thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Explained: Will A Brexit Deal Be Announced Today?

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Boris Johnson is off to Brussels and hopes are high that today could, finally, be the day a post-Brexit trade deal is struck.
The prime minister will meet EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for dinner tonight in a last-ditch bid to bridge the gap between the UK and EU.
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It follows troubled and lengthy talks breaking down on Monday, spreading panic among industry leaders with the transition period due to end on December 31.
Government sources have underlined ministers “do not consider this process to be closed” but stressed “political impetus” is now needed to get an agreement over the line.
So, as the stage is set, will this the last act of Brexit theatre? Or is the long-running saga destined for yet another sequel?
Here’s everything you need to know.
Why haven’t they done a deal already?
Britain's chief negotiator David Frost, centre, wears a protective face mask as he leaves the EU Borschette building after a meeting with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, in Brussels. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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This is a good question. The answer is not simple. Nor is it, like so many other crises in 2020, ‘because of the coronavirus’.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, his British counterpart David Frost and their respective teams have been in regular contact throughout the pandemic.
They remain bitterly divided on three critical issues: fishing quotas in UK seas, rules governing fair and open competition (often referred to as ‘level playing field’ regulations) and how to resolve disputes.
Critics of Johnson’s strategy also argue the PM did not make it easy for British diplomats by tabling the Internal Market Bill in the Commons earlier this year.
Some powers originally in the legislation, if used, would have broken international law as they ripped up parts of the withdrawal agreement Johnson signed off in 2019 relating to Northern Ireland.
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The move soured relations and prompted Brussels to start legal action.
In the strongest sign yet that a deal is in the offing, however, Michael Gove and European Commission vice-president, Maros Sefcovic, struck a deal on Brexit divorce terms and the controversial clauses were removed from the legislation.
If they do a trade deal, is it immediately sorted?
PA Wire/PA Images
Not quite. This is Brexit we are talking about.
If the prime minister and von der Leyen do back an outline agreement – and government sources said on Tuesday night “we must be realistic” that “an agreement may not be possible” – there are still a few hurdles for both sides to clear.
The deal must be ratified by both sides.
For the EU, that means the European Council of Ministers, which brings together heads of state from the 27 members, giving it their political blessing.
They are due to meet over two days on Thursday and Friday.
Later in December, MEPs in the European Parliament must also vote for the deal, but this is almost a given if it is given the green light by ministers.
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Johnson, meanwhile, must sell the deal to his Cabinet and MPs in the Commons are expected to be given a vote.
Reports at the weekend suggest Johnson will easily win the support of his ministers, many of who witnessed at close quarters how Brexit destroyed the authority of both David Cameron and Theresa May.
What about Tory Eurosceptics? And Labour MPs?
Conservative MP Steve Baker is a hardline Eurosceptic Handout . / Reuters
After riding to a stunning election victory in 2019 on a promise to ‘get Brexit done’, Johnson has an 80-seat majority in the Commons.
Given the alternative is no deal at all (more on this later) and many new Tory MPs owe their political career to Johnson, any deal he brings back is unlikely to hit a serious stumbling block
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But it is by no means guaranteed to clear the Commons either.
Eurosceptic backbenchers, who haunted May’s time in office, could prove particularly tricky to win over.
The European Research Group of hardline Tory Brexiteers, who complained they were “bounced” into backing the withdrawal agreement, may demand more time and independent legal advice.
MP Bill Cash, a veteran of the cause, issued a shot across the bows to ministers on Tuesday, after news emerged of Gove’s Northern Ireland Brexit divorce deal.
He warned Johnson MPs will be “watching” with “great diligence” what he brings back from Brussels.
He said: “It’s about democracy, it’s about freedom, it’s what Churchill was proud of, it’s what Margaret Thatcher was proud of, it’s what we’re proud of – and I simply make this final point, we will maintain our sovereignty at any price.”
While Johnson has a lot of breathing space, if the deal sends shockwaves through his MPs he could be left leaning on Labour MPs’ support.
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Keir Starmer is also awaiting for any deal which emerges but is minded to back a deal, according to reports.
He is also under pressure, however, as many pro-EU backbenchers, and some of his shadow cabinet, remain divided over whether to support an agreement or abstain.
So, if there is a deal will much change?
UK government posters along Edinburgh's Princes Street advising people to prepare for Brexit Jane Barlow - PA Images via Getty Images
Any deal is anticipated to see Britain leave the EU’s single market and customs union on December 31.
From January 1, the new trade and security deal will be in place and Britain will begin to operate its points-based immigration system.
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If it is a “thin” trade deal, it could be built on in early 2021.
Whatever deal is made, there will be some, perhaps a lot, of disruption at the ports, borders, in the markets and in industry as the UK adjusts to a new set of regulations.
There will be a hit to the economy. How significant this will be to a country already grappling with Covid-19 is not yet clear.
What if there is no deal?
Lorries queue on the A20 to enter the Port of Dover in Kent. PA
The vast majority of experts, economists, politicians and businesses owners regard this outcome as a catastrophe.
It would mean that from January 1, the UK will have no formal trading relationship with the EU and would be treated as any third country outside of the bloc.
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A leaked Whitehall document, known as the Yellowhammer report, predicted a three-month “meltdown” as rules and regulations governing imports, exports and customs would effectively be ripped up overnight under no-deal.
The UK would fall on to World Trade Organisation rules and there would be significant tariffs on trade on goods and manufacturing and agricultural exports. This would in turn make many businesses uncompetitive, jeopardising jobs and industry.
The UK would have a hard border with the EU, including in Northern Ireland.
Officials forecast lines of 7,000 trucks at Dover and two-day waits to get into France.
This could also mean delays to food supplies, goods and potentially medicine. Food prices would go up as a result, ministers admit.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warned earlier this month that no-deal would leave the UK worse off by a further 1.75% of GDP (gross domestic product) next year and unemployment could reach 8%.
To put that in context over time, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said that no-deal would be a greater long-term hit to the economy than the coronavirus pandemic.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Here In Sudan’s Refugee Camps, Thousands Are Struggling To Survive

