight after the birth, I was taken to a high-risk ward and had a catheter for a good few days. My son was jaundice too, and the drugs would’ve been in his system, so we had to stay in for a week and be monitored.
Randomly, I met a distant cousin while on the ward. They kept on saying there were two of us with the same surname, which was wild. She came over to me after our names had been called out and we’d been mixed up, and we worked out we were very distant relatives. It was surreal – and we still see each other around the area now.
When I actually left hospital, seven days after giving birth, that’s when I cried. There was so much going on before, every time it looked like we could leave, there was something else. I’d held all my emotions in, and it felt like they all came out as we left.
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Happiness, love, relief, sheer joy.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Exclusive: 300 Health And Care Workers Have Died Of Covid. Just Two Families Have Had The Promised P

Exclusive: 300 Health And Care Workers Have Died Of Covid. Just Two Families Have Had The Promised Payout

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The government has agreed to pay just 21 families the £60,000 lump sum promised to all those who lost a relative on the coronavirus front line, HuffPost UK can reveal.
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Health secretary Matt Hancock announced the new life assurance scheme in April, pledging that families of NHS and social care workers would be eligible for the cash payout if a loved one died in the course of “essential front line” duties.
But despite more than 300 health and care workers having lost their lives after contracting the virus, just 21 claims have been successful. Payouts have been made in just two cases.
A Freedom of Information investigation by HuffPost UK found the NHS Business Services Authority, which is managing the scheme, had received 58 claims for the cash payout since it was officially opened on May 20.
Of the 40 that have been assessed, 21 have been accepted, while 15 “require further information” from either the NHS or claimant.
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Another four are still being looked at by a panel and may be refused and a further 18 claims are still waiting to be assessed.
Claims are also “time-limited”, the Department for Health and Social Care has said, with the length of the policy “under review” and set to stick to a six-month sunset clause.
Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in Downing Street, London. EMPICS Entertainment
Unison, the trade union that represents many health workers, said the figures showed “grieving families are missing out on vital support when they need it most”.
Assistant general secretary Christina McAnea added: “The loved ones of health and care staff killed by the virus aren’t coming forward and we need to know why. Employers and the government must pull out all the stops to promote the scheme.
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“Help should be provided to guide people through the application process, so it’s not intimidating or difficult. Getting the financial support should be made as easy as possible.”
Dr Vishal Sharma, chair of the British Medical Association’s pensions committee, also said government should do more to promote the life assurance scheme.
He said: “Losing loved ones who worked in the health service during Covid-19 is difficult enough. Grieving families and partners should not have to suffer the additional pressures created by the loss of what may be their main source of income as well.
“There should not be any barriers to claiming for people who are eligible and the government should do everything it can to encourage applications and make the process easier.”
A spokesperson for the Royal College of Nursing added that the scheme should be “easily accessed” and “be paid promptly – no family should face a lengthy or complex process”.
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Hancock had said in April at a Covid-19 briefing in Downing Street: “I feel a deep personal sense of duty that we must care for their loved ones.”
He added: “Of course, nothing replaces the loss of a loved one but we want to do everything we can to support families who are dealing with this grief.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The death of any healthcare worker is a tragedy. The government life assurance scheme provides added financial security for the families of frontline NHS and social care workers in England who die in the course of their work because of coronavirus.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Hundreds Of Thousands Of Parents Have Cut Back On Food To Afford Rent During Coronavirus

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Hundreds of thousands of parents in private rented housing have had to cut back on food to help pay their rent since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.
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More than one in seven – some 429,000 adults – made the admission during a YouGov poll for housing charity Shelter.
And nearly one in five – 458,000 adults – say they are more fearful than they were before the pandemic that their family will be made homeless.
Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, promised in March that “no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home” and the government introduced an eviction ban in England and Wales.
But this will come to an end on August 24 and landlords will once again be able to begin eviction proceedings.
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As HuffPost UK reported earlier this week, renters are still being served eviction notices despite the current ban.
The research conducted for Shelter published on Thursday also showed 49,000 parents who privately rent have had to resort to using food banks to survive.
Geber86 via Getty Images
Polly Neate, Shelter’s chief executive, said many families “feel like they’ve been sold down the river without a paddle”.
“Families are going hungry and taking on risky debt to pay private rent, and yet for too many even these sacrifices won’t be enough to avoid homelessness,” she said.
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“These parents need a way out of living hand to mouth, but so far, the government has offered them no alternative to private renting. This must change if we are ever going to build this country back better.
“As rescue and recovery packages roll in, the government needs to prioritise building safe homes that everyone can afford.
“Cuts to stamp duty are not a solution when you’re struggling to keep a roof over your head, and terrified of becoming homeless at the hands of this crisis.”
Deborah, 54, a cleaning manager who lives with her daughter in Southport, said she was left with just £150 a month for food after paying rent and bills.
“I’m not asking for handouts, I’m just asking for a decent and affordable place to live. I worry about becoming homeless 24/7, day in, day out,” she said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Johnson Repeatedly Made False Claims About Child Poverty, Stats Watchdog Rules

