thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--Trump Urged To Stop Execution Of Mentally Ill Sex Trafficking Victim

Lisa Montgomery, a federal prison inmate scheduled for execution on Dec. 8 poses at the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth in an undated photograph. Handout/Reuters
A coalition of prosecutors, domestic violence groups, anti-trafficking organisations, child advocates and mental health experts sent a series of letters to Donald Trump on Wednesday urging him to stop the execution of Lisa Montgomery, a mentally ill woman who suffered extreme childhood abuse, including incest, physical violence and sex trafficking by her own parents.
In 2004, Montgomery, the only woman on federal death row, killed Bobbie Jo Stinnett, who was pregnant, and abducted her baby. Montgomery is scheduled to be executed by the federal government on December 8. If the execution occurs, she will be the first woman to be executed by the US in nearly 70 years.
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The letters ― there are six total, with over a thousand co-signers between them ― ask Trump to commute her sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on account of her significant mental illness and history of abuse. President-elect Joe Biden, who will take office a little over a month after Montgomery is scheduled to die, has pledged to end the federal death penalty.
According to sworn statements by family members, Montgomery was a victim of severe physical and sexual abuse as a child. Her stepfather began to molest her around the age of 11 and then began raping her, which her mother attested to witnessing in court at the time. As a teen, Montgomery confided in a cousin who worked in law enforcement that her parents were allowing other men to rape her as payment for work done around the house.
Her lawyer, Amy Harwell, a federal public defender in Tennessee, said the prolonged childhood trauma Montgomery experienced exacerbated a genetic predisposition to mental illness. These days, Montgomery has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features and complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and requires a regimen of psychotropic drugs to function.
“Mrs. Montgomery was psychotic at the time of the crime,” Harwell told HuffPost previously. “She has always accepted responsibility. This is someone who was deeply remorseful, once she became appropriately medicated and had full contact with reality, although that is a situation that waxes and wanes.”
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Among the letters sent to Trump pleading for Montgomery’s life was one penned by two prosecutors who handled similar cases involving attacks on pregnant women.
In 1987, 20-year-old Darci Pierce, who had spent months faking a pregnancy, murdered Cindy Ray and cut out her baby, who survived. In a similar case in 2015, Dynel Lane attacked Michelle Wilkins, who was seven months pregnant, and removed her fetus. In that case, the mother survived but the baby did not.
Both women received long prison sentences but were spared the death penalty.
“We know from first-hand experience that these crimes are inevitably the product of serious mental illness,” wrote Harry Zimmerman, a former deputy district attorney in New Mexico who prosecuted Pierce, and Stanley Garnett, a former district attorney in Colorado who prosecuted Lane. “Women who commit such crimes also are likely to have been victimised themselves. These are important factors that make death sentences inappropriate.”
They added that they were particularly troubled by the fact that Montgomery accepted responsibility for her crime and offered to plead guilty in exchange for a life-without-parole sentence.
“Like the cases of Dynel Lane and Darci Pierce, Lisa Montgomery’s case does not warrant the death penalty,” they wrote. “Given the overwhelming evidence of her mental illness and trauma history along with the particularly traumatic nature of this type of crime for the victim’s family, the federal prosecutors should have exercised their discretion to accept Ms. Montgomery’s plea offer.”
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A separate letter signed by a group of 800 organisations and individuals working against violence against women urged Trump to grant clemency to Montgomery.
“Lisa’s abuse doesn’t excuse her crime. But it does provide an explanation for how she came to commit that crime, a context for trying to understand what otherwise might seem incomprehensible,” they wrote. “A victim of trauma with serious mental health issues, including dissociative disorder directly linked to her experiences of sexual violence, Lisa’s mental illness is inextricable from the crime she committed.”
“She has always accepted responsibility. This is someone who was deeply remorseful, once she became appropriately medicated and had full contact with reality, although that is a situation that waxes and wanes.” - Amy Harwell, one of Montgomery's lawyers.
They noted that prosecutors in Montgomery’s case dismissed her documented history of victimisation as “the abuse excuse” and deployed gendered stereotypes to discredit her in front of the jury.
“They presented Lisa as a bad mother who didn’t cook or clean and kept a filthy home. The failure to appear as a perfect model of womanhood — pretty, clean, docile, obedient, and well-mannered — is often used to undermine the credibility of victims of violence,” they wrote. “Few women can live up to this image of the sanitised victim. Lisa certainly didn’t, and as a result, her history of victimisation was dismissed and minimised, instead of providing the crucial context for understanding her crime.”
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Montgomery was failed by every adult in her life who should have protected her, wrote a group of 40 child advocates in another letter.
“As child and family advocates, we step in for children who have been abused, victimised, and/or abandoned by their parents or caregivers. Tragically, no one stepped in to save Lisa,” they wrote. “We know from our work with children that being unable to escape a cycle of abuse exacts a terrible mental toll. This was sadly true for Lisa. Her crime reflected the desperation, shame, and hopelessness that many victims of extreme child abuse feel.”
A letter from three mental health organisations asked the president to consider the direct link between Montgomery’s severe mental illness and her crime. They noted that some state legislatures are now considering bills that would exempt individuals with serious mental illness from the death penalty.
“These states’ lawmakers acknowledge that our evolving standards of decency can no longer tolerate executing individuals with severe mental illness, just as we no longer execute juvenile offenders or individuals with intellectual disability in recognition of their reduced moral culpability,” they wrote. “We know the decision whether to commute a death sentence is difficult, but in Lisa Montgomery’s case, it is the right one.”
Montgomery has exhausted all attempts to appeal her conviction and death sentence, although her attorneys are exploring possible litigation.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--I’m A Celebrity Introduces Proximity Buzzers As It Outlines On-Set Coronavirus Measures

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Crew working on the new series of I’m A Celebrity will have to wear proximity buzzers as part of a string of coronavirus measures to keep the show on air amid the pandemic.
The ITV reality show has already relocated from the Australian jungle to Gwrych Castle in Conwy due to international travel restrictions, and now ITV bosses have outlined how they will be keeping the new location Covid-secure.
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The broadcaster’s “Covid management plan” reveals the use of wearable buzzers, which will go off when crew members come too close to one another.
Gwyrch Castle will be home to I'm A Celebrity this year Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
There will also be half the usual number of people on site, with many of the production team working remotely from London.
There will also be “extremely limited” production access to both the celebrity contestants and hosts Ant and Dec.
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The Geordie duo have formed a close contact cohort – as they did to host the recent Britain’s Got Talent live shows – which means they do not have to socially distance on screen, so long as they are tested for Covid-19 every three days.
The celebrities, who have been isolating for the past two weeks, have also formed a bubble and will be tested every three days.
Ant and Dec ITV
Other measures include visitors being banned from the site, temperature checks on arrival, handwashing and special training for crew.
Crew members must wear masks when not at their desks, which will all face away from each other, with all work spaces built two metres apart to ensure social distancing.
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They will also have to take a rapid coronavirus test twice a week and self-isolate if it returns a positive result.
Speaking about the measures, Richard Cowles, director of entertainment at ITV Studios, said: “Everyone on the production team has worked incredibly hard to bring I’m A Celebrity to Wales and a massive part of making that possible has been developing our protocols around Covid.
“We have worked with ITV’s independent chief medical officer Dr Paul Litchfield, ITV’s health and safety department, and our own health and safety and medical teams to keep everyone connected with the production – both in front of and behind the camera – as safe as possible.”
This year's I'm A Celebrity line-up ITV
During the isolation period, contestant AJ Pritchard tested positive for Covid-19.
However, he has since confirmed he will still be taking part in the show after subsequently returning two negative test results.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--Leicester MP Claudia Webbe Denies Harassment Charge

Claudia Webbe has been released on unconditional bail until March 2021 PA
A serving MP threatened and made numerous unwanted telephone calls to a woman, a court has heard.
Claudia Webbe, who was elected Labour MP for Leicester East in December, pleaded not guilty to one charge of harassment during the 20-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The 55-year-old spoke only to confirm her name, her age, and her address as Moreland Street in Islington, north London, and to formally enter her not guilty plea.
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Webbe is charged with one count, that between September 1 2018 and April 26 2020, she pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of a woman, which Webbe knew or ought to have known amounted to harassment.
The prosecution alleges Webbe made numerous unwanted telephone calls to the woman and made threats on at least two occasions.
The defendant acknowledges calls were made but disputes the content.
She was released on unconditional bail to appear at a one-day trial at the same court on March 16 next year.
Earlier, chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot declined a request from Webbe’s counsel Dr Courtenay Griffiths that she be allowed to sit in the well of the court – rather than in the dock – for the hearing.
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Webbe entered the Commons in the December general election, winning the seat formerly held by Keith Vaz, the Labour veteran who retired from Parliament in the wake of a scandal.
She stayed on as a councillor in Islington, and was also a member of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee.
Earlier in her career, she was a political adviser to then-London mayor Ken Livingstone.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--Being Queer In The #EndSars Movement

