thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--Will Face Coverings Mask Boris Johnson’s Problems With Test And Trace?

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Masking the problem?
Oh, the irony. Boris Johnson, who famously described women wearing burkas as looking like “bank robbers”, is from Friday legally requiring the public to wear face coverings in shops. On Thursday, as he toured Scotland, the PM himself was sporting a black mask that made him look like an albino Dick Turpin.
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And in a double irony, the mass face mask wearing that will be compulsory in shops, cafes and supermarkets is not an act of ‘stand-and-deliver’ plunder but of self-interested selflessness. The science suggests that covering up does not protect you much from others who have coronavirus, but it does protect others if you unwittingly have the disease.
The new practice (well, new to England) is in many ways the pandemic-induced version of the Golden Rule that has powered moral codes and religions for centuries. As the second commandment lyrically put it, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Way back on March 3, when the ‘Three Amigos’ No.10 press conferences of Johnson, Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance first began, it was the chief medical officer who predicted: “The response of the British public to disasters and emergencies is extraordinary outbreaks of altruism.” But even though South Koreans and Japanese had long worn masks, that particular altruism wasn’t encouraged by Whitty or the government early in the covid wars.
As we all get used to the new facial fashions (just as every other country apart from the US seems to be doing with little fuss) there’s even a hope that they could help stop the spread of flu this coming winter. One obvious benefit is that they will very visibly remind the public that despite ‘unlockdown’, this virus is lurking invisibly. At a stroke, they will do more to ram home the need for caution than No.10’s lame ‘Stay Alert’ slogan, a line that few can remember.
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Of course, the real defence against a second spike, or at least means of squeezing a second spike, is not a multicoloured mask. It is the NHS Test and Trace system. And today there was finally some good news from its chief Dido Harding, as the percentage of people testing positive for Covid and being reached by the system hit 79.7%. Among their contacts, 77.9% were reached. That’s just shy of the magic 80% Sage says is needed to make the whole thing viable.
There was some bad news for the PM too though, or at least his target of turning round most tests within 24 hours by the end of June. The numbers on that went backwards for the second week in a row, with just 71.4% of ‘in-person’ tests completed within the timeframe. Still, the numbers for results returned “by the end of the next day” are better, and Harding clearly believes that’s what matters most.
Like many businesspeople, Harding is a big believer in the “incremental gains” philosophy that saw Sir Dave Brailsford turn British cyclists into Olympic giants. If you disregard Johnson’s own target, she can claim some success in slowly improving the test and trace system to get it to a place where we can all trust it will snuff out the disease in local outbreaks. Combined with local public health knowledge, maybe the dire 50% contact rates in places like Blackburn can be improved, and not so incrementally.
There was another major shift in emphasis today on testing, however. Although no one in government will say it explicitly, the home testing kits are quietly being killed off. These whizzo swabs (whose posting out helped Matt Hancock his 100k a day target met, but also got him into trouble with the statistics authority) just can’t be reliably turned around within 24 hours (that’s why they were never in the PM’s target). They will still be used to provide negative tests for people waiting for hospital operations, but as a positive indicator of covid their use will wither on the vine.
Few will lament the home kit’s demise. And the other shift today was the announcement that there will be at least 200 more walk-in test centres, massively expanding the 15 at present, by the end of October. The ‘ambition’ (not a target, don’t be silly) is to ensure everyone in an urban area will be just 30 minutes’ walk away from a test. In rural areas, everyone will be a 30 minute drive away from a test.
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Crucially, these testing centres can turn round results far faster than home kits. They can also help with translation for people with English as a second language and give access to the poorest who don’t have a car.
As I pointed out earlier this week, having blundered early on in key areas the real test for the government is whether it can learn from its mistakes as it goes along through this pandemic. The one big new mistake could however be the withdrawal of furlough in September. Will the Treasury finally change course on that too, allowing targeted sectors to keep getting the money, if there’s a swift spike in unemployment?
If not, Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson could both be portrayed not as bank robbers, but as the nation’s job robbers in chief - just as we brace for that second wave. There’ll be no point going into the shops, mask or no mask, if those people have no wages to spend.
Quote Of The Day
“Considerable gaps remain in the most difficult areas, that is, the so-called level playing field and on fisheries.”
David Frost, UK negotiator on a new EU trade deal
Thursday Cheat Sheet
Boris Johnson sparked fury from Nicola Sturgeon when he claimed that an independent Scotland would not have had the financial muscle to stop coronavirus causing an economic “disaster”. The “sheer might” of the UK union had been proven, he said on a visit that avoided the general Scottish public.
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Public Health England published full guidance on wearing face coverings in shops, less than 12 hours before the new rules come into force. It will be compulsory to wear one in cafes like Pret A Manger when buying food and drink to takeaway. But if you sit down and eat/drink you can remove the mask.
The UK and EU have both said they still remain some way off reaching a post-Brexit trade agreement, following the latest negotiations in London.
Howard Beckett, one of Keir Starmer’s most vociferous critics, was confirmed as having lost to Steve Turner for the crucial endorsement of the United Left faction of Unite the union.
Gavin Williamson is facing calls to provide extra funding for school cleaning after a new Unison survey suggested heads were struggling to make premises Covid-secure for pupils ahead of reopening in September.
What I’m Reading
What Happens If Trump Refuses To Concede Defeat? - New Yorker
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For our final Commons People before the summer break we are joined by Tom Tugendhat, the chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. Hear us chinwag through the ISC report, Russia, China and Starmer and Johnson’s pandemic record.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--People Who Identify As Right-Wing Less Likely To Wear Face Masks, Study Finds

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A study has found that people who identify as right-wing politically are more reluctant to wear face covers to stop the spread of coronavirus.
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Researchers in the UK and US discovered that those who were more right-leaning were more likely to agree that wearing a covering is “not cool”, “shameful” and a “sign of weakness”.
It comes as people will need to wear a face covering in shopping centres, banks, takeaway outlets, sandwich shops and supermarkets under new regulations due to come into force in England on Friday.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) now recommends face coverings in indoor spaces and when social distancing is not possible after updating earlier guidance.
The research - carried out by Dr Valerio Capraro, a senior lecturer in economics at Middlesex University, and Hélène Barcelo, from the Mathematical Science Research Institute in Berkeley, California – analysed people’s intention to wear face coverings.
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In one study, subjects were asked about how likely they were to wear a face mask outside the home, engaging in social activities and with people from another household, and how they best best described their political views.
The survey of 2,459 people living in the US using the crowdsourcing website, Amazon Mechanical Turk, found that the average for left-leaning respondents’ intentions to wear a face covering was higher than right-leaning people.
After being asked if they would agree or disagree with the statements “wearing a mask is not cool”, “wearing a mask is a sign of weakness” and “wearing a mask is shameful”, they also found that right-leaning people were more likely to express negative emotions when wearing a mask.
OLI SCARFF via Getty Images
A second study, which surveyed 1,920 people living in the US again using the crowdsourcing website Amazon Mechanical Turk, had the same outcome.
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Dr Capraro said: “This study was conducted in the US. However, looking at how politicians behave across Europe and the UK, I think it’s fair to say that we are seeing a behaviour that is consistent with this data.
“In the UK, until very recently there were no pictures of Boris Johnson wearing a mask. He started wearing one when it became mandatory, exactly in line with our data.
“Our data show that right-wing leaning people intend to wear a face mask less than left-wing leaning people. Interestingly, this difference is particularly strong in US counties where wearing a face mask is not mandatory. In counties where wearing a face mask is mandatory, left-leaning people are still more likely than right-leaning people to wear a face mask, but the difference across the political divide is much smaller, and almost non-existent.
“In sum, making it mandatory to wear a face mask has a greater effect on right-leaning people, compared to left-leaning people, who wear a face mask relatively independently of whether it is mandatory or not.”
The researchers also found that men are less likely wear face masks than women, and more inclined to see wearing one as “shameful” and a “sign of weakness”. People are much more likely to wear face masks if they rely on reasoning instead of emotion, they also say.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--MI5 Was 'Giving Out Parking Tickets While Looting Going On' Says Senior Tory Over Russia Report

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MI5′s failure to proactively tackle the Russian threat to UK elections risks undermining its key role “defending the realm”, the chair of the Commons’ foreign affairs committee has warned.
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Tom Tugendhat said the long-awaited intelligence and security committee (ISC) raised “serious questions” for the spy agency, whose efforts to defend UK democracy from Moscow’s meddling he said amounted to “giving out parking tickets while there is looting going on”.
The report, published this week, found the UK was late to recognise the threat Moscow posed and that the 2016 Brexit referendum was targeted for disinformation campaigns.
Both ministers and spy agencies failed to investigate interference in politics as the issue was seen as a “hot potato” in Whitehall.
Tugendhat told HuffPost UK’s Commons People podcast that MI5 had failed to step up for fear of being seen to be influencing politics, but said the body must now learn to “walk a careful line”.
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He said: “There is a natural reticence – of course there is – of the intelligence services to steer clear of politics because they don’t want to be seen to be having an influence on the independent desires of the British people. And quite rightly they don’t want to be seen as having an influence over democracy in the sense of the free expression and free exchange of the British people.
“But they need to realise that unwillingness to act, that unwillingness to see there are people who are genuinely trying to exploit and promote division in our country as a form of strengthening their own position and weakening ours, is a real threat to our national security.
“And frankly if MI5 aren’t willing to act on that, aren’t willing to walk a very careful line there, then they are not really defending the realm. What they are doing is giving out parking tickets while there is looting going on.”
Tugendhat said government and MI5 must recognise that “the nature of political influence has changed hugely” while adding Russian attempts to meddle were evident as far back as 2015.
Acknowledging Putin’s bids to gain influence have so far been “cack handed”, he said there is “a genuine threat to the democracy of the United Kingdom and to our national security”, adding: “We are seeing that democracies around the world are having to wake up to a new reality.”
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The ISC criticised ministers and MI5, adding that intelligence bodies were “determined to distance themselves” from taking a key role for fear it would be viewed as “intrusive” to British democracy.
The report concludes: “Whilst we understand the nervousness around any suggestion that the intelligence and security agencies might be involved in democratic processes – certainly a fear that is writ large in other countries – that cannot apply when it comes to the protection of those processes.”
Last week, foreign secretary Dominic Raab said that “Russian actors” had also tried to meddle in the 2019 general election.
The UK government also said that hackers linked to the Russian intelligence services had tried to access UK coronavirus vaccine research.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--Why Did MI5 And The Government Fail To Act On Russia? With Tom Tugendhat MP