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Boris Johnson has repeatedly made “incorrect” claims about the level of child poverty under the Tories, the country’s statistics watchdog has found.
The UK Statistics Authority’s Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has concluded that the prime minister’s main suggestion – that the number of children in poverty had fallen by 400,000 since 2010 – was one of several inaccurate statements on the issue since he was elected in December.
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It has now written to No.10 to draw attention to the correct statistics, advising the PM’s briefing team that they should pay regard to its conclusions.
The OSR was responding privately to a complaint from the End Child Poverty Coalition over what it called three separate “misleading” statements by Johnson in recent months.
The watchdog agreed that the PM’s remarks to the Andrew Marr Show on December 1, 2019, that there “are 400,000 fewer children in poverty than there were in 2010” was incorrect.
It also found that his line in Prime Minister’s Question Time last month – that “absolute poverty and relative poverty have both declined under this government” and “there are hundreds of thousands, I think 400,000, fewer families living in poverty now than there were in 2010” – was similarly untrue.
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The following week, when Johnson was challenged by Keir Starmer to correct the record, he made a further incorrect statement.
The PM’s new claim – that “there are 100,000 fewer children in absolute poverty and 500,000 children falling below thresholds of low income and material deprivation” – was also wrong, the OSR said.
The watchdog found that the number in absolute poverty had fallen by 100,000, not 400,000, since 2010. And the number below the poverty line is not 500,000 – it is 1.5m.
In addition, since 2010/11 the number of children in relative poverty, by the DWP’s own measure, has actually gone up by 500,000.
Relative poverty refers to households with income below 60% of the UK’s median household income, while absolute poverty means people with inflation-adjusted income below 60% of the median income in a particular base year, in this case 2010/11.
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The OSR has blogged before on how poverty is measured in different ways.
Shadow education secretary Kate Green said: “It is shameful that the prime minister is unable to tell the truth about the hardship faced by so many families struggling to make ends meet.
“Children and families in such difficult circumstances deserve better than this shabby treatment from an out-of-touch prime minister who has repeatedly failed to be honest about the challenges they face.
File photo dated 05/09/18 of Kate Green MP as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has appointed her as his new shadow education secretary following Rebecca Long-Bailey's dramatic sacking this week. PA
“The prime minister must now correct the record, both publicly and in Parliament, and ensure that when he next raises his government’s damning record on child poverty, he comes clean about what the stats are saying.”
No.10 pointed to a written parliamentary answer last month where the PM appeared to change his definition once more.
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He said at the time: “Children living in workless households are around four times more likely to be in absolute poverty (after housing costs) than those where all adults work.
“As of December, the number of workless households has fallen by 1 million since 2010, meaning there are over 740,000 fewer children living in a household where no one works.”
Anna Feuchtwang, chair of the coalition, had written to complain to the watchdog that it could not be right that such figures are used “selectively”.
“While it is expected – and right – that child poverty should be the subject of robust political debate,” she wrote, “it cannot be right that official figures on something as fundamental as how many children are in poverty continue to be used selectively, inaccurately and, ultimately, misleadingly.”
Responding to her letter, OSR director general for regulation Ed Humpherson replied: “Our team has investigated the statements which you highlight and has reached the same conclusion that these statements are incorrect.”
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Feuchtwang said she welcomed the conclusion from the OSR that the prime minister had used child poverty statistics incorrectly and said the watchdog would not have made its judgement lightly given its unwillingness to referee political disputes.
But she criticised the OSR for not publishing its verdict and only putting it in a private letter.
“It is deeply insulting to the children and families swept into poverty when data about them is used selectively and misleadingly at the whim of politicians,” she said.
“The simple fact is that by any measures child poverty is rising but instead of tackling the problem the government risks obscuring the issue and misinforming the public.
“The lives of real people are at stake and we need consistent use of information and urgent action.”
Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said: “This isn’t about the Punch and Judy of PMQs. Admitting that rising numbers of ordinary families are struggling to keep their children clothed and well fed matters to good policy making.
“You can’t ‘level up’ the country if you’re sweeping under the carpet the big rises in [relative] child poverty clearly shown by the official figures. The longer we’re in denial about the scale of the problem, the harder it will be to fix it.”
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Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Alison Garnham added: “The hard truth is that child poverty is growing in the UK but the Government is in denial on this – that has to shift.
“If we are to make progress, the problem must be confronted, not circumvented. If the will and the focus are there, a strategy can be agreed and action taken to prevent more children from being damaged by poverty.”
A spokesperson for the OSR told HuffPost UK: “Measuring poverty is complicated, and different measures tell different parts of the story. In this instance, the Office for Statistics Regulation published an article on its website which sets out the landscape of poverty statistics and suggests how they can be used.
“We also wrote privately to the End Child Poverty Coalition, and spoke with officials in No.10 about how best to use poverty statistics. Where a response remains private, we nevertheless record it on our published issues log which is updated periodically and summarises anonymously all the issues brought to our attention.“


