thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--The Top 20 Hotels And B&Bs In The UK For Your Staycation

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You’re reading our series Summer’s Not Cancelled, where we celebrate summer in this new normal. From rediscovering nature and cherishing time with friends and family, to virtual festivals and unforgettable staycations – summer’s still here, it’s just different.
Booked a staycation this summer? You’re in for a treat, because some of the world’s best hotels and B&Bs are right here in the UK, according to Tripadvisor.
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A Torquay B&B has been named the best-rated in the world in the annual Travellers’ Choice Awards. The 25, an adults-only boutique B&B, was ranked number one for the second year running, having previously achieved the accolade in 2019.
It marks the first time any B&B has earned the title of world number one in consecutive years.
“If anything, the second time feels even more special because we know last year’s award raised customer expectations and so we’ve had to work even harder to deliver a great experience for every single one of our guests,” said Andy Banner-Price, co-owner of The 25.
“We didn’t rest on our laurels, we’ve tried to look at every little thing we can do to improve, and it feels like that effort has really paid off with this news today.”
Tripadvisor The 25
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The annual awards are based on analysis of the millions of reviews, opinions and ratings collected on Tripadvisor, from over 8.7 million businesses listed on the site.
The latest rankings were based on 2019 reviews, posted prior to the pandemic.
Lawton & Lauriston Court Hotel in Llandudno was named the top hotel in the UK, also ranking number three in Europe and number 13 in the world overall.
That wasn’t the only success for the Welsh seaside town, with The Elm Tree in Llandudno also being named among the world’s best in both the best service (number 17) and romance categories (number 22).
Tripadvisor Lawton & Lauriston Court Hotel
Other winners in the hotels categories included Ascot House Hotel in Torquay, named best-rated small hotel in the UK, Doric Hotel in Blackpool, named best-rated family hotel in the UK, Hotel Ceilidh-Donia in Edinburgh, named best-rated bargain hotel in the UK, and Hotel 41 in London, named best-rated luxury hotel in the UK.
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Tripadvisor Hotel 41
The top 10 hotels in the UK:
1. Lawton & Lauriston Court Hotel, Llandudno
2. Hotel 41, London
3. The Milestone Hotel and Residences, London
4. Montcalm Royal London House, London
5. The Montcalm London Marble Arch, London
6. Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry
7. Hotel La Place, St. Brelade
8. Rudding Park Hotel, Follifoot
9. The Montague on The Gardens, London
10. The Connaught, London
The top 10 B&Bs in the UK:
1. The 25 Boutique B&B, Torquay
2. The Arthington, Blackpool
3. Riverside B&B, Ambleside
4. The Redholme B&B, Torquay
5. Avenue Guest House, Blackpool
6. The Old School B&B, Westhampnett
7. Between The Bays Exclusively for Adults, Llandudno
8. Howe Keld, Keswick
9. Coombe House, Bourton-on-the-Water
10. The Grange Bed and Breakfast, Fylingthorpe


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--How To Get Your £50 Bike Repair Voucher Through The Government

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We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
The government’s delayed £25 million bike repair scheme will launch on Tuesday, it has been announced.
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Up to half a million of the vouchers to help the public “drag bikes out of retirement” were due to be issued from June as part of government efforts to promote more cycling as lockdown eases.
During a coronavirus briefing on May 23, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the initiative would be “available next month” and relieve pressure on public transport, improve public health and reduce the “hidden killer” of air pollution.
But the deadline was missed, with the Department for Transport saying earlier this month the scheme would only begin when maintenance shops could handle the expected spike in demand.
The scheme is now ready, and customers can apply for the voucher from 11.45pm on Tuesday 28 July.
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The Fix Your Bike initiative forms part of Boris Johnson’s plans for a “new golden age for cycling” with more bike lanes and safer junctions.
Bike repair shops have been able to sign up to the scheme in the lead-up to its launch. Halfords has signed up and said it has thousands of slots available each day for customers to bring their bike into stores for a free 32-point health check to assess potential faults which could be rectified under the scheme.
A poll of 2,000 adults commissioned by the retailer indicated that only 48% of people know how to repair a puncture, 43% could tighten lights and fix a loose chain, and 37% could adjust their own brakes.
Rawpixel via Getty Images
Halfords chief executive Graham Stapleton said: “When it comes to bike repairs, we’ve noticed a change in customer mindset, with more cyclists turning to us to help with the smallest of fixes as they dust off their old bikes and seek to avoid public transport.
“As part of the scheme, our thousands of highly skilled bike mechanics will offer each cyclist a free 32-point bike check and diagnosis, which will help them decide how best to spend their voucher.”
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How can I get the voucher?
Registrations for members of the public who want to apply for a voucher open at 11.45pm on 28 July 2020 on the Energy Saving Trust website. It operates on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The scheme is open to anyone in England who has an unused cycle in need of a repair. Vouchers can only be used with bike repairers or mechanics that are registered for the scheme in England, and up to two vouchers can be claimed per household.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Selfridges To Cut 450 Jobs As It Faces Its 'Toughest Year'

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Selfridges has announced it will cut 450 jobs from shops as it faces its “toughest year” in recent history.
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The department store giant told staff on Tuesday morning it plans to cut about 14% of its total headcount, as annual sales are projected to be “significantly less” than last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In an email to Selfridges staff, managing director Anne Pitcher said the business had been forced to make “fundamental changes”.
“How we work, shop and socialise is changing. Of course, our high streets were changing rapidly before Covid-19 arrived,” she wrote.
“As a creative business at the forefront of retail, we have a proud history of leading the way. However, the speed and magnitude of what is happening right now and the impact on trading means we must make some more fundamental changes to our organisation to stay ahead and realise a more sustainable future.
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“Like many others, we are feeling the effects and acknowledge that recovery will be slow, with sales this year forecast to be significantly less than they were in 2019. It will, without doubt, be the toughest year we have experienced in our recent history.”
She added staff would be provided with more information later in the week.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Does Your Cat Have Covid-19? Symptoms And What To Do Next

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We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
Following news of the UK’s first confirmed case of coronavirus in a pet, cat owners will understandably want to know what that means for their own pets.
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The cat in question caught Covid-19 from its owners, who tested positive for the virus, and all of them have since gone on to make full recoveries.
As it stands, the virus has only been detected in relatively small numbers of cats worldwide and there is little evidence to suggest the virus causes significant illness in this species.
But how would you even know if your pet had coronavirus? And what are you meant to do if you suspect they have?
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What are the signs of Covid-19 in cats?
The pet cat diagnosed with Covid-19 in the UK was experiencing symptoms including nasal discharge and shortness of breath.
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Researchers from the University of Glasgow made the discovery as part of their research programme, where they have screened hundreds of samples for Covid-19 infections in the feline population in the UK.
Professor William Weir, of the University of Glasgow’s School of Veterinary Medicine, tells HuffPost UK: “The infected cat we detected was found in the course of a research study, where we tested respiratory swabs from cats throughout the UK. This cat also had a feline herpesvirus infection, which was consistent with its ‘flu’-like symptoms at the time.”
Prof Weir adds: “There are many common viruses and bacteria that can cause respiratory disease in cats – so, if someone finds that their cat has respiratory disease, they should take it to the vet who will examine and advise on any diagnostic testing required.”
Symptoms of respiratory disease include: sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, ocular discharge, loss of appetite, fever, and coughing.
You should call or email your veterinary practice to book an appointment, rather than taking your pet straight there. And, if you’ve tested positive for Covid-19, you should let them know.
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Jena Ardell via Getty Images
Which animals have caught Covid-19?
During the current pandemic, naturally occurring Covid-19 infections have been reported in pet cats, non-domestic cats and dogs. Scientists have also shown that cats, ferrets and hamsters are susceptible, whereas ducks, chickens and pigs appear not to be susceptible.
Prof Weir says: “The factors that govern why one species is susceptible to the Covid-19 virus while others are more resistant are currently unknown, but will likely reveal more about how this virus spreads and causes disease.”
Can cats give Covid-19 to humans?
There is no evidence that pets or other domestic animals are able to transmit the virus to people. Professor James Wood, head of veterinary medicine at the University of Cambridge, told PA Media: “A handful of pets in contact with infected human owners have been found to be infected around the world.
“The data overall continues to suggest that cats may become infected by their owners if their owners have Covid- 19, but there is no suggestion that they may transmit it to owners.”
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The relative size of a cat versus a human means there’s far less exhaled breath from one cat in a house, compared with the exhaled breath volumes from a human. It’s also thought the grooming behaviour of cats means they’re more likely to catch infection from an owner than vice versa.
Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at University of Nottingham, said: “We know that domestic animals like cats and dogs can be infected with the Sars2 coronavirus, but the evidence suggests that the animals don’t get sick.
“They produce very low levels of virus, which is why we don’t think they can transmit the virus to humans.”
harpazo_hope via Getty Images
What can owners do if they’re worried about passing the virus onto their cat?
You should avoid contact with your cat including stroking, petting, being kissed or licked and sharing food if you think you have coronavirus.
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Daniella Dos Santos, president of the British Veterinary Association, said: “We also recommend that owners who are confirmed or suspected to have Covid-19 should keep their cat indoors if possible, but only if the cat is happy to be kept indoors. Some cats cannot stay indoors due to stress-related medical reasons.”
Public Health England advises that people wash their hands regularly, including before and after contact with animals.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--New Race Commission 'Was Set Up To Find Out Why People Think Tories Do Nothing On Racism'