Being Queer In The #EndSars Movement

Being Queer In The #EndSars Movement
Nigerian LGBQT activists Freddie Jacob, Matthew Blaise and Victor Emmanuel joined the End Sars marches only to find fellow protesters turned on them. The activists who marched with the hashtag ‘Queer Lives Matter’ say that the fight for oppression should include Nigeria’s LGBT community too.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--UK Covid-19 Death Toll Tops 50,000 As 595 More Fatalities Recorded

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More than 50,000 people in the UK have now died within a month of testing positive for coronavirus.
Some 595 new deaths across the UK were recorded in the most recent reporting period, which differs slightly between health authorities – 24 hours up to 5pm in England and Wales, and 24 hours up to 9.30am in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The number of deaths since the start of the pandemic now stands at 50,365. But more than 61,000 people had Covid-19 mentioned on their death certficates. Here’s a guide to making sense of the different measurements.
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it comes as 22,950 positive tests were recorded in 24 hours.
Tuesday saw the UK’s daily death toll surpass 500 for the first time in almost six months but Wednesday’s daily increase of 595 is the largest since May 12.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--Tory MP Says ‘Heart’ Of Southern Culture Is Ballet But The North Prefers Football

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A Tory MP has said ballet and opera are at the “heart” of people’s culture in the south of England, but that people in the north prefer football.
Jake Berry, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen in Lancashire, said on Tuesday the coronavirus pandemic was damaging northern culture and communities.
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The former minister for the Northern Powerhouse currently leads the Northern Research Group of Tory MPs, which argues for increased funding for the region.
Speaking in Parliament’s Westminster Hall, Berry said: “For many people who live in London and the south of England, things like the opera house and the ballet will be the heart of their culture.
“In the north of England for many of us it is our local football club.
“Our Glyndebourne or Royal Ballet or Royal Opera House or Royal Shakespeare Company will be Blackburn Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Barrow, Carlisle or Sunderland.”
Berry said the government needed to intervene to “save local football clubs across the north of England, many of which are the cornerstone of our community and at the heart of our culture”.
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Despite Berry’s speech, there is opera and ballet in the north of England and there are football clubs in the south of England.
The government has said it wants to see fans return to football stadiums “as soon as possible”, but has not been able to put a date on it.
Nigel Huddleston, the sports minister, told MPs on Monday that while transmission rates were low inside grounds due to them being open air, there remained issues around fans arriving at and gathering around stadiums.
“I am fully aware of the importance of getting fans back in stadia, not just for football but for all elite sports,” he Huddleston.
Over the weekend the government also announced eight arts bodies and many more historic and heritage sites will receive money from the £1.57bn culture recovery fund managed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--Trump Admin Acting More Like Dictatorship Than Democracy, Says Former US Defence Secretary

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Former US Defence Secretary William Cohen on Tuesday slammed Donald Trump’s administration for acting like a “dictatorship” as the president refuses to acknowledge defeat in the 2020 election.
“We’re witnessing the decimation of the democratic institutions which the American people have come to expect will be nonpolitical in terms of our national security,” Cohen told CNN’s Don Lemon.
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Lemon asked Cohen, a GOP former senator for Maine who led the Pentagon during Bill Clinton’s presidency, to comment on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s refusal to recognize the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
“There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration,” Pompeo told reporters Tuesday. Trump has refused to concede the election, promoted baseless conspiracy theories about mass voter fraud and is purging the Department of Defense of his critics.
He praised Pompeo on Twitter:
That’s why Mike was number one in his class at West Point! https://t.co/hldYAphqmM — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2020
“My reaction is the way they are conducting themselves is more akin to a dictatorship than a democracy,” Cohen told Lemon.
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“And I think the State Department has been politicised just like the DOD has tried to be politicised, and what we’ve done to undermine the intelligence community and other agencies,” he added. “I think it’s consistent with what has been taking place for four years now.”
Check out the interview here:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--Boris Johnson Facing Backlash Over Plan To Make Dominic Cummings Ally Chief Of Staff

PA Wire/PA Images
Downing Street has refused to deny that Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds has objected to plans to appoint a key ally of Dominic Cummings as his new chief of staff.
Lee Cain, a former member of the Vote Leave campaign and former tabloid journalist, has been offered the powerful post in recent days, the Times reported.
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Cain, currently the director of communications in Downing Street, is a longtime aide of Johnson having served with him when he was foreign secretary and when he was a backbencher.
But his potential appointment has sparked concerns among some Conservative MPs that yet another member of the Vote Leave inner circle would lead the day-to-day running of the No.10 operation once Cummings steps back to focus on individual projects.
Some backbenchers said that the shake-up would represent a missed opportunity to “re-set” his administration in the wake of a string of damaging U-turns on coronavirus and other issues.
If Cain gets the job, he would join a small clutch of aides with the highest level of access to the PM, including Cummings, Lord Udny-Lister, and Simon Case, who took over as cabinet secretary in September.
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When asked about BBC reports that Symonds was “deeply unhappy” about the appointment of Cain to the chief of staff role, the PM’s press secretary refused to deny the claim.
“I’m certainly not going to comment on speculation about either personnel matters in No.10 and I’ve always made it a practice not to speak about the PM’s fiancee either,” he said.
If you are following Chiefgate...
1. 2 tory sources confirm Cain was offered job by PM at weekend after talking about it for few weeks
2. PM's fiance, Carrie Symonds, however, said to be deeply unhappy about the plan
3. Not now clear what outcome will be — Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) November 11, 2020
Symonds has previously served as the Conservative Party’s head of communications.
Some Tory insiders had hoped that an outsider or a former senior MP could be brought in to No.10 to take up the chief of staff role.
One former minister told HuffPost UK they were not surprised by the proposed Cain appointment.
“Lee Cain is at the centre now anyway. It is a bit like Tony Soprano – Cummings – appointing one of his underbosses, as consiglieri. Tony still the ‘boss boss’,” the MP said.
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“What is much more important is that they appoint someone, ideally an MP, to properly manage relations with the parliamentary party and sort that out because it is pretty poor.”
One backbencher said that Cain had the PM’s confidence and “that’s what matters most” for a chief of staff.
Cain’s move could also pave the way for incoming televised media briefing spokeswoman Allegra Stratton to lead Downing Street communications after she starts her job this winter.
One Tory MP told the Telegraph on Wednesday that the change would hasten moves to line up chancellor Rishi Sunak as Johnson’s replacement.
“The lunatic will have literally taken over the asylum.... he is Dom Cummings’ puppet and Dom Cummings is an advocate for lockdowns,” they said
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“If this is true and comes to pass it will be the final nail for the PM. I don’t think he realises how concerned the parliamentary party is about the Number 10 operation and at the heart of that is Cummings and Cain. Lee Cain’s appointment makes Rishi’s trajectory even quicker.”
Another senior Tory told the Times that appointing Cain would be “dangerous” for Johnson.
“It’s clearly the Vote Leave team continuing their complete control of the Downing Street operation,” he said
“This is an entryist crowd that has taken control of the Conservative party. They are the equivalent of Momentum under Corbyn. Their interests may temporarily align with the interests of the Conservative party, but not permanently.”
Claiming the appointment was a case of “fail and promote”, the Tory added: “One of the huge failures of the government so far has been strategic communications, so promoting the guy in charge of that would seem an odd move.”
Others who have been tipped for the chief of staff role include Isaac Levido, who ran the 2019 election campaign, Johnson’s foreign policy adviser John Bew, former Vote Leave comms chief Paul Stephenson and former Whitehall communications chief Gabriel Milland.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--Hugh Grant Shares His Experience After Contracting Covid-19 Early In The Pandemic

Hugh Grant has revealed he contracted Covid-19 at the beginning of this year, when the pandemic was still in its early stages.
In an interview with US talk show host Stephen Colbert, the Undoing actor said he realised he was ill when he got a fever and lost his sense of smell, but at the time, he didn’t know what it was.
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“My wife [Anna Eberstein] and I had it… I think I got it in February,” the 60-year-old revealed. “I’ve had an antibody test, only a month ago. I still have those antibodies, so I know that’s what it was.
“It started as just a very strange syndrome where I kept breaking into a terrible sweat. It was like a poncho of sweat, embarrassing really.
“Then my eyeballs felt about three sizes too big and this feeling as though an enormous man was sitting on my chest – Harvey Weinstein or someone. I thought, ‘I don’t know what this is’.”
Hugh Grant in Berlin in February 2020 Andreas Rentz via Getty Images
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Hugh continued: “Then I was walking down the street one day and I thought, ‘I can’t smell a damn thing’. And you start to panic – by then, people were just starting to talk about this as a symptom.
“I started sniffing flowers, nothing. And you get more and more desperate. I started sniffing in garbage cans. You know, you want to sniff strangers’ armpits because you just can’t smell anything.”
He added: “I eventually went home and I sprayed my wife’s Chanel No. 5 directly into my face. Couldn’t smell a thing, but I did go blind.”
Anna Eberstein and Hugh Grant at the Baftas in February 2020 Lia Toby via Getty Images
Hugh is one of several high-profile stars who contracted coronavirus in the early stages of the pandemic, with Tom Hanks and Idris Elba both testing positive back in March.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--Graham Norton Quits Radio 2 Show After 10 Years