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Lib Dems Have New 'Yellow Halo' Of Support In London And South East, Finds Study

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The Lib Dems now have a “yellow halo” of support in London and the south-east, a study has found – despite the party’s underwhelming result at the last election.
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It comes as voting is set to begin on Thursday in the party’s leadership contest between Ed Davey and Layla Moran.
According to the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, the party has new electoral strength in parts of capital, Surrey, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Cambridgeshire.
In these areas Jo Swinson did better in 2019 than Nick Clegg in 2010.
The party’s core support is also now among graduates. The research showed almost all the party’s seats and future target seats have more graduates than the UK median.
But Davey and Moran have been warned “there remains no such thing as a Lib Dem safe seat”.
The pair are also told there is a “real possibility” they could lose their own seats if they are elected leader, just as Swinson did in December last year.
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And the boost in Lib Dem support in the south-east has been matched by a decline in its traditional south-western heartland. In 2010 the party won 15 seats in the region; now it only holds one.
“It is a job that brings with it a genuine opportunity to grow the party once again – if, that is, they make the right strategic calls,” the “Where next for the Liberal Democrats?” report said.
UK in a Changing Europe
Swinson began the December 2019 campaign with the claim she could become prime minister. But in the end the party only returned 11 MPs.
Yet the report argued the result actually represented a partial recovery for the Lib Dems.
In 2010, there were nearly 140 seats where the party got over 30% of the vote. By 2017 that had fallen to 28.
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But at the last election, the party rebounded to 50 seats where it either won or came within realistic touching distance.
The 91 seats in which the party is now in second place is a significantly higher figure than the 66 in which it finished second in 2015, and higher still than the 38 in which it was the runner-up in 2017.
Davey and Moran should also not be worried about “cosying up” up to Keir Starmer, according to the study, because there are just nine seats where the two parties were competing with each other for first place in 2019.
The party is advised that instead its main opponent at general elections is the Conservative Party.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Gum Disease Is 'Often Missed'. These Are The Warning Signs.