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The equalities minister has said one purpose of the government’s new race commission is to find out why people think the Conservatives have done nothing to tackle racism.
Responding directly to allegations raised by David Isaacs, the outgoing chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, about the numerous government reviews in recent years and concerns of no tangible outcome from them, Kemi Badenoch also refuted allegations that the government is “dragging its feet” on the issue.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme, she pointed to a number of recommendations from the 2017 Lammy Review that had been acted upon. “One of the things that this race commission is doing is actually looking at – why is it that, despite all of these actions, people still believe that we’re doing nothing?
“That’s really important for me to work out – it’s absolutely critical if we’re to maintain positive race relations in this country.”
Kemi Badenoch UK Parliament
The Lammy review of the criminal justice system in 2017 was commissioned by then PM Theresa May. It made 35 recommendations.
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“We’ve already carried out 16 of them,” she said. “I think there were only two out of 35 recommendations that we rejected and yet people act if none of this work is happening.
“The race disparity audit looked at the state of play. It did not look at why certain things are the way they are. Simply finding a difference – that is putting forward a hypothesis. Looking at what’s causing it is a completely different thing – that is what this commission is doing.”
Badenoch added: “This commission is looking at things across the spectrum. It’s going far beyond what Theresa May did in 2017, which was good, but it isn’t enough to say: ‘We’ve done a snapshot and now we know very single thing that should happen.’ We’re building on that work.”
Kai Agyepong PA
Pressed on racism in the UK and whether she believes Black people aren’t given the same opportunities as their white counterparts, Badenoch – who has previously questioned the existence of institutional racism – refused to comment as she did “not want to speculate or prejudge” the outcome of the commission.
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“There must be no jumping to conclusions because if we misdiagnose the problem then the recommendations will not work – and that’s something that I’m concerned about with some of the reviews we’ve had before, where we have implemented recommendations and people still cannot see all of the good work that has been done.”
When asked about a recent incident where Met Police officers handcuffed and arrested a 12-year-old Black boy seen playing with a toy BB gun, believing it to be real, Badenoch said only that it must have been “frustrating”.
The boy’s mother has said her son was “undoubtedly” racially profiled, and that she feared for her family’s life as armed police stormed their home.
“It must be quite a frustrating and sensitive situation to find yourself in,” said Badenoch. “I have been in situations where I’ve been questioned by the police - at no point did I feel that they were going to kill me.
“So I don’t again think that we should using this sort of language where people feel that unarmed police officers try to kill people on the streets. We’re hearing a lot of this rhetoric which is simply not true.”
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The equalities minister was told that the officers who arrested the Black child had, in fact, been armed.
“I’m very confident in the police in this country and I also believe that this is a place where policing is done very sensitively,” she said.
“There will of course be occasions when things aren’t done the way that they should be and we should look at that – but we should not be trying to enflame tensions in this way by talking about the police killing people when this is certainly not true.”
Over the past 10 years, 163 people have died in or following police custody in England and Wales, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Of this number, 13 were Black. Compared with the UK population as a whole, this means Black people are more than twice as likely to die in police custody than white people.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Denise Johnson, Singer With Primal Scream, Has Died Aged 56

Primal Scream singer Denise Johnson has died at the age of 56.
The performer, who was best known for her work on the band’s critically acclaimed 1991 album Screamadelica, died “suddenly at home” in Manchester.
Denise Johnson pictured performing with A Certain Radio at the Big Chill music festival in 2005 Jim Dyson via Getty Images
A statement from her family said Denise had been “ill in the week prior to her death, but told friends she was ‘much better’ on Friday”.
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Denise’s cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
A statement regarding our dear beautiful friend Denise Johnson on behalf of her family and beloved @sue_langford pic.twitter.com/bxGckj8vR1 — Michelle Hussey (@MichelleLHussey) July 27, 2020
The singer performed with Primal Scream between 1990 to 1995, featuring on one of their biggest songs, Don’t Fight It, Feel It.
Denise also featured on records from some of her home town’s biggest bands, including New Order, as well as performing on tracks by The Pet Shop Boys.
She had sung with Manchester band A Certain Radio for over 25 years.
Denise with Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream and singer George Clinton at NBC TV Studios in New York in July 1996 David Corio via Getty Images
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New Order’s official Twitter account said the band was “devastated” by Denise’s death.
A statement said: “She was a beautiful person with a huge talent. Her voice graced many of our albums and live shows and that of our friends. We will miss her dearly.”
Peter Hook, former bassist of New Order, also said on Twitter: “Shocked and saddened to hear about Denise – my heart goes out to the Johnson family for their terrible loss. Rest in peace Denise, singing with the angels. X.”
New Order are devastated to hear the sad news that Denise Johnson has passed away. She was a beautiful person with a huge talent. Her voice graced many of our albums and live shows and that of our friends. We will miss her dearly. pic.twitter.com/9elTLCiHG8 — New Order (@neworder) July 27, 2020
Shocked and saddened to hear about Denise - my heart goes out to the Johnson family for their terrible loss. Rest in peace Denise, singing with the angels. X — Peter Hook (@peterhook) July 27, 2020
Tributes to Denise poured in from across the music industry, including from Happy Monday’s Rowetta, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Stone Roses lead singer Ian Brown and Boy George.
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Sad sad news today 💔
I have so many great memories of Denise from when we were young.
We just used to sing & laugh like naughty schoolgirls all the time.
A great loss to Manchester and music.
My condolences to her family & loved ones. pic.twitter.com/ykNsjPMxmD — Rowetta 🎤 (@Rowetta) July 27, 2020
Such sad news about our dear friend Denise Johnson. Playing alongside her was something else. It was a privilege to work with her. pic.twitter.com/QnY0Rsqx2Z — Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) July 27, 2020
RIP LOVELY DENISE JOHNSON X — Ian Brown (@ianbrown) July 27, 2020
Very sad to hear about the passing of Denise Johnson. Thank you for the joy you brought to music and for being the best indie soul goddess ever. My thoughts are with your family and closest friends. Play the music loud! pic.twitter.com/LpEiPL3Qld — Boy George (the truth is in your breath) (@BoyGeorge) July 28, 2020
Denise’s solo acoustic album, Where Does It All Go, is set to be released in September.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Doctors Post Bikini Photos To Protest Study That Calls Them Unprofessional

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Medical professionals around the world are posting bikini selfies to protest a study that suggests the pics are “unprofessional.”
The study, which appeared in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, suggested that patients may choose their hospital, doctor or medical facility based, in part, on how professional a doctor’s publicly available social media content appears.
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The researchers created fake social media profiles in order to study each medical professional’s personal photos and determined that 61 of the 235 medical residents they studied had “unprofessional or potentially unprofessional content,” according to Insider.com.
The study defined “unprofessional behaviour” as drinking alcohol, using profane language, wearing Halloween costumes and sharing bikini photos.
Although the study was published last December, it went viral among medical pros this week, many of whom objected to the way it was conducted.
If you are a true #heforshe then you must speak up against this disturbing study
3 men created fake social media accounts to purposefully spy on applicants
Worse they are shaming our women physician colleagues for wearing bikinis 🤦🏽♂ #MedTwitter #MedBikini #retraction pic.twitter.com/MvNZoBnok2 — Mudit Chowdhary (@DrChowdharyMD) July 24, 2020
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As a result, the hashtag #MedBikini started trending on Twitter as many female doctors posted their own bikini selfies in protest.
Apparently it’s unprofessional for doctors to post social media pics wearing bikinis & drinking alcohol, so here’s me doing both. #MedBikini
Also deemed unprofessional, profanity & political talk but these dudes can fuck off b/c health care should be free at the point of care. https://t.co/Lk99jCRdrD — Dr. Victoria Dooley (@DrDooleyMD) July 24, 2020
Ha! Found a selfie in a bikini. To the 28 year old “researcher” who says this is unprofessional for women doctors, I’m old enough to be your grandmother. #MedBikini pic.twitter.com/84CKW9nfhz — Trisha Greenhalgh 😷 #BlackLivesMatter (@trishgreenhalgh) July 24, 2020
I’m excellent at my job, I’m a professional. I’m a doctor. I’m a human. I’m VERY sexually active. If you have a problem with that, there’s the fucking door. Nobody tells me what I can/can’t wear since I’m in healthcare, like this see-through set I’m wearing #MedBikini #medbikini pic.twitter.com/AAq9f5bwIb — Karen Estefany (@thekinkymedgirl) July 24, 2020
#MedTwitter, do you know what’s unprofessional? Misogyny and sexism.
Do you know what not unprofessional? Enjoying yourself, knowing how to relax and owning your body.
Here I am in a cold waterfall. Placement clothing wouldn’t be very appropriate here.#MedBikini #BodyPositivity pic.twitter.com/iRj9AKHMV8 — Marina (@marinadpol) July 24, 2020
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59-year-old Emergency Doc--not quite a bikini but it will have to do. I can still save your life and beat you in arm wrestling. #MedBikini pic.twitter.com/S3qEUZPX0A — JaneDoeMD (@Caerage) July 24, 2020
It breaks my heart, but this just shows a peak behind the curtain at how behind and backwards the culture in medicine is. Here's a picture of me after finishing my leading Research Thesis on Emergency Vehicle Trauma. Doctors are people too #MedBikini pic.twitter.com/A4zrSYEFNo — Emily Casey (@emilyscasey) July 24, 2020
Many male doctors also posted swimsuit photos to show their support for the cause.
Although no one will want to see this Dad bod here it is in full support of my female colleagues and this misogynistic study. Without my female mentor in medschool and the one in residency, I wouldn’t be the surgeon I am today. #MedBikini pic.twitter.com/nSlDtA5hTZ — Anthony Tucker (@AnthonyTuckerMD) July 24, 2020
Just double checking, is this unprofessional? Thanks in advance #MedBikini pic.twitter.com/tK1miSyPne — Mikey 90s Emocore RN 🏴 (@mikeythenurse) July 24, 2020
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Apparently this makes me unprofessional oops 🤷🏽♂ #MedBikini pic.twitter.com/gZfvkdUo8r — Majed Abbas (@MajedAbbas24) July 24, 2020
In lieu of posting bikini selfies, other medical professionals posted tweets asking the study be retracted.
This is a call for the retraction of your paper: https://t.co/bsrEDC4QRC. It is highly inappropriate and discriminatory. It does not reflect the values of your institute and that of this profession. #retractthepaper
@BUMedicine @BMCSurgery @JVascSurg — SluttyMD (@MdSlutty) July 23, 2020
The reaction was so intense that researcher Dr. Jeff Siracuse apologised via a multipart Twitter thread.
He said study’s intent was “to empower surgeons to be aware and then personally decide” what to post on social media.
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“However, this was clearly not the result,” he said, adding in another tweet that “we were wrong not to have considered the inherent gender bias and have certainly learned from this experience.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Top Obama Health Official: US Can 'Virtually Eliminate' Covid-19 When 'We Decide To'