Why Did MI5 And The Government Fail To Act On Russia? With Tom Tugendhat MP
Conservative MP and chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee Tom Tugendhat joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to unpack a big week for national security.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--The Key Moments Of Boris Johnson’s First Year As Prime Minister

The Key Moments Of Boris Johnson’s First Year As Prime Minister
On 24 July 2019, Boris Johnson took over the reins from Theresa May to become prime minister on a promise to deliver Brexit. He quickly set about delivering a version of it after renegotiating the withdrawal agreement with the EU, but the second half of his year has been beset by the coronavirus pandemic, which almost cost the PM his life.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--Ocasio-Cortez Shreds Republican's Attempted Apology After Calling Her A ‘F**king Bitch’

“Having been married for 45 years with two daughters, I’m very cognisant of my language,” Yoho claimed.
On Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez made clear that Yoho’s defence was an insult


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--How Trump Is Using A Violent Crackdown To Paint Himself As A Strongman

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Donald Trump has vowed to send a “surge” of federal agents to US cities – a move he portrayed as a crackdown on violence and crime. It has proven extremely controversial among campaigners and opposition politicians.
Here’s what has been going on in the US, and why the president has chosen this action now.
What did Donald Trump announce?
US President Donald Trump speaks to the press BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images
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On Wednesday, the president announced he would deploy a “surge” of federal agents to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hundreds have already been sent to Kansas City, Missouri, as part of “Operation Legend” following the fatal shooting of a young boy there.
Federal security forces have also been sent to Portland, Oregon, in recent weeks following two months of anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in May.
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But local authorities have said the presence of federal agents on the streets of Portland has only exacerbated tensions and helped escalate civil unrest, with reports of protesters being masked and bundled into unmarked vehicles by agents.
Despite this, Trump wants to expand his “Operation Legend” programme to more cities.
He told reporters in the White House: “In recent weeks, there has been a radical movement to defund, dismantle, and dissolve our police departments. Extreme politicians have joined this anti-police crusade and relentlessly vilified our law enforcement heroes.”
The president claimed: “To look at it from any standpoint, the effort to shut down policing in their own communities has led to a shocking explosion of shootings, killings, murders, and heinous crimes of violence. This bloodshed must end. This bloodshed will end.
“Today, I’m announcing a surge of federal law enforcement into American communities plagued by violent crime.”
Trump painted Democrat-led cities as out of control, lashing out at the “radical left”, which he blamed for rising violence in some cities.
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Crime reports *did* go up in some cities like Chicago, New York and Philadelphia when stay-at-home orders lifted, the Associated Press reported.
However, criminal justice experts have pointed to the unprecedented moment: a pandemic that has killed over 140,000 Americans, historic unemployment, a mass reckoning over race and police brutality, intense stress and even the weather.
Compared with other years, crime in 2020 is down overall.
On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union tweeted: “We will continue to defend our constitutional rights from Trump’s lawlessness – in Portland, Chicago and wherever else necessary.”
We will continue to defend our constitutional rights from Trump’s lawlessness — in Portland, Chicago, and wherever else necessary. — ACLU (@ACLU) July 22, 2020
What do the leaders of Chicago and Albuquerque think about Trump’s plans?
A federal officer points a less-lethal weapon toward a crowd of a few hundred protesters in front of the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse on July 23, 2020 in Portland Nathan Howard via Getty Images
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Both Trump and Attorney General William Barr insisted that the “surge” of federal agents being sent to Chicago and Albuquerque would be different to the operations in Portland.
The president said: “The DHS mission in Portland is to protect federal property and our law enforcement officers. In Chicago, the mission is to protect the public from violent crime on the streets.”
Meanwhile, Barr said the federal agents would serve as “street” agents and investigators who would be working to “solve murders and take down violent gangs”.
“This is different than the operations and tactical teams we use to defend against riots and mob violence,” Barr said.
“We will continue to confront mob violence. But the operations we are discussing today are very different – they are classic crime fighting.”
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However, it’s fair to say that the leaders of Chicago and Albuquerque didn’t seem entirely convinced by this reassurance.
Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot and New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, both Democrats, said they would only welcome help from federal agents if they actually assisted law enforcement with community policing and public safety.
Both threatened legal action if federal agents were used to crack down on protests, as they have been in Portland.
“If the Trump administration wishes to antagonise New Mexicans and Americans with authoritarian, unnecessary and unaccountable military-style ‘crackdowns,’ they have no business whatsoever in New Mexico,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
What has been happening in Portland?
Federal officers prepare to disperse Black Lives Matter protesters at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, in Portland ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Since the death of George Floyd in May, Portland has seen almost two months of anti-racism protests.
In July, Trump sent federal law enforcement officers to the city, vowing to “quell” unrest.
In the US, HuffPost journalists have reported how federal agents terrorised peaceful protesters, bundling them into unmarked vehicles without probable cause and pulling masks over their faces.
The actions have alarmed members of Congress, with House majority whip James Clyburn calling it “the activity of a police state”.
Meanwhile, representative Joaquin Castro tweeted: “This is what dictators do.”
Members of the "Wall of Moms", a group of protesters who form non-violent human barriers between police and the crowd, stand arm in arm during a protest at the Mark O Hatfield US Courthouse on July 21, 2020 in Portland Nathan Howard via Getty Images
On Sunday night, dozens of women – some of whom were reported to be pregnant – formed a human shield against the federal agents outside the city’s courthouse, calling themselves a “wall of moms”.
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Federal agents were filmed using batons and tear gas to try and disperse the women.
Why is Donald Trump doing this now?
Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wondering whether it’s a coincidence that Donald Trump – whose approval rating has plummeted over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic – has launched a new law and order programme just a few months before he runs for re-election as president?
According to the Associated Press, the decision to dispatch federal agents to American cities comes at a “hyper-politicised” moment when the Trump is grasping for a new re-election campaign after the Covid-19 pandemic upended the economy.
Trump has already claimed that violence on the streets will worsen if Democratic candidate Joe Biden is elected as president in November.
But Leon Panetta, a former defence secretary and CIA director, told The Guardian: “One of the last holdouts for tyrants is to try to have the military be able to protect them, and that fear that he may try to do that raises a lot of concerns about just how far will he go to try to ‘take over’ a lot of these cities and states in terms of their ability to conduct law enforcement on their own.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-23--This Is Where You Have To Wear A Face Mask In England From July 24

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From Friday July 24 face coverings will be mandatory in a whole range of indoor places across England in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
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The new rules mean people will have to wear a mask, scarf or bandana across their mouth and nose in in shops, supermarkets and indoor shopping centres.
Face coverings will also be compulsory in indoor train stations, airports, ports, and indoor bus and coach stations.
The rule applies to banks, building societies and post offices.
And it will also be compulsory to wear a face covering when buying food and drink to takeaway from cafes and shops.
But people will be allowed to remove covering if the place where they have bought food or drink has somewhere to sit down.
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Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said wearing a face mask was “vital” as lockdown restrictions were lifted.
Michael Gove wears a face covering while buying food in Pret - having previously been pictured not. Hollie Adams via Getty Images
“Everyone must play their part in fighting this virus by following this new guidance,” he said.
“I also want to thank the British public for all the sacrifices they are making to help keep this country safe.”
Face coverings will not be mandatory in eat-in restaurants and pubs.
Similarly people will not have to wear a mask in hairdressers, gyms, leisure centres, cinemas, museums concert halls or theatres.
It will not be compulsory for shop or supermarket staff to wear a coverings.
Children under the age of 11 will also be exempt, as will people with health conditions including breathing difficulties or mental health conditions such as anxiety or panic disorders.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Our Childcare System Was Broken Long Before Covid