webking via Getty Images Photo of Teeth
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Bleeding gums. Swollen gums. Bad breath. These are all signs of gum disease which, if left untreated, could lead to tooth loss and gum abscesses.
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It’s thought 90% of adults in the UK have some form of gum disease. It can vary in stages – from the more mild gingivitis to severe, fully-blown gum disease.
Dr Reena Wadia, a periodontist and founder of RW Perio, tells HuffPost UK the issue is “common and often missed”. Aside from the obvious issues it causes like tooth loss and bleeding gums, severe gum disease has also been linked to health complications including cancer, dementia and heart disease.
Here’s what you need to know about it.
What causes gum disease?
Gum disease, also called periodontitis, is caused by bacterial infection that damages the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth.
It can be caused by a range of factors. Poor oral hygiene – not cleaning your teeth properly or regularly – is a common cause, as well as: smoking, old age, diabetes, pregnancy, a weakened immune system, malnutrition, taking certain medications that lessen the flow of saliva (such as antidepressants and antihistamines), stress, and genetics.
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What are the signs of gum disease?
Healthy gums usually look firm and pink, although they may contain other pigments depending on your ethnic origin, Anna Middleton, founder of London Hygienist, tells HuffPost UK.
There are some key telltale signs of gym disease. These include bleeding gums following brushing, flossing or eating, which Dr Wadia says is a “natural alarm bell signifying disease”, as well as changes in the appearance of your gums (they might become red, swollen or start receding) and persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.
“Just like you wouldn’t ignore bleeding from any other part of your body, don’t ignore bleeding gums,” she says.
In worst case scenarios, gum disease can lead to gum boils or abscesses – “these are painful and can cause your face to swell up,” she says – as well as wobbly teeth, tooth loss, or your teeth changing position and drifting.
What health issues has gum disease been linked to?
Gum disease has been associated with an increased risk for a number of health conditions, including: cardiovascular disease, arthritis, lung infections, premature labour, and having a baby with a low birth weight.
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Multiple studies have linked severe gum disease with different types of cancer. In one study, a history of gum disease was associated with a 43% and 52% increased risk of oesophageal cancer and gastric cancer respectively. Another study found people with severe gum disease had a higher risk of developing lung and colorectal cancer compared to those with mild or no gum disease.
A more recent study in July 2020 linked gum disease with dementia in later life. Published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, it followed 8,275 people with an average age of 63 over a 20-year period.
“People with the most severe gum disease at the start of our study had about twice the risk for mild cognitive impairment or dementia by the end,” said lead author Ryan Demmer, from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
“However, the good news was that people with minimal tooth loss and mild gum disease were no more likely to develop thinking problems or dementia than people with no dental problems.”
Good dental hygiene is the best way to keep healthy teeth and gums throughout your lifetime, said Demmer, who noted that more research is needed to understand if treatment for gum disease can prevent dementia. It’s also worth noting that while people with gum disease may have an increased risk of these problems, there’s no clear evidence that gum disease directly causes them.
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How to prevent gum disease
Dr Wadia says the best ways to look after your gums include effective home care – that means brushing twice a day – as well as regular professional checks and cleans. She recommends an electric toothbrush, if possible. “You need to be holding your toothbrush along the gum line, not just on the teeth,” she says.
Middleton advises placing the toothbrush bristles against the teeth at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line. “Many of us forget to brush our gums when we brush our teeth, but brushing your gums is integral because this is where plaque will sit,” she says.
“When brushing, hold the handle gently with a light grip and only apply light pressure. Glide the brush across your teeth and gums gently, allowing your brush to do must of the work – do not scrub.”
Cleaning between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss is just as important as cleaning. Brushing only cleans about 60% of our teeth.
“Toothbrushes are not capable of reaching in-between teeth to remove unwanted debris,” says Middleton. “However, interdental cleaning with floss or brushes helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, which can occur when food and plaque are left lodged between teeth.
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“If you have the space between your teeth, opt for interdental brushes and always use the biggest size possible – you may need more than one brush size. If your teeth are tight together then dental floss is recommended.”
Tips for flossing:
Take a piece as long as from your elbow to tip on index finger, wind the floss around your middle fingers leaving an inch or two to work with. Hold the floss tight between your thumbs and index fingers. Using a gentle sawing action slide the floss between the teeth. Go all the way below the gum line and gently curve the floss in a tight ‘C’ shape and rub up and down. Repeat this for the other side of the tooth before coming back up and out to move on to the next space. Use a clean section of floss as you move between teeth. If you get the floss in but cannot get it back out – do not panic. Gently unravel from fingers and pull the floss through. Do your interdental cleaning before you brush your teeth to remove debris and make this a daily practice.
Tips for using an interdental brush:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Nurse Challenges 'Coward' Boris Johnson To Join Her On Shift During NHS Pay Rise March

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A nurse has challenged “coward” Boris Johnson to join her on shift if there is a second wave of coronavirus, as she and hundred of her colleagues marched on Downing Street to demand an immediate pay rise.
Rebecca Reid, a 27-year-old London-based nurse from Prestwick in Scotland, said there is “desperation and anger” among NHS staff as she accused Johnson of having “blood on his hands”.
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She said she would extend an invite to the prime minister to join her on a shift in the event of a second spike of Covid-19, but she did not think he would accept, adding: “I think he’s a coward.”
Rebecca Reid, a 27-year-old London-based nurse from Prestwick in Scotland, who has said she would invite Boris Johnson to join her on a shift if there is a second wave of coronavirus, as hundreds of NHS workers marched to Downing Street demanding an immediate pay rise. PA
Speaking to the PA news agency outside Downing Street, she said: “We worked through an unprecedented pandemic. There are things I’m never going to forget about.
“I think the general feeling is anger. We’re angry. We’ve been let down by our government.
“As a profession, we looked after the prime minister himself. He’s seen how brilliant we can be. And this is the reward we get.
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“It feels like a slap. It feels like a kick in the teeth.”
NHS staff made their way to Whitehall on Wednesday evening, carrying banners that said “Clapping won’t pay my bills” and “We helped you survive, now help us survive”.
NHS workers march from St Thomas' Hospital to Downing Street, London, to demand a pay rise. Participants include the members of Unite, Keep Our NHS Public and Nurses United. PA
Health workers are in the final year of a three-year deal and are due a pay rise next April, but unions want the government to show its appreciation for NHS staff by bringing it forward to this year.
The government did not commit to an early pay rise for all NHS staff last week when wage increases for 900,000 public sector workers were announced.
The Unite union’s branch at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital partnered with Keep Our NHS Public and Nurses United to hold Wednesday evening’s march to protest against the government’s decision to put off the pay rise for NHS staff until April 2021.
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NHS workers march from St Thomas' Hospital to Downing Street, London, to demand a pay rise. Participants include the members of Unite, Keep Our NHS Public and Nurses United. PA
Reid said nurses have had to turn to food banks, adding: “We’re getting called heroes. But I don’t see Batman going to a food bank. Heroes still have to pay the bills.
“The NHS has been running on the goodwill of people for far too long and we can’t afford to do it any more.”
Reid said it feels like Johnson is paying nurses “lip service” and “not putting his money where his mouth is”.
She said she appreciated the general public’s support in the Clap for Carers initiative on Thursday evenings during lockdown.
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“But having someone clap in government who is saying one thing and doing another, it really upsets me,” Reid said, adding: “He doesn’t deserve to be clapping. He’s got blood on his hands.”
She said she was referring to issues surrounding personal protective equipment, with nurses making their own PPE and “putting their lives at risk”.
Reid added: “Our government had a chance to fix that and plan for that. They didn’t.
“He’s got blood on his hands. We lost so many nurses.”
Becoming emotional, Reid added: “I would invite him to come and join me on a shift in the second wave. Because it’s coming. Just because the pubs are open doesn’t mean the pandemic’s gone anywhere.”
Asked what she thinks Johnson would make of a shift alongside her, she said: “He wouldn’t know what to do with himself.
“I don’t think he’d come. I think he’s a coward.”
Another nurse, who asked to be referred to only as Sarah, was holding a banner which said “Unlike Lady Gaga we don’t live for the applause Boris”, in a reference to one of the pop star’s hits.
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NHS workers march from St Thomas' Hospital to Downing Street, London, to demand a pay rise. Participants include the members of Unite, Keep Our NHS Public and Nurses United. PA
Asked what she would say to Johnson if she had the chance, Sarah told PA she would tell him he has “severely let us down”, adding: “Morale still needs to be kept up and he’s kicked us in the teeth by leaving us out of this pay rise, all NHS workers, the cleaners, the porters, the nurses.”
Sarah pointed out that the NHS saved Johnson’s life, adding: “His actions speak louder than his words right now by leaving us out.”
The march came as a survey by Unison suggested more than two-thirds (69%) of people think all NHS employees should be awarded a rise this year.
The union’s poll of more than 2,000 British adults found that two-thirds believed a wage increase should be significant, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--The British Theatre Industry’s Freelancers On Covid-19 Impact