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Graham Norton has announced that he’s stepping down from his Radio 2 show at the end of the year.
The Irish presenter currently hosts a weekly show on Saturday mornings, which he’s done since 2010.
After 10 years, it’s now been revealed that Graham will present his final instalment of it on 20 December.
He said: “Obviously I’m sad to be stepping away from my Radio 2 show. I’ll miss being a part of the Wogan House family, as well as the listeners and their lives.
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“I’d like to thank my producer Malcolm Prince and all the teams I’ve worked with for a great decade of radio.”
Ten years after presenting his first Saturday morning show on Radio 2, @grahnort has decided to leave the network later this year.
We wish him the best of luck for the future ❤
Graham will present his last programme on Saturday 19th December. pic.twitter.com/U8hzYggebl — BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) November 11, 2020
Graham did insist that he wouldn’t be leaving the BBC, though, insisting he’d continue to present Eurovision and his BBC One talk show, as well as judging on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
“Happily with the chat show, Eurovision and Drag Race, the BBC continues to be my perfect TV home,” he added.
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Graham Norton David M. Benett via Getty Images
After presenting from home during coronavirus lockdown, Graham returned to host his talk show from the studio last month, albeit with all guests at a safe two-metre distance, and some continuing to appear via video-link.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-11--Keir Starmer Criticises Extinction Rebellion Cenotaph Protest As 'Bad Taste'

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Keir Starmer has criticised an Extinction Rebellion protest at the Cenotaph on Armistice Day as “bad taste”.
The climate demonstrators – among them a Northern Ireland veteran – unveiled a banner reading “Honour Their Sacrifice, Climate Change Means War” at the war memorial on Whitehall in central London on Wednesday.
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The British Legion responded by stressing that Armistice Day was “a time for remembrance, and not for political protest”. And Labour has now added to the criticism.
Starmer’s approach marks a shift from his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, who praised XR for past protests.
A spokesperson for Starmer told reporters: “Today is Armistice Day when the whole country is remembering the sacrifices of those men and women who have fought for our freedoms.
“No one can doubt how serious the climate emergency is.
“But the protests at the cenotaph are wrong. They’re in bad taste and we do not support them.”
Boris Johnson also condemned the protest.
A spokesperson for the prime minister said: “The cenotaph is a memorial to those who fought and died to preserve all our freedoms.
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“On today of all days, when we joined together to pay tribute to our war dead, this action was profoundly disrespectful.”
After the banner was displayed, British Army veteran and Extinction Rebellion member Donald Bell observed a two-minute silence before hanging a wreath of poppies bearing the message: “Act now.”
Today, #RemembranceDay, British Army veteran and member of #ExtinctionRebellion, Donald Bell, called on the government to honour the sacrifice of those who gave their lives is past wars by acting to prevent #ClimateConflict. https://t.co/NLK65kPwau pic.twitter.com/ThaZHInvyx — Extinction Rebellion UK 🌍 (@XRebellionUK) November 11, 2020
Bell, 64, who completed four tours in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, said: “Unchecked climate change means a return to a world at war.
“I took action today knowing that I would be criticised.
“I knew that I would be accused of being disrespectful and hated by many for speaking out in this way. Remembrance Day is never an easy time for veterans and this was not an easy decision for me to make.
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“This government’s own climate advisers, the committee on climate change, said last year that they have a ‘Dad’s Army’ approach to protecting British people from the impacts of climate change.
“Their report in June this year showed that the government has failed to meet all but two of the 31 milestones it set itself for reducing emissions.
“This government is criminally negligent and young people today will pay the price for their failure.”
A Royal British Legion spokesperson said: “War memorials and graves honour the memory of every member of the armed forces who has made the ultimate sacrifice and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.
“The armed forces community, past and present, have made sacrifices in defence of the freedoms we have today, including the freedom of speech.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--This Morning Favourite Iris Jones, 81, Reveals She's Married Her 35-Year-Old Partner

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Pensioner Iris Jones became a viral star when she made a saucy appearance on This Morning earlier this year, discussing her sexual exploits with her much younger lover in quite some detail.
You might remember the phrase “a whole tube of KY jelly” was uttered?
Well, the 81-year-old has now revealed she has married her 35-year-old partner, Mohamed.
The couple made a return to the ITV daytime show on Thursday to discuss their nuptials in Egypt, admitting they’d celebrated their union with a reception in a local KFC.
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And of course, hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield couldn’t help but ask how the newlyweds’ wedding night went.
Iris made a return appearance to This Morning on Thursday ITV
“Just the same as the first night, just it wasn’t so difficult this time,” Iris laughed, having previously described their first sexual encounter as “very rough” and comparable with “riding a horse”.
Speaking from their honeymoon in Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, where Mohamed is from, Iris also admitted she was currently receiving the “silent treatment” from her family over the marriage.
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Iris and Mohamed have tied the knot ITV
“I haven’t heard anything yet,” she told Holly and Phil. “I’ll get in touch with them when I’m about to return to England on 11 December because I need to know how they feel about Mohamed.
“He is wonderful, but the fact that their father is younger than their sons is maybe a point of contention.
“But it makes no difference. I’m older than his mother and father, my mother-in-law and father-in-law are younger than me.”
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Iris also made a plea to prime minister Boris Johnson to help Mohamed get a visa to come to the UK.
Addressing the PM, she said: “Do your best and get the whip out and get Mohamed a Visa for the UK.
“He would be an asset for the country, he’s a qualified engineer, and he would be good for the economy,” she added, insisting she would ensure he would not be out of work.
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Watch the full interview with the couple below...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--BBC Women's Group Slams Investigation Clearing Broadcaster Of Pay Discrimination

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The equality watchdog’s decision to clear the BBC of pay discrimination has been met with anger and disappointment by journalists and campaigners.
Having reviewed a grand total of 10 “high risk” cases of pay dispute, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found no unlawful acts committed by the corporation, though it did recommend it rebuilds trust with female employees and improves transparency.
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The BBC Women group, formed in 2017 in response to gender pay disparity, said they were “deeply disappointed” by the findings of the investigation, which did not reflect their experiences.
A statement posted on Twitter said: “The EHRC tells us they found no breach of the law in how the BBC handled pay complaints — this does not address the systemic issue of unequal pay suggested by the hundreds of pay increases and settlements the BBC has made to women.
“Out of over 1,000 complaints, the EHRC looked in depth at only 10 cases and accepted the BBC’s excuses for why these were not ‘likely’ to be equal pay cases. We question why the EHRC discounted equal pay cases it knows the BBC has been forced to settle. New cases are coming forward and women are still heading to court. We fight on.”
Carrie Gracie resigned from the BBC in protest at pay inequalities, prompting an apology from the corporation and a settlement over back pay. She likened the ruling to a “whitewash”.
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@EHRC report on #BBC #equalpay feels like whitewash. Examined just 10 cases to reach the headline below? Seriously? FOLLOW THE ££ INSTEAD: #BBC forced to pay out to 100s of #bbcwomen. Moral of story: don’t rely on regulator but stay strong, calm, united + JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. https://t.co/1BCLQANMGN — Carrie Gracie (@TheCarrieGracie) November 12, 2020
Responding the EHRC’s decision, the National Union of Journalists general secretary said there will be many members who read the report and feel it doesn’t address their lived experiences.
Michelle Stanistreet said: “The fact that so many individual settlements, including Samira Ahmed’s NUJ-backed tribunal win, have taken place underlines the clear problems that have existed.
“It’s also important to acknowledge that where settlements have taken place, it’s taken an enormous amount of determination, effort and persistence on the part of individuals determined to hold the BBC to account and that comes at a practical and emotional cost.
“There are still vital changes that need to take place as the EHRC makes clear – we need urgent action to tackle problems with pay progression, to resolve the issues of outliers, and to improve transparency.”
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The high profile case of Samira Ahmed, who won her sex discrimination equal pay case against the BBC earlier this year was not considered by the EHRC, HuffPost UK heard on Thursday.
David M. Benett via Getty Images
The report said the BBC accepts its historical practices were not fit for purpose and has made significant changes since 2015.
It also found inadequate record-keeping on how decisions about pay were made, leading to confusion and poor communication with women making complaints.
Suzanne Baxter, board member lead for the investigation, said of the women who might feel surprised by its conclusions: “We listened very hard to what they said. We did a really thorough investigation.
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“Whilst they may be disappointed…we hope that they will be given some comfort that actually what we’ll see is some improvement for women downstream.”
Rebecca Hilsenrath, the watchdog’s chief executive, said that “the processes, if not the outcomes, let women down”.
“There was somebody who was passed between eight different people in 10 months,” she said.
“These are real people having a really terrible time. We heard from them in terms of them saying they suffered humiliation, anxiety, insomnia, anger, being signed off work.
“If the processes have let you down...then you don’t trust what’s going on. We hope our recommendations will help a build a better relationship with the women at the BBC.”
This comes after a parliamentary report said on Wednesday that Black people are being failed by the EHRC.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--PSA: You Really Need To Stop Feeding Your Neighbour's Cat