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The UK child care system is broken. It was broken long before the Covid-19 pandemic pushed it to crisis point.
Crippling underfunding, underpaid workers, and inflexible provision were pushing the child care sector to breaking point long before lockdown, fuelling growing inequality. Now, government inaction means a quarter of providers are facing closure, 71% are likely to be running at a loss and cutting back on places over the coming months.
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As ever, mothers have been left to fill in the gaps, risking their jobs as the pressure to return to work only grows.
“Now is the time to guarantee free, universal childcare to stimulate the economy”
This matters not just for parents but for all of us, because the economy will never fully recover without guaranteed access to childcare. Parents will be unable to return to work with mothers most affected. Children’s vital early years development will continue to be overlooked, every sector will be disrupted. Meanwhile, those sectors predominantly staffed by women – like frontline health and social care workers, and teachers who have proved so vital to our nation’s survival during the pandemic – will be put under intolerable strain.
It is astonishing that, despite this urgency, despite the moral and business case, the government has so far failed to provide any meaningful support for the childcare sector whatsoever. It must listen to calls from the sector, trade unions, and parents and take action. But those whose suggestions are limited to nursery bailouts also do not go far enough.
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ChiccoDodiFC via Getty Images
Propping up providers that many parents could not afford before the economic downturn is not an answer on its own. Now is the time to guarantee free, universal childcare, to stimulate the economy, save parents’ jobs and ensure that all children are able to catch up on the crucial early years support they missed during lockdown. This policy would not just be a stop gap, it would be truly transformative.
Some people might feel that freeing women to work when they choose to and guaranteeing every child the best possible start in life is just a pipe dream. They are wrong, it is absolutely within our grasp. We don’t lack the funds – the cost of delivering universal free childcare is dwarfed by the billions the government has already committed to roads and other physical infrastructure and over the long term it would reap economic and social benefits that would cover the cost. What is lacking is the imagination, and the political will.
The Women’s Equality Party has a fully funded plan for universal free childcare. I am offering this plan to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, and to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. WE have done the heavy-lifting. All they have to do is find the will.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Emily Maitlis Reveals Dominic Cummings Sent Her 'Text Of Support' Amid Newsnight Monologue Row

Emily Maitlis has revealed Dominic Cummings sent her a message of solidarity after her Newsnight monologue about his conduct during lockdown sparked controversy.
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In the opener, Emily said that Cummings “broke the rules – the country can see that, and it’s shocked the government cannot”. The BBC later said the episode “did not meet our standards of due impartiality”.
Amid the furore – which saw nearly 24,000 people complain to the broadcaster – Emily has now revealed Cummings sent her “a text of support”.
Emily Maitlis delivered a monologue about Dominic Cummings on Newsnight BBC
Speaking to Tatler magazine, she said: “It was peak surreal getting a message of support from him in the middle of all the crazy stuff.”
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Emily also said she was overwhelmed by the public support she received amid the controversy.
“I think that was the biggest I’ve had – more than Andrew, more than anything. I was overwhelmed by it,” she said.
“I wasn’t expecting such a flood of warmth.”
Cummings was criticised for driving 260 miles to his parents' house during lockdown ASSOCIATED PRESS
The BBC’s decision to publicly reprimand Emily and the show sparked criticism, most notably from Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan, who said the corporation was “chucking one of its best journalists under the bus for telling the truth”.
During her Tatler interview, Emily spoke of her friendship with Piers, praising him for being “incredibly loyal”.
“I know if I was in prison, Piers Morgan would come and see me,” she said.
Piers Morgan publicly supported Emily amid the controversy Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
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“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but he’d be there. And I like the fact that I can have a row with him without it affecting our friendship – I don’t think I’ve ever had dinner with him without it ending in a massive row.
“I think that’s a good thing.”
if @maitlis doesn’t frame these photographs from @Tatlermagazine then i will pic.twitter.com/Ybwcb0bYXY — Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) July 24, 2020
The full feature is in the September issue of Tatler available via digital download and newsstands on Thursday 30 July.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Driver Who Dragged PC Andrew Harper To His Death Cleared Of Murder

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Driver Henry Long, who dragged police officer Andrew Harper to his death, has been found not guilty at the Old Bailey of murder.
The 19-year-old had previously admitted the manslaughter of the newlywed Pc.
His passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were also cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and face years in jail.
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Pc Harper’s widow Lissie said she was “immensely disappointed” with the verdict, adding: “No verdict or sentence will ever bring my incredible, selfless and heroic husband back.
“The results from this trial I had hoped would bring justice but in reality make no difference to the heart-wrenching pain I will continue to feel for the rest of my life.”
Lissie Harper (centre), the widow of Pc Andrew Harper, speaks to the media outside the Old Bailey in London. PA Media
The defendants heard the jury’s verdicts over video link due to problems with a prison van preventing them from being in court.
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The trio hugged and held each other’s hands when they were cleared of murder, but Bowers cried out when he learned he had been convicted of manslaughter, PA Media reported.
After the news sunk in, both Long and Cole became distressed, with Long apparently in tears having to be comforted by his co-defendants.
Bowers, however, seemed elated, and could be seen smiling and patting the other two in an attempt to cheer them up.
Pc Harper, 28, from Thames Valley Police, was killed on August 15 near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire.
He died from multiple injuries after being dragged under a van, after becoming entangled in a tow rope attached to their Seat Toledo as he tried to apprehend them for stealing a quad bike in Berkshire.
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Long drove off at “breakneck” speed, dragging the Thames Valley Police officer for more than a mile along country lanes before he was dislodged, having suffered horrific injuries.
The teenagers admitted plotting the theft and Long pleaded guilty to manslaughter but each denied knowing that Pc Harper was there.
Undated handout photos issued by Thames Valley Police of (left to right), driver Henry Long, and his passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers. PA
All three were cleared of murder by an Old Bailey jury that had deliberated for more than 12 hours, but Cole and Bowers were found guilty of manslaughter.
Their defence claimed the incident was a “freak event” that none of them could have planned or foreseen.
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But the prosecution said at more than 6ft and weighing 14 stone, the defendants must have been aware Pc Harper was being dragged to his death.
A reconstruction suggested that rather than stopping, Long swerved in the road to try to throw him off.
Pc Andrew Harper at his wedding before he was killed. Mark Lord/PA
Jurors also saw dashcam footage that appeared to catch the moment Cole turned towards the officer before diving through the window of the getaway car and making good his escape.
Pc Harper’s tearful widow Lissie was comforted by other family members in court as the verdicts at the Old Bailey were delivered.
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Justice Edis adjourned sentence until next Friday.
It can now be reported that Long had previously threatened to “ram” a police officer as he chatted with a police community support officer (PCSO).
In the conversation in July 2018, ruled inadmissible during the trial, Long said: “You can’t touch me now ’cos I’ve passed my driving test and if police try to stop me I will ram them.”
Long had previous convictions for battery, being drunk and disorderly and shoplifting.
Bowers also had youth convictions including for battery, criminal damage, sexual assault, and having an offensive weapon.
Their first trial was abandoned the day the nation went into lockdown in March.
In addition to social distancing for the retrial, Justice Edis had also ordered extra security measures amid fears of potential juror intimidation by supporters of the defendants, it can now be reported.
Clergy lead the pallbearers as they carry the coffin of PC Andrew Harper, the Thames Valley Police officer who died from multiple injuries after being dragged under a van while responding to reports of a burglary, as the cortege leaves the quadrangle at Christ Church Cathedral in St Aldate's, Oxford. PA Wire/PA Images
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Following the verdicts, Thames Valley Police Detective Superintendent Stuart Blaik said he was “delighted” to get justice for Pc Harper following a complex and challenging investigation.
He said: “The fact he was a police officer and one of our own – of course, it’s paid a huge toll on all of us.
“But I’m very proud of what we’ve done.”
On the impact on the family, he said: “I don’t think you can ever imagine what Lissie has been through, all the family and all his close friends and colleagues.
“It’s just absolutely devastating for them. This whole process of the court trial, having to relive what’s happened and listen in to the grisly detail of how Andrew came to his death.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Amanda Holden Rinses Piers Morgan As They Meet Up During French Getaways

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Amanda Holden wasted no time in rinsing Piers Morgan as the pair met up during their respective family holidays.
The former Britain’s Got Talent colleagues got together with their broods for a slap-up lunch in the south of France on Thursday.
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Mandy was recognised by a group of young Dutch fans, who asked to have their picture taken with her.
Piers was relegated to acting as the photographer, and Amanda couldn’t resist making a quip about him as she posted a photo of their meeting on Instagram.
She wrote: “Thrilled to be known & asked for a photo from these lovely children from the #netherlands and the #photographer @piersmorgan (no clue who he is).”
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Piers chose to share a cosier snap of him and Amanda, who were two of the original judges on Britain’s Got Talent.
Piers is currently on holiday with his three grown-up sons, Spencer, Bertie and Stanley, wife Celia Walden and their eight-year-old daughter Elise.
Amanda has been holidaying with her husband Chris Hughes and their daughters Lexi, 14, and eight-year-old Hollie.
Amanda and Piers have remained close friends since they worked together on BGT from 2007 to 2011.
Speaking to Metro about their friendship, she said of the Good Morning Britain presenter: “He is somebody that always puts things into perspective. He certainly makes me laugh. If I ever need any advice about anything, I think, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe that’s been written about me or said’, he’s always like, ‘Just think about the bigger picture or what it means’, and I adore him for that.’
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“I know who he really is, he plays a pantomime baddie on GMB, but in reality he’s a very funny family man who does have huge opinions on things but is happy to listen, always happy to do you a favour.”
She added: “If I was in dire straits I would pick up the phone to Piers and he knows I would do the same for him so he’s a proper friend.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Boris Johnson Says Anti-Vaxxers Are 'Nuts'

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Boris Johnson has said people opposed to vaccinations are “nuts” while promoting an expanded programme of free winter flu jabs.
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Speaking on the first anniversary of becoming prime minister at a doctors’ surgery in London, Johnson said to staff: “There’s all these anti-vaxxers now.
“They are nuts. They are nuts.”
He also predicted the UK will be “well on the way past” coronavirus by the “middle of next year”.
“But I must be clear with people, I do still think that we have tough times ahead in keeping this virus under control,” he added.
“We have tough times ahead in coming through economically.
“But I’ve absolutely no doubt that we are going to and this country is going to bounce back stronger than ever before.”
The government is aiming to double its winter flu vaccine programme in England to 30m people.
People aged 50 and over, and 11-year-olds, will be added to the list of who is eligible for free jabs.
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Around 15m people received a seasonal flu vaccination last year.
Experts are concerned about the double impact of coronavirus and seasonal flu on the NHS.
Johnson said he wants “everybody to get a flu jab”.
“That’s why we’re rolling out the biggest ever programme of flu immunisation,” he told reporters.
“And we’re aiming first of all for schoolchildren up to Year 7, for pregnant women, for people over 65, for people who are shielded, but then we will be extending it to people who are 50 to 65.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Daisy May Cooper Pleads With Fans To Help After She Suffers The Mother Of All Fake Tan Fails