The British Theatre Industry’s Freelancers On Covid-19 Impact
As the British government announces a £1.57billion bailout for the cultural sector there is uncertainty about how the theatre arts and its freelance community will survive. Artistic director Matthew Xia, set and costume designer Vicki Mortimer and a freelance stage manager, who had to go on Universal Credit to survive, discuss Covid-19’s effect on the UK’s theatre sector.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Trump Gloats As He Tells Mostly White People They Won't Have To Live Near Poor Black People

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Donald Trump has gleefully announced that mostly white people who are “living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream” will no longer be forced to live near poorer Black and ethnic minority people.
In a tweet posted on Wednesday, the president announced he was rescinding legislation last amended by Barack Obama that sought to overcome historic patterns of segregation in urban areas of the US.
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This trend was seeing some reversal since the turn of the century, assisted by an Obama-era tweak to the AFFH that required towns and cities to examine if any new housing projects exacerbated racial segregation.
In his tweet, the president said scrapping the rule would mean people “living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream” would no longer have to deal with crime and falling house prices.
He ended the thread: “Enjoy!”
I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2020
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...Your housing prices will go up based on the market, and crime will go down. I have rescinded the Obama-Biden AFFH Rule. Enjoy! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2020
The tweet was instantly called out as “racist” and “elitist”.
This tweet isn't only racist. It's extreme elitism.
yet somehow there's a white factory worker making $10 an hour who still thinks Trump looks out for him.
He finds you disgusting and wouldn't even want to live near you. https://t.co/3ugY9Hw88l — A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) July 29, 2020
At a time when polls show overwhelming support for anti-racism movements and protests - particularly in the suburbs - the president is increasingly running on a message that boils down to stoking White Flight fears. https://t.co/z1kcShZWjF — Scott Detrow (@scottdetrow) July 29, 2020
His racism is getting more and more blatant. This is simply despicable - and just like gassing the Wall of Moms, I assure you is NOT appealing to suburban voters - just his base of racist trash. https://t.co/levuKGNzpv — Amy Siskind 🏳🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) July 29, 2020
Back in the 1970s, Trump and his father were sued by the US Justice Department for allegedly racially discriminating when deciding who could buy flats in their new housing developments.
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In 2016 during the presidential election, Hillary Clinton highlighted the issue, saying: “Donald started his career, back in 1973, being sued by the Justice Department for racial discrimination – because he would not rent apartments in one of his developments to African-Americans, and he made sure that the people who worked for him understood that was the policy.”
Trump said the case was settled with no admission of guilt.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--The Fashion Of Reality: A Virtual Fashion Show