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Pet obesity is becoming a bit of a problem in the UK. Animal charity PDSA found 34% of cats seen by vets each week are believed to be overweight or obese.
Obesity can not only lead to mobility issues but to other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory distress and cancer, which can all affect the quality and length of your pet’s life.
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Being overweight can also put male moggies at risk of urinary issues, including urinary blockage, which can become an emergency situation.
While dogs are a little easier to control in terms of what they eat, plenty of cat owners will struggle with the fact their pet is probably getting fed elsewhere, on top of what they eat at home.
“Several studies following the movements of cats using GPS trackers have shown that some cats will regularly visit neighbouring properties,” says a spokesperson for Cats Protection. “Cats are motivated to leave their home by either food or sex, and as most of our household cats are neutered, the main motivator for them to explore the neighbour’s house is food!”
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Sheena Wilson, from Exmouth in Devon, has been struggling with this problem – and recently took to Facebook to plead her neighbours to stop feeding her British Blue shorthair, Iris.
Despite her grey moggy being on a strict calorie-controlled diet, Iris is still piling on the pounds – and Wilson suspects her neighbours may be to blame. In fact, her cat is getting so big she can no longer fit through the cat flap. Wilson told The Metro: “During the last lockdown I realised that somebody else was feeding her because she was hardly eating her own food but still putting on weight.”
Animal welfare charities and vets are in agreement that neighbours should stop feeding cats, however friendly either party is. “We would discourage people from feeding other people’s cats, unless it is particularly underweight, as it will encourage them to come back,” says a Cats Protection spokesperson. If you suspect a cat doesn’t have an owner, you can contact the charity for advice.
Kyryl Gorlov via Getty Images
Daniella Dos Santos from the British Veterinary Association agrees. “I would advise people to not feed neighbour’s cats,” says Dos Santos, senior vice president of the association and also a small pets vet. “There are various reasons for this. Of course, we’re talking about obesity, and that could be exacerbating the situation. But also the pet may have a medical condition that means they need to be fed specific food at specific times.”
Cats who are diabetic, have thyroid disease or are prone to urinary problems may be on specialist diets – so feeding them is putting their health at risk. “I would recommend for people to avoid feeding cats that aren’t their own,” she adds.
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What to do if your cat is being fed elsewhere
Cat owners concerned their pet is being fed elsewhere can pop a paper collar on their pet asking neighbours not to feed it. Another solution, says PDSA vet Anna Ewers Clark, is to ask neighbours if your cat visits them regularly.
“It can be really interesting to find out how your cat is spending their time and it will help you keep track of how much food they’re eating elsewhere,” she says.
“If you’re struggling with your cat’s weight or aren’t able to find out where they’re going by asking around, consider getting a GPS tracker that attaches to your cat’s collar to find out where your cat spends their time.”
You could also put some friendly notes through neighbours’ doors, or flyers on local lampposts, so people are aware their kindness could lead to problems for your cat, she says.
How much should your cat weigh?
Focusing on weight is not helpful when determining obesity in cats, says Dos Santos, as different breeds can be bigger or smaller. It’s more useful for cat owners to consider their pet’s general body condition to get a sense of whether they’re getting unhealthy. Royal Canin has a useful chart that can help.
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Healthy for a cat looks like this:
A well proportioned body
Ribs not visible but you can feel them
Obvious waist
Small amount of abdominal fat
Slight abdominal tuck
How much food should cats be fed?
It very much depends on the type of cat and how active they are. But one thing’s for sure, plenty of owners need to be cutting down.
“Pet obesity has been a huge problem in the UK for many years and sadly there is no sign of improvement, with nearly one in every two pets seen by vets and vet nurses overweight or obese. This is a serious health issue, one of the biggest currently threatening pet wellbeing across the UK,” says Ewers Clark.
“The right diet is really important for your cat and their requirements will vary depending on their age and any health problems, so we recommend feeding cats dependent on their life-stage.”
An RSPCA spokesperson tells HuffPost UK cats are usually offered two or three meals per day, but their actual preferred way of feeding is little and often. They urge people to take care with treats and tit bits – if you do give treats, keep an eye on amounts and adjust the amount of food you feed your cat accordingly.
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“Cats should also have access to clean, fresh water and have opportunities for plenty of exercise to keep them happy and healthy,” they add.
If you’re unsure, speak to your vet about the optimum diet for your moggy. “The easiest way to make sure your cat is getting all the nutrients they need is to feed them a good quality, complete cat food,” Ewers Clark continues.
“Always follow the feeding guidelines which will be on the packet to ensure they are being fed the right amount.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Great British Bake Off's Laura Reveals The Show Rule That Was 'A Right Pain In The Ass'

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With the unusual way The Great British Bake Off was filmed this year, there were lots of regulations, but there was one long-standing show rule that was a “right pain in the ass” for one contestant.
Laura Adlington has revealed that the bakers are forced to wear the same outfit for both days of filming, meaning they have to wash and dry their clothes after a long day in the tent.
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The semi-finalist was taking part in an Instagram Q&A where she was asked why the bakers always appear in the same clothes when the week’s challenges are actually filmed over two days.
Laura Adlington is one of this year's Bake Off semi-finalists Channel 4
Responding to a fan, Laura explained: “Just for continuity apparently.
“It was a right pain in the ass having to wash, dry and iron your outfit after a long day of filming.”
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During filming of the latest series, all of the cast and crew had to live in a self-contained biosphere for six weeks so they wouldn’t have to socially distance on camera.
All of the hosts, judges and bakers lived alongside 80 members of the production team, 20 hotel staff, and around 20 “children, chaperones and dog walkers” during the six-week shoot.
Prior to moving in to the hotel, people had to self-isolate for nine days and take three Covid tests to ensure they did not have the virus.
The shoot, which was described as “gruelling” by the show’s bosses, saw the team work on a two days on, two days off basis, while they also built 12 practise kitchens for the bakers to use on their days off.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Pfizer Says People Won't Be Able To Buy Its Coronavirus Vaccine Privately

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People in the UK will not be able to bypass the government and buy Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine privately, the pharmaceutical giant has confirmed.
Asked if it would allow individuals to purchase doses outside any UK government roll out, Pfizer told HuffPost UK: “No, the focus is on supplying as per the agreed deal with the UK government.”
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In a major boost to hopes that the virus could be brought under control, the US firm announced on Monday its vaccine had been found to be be more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19.
It led to Sir John Bell, one of the UK government’s top scientific advisers, to declare life could return to normal by spring.
The British government has already procured procured 40m doses of the vaccine – enough to vaccinate up to 20m people, including five million of them this year if the jab is approved.
Interim guidance from the Independent Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVIV), which advises the government, lists 10 groups it deems high-risk and priority for a vaccine.
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older adults resident in a care home and care home workers all those 80 years of age and over and health and social care workers all those 75 years of age and over all those 70 years of age and over all those 65 years of age and over high-risk adults under 65 years of age moderate-risk adults under 65 years of age all those 60 years of age and over all those 55 years of age and over all those 50 years of age and over
Professor Wei Shen Lim, the chair of the JCVIV, also said on Wednesday Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities could be added to the prioritisation list, having not been included in the interim guidance – despite Matt Hancock’s suggestion they would be prioritised earlier this year.
Therese Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, was asked on Wednesday evening if the wealthy might be able to jump the queue to get the vaccine ahead of others.
Speaking to ITV she said: “I think that we can choose how we can at least prioritise the vaccines that are coming through the UK government.
“I don’t think we’re going to be stopping other people buying vaccines but I think we’re well-placed to make sure we help as many people as possible in this country, as quick as possible.”
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When it was suggested the government could not stop a private supply chain, Coffey added: “Well, indeed.”
Boris Johnson welcomed Pfizer’s announcement on Monday but urged the public not to “slacken our resolve” in obeying the tightened lockdown rules across the country.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, said on Monday a vaccine could be available for “some” by Christmas but it would be a “colossal mistake” for people to relax amid the winter second wave.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Rylan To Miss Two Weeks Of Strictly: It Takes Two After Coming Into Contact With Someone With Covid-