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A family of five take shelter in Um-Rakoba camp, Sudan Aya Elfatih / Islamic Relief
I approached my first ever visit to Sudan’s refugee camps last month with trepidation. Not only because of the risk of Covid-19, but because, as a Sudanese aid worker, I was all too aware of how bad the situation is for the Ethiopian refugees fleeing Tigray for my country.
I visited three camps in eastern Sudan, but by far the worst was Village 8, the transit centre near the border crossing at Lugdi. There, 16,000 Ethiopian refugees are crammed into a small space alongside 10,000 Sudanese residents. On arrival, crowds started to approach us – but though I was fearful about contracting coronavirus despite our masks, I knew this worry was far from the minds of the refugees.
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Here’s why.
Many are living in unfinished empty homes built for Sudanese agricultural workers. Most houses are sheltering between four or five families. Many don’t have roofs or windows. None have toilets.
In the camp, there is an overwhelming stench of defecation. There are only 58 latrines for more than 16,000 refugees, each full and overflowing. People have no choice but to defecate in open spaces. This means there are widespread concerns of waterborne diseases, such as dysentery. If this is not brought under control, though Islamic Relief has already started extra latrines to be delivered as soon as possible.
“One couple I spoke to told me how they were separated from their two children in the confusion and they had no idea what had happened to them.”
Despite the difficult conditions in the camp I was determined to speak to individuals, especially women, about what they needed. And as I started to find out more, I imagined how I would feel in their circumstances, and found my fears for my own wellbeing soon dissipated.
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The overwhelming level of need for basic things like food, shelter, toilets and clean water was all too apparent – it’s hardly surprising that Covid-19 is not at the top of their minds.
I also saw the trauma and despair in people’s eyes. I met a pregnant woman, Barakhti, who fled for her life with her family on a tractor. Leaving your home, fleeing for your life is difficult enough – I can’t imagine what it could be like fleeing with a precious baby growing inside you.
The woman told me that at times pain in her stomach was so intense that she felt she could lose the baby at any time, though thankfully her baby survived. A midwife told me later of two other mothers in the camp who weren’t so lucky.
Barakhti, 27, with her baby at Village 8 camp Aya Elfatih / Islamic Relief
One couple I spoke to told me how they were separated from their two children in the confusion and they had no idea what had happened to them as they had no means of communicating with them. Their distress was really palpable and I just couldn’t imagine what they were going through.
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Help is coming for families like these, but not quick enough. In Hamdayet, a camp close to the Ethiopian border, there are currently more than 30,000 refugees the UNHCR is trying to move on to where camps are being installed. However, many are refusing to go – they want to return to their homes back in Ethiopia as soon as it is safe to do so.
But there is no shelter, and families are sleeping out in the open. It is already winter and it is starting to get really cold now. I saw people desperately searching for whatever they can find to shelter them – plastic sheeting, bits of wood, anything to try and keep out the cold. We are scared that the refugees, especially the small children, will not be able to survive.
That means it’s a race against time for organisations like ours to provide what we can to make life as comfortable as possible for those who have lost so much.
“I have honestly found it difficult to comprehend the sheer amount of suffering that I witnessed.”
The experience of visiting these camps is one that will stay with me for a long time. I have not experienced anything like this in my life, and I have honestly found it difficult to comprehend the sheer amount of suffering that I witnessed.
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Now that I am away from the camps, the feelings and emotions of seeing people in such desperate need still lingers with me. Each day, I live with enormous fear of what will happen with the lack of proper sanitation latrines and the coming winter. So many people around the world are fearing Covid-19, but the refugees I met are just doing what they can to survive and the pandemic is almost the last thing on their minds. An outbreak of waterborne diseases would be unimaginable and devastating.
I pray that the world doesn’t forget the plight of these people.
Aya Elfatih is an aid worker with Islamic Relief Sudan


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--The Safest Way To Travel If You're Car-Sharing During Covid-19