The Fashion Of Reality: A Virtual Fashion Show
RYOT's virtual reality fashion show showcases the work of designers Charli Cohen, Damara and Sabinna, and gives us a glimpse into the immense opportunities for fashion presentations in the future.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Now Twitter Has Banned Wiley, It Should Turn Its Attention To Misogynoir

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I am sure I wasn’t the only person who let out a deep groan of despair as I read Wiley’s blatantly anti-Semitic tweets. I wasn’t particularly invested in Wiley, aka “The Godfather of Grime”, as an artist prior to his offensive tweets after his public spat with Dizzee Rascal a few years ago made me wary of him.
But I was unsure of what the repercussions would be for Wiley’s tweets because so many times prior to this, I have watched people like Katie Hopkins tweet racially and culturally offensive things and get away with it.
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So I was pleasantly surprised to hear Twitter has now permanently banned Wiley following on from the ban placed on Katie Hopkins’ account last month for the same offence “hateful conduct.”
There is still something that bothers me though. How is it that social media companies are so quick to ban Wiley’s account but fail to act as quickly when the abuse is directed at Black women?
“Black Twitter has expressed its disgust at Wiley’s tweets and, like myself, very much welcome his account being banned. But we also notice the same energy is missing when it is time to address anti-Blackness online.”
Surely hateful conduct is clear to identify, especially when hundreds (and in some cases thousands) of people report the same account? I for one, am exhausted from the number of times I have received a response from Twitter telling me that an account I have reported for racist tweets “hasn’t violated Twitter rules.” I would like to know what needs to change for anti-Black tweets to be treated with as much severity as anti-Semitic tweets.
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In the six-week period leading up to the 2017 general election, Diane Abbott received 45% of the hateful tweets sent to all female MPs, according to research by Amnesty International. In a leaked Labour report earlier this year, it was claimed that senior Labour staff used a WhatsApp group to refer to MPs Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler in very offensive terms. Jess Philips MP, who was vocal in her support for de-platforming Wiley, has oddly not addressed why she claimed she told Diane Abbott to “f*ck off”, comments that were plastered across the front pages, despite Diane refuting that the exchange ever took place.
This specific violence endured by Diane Abbott is misogynoir; a culmination of racist and sexist abuse. Being both Black and a woman means that she is subjected to harm in ways that society continues to overlook. She has described the amount of abuse she receives as “debilitating” and that is why there should be an urgency in holding to account any social media users who send her or other Black women online abuse. Nobody should have to experience this constant barrage of abuse and it is the responsibility of Twitter to do something about it.
Alan sugar called out Wiley’s tweets as offensive and supported the social media boycott, yet Alan Sugar’s own racist tweets about the Senegal football team were never addressed by Twitter.
Wiley’s tweets weren’t shown in most publications because of their offensive nature, yet at the time of writing this piece, a BBC News reporter used the term N****r uncensored in a prerecorded report aired on the morning news.
It makes me wonder if there is an effort, whether conscious or otherwise, to continue to normalise anti-Blackness in our society due to the systemic and institutional racism that Britain is reluctant to address.
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Hackney North MP Diane Abbott ASSOCIATED PRESS
Various Black tweeters have expressed their disgust at Wiley’s tweets and, like myself, very much welcome his account being banned. But we also notice the same energy is missing when it is time to address anti-Blackness online.
It took years for Katie Hopkins to finally be banned because whenever vitriolic accounts like hers would post offensive things, it would be positioned as “healthy debate” and “free speech.”
This is the kind of behaviour that we must do away with; the humanity of those deemed as “other” should not be up for debate.
Banning Wiley’s account is a step in the right direction because it is swift and final.
This same process must now be applied when other marginalised groups are under attack from the harmful behaviours and ideologies people share on social media.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Wiley Makes Apology Of Sorts For 'Comments That Were Looked At As Anti-Semitic'