Rylan To Miss Two Weeks Of Strictly: It Takes Two After Coming Into Contact With Someone With Covid-19

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Rylan Clark-Neal is set to miss two weeks of Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show It Takes Two after coming into contact with someone who was Covid-positive.
The presenter will also be forced to miss his Saturday Radio 2 show this weekend while he self-isolates.
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Speaking on Twitter, Rylan said he had to quarantine after being in contact with someone “outside of work [who] has tested positive for coronavirus”.
Rylan Clark-Neal BBC
However, he reassured fans he has tested negative for coronavirus himself.
Rylan wrote: “I am therefore now following the government guidelines and having to self isolate. I have sought a Covid test and thankfully that has returned a negative result.
“That does mean I will miss the next [two] weeks of Strictly: It Takes Two and my BBC Radio 2 Saturday show. I look forward to being back soon and wish all the couples good luck for this weekend.”
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He later added: “I’d just like to add seeing some of your comments, I paid privately to have a test to make sure there was no immediate risk to my work bubbles. Stay safe x.”
I’d just like to add seeing some of your comments, I paid privately to have a test to make sure there was no immediate risk to my work bubbles. Stay safe x — Rylan Clark-Neal (@Rylan) November 12, 2020
Rylan joined the It Takes Two presenting team last year, sharing presenting duties with Zoe Ball, who reduced her workload after taking over the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Test And Trace Fails To Reach 124,000 'Close Contacts' Of Covid Cases In A Single Week

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Boris Johnson’s Test and Trace service has failed to reached 124,000 “close contacts” of people with Covid-19 in a single week, new figures show.
The controversial system is continuing to miss nearly 40% of those identified as having been near someone who tested positive in England, according to the latest statistics for October 29 to November 4.
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Although there has been a slight improvement, some 60.4% of close contacts were not reached and therefore not told to self-isolate for the required 14 days.
Government advisers have consistently told the PM that an 80% contact rate is needed to make the entire service viable to break transmission of the virus and stop its spread.
The latest figure is the third worst on record, which after a new revision to the statistics is now calculated as 60.1% in the week to October 14.
The prime minister has recently admitted that the service run by Dido Harding has to get better and he had hoped to use the second nationwide lockdown to give it time to improve its performance.
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But latest statistics show that the controversial £12bn system failed to reach 124,688 “close contacts” – defined as those who have spent more than 15 minutes within two metres of a positive Covid case – last week alone.
The new figure means that since the system was launched in May, a total of 723,240 people have not been reached and have been potentially spreading the virus asymptomatically.
Once again, publicly-run local tracing teams have a vastly better performance than national call centres and online tracers that are outsourced to the private sector.
For cases managed by local health protection teams, 99.1% of contacts were reached and asked to self-isolate in the week to November 4.
For cases managed either online or by call centres, 59.0% of close contacts were reached and asked to self-isolate.
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There was better news on testing turnaround times, with 37.6% of people who were tested in England at a regional site, local site or mobile testing unit – a so-called “in-person” test – received their result within 24 hours.
This is up from 26.4% in the previous week, but still well short of the 100% pledge Johnson had told MPs he would hit by the end of June.
Shadow health minister Justin Madders said: “Although the recent decline in performance has at last been halted, performance of Test and Trace is still a million miles away from where it needs to be.
“Given the government has trusted local councils with the responsibility to administer the rapid tests it seems they have at last admitted they are the best people for the job and so it’s time they put Serco out of their misery.
“The time this lockdown buys us should be used by the government to get Test and Trace on track to prevent the virus spiralling out of control again. If this time isn’t used wisely, the public will not forgive ministers’ incompetence.”
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Baroness Dido Harding, executive chair of NHS Test and Trace, in Westminster, London. PA
One extra complication was revealed by the department of health and social care’s briefing note on the numbers, which cover the last week before the second lockdown in England began in early November.
“In the latest week, the number of contacts identified decreased by 4% compared to the previous week. This comes as a change from the sharp
upward trend seen since the end of August,” it said.
The drop in contacts identified – as opposed to reached – could point to the public reducing their social contacts in anticipation of the new lockdown, or it could suggest more problems in people refusing to give details of people close to them.
A total of 149,253 people tested positive at least once in the week to November 4.
This is the highest weekly number since Test and Trace was launched – an increase of 8% in positive cases on the previous week.
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Harding this week rejected calls to stop referring to her heavily outsourced service as “NHS Test And Trace”, saying: “That is its name.”
The former boss of telecom firm TalkTalk, who was given her current role by health secretary Matt Hancock earlier this year, defended the use of the private sector.
“NHS Test and Trace is a free at the point of need service that we’ve built together, as you’ve rightly listed, with a whole group of different parts of society to deliver something at extraordinary scale,” she told MPs on the science and technology committee.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--BBC Must 'Rebuild Trust' With Women Following Equal Pay Row, Says Equality Watchdog

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An investigation into historic issues of equal pay at the BBC has found no unlawful acts of pay discrimination but the corporation has been told to increase transparency and rebuild trust with women who work there.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) investigation started in March 2019 following publicly reported cases of suspected pay discrimination. It looked at into the cases as well as systems and processes for setting pay and assessing complaints.
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The high profile case of Samira Ahmed, who won her sex discrimination equal pay case against the BBC earlier this year was not, however, considered, HuffPost UK heard on Thursday.
Evidence came from women at the BBC who spoke of their experiences, and from the BBC on its processes for setting pay and resolving grievances. The commissioned looked at just 10 “high risk” cases of alleged pay discrimination before arriving at its conclusion.
EHRC interim Chair, Caroline Waters, said: “It is easy to see why trust between some women at the BBC and the organisation has broken down.
“Many women felt their voices were not being heard and have been left feeling confused as to how decisions about their pay have been made.
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“This took a heavy emotional toll on those involved in the process and the strength of feeling of women at the BBC should not be understated.”
Ahmed, a Newswatch presenter, brought the corporation to an employment tribunal in 2019, claiming she was paid a sixth of what Jeremy Vine received for hosting the similar show Points of View.
More than 700 female, BBC employees were given pay rises since the start of its equal pay scandal, The Guardian revealed in September.
The report has also highlighted the substantial overlap in pay bands, identified as an issue in previous reports and reviews. This creates a possibility of those in a higher grade being paid less than someone a grade below, potentially leading to a risk of pay discrimination.
“Our recommendations will help it go much further to rebuild trust and increase transparency so the BBC does not leave itself open to the risk of pay discrimination in the future,” Waters added.
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“It is sad that we are still having to debate equal pay for equal work. Equal pay is the law and has been for 50 years. Every employer should read this report and ask if they are doing all they can to reduce the risk of pay discrimination. If in doubt, take action now.”
When HuffPost UK questioned the EHRC’s commitment to uncovering the truth behind concerns of pay discrimination at the BBC, its chief executive affirmed this and made reference to the watchdog’s track record.
Rebecca Hilsenrath said: “As the chief executive of our commission I’m actually very proud of our track record in making robust findings where we see the evidence – we are evidence based.
“We are proud of our report calling out unlawful acts in the Labour Party, I’m proud of the fact that we’ve achieved 100% compliance in relation to the gender pay gap regulations (...), we have a track record of acting and finding difficult truths. I don’t think there’s any reason to suppose that would have been any different in this case.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--9 Lovely Acts Of Pandemic Kindness That'll Make You Warm And Fuzzy

