thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--Is Rishi Rushing The End Of State Support For Furloughed Workers?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus. PA
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Summer lovin’, happened so fast
Government exit routes out of the coronavirus pandemic are an almost impossible balancing act. Boris Johnson knows that the lockdown is squeezing the windpipe of the economy, but he can’t do anything that risks a second wave of infections and deaths. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has an equally difficult task in calibrating how long to keep state support in place and how quickly he should start rebuilding the public finances.
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So far, Sunak has maintained a political consensus with his huge programme of support for workers. Sensibly, he has adjusted the plans as he’s gone along, after consulting trade unions (who’d have thought it?), business and Opposition parties. Today’s ‘flexible furlough’ policy is another example of him listening to calls to allow part-time or short-working as firms gradually get back to business. The extension of the self-employed support was similarly welcomed.
But although Sunak has devised a tapered end to the scheme, there are still plenty of people worried that he is taking too big a gamble with his plan to start pulling the plug in August and September. Not surprisingly, most of the questions at his press conference centred on the risk that firms will start laying people off once asked to foot the bill for their wages, pensions and national insurance.
And the tough balancing act was nowhere more stark than in Sunak’s own words. Thanks to some speechwriter who fancies themselves as a cut-price WH Auden, the Chancellor opened with what sounded like a poem titled ‘Bye-Bye Lockdown, Hello Sunshine’. “Office lights will be turned on and windows thrown open/Work clothes and school uniforms will be pulled out of the wardrobe/Shops and factories will start to hum with activity...”
But when it came to the actual Q&A he had to admit that things won’t look so sunny for job prospects in late summer and early autumn. “There will be hardship ahead for many and that rests heavily on my shoulders, I am very conscious of that,” he said. You have to keep reminding yourself that this is a politician admitting joblessness will rise. “I will work very hard for all of those who do lose their jobs, I’m working as hard as I can get them back into work - and good work - as soon as possible.”
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In fact, that task of getting people back into work is the role of the work and pensions secretary (the clue is in the title). Which makes it even more bizarre that Therese Coffey has not led a single one of the No.10 press conferences since they began way back in mid-March. Let me repeat that, not a single one.
This, despite Universal Credit being in demand as never before and DWP having some good news to share for once (the system has withstood the online strain). The PM himself told the liaison committee this week that he wanted more women at the press briefings, so here’s a free tip: call for Coffey.
The biggest problem with Sunak’s plans today however was that they failed to grasp that some sectors really will be hit harder than others. The Resolution Foundation estimates that two million staff working in hospitality are furloughed and it is the prime area for layoffs, with younger workers particularly at risk of the dole.
Of course, if the government can find a way to safely reopen hotels, restaurants and pubs, a lot of that economic pain could be avoided. The PM talked this week about possibly relaxing the UK’s 2m rule to perhaps come into line with the 1.5m or 1m elsewhere in Europe. At a stroke that would hugely help some hospitality firms to survive and it’s surprising more urgency isn’t shown on this precise topic.
Only today, we learned that Sage had decided to change its mind on face-coverings some 20 days before the official advice was changed. That’s a gap between evidence and action that will dismay some MPs, particularly those who think the 14-day quarantine plan for overseas visitors will damage business as well as tourism. Today, we learned that just seven people had died in London from Covid. By next week, it could be down to zero. But on June 8, anyone who wants to fly into the capital will be required to self-isolate for a fortnight.
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This feels particularly perverse as the UK is the country most in danger of being the pariah on foreign travel. Only today, Greece listed all the countries it will take visitors from once it reopens for tourism from June 15, and we were not on the list. During Sunak’s press conference, No.10 revealed Johnson had had a phone call with Donald Trump where they discussed the late June G7 summit in Camp David, and “the importance of leaders meeting in the US in person if possible”. If the PM does go, will he and his team face the ignominy of a two-week self-isolation on their return?
If that seems surreal, the whole summer may feel surreal for many. A chunk of the population in secure jobs have built up savings during lockdown, but a number have had incomes really squeezed and are teetering on the edge of redundancy. That big divide looks like it will get worse in the autumn and beyond. As we’ve basked in record sunshine this May, most people’s minds have been taken off the gloom. But the weather could well change in more ways than one.
Sunak today rolled the dice as he hoped the UK would avoid a severe winter of discontent. For all our sakes, we had better hope he gets lucky.
Quote Of The Day
“Many of us would prefer to see the incidence [of Covid-19] down to lower levels before we relax measures.”
Professor John Edmunds, member of Sage
Friday Cheat Sheet
A total of 38,161 people in the UK have died after testing positive for Covid-19.
The UK’s coronavirus furlough scheme will finish at the end of October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed. From August, employers must pay National Insurance and pension contributions, then 10% of pay from September, rising to 20% in October.
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Only half of people who show coronavirus symptoms have been self-isolating for at least a week, the latest minutes of the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) have revealed.
Matt Hancock is facing a second warning from the UK’s statistics watchdog about government figures for daily Covid-19 tests.
Nearly three million people registered as a British national (overseas) in Hong Kong could be eligible for UK citizenship if China presses ahead with a controversial new security law.
The police chief who carried out the investigation into Dominic Cummings is now facing an inquiry over her force’s handling of the matter, after complaints from the public, the Telegraph reported.
What I’m Reading
Why The Cabinet Office Will Be In The Dock Over Covid - ConservativeHome
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--Derek Chauvin: Police Officer Filmed Kneeling On George Floyd's Neck Charged With Murder

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Protesters gather at the scene where George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was pinned down by a police officer kneeling on his neck before later dying in hospital. Eric Miller / Reuters
The Minnesota police officer filmed kneeling on the neck of a man who later died in custody has been charged with murder.
George Floyd’s death on Monday night in Minneapolis sparked violent protests across the US, pitting protesters against police in a number of major cities.
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Video taken by a bystander showed the 46-year-old pleading that he could not breathe as a white officer, later named as Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck.
Minnesota’s public safety commissioner announced Chauvin had been taken into custody on Friday evening and was later charged with third-degree murder.
Derek Chauvin has now officially been taken into custody, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He is the officer seen with his knee on George Floyd’s neck. #GeorgeFloyd — Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) May 29, 2020
Chauvin and four other officers involved in the incident were fired on earlier this week.
Earlier on Friday, Minnesota governor Tim Walz called for an end to the violent protests that have rocked Minneapolis and said the state’s National Guard would work to restore order following three nights of arson, looting and vandalism.
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Walz also said he expected “swift” justice for the officers involved and promised a reckoning with the racial inequities behind the unrest triggered by Floyd’s death.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--'Dominic Cummings Must Be Sacked' Petition Gets More Than 1m Signatures

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More than a million people have signed a petition calling for Boris Johnson’s top aide Dominic Cummings to be sacked over his lockdown trip to Durham.
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Police said Cummings’ trip to Barnard Castle from Durham, where he had already travelled on a 260-mile journey from London, “might” have breached lockdown rules.
HuffPost UK understands that the force’s use of the word “might” in its statement relates solely to the fact that any determination of a potential breach would be decided by the courts.
The prime minister has stood by his adviser, triggering a revolt of dozens of Tory MPs and a sharp decline in personal and party poll ratings.
Now a change.org petition – called “Dominic Cummings must be sacked” – has attracted more than a million public signatures.
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Friday’s Downing Street daily press conference, headed by chancellor Rishi Sunak, was the first time in a week ministers have not been asked about the aide’s conduct.
Dominic Cummings arriving at his home. EMPICS Entertainment
A police and crime commissioner said on Friday that the PM’s easing of lockdown restrictions announced on Thursday appeared “rushed forward to help ministers in a difficult position”.
Northumbria’s Labour police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness said: “One of the hallmarks of the government’s handling of this deadly pandemic has sadly been a series of mistimed and badly explained messages.
“By pre-announcing changes to lockdown ahead of a tempting weekend of sunshine, the PM must have known he was going to create a situation that is difficult to police.
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“The messaging looks like it was rushed forward to help ministers in a difficult position.
“When our country eventually gets through this and the inevitable inquiry into the government’s handling takes place, the communications plan, or the lack of, will have to be part of that.
“My message to people is to follow the latest guidelines, avoid large groups and be patient as we seek to reduce the R number and slow the spread of this deadly virus.”
It came as attorney general Suella Braverman faced calls to apologise for defending Cummings’ trip.
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds suggested Braverman’s actions undermined the legal independence of her office.
Braverman had previously declared her support for Cummings, saying “protecting one’s family is what any good parent does”, and endorsed a statement from No.10 which said Cummings had behaved both “responsibly and legally”.
Thomas-Symonds told BBC Radio 4′s Today Programme: “I can’t comment precisely on the communication between the attorney general and Durham Police, but what I can say for certain is this – the attorney general was wrong to be out making public statements about an individual case before even the police had made a public statement, and particularly given her role as superintendent of the Crown Prosecution Service.
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“She shouldn’t have been commenting on an individual case in those circumstances. That is to misunderstand the role of the attorney general – to give unvarnished advice to government without fear or favour – and at the bare minimum she should apologise for that.”
Thomas-Symonds’ comments come after Labour’s shadow attorney general Lord Falconer wrote to Braverman earlier this week arguing that her tweet was part of a “politically orchestrated campaign” in support of Cummings.
He added that she had breached the principle that her decisions should be free from “political considerations or influence”.
Responding to Lord Falconer’s letter on Wednesday, Braverman said: “There is of course no question of my having offered any public legal view (as you know, law officers do not publish their legal advice much less tweet about it), nor of seeking to pre-empt any formal investigation.
“The purpose of my comments, as I think would be obvious to a fair-minded observer, was simply to support the decision to clarify events. You will understand that I propose to make no further comment.”
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In a second letter on Thursday, she added: “As you know, the police and Crown Prosecution Service operate independently and I have no role in their day to day decisions in individual cases.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--19 Year Old Starts A Pizza Company From His Car To Feed Vulnerable People