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The former acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under US President Barack Obama went viral with an extensive Twitter thread over the weekend that explains how America can “virtually eliminate” the coronavirus “any time we decide to.”
Andy Slavitt shared a 38-tweet thread in which he broke down what would have to be done around the country in order to “manage the illness.” In a matter of four to six weeks, he said, the US could “throw the kitchen sink at Covid-19,” and listed everything that can be done to combat the spread of the virus. Slavitt added that if the country were to follow those steps, “the light at the end of the tunnel would be blinding.”
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He began the now-viral thread by saying in his first two tweets: “We can virtually eliminate the virus any time we decide to. We can be back to a reasonably normal existence: schools, travel, job growth, safer nursing homes & other settings. And we could do it in a matter of weeks. If we want to.”
COVID Update July 26: We can virtually eliminate the virus any time we decide to. 1/ — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) July 26, 2020
We can be back to a reasonably normal existence: schools, travel, job growth, safer nursing homes & other settings.
And we could do it in a matter of weeks. If we want to. 2/ — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) July 26, 2020
He goes on to explain that other hard-hit countries, like many in Europe, have given the US the tools to combat the virus.
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In fact pick virtually any country you want. 6/ pic.twitter.com/7n784GcDyC — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) July 26, 2020
But don’t tell me the U.S. can’t take action if we want to.
And we can’t face the families of 150,000 people who didn’t have to die & tell them this had to happen.
And I think it’s why our national political leaders won’t go near these families & the grieving process. 7/ pic.twitter.com/mhNH4EdwuY — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) July 26, 2020
As for the aforementioned four-to-six-week “kitchen sink” plan, Slavitt proposed six steps that the US could follow immediately “with the goal of being open for business in October — meaning schools, in-person voting, sports, everything.”
So let’s define the kitchen sink:
1. start with universal mask wearing. We didn’t do this in Mar-April and let’s chalk it up to faulty instructions. But we know better now.
2. Keep the bars & restaurants & churches & transit closed. All hot spots.
3. Prohibit interstate travel10/ — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) July 26, 2020
4. Prohibit travel into the country (no one will let us into their country so that shouldn’t be hard).
5. Have hotels set up to allow people with symptoms to isolate from their families at no cost.
11/ — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) July 26, 2020
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6. Instead of 50% lockdown (which is what we did in March in April), let’s say it’s a 90% lockdown.
Meaning most of the Americans who couldn’t stay home in April because they were picking crops or driving trucks or working in health care would stay home with us. 12/ — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) July 26, 2020
Slavitt acknowledged that the “economy would take a several week hit” with this plan and “extended unemployment insurance” would be a necessity.
He also added that, at the start of this plan, “Covid truthers would have a field day,” because deaths and cases would still grow. Eventually, however, the rate of transmission would drop.
After a few weeks, what would happen is what happened in other countries. In many countries, the R dropped to .3. Let’s say in the US it dropped to .5.
If you have 60,000 cases in your community, in 50 days, it would drop to 58.
6000 becomes 6.
600 becomes 1.
19/ pic.twitter.com/oMuZ7it2S4 — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) July 26, 2020
After eight weeks, Slavitt projected that there wouldn’t be a total elimination of cases but there would be “embers.” At that point, he said, the US would have more than enough tests, be able to get them back in a timely manner, have access to ample PPE, and that the key to preventing another surge would be to monitor outbreaks.
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“Whether we do this or not, let’s not pretend this isn’t an option,” explained Slavitt in the last third of his thread.
Overall, Slavitt said that his plan is what is going to have to happen at some point — it’s just a matter of when.
We will do this. There is no other way. The question is when. The question is who will convince us. The question is the leadership it takes.
But there’s not much question if we should. /end — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) July 26, 2020
As of Monday, the US has seen more than 4.2 million cases of the virus and nearing 150,000 deaths, according to The New York Times.
Donald Trump has repeatedly said throughout the coronavirus pandemic that the virus will “go away” and has been lambasted by critics for his mishandling of the crisis.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--'Embarrassed' St Bernard Rescued By Team Of 16 From England's Tallest Mountain

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Daisy the St. Bernard is apparently feeling a little “embarrassed” after she was the subject of a five-hour rescue mission during her descent from England’s highest peak, according to her rescuers.
The 121-pound pooch comes from a working breed that has, for centuries, been known for its prowess in alpine rescues. But on this occasion, it was Daisy who needed saving, after she collapsed while descending from the summit of Scafell Pike in England’s northwest on Friday during a hike with her owners. She was displaying signs of pain in her rear legs and refusing to move, the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team said in a Facebook post about the mission.
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After Daisy’s owners contacted authorities, a 16-person rescue team was mobilised to help bring her to safety, armed with medical guidance from local veterinarians.
“On reaching their location, team members carefully introduced themselves to Daisy so as not to cause any additional distress, and with the help of a treat or two members were able to assess her condition and administer analgesia for the pain,” the group wrote.
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After “a little persuasion,” some more treats and rearrangement of a stretcher to be more dog-friendly, the rescue team said they were able to carry the St. Bernard down the mountain on a rescue litter, similar to the typical evacuation of an adult person.
Thanks to the cooperation of Daisy, who was “so well behaved” throughout the process, the rescue went smoothly. She “has since been reported to have had a good night’s sleep, snoring a little louder than normal, but back to her usual high spirits this morning,” the rescue group said.
“She apparently feels a bit guilty and slightly embarrassed about letting down the image of her cousins bouncing across the Alpine snows with barrels of brandy around their necks,” it added.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--British-Australian Academic Moved To 'Notorious' Iran Jail

A British-Australian academic who has been detained in Iran has been moved to a desert prison notorious for its poor conditions, a group of activists said.
Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a Cambridge-educated academic who was most recently a lecturer in Islamic Studies at Melbourne University, had previously been held in Tehran’s Evin prison, having reportedly been given a 10-year sentence.
She has previously published work on the 2011 Arab uprisings and on authoritarian governments.
The Centre for Supporters of Human Rights said Moore-Gilbert has been moved to Qarchak prison, citing information from Reza Khandan whose wife – human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh – is imprisoned in Evin.
Other Britons who have been imprisoned in Evin include Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe – who has served four years of a five-year sentence over allegations of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government.
In a Facebook post, Khandan said Moore-Gilbert was moved for “punishment”.
The jail is sometimes used as punishment for Iranian political prisoners, according to the BBC. Former inmates have described conditions as “abysmal”.
Letters smuggled out of prison and published in January revealed the lecturer’s fears for her mental health.
She said: “I’m taking psychiatric medications, but these 10 months that I have spent here have gravely damaged my mental health.
“I am still denied phone calls and visitations, and I am afraid that my mental and emotional state may further deteriorate if I remain in this extremely restrictive detention ward.”
Moore-Gilbert also appeared to suggest she had been offered the chance to become a spy.
“I am not a spy. I have never been a spy and I have no interest to work for a spying organisation in any country,” she wrote.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Sophie Turner And Joe Jonas Welcome First Child Together

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Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas have welcomed their first child together, a rep for the couple has confirmed.
The Game Of Thrones actor and US pop star, who tied the knot in May last year, announced the birth on Monday.
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Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner zz/KGC-11/STAR MAX/IPx
A statement from the couple said: “Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas are delighted to announce the birth of their baby.”
No further details, including the name and sex of the baby, were announced.
The couple have been dating since 2016 and got engaged in 2017 before marrying in Las Vegas in May 2019 at a ceremony following the Billboard Music Awards.
The ceremony was live-streamed by DJ Diplo and Sophie later admitted she wished it had been kept private.
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The 24-year-old British actor is best known for portraying Sansa Stark on HBO’s sprawling fantasy series Game Of Thrones.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Ellen DeGeneres Show Under Investigation After Reports Of Workplace Misconduct