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As anyone who has ever applied fake tan will know, the process is riddled with potential pitfalls.
This Country star Daisy May Cooper found that out the hard way when she woke up looking like this on Friday morning…
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Oh dear.
The star of the hit BBC Three comedy asked fans for advice after she shared the hilarious snap of her patchy work on Instagram.
“PLEASE HELP,” she wrote. “I am filming a new show tomorrow and at 11pm last night thought it would be a good idea to tan my face using Poundland fake tanning mousse and have woken up like this.
“I have tried EXFOLIATING and using toner but NOTHING WORKS. Please please can someone help me.”
Thankfully her followers came to the rescue with tips on how to tone down her new look and Daisy later shared an updated pic of her still looking bronzed, but decidedly less patchy.
Daisy May Cooper Instagram
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“Thank you so much for your comments, managed to get rid of the patches with a steamer and baby oil so doesn’t look as bad but still very orange,” she said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Death Of Windrush Campaigner Paulette Wilson Sparks Outpouring Of Grief And Anger

Chris J Ratcliffe via Getty Images
Paulette Wilson, a Windrush campaigner who was left destitute while fighting for her rights as a British citizen, has died unexpectedly age 64.
Her death comes one month after she delivered a petition to Downing Street, signed by more than 130,000 people calling for action to address the failings which led to the scandal.
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Her daughter Natalie Barnes said she found her mother early on Thursday, and she appeared to have died in her sleep, PA Media reported.
Barnes said: “My mum was a fighter and she was ready to fight for anyone. She was an inspiration to many people. She was my heart and my soul and I loved her to pieces.”
Wilson, from Wolverhampton, came to Britain from Jamaica aged 10 in the late 1960s. She attended school in Britain, paid national insurance contributions for 34 years and worked hard to build a life in the UK.
The grandmother-of-one was a chef who worked in the House of Commons restaurant serving meals to MPs and also volunteered at her local church, preparing meals for homeless people.
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Wilson spent two years under the threat of deportation and was wrongly locked up in a detention centre before being told she could stay in the UK in 2017.
Windrush campaigner Patrick Vernon told HuffPost UK that he’s in “complete shock” over Wilson’s death and said she was like a “big sister”.
“Paulette Wilson was mother, grandmother and a campaigner and spoke truth to power regarding Windrush Scandal and inspired many others so share other survivors to share their story,” Vernon said.
“Paulette was proud of her Jamaican and Wolverhampton roots; she was lovely and earthy – likkle but tallawah* (‘tallawah’ is a Jamaican term meaning ‘strong-willed’, ‘impactful’). I am complete shock she was like a big sister to me ... we had our connections and roots in Wolverhampton.”
On Friday, Vernon launched a crowdfund campaign to raise funds for Wilson’s funeral, while some people have taken to social media to demand that the home office cover these costs.
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“Paulette was lovely and earthy; likkle but tallawah.” - Patrick Vernon
The 64-year-old’s ordeal as a victim of the Windrush Scandal had a profound impact on her, Vernon said, adding that it’s paramount for the UK government to make amends to those affected.
“Paulette’s spirit and mental well-being was broken by the hostile environment and the challenges in completing Windrush compensation form. Priti Patel and Boris Johnson do not understand or even comprehend the meaning of righting the wrongs.
“This mean a compensation based on restorative justice not personal injuries claim.”
Members of the Windrush generation Paulette Wilsonwho arrived from Jamaica in 1968, and Anthony Bryan, who arrived from Jamaica in 1965, PA Archive/PA Images
Speaking to The Guardian in 2017, Wilson’s daughter said: “I am surprised we didn’t lose her from the stress. She is normally so bubbly and sociable. Since she came out of Yarl’s Wood she has withdrawn.”
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There has been an outpouring of tributes from Windrush campaigners on social media following news of Wilson’s death.
Immigration lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie explained how Paulette had taken on “the fight for justice for others” in a powerful tribute.
Saddened to hear of today's death of Paulette Wilson who arrived in the UK in 1968, aged 10, but became a victim of the Windrush scandal - told she had no rights of residency, she was detained in an IRC. Paulette took on the fight for justice for others. May she rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/PduSgyaGaS — Jacqueline (Jacqui) Mckenzie (@JacquiMckenzie6) July 23, 2020
Glenda Caesar wrote: “My thoughts & prayers go out to Paulette Wilson, may she rest in eternal peace. Yet again another victim passed away without even having access to her compensation. See @ukhomeoffice @pritipatel in our twilight age you have put us through this stress”.
The Windrush Movement & Windrush National Group also posted a heartfelt tribute:
R.I.P ❤ 🇯🇲🙏🏿As co-founders of @DefendWindrush Charlie Williams and @DESJADDOO wish to send our thoughts and prayers with the family of Paulette Wilson one of the #Windrush scandal victims who sadly passed away overnight at her home. May the Lord bless her family at this time pic.twitter.com/QIcsBV40Cj — The Windrush Movement UK & Windrush National Group (@DefendWindrush) July 23, 2020
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Floella Benjamin, who herself is part of the Windrush generation and chair of the government’s Windrush Commemoration Committee, tweeted: “This is such sad and heartbreaking news for the family of #PauletteWilson #Windrush campaigner who faced deportation:”.
After former home secretary Amber Rudd apologised for the Windrush Scandal in 2017, Wilson described it as “a good thing” in an interview with the BBC but added: “What about all the other people who were sent away before my case became big?”
She went on: “It’s just upsetting to think that an ordinary person like me could go through something like that. I’m still going through hell at the moment.
“It’s really hard for me to put it in words… I’m still hurt, I’m still hurt, that’s all I can say.”
Along with Anthony Bryan, Elwardo Romeo, Glenda Caesar, Michael Braithewaite, Patrick Vernon and her daughter, Wilson delivered the aforementioned petition to Downing Street last month.
Michael Braithwaite, Anthony Bryan, Paulette Wilson, Glenda Caesar, Elwaldo Romeo, Patrick Vernon and Satbir Singh director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), delivering Downing Street petition. Patrick Vernon
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Another petition is circulating, set up by Vernon, calling upon the government to make the compensation scheme process easier currently have over 55,000 signatures. If this reaches 100,000 then a number of Windrush campaigners will once again take it to 10 Downing Street.
Earlier this month, the Home Office faced fresh criticism over ithe Windrush scandal after it emerged victims are having to prove their case “beyond reasonable doubt” before being given compensation, HuffPost UK reported.
It is the same level of proof required to convict defendants in criminal courts across the UK.
A report published in March found the Windrush scandal – which saw people with a right to live in the UK wrongfully detained or deported to the Caribbean – was “foreseeable and avoidable” with victims let down by “systemic operational failings” at the home office.
Official figures published in May revealed fewer than 5% of claims made under a compensation scheme for victims have been paid out.
Since the scandal emerged in 2018, more than 11,700 people have been given “some form of documentation”, Home Secretary Priti Patel told the House of Commons in March.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge And Andrew Scott To Reunite On New Series Of His Dark Materials

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The BBC and HBO’s adaptation of Sir Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy of novels is returning for a second series later this year, with a special treat for Fleabag fans.
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During the His Dark Materials Comic-Con@Home panel, Andrew, who is set to play explorer Colonel John Parry, said: “My daemon is going to be played by somebody who is very close to me in real life, which is a young performer and writer called Phoebe Waller-Bridge.”
Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Andrew Scott Steve Granitz via Getty Images
In the His Dark Materials universe, humans are joined by daemons, manifestations of the human soul that take the form of animals.
Andrew previously played Fleabag’s love interest, Hot Priest, in Phoebe’s hit comedy drama.
He added: “I’m really thrilled about that because it’s all about companionship and friendship and loyalty and that’s what I feel about Phoebe in my real life so it’s wonderful that it’s happening.”
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A second series of the fantasy drama was announced prior to the first even airing last year, with it confirmed at the time that Andrew would be joining the cast.
A trailer for the new series dropped on Thursday night, giving fans a first look at the action in store.
It sees Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) open a bridge to a new world, and, distraught over the death of her best friend, Lyra (Dafne Keen) follow Asriel into the unknown.
In a strange and mysterious abandoned city she meets Will (Amir Wilson), a boy from our world who is also running from a troubled past.
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Meanwhile, Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson) is searching for Lyra, determined to bring her home by any means necessary.
It was previously revealed that season two will be one episode shorter than planned after the coronavirus pandemic halted filming on a standalone episode that would have focused on James McAvoy’s Lord Asriel.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Dame Jenni Murray Leaving BBC Radio 4's Woman’s Hour After 33 Years