19 Year Old Starts A Pizza Company From His Car To Feed Vulnerable People
A 19-year-old from London is helping to raise the spirits of vulnerable people affected by the coronavirus outbreak by dishing out arguably the most delicious food of all – pizza. Alfie Fletcher, along with his sister Amber and girlfriend Allegra Della Ragione, decided to offer free homemade Neapolitan pizzas to homeless people and frontline workers. Called Pandemic Pizza and served from the back of his Land Rover Fletcher says he will continue to donate his wood-fired snacks until the money he has raised runs out.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--West Midlands Police Under Investigation Over Alleged Excessive Force Against Black Men

Nine investigations into the incidents are underway. monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
Six alleged cases of excessive force used against Black men by West Midlands Police are under investigation.
Police watchdog The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched nine investigations into the cases, which include a fractured ankle, two uses of a Taser, and the stop and search of a 15-year-old boy.
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Four of the incidents involve alleged use of force by one officer who has been suspended by the force, while two investigations are scrutinising the actions of officers who were in supervisory roles when those incidents took place.
The West Midlands regional director for the IOPC has spoken out to “reassure” local communities about their concerns surrounding excessive force.
Derrick Campbell said: “We are now looking at nine investigations connected to alleged excessive use of force on Black men following six separate incidents in the Birmingham area since February.
“Footage from some of these incidents was circulated via social media and the mainstream media, and I have personally called in some of these matters for investigation using my powers under the Police Reform Act after concerns were raised with me by the community.
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“I would like to reassure communities in the West Midlands that full, fair and thorough independent investigations are under way into all of these incidents and the conduct matters brought to our attention by the force. That is our role.
“I am also conscious that we do not pre-empt the outcome of these investigations. Our inquiries are looking at all the circumstances and whether the use of force by officers was justified and proportionate in each of these instances.
“We are also looking into complaints that police allegedly acted in a discriminatory manner towards some of the men involved.”
The six incidents reported include the use of a Taser on a man in Handsworth on February 27, the arrest of a man riding a bicycle in Frederick Road, Birmingham, on April 20, the stop and search of a 15-year-old boy in Newtown on April 21, the detention of a man stopped in a Handsworth street on April 23, the use of force on a man, including deployment of Taser, following a foot chase in Winson Green on May 4 and a fractured ankle sustained by a man arrested in Digbeth on May 14.
Footage of the incident involving the teenager was shared widely on social media at the time of the incident and shows an officer striking and kicking the boy. The IOPC launched an investigation into the incident, while the boy’s mother also made a formal complaint.
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The watchdog said it was later made aware of a second incident involving the same officer where it is alleged excessive force was used against another member of the public.
Campbell said the use of force by police was an “essential tool” to enable officers to respond to “dangerous and challenging situations”, but stressed actions must be “reasonable, appropriate and proportionate.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--JK Rowling Speaks Out Over 'Accidental' Tweet About Transgender Woman

JK Rowling has spoken out after tweeting – and swiftly deleting – a post which contained a sentence misgendering a transgender woman.
The Harry Potter writer recently unveiled her new children’s story The Ickabog, and for the last few days has been sharing art created by her young fans, inspired by her new work.
JK Rowling Taylor Hill via Getty Images
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However, on Friday afternoon, she shared one fan’s picture with an unfortunate additional message.
“I love this truly fabulous Ickabog, with its bat ears, mismatched eyes and terrifying bloodstained teeth!” she wrote.
Her tweet then continued: “In court, Wolf claimed the Facebook post in which she’d said he wanted to ‘fuck up some TERFS’ was just ‘bravado’.”
That second sentence was seemingly copy and pasted from a website called Feminist Current, more specifically an article about transgender activist Tara Wolf, who was fined £150 for assaulting Maria Maclachlan in 2018.
In the article JK was seemingly quoting, Tara is branded a “trans-identified male”, and referred to throughout – including in the sentence copied and pasted by the Harry Potter author – as “he”.
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The post was removed from JK Rowling’s account around 20 minutes after it was first shared.
A screengrab of JK Rowling's tweet, which has since been deleted Twitter
She has since re-uploaded the first part of her original tweet, along with the message: “Sorry about the random and totally unconnected sentence that made its way in there. I accidentally pasted in part of a very un-Ickaboggish message I’d just received.”
I love this Ickabog with bat ears, bloodstained fangs and mismatched eyes! A really amazing picture! https://t.co/UgWFanRmZ8 — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 29, 2020
(Sorry about the random and totally unconnected sentence that made its way in there. I accidentally pasted in part of a very un-Ickaboggish message I'd just received 😳) — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 29, 2020
A representative for JK Rowling told HuffPost UK the deleted tweet contained “a cut and paste error, unrelated to the intended message, and originating from a message the author had received”.
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They added: “She has apologised and the tweet has been deleted.”
Back in 2018, the Wizarding World creator was accused of transphobia when she was seen “liking” a tweet referring to transgender women as “men in dresses”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus Self-Employed Income Support Extended For One Final Payment

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The government scheme to support self employed people with their income during the coronavirus pandemic is being extended to a second one-off and final payment of 70% of average monthly profits.
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Rishi Sunak announced on Friday he would be extending the “lifeline” so self employed people can claim a second and final grant in August.
A cross-party group of 113 MPs had today urged the chancellor to extend the programme.
But he stressed that it is time to begin to “reopen the country and kickstart our economy”.
It will be less generous than the first grant, which paid out 80% of average earnings.
The second grant will be worth 70% of average monthly trading profits and will be capped at £6,570 in total.
Sunak also revealed plans to start winding down the government’s contributions to the furlough scheme which pays 80% of workers’ wages while they cannot work during to the lockdown.
From July 1, employers will be given the flexibility to bring workers back part time as long as they pay their wages for hours worked.
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From August government support for the job retention scheme will then slowly be tapered away until the scheme finishes at the end of October, with employers asked to pay more in national insurance and pension contributions and a proportion of wages.
Furloughed workers will receive 80% of their pay for the duration of the scheme.
The CBI told HuffPost UK earlier this month that there are people currently on furlough whose jobs “no longer exist”, and there are fears of mass redundancies as the support is lifted from the 8.4m workers on the scheme.
It is understood that the Treasury is looking at making other forms of government support available later in the year as the economy moves into a new phase of the downturn.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak walks through from the foreign office to Downing Street after the introduction of measures to bring the country out of lockdown Aaron Chown - PA Images via Getty Images
Sunak said: “Our top priority has always been to support people, protect jobs and businesses through this crisis.
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“The furlough and self-employment schemes have been a lifeline for millions of people and businesses.
“We stood behind Britain’s businesses and workers as we came into this crisis and we stand behind them as we come through the other side.
“Now, as we begin to re-open our country and kickstart our economy, these schemes will adjust to ensure those who are able to work can do so, while remaining amongst the most generous in the world.”
So far, 2.3m people have made claims for self employment income support, worth £6.8bn.
The job retention scheme has meanwhile helped 1m employers furlough 8.4m jobs.
From August, the level of government support will be gradually cut back for the furlough scheme.
Firstly in that month, employers will need to begin paying employer national insurance and pension contributions. For the average claim, the Treasury estimates this represents 5% of the gross cost of employing that worker had they not been furloughed.
In September, the government will only pay 70% of workers’ wages up to a cap of £2,190, with employers paying national insurance and pension contributions and 10% of wages to make up the total of 80% paid to the worker. This represents 14% of gross employment costs for the average claim.
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In October, the government will only pay 60% of wages up to a cap of £2,190, while employers pay national insurance and pension contributions and 20% of wages to make up the total 80% paid to the worker. This represents 23% of the gross employment costs for the average claim.
Employers will be required to submit data on the usual hours an employee would be expected to work in a claim period and actual hours worked.
Employees who believe they are not getting their 80% share can also report any concerns to the HMRC fraud hotline.
Anneliese Dodds, Labour’s shadow chancellor, said the government’s decision to extend the help for self employed workers was welcome.
But she said it was “concerning that there is no commitment within these plans for support to only be scaled back in step with the removal of lockdown”.
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“Nor is there any analysis of the impact on unemployment of a ‘one size fits all’ approach being adopted across all sectors,” she said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--Exclusive: Matt Hancock Faces Second Warning Over Coronavirus Test Figures