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The Ellen DeGeneres Show is under an internal investigation after numerous accounts of workplace misconduct, according to Variety.
Staff received a memo last week from the executives of the daytime talk show’s producer, Telepictures, and distributor, Warner Bros. Television, advising that WBTV-owner WarnerMedia’s employee relations group and a third-party firm would interview current and former staffers about their experiences on set, multiple news outlets confirmed.
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Ellen DeGeneres Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
A spokesperson for Warner Bros. declined to comment. WarnerMedia did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
The investigation comes in the wake of accusations that the show, which hangs on DeGeneres’s personal brand to “be kind” to others, has become a toxic work environment for its staffers.
In April, Variety reported that the core stage crew heard almost nothing from their bosses for weeks during initial coronavirus lockdowns other than to expect significant pay reductions, creating anxiety among crew members who sought clarity on whether they would need to apply for unemployment benefits.
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Concerns were exacerbated when an outside, non-union team was brought in as remote filming began from DeGeneres’s home. However, the show’s crew was restored to full pay prior to the publication of Variety’s report.
Earlier this month, BuzzFeed News, citing one current and 10 former employees, reported that employees were subject to a culture of racism, fear and intimidation on the job. Some sources said they were fired for taking medical leave and family bereavement days.
One former employee, a Black woman, told the news site she faced multiple racist comments and microaggressions during her 18-month tenure.
Most sources reportedly blamed the senior production and management staff for the daily toxicity, not DeGeneres herself. However, one staffer called for DeGeneres to take responsibility for the workplace environment.
In a statement to BuzzFeed at the time, executive producers Ed Glavin, Andy Lassner and Mary Connelly said: “We are truly heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience. It’s not who we are and not who we strive to be, and not the mission Ellen has set for us.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Bessara: The Dip To Make When You Need A Break From Hummus And Guac

I definitely consider myself more than an average fan of hummus. Dips in general are typically my go-to nosh option, whether I’m entertaining guests or snacking solo. But hummus in particular has always held a very special place in my heart.
Discovering unique incarnations of it and finding new twists on recipes to whip up at home are the stuff dreams are made of, in my book. Though my commitment to hummus may not extend as far as teeth-cleaning or hairstyling like Adam Sandler’s character in ”Don’t Mess With The Zohan,” my love of the creamy Middle Eastern spread definitely runs deep.
The silky texture, subtle nutty flavour and protein-packed nutritional profile are just a few qualities that have secured hummus a spot at the very top of my dip list. Its fibre-filled and potassium-rich nature (due to its chickpea base) further fuel my devotion. My staunch loyalty to hummus was never called into question until the Covid-19 lockdown and my subsequent need for extended power walks. That’s when I discovered bessara.
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PicturePartners via Getty Images Some versions of bessara, like this Moroccan version, are closer in color to hummus. Others, as seen below, are a more shocking shade of green, thanks to the addition of fresh herbs.
When I stumbled across Zooba ― a fast-casual Egyptian restaurant in Manhattan’s Nolita ― while taking a fresh-air walk in late May, I noticed a large poster in the window showing a neon green-hued dip with the words “NOT HUMMUS” written in large red letters above it. The description of something called bessara was printed underneath, and I immediately thought, “NOT HUMMUS? What does that mean? Why the need for such distinct disassociation, and why would you want to distance yourself from hummus in the first place, bessara?” This I had to try.
After promptly ordering and sampling the dish, which was served alongside an eerily familiar-looking flat bread (not called pitta, of course), my next thought was, “Wow.” Bessara was absolutely delicious and it was definitely not hummus.
Equally velvet-like but thinner in consistency, the taste of bessara is something altogether different from hummus. With a much more pronounced tang than its chickpea counterpart, bessara, which is made from fava beans, has an intriguing touch of bitterness that instantly awakens the taste buds the way a bite of pungent cheese would. There is also an undeniable pop of lemon and a punch of fresh herbs.
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I was immediately hooked on the beautiful explosion of flavour and needed to know more about this addictive dip. After pressing the cashier, who referred me to the manager for further explanation, I learned that bessara is considered “classic Egyptian street food” and that in Cairo, where Zooba’s owners are originally from, as well as throughout North Africa, the dish is a popular appetiser at fast-casual restaurants, falafel spots and grill restaurants ― much like hummus, which is a staple at similar establishments across the Middle East, Europe and in the US.
Aside from its pureed fava bean foundation, the bessara variation on Zooba’s menu owes its signature bright-green tint to fresh coriander and parsley. The mild smoky aftertaste results from the infusion of cumin, and this contemporary take on a classic bessara recipe is made with dried fava beans as opposed to the customary fresh variety. Executive chef and co-founder Moustafa Elrefaey told me he decided to “revisit the traditional recipe with an updated flavour profile so that patrons wouldn’t have to reckon with the raw bean aftertaste.”
Elrefaey, who actually grew up enjoying generations-old family recipes for both hummus and bessara, said he “personally prefers bessara” not only because it’s native to his birthplace, but because he finds the dip “lighter and more flavourful.”
As a recent bessara convert myself, I agree wholeheartedly. But don’t take my word for it ― try Elrefaey’s recipe for yourself and taste the difference.
Zooba Zooba's version of bessara is bright green, the color of guacamole.
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Bessara
Recipe from Moustafa Elrefaey
Ingredients
1 chopped onion
3 whole garlic cloves, peeled
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons corn oil
1 cup peeled fava beans
2 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon ground coriander seeds
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
3 tablespoons chopped coriander
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Fried onions (optional, for garnish)
Directions
1. Add water, fava beans, garlic cloves and onion to a stock pot and cook on medium heat until beans are fully cooked. Once beans begin to soften, add the salt and cumin.
2. Heat oil in a sauté pan on medium heat, then add minced garlic and coriander seeds. Toast until golden brown, then add the mixture to the stock pot.
3. Mix well, add the remaining herbs, then pour the mixture into a blender and puree until smooth.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Why The Government Is So Reluctant To Make Vaccinations Mandatory

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There’s a *lot* riding on vaccines right now.
While the fate of the world as we know it rests with scientists battling to find an inoculation that will tackle Covid-19, ministers are relying on the flu jab to save the NHS this winter in the face of a second surge in coronavirus cases.
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But despite this – and ministers having previously indicated they were keen to make some childhood vaccinations mandatory – the government has been quick to distance itself from talk it could make a coronavirus vaccine compulsory.
So why is it so controversial? Here are the facts.
Vaccine trials are looking good
With the world unlikely to get back to normal until a vaccine is found for Covid-19 – which has killed almost 650,000 people globally – all eyes are on trials for a jab that could offer immunity to the virus.
Last week, findings from the first phase of the Oxford University trial suggested “promising” results, with early indications suggesting the vaccine was “safe, causes few side effects, and induces strong immune responses”.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the government announced it was expanding England’s flu vaccination programme to another 30m people to help stop the NHS becoming overwhelmed this winter in the face of another wave of coronavirus.
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Under the new plans, free flu jabs will also be offered to over 50s, people who are shielding because of coronavirus – and their households – and schoolchildren aged 11.
That is in addition to the groups who are already eligible for the flu vaccine.
The PM thinks anti-vaxxers are ‘nuts’
Boris Johnson elbow bumps Lead Nurse Marina Marquis, during a visit to Tollgate Medical Centre in Beckton, East London ASSOCIATED PRESS
On Friday, while promoting the new flu vaccination programme Boris Johnson called people who are actively-opposed to vaccinations “nuts”.
Speaking to staff at a GP surgery in London, the prime minister said: “There’s all these anti-vaxxers now. They are nuts. They are nuts.”
Johnson is not the only one in the cabinet who has shared similar sentiments. In September, health secretary Matt Hancock told HuffPost UK he had received legal advice about how vaccinations for children could be made compulsory.
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“There is a very strong argument for having compulsory vaccinations for children for when they go to school – because otherwise they are putting other children at risk,” he said.
“Actually, I’ve received advice inside government this week on how we might go about it. And I’m looking very seriously at it.”
The government hopes people will get the jab by choice
But when health minister Helen Whately was quizzed about potentially making the flu vaccine compulsory for NHS and care staff, it’s fair to say she was rather less forthcoming.
“This year, I’m confident that people will realise the importance of getting a flu vaccination, and they’ll realise that this year it really, really is imperative to come forward if you’re eligible and get it, so we expect to see higher take-up rates,” she told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.
Asked again whether ministers would make it compulsory, Whately said only: “We will look at what we need to do.”
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Meanwhile, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “In the UK, we do not currently have mandatory vaccination but operate a system of informed consent – it is everyone’s responsibility to seek NHS advice to get the right information to make an informed choice.
“Our priority is to ensure any potential new Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and that the balance of benefits outweighs the harm from Covid-19.”
Are there are *any* compulsory vaccines in the UK?
At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of rumours circulated on social media suggesting that a Covid-19 vaccine would be mandatory under the Coronavirus Act. These were untrue.
In the UK, vaccines are not currently mandatory under law, with the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984 ruling out compulsory medical treatment – including vaccines.
Why do people object to mandatory vaccines?
Most arguments against mandatory vaccines centre on the idea of individual freedoms and the so-called right to choose.
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A lot of rhetoric from anti-vaccine campaigners, particularly in the US, uses phrases such as “my body, my choice”, more commonly associated with the abortion rights movement.
But Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, points out that by refusing a vaccine people are taking away choice from others – and the rest of society as a whole.
“If anti-vaxxers have their way, herd immunity will be breached and those vulnerable people who cannot get vaccinated [but want to] risk catching the germs of those who simply refuse to,” he told HuffPost UK.
“That’s a violation of their freedom.”
What’s more, he added: “There’s nothing unique at the idea of governments mandating vaccines, in the same manner that governments already mandate a great many things in our lives in the interest of public safety and security.”
Would compulsory vaccination be helpful in the UK?
Professor Julian Savulescu, whose title is Uehiro chair in practical ethics at the University of Oxford, has argued that if a coronavirus vaccine is found it must be made compulsory.
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“Large numbers of people are dying from the virus, but also from the strategy,” he said on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, referring to the UK’s lockdown.
“What people don’t realise is that we’re going to have large number of cancer deaths over many years because of delayed treatment. Already the estimates are that 200,000 people will die.
“So the cost of going slow are also significant and that has to be balanced in this case.”
Should the coronavirus vaccine be compulsory?
'If the vaccine is safe, it's like putting on a seatbelt.'
Prof @juliansavulescu says that given the 'grave situation' we're in, making the vaccine compulsory in the same way wearing seat belts is mandatory could help protect people pic.twitter.com/y06evtLl1J — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) July 21, 2020
But Dr Doug Brown, who is the chief executive at the British Society for Immunology, disagrees.
He told HuffPost UK that, in most of the countries where mandatory vaccination has been introduced, it’s because of high anti-vaccination sentiment.
For example, a 2018 Wellcome study revealed that in France – where compulsory vaccinations have been introduced – one-in-three people disagree with the idea that vaccines are safe. That is the highest percentage for any country in the world.
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In comparison, the survey found that 75% of Brits agree that vaccines are safe, with 9% disagreeing.
“What we have seen is that in countries that have introduced mandatory programmes, that’s often off the back of there being quite a high anti-vaccine sentiment in those countries and lots of misinformation floating around,” Brown said.
“What we need to be doing in the UK is to be tackling the issues we face, which are not around vaccine confidence, which is very high.”
Instead, the UK must launch public health awareness campaigns about the importance of vaccines and how they work, he said.
“We must ensure we have very high public awareness of vaccines, vaccine development, the value of vaccines – in particular with the coronavirus vaccine,” Brown said.
“We need to take the general public on a journey with us so they can understand and trust that an eventual vaccine is safe and effective.”
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Meanwhile, the UK must make sure it has the services on the ground to deliver vaccines.
“One of the problems we have had in recent years is in the disinvestment in local vaccine services to make these vaccines accessible and openly available to everybody in the community who should be benefiting,” said Brown.
“With those two issues solved, we’re confident that there will be a high enough uptake of flu vaccine and a potential vaccine for coronavirus.”
Brown – along with other scientists – are also worried that making vaccines mandatory could increase health inequalities.
“If you penalise people who aren’t having the vaccine [...] you’re penalising parts of the population who will really struggle,” he said.
It could even mean people are barred from other health services, or that children are unable to attend nursery or school without certain jabs.
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Does it work in other countries?
vaccine vaccination child baby doctor injection pediatrician injecting arm health immunization hand hospital needle syringe concept - stock image scyther5 via Getty Images
While there are no mandatory vaccines in the UK, in other countries there are compulsory vaccination programmes.
In the US, children must be vaccinated before they can attend school or nursery, with each state deciding which vaccinations are required.
There are some exceptions to the rule based on factors such as health issues and religious beliefs. However, New York banned religious exemptions for school vaccines in 2019 after an outbreak of measles.
Last year, Italy introduced a new law which allowed parents to be fined up to €500 if they sent their unvaccinated children to school.
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Among the mandatory vaccinations are jabs for chickenpox, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, the BBC reported. Children under the age of six can be turned away from school if their parents can’t provide proof they have had their vaccines.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Going Green: The 10 Most Popular Eco-Friendly Baby Names