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Dame Jenni Murray is to leave BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour after 33 years at the helm.
The presenter said she will be “moving on to a new stage in her long and distinguished broadcasting career” after joining the programme in 1987.
The 70-year-old is currently the longest serving presenter of Woman’s Hour in the show’s 74-year history.
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Dame Jenni Murray is leaving Woman's Hour Roberto Ricciuti via Getty Images
Dame Jenni said in a statement: “I’ve spent nearly half my life with Woman’s Hour and it’s been a privilege and delight to inform, educate and entertain a loyal and growing audience of women and men.
“Saying goodbye will be very hard to do, but it’s time to move on.”
The BBC’s outgoing director general Lord Tony Hall also paid tribute to her, saying: “Jenni Murray is a remarkable broadcaster and few have matched her outstanding contribution to the BBC and our audience.
“For more than three decades, Jenni has been an unmistakable and warm voice that has interviewed many of the most well-known women in the world, and helped illuminate issues that matter. The radio airwaves won’t be the same without her.”
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Jenni was made a Dame in 2011 JOHN STILLWELL via Getty Images
Mohit Bakaya, controller of Radio 4, added: “Jenni is one of the most loved voices on Radio 4.
“For more than 30 years she has tackled important issues on behalf of listeners, opening up sometimes difficult conversations about the experiences of women and shining a light on subjects that have often been sadly neglected.
“I want to thank her for her wonderful commitment to Woman’s Hour, to Radio 4 in general, and for the passion she has shown for the topics explored during her time on the programme. I wish her the very best with her plans for the future.”
During her tenure, Dame Jenni has interviewed high-profile figures such as Bette Davis, Margaret Thatcher, Barbara Castle, Shirley Williams, Gloria Steinem, Monica Lewinsky, Hillary Clinton, Anna Politkovskaya, Kate McCann, Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison, Wangari Maathai, Benazir Bhutto, Dame Judi Dench, Saoirse Ronan and Joan Baez, who sang Diamonds And Rust in the studio especially for her.
Dame Jenni will host her final programme on 1 October.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Explosive UFO Report In NYT Mentions 'Off-World Vehicles Not Made On This Earth'

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The New York Times is reporting that the Pentagon’s secretive UFO unit is going to make some of its findings public.
And the newspaper said one consultant to the agency has briefed Defence Department officials of some highly unusual discoveries ― including items retrieved from “off-world vehicles not made on this Earth.”
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The Times said that while the Pentagon has claimed that it disbanded its UFO office, that department has in reality simply changed names and moved, and a Senate committee report suggests it will be expected to make some information public every six months.
The main goal isn’t alien spaceships, but rather something much closer to home: to see if confounding sightings ― including some by the military ― are actually advanced technology from rival nations.
The Times report also hints at possible artefacts from UFO crashes, citing former senate majority leader Harry Reid.
“After looking into this, I came to the conclusion that there were reports — some were substantive, some not so substantive — that there were actual materials that the government and the private sector had in their possession,” he told the newspaper.
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Astrophysicist Eric W Davis, who has been a subcontractor and consultant for the Pentagon, told the newspaper he briefed the Defence Department in March about the “off-world vehicles not made on this Earth.”
He said he has examined some of the materials and concluded: “we couldn’t make it ourselves.”
Senator Marco Rubio also indicated that he was concerned that supposed UFOs could be advanced tech from foreign nations.
“We have things flying over our military bases and places where we’re conducting military exercises, and we don’t know what it is, and it isn’t ours,” Rubio, who is acting chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CBS4 in Miami last week.
He added:
“I would say that, frankly, that if it’s something from outside this planet, that might actually be better than the fact that we’ve seen some technological leap on behalf of the Chinese or the Russians or some other adversary that allows them to conduct this sort of activity.”
He said the objects in these sightings “exhibit, potentially, technologies that you don’t have at your own disposal” making them a national security risk.
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The military’s encounters with possible UFOs have come under intense interest in recent years since several videos were leaked in 2017 showing encounters with fast-moving objects including one given the nickname “Tic Tac” because it looked like one of the candies.
This object, still not publicly identified, dropped from 60,000 feet to just 50 feet in a matter of seconds:
“The part that drew our attention was how it wasn’t behaving within the normal laws of physics,” pilot Chad Underwood told New York magazine last year. Underwood filmed the “Tic Tac” encounter. The military has since confirmed that the footage is real, and formally declassified it in spring, but has said little else about it.
The Navy told UFO researcher Christian Lambright in a Freedom of Information Act request that releasing more information “would cause exceptionally grave damage to the National Security of the United States.”
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To The Stars Academy, a company co-founded by former Blink 182 frontman Tom DeLonge which has worked to reveal UFO information and helped expose the 2017 videos, celebrated the newest developments.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Trump: US In 'Very Good Shape' On Coronavirus Unless 'You Look South And West'

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As the coronavirus continued to ravage large swaths of America on Thursday, Donald Trump left Twitter critics aghast when he declared the country is in “very good shape” in terms of Covid-19 “other than if you look south and west.”
Trump made the comment during his White House press briefing on the same day that coronavirus cases surpassed 4 million in the US. He also announced the cancellation of Republican National Convention events in Jacksonville, Florida, due to coronavirus concerns.
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Gesturing to a map of the nation peppered with large red patches indicating hotspots where coronavirus cases have surged, Trump said: “You see, from that, it’s in great shape, lots of it. The Northeast has become very clean.”
“The country is in very good shape other than if you look south or west. Some problems. That’ll all work out.”
Trump: The northeast has become very clean. The country is in very good shape, other than if you look South and West pic.twitter.com/6hfaeRSCp6 — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) July 23, 2020
According to a New York Times database, cases were decreasing in just two states and trending upward in 39 on Thursday. The Covid Tracking Project’s latest report of nationwide data ― which it noted may be deflated due to erratic reporting from hospitals in some states ― indicated that hospitalisations are nearing an all-time high.
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Twitter critics had some notes on Trump’s observation:
Other than if you look at all the states whose governors followed Trump's guidance about reopening, the country is in good shape. https://t.co/2qkPJiS5Hm — Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) July 23, 2020
Yeah, sure, just don't look at 2 of the 4 available directions. https://t.co/3QKBbZ3VBj — Jesse Damiani (@JesseDamiani) July 23, 2020
Yes and the people who are dying from coronavirus are in very good shape except for dying from coronavirus.
He is the dumbest living organism. https://t.co/Hm32iLsLYZ — Spiro Agnew’s Ghost (@SpiroAgnewGhost) July 23, 2020
The country is in very good shape if you ignore the places that aren’t in very good shape
More genius logic from the guy that can recognize an elephant https://t.co/Hm8Uqp8VcM — Karl “New Tone” Devlet (@hesanihilist) July 23, 2020
“The country is in very good shape, other than if you look south and west.” — the most shocking and accidentally hilarious quote in presidential history — Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) July 23, 2020
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Okay, so the states that didn’t vote for him are starting to get out of the woods. (With the notable exception of California.)
It’s the states that did vote for him that are now really feeling the pain. And he thinks this is a positive development! https://t.co/GGy7WYhn3e — Eric Kleefeld (@EricKleefeld) July 23, 2020
"The states that ignored me are in pretty good shape. All the ones that placated me are pretty well f***ed." https://t.co/XJp35n0Dhq — Ron Marz (@ronmarz) July 23, 2020
I'm actually Brad Pitt, other than if you look at my body and my face. https://t.co/4iVsqztPMU — Eric Schmeltzer 🇺🇸 (@JustSchmeltzer) July 23, 2020
I’m in great shape too, other than my muscles, heart and limbs https://t.co/yPOediqaPu — John Riley (@jriley8832) July 23, 2020
Trump today: "The country is in very good shape."
Reality: https://t.co/LdYq8KT72j — Swing Left (@swingleft) July 23, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Kylie’s Disco & 10 Years Of One Direction | Good Vibes Only

Kylie’s Disco & 10 Years Of One Direction | Good Vibes Only
This week in entertainment, Kylie Minogue returns with a synthy disco track. Fans worldwide are celebrating ten years since One Direction were formed on The X Factor. We talk BBC’s Motherland, discuss Neighbour’s transgender character and... we listen to the sound of a duck laughing.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Trump Brutally Mocked For Tweet Appealing To 'Suburban Housewives'

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President Donald Trump’s decision to reach out to a particular demographic may have backfired if reactions to his tweet are any indication.
On Thursday, the president retweeted a New York Post editorial criticising presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s plan to build more high-density affordable housing in suburban areas.
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The president’s retweet came with a comment suggesting that the “Suburban Housewives of America” read the article to learn how the former vice president planned to destroy American neighbourhoods.
The Suburban Housewives of America must read this article. Biden will destroy your neighborhood and your American Dream. I will preserve it, and make it even better! https://t.co/1NzbR57Oe6 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2020
But the president’s attempt at appealing to suburban women didn’t work out as he might have expected, possibly because many people found the reference to “housewives” to be anachronistic at best.
Oh damn. Trump is going to win the 1956 presidential election. https://t.co/Lzu9qn5SRB — Thor Benson (@thor_benson) July 23, 2020
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What we all are thinking when we hear “Suburban Housewives of America” pic.twitter.com/eCC55inFMG — Evan Siegfried (@evansiegfried) July 23, 2020
“Suburban women” probably would have worked a bit better https://t.co/4OKYioliyi — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) July 23, 2020
Sir, "Suburban HOUSEWIVES?" Do you mean mothers? Lawyers? Doctors? Architects? Scientists? Teachers? Policewomen? Their "American Dream," sir, is to get rid of you. https://t.co/Uo0TmIGJCo — E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) July 23, 2020
A couple of people noted the subtext to Trump’s appeal to “suburban housewives.”
The invocation of "suburban housewives" gets at a really good point @alexburnsNYT made the other day about how Trump still seems to view suburbs as being primarily occupied by white people who were recently removed from the "white flight" of the 1950s/60s https://t.co/CRk681H0z8 https://t.co/fmCsYo5QVS — Grace Panetta (@grace_panetta) July 23, 2020
Come for the condescending command to "Suburban Housewives of America," stay for the complaints in this @nypost piece about how awful it was that an Obama-era anti discrimination rule made it so "towns had to make it possible for low-income minorities to choose suburban living." https://t.co/3gBTrAcg5L — Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) July 23, 2020
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And some people were skeptical that Trump’s tweet would do what he intended.
What percentage of these suburban housewives do you suppose like hearing themselves described as "housewives?" https://t.co/UfanWrSCCI — Ted Mann (@TMannWSJ) July 23, 2020
As we learned in our first Swing State Story, the suburban housewives of Virginia were part of turning that purple state a little bluer https://t.co/ZL9EydqwcD https://t.co/RI4LDDHqam — Emily Tamkin (@emilyctamkin) July 23, 2020
Many suburban mums were quick to clap back at the president.
I'm a mom of 3 children.
I live in the suburbs.
I work full time.
I bust my ass for my kids.
If you call me a "suburban housewife” I will knee you in the fucking groin.
Raise your hand if you are a woman living in the suburbs and you are voting for @JoeBiden. — Liddle’ Savage (@littledeekay) July 23, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Anti-Mask 'Karens' Get The Dolly Parton Parody Treatment