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Travelling in the car with people outside your household is generally not advised right now due to Covid-19. But as Christmas approaches, it’s likely more people will be doing it to avoid using public transport.
People living in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are advised not to car-share with people who aren’t members of their household, unless they have no other option or there is an exemption – for example, they need to do it for work purposes.
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Over Christmas, people are allowed to travel to meet those in their Christmas bubble and return home between 23 and 27 December, while anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland may travel on 22 and 28 December.
So, is there a way to stay safer in a car if you’re travelling with someone you don’t live with? The answer is yes, although no journey is completely risk-free.
Firstly, there are a few things we know limit transmission of the virus – wearing face masks and keeping the number of people you mix with, and the duration of time spent together, down to a minimum. So, cramming a car with people from different households isn’t the best idea. Sharing the load between a couple of cars would work better – and shorter car trips are generally lower risk.
Once you’re in the car, your instinct might be to roll down the window next to you – but a new study, published in the journal Science Advances, has shown this isn’t always the best way to protect yourself.
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Opening all windows, along with bringing in fresh air through the vents, is thought to create the best environment to reduce the risk of transmission by increasing ventilation. And keeping all the windows up and using only the recirculating air mode is likely the riskiest option, so should be avoided.
gorodenkoff via Getty Images
However, lead author Varghese Mathai was aware it’d be pretty hard to keep all car windows open in winter or when it’s tipping it down, so wanted to examine what happens to aerosolised particles exhaled by people inside the car under various different versions of open and closed windows.
The study was conducted with ride-sharing in mind. It assumed there’d be one driver in the front and one passenger seated in the back on the opposite side, to provide the best possible spacing between the occupants.
“One might imagine that people instinctively open windows beside them while riding with a co-passenger during the pandemic,” said lead author Varghese Mathai, assistant professor of physics at University of Massachusetts Amherst. “That may not be optimal – though it’s better than opening no window.”
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Researchers had the idea that if you open the rear and front windows on opposite sides of the car, then you might create an air current from the rear to the front of the cabin, and crossing through the middle.
UMass Amherst/Mathai lab A simplified drawing showing the air flow paths in a car if two windows are opened.
The researchers hypothesised if all windows can’t be left open, opening the front window on the right side and the rear window on the left side might best protect the driver and passenger from the hundreds of aerosol particles released in every human breath. (In the UK, this would be the opposite, as our steering is positioned on the right-hand side.)
The findings were first made using computer simulations, and later backed up using smoke visualisation and field tests.
“To our surprise, the simulations showed an air current that acts like a barrier between the driver and the passenger,” said Mathai, who likened this phenomenon to the air curtain created by a draft blown down vertically at some supermarket entrances, which prevents outdoor air from mixing with indoor air, even if the entrance door is open.
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“While these measures are no substitute for wearing a face mask while inside a car, they can help reduce the pathogen load inside the very confined space of a car cabin,” he said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Doorscaping Is The Christmas Trend For People Who Adore Being Extra

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“Go big or go home” seems to be the motto for Christmas decorations in 2020. Because if we can’t get together with all our friends and family to see off this year, we’re sure as hell going to make up for it with fairy lights.
The Christmas trees went up in November – as approved by Queer Eye’s Tan France – and now some celebs are taking things even further, by transforming the fronts of their homes into totally extra Christmas scenes.
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The trend, known as doorscaping, involves framing your doorway with winter foliage alongside a chocolate box selection of festive delights. Think baubles, candy cane, nutcrackers and reindeer. It’s not, shall we say, understated.
Michelle Keegan, I’m A Celebrity winner Giovanna Fletcher and her husband Tom, and Billie Faiers are among the famous faces who’ve embraced all things maximalist this season with their winter wonderlands.
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Stacey Solomon, Joe Swash and their kids have even matched the family outfits to the decor – wearing the kind of cream cashmere knitwear that always makes us think of Cameron Diaz’s wardrobe in The Holiday.
These designs don’t come cheap, though. Celebration designers Ginger Ray told HuffPost UK: “Stylists for celebrity doorscaping like this usually cost around £1,000 including the product, but would vary depending on the style and how big the structure is.”
You don’t have to stick with the traditional red, green and gold colour scheme for doorscaping. Poppy Belle Florals, the design company behind Solomon’s festive extravaganza, has gone pretty in pink instead with this spectacle.
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Doorscaping appears to be gaining popularity this December, but the trend isn’t just for Christmas.
Customer searches for “autumn wreaths” rocketed by over 420% in September, too, according to Notonthehighstreet, as images of dressed front doors swept Instagram ahead of Halloween. Here is Solomon with her pumpkin feast.
Sure, we could talk about the unnecessary cost and potential waste generated by doorscaping. But some might say we all deserve a little (or a lot of) festive cheer this year.
Fancy having a go at the trend yourself? Just remember the golden rule – there’s no such thing as OTT – and follow these tips provided by Ginger Ray and door manufacturers Safestyle.
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Choose your theme
For maximum impact, all elements of your display should complement each other. Start by choosing a colour scheme, and go for two to three main hues. For a traditional look opt for bold reds and greens and add gold as an accent.
Don’t damage the door
Before you begin, consider how you’re going to hang your trimmings. Seasonal decor is only up for a month or so, so the last thing you want to do is make any permanent damage to the door itself. “Clear self-adhesive hooks work well and can be removed without damage,” says Adam Pawson from Safestyle.
“For best results, clean and dry the door first – this will remove any unwanted residue and ensure the hooks stick properly. You’re then ready to apply and secure the hooks where you need them.”
Go big with garlands
Garlands will form the basis of your doorscaping design, so don’t hold back here. Start with pine foliage and use a few to frame the door – the fuller it looks, the better. Then build in some sparkle by layering up with gold foil, or for a more traditional look, try weaving in holly or mistletoe.
“Garlands are the perfect blank canvas for decorations, which you can scale up or down depending on how much drama you want to add,” says Jess Martin, design specialist at Ginger Ray. “If you’re a maximalist, why not fasten baubles, candy canes and snowflakes to them?”
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Add a wreath
A Christmas door display wouldn’t be complete without a wreath. Traditionally they’re made of pine foliage and trimmed with cinnamon sticks and dried fruit, but if minimalism is more your thing, Martin recommends trying a simplistic metallic slogan frame. Alternatively, you can make your own with coloured baubles to match your decor theme.
Line the doorstep
Let the decor spill out onto the doorstep by placing lanterns on either side. This will create a warm feel, welcoming guests into your home.
To make a statement, group them in sets of three or more. You can mix and match different shapes and styles for a more rustic look but stick to your specific colour scheme to tie it all together.
Light it up


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Is Boris Johnson Fiddling With Brexit, While Home Burns (With Covid)?