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Rapper Wiley has insisted he is not racist as he apologised for “comments that were looked at as anti-Semitic”.
The musician, whose real name is Richard Cowie, was widely condemned for a series of anti-Jewish posts on Twitter starting on Friday, and was initially given a temporary ban from the social media site, with the majority of his tweets remaining visible.
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But on Wednesday, Twitter said it had permanently suspended him and apologised for being slow to act.
In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, Wiley said: “I just want to apologise for generalising and going outside of the people who I was talking to within the workspace and workplace I work in.
“My comments should not have been directed to all Jews or Jewish people.
“I want to apologise for generalising, and I want to apologise for comments that were looked at as anti-Semitic.
“I’m not racist, you know. I’m a businessman. My thing should have stayed between me and my manager, I get that.”
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When asked if he accepts his comments were anti-Semitic, he told Sky News: “My comments should not have been directed to all Jews or Jewish people.”
Wiley’s manager John Woolf, who is Jewish, said A-List Management had “cut all ties” with the musician following the series of social media posts.
Asked on Sky News what he would say to his fans who may incite hatred or commit violent acts against Jewish people, Wiley told the broadcaster: “Well, you’ve never seen me commit a violent act towards Jewish people or the Jewish community.
“You know fans are fickle. Don’t wind me up. I’m 41 years old. It’s not like I have got a big bag of fans.
“Leave it. I’m not Dave. I’m not current. I’m at the end of my career rather than the beginning.”
Wiley, known as the Godfather of Grime, was made an MBE for services to music in 2018.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has said it will contact the Cabinet Office to ask for Wiley’s MBE to be revoked.
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According to Sky News, Wiley said he would be willing to give it up as he “never wanted it”.
He told the broadcaster: “I never felt comfortable going to get it. Just look at Britain’s colonialism history.”
David M. Benett via Getty Images
A Twitter spokesperson said: “Upon further investigation, our teams have permanently suspended the account in question for repeated violations of our hateful conduct policy.
“Let us be clear: hateful conduct has absolutely no place on our service and we strongly condemn anti-Semitism. We are sorry we did not move faster and are continuing to assess the situation internally.
“We deeply respect the concerns shared by the Jewish community and online safety advocates, and we will continue to work closely with government, NGOs, civil society partners and our industry peers to tackle anti-Semitism on Twitter.”
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The Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed news that “Twitter has finally listened”, but said the action was “too little, too late”.
It said in a statement: “It is at least a start for this deeply irresponsible social network.
“After Twitter’s abysmal response to the blatant anti-Jewish incitement on its platform, last night we decided to literally shine a light on the company and project on to its London headquarters some of the hateful tweets that Twitter permits on its platform.
“From their pitiful responses to the hate spewed daily on their platform, it is evident that social media companies will stop at nothing to make a profit. It is time for these deeply damaging and irresponsible companies to be held accountable for the hatred they help spread.”
Social networks have faced criticism for not acting sooner to take down the content, with Downing Street saying their response “has not been good enough”.
Twitter and Instagram’s alleged slowness to act prompted politicians, celebrities and other prominent names to carry out a 48-hour walkout from both platforms, using the hashtag #NoSafeSpaceForJewHate.
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Facebook and Instagram banned Wiley from their platforms on Tuesday.
Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “It appears that Twitter has now suspended the account of Richard Cowie, or Wiley, six days after he began an extended anti-Semitic rant and nearly all the way through a 48-hour walkout from Twitter by the Jewish community and its allies.
“Instagram was also slow on this, deleting his profile only yesterday. It is just not good enough. Social media companies have not been strong or fast enough about tackling racism, misogyny or homophobia.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--It's Time For The UK To Shout Loudly That Foreign NHS Workers Are Welcome Here

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There can surely be few, if any, of us who have not lain awake at some point over the past few months worrying about our own or our loved ones’ health.
Have not felt enormous gratitude for the so many incredible heroes who have put their own health on the line, spent time away from their families, worked ridiculous hours, far too often without adequate protective gear, to save lives.
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Whenever we talk about this incredible service of the heroes working in our NHS and social care during this awful crisis, there’s one question that we keep coming back to: how can we ever thank them enough?
How can we truly show our enormous gratitude for the way they’ve put themselves at risk and endured gruelling, exhausting shifts to keep us safe?
We have clapped for them on Thursday evenings. The Queen’s birthday honours list was rightly postponed until the autumn so it can include these coronavirus heroes.
And the Liberal Democrats have called for more: an extra daily allowance to recognise the heightened risks – similar to the Armed Forces – and a Coronavirus Service Medal.
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But in truth none of that even comes close to being enough to thank them for the brave and tireless work they are doing in such difficult circumstances and under such intense pressure.
“All of us in the UK should say, loudly and unequivocally, that those who have put their lives at risk for us and our loved ones are welcome to live here.”
Particularly for one group who work those long hours, in difficult circumstances under intense pressure and without knowing whether they have a future in this country.
Shamefully, that’s the case for hundreds of thousands of the foreign nationals serving in our hospitals, our care homes and elsewhere across the health and care sector.
They are putting themselves in harm’s way so that we can have the care we need.
The pandemic makes no exceptions in the threat it poses to those on the frontline, and we should make no difference in how this country supports them either.
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The government’s announcement of a one-year visa extension for around 3,000 health workers with visas due to expire before October is not enough. It provides us with care, but does not offer them the security they surely deserve in return.
What is worse is that it not only excludes many of those on the frontlines, such as hospital porters, cleaners and social care staff, but also leaves even those who are included still having to pay around £700 each to renew their visas next year.
That is not good enough.
All of us in the UK should say, loudly and unequivocally, that those who have put their lives at risk for us and our loved ones are welcome to live here.
The idea that anyone who has worked tirelessly to save lives during this emergency, worked in the service of this country, might one day be forced to leave should be unthinkable.
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skaman306 via Getty Images
That’s why I have tabled a Bill calling for that service to be recognised by offering them indefinite leave to remain.
It is why the Liberal Democrats are campaigning to give all NHS and care staff from other countries the right to stay in the UK.
It’s time the government did the fair thing and granted them and their families the right to settle here, without any of the fees or Home Office bureaucracy that usually involves.
I’m delighted that we’ve already secured support from across the political spectrum for this campaign. When I wrote to the Home Secretary with these proposals back in April, more than 60 cross-party MPs signed the letter.
Surely, the government must listen to that consensus and act?
It would be a small way to recognise and celebrate the immeasurable contributions that people from all over the world make to our NHS – and to our society, our economy and our communities across the country.
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But more than that it would allow us to honour the enormous debt we owe to those who have cared for us so heroically during this pandemic.
And who, when we lay awake worrying, we knew were there for us.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Sanctuary Housing Cuts Rent Of Black Tenant Who Found She Was Charged More Than White Neighbour