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If there’s one thing 2020 has taught us, it’s that human beings have such a huge capacity for kindness in times of hardship.
The first lockdown back in March saw hundreds of thousands of people in the UK sign up to volunteer to pick up food and medicine supplies for their vulnerable or self-isolating neighbours via the NHS responders scheme.
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Shop owners started giving out free supplies to the elderly and vulnerable, while communities came together on platforms like Whatsapp and Nextdoor to offer each other emotional, and sometimes physical, support.
When PPE shortages hit, members of the public clamoured to help in any way they could, making face masks, shields and scrubs for NHS workers.
Since then so much has happened, but one constant through the months – as restrictions eased, and then tightened once more – has been people’s propensity to turn up for other.
Throughout 2020, HuffPost UK’s Minute Of Kindness series has shone a spotlight on some of these people. Here are nine stories that’ll make your heart burst with pride for our community heroes.
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1. Six-Year-Old BFFs Raise Thousands For Yemen
When best friends Ayaan and Mikaeel from east London learned about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, they sprung to action, setting up a lemonade stand in the hope of raising a small sum for those impacted.
Incredibly, with donations from friends and family, they went on to raise more than £40,000.
Proud dad Shakil said: “I don’t think I can put it into words what it means to me as a father, because if you’re capable of doing this at six years old, you’re going to change the world.”
2. 8-Year-Old Mows Lawns For Key Workers
Eight-year-old Greyson Winfield is helping the people who need it most in his community of Conway, South Carolina. He has been cutting the grass for key workers and helping to feed the hungry in a bid to bring cheer to those around him.
“I always want to make sure there is a smile on somebody’s face,” he told HuffPost UK, adding that his parents have inspired him to help other people.
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3. Caped Crusader Helps To Feed Those In Need
A man disguised as Batman has been helping Chile’s homeless during the pandemic by delivering hot food packages to those who need it most, from the boot of his car.
Batman, who wished to remain anonymous, told HuffPost UK: “I sacrifice a little bit for the city, for the country I love and for my people.”
4. Kind Filmmakers Made Memorial Videos For Those Lost To Coronavirus
Early on in the pandemic, creatives teamed up to make free memorial videos for those who had sadly lost their lives. The service helped families to grieve their loved ones, especially when regular funerals and services were temporarily unavailable.
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Filmmaker Sarah Hodgetts said the films are “something that [people] can back to every month, every year, for the rest of their lives – and always have something that will be there to remind them of the good times.”
5. Girl Walks Marathon At Home For Amputee Charity
Maisie Catt lost her legs when she was a baby due to meningitis and septicaemia. In lockdown, she decided to walk a marathon in her garden and on a treadmill, using her blades, to raise money for a struggling amputee charity.
She was expecting to raise just shy of £300 and ended up raising a massive £11,500. Amazing work.
6. DJ Doctor Spends Spare Time Entertaining Fellow Frontline Workers
Doctor (and DJ) Kishan Bodalia wanted to lift the spirits of his fellow frontliners at the height of the pandemic, so he started doing live DJ sets on Instagram from his home. As popularity grew, he also invited fellow record spinners and performers to entertain.
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“I’ve seen the impact that doing something like this on social media can have to lift spirits and to make people have something meaningful and enjoyable to look forward to,” he told HuffPost UK.
7. Costume-Maker Makes Scrubs For Sister’s Surgery
Early on in the pandemic, medical professionals were quickly finding themselves running out of PPE, including doctor’s scrubs. So furloughed costume-maker Anna Willetts got to work – she ended up making 25 sets of scrubs for her sister’s doctor’s surgery.
She told HuffPost UK, “it felt really good to be able to give back in some sort of way,” – while also giving her some purpose while furloughed from her job.
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8. Hampshire Farm Shop Sent Food Hampers To Key Workers
A farm shop owner in east Hampshire delivered food parcels to key workers earlier in the pandemic, after watching an NHS nurse’s emotional plea for people to stop panic-buying.
William Benson, who owns Applegarth Farm in Grayshot, has since helped to raise £3,000 for frontline NHS staff and care-home workers and delivered dozens of lovely food packages since lockdown began in March. He said: “The smiles on their faces whenever you turn up [with a parcel] is brilliant.”
9. Keeping Vulnerable Neighbours Going In The Height Of Lockdown
Before NHS Responders were even a reality, Beverley Jones knew she had to do something to help the vulnerable people of her cul-de-sac.
She put a note through everyone’s door asking if they needed help and ended up routinely heading to the shops to pick up basic supplies and essential prescriptions for her neighbours.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Policing Of UK Black Lives Matter Protests Was 'Institutionally Racist'

A demonstrator speaks into a microphone during a Black Lives Matter protest following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, in Newcastle, Britain, June 13, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith Lee Smith / Reuters
A new report has found that the policing of recent Black Lives Matter protests in the UK was “institutionally racist”.
The research conduced by the Network for Police Monitoring has uncovered evidence of excessive use of force, failures in the duty of care, and racial discrimination.
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In the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, George Floyd’s murder sparked a resurgence of anti-racism demonstrations around the world. Some of the largest anti-racist protests in British history took place across over 260 towns and cities.
The study, named after the rallying cry of demonstrators – “Britain is not innocent: A Netpol report on the policing of Black Lives Matter protests in Britain’s towns and cities in 2020” – consists of evidence from over 100 witnesses, including protesters, legal observers, and arrestee support volunteers.
It examines demonstrations that took place from late May to August and focuses on events in London and Newcastle.
Dr Adam Elliott-Cooper, an academic and Black Lives Matter activist who authored the report, said: “There is a bitter irony in the fact that protests against racism in policing were themselves sites of disproportionate use of force and discriminatory practices.
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“When taken case-by-case, the evidence in this report suggests racially discriminatory policing, but when viewed collectively, there can be little doubt that policing in Britain still has a serious problem with institutional racism.
“The evidence of this report makes it clear that police cannot and should not be tasked with managing protests of this nature, and have put the right to freedom of assembly at risk.”
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Elliott-Cooper has called for an alternative model that engages non-police organisations to manage protests in future, arguing that this would help secure the safety of protesters.
Experiences and policing at the hundreds of protests across Britain varied significantly, with some examples of light-touch policing at safe and successful gatherings.
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However, Black-led protests disproportionately faced excessive interventions by police, particularly those in large cities such as London and Newcastle.
The research identifies significant areas of concern including:
Excessive use of force and disproportionate targeting of Black protesters, with baton charges, horse charges, pepper spray and violent arrests.
Kettling, enclosing large numbers of protesters – including children and potentially vulnerable people – in confined spaces for up to eight hours, making socially distancing impossible and with no access to toilets, food or water.
Neglect of Black Lives Matter protesters experiencing violence from far-right organised counter-demonstrators, with examples of a seriously injured protester being searched rather than supported and others being ignored.
Witness statements indicated that young Black people were far more likely than their white counterparts to face arrest, excessive force, and the use of stop and search powers during and after demonstrations, while social distancing and Covid regulations were seemingly applied at random by police.
One protester said: “Look at what we have to endure in our day to day lives as Black people and what we see on the news and on social media. It all flashes before your eyes when you see another young [person of colour] on the floor bloody, all by the hands of police.”
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A legal observer who was present at a demonstration described what they had seen: “Multiple individuals in visible distress are reaching out to legal observers in the crowd, a lot of which appear very young. Legal observers are made aware that an injured protester is denied necessary healthcare.
“After lengthy negotiation, and insisting that officers have a duty of care to injured protesters, a few harmed individuals are being let out of the kettle, without any healthcare offered.”
The report also challenged the “stereotypical and racist characterisation of protesters”, including by the home secretary Priti Patel, as “thugs and criminals”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Emily In Paris Season 2 Confirmed By Netflix

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One of 2020’s most polarising shows is getting a second series, Netflix has confirmed.
The streaming giant announced on Wednesday that Emily In Paris’ adventures are not over, in a tweet that read: “Béret exciting news. Emily in Paris will return for season 2. Oui oui!”
We’re sure the show’s many detractors will love that one…
Béret exciting news. Emily in Paris will return for season 2. Oui oui! 🇫🇷 https://t.co/3VqYwekFHx — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) November 11, 2020
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They also shared a video of the cast celebrating the news of the second season with wine, while saying the French word deux into the camera.
Emily in Paris will return for Season 2! pic.twitter.com/QDOzpzjliz — Netflix (@netflix) November 11, 2020
Following the announcement, Netflix also casually told everyone that we’ve actually been pronouncing the name of the show wrong for the last few months (apparently we’re meant to be saying “Paris” the French way).
Friendly reminder Emily in Paris is supposed to be pronounced with a French accent so 'Emily' and 'Paris' rhyme — Netflix (@netflix) November 11, 2020
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Upon the release of Emily In Paris last month, many critics – particularly those in France – lambasted the show, but that seemingly didn’t exactly affect its popularity, with the 10-part series becoming one of the streaming service’s most-watched originals of the month.
Emily In Paris stars Lily Collins as the titular Emily Cooper, an American woman in her 20s who moves to the French capital to work at a marketing firm.
Lily Collins in Emily In Paris Netflix
The show also features French actor Camille Razat as Camille, Emily’s best friend in Paris, and Lucas Bravo as Gabriel, Camille’s ex-boyfriend who the title character finds herself growing closer to as the series progresses.
It was created by Darren Star, best known as the man behind Sex And The City, who also produced its two film spin-offs.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Black And Asian People ‘Up To Twice As Likely To Be Infected With Coronavirus’