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Much of the focus of Westminster was on a particular fish supper in Brussels. But is Boris Johnson fiddling with Brexit, while home burns with Covid? Despite the vaccine breakthrough, Wednesday’s evidence to MPs from Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance was certainly a sobering reminder that this virus is very much alive.
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The chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser took part in a lengthy and typically fascinating session of the joint Commons science and tech and health committees, chaired by former cabinet ministers Greg Clark and Jeremy Hunt (both of whom have in recent months done a superb job at getting answers on policy, and in some cases changing it in real time).
We learned lots, from the lack of “hard evidence” for a 10pm curfew to the revelation that the Pakistani community has suffered disproportionately in the second wave (and Black and south Indian communities less so). The MPs were also told that the UK would have three or four different vaccines in play by next summer. Whitty further cautioned that making tier areas too small would inevitably lead to them being swamped with the virus.
Most striking however was the way both Whitty and Vallance expressed deep concern that the new year could see a third wave surge in Covid cases. “We’re all very nervous about January and February,” is how Whitty put it. Crucially, Vallance admitted explicitly for the first time that Boris Johnson’s decision to allow Christmas relaxation of the rules would lead to “an increase in numbers”.
The chief scientist probably meant “numbers” of cases, but given that Labour MP Zara Sultana’s question was actually about both “transmission and more deaths”, it’s possible he could also have been signalling that the festive easing of household mixing would indeed have fatal consequences.
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And the latest statistics again looked worrying. Case numbers and hospitalisations have edged up again and we know as night follows day that that results in more deaths down the line. The third wave may have already started. Imagine how big it could be in January after alcohol-fuelled family gatherings round the turkey and crackers?
London’s stats now look so bad that Sadiq Khan pleaded with residents to do more to keep to the rules or face a real prospect of going into Tier 3 next week. Sadly, the Mayor’s warning already feels too late.
Next Wednesday, December 16, is the date of the “review” of the current tiers in England and it could certainly spell bad news for many. Essex and Surrey could enter the highest tier as well as the capital, and Kent shows no sign of coming out of it. In Wales, the first minister on Wednesday claimed his “firebreak” had worked (and it did indeed pull the curve down) but cases now seem out of control and he’ll be desperately hoping the new 6pm hospitality curfew works.
Perhaps the most alarming graph is the one showing that hospital admissions in London actually rose steadily throughout the second lockdown. If even “Tier 3 plus” didn’t work, why should Tier 3? Vallance suggested that in fact tough lockdowns (normally) worked because they were easier to understand and communicate. “The adherence seemed to be actually much much greater in Tier 3 than it was in lower tiers because of actually people understood things better,” he said.
The two scientists stressed that the majority of the public are still sticking to the rules, but it does feel like a substantial minority are not. Not enough people are isolating either, so Wales’ new policy to cut quarantine from 14 days to 10 days will be an interesting test of whether the shorter period boosts compliance.
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It’s important to note that the third wave, just like the second wave, is not a uniquely UK phenomenon. France, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium are all seeing a levelling off recent drops in cases or the start of a rise. Is this about public fatigue of restrictions, or colder temperatures finally forcing more people indoors for longer? Is there some other factor we’re all missing?
Even in Germany, the stand out success story of the first wave in Europe, cases and deaths are climbing with frightening speed. Angela Merkel pleaded with Germans not to crowd queues for waffles and mulled wine stalls and urged them to isolate before meeting grandparents. Germany’s cases have soared despite hospitality closures, though shops and schools are open.
Speaking of European neighbours, perhaps the most valuable part of the Whitty-Valance session came when the chief medical officer warned against thinking there was a perfect defence system for Covid. “You end up with some kind of variation of the Maginot Line: very expensive, doesn’t work,” he said, referring to the doomed French fortresses that failed to halt Hitler’s advance in World War Two.
Still, Whitty said the UK could learn lessons from Germany (interestingly, he felt comparisons with far east countries were less valuable) and its impressive contact tracing system and extensive testing network. More generally, he said on some things the science had changed (like on masks) but in many areas the failures in Britain were down to a lack of data. Most importantly, he said, to get that data (for example people entering the UK from Europe in March), you need testing capacity at scale.
“If we had the capacity on testing now, [back] then [in the spring], we’d have come to very different conclusions using exactly the same science. One of the big learnings I would have is we’ve really, really got to build our capacity,” he said. Vallance added that a lack of contact tracing capability was “a big point”. Referring to testing failures in both Ebola and Covid, Whitty concluded that fixing this was vital for any future pandemic. “We’ve been caught out twice now with lack of testing and I think three times would be too many.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Brexit Talks Back On After Boris Johnson's Key Brussels Dinner