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Britain’s statistics watchdog is expected to warn Matt Hancock that it still has concerns about government figures for daily Covid-19 tests, HuffPost UK can reveal.
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Hancock is in a race against time to hit Boris Johnson’s target of 200,000 daily tests by Monday, as part of the wider goal to get a “world beating” test-and-trace system in place by June 1 to ease the country’s path out of lockdown.
But with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) not expected to publish statistics on capacity until Sunday, just hours before the deadline, critics fear the target could be achieved by new moves to “artificially” inflate the figures.
Sir David Norgrove, the chair of the UK Statistics Authority, told Hancock on May 11 that he had concerns about the “trustworthiness” of the way the government was presenting and counting its numbers of tests for the virus.
In a little-noticed move, Hancock replied to the watchdog this week to define the 200,000 figure as “capacity” rather than actual number of tests conducted.
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Hancock said that he was publishing “a clear definition of how our target of capacity to perform 200,000 tests a day by the end of May will be measured and reported”.
But it is understood that Sir David believes the minister has not fully addressed his concerns, not least on safeguards to avoid double-counting and the need to provide more detail on the nature and types of testing.
He and his colleagues at the watchdog are considering sending a new letter outlining their views next week.
It is rare for the UK Statistics Authority to write directly to cabinet ministers and the original letter was described as a “diplomatically-worded but strong public rebuke”.
Sir David, a former Treasury economist and private secretary to Margaret Thatcher, is widely respected across Whitehall.
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Some experts have heavily criticised the government for relying on the number of swab tests posted out to the public – without them even being returned to a lab – to help the government reach Hancock’s earlier target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April.
There are also complaints that expecting the public to correctly swab themselves at home, rather than have a trained professional carry it out, is unrealistic given the invasive procedure currently needed.
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, who has just joined the board of the UK Statistics Authority, has been scathing about the way the government has handled its Covid-19 figures.
Sir David, who attends Sage group of scientists advising ministers, told the Andrew Marr programme earlier this month that the daily No.10 briefings are “not trustworthy communication of statistics”.
Data given during the briefings was “completely embarrassing” and amounted to “number theatre”, he said. The decision to include the number of tests posted to people, but not yet completed, rendered the figures “inaccurate”.
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Some academics suspect that Hancock will use the new antibody tests, which were rolled out this week for the first time, to help meet the 200,000 target set by the prime minister in the Commons.
“That would look like artificially inflating the figures. These aren’t tests of people who have it now, but of people who have had it before,” one analyst said.
But ever since he unveiled his five “pillars” of testing in early April, Hancock has always insisted that antibody tests – if they could be made viable in time – would be part of the wider target.
He announced last week that 10m antibody tests, which reveal whether someone has previous had the virus rather than if they currently have it, had been bought from pharma giant Roche and would be sent to key NHS staff.
The antibodies are “Pillar 3” of the testing strategy’s five elements, set out by the health secretary in early April.
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On Friday, some London hospitals told staff every employee could now be offered the antibody test over the weekend.
One NHS trust emailed staff to reveal that “we are pleased to confirm that our capacity for testing has been significantly increased” and each of them could book a slot over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
As of Thursday, the most recent day for figures on different “pillars”, there were no figures for antibody tests. But by Sunday, the total could have increased dramatically.
For more than a week, the DHSC has also described as “unavailable” the actual number of people tested by some labs, rather than the number of tests completed.
As of 9am 28 May, there have been 3,918,079 tests, with 119,587 tests on 27 May.
269,127 people have tested positive.
As of 5pm on 27 May, of those tested positive for coronavirus, across all settings, 37,837 have sadly died. pic.twitter.com/zj0HjOtMDG — Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) May 28, 2020
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Dave Buck, a senior fellow in public health at the King’s Fund, said Hancock’s letter “did not directly address” the concern about posted swabs being included in the overall target.
“More broadly, there is a change to the ‘ambition’ to say it is about the capacity to conduct 200,000 tests a day. It’s a subtle change in language but clearly there to be seen.”
Dr Kit Yates, senior lecturer in mathematical sciences at Bath University, said: “The data is certainly more accessible but still lacks much of the transparency Sir David and the UK Statistics Authority were hoping for.
“In particular, figures on the actual number of people tested daily are listed as ‘unavailable’ and a breakdown of testing figures by region or other potentially useful categorisation is still notably lacking.”
The DHSC has been approached for comment. Some 131,458 tests were carried out or dispatched in the 24 hours up to 9am on Friday, with 2,095 positive results.
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Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth told HuffPost UK: “Given the Cummings fiasco, public trust is draining away from ministers.
“That’s why the UK Statistics Authority is right to castigate Matt Hancock. We need clarity over how many PCR tests have been carried out on people on a daily basis, how quickly they were turned around and a breakdown of how the 200,000 promise will be delivered.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--Watch Live: Rishi Sunak Leads Daily Coronavirus Briefing

Watch Live: Rishi Sunak Leads Daily Coronavirus Briefing
Chancellor Rishi Sunak leads the Downing Street press conference alongside NHS England’s medical director Professor Stephen Powis. He is expected to announce changes to the government’s furlough scheme, making employers contribute to wages of furloughed workers.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--Robert Jenrick Faces Calls To Resign After 'Unlawfully' Approving Tory Donor's £1bn Housing Project

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The £1bn project on the former Westferry Printworks site on London’s Isle of Dogs was approved in January by Jenrick – a last-minute reprieve after the council and then the independent Planning Inspectorate both deciding it should be refused. They had said it lacked enough affordable housing and conflicted with local conservation policy.
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But the housing secretary’s decision came just a day before Tower Hamlets Council approved a new rate for its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – a move that would have increased the property owner’s financial liability to the local authority by between £30m and £50m.
That money would have been spent mitigating the impact of the development on the local area, and improving local services. Instead, thanks to Jenrick’s timing, it stayed in the pocket of the developer.
Now Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal what knowledge, if any, he had of the deal.
The building used to be the Daily Express printworks on the Millwall waterfront. The land is owned by Northern & Shell, which is in turn owned by publishing magnate and former Tory donor Richard Desmond.
Jenrick, who faced criticism for his approach to social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak, has been labelled “unfit to continue to serve” after denying vital investment in east London where affordable housing is scarce.
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The Labour Party has also written to the cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill calling for an investigation into the matter.
Apsana Begum, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse – the constituency that includes the printworks – told HuffPost UK: “We have one of the highest rates of child poverty in the entire country and struggle with the near-impossible situation of having soaring monthly rents, which all too often mean people, particularly those on low incomes, are faced with an increased risk of homelessness.
“This whole debacle is further evidence that this government is more interested in serving billionaires rather than local people.
“The housing minister – whose properties include a £1.1m mansion built by an 18th century slave-trader – should consider his position given the alleged revelations surrounding the quashing of the planning permission for the huge Westferry Printworks scheme.”
The council began legal action in March, alleging that the timing of the decision appeared to show bias. It asked the High Court to order the government to disclose documents that, it argued, would show Jenrick was influenced by a desire to help Desmond save money by avoiding the charges.
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Faced with the prospect of having to publicly release documents relating to the case, Jenrick accepted his decision letter was “unlawful by reason of apparent bias” and confirmed it was deliberately issued before the new CIL policy could be adopted. He agreed planning permission should be quashed and decided by a different minister.
“This whole debacle is further evidence that this government is more interested in serving billionaires rather than local people.” - Local MP Apsana Begum
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The story was originally reported by the East London Advertiser last week and followed up by The Times on Wednesday. In an editorial, the national newspaper called for further “scrutiny”. “It is an extraordinary admission that requires an explanation rather than just passing the decision on to another minister,” it said.
Now political parties are demanding answers amid claims the controversy has been masked by Dominic Cummings dominating the headlines.
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In his letter to the cabinet secretary, Labour’s shadow housing and planning minister Mike Amesbury wrote: “The consequence of Mr Jenrick’s decision was to save a developer a very great amount of money and [gives] rise to serious questions which require answers.”
In a further statement, he added: “Serious questions need to be answered about why this decision was taken, a decision which could have saved a Conservative donor tens of millions of pounds, and in the process deprived local residents of vital infrastructure funding.
“It’s essential that we have transparency in processes such as this so that trust can be maintained in our housing and planning system.
“I hope the Cabinet Office will uphold this spirit of transparency, do the right thing and conduct a thorough investigation into the events around this decision.”
Amesbury said the investigation should establish what discussions were held between Jenrick or his office and the developer, and what knowledge prime minister Boris Johnson had of the case, if any.
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The party wants the correspondence that Jenrick avoided handing over to be published.
And Labour wants to know how it can trust the decision when it is taken again by a different cabinet member.
Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat housing, communities and local government spokesperson, told HuffPost UK: “Jenrick’s calculated decision to sign off a huge development just in time to save a party donor millions exposes something rotten at the heart of this Conservative government.
“This is yet another example of Tory ministers showing it is one rule for them and their cronies, and another for everyone else.
“If the minister accepts his decision to sign off the project was unlawful, then he should also accept that he is unfit to continue to serve in that role.”
Labour peer Lord Andrew Adonis has called for the Metropolitan Police to look into the matter, and the Conservative Party leader in Tower Hamlets has resigned from the party altogether because it looks “very suspicious”.
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In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, Jenrick told Adam Boulton the application was decided “on its merits” and done “without any actual bias”.
He added: “But clearly the way that the process was run gave rise to some concerns and so that’s why we’ve chosen to quash the decision.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--Belly Mujinga: Police Will Take No Action Over Death Of Railway Worker Who Was Spat At