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We’ve all heard of ‘earth mothers’ – but how about an ‘earth baby’?
If you want to invest your child with a keen sense of connection to the world around them – and ensure they take care of it – why not consider a name inspired by the environment?
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In a bid to discover the best green names, Save On Energy collated an extensive list of names related to plants, nature and the earth. They then analysed the top 500 names listed in Nameberry’s top baby names of 2020 to discover which names ranked the highest.
We have a wealth of baby name inspiration on HuffPost UK Parents, but here are 10 of our favourites for a budding eco-warrior.
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Luna
Luna is the most popular eco-friendly baby name for girls, and comes from the Latin word luna meaning ‘moon’.
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Oliver
Of English origin, the name Oliver comes from the name for ‘olive tree’.
Aurora
The Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora is unique, unusual and doubles up as the name for natural phenomenon, the Northern Lights.
Jasper
The name Jasper comes from the gemstone by the same name. It is usually red, yellow, brown or green – and, rarely, blue.
Isla
Isla, meaning ‘island’ in Spanish, is a popular sustainable girl’s name – and the fifth most popular girl’s name in the UK, according to Nameberry.
yaoinlove via Getty Images
Leo
Greek for ‘lion’, the name Leo can also be a nickname for those named Leopold, or Leonard.
Hazel
Comes from the hazel tree, and became a popular name for girls in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Kai
Kai represents water in a number of languages – in Hawaiian, it means means ‘the sea’; while in Japanese, it’s ‘ocean’ or ‘shell’.
Ivy
Ivy comes from the popular, pretty, creeping plant. It signifies being faithful – Ancient Greeks even gave ivy wreaths to newlyweds.
Atlas


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--7 Women On Their Most Memorable Orgasm: 'An Absolute Mind-Bending Sensation'

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Listen to our weekly podcast Am I Making You Uncomfortable? about women’s health, bodies and private lives. Available on Spotify, Apple, Audioboom and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
The sex positivity movement may have been around for years, but there’s still a lot of misconceptions and mystique surrounding the female orgasm.
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For a start, the orgasm gap still exists: studies show that heterosexual men are far more likely to orgasm during sex than heterosexual women; while lesbian and bisexual women are also known to orgasm more than straight women.
So what’s going on? “There are people that still believe that it’s harder for people with vulvas to achieve orgasm, or that women have to have some sort of crazy emotional, psychological connection in order to achieve orgasm,” according to Portia Brown, a New York-based sex educator, who joined us on HuffPost UK Life’s Am I Making You Uncomfortable? podcast to talk orgasms.
In heterosexual relationships, Brown believes a penis-centric approach and lack of appreciation (or respect) for the clitoris could explain a lot. “It’s the only organ in the human body of any gender, of any sex, that is solely made for pleasure, yet the way we primarily have sex never touches it, never addresses it. And it’s also this big joke that the clitoris can’t be found. It’s staring right at you, it’s in the same spot as the penis, it’s just smaller.”
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Porn and unrealistic portrayals of women climaxing in film and TV don’t help – nor do bizarre products like Gwyneth Paltrow’s “orgasm candle” for Goop, which only contributes to the narrative that the female orgasm is something mysterious and elusive, rather than a normal part of everyday life.
So, to lift the lid on what the female orgasm is really like, we asked women to share their most memorable orgasm experiences on the podcast. Below are just a handful of their no-holds-barred stories – you’ll hear more in the episode, alongside wisdom from Portia Brown and intimacy coach Charlene Douglas.
Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
Masturbating with a difference
“My most memorable orgasm has to be after binge-watching Sex Education. I watched series one and two back to back and there’s a relationship with two women and they actually discover that masturbating on their front is a way of having a fantastic orgasm.
“I’d never thought about it before, so I went away, had a little moment, had a little rendezvous session with me, myself and I and it was the most memorable orgasm I’ve ever had. I recommend it, ladies.” – Rachel*, 29, East Sussex
Post-op pleasure
“Everyone warns you if you’re trans, post-op you might never orgasm again. You might even lose all your feeling all together down there. [There’s] tension, when you try for that first post-op orgasm and you’ve got different geometry, you’re scared you’re going to do yourself harm and the slightest distraction and the mood has gone.
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“But, I got there, after many tries and the purchase of a mains-powered vibrator and compared to before, it’s totally amazing. And, in case you didn’t know, it turns out trans women do lubricate, which was an immense relief.” – Jane, 60, Hertfordshire
A breakthrough moment
“I’ve always really struggled to orgasm, particularly when I’m busy or I’m stressed. I started seeing this guy and we had been dating for about 10 weeks and we decided spontaneously to go on holiday together. We went away and it was super hot, we’d had some really nice food and really nice wine and I finally felt completely relaxed.
“He went down on me and it was just really magical, where the orgasm completely takes over your body and nothing else really matters in the moment. I’m with him four years later, so it really worked out.” – Claire*, 28, Brighton
Aliaksandra Ivanova / EyeEm via Getty Images
Bath time fun
“My most memorable orgasm was about 15 years ago, I was about 18 and it was in the bath. It was this long, slow, gentle build up, I knew when it hit that it was going to be intense and powerful. And it genuinely really was, I nearly blacked out! I saw stars, it was amazing – and definitely one of the best I’ve ever had.
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“But at the same time, I got such a bad cramp in my foot that it completely ruined the aftermath of what was just this amazing experience.” – Alys, 36, London
An LSD experience
“The best orgasm I ever had was when I was on a lot of LSD and it was really intense sex. The way I can describe it is when you have an orgasm, it’s like it goes up and up and up and up and then you reach the absolute peak, the climax, but on this particular time, on LSD, it was like it went up and up and up
and then sideways, an absolute mind-bending sensation, transcending space and time.
“Afterwards, I actually passed out for like a minute and yeah, it ways really, really amazing. Afterwards I remember saying it was like I could see poetry as it happened.” – Michelle*, 29, Suffolk
Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
Exploring anal
“I have this friend who I was kind of seeing in an open relationship, and he was telling me how his partner used to come from anal and I was literally like: ‘That’s a load of crap, girls don’t do that, whatever.’ I was being a real dick about it.
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“Me and my partner are both queer and we were experimenting a little bit with butt stuff, just to see what that was like, which normally really, really hurts but obviously he’s used to doing that with guys. So when we were doing it, we tried the position where I was on top facing him instead and about five minutes in, I had the biggest orgasm ever from my butt.
“This was amazing! But then I had to go to my mate and apologise for basically telling him he was a liar when he was telling me the truth the whole time. So there you go, girls can orgasm from their butt holes, woo-hoo.” – Hannah, 32, London
Completely hands-free
“When my endometriosis caused me to develop vaginismus, the impact on my emotional wellbeing was devastating, but I decided that this condition couldn’t destroy my sex life. I set out on researching different ways of how to orgasm. Through my research, I taught myself what muscles to relax, where to focus my breathing and my energetic intentions. The result is now that I can literally think myself to an orgasm, completely hands-free. It also means that every time during intercourse, I orgasm. Every single time, ladies, and sometimes more than once.” – Victoria, 35, Birmingham


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Mental Health Is Often A Privilege For BIPOC. Here's Why That Needs To Change.