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People of Black and Asian ethnicities are up to twice as likely to be infected with Covid-19, compared to white individuals, a comprehensive analysis has found.
The data also suggests that the risk of being admitted to intensive care after catching coronavirus may be twice as high for Asians when compared to those from white ethnicities.
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The analysis, published in the EClinical Medicine by The Lancet, is based on pooled data from more than 18 million people who had taken part in 50 studies in the UK and US.
The scientists said that their findings should be of “importance to policymakers going forward”.
However, they added that any decisions on whether those from Black and Asian backgrounds should be on the priority list for a Covid-19 vaccine will need to come from the government and Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the government on all aspects of vaccination.
Members of the public in Bradford, Yorkshire PA
The study comes just days after it was revealed that people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are not mentioned in the priority list for a coronavirus vaccine.
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Interim guidance from the JCVI listed 10 groups it deemed high-risk and priority for a vaccine – but makes no mention of BAME people, despite itemising seven separate age categories. The government has repeatedly failed to answer HuffPost UK’s questions as to whether it will be accepting the JCVI’s recommendations wholesale, or whether it had any idea why BAME people are not mentioned once on the list.
Dr Manish Pareek, associate clinical professor in infectious diseases at the University of Leicester and a senior author on the paper, said: “We must remember that there are several high-risk populations – notwithstanding individuals who are elderly, who have underlying comorbidities (and) individuals in nursing homes.
“So the government and JCVI will need to make important and difficult discussions and decisions about how to allocate what will undoubtedly be limited vaccine at the outset.
“I don’t think we’re necessarily suggesting that individuals of ethnic minorities should be a priority group necessarily, but I think what we’re saying is that there are several priority groups and the government needs to make those difficult decisions.”
As part of the first ever meta-analysis of the effect of ethnicity on clinical outcomes in patients with Covid-19, the researchers looked at 50 studies published between 1 December 2019 and 31 August 2020 in peer-reviewed journals or as pre-prints waiting for peer-review.
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The researchers found people of Black ethnicity are twice as likely and Asians were 1.5 times more likely to be infected with Covid-19, compared to white individuals.
The data also showed that those of Asian ethnicities may be twice as likely to be admitted to an intensive therapy unit (ITU), compared to those who were white.
They said “a higher degree of morbidities within these populations” could be one of many factors why Asians were at higher risk of severe Covid-19.
The team said it did not find any increased risk of ITU admissions for people from Black and white ethnicities.
However, the researchers cautioned that all studies investigating ITU admission included in the meta-analysis had not yet been peer-reviewed.
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Dr Jatinder Minhas, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) academic clinical fellow at the University of Leicester, added: “In terms of (the risk of) death, it (the result) was very borderline.
“But there was some signal to suggest that Asian individuals are at higher risk of death as compared to white individuals… This wasn’t seen in those of Black ethnicities.”
Dr Pareek added: “Our findings suggest that the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black and Asian communities is mainly attributable to increased risk of infection in these communities.
“Many explanations exist as to why there may be an elevated level of Covid-19 infection in ethnic minority groups, including the greater likelihood of living in larger household sizes comprised of multiple generations; having lower socioeconomic status, which may increase the likelihood of living in overcrowded households; and being employed in frontline roles where working from home is not an option.”
A Public Health England (PHE) report published in June, entitled Covid-19: Review of disparities in risks and outcomes, indicated that a range of people, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds, were most disproportionately impacted by Covid-19.
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It found the increased risk of death involving Covid-19 for people from a Black ethnic background was two times greater for males and 1.4 times greater for females compared with white people.
Last month, HuffPost UK revealed that the proportion of intensive care beds filled with Covid patients from BAME backgrounds was back at the level it had been during the first peak – despite pledges from the government to learn lessons and protect the vulnerable.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--How It Feels To Be Told You Are HIV Positive

I was 26 years old in 1995, and I had been to funerals of people who had died of AIDs or AIDS-related complications.
So, I was under no illusions about what the GP was telling me.
I knew what he was saying was: “You’re going to die.” And I knew that what he was saying was “You’re going to die and it’s going to be a horrible death.” You know, that it be sort of grasping and marked, scarlet lettered almost, because there would be no shortage of people out there who would be willing to say it was my own fault and offer no sympathy.
The first thing I remember feeling was feeling sorry for my GP, because I remember seeing how uncomfortable he was. I remember walking out of his office and it’s just a perfect, gorgeous, spring, sunny afternoon. And I was just really furious for a moment with all the people going about their days as if it was a perfectly ordinary day, worrying about catching the bus home.
And I remember wanting to say: “It’s not a fucking ordinary day, I’m fucking dying.” But of course, I’m terribly middle class, and didn’t want to cause a scene.
I look back at all the stuff and the journey and everything that happened, and I think I was lucky. I was lucky to be diagnosed when I was because it was just on the cusp of the development of real effective treatments.
I look back and see there’s a progression of always slowly getting better, up until 10 years ago where I was able to start taking just one pill a day, and get on with the rest of my life. I consider myself to be very lucky.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--A New Four-Day Bank Holiday Weekend Is Coming. Pencil It In

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A new four-day bank holiday weekend is on the horizon for the good people of Britain – but not until 2022.
The days off, from June 2-5 2022, have been allocated to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking a massive 70 years on the throne.
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But before you get ahead of yourself, it’s worth noting there won’t be two extra days off that year.
To create the four-day weekend in June 2022, the late May Spring Bank Holiday that year will be moved to Thursday June 2 and an additional Bank Holiday on Friday June 3 will be created.
So actually, we’re getting one extra day off. But it’s not to be sniffed at.
On February 6 2022, the Queen will have reigned as monarch for 70 years – the first time a British sovereign will have been on the throne for seven decades.
Because the day the Queen became monarch is also the anniversary of the death of her father King George VI, and not a date the head of state wants to base celebrations around, the festivities will take place in June instead.
Plans are in place to stage a series of events across four days, which will reflect the Queen’s reign and her impact on the UK and world since her accession to the throne in 1952.
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We’re just feeling cheered that they think we’ll be able to get together by then – and we’re not the only ones.
An extra bank holiday next year! pic.twitter.com/h3N7HBsuP8 — Fee Quiggin (@FQuiggin) November 12, 2020
A 4DAY BANK HOLIDAY STARTING ON MY 40TH BIRTHDAY
😲🥳🍾🎉🍾🥳🍾🎉🥳🎉🍾🎉🥳🍾🎉🥳🍾🥳🥳🎉🥳🥳🍾🥳🥳🎉🍾🎉🥳 — Rox (@rocko8111) November 12, 2020
Extra bank holiday, ok it’s only in 2022, but hell yeah!! pic.twitter.com/yLXczgoKPR — Glenda Jones (@GlendaJ16189731) November 12, 2020
There are some however that are disappointed that the May bank holiday will move – especially those who had planned weddings and other celebrations.
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I see they’re shifting an existing May bank holiday again. Slightly more notice than last time, but I bet there will still be some plans in tatters. — Girlonatrain (@Girlonatrain) November 12, 2020
But late May Bank Holiday is cancelled. Glad I didn’t have anything big planned that day... 🙃🙃😭🙃 https://t.co/hyZP5jDSKd — Jess Milton (@jessmilton91) November 12, 2020
And others who believe the announcement is mis-timed. As one Twitter user put it: “Half the country are experiencing every day right now as a never ending bank holiday of no work and nothing open.”
Much as I admire the Queen this is a spectacularly mistimed piece of idiotic nonsense.
Half the country are experiencing everyday right now as a never ending bank holiday of no work & nothing open.
Haven’t you got better things to do than an announce a day off in 18 months? https://t.co/5OEKxy7PD7 — Nick🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@nicktolhurst) November 12, 2020
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “The Platinum Jubilee offers an opportunity for the Queen to express her thanks for the support and loyalty Her Majesty has received throughout her reign.
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“The Queen hopes that as many people as possible will have the opportunity to join the celebrations.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Sulking, Suing, Losing: What Trump Is Doing Instead Of Conceding Defeat