“As a result of our enquiries, we can now be confident that this incident did not lead to Belly’s tragic death.
“Our thoughts remain with her family and we will continue to support them as they come to terms with the loss of their much-loved mother and wife.”
Mujinga’s union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), said at the time of the news of her death that she had been left extremely shaken by the incident and urged her bosses at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to call the police.
She is said to have pleaded not to be sent back outside, asking instead to work from inside the ticket office. Mujinga had underlying health issues for which she had taken time off work previously, and said she was scared for her life.
The request was allegedly refused and Mujinga was sent back out on the concourse. She died on April 5, leaving behind an 11-year-old daughter Ingrid, and husband Lusamba Gode Katalay.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--How To Have A Socially Distanced Barbecue With Family And Friends

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Those planning to host a barbecue next week should consider one-way systems of travel around the grill and bringing their own condiments, an expert has said.
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From June 1, groups of up to six people in England will be able to enjoy socially distanced meetings in parks and gardens, Boris Johnson announced on Thursday.
After announcing the new restrictions, he said: “What you certainly can imagine is there could be meetings of families in a garden, you could even have a barbecue provided you did it in a socially distanced way, provided everyone washes their hands, provided everybody exercises common sense.”
Behavioural neuroscientist at the University of Reading’s School of Psychology, Professor Patricia Riddell, recommended some measures those worried about spreading the virus could take to stay safe.
Prof Riddell said people shouldn’t feel obliged to meet larger groups just because it’s legally allowed – but for those who do, their most important consideration is their guest list.
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“The first thing I would be doing is thinking who do I want to include in my group – who has been taking the same level of risk that I have and won’t put me and my family at risk,” she said.
“As harsh as it sounds, some people are on the front line and are exposed to the risk, and you need to be aware of the risk they might bring.”
Prof Riddell recommended asking guests to bring their own cutlery, plates and condiments to reduce the risk of virus transmission through touching the same surfaces – and having only one person using the tongs.
She also endorsed serving food on plates from a distance rather than everyone approaching the grill, setting out seats in advance for people to sit two metres apart, and sitting alongside each other rather than face to face.
Maskot via Getty Images
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“You could have routes of travel so people go round one way to the barbecue,” Riddell said. “I think you could make it quite good fun, almost like an obstacle course or game. Instead of forcing rigid and hard rules, make it imaginative, creative and fun.”
The expert said there’s going to be greater pressure on us to do more, especially from our kids, “and it’s about how do you do it in a way that’s fun but also takes into consideration that we are still at risk”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--Monkeys Attack Medical Official, Steal Coronavirus Samples And Then Eat Them

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A troop of monkeys in India attacked a medical official, snatched blood samples of patients who had tested positive for coronavirus, and then retreated up a tree to nibble them, authorities said on Friday.
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The attack occurred this week when a laboratory technician was walking in the campus of a state-run medical college in Meerut, 460km (285 miles) north of Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh state.
“Monkeys grabbed and fled with the blood samples of four Covid-19 patients who are undergoing treatment ... we had to take their blood samples again,” said Dr S. K. Garg, a top official at the college.
B Mathur / Reuters
Authorities said they were not clear if the monkeys had spilled the blood samples, but people living near the leafy campus feared further spread of the virus if the monkeys carried the samples into residential areas, Reuters reports.
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Garg said it was not clear if the monkeys could contract the coronavirus if they came into contact with infected blood.
“No evidence has been found that monkeys can contract the infection,” Garg told Reuters.
The virus is believed to have jumped from animals into people in a wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.
India has had 165,799 cases of the coronavirus and 4,706 deaths.
Monkeys have been increasingly straying into human settlements in India and causing disturbances, even attacking people.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--324 More Coronavirus Deaths Recorded Across UK In 24 Hours

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The number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 38,161 – an increase of 324 over 24 hours.
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Since the end of April, the government’s daily announcement has included people in care homes and the community, rather than just in hospital, who have died.
But only those who had tested positive for Covid-19 are included, meaning anyone who died with a suspected case won’t be recorded.
The figures cover the period up to 5pm on Thursday.
It comes after the number of people who have died in hospitals across the UK, as well as care homes in Wales, after contracting the virus rose by 177 in 24 hours.
That increase consisted of 149 in England, 15 in Scotland, 10 in Wales and three in Northern Ireland.
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Meanwhile, in the 24 hours up to 9am on Friday, 131,458 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 2,095 positive results.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-29--The Police Are About To Face Their Biggest Challenge Yet

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The horrific scenes from the US of George Floyd being held down by a police officer, unable to breathe, had a huge effect on Mohammed Khan.
Watching those scenes, Khan was reminded of his own traumatic experience when police allegedly used excessive force during his arrest last year, causing him to pass out.
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His was one of the cases I supported to try and understand what happened. The police have since been unable to explain why he was detained, and this experience has had a long-lasting effect on his mental health.
Prior to lockdown, he was hospitalised several times following the incident. Now, living in overcrowded conditions on a cramped social housing estate in lockdown and looking after his severely diabetic mother, he suffers from anxiety and stress.
His family worry that if they are living under such enormous pressure impacting on their mental wellbeing then there must be police officers who too will be living under similar circumstances. And suffering similarly from stress.
Arguments arise, tempers flare and physical scuffles that lead to serious assaults can happen in an environment that is not ready for a new type of community policing.
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In George Floyd’s case, it was evident the behaviour of the police was appalling but as the lockdown gradually eases, the UK’s focus must be on what challenges community policing will inevitably face in a post-lockdown era.
This is a difficult situation as the police also fear for their own lives, particularly when we look to the epidemic of knife crime that continues to plague the UK’s biggest cities. The police are already fearing an explosion of violent crime as rival drug gangs try to re-establish their dominance across London following the lockdown.
There needs to be a meaningful discussion ahead of time about the positive measures that could be taken to reduce the risk of this happening in the future – both in terms of police training and guidelines, and helping and supporting those often black and minority ethnic communities who are most at risk from this type of crime, and being lured into carrying out this type of crime.
It begins with education and engaging young people. Gang leaders and drug dealers often fill the void in the lives of impressionable young men.
For many people, the lockdown will have created a toxic mix of grief, isolation, hunger, deprivation and sometimes domestic abuse, which will create a new environment for policing, in addition to dealing with those who have flouted and exploited the rules.
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Even Sadiq Khan spoke about having bad days and good days despite living in a house with a garden during lockdown. So we need to ask ourselves, what can help shore against bad policing days after lockdown?
New figures show that Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in England are 54% more likely to be fined than white people under the coronavirus laws, figures reveal. However, interestingly there have been reports that certain groups are struggling to adhere to government guidelines surrounding social distancing, which would therefore be one explanation for the figures. Unsurprising when you look at the correlation between overcrowding and poverty.
The unique cocktail of emotions that this pandemic has stirred up risks tipping us into a more volatile version of normal. How, therefore, can we deal with this without investment into treating violence on both sides of the law?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--Restaurant Owner Shows Solidarity With US Protesters: ‘Let My Building Burn’

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A restaurant owner in Minneapolis whose building was damaged during protests has added his voice to the chorus of activists seeking justice after police killed a Black man by kneeling on his neck.
Gandhi Mahal, an Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant located about a block from the Minneapolis Third Police Precinct, was one of several businesses damaged by fire during protests over the killing of George Floyd, who died Monday.
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Gandhi Mahal’s owner Ruhel Islam declared his solidarity with the protesters, his daughter Hafsa wrote in a Facebook post about the damage to the restaurant.
“Let my building burn,” Hafsa wrote, quoting her dad. “Justice needs to be served, put those officers in jail.”
“Gandhi Mahal May have felt the flames last night, but our drive to help protect and stand with our community will never die!” Hafsa wrote in the post.
Islam told BuzzFeed that he was heartbroken by the damage, but that he understood the protesters’ anger.
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“Life is more valuable than anything else,” Islam told the publication. “We can rebuild a building. But we cannot give this man back to his family.”
Demonstrations over Floyd’s death erupted nationwide after a video was released showing a white police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck as Floyd pleaded with him and said he couldn’t breathe.
The officer, Derek Chauvin, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter on Friday. He and the three other police officers who were present during the incident have been fired from the police department.
Protesters torched the abandoned Minneapolis Third Precinct station on Thursday. Nearly every building in the shopping district around the station had been vandalised, burned or looted by Friday morning, according to The Associated Press.
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A crowd watches a pawnshop burn to the ground on Thursday night. It was the third day of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Steel Brooks/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Islam, a Muslim and a Bangladeshi immigrant, opened Gandhi Mahal restaurant with his brother in 2008. The restaurant has been featured on the US’ Food Network show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.” It is known locally for sustainable practices, which include growing its own produce in community gardens and creating an aquaponics system in its basement.
Islam is active in Minnesota’s interfaith community. He’s on the board of Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light, a faith-based climate change advocacy group. He has also spoken up against the Line 3 project, a proposed pipeline that would travel across northern Minnesota to Superior, Wisconsin.
Last year, Gandhi Mahal hosted a “Unity Iftar” during Ramadan for people of diverse faiths.
Hafsa said Friday that she’s grateful for those who tried to protect the restaurant during the demonstrations on Thursday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--Ian Hislop’s ‘Virtuoso’ Roasting Of Dominic Cummings On Have I Got News For You Was So Lacerating Ev