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Brexit negotiations will restart despite Boris Johnson’s make-or-break talks with the EU failing to bridge “very large gaps”.
The prime minister will return from a Brussels dinner with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen having ordered negotiators to continue talking and keeping hopes of a deal alive.
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But a “firm decision” must be taken by Sunday on “the future of the talks” because significant differences remain, a senior No.10 source said.
Von der Leyen suggested the talks at the Berlyamont were heated at times, describing a “lively and interesting” discussion and acknowledging that the UK and EU “remain far apart”.
We had a lively & interesting discussion on the state of play on outstanding issues.
We understand each other’s positions. They remain far apart.
The teams should immediately reconvene to try to resolve these issues. We will come to a decision by the end of the weekend. pic.twitter.com/jG0Mfg35YX — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 9, 2020
Talks had been stalled on the key issues of fishing rights, the extent to which the UK and EU would maintain similar standards, and how the deal would be governed.
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But negotiations are now going down to the wire, with the UK due to default to World Trade Organisation terms for trade with the EU from January 1 – widely predicted to be the most damaging outcome – if agreement cannot be found.
The high-level summit got off to an awkward start as Johnson and von der Leyen grappled with coronavirus social distancing rules.
A dinner of scallops and turbot also provided a wry backdrop to the intense discussions on fishing rights.
But the two sides agreed that talks between the UK’s Lord Frost and EU’s Michel Barnier could resume because the PM “does not want to leave any route to a possible deal untested”, a senior No.10 source said.
“The PM and VDL (von der Leyen) had a frank discussion about the significant obstacles which remain in the negotiations,” the source said.
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“Very large gaps remain between the two sides and it is still unclear whether these can be bridged.
“The PM and VDL agreed to further discussions over the next few days between their negotiating teams.
“The PM does not want to leave any route to a possible deal untested.
“The PM and VDL agreed that by Sunday a firm decision should be taken about the future of the talks.”
Responding, Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said: “The prime minister promised an oven ready deal.
“He needs to get it done so we can focus on what matters to the British people: securing our economy, protecting our NHS and rebuilding our country.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Boris Johnson Served Fish At Brexit Talks Because Of Course He Was

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Despite making up just 0.1% of the UK’s economy, arguments about fishing rights have plagued the Brexit negotiations.
And as Boris Johnson travelled to Brussels on Wednesday night for a make-or-break dinner with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, the issue remained a key obstacle to a deal.
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So what would be served at this high stakes meal?
Which of the foods from the EU’s 27 diverse countries, spanning from France to Romania, from Sweden to Spain, would be chosen by the Commission to help the compromises go down a little easier?
Of course, it was fish.
It is difficult to imagine Johnson, von der Leyen, chief negotiators Lord Frost and Michel Barnier, and a small handful of officials getting through the starter of pumpkin soup and scallops without a joke being cracked.
But by the time they got to the main – steamed turbot, mashed potatoes with wasabi and vegetables – things are likely to have turned a lot more serious as the teams got down to quotas and catch limits.
And after a night of hardball, Johnson would have been forgiven for wishing for another Christmas break to the Caribbean as the negotiators tucked into a dessert of pavlova with exotic fruit and coconut sorbet.
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(((It remains to be seen whether the outcome of the Brexit negotiations will be hard for either side to swallow))).
I’m told that the European Commission is yet again serving up fish (scallops and turbot) for Boris Johnson’s dinner tonight to help out hard-pressed headline writers (‘fish on the menu at Brexit talks’) — Jon Stone (@joncstone) December 9, 2020
Dunno how he knew, but fish was indeed on the menu for the Brexit showdown dinner - scallops followed by steamed turbot https://t.co/9a6hr7id7F — Jason Groves (@JasonGroves1) December 9, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--‘Keep Distance’: EU Chief Orders Boris Johnson To Follow Covid Rules At Key Summit

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Boris Johnson was reminded to maintain social distancing as he arrived in Brussels for make-or-break Brexit talks with the EU.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the prime minister to “keep distance” as the pair prepared to take their masks off for a photo opportunity.
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In an awkward start to the talks, von der Leyen then reminded Johnson: “Then we have put it back on. You have to put it back on immediately, so no chance (of infection).”
“You run a tight ship here, Ursula, and quite right too,” said Johnson, who seemed shocked with being implored to put the face covering back on “immediately:.
The pair disappeared for a dinner which could decide the fate of the Brexit deal both sides have been negotiating since January.
Johnson is welcomed by von der Leyen in the Berlaymont building at the EU headquarters OLIVIER HOSLET via Getty Images
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It isn’t the first time the PM has faced questions about his approach to social distancing rules.
Johnson’s official spokesperson was forced to insist “social distancing did happen” following a Downing Street meeting last month which forced at least six Tory MPs, two aides and the PM himself into self isolation after one of those present, Lee Anderson, tested positive for Covid.
The PM also infamously boasted on March 3 of having shaken hands “with everybody” he met in a hospital which had a confirmed coronavirus case.
On the same day the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) body had told ministers they should “advise against greetings such as shaking hands” in an effort to curb the spread of the illness.
The prime minister made a point of shaking hands with Phillip Schofield, even though the presenter kept his hands to his sides when he interviewed him on ITV’s This Morning.
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He was then photographed on March 9 shaking hands with the boxer Anthony Joshua at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said that Johnson would not have been aware at the time of the SPI-B paper, which did not at that point represent the considered view of Sage.
Johnson told reporters at a press conference in Downing Street: “I am shaking hands. I was at a hospital the other night where I think there were coronavirus patients and I was shaking hands with everybody, you will be pleased to know, and I continue to shake hands.
“People must make up their own minds but I think the scientific evidence is … our judgment is that washing your hands is the crucial thing.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Government Accused Of 'Discrimination' Over Vaccine Centre Locations In 'Affluent' Areas