‘Karens’ — most of whom aren’t actually named Karen — have been making a name for themselves by refusing to wear masks in public places. The label, usually reserved for white women exhibiting rude, obnoxious or privileged behaviour, has become even more commonplace during the coronavirus pandemic.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Ryan Reynolds Responds To Blake Lively's Pregnancy Joke With 'Out Of Office' Message

“I will be out of the office starting July 22nd through the middle of forever and ever,” he wrote. “If you need immediate assistance during my absence, please contact someone. Anyone. Otherwise I will respond to your message as soon as possible upon my unlikely return. Thank you.”
Reynold’s gin brand added its own take on the clip, writing, “Ten years later ... this scene still is our favorite scene, and the prop stylist was robbed of an Oscar.”
Actor Rob Delaney liked Reynold’s self-deprecating caption: “‘Before Deadpool I was an actor’ If you say so!” Others commented on how spooky the movie was.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--How To Stop The Midyear Burnout, From Someone Who’s Been There

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At 25 years old, Mitch Wallis was climbing the ranks at Microsoft, flying business class, meeting celebs and pitching snazzy new products to Silicon Valley bigwigs.
But beneath the surface of his seemingly Instagram-perfect life, there was turmoil.
“I had no much responsibility as a 25-year-old. My ego loved it, but my body started to feel the impacts,” the Sydney mental health advocate told HuffPost Australia.
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“For me, what that looked like was all my underlying mental health issues surfacing, being aggravated and all aspects of my life deteriorating as a result of that.”
Wallis has suffered from mental illness from the age of seven. He was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder after his mum saw him repetitively touching objects and blinking, but he said it came to the surface when the pressure of his corporate life pushed him to the brink in his mid-twenties.
“Not just the sheer demand of work but also my own expectation and the culture of performance trying to deliver at a particular level,” he said of his first experience with burnout. “It started to take its toll.”
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Living away from family in the United States, Wallis was so burnt out from work stress he became incapacitated and ended up in an outpatient clinic in Louisville, Kentucky, for treatment. Looking back his clearest memory was telling his mum over the phone, “I don’t think I can recover from this.”
Wallis did recover and now dedicates his life’s work to empowering young people to share their mental health stories through his charity Heart On My Sleeve.
We spoke to Wallis and other experts about how to spot signs of burnout and manage it when it sneaks up:
What actually is burnout?
Last year, burnout was classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an “occupational phenomenon”, legitimising the experiences of many who’ve fallen prey to the problem, also known as vital exhaustion.
“Burnout is a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed,” said WHO.
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What are the signs of burnout?
Burnout may feel like reduced enthusiasm for work you previously felt passionate about, Wallis explained.
“Despising work and seeing it as the enemy, physical exhaustion or sickness, reduced performance and engagement are signs,” he said, adding, “It can also look like a spike of traditional mental ill health symptoms, like anxiety, agitation or depression.”
Burnout is different for everyone, so it’s important to check in with how you’re feeling and be aware if your feelings or behaviour change. If you do notice a change, don’t ignore it.
“For me, it starts with sleep disruption, irritability and general anxiety,” Wallis said. “As it starts to ramp, it gets more acute where my obsessional thinking will increase. My ability to drop certain scenarios or thoughts from my head becomes more difficult. I’ll start to feel depressed for no real reason, and I get depersonalisation, where I feel slightly dissociated and numb to a point of it completely intruding on my life.”
Strategies to prevent it
Slow down
“We live in an age of this unrealistic expectation and perception of the rise-and-grind young working professional,” Wallis said.
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“Not everything has to be done today. We don’t need to self-actualise this week. Become a ruthless prioritiser and know what 20% of things are going to give you 80% of the outputs I need.”
Ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing this?’
“Ask yourself what is the reason for this relentless pursuit or pace that you are willing to sacrifice your own health or happiness for? And also, ‘Who are you doing this for?’” Wallis said.
“Your duty is to find that line and have the awareness and discipline to know when the unhelpful narratives and belief systems have taken control.”
While acknowledging that corporations strain employees with job demands and inflexibility and that workplaces have a long way to be accountable for their staff members’ mental health, it’s ultimately up to the employee to figure out what’s driving them and set boundaries.
Build your identity outside of work
“What are you doing outside of the outside to get more value and worth on the inside?” Wallis asked. “Hobbies, learning, relationships, being a good human to your fellow humans. These matter the most.”
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Burnout is often close when you start living for the weekend and have an all-or-nothing way of thinking. “When people say, ‘I hate Mondays,’ or ‘Thank God it’s Friday,’ these are cute little sayings, but what you’re telling yourself is, ’80% of my life sucks,’” said clinical psychologist Ryan Howes.
Bringing your weekend into your week and finding engagement elsewhere can be part of this strategy.
“If your weekends are filled with connecting with friends and getting some rest and going on little adventures, fantastic. How can you make that part of your workweek?” Howes said. Examples Howes offered are getting breakfast with a non-work friend or going to a bookstore on your lunch break.
Don’t do it alone
“There is an old saying: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’,” Wallis said.
“Vulnerability is key. Being able to say, ‘Hey, I need help on this’ is so important.’”
Wallis added that many people believe in this concept but don’t take action it.
“Nothing good, and I mean nothing, comes from a single person. Everything is a team effort, and we need to lean on each other when we are tired so we can be in it for the marathon, not the sprint.”
Take self-care seriously and don’t compromise on it
“Self-care is both reactive and proactive,” Wallis explained.
“Reactive self-care are our go-to tools, people and mindsets that help us regain strength and stability. They are the things that put us back in a headspace of ‘I got this. I can cope.’
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“Proactive is our work stream to ensure there is an always-on solid foundation that we can use to thrive and not just avoid pitfalls ― from cold showers to exercise and everything in between ― it’s the things we do no matter how we are feeling so that we have buffer room or a savings reserve of energy to tap into when we need it.
“Even if we have these plans or habits, they are useless unless we action them. Discipline and not compromising is the difference between success and failure in avoiding burnout.”
ajijchan via Getty Images
And if you’re already burnt out?
Taking holiday is a good place to start, especially if you’re working from home or suffering coronavirus-related mental issues. “Many people have taken their holiday leave, even though they have nowhere to go,” said psychotherapist Lucy Fuller.
“This might sound mad and a waste of holiday leave, but it makes good sense in terms of taking a break and doing something different for a few days away from the pressures of work.”
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Practising mindfulness can help you live in the moment rather than thinking about the endless Zoom meetings you’ve got coming up. And practising gratitude can promote feelings of positivity: Write down three things that went well today or for which you’re grateful.
Breathing exercises are useful when you feel overwhelmed, so take five minutes out of your day, sit comfortably somewhere and focus on your breath. There are a number of deep breathing apps you can download on your phone to help guide you, or you can find some helpful breathing exercises here.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--Relive One Direction's Beginnings With A Look Back At X Factor's Iconic 2010 Series