Ian Hislop’s ‘Virtuoso’ Roasting Of Dominic Cummings On Have I Got News For You Was So Lacerating Even Piers Morgan Liked It

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Friday’s episode of the current affairs-based comedy quiz show included a monologue from the journalist and broadcaster about Boris Johnson’s chief advisor and his rather loose interpretation of lockdown rules.
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Ian Hislop bang on point here and crucifying Dominic Cummings pic.twitter.com/IEKh6KqjQ9 — Brian Maguire (@brianjmaguire) May 30, 2020
In about one minute, Ian Hislop absolutely nails the absurdity of Dominic Cummings' trips to Durham and Barnard Castle. The whole episode of #HIGNFY was brilliant, but this demolition of Cummings' story is magnificent. pic.twitter.com/yOEgiDL58Y — David Beckett (@iamdavidbeckett) May 30, 2020
Speaking about Cummings’s bizarre press conference on the controversy, Hislop said: “He gave an hour and a half of utter twoddle. It’s absolutely clear he did break regulations.
“He found one tiny clause which he said made an exception, but that didn’t cover the journey to Barnard Castle, it was nonsense, absolute nonsense.”
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He continued: “People were cross because they think he’s taking us for idiots. The eye test thing is marvellous, the idea you’re not sure whether you can drive back to London, so in order to check your eyesight you put your four year old in the back of the car and drive around to see if you knock over any pedestrians or smack into a bollard, and that way you know your eyes aren’t there.
“His greatest irritation is, he said at the beginning, ‘The press are giving misinformation about my whereabouts.’ That’s his job. He got his wife to write pieces in The Spectator suggesting he was in London, which he wasn’t.
“So he’s very, very cross. This man has become the centre of the story. I cannot understand why he hasn’t resigned.”
Many fans of the show took to Twitter to praise Hislop’s “roasting” of Cummings, including Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan.
“Enjoying Ian Hislop absolutely lacerating Dominic Cummings on HIGNFY,” tweeted Piers Morgan. “There, I’ve said it.”
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Enjoying Ian Hislop absolutely lacerating Dominic Cummings on #hignfy. There, I’ve said it. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 29, 2020
Actor Kathy Burke added: “Prime Minister Dominic Cummings was brilliantly roasted on HIGNFY tonight. Ian Hislop was pitch perfect.”
Prime Minister Dominic Cummings was brilliantly roasted on #hignfy tonight. Ian Hislop was pitch perfect. Sleep tight, kids. #NotMovingOn — kath 🙀😷❄🇪🇺🇪🇸 (@KathyBurke) May 29, 2020
Many viewers were in agreement...
30 minutes of Ian Hislop slaughtering Cummings 😁 Glad I recorded it to watch again and again #hignfy — Craig Heritage (@CraigRS82) May 29, 2020
#hignfy 😂😂😂"the whole government had it....because the virus targets low skilled workers" 😂😂😂
Ian Hislop on fire on Have I Got News For You, total roasting of Dominic Cummings #DominicCummimgsMustGo — Chris Pearce (@Chrisjohnpearce) May 30, 2020
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#hignfy Ian Hislop, spot on in articulating the anger felt by so many people. Presumably he'll be replaced next week, by way of a reprimand, for holding views not sanctioned by Dominic Cummins. — Jef Barton (@jefthegrey) May 30, 2020
Ian Hislop speaking the minds of the whole country (except the Tories) when calling out Cummings and the rest of the Tory Government.
Every single thing he's said is completely true.
👏👏👏👏
#HIGNFY — gerryquiff-PHOTOS (@gerryquiff) May 29, 2020
Thank god for Ian Hislop. Thank god for independent production companies with balls like @HatTrickProd and owners like @hattrickster who will not bend to Government bollocks to say that no, black is not white, up is not down and restore some sanity to our Gasslit nation 👏#hignfy — Jolyon Rubinstein (@JolyonRubs) May 29, 2020
Best #hignfy in ages - Ian Hislop absolutely on fire, absolutely nailing that liar Cummings to the wall! Bravo, bravo! Would have loved to have had him leading the questioning in the Rose Garden last Sunday. — Ben Eaton (@b_eaton) May 29, 2020
No more TV tonight - after that epic virtuoso performance by Ian Hislop lacerating the ridiculous Cummings excuses and mocking the vacuous ministers who trotted out to support him.
30 mins of prime time BBC used brilliantly to expose the ludicrous excuses.#hignfy — Stefan (@SZaitschenko) May 29, 2020
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More than 1 million people have now signed a petition calling for Cummings to be sacked over allegedly breaching the lockdown rules.
The prime minister has stood by his adviser, triggering a revolt of dozens of Tory MPs and a sharp decline in personal and party poll ratings.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--Police Officer Fires Pepper Pellets At Journalist During Live Protest Broadcast

A Kentucky police officer was filmed calmly shooting pepper pellets at a TV news reporter in the middle of a live broadcast in Louisville on Friday night as protests erupted over recent killings during police actions there and in Minneapolis.
Reporter Kaitlin Rust’s camera operator filmed the officer aiming straight at both of them during a report on WAVE 3 News. Rust began screaming: “I’m getting shot! Rubber bullets! Rubber bullets!”
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“Katie, are you okay?” asked the news anchor back at the station.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s those pepper bullets,” Rust responded. Pepper balls contain chemicals similar to pepper spray and are shot in pellets. She was apparently struck during the broadcast, according to the news station.
Asked who the police were aiming at, Rust responded: “At us! Directly at us!” — though she had no idea why.
Although hundreds of protesters were gathered nearby, Rust and the camera operator were in a clearing and there didn’t appear to be any problems in the immediate area. Rust had told the news anchors that she had followed police directions about where to stand.
A police spokesperson confirmed that Rust had likely been struck by pepper balls because the department doesn’t use rubber bullets, WAVE 3 reported. But apparently no explanation for the shooting was provided.
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WAVE 3 News reporter Kaitlin Rust appeared to have been hit by rubber bullets reportedly fired by an LMPD officer during a protest in downtown Louisville. https://t.co/28L8xJ5c2Q — wave3news (@wave3news) May 30, 2020
Early Friday in Minneapolis, Minnesota State Patrol officers arrested CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez, his producer and two members of his crew while they were broadcasting live from protests there over the death Monday of George Floyd, a Black man who stopped breathing as a white police officer knelt on his neck.
Cameras kept rolling as Jimenez was placed in handcuffs and taken away after politely telling officers the crew would go wherever they instructed. The crew was released about two hours later.
Louisville has been wracked by protests over the deaths of Floyd and of Breonna Taylor, a black EMT in Louisville. Taylor was fatally shot in her home by plainclothes police who were executing a “no-knock” search warrant in a drug case March 13. The man they were seeking reportedly didn’t live in the building and was already in custody.
Seven people were shot and two were hospitalised at protests Thursday night in Louisville, WAVE News reported. Protests appeared to be growing violent late Friday.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--Coronavirus Catch Up: Scientists Warn Virus Spreading 'Too Fast' To Lift Lockdown

Donald Trump has announced he will withdraw funding from the World Health Organisation (WHO), end Hong Kong’s special trade status and suspend visas of Chinese graduate students suspected of conducting research on behalf of their government.
Trump has expressed anger towards the WHO for weeks over what he has deemed an inadequate response to the initial outbreak of coronavirus in China’s Wuhan province late last year.
In a White House announcement on Friday he claimed Chinese officials had “ignored” their reporting obligations to the WHO and pressured the body to mislead the public about an outbreak that has now killed more than 100,000 Americans.
The US is the largest source of financial support for the WHO, and its exit is expected to significantly weaken the organisation.
In April when the president first proposed withholding money from the WHO, Democrats said such a move would be illegal without approval from Congress and that they would challenge it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday called the move “an act of extraordinary senselessness”.
Trump also said his administration will now begin eliminating the “full range” of agreements that had given Hong Kong a relationship with the US that mainland China lacks, including exemptions from controls on certain exports, adding that the State Department will begin warning US citizens of the threat of surveillance and arrest when visiting the city.
“China has replaced its promised formula of one country, two systems, with one country, one system,” he said.
The president also added that the US will be suspending entry of Chinese graduate students who are suspected of taking part in an extensive government campaign to acquire trade knowledge and academic research for the country’s military and industrial development.
Meanwhile in China, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party claimed US moves to end some trading privileges for Hong Kong “grossly interfere” in China’s internal affairs and are “doomed to fail”.
Saturday’s editorial in the People’s Daily newspaper said: “This hegemonic act of attempting to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs will not frighten the Chinese people and is doomed to fail.”
Cricket West Indies approves proposed Test tour of England in July


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--Forbes Remove Kylie Jenner From Billionaire List After Accusing Her Of Inflating Value Of Cosmetics

Forbes Remove Kylie Jenner From Billionaire List After Accusing Her Of Inflating Value Of Cosmetics Business