Courtesy of Lorraine Chu The author.
As a first-generation Asian American, I didn’t fully understand until adulthood that being able to openly discuss my mental health is a privilege.
Like so many other immigrants, my parents didn’t have time to deal with their negative emotions when they were starting out as a young family. “Self-care” was not in their vocabulary. To pause could mean sinking and they needed to keep swimming. They had to push past their emotions in order to work five times harder (while being five times more agreeable) in order to be seen as “hardworking” and “good” enough to be taken seriously in America.
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To talk about struggles with mental health is considered a weakness or taboo in many BIPOC communities. My emotions, both good and bad, were never something my family sat around the dinner table discussing. Instead, it was assumed we all would hide or work through our negative emotions by ourselves. Even showing vulnerability through affection was difficult and love was more often expressed through acts of service. A plate of sliced fruit placed in front of you, for example, is the ultimate Asian mom gesture to show they care.
Perhaps thanks to both nurture and epigenetics, anxiety has been my baseline for normal as long as I can remember. As a child, I would stay awake at night regretting that I’d circled the wrong answer on a test ― an answer that I’d immediately looked up after turning in my paper ― or unsettled that my crayons, which I organised by the colours of the rainbow (obviously), were out of order. As an adult, my anxiety often led me to overthink every single interaction I had with just about everyone.
When I began to verbalise my anxiety as an adult, my family ― always well-meaning but practical ― was quick to suggest practical solutions to my anxious or depressed moods:
“Maybe you need a walk for some fresh air.”
“You just need to stop thinking about it.”
“If you prepared better, there wouldn’t be anything to be anxious about.” (Great, I’ll just be hopping into my time machine now!)
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“My emotions, both good and bad, were never something my family sat around the dinner table discussing. Instead, it was assumed we all would hide or work through our negative emotions by ourselves.”
It wasn’t until I was in my early 20s when I started having silent anxiety attacks in the stairwell of my office building ― which hindered my ability to work (sad that work is what got me to this realization) ― that I decided to seek professional help. My search was rushed and uninformed, as I didn’t speak to anyone I knew about it.
I felt embarrassed. In retrospect, I realise that while I know plenty about white co-workers and white influencers on social media going to therapy and the latest advice their therapist gave them, I can’t say the same about BIPOC I know. Only a couple of my closest friends have ever confided in me about going to therapy, and I know they aren’t bringing it up across the conference room at work. At the time, therapy did not feel like something that was geared toward someone like me.
After searching for therapists who took my insurance, I found one on New York’s Upper East Side, an easy trip from my job. At my first session, I started speaking about how my anxiety manifested in areas of my life. The therapist immediately suggested that the root of all this was that my parents had pushed me to overachieve (a common stereotype of first-generation Asian Americans). While that could very well be the case, I had not even spoken for more than five minutes nor had I mentioned my childhood, parents or anything about my upbringing.
I experienced that all-too-familiar tingly, hot-cheeked feeling of being on the receiving end of a microaggression, but I kept going. I wasn’t dismissing her theory; I just wanted to finish speaking. After she quickly brought it up again, I told her I wasn’t positive that’s what it was and wanted to keep exploring all possibilities. I can’t say for certain what happened after I said it, but I definitely felt the mood shift to one of apathy, and we soon ended the session without any talk of me returning. I left feeling guilty, partly because opening up (to a complete stranger) about my mental health seemed somehow like a betrayal (of whom, I’m not sure), and I left feeling dismissed. I wondered if she would have insisted so quickly on the root cause of my problem had I been a fellow white woman explaining the same anxieties or if she would have had the same reaction to me once I had (not really) disagreed with her.
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I then visited a primary care doctor (also white) near my Harlem apartment, hoping to discuss solutions or get a referral. Instead, he looked me up and down and said, “Maybe it’s your weight that’s giving you anxiety. Asian girls are usually more petite, no? I think your focus should be on weight loss first to see if that helps.” This was the kind of advice this doctor gave for mental health? Luckily, as I was then studying to become a dietitian, I knew better and hightailed my fragile ass out of there as fast as I could. But again, I was left with zero solutions and this time even more anxiety than when I had arrived.
“My experience trying to find adequate support for my mental health is only a tiny fraction of what the BIPOC community experiences. Even as a minority, I acknowledge I have many privileges that other BIPOC do not.”
My experience trying to find adequate support for my mental health is only a tiny fraction of what the BIPOC community experiences. Even as a minority, I acknowledge I have many privileges that other BIPOC do not (i.e., I’m middle class, cisgender, straight, light-skinned and thin, except in the eyes of that awful doctor).
BIPOC struggle with getting help for mental health issues on multiple fronts. Not only is admitting mental health problems stigmatised in many BIPOC communities, but health care professionals don’t take our issues as seriously as they do those of their white patients. Among adults with mental illness, a 2015 federal report found that 48% of white people received mental health care, versus only 31% of both Black and Hispanic people and only 22% of Asians.
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As a registered dietitian, I also see this in play: Disparities are present in the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders within BIPOC communities. Barriers to mental health care include lack of or insufficient insurance, mental illness stigma, lack of diversity among mental health care providers, lack of culturally competent providers, language barriers, and distrust in the health care system.
Additionally, society and mainstream media preach a physical ideal that focuses on the thin, white body, which can undermine BIPOC’s own positive body image. Many BIPOC who suffer from disordered eating do not get the help they need, in part, because their bodies do not reflect the image of a white person commonly associated with an eating disorder.
Researchers have found a trend toward higher rates of binge eating disorder in all minority groups. Hispanic adolescents are more likely to suffer from bulimia than their non-Hispanic peers. Black teens are 50% more likely than white teens to exhibit bulimic behaviour, such as binging and purging. But studies show that BIPOC are significantly less likely to receive help for eating issues.
As a health care professional, I have seen firsthand how BIPOC receive lesser care. I have seen fellow practitioners being too impatient to find an appropriate translator, not giving patients a thorough education in their illness, promoting solutions (e.g., certain foods) that are Eurocentric and difficult to obtain (and therefore utilise) by the patient, and exhibiting a general lack of cultural competency.
“In order to provide quality care, practitioners must understand their patients’ cultures and backgrounds and be aware of the disparities and stigmas they face.”
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You can feel hopeless when you reach out for help and this is what you receive. We health care providers have a duty to unlearn old behaviors and adopt better ones. These guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association are a good place to start. In order to provide quality care, practitioners must understand their patients’ cultures and backgrounds and be aware of the disparities and stigmas they face. If I had found a therapist or primary care doctor who took an active role in unpacking their own racial biases about Asians, for example, I might have felt better supported and helped to understand that my anxiety was not a shameful weakness I’d brought on myself.
Because of stigma, the rate of mental illness in BIPOC communities goes underreported. Health care practitioners may not even know of our mental health struggles, which can also underlie more physical symptoms. If we can’t openly discuss mental illness even with those closest to us, we simply won’t get the help we need.
So those of us who can need to start speaking up about mental health and demanding better care. Advocate not only for yourself but also for those in other BIPOC communities, if you have the privilege to do so.
And if you do not agree with your practitioner, if you feel their advice is based on bias, ask them to document their decision and state the reasoning. Documentation in health care is everything; their very license to practice depends on it. If they can’t give sound medical reasons to justify their decision, it could change their response. Hold them accountable.
We all deserve the privilege of proper care.
This article first appeared on HuffPost Personal
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com
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Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--What Grieving Our Family Dog Taught Me About Unconditional Love