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An MP has warned the government is “discriminating” against people living in inner-city areas by rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine in hospitals in the country’s wealthiest areas first.
The NHS has begun vaccinating patients against coronavirus at dozens of hospital “hubs” from this week in what is the biggest immunisation programme in history.
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For the first wave of vaccines on Monday, 50 hospital hubs were chosen to administer it. The number increased to 70 on Tuesday.
In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Labour’s Naz Shah, who represents Bradford West, highlighted how all three vaccine centres in Bradford are outside the inner city and in more middle-class areas.
She pointed to the government’s own review accepting that Covid-19 affects Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities disproportionately.
She asked health secretary Matt Hancock: “When will this government actually stop discriminating against those that live in inner-city areas and prioritise them because of their health risks?”
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On Wednesday, Shah wrote to Hancock and outlined how inner-city hospitals do not meet the criteria of having 1,500 patients over 80 in their network area because of lower life expectancy.
She added: “Not only has this government historically failed inner-city Bradford and Black ethnic minority communities, but by setting out the criterion as it has done, is further blatantly discriminating against these communities.
“We have seen devastating loss of life in Bradford, those in the inner-city, including Black and ethnic minority communities, have suffered enough.”
I have written to @MattHancock setting out how the criterion for the 1st wave of vaccines is discriminating against those from inner-cities, black & minority ethnic communities which have worse health outcomes, less life expectancy & have been disproportionately impacted by Covid pic.twitter.com/XBdDmnXZzZ — Naz Shah MP (@NazShahBfd) December 9, 2020
Hancock responded in the Commons: “The rollout of the vaccine is being managed by the NHS and it is entirely unfair of (her) to describe the NHS in that way.”
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NHS England has been contacted for comment.
The vaccine will be offered to the over-80s and to care home staff and others identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). People in that age range who are already attending hospital as outpatients, and those being discharged after a hospital stay, will also receive the jab.
Some 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine have been delivered – enough for 400,000 people – but it is unclear when more doses will arrive from the manufacturer.
In total, the UK has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer jab, enough to vaccinate 20 million people as patients need to receive two doses.
The 50 hospital hubs in the first wave are:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Revealed: The Countries That Won’t Get Enough Of The Covid Vaccine

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Sixty-seven of the world’s poorest countries will only be able to vaccinate a tenth of their population against Covid-19 in 2021 as rich countries hoard jabs, new research has revealed.
Yet despite the international Covax pledge to ensure vaccines are distributed fairly to all countries, the reality is that rich nations including the UK have secured enough of the leading candidates to immunise their total populations three times over by the end of 2021 while others have nowhere near enough.
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Canada is the country with the most doses secured per person – they could immunise everyone five times within a year.
The disparities have been called out by the People’s Vaccine Alliance (PVA), a group of campaigning organisations including Oxfam, Amnesty International, Frontline AIDS and Global Justice Now.
The group wants governments to take “urgent action” alongside the pharmaceutical industry to share technology and intellectual property through the World Health Organisation (WHO) to make sure enough vaccine doses are produced for a global rollout.
More than 10,000 people of Nigerian heritage work in the NHS, but Nigeria is one of 43 countries in Africa included in the list of low and lower-middle income countries that may be unable to access enough does of the vaccine in 2021.
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Just 11 countries across the entire continent of Africa are expected to have adequate access to the jab next year.
Here is the full list of countries the PVA says will struggle to access enough vaccine for more than 10% of their population:
Afghanistan
Angola
Algeria
Benin
Bhutan
Burundi
Burkina Faso
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
Cote d’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of Congo
Djibouti
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Eswatini
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Kenya
Kiribati
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Kyrgyz Republic
Lao PDR
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Mozambique
Myanmar
Niger
Nigeria
Occupied Palestinian Territories (the West Bank and Gaza)
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor Leste
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Ukraine
Vanuatu
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Just five of the 67 countries – Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ukraine – have reported over 1.5m cases between them.
Data collated by the PVA shows wealthy nations representing just 14% of the world’s population have bought up 53% of all the most promising vaccines so far.
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Russia’s vaccine Gamaleya/Sputnik and Sinovac, developed and trialled in China, are also included in the list of leading vaccines used by the PVA to determine availability.
Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice, said: “The hoarding of vaccines actively undermines global efforts to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can be protected from Covid-19.
“Rich countries have clear human rights obligations not only to refrain from actions that could harm access to vaccines elsewhere, but also to cooperate and provide assistance to countries that need it.
“By buying up the vast majority of the world’s vaccine supply, rich countries are in breach of their human rights obligations. Instead, by working with others to share knowledge and scale up supply, they could help bring an end to the global Covid-19 crisis.”
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The PVA said that so far all of Moderna’s vaccine doses and 96% of Pfizer/BioNTech’s have been bought up by rich countries. They added that “in welcome contrast” Oxford/AstraZeneca had pledged to provide 64% of their doses to people in developing nations, but that supply would likely still only reach 18% of the world’s population next year at most.
Anna Marriott, Oxfam’s health policy manager, said: “No one should be blocked from getting a life-saving vaccine because of the country they live in or the amount of money in their pocket.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--‘Clueless’ PM Randomly Talks About Pakistan After Being Asked About Protests In India