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Forbes has removed Kylie Jenner from its list of billionaires and accused the reality star of inflating the value of her cosmetics business.
The magazine published an article based on an examination of financial filings after the beauty mogul sold a majority share in her cosmetics company.
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She sold 51% of her Kylie Cosmetics company to Coty in a deal valued at 1.2 billion dollars (£1 billion) early this year.
Kylie Jenner imageSPACE/MediaPunch/MediaPunch/IPx
The article said: “Kylie’s business is significantly smaller, and less profitable, than the family has spent years leading the cosmetics industry and media outlets, including Forbes, to believe.
“Forbes now thinks that Kylie Jenner, even after pocketing an estimated 340 million dollars (£275 million) after taxes from the sale, is not a billionaire.”
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Jenner responded in a series of tweets, saying: “What am I even waking up to. I thought this was a reputable site.. all I see are a number of inaccurate statements and unproven assumptions lol. I’ve never asked for any title or tried to lie my way there EVER. period.”
what am i even waking up to. i thought this was a reputable site.. all i see are a number of inaccurate statements and unproven assumptions lol. i’ve never asked for any title or tried to lie my way there EVER. period — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) May 29, 2020
“even creating tax returns that were likely forged” that’s your proof? so you just THOUGHT they were forged? like actually what am i reading. — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) May 29, 2020
but okay 🤍 i am blessed beyond my years, i have a beautiful daughter, and a successful business and i’m doing perfectly fine. — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) May 29, 2020
i can name a list of 100 things more important right now than fixating on how much money i have — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) May 29, 2020
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The spat between Jenner and Forbes spilled over to Wall Street, where shares of New York-based Coty Inc fell more than 13% on Friday.
She later tweeted: “But okay, I am blessed beyond my years, I have a beautiful daughter, and a successful business and I’m doing perfectly fine. I can name a list of 100 things more important right now than fixating on how much money I have.”
Jenner’s business and social media prominence have made her stand out even in the exceedingly famous family behind Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
She is the younger daughter of Kris and Caitlyn Jenner, sister to Kendall Jenner and half-sister to Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian.
In March 2019, Forbes featured Jenner along with the headline “At 21, Kylie Jenner Becomes The Youngest Self-Made Billionaire Ever”.
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On Friday, Forbes offered a starkly different headline “Inside Kylie Jenner’s Web of Lies – And Why She’s No Longer a Billionaire”.
The story acknowledged that the coronavirus crisis and its effect on the cosmetics industry has hurt her net worth.
Kylie Cosmetics sold a controlling stake to Coty Inc for a reported $600 Million. David Dee Delgado via Getty Images
But it said it is “likely” that the “business was never that big to begin with, and the Jenners have lied about it every year since 2016 – including having their accountant draft tax returns with false numbers – to help juice Forbes’ estimates of Kylie’s earnings and net worth”.
The magazine said it cannot prove the documents were forged, and Jenner’s lawyer said the story is “filled with outright lies”.
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Michael Kump said: “Forbes’ accusation that Kylie and her accountants ‘forged tax returns’ is unequivocally false and we are demanding that Forbes immediately and publicly retract that and other statements.
“We would not expect that from a supermarket tabloid, much less from Forbes.”
Forbes spokesman Matthew Hutchison said the magazine’s “extensively-reported investigation was triggered by newly-filed documents that revealed glaring discrepancies between information privately supplied to journalists and information publicly supplied to shareholders”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--Taylor Swift Accuses Donald Trump Of ‘Stoking The Fires Of White Supremacy And Racism’

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Taylor Swift has accused Donald Trump of “stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism” over the US president’s response to the death of George Floyd.
A video of the unarmed 46-year-old Black man’s arrest on Monday showed him gasping for breath while a white police officer knelt on his neck before he died.
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Derek Chauvin, the police officer in question, has now been charged with murder following days of protests across the US, pitting protesters against police in a number of major cities.
Taylor Swift and Donald Trump AP
In a tweet which tagged the President, Taylor said: “After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence?”
She added: “We will vote you out in November.”
After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? ‘When the looting starts the shooting starts’??? We will vote you out in November. @realdonaldtrump — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) May 29, 2020
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The singer also quoted a tweet from the President that he said was addressed at the “thugs” who are “dishonouring the memory of George Floyd” with the protests.
Trump added: “Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Twitter placed a message alongside his tweet, warning that it breached the site’s rules for glorifying violence.
Mr Trump has claimed that he has been unfairly treated by the social media platform, and accused it of targeting him and his supporters.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--Kiss Guitarist Bob Kulick Has Died, Aged 70

Kiss guitarist Bob Kulick has died at the age of 70, it has been announced..
His younger brother, former Kiss member Bruce Kulick, confirmed the news on Friday evening.
Bob Kulick (1950-2020) Gabriel Olsen via Getty Images
He said in a post on Twitter: “I am heartbroken to have to share the news of the passing of my brother Bob Kulick.
“His love of music, and his talent as a musician and producer should always be celebrated.
“Please respect the Kulick Family’s privacy during this sad time. RIP.”
I am heartbroken to have to share the news of the passing of my brother Bob Kulick. His love of music, and his talent as a musician and producer should always be celebrated. Please respect the Kulick Family’s privacy during this sad time. RIP pic.twitter.com/LUWC6k69Ml — Bruce Kulick (@brucekulick) May 29, 2020
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He did not confirm the cause of death.
The Kiss Twitter account retweeted his post and wrote: “We are heartbroken. Our deepest condolences to the Kulick family in this difficult time.”
Kulick, from Brooklyn in New York, never became an official member of Kiss but appeared on four albums – Alive II, Unmasked, Killers and Creatures Of The Night.
Kiss PA
In 1972 he auditioned to become the band’s lead guitarist and impressed then-members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss, but lost out to Ace Frehley.
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He recorded and performed with Meatloaf, Diana Ross and Michael Bolton, and featured on Lou Reed’s acclaimed album Coney Island Baby.
Kulick also co-wrote and performed the SpongeBob SquarePants song Sweet Victory, which appeared in the 2001 episode Band Geeks, and became a fan favourite.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--How The Death Of George Floyd Set Minneapolis Ablaze In 25 Hard-Hitting Pictures