Courtesy of the author The author, with Lola
If I gave you £1 every time you’d pointed at a dog and said to the person next to you (or, you know, yourself) “Aah, look at that dog!”, I’m confident we could both eat a Greggs sausage roll (vegan or not) every day for a year. At least.
We’re a nation of dog lovers, and it goes without saying that dogs are one of life’s greatest joys. But here’s the thing: unless you adopt, rescue or buy your dog the day before you die, it’s highly probable you are going to outlive them. So the moment we decide to bring home an animal who will depend on us and love us more than anyone has ever loved us, we’re also signing up for guaranteed heartbreak.
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A year ago, said guaranteed heartbreak came for me, when my mum called with the crushing news that our family dog, Lola, had fallen asleep for the last time.
Four years and nine months prior, Mum had decided to ‘pop down’ to visit me at university. Highly suspicious behaviour – was I in trouble or was it bad news? She said, “I’ve got something to tell you.” I remember saying: “Oh god, are you pregnant?”
Before I had the chance to implode at the thought of having to relate to a sibling from a different generation, she rolled her eyes: “No, I’m not pregnant, Emily. We’re getting another dog.”
“Lola arrived home a few weeks later. An hour after that, I did too. And one minute after that, I fell in love.”
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First, relief. Then pure joy. Then a feeling this might be a secret scheme to get me visiting home more.
Lola arrived home a few weeks later. An hour after that, I did too. And one minute after that, I fell in love. Like our other family dog, Didi, Lola was a shar pei – a bundle of wrinkles with soft, dark brown fur, a black tongue and small ears folded in the shape of a samosa. At first glance, she looked like a velvet loaf of chocolate bread.
For the next four and a half years, Lola would follow Didi around the house, sleep on his bed, and nudge him with toys to get his attention. He showed her where the squirrels lived in the garden, and how to put her paws up on the windowsill so she could keep an eye on what the evil postman was up to. He chased her on the beach, where she loved digging holes, nuzzling her nose right into the sand, barking a ludicrously high-pitched non-dog bark and quickly moving on to dig a new hole – tail wagging the whole time.
But last February, Lola became less keen on her food, and lost so much weight her bones were showing. She had test after test at the vets, and even had the soft fur on her wiggly bottom shaved so they could test her bone marrow for a tumour. But Lola never stopped wagging her tail, which I’m sure was the dog version of putting on a brave face.
One July evening, Lola collapsed in the hallway after a seizure. And the next morning at the vets, she went to sleep for the last time and then she was gone. Just like that. It had been a tumour after all – just not where they’d been looking for one.
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Courtesy of the author Lola
I didn’t believe Mum when she called. I hadn’t consider that there was a chance we might lose Lola – I just assumed she’d get better. But I was so wrong. I sobbed inconsolably, in a way I’d never sobbed before, with Mum at the other end of the phone doing the same.
I didn’t go to work for three days. Friends sent flowers, cards, messages and even came round to make me lunch and let me sob into their laps. If even the non-dog owners in my life understood that the love I had for Lola was so boundless, then surely it proved that she, a small brown dog, had had a hand (or paw) in creating that love?
People will tell you that dogs know their owners are the ones who’ll feed them, so in return they behave in the way they think will increase their chances of getting food. But I don’t think that’s all it is.
We humans love parents, family, friends, partners, stories, jobs, outfits that make us look great, adventures and delicious food that’s so good we forget to take a photo of it for Instagram. But do you love someone so much that when they come through the door, you’re so excited that you don’t know whether to jump up, cry, or run up the stairs, squealing, to fetch your favourite toy to give to them for no reason other than you just wanted to give them something to show your affection, in the best way you could? Do you love someone so much that you lie at their feet in the evening, even though the TV’s loud and you’d snooze much better in your own soft bed than on the hard floor or scratchy carpet? Do you love someone so much that the minute they leave for work, the only thing you want is for them to come back home again, so you wait by the stairs or in the window until they do?
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“We wouldn’t sign ourselves up to a guaranteed heartbreak without knowing that it’s in exchange for the most special, magical, guaranteed form of unconditional love.”
I know my answers. And I think the 26% of people in the UK who own a dog do too. Because surely, we wouldn’t sign ourselves up to a guaranteed heartbreak without knowing that it’s in exchange for the most special, magical, guaranteed form of unconditional love on the planet.
When Lola’s ashes came back, we took her to the beach for the last time. We scattered her into the sea and dug her last hole for her – a little hole for the little dog with the little life who gave nothing but love, and asked only for love back. The beach seemed to be too still, as if it was waiting for all the holes to be dug. Then back at Mum’s later, all her favourite hiding places seemed to be waiting for her there too.
And a whole year on, they still do. It’s a boiling hot day today, and the sun’s shining on every patch of the patio. Somewhere, Lola’s basking in the head of the sun on a patio of her own – tongue out, panging and wagging that tail.
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Emily Ash Powell is a freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter at @emilyashpowell


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--We Taste-Tested Ikea's Vegan Meatballs Against The Meaty Originals

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Forget the flat-pack furniture – most of us are excited to go to Ikea for one thing and one thing only: the meatballs. Catering to all, the Swedish furniture giant already offers up a veggie version of its Scandi treat, made from chunky, chopped-up bits of chickpeas, carrots, peas, peppers, sweetcorn and kale.
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The trend these days, however, is not for vegetables to please vegetarians. It’s for plant-based foods to look and taste like the real meaty deal and draw in the carnivores. You only have to look at McDonald’s McBluffin.
And now Ikea has jumped on this, too, upping its plant-based game by bringing out a new vegan version of its iconic Allemansrätten. With sales of plant-based food products surging in lockdown, it could be a wise move.
So, we went balls to the wall and blind taste-tested the new vegan copycat side-by-side with the meaty OG meatballs to see how they compare.
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Angela Hui Ikea Plant balls
Created with some of the leading suppliers of vegan protein in the industry, Ikea’s new ‘plant balls’ are made from a combination of pea protein, oats, onions, apples and potatoes.
On first inspection, the meat and vegan balls look almost identical, especially when smothered with the gravy (the recipe for which isn’t vegan, containing cream and butter, though it’s easily made with plant-based alternatives).
Honestly though, I can’t tell the two apart. When taking my first blind bite of meatball, I’m instantly reminded of stuffing at Christmas. Packed with herbs and seasonings, and brimming full of flavour. Texture-wise it’s pretty spot on, too.
Soft without being crumbly, tightly packed ‘meat’ that stays together when bitten into and moist, but there is something missing.
I’m eating the vegan version, I realise – which is almost there but slightly drier than its meat counterpart and missing that essential juiciness quality, which is notoriously hard to replicate in vegetarian and vegan foods.
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Angela Hui IKEA Meatballs
The vegan balls have been “developed with one main purpose to recreate a meatball without the meat,” says Hege Sæbjørnsen, sustainability manager for Ikea UK and Ireland.
“With the new plant balls, we can offer meat lovers a great tasting, more sustainable alternative – without compromising on the Ikea meatball experience that is loved by so many.”
Now, I’m only nitpicking here because I’m eating them side-by-side. If I’d only been given the plant-based version, I don’t think I’d be able to tell the difference and as a meat-eater, I would happily eat these again.
If you want to try them for yourself, you’ll have to wait until the end of October when Ikea starts rolling them out in its restaurants. Or, if you can’t wait and want to recreate them at home, they’ll be stocking the plant balls in the bistro from August 3.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Do Face Shields Work Against Covid-19? Here's What Experts Think

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Face shields are becoming an increasingly common sight as lockdown eases, particularly as people head back to work.
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In hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons, where employees come into close contact with customers, workers have been urged to wear extra protection such as clear visors that cover the face – especially if physical distancing isn’t possible.
A face shield “provides a barrier between the wearer and the client from respiratory droplets caused by sneezing, coughing or speaking,” the UK government advice states.
On their own, face shields can help protect the wearer from a cough or sneeze a short distance away – essentially, it stops droplets landing on your face or being inhaled through your nose or mouth. But studies have found smaller aerosols can travel up and underneath the shield.
This is particularly important as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it cannot rule out the possibility that Covid-19 may be airborne.
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Igor Alecsander via Getty Images
A study of healthcare workers found wearing a face shield reduced exposure to flu by 96% in the period immediately after a cough – from 18 inches away. But in the context of a smaller cough aerosol, the face shield was less effective, blocking only 68% of the cough.
In the half an hour period after a cough, during which the aerosol had dispersed throughout the room and larger particles had settled, the face shield was even less effective, the study found – with researchers concluding that people wearing face shields can still inhale infectious airborne particles.
“They cannot be used as a substitute for respiratory protection when it is needed,” researchers concluded of face shields.
But what about in a public setting? Dr Julian Tang, honorary associate professor in respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, tells HuffPost UK that face shields are “better than nothing”.
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He is not alone in recommending wearing a shield and face mask together for “added protection”.
Face shields and visors have the added advantage that they include eye protection, says Dr Tang. This is important as there’s potential for the virus to enter the body through mucous membranes in the eyes.
Shields are also washable and re-useable, and less claustrophobic than masks, he adds, while also allowing for normal communication if worn instead of a face mask – concerns have been raised that opaque face masks and covers make lip-reading impossible for those who rely on it to communicate.
To work best, face shields should fit certain criteria, he says, including:
– Curving around the sides of the face to the ears to reduce aerosols entering from the sides.
– Extending down long enough in front of the face to reduce aerosols from entering underneath the shield.
– Having a tight seal between the top of the face shield and the forehead to reduce the number of aerosols entering from above.
Jennifer Veltman, chief of infectious diseases at Loma Linda University Health in California, says face shields could be useful for people who cannot wear masks, but notes that masks remain the number one form of protection.
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Dr David Strain, a clinician at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, previously told HuffPost UK that face shields on their own are not protective and should be worn in addition to a face mask, rather than as a replacement.
His words are echoed by MIT Medical, which said face shields are not an adequate substitute to face masks as they let the wearer’s droplets escape – and the purpose of mask-wearing is that you do it to protect those around you.
There is a concern that if face shields are worn without a face cover or mask underneath, the wearer’s breath (and therefore, droplets) can be propelled in a strong jet of air downwards.
A pre-print study from the University of Edinburgh on the effectiveness of different types of face cover in protecting against Covid-19 found different shield shapes result in different jets but, unless curved below the chin, they were likely to generate an “intense and fast downward jet” which could be a “significant hazard” if the wearer is standing near a seated person. For example, a hairdresser and client, or restaurant server and customers seated at a table.
One Swiss doctor Marina Jamnicki warned restaurants in Switzerland against using plastic visors after an analysis found they didn’t offer sufficient protection and people who wore them actually got infected, Reuters reported.
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Dr Stephen Griffin, associate professor at the University of Leeds’ school of medicine, tells HuffPost UK face shields “do very little” to prevent the onward transmission of droplet/aerosol-borne viruses as they merely direct the airflow downwards. “This is therefore not the same as wearing a face covering/mask,” he says.
Face shields are often worn by healthcare workers during high-risk scenarios in addition to fitted, filtered masks and eye protection – these three measures in combination help to reduce exposure to virus, he points out. “I would not recommend the wearing of face shields by the general public,” says Dr Griffin.
Ultimately, whether you choose to wear a face shield or not is your choice. But if you do wear one, remember to team it with hand-washing, physical distancing and catching coughs and sneezes in tissues before binning them.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--WHO Warns Coronavirus Pandemic Will Be 'One Big Wave'