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Boris Johnson has been branded “clueless” after suggesting internal Indian protests about agriculture laws are part of the country’s dispute with Pakistan.
Labour MP Tan Singh Dhesi asked the prime minister if he would convey the UK’s anxieties to the Indian government about its “horrifying” crackdown on farmers’ peaceful protests over the new laws.
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In reply Johnson, a former foreign secretary, said the UK has “serious concerns about what is happening between India and Pakistan” and that the protests are “matters for those two governments to settle”.
Labour MP Afzal Khan said the PM’s response was “incredible”, given “the issue has nothing to do with Pakistan”, branding it “a new low”.
A new low even for @BorisJohnson
My friend @tandhesi asked an important question at #PMQs about the peaceful protests by farmers in Delhi
The PM responded with a rehearsed & unrelated answer about India & Pakistan
The issue has nothing to do with Pakistan. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/yUFPOakY0h — Afzal Khan MP (@Afzal4Gorton) December 9, 2020
Dhesi said: “It might help if our PM actually knew what he was talking about,” suggesting he had embarrassed the UK.
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The world is watching, issue is a huge one with hundreds of thousands protesting globally (including in London, reported on by BBC) and the usual Boris Johnson bluff and bluster heaps further embarrassment onto our nation. Absolutely clueless! So disappointed with his response. — Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (@TanDhesi) December 9, 2020
He tweeted: “The world is watching, issue is a huge one with hundreds of thousands protesting globally (including in London, reported on by BBC) and the usual Boris Johnson bluff and bluster heaps further embarrassment onto our nation.
“Absolutely clueless! So disappointed with his response.”
Shadow trade secretary Emily Thornberry added: “It would seem our prime minister (and former foreign secretary) doesn’t know the difference between the Punjab and Kashmir.
“Why are we not surprised?”
It would seem our Prime Minister (and former Foreign Secretary) doesn't know the difference between the Punjab and Kashmir 🤦🏼
Why are we not surprised? https://t.co/aDkQhzUMhY — Emily Thornberry (@EmilyThornberry) December 9, 2020
Downing Street later refused to repeat Johnson’s comments, saying only “it’s a matter for India”.
The row was sparked by an exchange between Dhesi and Johnson at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday.
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Dhesi said: “Many constituents, especially those emanating from the Punjab and other parts of India, were horrified, as I was, to see footage of water cannon, tear gas and brute force being used against peacefully protesting farmers.
“However, it was heart-warming to see those very farmers feeding the forces who had been ordered to beat or suppress them.
“What indomitable spirit, and it takes a special kind of people to do that.
“So will the prime minister convey to the Indian prime minister our heartfelt anxieties, our hopes for a speedy resolution of the current deadlock, and does he agree that everyone has a fundamental right to peaceful protest?”
Johnson replied: “Of course, and our view, that the honourable gentleman knows well, is, of course, we have serious concerns about what is happening between India and Pakistan.
“But these are pre-eminently matters for those two governments to settle and I know he appreciates that point.”
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It is not the first time Johnson has sparked controversy with his ill-informed remarks about foreign affairs, having been forced to apologise for comments about British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is being held in Iran, and referring to Africa as “that country”.
What are the protests about?
Farmers have been demonstrating over new Indian agriculture law since November.
The controversial legislation relaxes rules around the sale, pricing and storage of farm produce that had protected farmers from an unfettered free market for decades.
On Wednesday, protesters rejected the Indian government’s proposal to amend the laws and said they would step up actions asking for them to be scrapped altogether, over fears they would harm farmers’ finances while helping big food retailers.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Strictly Come Dancing: BBC Sends Out Fabulously Defiant Message To Those Complaining About Drag Rout

Strictly Come Dancing: BBC Sends Out Fabulously Defiant Message To Those Complaining About Drag Routine

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The BBC has sent out a strong message to anyone who complained about Strictly Come Dancing’s drag group number.
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While the routine was met with a swathe of positive reaction online, the BBC said it had received complaints from some viewers who thought it was “inappropriate for some of the male professional dancers to be dressed in drag”.
(L-R) Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe and Giovanni Pernice performed in drag on Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing BBC
However, the broadcaster said it stood by Strictly’s display of creativity and inclusivity, posting a statement on its complaints website that read: “It was intended to be a fun and entertaining musicals dance for our viewers who are used to and expect Strictly to be glamorous.
“We feel that it’s important to allow the choreographers and professional dancers to exercise creative freedom when putting together routines for a programme of this nature.
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“Strictly is an inclusive show and we always ensure that the programme’s content is appropriate.”
Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood previously urged critics of the routine to “open your eyes” or “turn off”.
The routine was met with a swathe of positive comments online BBC
He told the PA news agency: “I think they are ridiculous. If you can’t grow with society then turn it off. It’s crazy.
“You are always going to come into problems with someone complaining about something. But there was nothing.
“If people knew what Priscilla Queen Of The Desert actually was, like the musical and they saw that, then they would know that the boys were acting as these characters in the play.
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“That’s the whole point of having musicals week and movies week, so you get to play these wonderful and vibrant characters.
“I’m sorry but this is a part of real life and if you are not going to open your eyes up to it then turn the TV off.”
The dance was led by Johannes, who last year made history on the show by dancing with fellow professional Graziano di Prima during a performance from Emeli Sandé.
The dance paved the way for the inclusion of the show’s first-ever same-sex couple, Nicola Adams and Katya Jones, who competed on this year’s series.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 7pm on BBC One. Relive the pros’ incredible group routine below...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Covid Vaccine Allergic Reaction: What You Need To Know