‘Please, please, please, I can’t breathe. Please, man.’
On Monday night, George Floyd died after being arrested by police in Minneapolis.
Video taken by a bystander showed the 46-year-old pleading that he could not breathe as a white officer knelt on his neck.
Police said the man matched the description of a suspect in a forgery case at a grocery store, and that he resisted arrest. The unidentified officer ignores his pleas. “Please, please, please, I can’t breathe. Please, man”, the man is heard telling the officer.
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After several minutes, one of the officers tells the man to “relax”. Minutes pass, and the man becomes motionless under the officer’s restraint. The officer leaves his knee on the man’s neck for several minutes more.
A chain portrait of George Floyd is part of the memorial for him near the site of the arrest. ASSOCIATED PRESS
‘This is the right call.’
On Tuesday it was announced that four Minneapolis police officers involved in the arrest of Floyd would be fired. No further action against them is mentioned.
Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey tweeted about the news, saying: “This is the right call.”
Four responding MPD officers involved in the death of George Floyd have been terminated.
This is the right call. — Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) May 26, 2020
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‘Cops murdered George Floyd’
The news that the officers would just be fired sparks anger in Minneapolis and crowds gather for what are largely peaceful protests near the spot where Floyd was detained.
Protesters gather at the scene where George Floyd was pinned down by a police officer kneeling on his neck in Minneapolis, Minnesota May 26. Eric Miller / Reuters
Police officers firing tear gas are deployed to disperse the crowds.
A police officer throws a tear gas canister towards protesters at the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct, following a rally for George Floyd on Tuesday, May 26. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Milk drains from the face of a protester who had been exposed to percussion grenades and tear gas outside the Minneapolis Police 3rd Precinct on Tuesday, May 26. ASSOCIATED PRESS
‘No justice, no peace’
On Wednesday, mayor Jacob Frey urged prosecutors to file criminal charges against the white police officer shown pinning Floyd to the street.
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The city identified the four officers as Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng. It did not say who knelt on Floyd’s neck, and gave no further information.
The number of protestors increased dramatically by Wednesday night and acts of looting and vandalism also occurred.
A man poses in the parking lot of an AutoZone store in flames May 27. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hundreds of protesters, many with faces covered, thronged streets around the Third Precinct police station late on Wednesday, about half a mile from where Floyd had been arrested, chanting: “No justice, no peace” and: “I can’t breathe”.
A looter uses a claw hammer as he tries to break in to a cash register at a Target store in Minneapolis. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The crowd grew to thousands as night fell and the protest turned into a standoff outside the station, where police in riot gear formed barricade lines while protesters taunted them from behind makeshift barricades of their own.
Police, some taking positions on rooftops, used tear gas, plastic bullets and concussion grenades against the crowds. Protesters pelted police with rocks and other projectiles. Some threw tear gas canisters back at the officers.
Police officers stand in a line while facing protesters demonstrating against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct on May 27. KEREM YUCEL via Getty Images
‘The last straw’
Mike Griffin, a community organiser in Minneapolis, said the protests reflected years of frustration over economic inequalities and the feeling that black lives were not valued as highly by police.
He said anger has been building since the 2015 fatal shooting by Minneapolis police of 24-year-old Jamar Clark, and the 2016 killing of Philando Castile, a 32-year old black man shot by Minnesota police during a traffic stop.
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“George’s murder was just the last straw,” Griffin told Reuters, calling the charges against Chauvin a step in the right direction, but adding there needed to be systemic changes.
A multi-story affordable housing complex under construction near the Third Precinct, burns on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. ASSOCIATED PRESS
‘F*ck the police’
Also on Wednesday, protests spread across America with large demonstrations in Los Angeles and New York.
A view of East Village artist, Ian Dave Knife staging a protest in New York City. John Nacion/STAR MAX/IPx
In Los Angeles, the demonstration turned violent after a crowd marched onto a nearby freeway and blocked traffic, then attacked two California Highway Patrol cruisers, smashing their windows, local media reported.
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Demonstrators shut down the Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 27. ASSOCIATED PRESS
One protester who clung to the hood of a patrol car fell to the pavement as it sped away, and was treated at the scene by paramedics, news footage of the incident showed.
LAPD riot police stand by outside City Hall on Wednesday night. ASSOCIATED PRESS
In Minneapolis, the sun rose over a charred and still-smoking city.
Smoke fills the sky after a night of unrest and protests in the death of George Floyd early Thursday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
People stand on a burned up car as fires burn near a Target Store early Thursday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Firefighters work on an apartment building after it was burned to the ground in Minneapolis. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Peaceful rallies during the day gave way to a third night of arson, looting and vandalism in Minneapolis on Thursday as protesters continued to vent their rage.
Artists complete a mural of George Floyd outside of Cup Foods in Minneapolis. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The latest unrest in Minnesota’s largest city went largely unchecked, despite Governor Tim Walz ordering the National Guard activated to help restore order following the first two days of disturbances.
A car burns in a Target parking lot on Thursday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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In contrast with Wednesday night, when rock-throwing demonstrators clashed repeatedly with police in riot gear, law enforcement kept a low profile around the epicentre of the unrest, outside the city’s Third Precinct police station.
Protesters massing outside the building briefly retreated under volleys of police tear gas and rubber bullets fired at them from the roof, only to reassemble and eventually attack the building head on, setting fire to the structure as police seemed to withdraw. Protesters were later observed on the roof.
Former Minnesota Gopher and NFL football player Tyron Carter pleads with protesters not to tear up their city. ASSOCIATED PRESS
A protester hides behind a dumpster he pulled as a barrier while St. Paul Police officers move in to retrieve it. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The city authority warned about “unconfirmed” reports that gas lines to the Third Precinct police station were cut and that there were other explosives in the building.
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Protestors demonstrate outside of a burning Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct, Thursday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
A car and at least two other buildings in the vicinity were also set ablaze, and looters returned for a second night to a nearby Target discount store, left boarded up and vacant from the previous night, to make off with whatever remained inside.
A police officer prepares to throw a tear gas canister towards protestors on Thursday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
A protestor douses her face with milk after being exposed to tear gas fired by police. ASSOCIATED PRESS
By nightfall parts of the city were once again ablaze.
Protestors demonstrate outside of a burning fast food restaurant. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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President Donald Trump got involved and warned he would send the National Guard troops and “get the job done right” if Mayor Jacob Frey failed to bring the city under control.
I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
A second tweet from Trump that said “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” was later hidden by Twitter which accused the president of breaking its rules by “glorifying violence”.
....These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
At a Friday morning news briefing, police chief Medaria Arradondo publicly apologised to Floyd’s family, conceding his department had contributed to a “deficit of hope” in Minneapolis.
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‘The horrible, horrific, terrible thing’
Hours later, Derek Chauvin, the Minnesota police officer filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck was arrested and charged with third-degree murder.
An announcement many had been waiting for - former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin is being charged with manslaughter and third degree murder in the death of George Floyd, per Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. #GeorgeFloyd — Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) May 29, 2020
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, announcing Chauvin’s arrest earlier in the day, said a key piece of evidence in the case was the video clip showing Floyd lying face down in the street, with Chauvin kneeling on the back of Floyd’s neck.
“We have evidence, we have the citizen’s camera’s video, the horrible, horrific, terrible thing we have all seen over and over again,” Freeman said. “We have the officer’s body-worn camera, we have statements from some witnesses.”
At the beginning of his second event, President Trump offers his condolences to George Floyd's family and says he's asked the DOJ to expedite the investigation into his death. "Should never be allowed to happen, a thing like that. But we are determined that justice be served." — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 29, 2020
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Chauvin’s arrest wasn’t enough to stop a fourth night of protests as violence even further afield as crowds took the the streets in Washington DC, Denver, Houston, Atlanta, Detroit and Louisville, Kentucky, as well as further demonstrations in NYC and LA.
Police and Secret Service agents were out in force around the White House before dozens of protesters gathered across the street in Lafayette Square chanting, “I can’t breathe.”
Police work to keep demonstrators back during a protest in Lafayette Square Park near the White House on May 29. Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images
Thousands of chanting demonstrators filled the streets of New York City’s Brooklyn borough near the Barclays Center indoor arena. Police armed with batons and pepper spray made scores of arrests in sometimes violent clashes.
Demonstrators kneel before police in Minneapolis in the early hours of Saturday morning. ASSOCIATED PRESS


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--Killing Eve: All The Loose Ends The Series 3 Finale Need To Tie Up

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It’s fair to say that the reaction to the third series of Killing Eve has been more mixed compared to the fanfare the first two received.
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Some have complained the hit series seems as if it’s lost its way, while others have bemoaned the lack of screentime lead characters Villanelle and Eve have shared.
That said, the stage is set for a big reunion between the two women in the season finale, which we’re hoping also clears up a lot of these loose ends that the last seven episodes have so far failed to answer...
Who killed Kenny?
BBC/Sid Gentle
It’s been the biggest question that’s run throughout series three, after Carolyn’s son was pushed from the roof of the Bitter Pill office amid his own investigations into The Twelve’s finances. At present, there’s not one clear suspect, but our money is on his sister, Geraldine.
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What did Kenny uncover before he died?
Sid Gentle Films/BBC
There was obviously a reason for Kenny’s death – had he found out the identity of who’d stolen the money from the Swiss bank account? Or had he discovered his mum’s boss’ involvement with The Twelve?
Who was siphoning money from The Twelve’s Geneva account?
BBC
We saw Konstantin pay a visit to an accountant of The Twelve – Charles Kruger, aka. Sergei – who revealed that $6 million had been siphoned out of the account, and that he planned to look into the matter.
The next thing we knew, Sergei – who also had a connection to Carolyn from their Cold War days – had been shot dead by Villanelle.
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Later, in what Konstantin believed could have been his final moments, he gave Villanelle a piece of paper with the details of where to retrieve the money he’d planned to abscond from The Twelve with. But what will Villanelle find when she gets there? And will it prove the theory he was the one that stole the money from the Swiss bank account?
Will Paul’s involvement with The Twelve be exposed?
BBC
The walls were closing in on Carolyn after Mo was killed by The Twelve having established a link between MI6 boss Paul and the organisation. Will she be able to expose him without suffering a similar fate to Mo?
Will Villanelle abscond?
Sid Gentle/BBC
Having grown tired of the killing game, Villanelle has been desperate to escape her life under The Twelve. But having attempted to kill her handler, as well as letting her last target escape, will Villanelle manage to abscond before either Dasha or another member of The Twelve catch up with her? And will Eve feature in her exit plan?
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Will Dasha return to Russia?
Sid Gentle Films/BBC
Having survived Villanelle (and Eve’s) attack on her life, will Dasha finally get her wish to be released by The Twelve and return home to her son (!) in Russia?
Who are The Twelve?
Sid Gentle/BBC
Across the series, we’ve met more people who work for The Twelve, including Helena, Rihan, Dasha and Sergei. But will the series finale finally uncover any of their actual identities?
What is Geraldine’s game?
Sid Gentle/BBC
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We haven’t trusted Geraldine since she rocked up at her brother’s funeral and stuck around like a bad smell. In the penultimate episode, it was revealed Konstantin had been manipulating her in order to keep tabs on Carolyn, but we’re entirely convinced that’s not the only purpose her character is serving.
Who was Kenny’s dad?
Sid Gentle Films/BBC
When Carolyn confronted Konstantin about why Kenny had been calling him in the days before his death, he claimed Kenny had asked him if he was his real father. While clearly angered, Carolyn didn’t seem to be completely surprised by the suggestion, which indicates it’s possible that he isn’t.
However, was Konstantin even telling the truth about the subject of his and Kenny’s conversations in the first place?
What’s happened to Niko?
Sid Gentle/BBC
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The last time we saw Eve’s husband, he was in hospital recovering from being skewered in the throat with a pitchfork by Dasha. He was left with no voice and told Eve to “piss off”, but is that the last we’re going to see of him? And is Niko and Eve’s marriage over for good?
Will we see any of Villanelle’s family again?
Sid Gentle/BBC
Villanelle spared her brothers Pyotr and Bor’ka after she set ablaze her family home in Are You From Pinner?, appearing to kill her mother, step-father, step-brother and his girlfriend, but will we ever see them again? And with the fate of her father never actually made clear, could he also reappear?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--8 Foods That Could Be Putting You In A Bad Mood