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A World Health Organisation official has described the coronavirus pandemic as “one big wave”, highlighting the devastating impact it is currently having on some countries during summer months.
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Margaret Harris warned against complacency in northern hemisphere countries such as the UK as the infection does not share influenza’s tendency to follow seasons.
Pointing to high case numbers at the height of the US summer, she urged vigilance in applying measures and warned against mass gatherings.
“People are still thinking about seasons. What we all need to get our heads around is this is a new virus and...this one is behaving differently,” she said.
“Summer is a problem. This virus likes all weather.”
The comments put the WHO at odds with recent statements from Boris Johnson who has described a rise in cases in Europe as a sign of a second wave.
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WHO officials have been at pains to avoid describing a resurgence of Covid-19 cases like those in Hong Kong as “waves” as this suggests the virus is behaving in ways beyond human control, when in fact concerted action can slow its spread.
Speaking during a virtual briefing in Geneva, Harris said: “We are in the first wave. It’s going to be one big wave. It’s going to go up and down a bit.
“The best thing is to flatten it and turn it into just something lapping at your feet.”
However, she expressed concern about COVID-19 cases coinciding with normal seasonal influenza cases during the southern hemisphere’s winter, and said the Geneva-based body was monitoring this closely.
So far, she said, laboratory samples are not showing high numbers of flu cases, suggesting a later-than-normal start to the season, Reuters reports.
“If you have an increase in a respiratory illness when you already have a very high burden of respiratory illness, that puts even more pressure on the health system,” she said, urging people to be vaccinated against flu.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--We Don't Know When Covid Deaths Data Will Be Accurate, Government Admits

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The government still does not know when a “statistical flaw” that over-counted the number of people killed by coronavirus in the UK will be fixed, HuffPost UK can reveal.
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A review into the anomaly, ordered by health secretary Matt Hancock earlier this month, is under way but there is “no fixed date yet” for when it will report back.
Public Health England (PHE)’s current methodology means people who test positive for the virus but recover and later die of unrelated causes are still identified as Covid-19 deaths.
In a blog entitled “Why no one can ever recover from Covid-19 in England – a statistical anomaly”, Professors Yoon Loke, from the University of East Anglia, and Carl Heneghan, from the University of Oxford, first revealed the problem, and said more robust data was needed.
Health secretary Matt Hancock ordered an urgent review into the way PHE counts fatalities.
The news was seized upon by some as evidence that the severity of the pandemic was being exaggerated, but this does not seem to be the case – more reliable figures such as the number of “excess deaths” reported by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) clearly demonstrate the heavy toll of the virus in the UK.
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The most recent excess figures data show there were 58,000 “excess deaths” in England and Wales between March and the week ending July 17 – that is, the number of people who have died this year over and above the average for the last five years.
Of the deaths registered by July 17, 51,264 actually mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, accounting for almost 15% of all deaths registered in 2020.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Wiley Banned From Facebook And Instagram Over More Anti-Semitic Posts

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Facebook has banned Wiley from its platforms after an account purportedly belonging to the rapper took aim at some of his Jewish critics.
The grime artist was widely condemned for posting a series of anti-Semitic messages on Twitter and Instagram.
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Social networks have faced criticism for not acting sooner to take down the content, with even Downing Street saying their response “has not been good enough”.
An unverified account under the musician’s real name, Richard Kylea Cowie, directed posts at Jewish celebrities including Lord Sugar, BBC presenter Emma Barnett and comedian David Baddiel, all of whom had spoken out against his words.
“Emma Barnett get me on your show,” one post read.
“David Baddiel come and talk to me to my face..Let’s talk,” said another.
A message reportedly mentioning Golders Green, an area of London known for its large Jewish community, was removed before Facebook decided to pull the account altogether.
Wiley’s official verified account was also taken down, as well as his Instagram profile.
“There is no place for hate speech on Facebook and Instagram, and we don’t want it on our platforms,” Facebook said.
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“After initially placing Wiley’s accounts in a seven-day block, we have now removed both his Facebook and Instagram accounts for repeated violations of our policies.”
The move follows pressure from the Board of Deputies of British Jews.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Unemployment ‘Will Soar To 3 Million’ Under Treasury Plan To End Furlough Scheme

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The Treasury’s plans to “prematurely” end the government’s coronavirus furlough scheme will spark mass unemployment this autumn, one of the UK’s leading economic think tanks has warned.
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In its latest report, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) calculated that the jobless rate would surge to around 10% of the country’s workforce – equivalent to three million people on the dole – by the end of the year.
NIESR praised the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme but called on chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend it into next year and abandon his plans to wind it down next month and scrap it completely by the end of October.
Labour’s shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said that the figures showed that the Treasury’s failure to tailor its scheme to specific sectors could prove “a very costly mistake” for people’s jobs and the economy.
Fresh Treasury figures released on Tuesday showed that, as of July 26, 9.5m workers were on the furlough scheme, with 1.2m employers taking part. The cost to the taxpayer to date totals £31.7bn.
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But the think tank said extending the programme until the middle of next year would dramatically cut the number of redundancies, be “relatively inexpensive” and by preventing a rise in long-term unemployment would have “paid for itself”.
Garry Young, NIESR deputy director, said: “The planned closure of the furlough seems to be a mistake, motivated by an understandable desire to limit spending.
“The scheme was intended by the chancellor to be a bridge through the crisis, and there is a risk that it is coming to an end prematurely – and this increases the probability of economic scarring.
“The scheme has been an undeniable success in terms of keeping furloughed employees attached to their jobs.”
The think tank also forecasts that UK GDP is set to fall by 10% in 2020, before increasing by 6% in 2021.
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Treasury chief secretary Steve Barclay refused to reconsider the furlough withdrawal plan, saying the rationale was keeping a link between staff and their jobs. “If you stretch the elastic of that too long, then people start to lose their skills,” he told an event hosted by the Onward think tank.
But Barclay did offer some hope to the worst-hit sectors of the economy, suggesting that assistance packages similar to the £1.7bn provided to the arts will be possible.
Not extending furlough doesn’t mean “that targeted measures won’t be taken where there is a strong business case for doing so,” he said.
A Treasury spokesperson said: “Our job retention scheme has protected 9.5m jobs across the UK and we have extended it until October – meaning it will have been open for eight months, supporting businesses as the economy reopens.
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“It is in no one’s long term interests for the scheme to continue forever, and right that state support is slowly reduced as we focus on getting furloughed employees back to work.
“As part of the next phase of our economic plan to rebuild and recover the country’s economy, we recently announced our Plan for Jobs. We have made up to £30bn available to support, protect and create jobs, helping ensure people and businesses can come back from this crisis.”
Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds told HuffPost UK: “Labour has warned again and again that cutting off furlough support for every sector of the economy in one fell swoop risks a jobs crisis.
“The government’s rushed decision to hand over a one-off, blanket bonus to businesses across the country rather than target support where it’s needed most may prove a very costly mistake.
“Unless the government changes tack, people will lose jobs they might have otherwise kept, viable businesses will go to the wall for reasons beyond their control, and the road to economic recovery will be longer than it needed to be.”
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Shadow Treasury chief secretary Bridget Phillipson added: “Steve Barclay’s admitting what everyone knows: the one-size-fits-all Tory policy simply won’t match the challenges we face ahead.
“We urgently need tailored support for the sectors that need it most. It shouldn’t have taken the government months to work this out.”
Acting Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “Covid-19 confronts us with the most serious recession in 300 years. To get through it we must not simply rebuild, but create a better, greener and fairer economy.
“There are serious questions about the government’s handling of the pandemic that will have to be addressed in an immediate independent inquiry.
“Delaying lockdown back in March and the absence of an economic contingency plan could mean that the economy has suffered needless damage.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-28--Lily Allen 'Grateful For Health And Happiness' As She Marks Year Of Sobriety

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Lily Allen has said she is feeling “grateful for her health and happiness” as she marked a year of sobriety.
The singer shared photographs of herself on holiday in Capri, Italy, on Instagram after reaching the milestone of 12 months without drinking on Tuesday.
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Posting her holiday snaps alongside an older picture of herself appearing to be on a night out, Lily wrote: “1 year completely sober! So grateful for my health and happiness.”
Paloma Faith was among the people congratulating her on her sobriety, commenting: “Amazing ! And what a sexy minx you are.”
Chef Andi Oliver wrote: “You look just gorgeous honey! Glowing glowing from the inside out xxx very proud of you xxx see you soon xx.”
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Lily has spoken openly in the past about her struggles with alcohol, most notably in her autobiography My Words Exactly and her most recent album, No Shame.
In a 2018 interview, Lily also spoke to GQ about what she referred to as her “codependent” relationship with alcohol, revealing that at a particular time in her personal life years earlier, things had become “really bad”, to the extent she was drinking a bottle of vodka a night.
“I lost my house and my kids started to feel distant and I broke up with my husband and started to realise [drinking like that] probably wasn’t working,” she told the magazine.
At the time, Lily claimed: “I’ve always been a big self-medicator… now knowing that, if I’m not feeling 100 percent, I just stay away from drugs and alcohol, basically.”