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On 21 August 2010, The X Factor burst back onto our screens with what would go on to become the most successful series in its history.
Not only did it launch a raft of artists who would have a huge impact on the charts – including a little band called One Direction – it also set ratings records.
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While it may seem difficult to imagine now, The X Factor was by far and away the most popular show on TV with nearly 14 million of us tuning in each week. A whopping peak of over 19 million watched the live final. As a nation, we were absolutely hooked.
To mark 10 years since the series launched – and introduced us to memorable contestants like Ablisa, Wagner, Katie Waissel and Gamu Nhengu – we’re looking back at how it cemented The X Factor’s significance in the pop culture landscape.
It was the third consecutive year that the panel was the same
ITV
Simon Cowell, Cheryl (then) Cole, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue were once again the judges, but Dannii was missing from the auditions and bootcamp stages, as she was on maternity leave, pregnant with her son Ethan with then-boyfriend Kris Smith.
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With Dannii absent, it was up to a whole host of guest judges to fill in for her
Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
Geri Halliwell was first up in Glasgow, with Natalie Imburgulia joining in Birmingham, Katy Perry in Dublin, Pixie Lott in Cardiff and Nicole Scherzinger in Manchester. Simon, Cheryl and Louis took on the London auditions as a threesome.
The 2010 series was making headlines before it was even on air
BBC
During filming of auditions in Cardiff, Cheryl was taken ill and was later diagnosed with Malaria.
Cheryl contracted the disease on a trip to Tanzania, on the east coast of Africa, with rumoured then boyfriend Derek Hough. Cheryl spent four days in intensive care at London’s Cromwell hospital, before being moved to a respite ward for another week. In the meantime, auditions in Manchester went ahead without her.
Those auditions served as Nicole’s first appearance on the panel
With Cheryl still too sick to judge Bootcamp, the former Pussycat Doll filled in for her during filming there too.
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This stint on the show led to Nicole being announced as a co-host of the new US version of the show in 2011, alongside Steve Jones. However, when Cheryl was dropped from the US panel after just a few days of filming Stateside, Nicole moved into her seat, prompting years of reports of a feud between the pair.
Steve Jones, Nicole Scherzinger, L.A Reid, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole attend the 2011 Fox Upfront Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images
Nicole also took up a permanent position on the UK panel, serving as a judge on and off between 2012 and 2019.
As the auditions began airing in the August of 2010, viewers fell in love with many contestants. Gamu Nhengu’s audition marked her out as an early favourite (more on her later)...
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While Katie Waissel’s performance made her one to watch – albeit not necessarily for her singing...
A certain Liam Payne returned to audition two years after making it through to Judges Houses’, impressing with his rendition of Feelin’ Good...
And four other lads by the names of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik also tried their luck…
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A 16-year-old Cheryl look-a-like by the name of Cher Lloyd was told she was “right up my street” by her idol…
While no-one could have predicted what happened next when best friends Abi and Lisa took to the stage to perform a tuneless rendition of That’s My Goal
“She punched her in the face!”
However, the show faced accusations that it had exploited one contestant
Shirlena Johnson was later asked to leave the show because of concerns over her mental health.
Producers said the medical report from her general practitioner, requested during bootcamp, arrived late.
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Viewers also picked up on the fact some contestants’ auditions appeared to have been auto-tuned
BBC
X Factor bosses later admitted to using vocal enhancement processes.
A spokesperson said at the time: “The judges make their decisions at the auditions stage based on what they hear on the day, live in the arena. The footage and sound is then edited and dubbed into a finished programme, to deliver the most entertaining experience possible for viewers.”
Bootcamp saw former judge turned creative director Brian Freidman put the contestants through their paces
While some rose to the challenge, others struggled with his choreography.
Zayn Malik in particular had an aversion to dancing, and walked out of one class, not wanting to throw any more shapes...
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During bootcamp, it was Nicole who suggested raising the age of the Overs category from 25 to 28, as she believed there was so much talent in the older group.
ITV
But that wasn’t the only ingenious suggestion Nicole had.
After a number of contestants were sent home in Boys and Girls category, she suggested forming a new boyband and a new girlband out of them.
For the girls, Geneva Lane, Rebecca Creighton, Esther Campbell and Sophia Wardman were selected to form a band who later became known as Belle Ami, while Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles were picked as the boyband. No prizes for guessing what they later became known as.
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Both Dannii and Cheryl staged triumphant returns to the show as it reached its Judges’ Houses stage
ITV
The Boys were flown off to meet Dannii in Melbourne, where she was joined by guest judge Natalie Imburglia, while Cheryl stayed closer to home following her health scare, as she and will.i.am hosted the Girls at Coworth Park in Berkshire.
Meanwhile, Louis was joined by former judge Sharon Osbourne in County Limerick in Ireland.
Simon’s judges’ houses in Marbella, saw him joined once again by Sinitta
Because, who else?
Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
There were plenty of memorable performances at Judges Houses
One Direction took on Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn and went from cobbled-together group to serious contenders. They later performed this song again in the live final, prior to being eliminated.
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Wagner took on Florence + The Machine...
While Treyc Cohen and Cheryl’s ‘readiness’ earned a parody on Harry Hill’s TV Burp…
But like most things with The X Factor, there was controversy when Cheryl did not pick Gamu as one of her final four acts
Despite Gamu giving an impressive performance, Cheryl instead picked divisive contestant Katie Waisel along with Cher Lloyd, who had messed up her audition.
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The subsequent media storm became known as Gamu-gate, with around 1,000 people complaining to ITV, and over 200,000 joined a Facebook page called Gamu Should Have Got Through. Cheryl was also reported to have received death threats over her decision to send Gamu home.
After Judges Houses, the final 12 were...
Aiden Grimshaw, Matt Cardle, Nicola Festa, Rebecca Ferguson, Cher Lloyd, Katie Waissel, John Adeleye, Mary Byrne, Storm Lee, One Direction, Belle Ami and F.Y.D.
However, there was a surprise in store, the introduction of a wildcard twist
Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
This meant that four previously axed contestants returned to the competition. They were: Paije Richardson, Treyc Cohen, Wagner and Diva Fever.
Throughout the live shows, there were some absolutely iconic performances. Wagner singing Love Shack has stayed very much with us for the last 10 years…
As did Rebecca Ferguson’s dance version of Sweet Dreams…
And Cher Lloyd doing Shakespeare’s Sister’s Stay With Me…
Then there was Aiden Grimshaw doing Mad World…
One Direction doing Something About The Way You Look Tonight was also A Moment...
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As was Matt Cardle singing First Time Ever I Saw Your Face…
Having failed to endear herself to the British public, Katie Waissel was a constant presence in the bottom two
After landing in the bottom for the third time, things got the better of her during a performance of Please Don’t Give Up On Me, as she sat on the floor and proclaimed “oh, sod it”.
After her fourth time singing for survival, she underwent a dramatic transformation in the hope of inventing herself…
Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
And while she was safe the following week, she was finally axed from the competition in week eight thanks to a double elimination
There was an infamous showdown between Cheryl and Wagner
Cheryl was less than impressed with comments Wagner had made about her upbringing during a press interview, and made sure he knew exactly what she thought during a live show.
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Cheryl also found herself at the centre of controversy during week five of the competition
After two of her acts – Treyc Cohen and Katie Waissel – landed in the bottom two, Cheryl abstained from voting, and therefore the result had to be decided by a majority vote.
The move was criticised by many, who claimed Cheryl was paid in her role as a judge to make difficult decisions, while there were also allegations that the show was fixed to save Katie, which were vehemently denied by The X Factor.
Over on The Xtra Factor, Konnie Huq’s time as host didn’t go completely to plan
Ken McKay/Shutterstock
After succeeding Holly Willoughby, the former Blue Peter presenter made a number of gaffes during her one series hosting the ITV2 spin-off show.
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The most memorable of which saw her tell all the finalists that they would get to go on tour, only to have to backpedal after realising it would only be the top eight contestants.
She also royally annoyed Dannii live on the show...
There were some incredible guest performers during the series, most notably Lady Gaga doing Bad Romance in a bathtub dressed as a bat…
Cheryl took the the stage to showcase Promise This…
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Rihanna had a full-on food fight as she performed Only Girl In The World...
Jamiroquai had a less than warm reception from Cheryl and Dannii
Frontman J Kay had made some comments about them in the press during the week prior to the band’s performance, which led to the pair refusing to applaud.
Nicole Scherzinger gave us this iconic performance of Poison (which is still a 10/10 banger and deserved better)...
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The cast of Glee performed Don’t Stop Believin’ during the semi-final...
When the final rolled round, it was Matt, Rebecca, One Direction and Cher who vied to win the show
Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
During the famous duets, Matt Cardle teamed up with none other than Rihanna
It was a performance that rivalled Alexandra Burke’s duet with Beyoncé, as many viewers noted the electric chemistry between Matt and Rihanna.
In fact, over 2,800 complaints were made to TV watchdog Ofcom over performances in the finale, which also saw Christina Aguilera perform Express from the Burlesque soundtrack.
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Christina also duetted with Rebecca Ferguson on Beautiful…
While One Direction teamed up with Robbie on She’s The One...
And Cher Lloyd got to perform with Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am on a mash-up of Where Is The Love? and I Got A Feeling...
After an incredible final, it was Matt who was crowned the winner
It was also the second win for his mentor Dannii.
Rebecca finished as runner-up, with One Direction in third place, and Cher fourth.
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Matt’s winner’s single was a cover of Biffy Clyro’s When We Collide
It charted at number one and managed to stay there the following week to be crowned Christmas number one.
But the final moments of the series were remembered for a very different reason


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--One Direction's Most Controversial Moments