Selma Nicholls
A housing association that had charged a Black woman £30,000 more rent than her white neighbour over four years has urgently reduced her payments and launched an investigation.
HuffPost UK revealed earlier this month that Selma Nicholls was being charged a completely different rate for an identical property in north London by Sanctuary Housing.
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Nicholls had been paying £1,000 a month more in rent than her neighbour, since August 2018, and was paying £500 a month more for the year before that.
Both Nicholls, 40, and her neighbour believed race was a key factor in the case as they had both applied for the same rent reduction with similar circumstances – yet only the neighbour had received it.
Sanctuary Housing denied it discriminated against Nicholls, but has now pledged to carry out an internal investigation into the history of the case and the actions taken by its staff members.
The housing association has met with a consultancy that specialises in inclusion, diversity and equality, HuffPost UK understands.
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With immediate effect they will reduce Nicholls’ rent to her neighbour’s rate for a three-month period while the investigation is under way.
In addition Sanctuary Housing has pledged to commission an external independent review to test for discrimination or unconscious bias within its organisation. Both probes are to be concluded by October.
Nicholls – who runs a diverse talent agency called Looks Like Me – is calling for an “honest” explanation from Sanctuary about the rent disparity and compensation for the £30,000 difference.
The tenant told HuffPost UK that she is looking forward to a positive outcome.
“I feel empowered and exhausted; I am hopeful that the outcome will be fair and I can experience the same level of support and privilege that my neighbour has been offered,” Nicholls said.
“Sharing my housing complaint publicly has started a positive conversation with Sanctuary housing charity. I felt a duty of care to those in a similar position that may have less of a voice than I have.
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“I am overwhelmed by the online care and support through tweets, posts on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and the power of unity through word of mouth. I am grateful for the love and support from everyone that believes in housing equality and fairness.
“I’ve experienced incredible solidarity and protection through being open about how this unfair practice has affected my wellbeing.”
A spokesperson for Sanctuary Housing told HuffPost UK: “While we have found no evidence that discrimination or even unconscious bias played a part in the letting or management of these leases, we want to be absolutely sure. We are investing in an independent, external case review to provide certainty and to give Ms Nicholls and all of our customers and stakeholders complete confidence in our practices, motives and values.
“We are currently selecting the organisation or individual to carry out the review and we have invited Ms Nicholls to be directly involved in the review process.
“We are committed to putting in place any recommendations following this review. In the meantime, we have reduced the rent Ms Nicholls pays to align it with the neighbouring property.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-29--Hugh Jackman Uses Emmy Nomination As Chance To Rip Ryan Reynolds

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There’s no way Hugh Jackman would let a big life moment go by without finding a way to wield it against his frenemy, Ryan Reynolds.
Case in point, when Hugh woke up to the news that he’d received an Emmy nomination, he wasted no time in using it as fuel for the long-running faux feud.
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“I don’t think he’s going to get out of bed for three days,” Hugh told The Associated Press. “There could be a lot of bitterness and anger seeping through. It’s going to be a tough day for him.”
The funny feud between @RealHughJackman and @VancityReynolds continues with Jackman joking that his #Emmy nomination might leave pal Reynolds feeling bitter. pic.twitter.com/Ga8sJYqdcU — AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) July 29, 2020
Hugh received his fifth Emmy nomination on Tuesday in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie category for his performance in HBO’s Bad Education.
He portrayed Frank Tassone, a former superintendent who went to prison for embezzling $11.2 million from the Roslyn, N.Y. school district.
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As anticipated, Ryan reacted in shades of green, as seen in this snarky “congratulations” video:
Hugh said he was delighted about the nomination.
“I’ve been in the business maybe 25, 26 years? So I know it doesn’t come around all that often,” he told AP.