You’ve polished off a batch of grandma’s beloved cookies when the feeling hits. It’s not happiness, though it should be. You’re experiencing a mix of guilt, anxiety and sluggishness, with an all-around bad mood that’s far from the comfort you were seeking. And when you’re staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic, the last thing you need is another thing to feel bad about. What gives?
The idea of comfort food sounds great in theory, but many of society’s favourite feel-good foods lack ideal nutrients. This leaves eaters feeling cranky, not comforted. (And to be clear, we’re not talking about depression, a more serious condition you should talk to your doctor about.)
nito100 via Getty Images That cup of coffee is supposed to pep you up, but it could end up making you feel worse.
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“Some of the main dietary contributors to low or bad mood are too much sugar and too many starchy and refined carbohydrates,” British nutritional therapist Claudia Smith told HuffPost. “If you eat too much of these foods, you can end up with blood sugar spikes and crashes, which can lead to symptoms such as low mood, irritability, brain fog, anxiety, fatigue and difficulty concentrating.”
Why Comfort Foods Can Leave Us Agitated
Common comfort foods such as cookies or french fries activate reward triggers in our brains, Smith said. They give us something to look forward to or get excited about — which is largely why comfort-food sales spiked as the anxiety-inducing Covid-19 pandemic took hold. Psychologist and wellbeing consultant Lee Chambers told HuffPost that comfort foods do provide a hit of pleasure-inducing dopamine, but that pleasure is fleeting.
“Emotional eating is a cyclical process where low mood leads to eating foods likely to spike your blood sugar, giving us a dose of dopamine, but then it drops at the same time as we start to feel guilty,” Chambers told HuffPost. “This combination often makes us feel a lack of satisfaction, with feelings of guilt, shame and regret.”
Even worse? Comfort foods often lead to overeating. “Over time, high consumption of highly palatable foods may actually lead to a reduced sensitivity of this brain-reward response,” Smith said. “You may find yourself needing to eat more and more to experience the same effect.”
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8 Foods And Drinks That Could Worsen Your Mood
Bad-mood-inducing comfort foods share a few things in common. They often cause sugar spikes, then crashes, which leads to sluggishness, anxiety and irritability. But the mood-worsening effect is more than physiological. Many people think of certain foods as either healthy or unhealthy. When they eat the unhealthy ones, they can feel ashamed, sad or angry.
Peter Dazeley via Getty Images The joy of eating a doughnut could be quickly offset by its resulting blood sugar spike.
Moderation is key, said Tai Ibitoye, a dietitian. “Regular and excessive consumption of foods that are high in fat and sugar may negatively influence mood, but eating just one cookie can provide pleasure and comfort to some people,” she told HuffPost.
So which comfort foods and drinks could worsen your mood? Here are eight common culprits.
1. Alcohol
Small amounts of alcohol can be fine, and may even improve your mood, Ibitoye said. But regular or excessive alcohol consumption can worsen it — which is hardly a surprise to those who’ve experienced a hangover.
Studies show alcohol has some long-term health perks. But no one should start drinking alcohol for its potential benefits, the Mayo Clinic said. It recommends one drink — the equivalent of one 12-ounce beer or one 5-ounce glass of wine — per day.
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2. Soda
Soda contains simple sugars that the body absorbs quickly, which leads to a sugar spike followed by severe sluggishness. And simply replacing soda with a diet version is not the solution because sweeteners such as aspartame are often associated with anxiety and depression. One 2014 study showed a link between sweetened beverages and depression among older adults. Water and tea are better beverage alternatives.
3. Caffeine
Ibitoye recommended limiting beverages such as caffeinated tea and coffee and replacing that extra cup with a decaf version. Caffeinated beverages such as coffee cause the brain to release dopamine and serotonin, according to Medical Daily. This is fine in small doses, but too much — often as little as one extra cup — can lead to irritability, agitation and anxiety.
So how much coffee is too much coffee?
Recommendations are constantly changing, but the Mayo Clinic suggested no more than about four cups of coffee per day.
4. Baked Goods
Cookies and cakes are chock-full of mood-worsening ingredients such as sugar, which “rapidly breaks down into glucose and can trigger blood sugar spikes and crashes,” Smith said. The good news is that decreasing your baked goods intake can yield quick mood-boosting results.
“Try reducing your sugar consumption by giving up cakes, biscuits, sugary drinks or sweeteners for a few days, and notice how you feel,” Smith said. “Beneficial effects can often be felt very quickly, even within a few days.”
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5. Chips
They may be delicious and temporarily comforting, but chips are full of saturated fats, refined carbohydrates and excess salt. This is the recipe for energy spikes and crashes, with correlated bad moods and exhaustion.
Slow-releasing or complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, brown rice and quinoa can raise blood glucose levels more slowly, Ibitoye said. “Choosing these foods can help the brain receive a more consistent flow of fuel for better functioning,” she said.
6. Processed Foods
Whether it’s chips, Pop-Tarts or pizza bites, ready-to-eat processed foods can cause terrible moods. These items contain high amounts of refined sugars, saturated fats and preservatives.
Together, these ingredients cause energy crashes followed by fatigue and dwindling motivation. That doesn’t mean you should never eat them, though. Smith recommended aiming for a healthy diet, particularly at mealtimes, with a few favourite treats here and there.
7. Bagels
Bagels are delicious in the moment, but ingesting the carb-rich food can make you feel heavy, bloated and uncomfortable — and therefore down in the dumps. That’s because bagels are packed with simple carbs, typically made from white grains with little to no nutritional value.
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They’ll cause blood sugar spikes followed by crashes and foul moods. Instead of an empty-calorie white bagel, aim for some of Ibitoye’s complex-carb recommendations, such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread.
8. Packaged Deli Meat
Protein is integral to a healthy, happy diet, but some proteins are better than others. Packaged meats and cold cuts are filled with energy-sucking preservatives and additives that cause mood swings and bloating. But alternatives such as lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and homemade cold cuts (made by roasting and slicing the turkey yourself) can do the trick.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-30--These Parents Went To Desperate Lengths To Cope During Lockdown

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I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve felt like banging my head against the wall through lockdown. Being in quarantine with two young children – who are both missing school, their grandparents and their friends – has been tough.
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I’m lucky I’m not doing it alone, and their father is fully involved, but it’s still the hardest period of parenting I’ve ever known – harder than those fractured nights of little sleep when they were newborn, harder than dealing with the onset of temper tantrums, harder than settling them into school and nursery.
It’s easy, then, to understand why some people have been tempted to bend the rules. Doing so is anything but straightforward – and is likely to be shrouded in secrecy.
The row over Dominic Cummings has proven just how controversial the issue can be. Before the Cummings controversy broke, HuffPost UK spoke to three families to find out how, and why, they bent the rules.
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‘My mental health was taking a significant hit’
*Samantha, 31, from Devon, works full-time. She has a five-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son.
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“I have a full-time, senior level marketing role and I was given the choice of taking furlough or continuing to work at a 30% pay cut. I chose to work, because marketing is essential to our business at this time. And most of my team are still working from home and need managing.
“I have a five-year-old daughter who hasn’t been able to go to school and a one-year-old son who’s usually cared for by my 68-year-old mum and a childminder.
“I did the first seven weeks of lockdown trying to work, while attempting home schooling, and then working from 7pm until the early hours. My mental health was taking a significant hit: lack of sleep, dealing with the kids and contending with messages, emails and meetings was taking its toll.
“Then the rules changed, and childminders and nannies were allowed to go back to work, as long as they were being paid. We thought hard about it and decided that having my mum come take care of the kids again was by far the best option. Our childminder wasn’t going to open, so we couldn’t send the kids there. And when we weighed it up, we thought that my childminder has other family in her home, so surely it’s safer to be with my mum who lives alone?
“Mum has been helping me now for a week or so and it’s heaven. It’s better for the kids and so much better for me. My mental health is back on track and everyone is happier – even if she does have to creep through the side gate!”
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‘I’m an NHS key worker and couldn’t cope’
*Jane, 37, is a doctor in a London hospital. She has a one-year-old son.
“I’m a key worker in the NHS, right at the epicentre of the Covid pandemic. I’ve seen some terrible things and I know first-hand how awful the effects of this virus can be.
“But I’m also a mother to a one-year-old boy. When nurseries announced they were shutting, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I don’t get a choice about going into work, I have to. I can’t say the risk is too great, that I don’t think it’s safe to go in. I just wouldn’t get paid.
“My husband works from home and does what he can, but it’s impossible to look after a toddler properly and do your job effectively. So, we asked my sister if she would do childcare for us.
“She hasn’t moved in, but she’s been furloughed and is only travelling between us and her house. She lives alone, so the risks are small enough to make it feel worth it. I couldn’t cope without her.”
Juanmonino via Getty Images
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‘Sometimes you have to make tough decisions’
*Alan, 61, is married to *Jenny, 60. The couple, who live in London, have been looking after their two grandchildren, aged two and eight.
“My wife is high risk as she has severe illnesses and received the letter saying she must stay at home. But our son and daughter-in-law work for the same supermarket, and had to both go to work at the same time. They needed childcare.
“So, we’ve had both of our grandchildren – aged two and eight – at our home. Sometimes you just have to make tough decisions.
“Before this, my wife had only left our home four times, and we hadn’t had anybody in. We took our cat to the vets twice, but she never got out the car. The other day, we fed the ducks opposite the local cemetery.
“We run a fish and chip shop, usually, but we’re closed at the moment, due to the health issues. We’ve furloughed our four staff and hope to reopen at the end of June, but it does feel like very tough times, at the moment.”
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