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Shutterstock/ITV/HuffPost
During their time in the spotlight, the five original members of One Direction were never far away from the headlines, although it hasn’t always been for the right reasons.
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Originally formed on The X Factor in 2010, it didn’t take long before Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik were global stars, racking up number one hits and selling out shows all over the world.
However, the road to superstardom is often a rocky one, and 1D were no exception to this, repeatedly finding themselves in hot water for a number of reasons during their time as a band.
On the 10th anniversary of One Direction’s formation, we’re looking back at some of the group’s most controversial moments...
The band’s feud with The Wanted
A string of tweets from Zayn to The Wanted star Max George Twitter
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In the early years of One Direction, the band and their short-lived rivals The Wanted had a long-standing feud, which peaked when Zayn branded lead singer, Max George, “chlamydia boy” during a heated Twitter row.
Eventually Jay McGuiness stepped in, urging Louis Tomlinson and Zayn to “stop mentioning us in your gigs”, adding: “We certainly no longer mention you and it’s time to let dead dogs lie.”
Louis and The Wanted’s Tom Parker previously clashed after the latter sent an unpleasant tweet implying that the former is gay, tweeting: “I’ll enjoy the press even more when you come clean #narnia #itgetsbetter”
Liam Payne gets on the wrong side of staff at the Empire State Building
Liam Payne performing in New York in 2012 Theo Wargo via Getty Images
In 2012, Liam paid a visit to the Empire State Building, but it seems his trip to the New York landmark wasn’t a smooth one.
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“Just been to the Empire State Building had a great time except the security detail in particular the senior security supervisor was arrogant, unproffesional and extreamly disrespectful to my family,” Liam tweeted, adding the hashtag #TheresAlwaysTimeForManors (sic).
However, a post on the Empire State Building’s Twitter page accused Liam of “bad behaviour”, claiming: “No, our security does not know who you are, and does not care.”
Following their response, Liam then posted an apology, writing: “I would like to formally apologise to the Empire State Building security team and its owners for our misunderstanding the other night.
“I didn’t mean to cause anyone any problems and hope that I can come back again for a visit again in the future.”
But that’s not the only time Liam has sparked controversy from a great height
Liam Payne on a rooftop in East London Twitter/Liam Payne
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Liam was forced to apologise to fans over this photo, posted in 2014, which showed him standing on a window ledge, overlooking East London.
He tweeted: “You may have seen a photo of me today taken on top of a building. I regret being there and having the photo taken. “It was a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. I am sorry...”
Sidenote: Phone cameras have really come a long way since 2014, right?
That infamous “joint” video
Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik during a 1D concert Jeff Kravitz/Getty
Taking the heat off Liam and his rooftop somewhat, the world’s eyes were on Zayn and Louis later in 2014, when a video surfaced online, showing the twosome smoking a dodgy-looking cigarette.
In the video, Louis was heard saying to the camera: “So here we are, leaving Peru. Joint lit. Happy days!”
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He could also be heard joking that “Mary J” is “one very very important factor of Zayn’s warm up”. Both Louis and Zayn remained tight-lipped on the clip at the time, but Liam did eventually apologise on behalf of his bandmates, tweeting: “I love my boys and maybe things have gone a little sideways I apologise for that. We are only in our 20′s we all do stupid things at this age.”
Louis clashes with Zayn after he quits the band
Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, around five months before the former quit One Direction Shutterstock
They might have been BFFs when they were still in One Direction, but once Zayn was gone from the group, he and Louis fell out spectacularly on Twitter, over music producer Naughty Boy.
During their tense exchange, Zayn publicly told Louis to “stop bitching”, writing to him publicly: “Remember when you had a life and stopped making bitchy comments about mine?”
The two were later reported to have made up, but when Zayn fell out with Calvin Harris, Louis made it clear he was on the DJ’s side by liking one of his tweets.
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Years later, Louis claimed that he and Zayn had buried the hatchet, revealing it was his late mum’s dying wish for the two to make amends.
Miley Cyrus hints at MTV awards fix
Miley Cyrus at the VMAs in 2013 Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
At the MTV Video Music Awards in 2013, Miley Cyrus captured the whole world’s attention with her performance of We Can’t Stop, which saw her grinding up against Robin Thicke, sporting a flesh-coloured outfit and an enormous foam finger.
But what’s sometimes forgotten is that this was also the year that Miley stormed out of the VMAs before the end, unhappy with the result of the Song Of The Summer category.
Hinting on Twitter that something shady may be afoot, she wrote: “Leaving the VMAs. No it’s not over. I’m no psychic but congrats [to One direction] #songofthesummer”
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Call her Mystic Meg, because 1D only went and won, didn’t they? We’re sure it was just a coincidence, though...
Louis Tomlinson gets the wrong end of the stick
Fucking ridiculous I even have to tweet that shit ! — Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) November 10, 2014
After a journalist for The Independent noticed that Louis was sporting a t-shirt with the Apple logo on, but emblazoned in rainbow colours, she speculated it might be a mark of solidarity with the company’s CEO, who had recently come out as gay.
Unfortunately, Louis totally misread the situation, and took it as a suggestion that he himself was gay, tweeting the journalist directly and writing: “The fact that you work for such a ‘credible’ paper and you would talk such rubbish is laughable. I am in fact straight... Fucking ridiculous I even have to tweet that shit!”
Well, Louis. It turns out you didn’t actually have to at all.
Harry takes heat after posing in a Native American headdress
Harry Styles in a now-deleted Instagram photo Instagram/Harry Styles
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Many of Harry’s Instagram followers were not impressed with this photo, which shows him sporting a traditional Native American headdress.
After the controversy, the photo was deleted from his social media accounts.
Zayn receives death threats over #FreePalestine tweet
In 2014, Billboard reported that Zayn had received a “barrage” of death threats after sharing the above tweet to his 13 million followers (a figure which has more than doubled in the time since).
They also pointed out that Zayn had kept his tweet up despite the threats, and it remains active almost six years later.
Niall Horan apologises after branding a group of fans a “shower of c***s”
Niall Horan performing in 2012 Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/Shutterstock
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Many were surprised in 2012, when a video surfaced showing Niall greeting fans at Dublin airport with the unusual salutation of: “You shower of c***s.”
Although that sounds bad on paper, Niall did wish the same fans a happy birthday in the video, and later insisted his comments were “just banter”, tweeting: “Really sorry if I caused any offence. It was just banter with fans who I think of more as mates. But I understand that it’s not a word I should be using at all.”
Hayley Williams accuses One Direction of copying New Found Glory
Hayley Williams at the Billboard Women In Music luncheon SIPA USA/PA Images
A number of hits from the One Direction back catalogue have prompted music fans to get a sense of déjà vu (including Live While We’re Young, Best Song Ever and What Makes You Beautiful), but when the group unveiled their single Steal My Girl, Hayley Williams couldn’t help but point out its resemblance to another song.
The Paramore singer tweeted: ”[The] beginning of that new 1D song couldn’t sound any more like the beginning of @newfoundglory’s “its not your fault” but...”
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Some critics also took issue with the lyrics of Steal My Girl, suggesting lyrics like “she belongs to me” were “anti-feminist”.
Louis Tomlinson’s pal upsets animal rights activists
Louis Tomlinson on the set of the Steal My Girl music video One Direction/Facebook
This behind-the-scenes snap from the Steal My Girl video rubbed many animal rights activists up the wrong way, who were angered that the group had a chained monkey on the set of their music video.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-24--We Can't Wear Face Masks, Don't Shame Us, Say Those With Invisible Illnesses

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Face masks are now mandatory in most public settings in England – and for some, that news brings with it a lot of anxiety.
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While some people with physical or mental illnesses or disabilities are exempt from wearing face covers, they still fear being shamed by members of the public or shop workers for not wearing one.
Nicola Little, 27, has asthma and anxiety, and finds it difficult to breathe when wearing a face cover. While she’s considered exempt from having to wear a face covering because of her health, she worries about being shamed when out in public because her illness is invisible.
Little, who lives in Stevenage with her partner and young daughter, wore a face cover on the bus when they were first made mandatory on public transport back in June because she was too scared to tell the bus driver she had asthma.
But when she put on the mask, Little, who is also prone to panic attacks, started to feel the familiar rise of anxiety. “I start panicking, I get anxious, I’m hot and stuffy. It just makes you feel really restricted,” she tells HuffPost UK.
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Nicola Little Nicola Little
She has since told bus drivers she has asthma, and was given a downloadable exemption card from Asthma UK to show anyone who might question her for not wearing one, but she still feels guilty as well as anxious about being shamed by strangers.
Little says she feels “scared” about masks becoming mandatory in shops and worries she’s going to have to revert to online shopping to avoid being called out for not wearing one.
“I don’t think I’d be able to do a food shop with a face mask on the whole time,” she says. “I’ll have to start shopping online again, which I don’t really want to do because I enjoy going to the shops – it’s good for the mental health as well.”
The 27-year-old, who works in a primary school, wishes there was a badge people could wear to show they are exempt from mask-wearing, a bit like ‘baby on board’ badges for pregnant women. “I definitely think we should have something like that,” she says, “because then you haven’t got to keep getting your phone out or a piece of paper, you can just wear it on your jumper and nobody will say anything to you.”
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Fazilet Hadi, a policy manager at Disability Rights UK, told PA Media she has already heard several stories of people being confronted on public transport, despite having legitimate reasons for not wearing a mask.
Disability equality charity Scope has also heard from disabled people who’ve been challenged over not wearing a face covering while using public transport, “causing much distress and anxiety”.
While some charities have created exemption cards to explain why a mask is not being worn, Hadi believes there needs to be government advertising as well to make people truly aware.
“We heard horrific stories from the disability hate crime network about disabled people who’ve already been challenged on public transport,” she said. “We really urge the public to be kind and assume that the people around them aren’t wearing it for a reason.”
A government spokesperson said the guidance is “absolutely clear” that you do not need to wear a face covering if you have a legitimate reason not to, including because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability.
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“We expect people to be sensitive to the fact that some groups of people are not able to wear a face covering, and will continue to communicate this message to the general public,” the spokesperson told PA Media.
It has launched an official exemption card and badge template, which people can download here.
Sarah MacFadyen, head of policy at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, told HuffPost UK: “We need a greater awareness that there are exemptions from the rules on face coverings, and this includes people with severe respiratory conditions. Most people will be able to wear a face covering with no problem, but some people find that wearing a mask makes them feel like they can’t breathe.
“We urge the public to think twice before they judge someone for not wearing a face mask.
“Not all health conditions are visible and people with lung conditions have already told us that they’ve been publicly confronted by strangers about not wearing one, leaving them feeling anxious and humiliated.”
James Taylor, executive director of strategy, impact and social change at Scope, pointed out that face coverings also make communicating difficult or impossible for people who rely on lip-reading, “so businesses and services need to recognise this, and have other ways of communicating in place so they are not excluding anyone”.
“Disabled people and their needs have been routinely forgotten throughout this crisis. If disabled people’s needs are ignored, society risks turning the clock back on equality,” he said.