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Donald Trump is showing little sign he’s ready to hand Joe Biden the reins of power. Days after the election results were clear, a Washington power grab and a blizzard of lawsuits underlines what many suspected would be a worst-case scenario: a rejected US president refusing to go quietly.
But does Trump’s intransigence matter?
Declining to concede the election to president-elect Biden is not a good look for America, particularly when it’s a country that sees itself as a beacon of democracy and lectures the rest of world on peaceful changes of power. But the election result is highly unlikely to be overturned, and Biden will be sworn on January 20. But between now and then, plenty could happen.
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The election result won’t change
In Britain, election results lead to an immediate change of government. In America, the presidential handover is staggered as as the results of the Electoral College vote is ratified. Tradition dictates that Trump would be in the Oval Office during the period, with his hands on the levers of power, while there is a gradual transition to the Biden administration.
Many of the protocols are continuing despite Trump digging in, including world leaders congratulating Biden and looking to their future relations with the US. On Wednesday, Boris Johnson welcomed a “refreshing” conversation with Biden as the UK prime minister labelled Trump the “previous president”.
“In theory it should not really matter,” Professor Natasha Lindstaedt, from the department of government at the University of Essex, told HuffPost UK.
“Every election official from every state has confirmed that there has not been any evidence of voter fraud. Even if vote counts take place, they will not change the outcome because the margin of victory is too large in too many states. All of the major news outlets have called it, including Fox, and a handful of past Republican leaders and a few Republican lawmakers have acknowledged that it’s over.”
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Lindstaedt suggests much of the noise will peter out as the Republicans focus on Georgia’s run-off elections, which will determine which party gets control of the Senate: “I believe that they are playing lip service to Trump at the moment because they think he may remain a powerful force in US politics.
“My assumption is that once all of the votes are counted and the legal manoeuvres have been exhausted, they will never congratulate Biden but won’t keep barking on about the election being stolen. Republicans need to move quickly to focus on Georgia.”
What is Trump doing?
Loser, Donald Trump. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
Trump’s campaign is pushing ahead with its long-shot litigation strategy to try to upend Biden’s victory by filing lawsuits in battleground election states, the most recent being Michigan – part of the re-built “Blue Wall” that Biden won handily. Prominent Republican lawmakers and other Trump allies have backed the president’s plan, saying he has the right to contest the election results.
In Twitter posts on Wednesday, Trump kept up his false narrative of voter fraud, referring to “a mountain of corruption & dishonesty” while also assailing pollsters. “We win!,” Trump wrote.
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But his chances of changing the outcome are, to put it charitably, modest. Judges have thrown out several of the Trump lawsuits, and legal experts say the litigation has scant chance of changing the election outcome.
Perhaps more worrying is how Trump is harnessing the power of the federal government to resist the results in a way no other sitting president has attempted. Trump has installed loyalists in top positions at the Pentagon this week, after firing defence secretary Mark Esper, which could potentially make it easier to use US troops to respond to potential domestic protests. Allies expect more to come, including the possible dismissals of the directors of the FBI and the CIA.
Trump’s attorney general has at the same time authorised investigations into supposed vote fraud, his general services administrator has refused to give Biden’s team access to transition offices and resources guaranteed under law and the White House is preparing a budget for next year as if Trump will be around to present it. Most striking was US secretary of state Mike Pompeo alluding to a “second Trump administration”, a comment all the more disconcerting since his role is to be America’s face to the wider world, and not act as if he is a party operative.
Lindstaedt, whose main area of study is dictatorships, points to Esper being fired because he did not agree with Trump by placing federal troops on the streets to target protesters. She said: “These sort of stand-offs happen frequently in authoritarian regimes that decide to hold moderately free and fair elections, such as more recently in the Gambia and the Ivory Coast.
“This set up reminds me of Libya after Gaddafi when there was a government that was elected in 2012 located in Tripoli, and another elected government that was located in Tobruk after the former refused to adhere to the results of the 2014 elections. This is a protracted crisis that continues to this day.”
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How does it impact Biden’s transition?
Winner, Joe Biden. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
The Trump administration is not cooperating with Biden’s team, which has been unable to move into federal government office space or access funds to hire staff – a routine part of a typical presidential handover.
Biden has called Trump’s failure to concede an “embarrassment” and continued to lay the foundations for his incoming administration. He has tapped finance, trade and banking regulation experts for his transition team who range from mainstream Democrats to progressive activists. “We’re going to be going, moving along, in a consistent manner, putting together our administration, the White House, and reviewing who we’re going to pick for the Cabinet positions, and nothing’s going to stop that,” Biden said on Tuesday.
But there is only so much Biden’s team can do and there are important real-world implications for a delayed transition. The contested 2000 election, in which George W Bush was eventually declared the winner over Al Gore, slowed the process of the Bush administration getting their national security team in place. The delay may have contributed to the failure to stop the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, as the 9/11 Commission Report noted: ”[T]he 36-day delay cut in half the normal transition period. Given that a presidential election in the United States brings wholesale change in personnel, this loss of time hampered the new administration in identifying, recruiting, clearing, and obtaining Senate confirmation of key appointees.”
Could Trump be physically removed from office?
If Trump continues to be a “squatter” in the White House, then what?
General Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chief of staffs and the country’s top military officer, has said the armed forces would not get involved in the transfer of power. Biden has disagreed, predicting in June the military may intervene should Trump refuse to leave office. He told Daily Show host Trevor Noah: “I promise you, I am absolutely convinced they will escort him from the White House with great dispatch.”
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While Lindstaedt doesn’t think the US will face anything close to a Libya-like scenario, there could be a delay to Biden taking the helm. She said: “It is hard to predict who will forcefully remove him when the secretary of state and attorney general are on board with Trump’s false statements about the elections.”
Is Trump stoking his supporters?
Trump is fuelling anger. SOPA Images via Getty Images
Nearly 80% of Americans, including half of Republicans, say Biden is the rightful winner of the election, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday. But that suggests one-in-five do not see Biden as the winner, and it is this “base” Trump may be trying to stoke.
Lindstaedt said: “All of these stalling tactics play into his supporters beliefs that the election was stolen from them, further fuelling their anger at the other side.
“This undemocratic behaviour by Trump shatters our norms and could have long lasting effects if future Republicans – or Democrats – decide to not concede and cry fowl in the face of no evidence.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Borat's Maria Bakalova Reveals What Happened In That Room With Rudy Giuliani

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“Sacha jumped into the room quickly, because he’s been worried about me,” she told the newspaper.
“So, if he were late, I don’t know how things were going to go. But he came just in time.”
In the film, Bakalova – who is 24 – plays Borat’s 15-year-old daughter, Tutar, who scores an interview with Giuliani, personal attorney to President Donald Trump.
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After the interview, which was conducted in a hotel suite, they head into a bedroom. Bakalova helps Giuliani remove his mic and Giuliani lies back in bed and sticks his hands down his trousers, which he has insisted was to tuck his shirt back in.
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That’s when Cohen’s Borat burst into the room.
“She’s 15, she’s too old for you,” he said as he and Bakalova fled the scene.
Giuliani called the police.
“I was kind of scared that something would happen,” Bakalova told the Times. “But fortunately, we escaped.”
So was Giuliani really tucking in his shirt?
“We want everybody to see the movie and judge for themselves,” she said at first. Asked again, she took a long pause.
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“What do you think he was doing?” she asked.
So did Bakalova feel bad for Giuliani after he became the butt of jokes around the world because of the scene?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Ranvir Singh Gets Real About How Strictly Come Dancing Has Boosted Her Body Confidence

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Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh has spoken about how appearing on Strictly Come Dancing has already boosted her body confidence.
Last weekend, Ranvir celebrated topping the Strictly leaderboard for the first time, pulling in the highest score of the series with her Foxtrot routine.
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And while she’s only three weeks into her Strictly journey, the daytime presenter has said the show has been instrumental in helping her gain confidence.
“It’s not really about weight actually or anything like that. It’s more just the fact that you’re using your body at quite a rate that I’ve never used it before,” Ranvir told The Sun.
“I’ve never been a gym bunny. I don’t really enjoy exercise, and therefore, using your body, repeating it hour after hour, movement after movement, and then realising that your body is capable of a lot more.”
Ranvir Singh topped the leaderboard with this routine last week BBC/Keiron McCarron
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“I write myself off quite a lot,” she continued. “But Strictly is reigniting a small modicum of pride in what my body can achieve, even though I take ill upon it. I think that’s the joy of Strictly.”
Ranvir added that her professional partner Giovanni Pernice has also helped her gain confidence in her performance abilities, stating: “I’ve never danced on live TV before, but Gio just tells me to forget about everyone else and focus on what we’re doing.
“To be honest, I love the pressure, and I think that probably does come from what I do in my day job, doesn’t it? Everything is now or never. Most of my life in journalism has been about live television, so I suppose that is a real bonus.
“I’m happy about that, because I came with nothing else for Giovanni. This is my only offer to him, my ability to cope with live TV. In that sense, at least for him, he can trust me that I can hopefully deliver what we’ve tried to achieve in the last week.”
Ranvir Singh and Giovanni Pernice BBC
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-12--Texas Becomes First US State To Top 1,000,000 COVID-19 Cases

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Texas hit a grim new milestone this week as its number of Covid-19 cases surpassed 1 million.
According to data from the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, Texas has reported 1,010,364 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday, with 19,337 deaths due to the virus. The state, which has grappled with a surge of hospitalisations in El Paso this week, also saw 12,337 new cases and 114 deaths within a 24-hour period.
Texas’ numbers are closely trailed by California’s, which has 989,432 confirmed cases, as well as Florida’s, with 852,174 cases.
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Following closely behind the figures for the Lone Star State are those for the countries of Italy, Mexico and Peru, where cases have surpassed 900,000 for each. The statistics for Texas also place it just behind Colombia, which has 1,155,356 cases, and the UK, which has 1,237,226 cases.
Texas has a population of about 29 million, and each of these nations has more people than that, most of them substantially more.
Dr David Callender, president of the Houston area’s Memorial Hermann Health System, told The Houston Chronicle that the numbers for Texas were “a sobering statistic” that had been exacerbated by politics.
“To me, politics entered in an inappropriate way,” Callender said. “People making a political statement with their behaviour — that the pandemic is a hoax, that no one can make them wear a mask — really interfered with efforts. It was the wrong mindset.”