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As the coronavirus vaccine rollout takes place across the UK, precautionary advice has been issued that anybody who has a history of “significant” allergic reactions to medicines, foods or vaccines should not receive the jab from Pfizer/BioNTech.
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Both staff members had a significant history of allergic reactions – to the extent that they carried adrenaline auto-injectors with them. They are both now recovering well.
From Wednesday, anyone scheduled to receive the vaccination will be asked about their history of allergic reactions.
What is an anaphylactoid reaction?
Anaphylaxis is the result of the immune system, the body’s natural defence system, overreacting to a trigger. Symptoms include feeling lightheaded or faint, breathing difficulties, a fast heartbeat, collapsing or losing consciousness.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and can be very serious if not treated quickly. The NHS advises people to call 999 and ask for an ambulance immediately if someone suffers anaphylaxis, and to use the person’s adrenaline auto-injector if they have one. (One type of auto-injector is an EpiPen, which you’ve probably heard of.)
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Does this mean the vaccine isn’t safe?
No. There is always a small chance of experiencing an allergic reaction with any food or medicine.
Professor Stephen Evans, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine told the BBC: “If you mean absolutely no adverse effect, then no vaccine is ‘safe’ and no drug is ‘safe’. Every effective medicine has unwanted effects.
“What I mean by safe is the balance of unwanted effects compared with the benefit is very clearly in favour of the benefit.”
Care home worker Pillay Jagambrun (left), 61, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in The Vaccination Hub at Croydon University Hospital, south London on Tuesday PA
According to research, anaphylaxis to vaccines occurs in about 1 in 760,000 vaccinations. You are more likely to be struck by lightning (1 in 700,000). The UK has one of the highest coronavirus death rates in the world, with some estimates stating one in a thousand people have died after being infected by the virus.
Peter Openshaw, past-president of the British Society for Immunology and professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, explained: “As with all food and medications, there is a very small chance of an allergic reaction to any vaccine.
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“However, it is important that we put this risk in perspective. The occurrence of any allergic reaction was one of the factors monitored in the phase 3 clinical trial of this Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, the detailed data from which was released yesterday.
“In this, they reported a very small number of allergic reactions in both the vaccine and placebo groups (0.63% and 0.51%).
“Similar to the rollout of all new vaccines and medications, this new Covid-19 vaccine is being monitored closely by the MHRA.
“They will now investigate these cases in more detail to understand if the allergic reactions were linked to the vaccine or were incidental.
“The fact that we know so soon about these two allergic reactions and that the regulator has acted on this to issue precautionary advice shows that this monitoring system is working well.”
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Should I still take the vaccine?
If you do not have a history significant allergic reactions and are not undergoing medical treatment or have a compromised immune system, then yes. The vaccine is safe, as the NHS explains here.
The fact that some people can’t take it (for instance, because of allergic reactions) makes it even more important that other people do. As explained by the NHS, the more people who are immune, the less chance there is that someone who can’t take the vaccine will be exposed to the virus.
Dr Jennifer Rohn, a medicine cell biologist at UCL, told us last month: “Not everyone can get vaccinated. There are people who are too vulnerable and they’re immunocompromised and they’re relying on everyone else to do the right thing.”
Who shouldn’t take the vaccine?
The MHRA advice states: “Any person with a history of a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food (such as previous history of anaphylactoid reaction or those who have been advised to carry an adrenaline auto-injector) should not receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.”
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The patient safety leaflet for the vaccine cautions that anyone with an allergy to any of the active substances in the vaccine should not receive the jab.
It adds: “Signs of an allergic reaction may include itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue.”
People undergoing certain medical treatments or those with compromised immune systems may also not be able to safely take a vaccine.
As such, they will be relying on the wider population to take the vaccine, develop herd immunity, and therefore indirectly protect them from Covid-19.
Herd immunity for a disease is typically achieved when between 70 and 90% of a population is vaccinated.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Edward Colston: Four Charged Over Toppling Of Slave Trader Statue

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Police have charged four people with criminal damage after a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was torn down and tossed into Bristol harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest six months ago.
Rhian Graham, 29, Milo Ponsford, 25, Jake Skuse, 32, and Sage Willoughby, 21, are all due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on January 25.
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The toppling of Colston’s statue on June 7 sparked a new debate on the legacy of the slave trade and colonialism in Britain, with renewed emphasis placed on removing other references to notorious slave traders from buildings, streets, schools, universities and other institutions across the nation.
The reckoning became a major element of the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK, and campaigns such as The Black Curriculum continue to fight to address the lack of Black history taught in British schools.
After being fiercely criticised by home secretary Priti Patel for failing to intervene as Colston’s statue was torn down, Avon and Somerset Constabulary released the pictures of fifteen people they were looking to speak to in relation to the incident.
While a number of media organisations shared the appeal, HuffPost UK chose not to amid accusations from Bristolians that police had risked the safety of protesters by publishing their pictures, putting them at risk of far-right attacks amid an atmosphere of deep division over the topic.
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At least two monuments to Black Bristolians were damaged in the wake of June 7, with bleach poured over a statue of Jamaican-born poet, playwright and actor Alfred Fagon in the St Pauls area of the city.
Days later the grave of Scipio Africanus, an enslaved man who was brought to Bristol in the 18th century, was smashed in two. “Put Colston’s statue back or things will really heat up” read a message scrawled near the vandalised headstone.
Ros Martin, a Bristol-based writer and artist and a member of Countering Colston, told HuffPost UK in June: “In Bristol it [the Colston statue] very clearly represents to me an oppression – it’s about privilege. It’s about the entrenched inequalities that don’t shift in a city and the disingenuous way in which on one hand it’s a very wealthy city whilst also having some very high levels of deprivation.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Taylor Swift Calls Out People Ignoring Coronavirus Safety Rules

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Taylor Swift has criticised people who “don’t seem to have their eyes open” to the coronavirus pandemic.
The behaviour of those ignoring Covid-19 safety guidelines because they don’t understand the threat of the virus or don’t care about its potentially fatal consequences is “upsetting,” the singer said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly out this week.
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Taylor – one of the magazine’s Entertainers of the Year – and the star of its December cover, was asked what she thought of people flouting government advice by crowding maskless into bars in her home city of Nashville, Tennessee, during the public health crisis.
Taylor Swift zz/John Nacion/STAR MAX/IPx
“I mean, you just immediately think of the health workers who are putting their lives on the line — and oftentimes losing their lives,” she said.
“If they make it out of this, if they see the other side of it, there’s going to be a lot of trauma that comes with that; there’s going to be things that they witnessed that they will never be able to un-see.”
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“I did a lot of research on my grandfather (Dean, who fought in World War II) in the beginning of quarantine, and it hit me very quickly that we’ve got a version of that trauma happening right now in our hospitals,” Taylor added.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-09--Boris Johnson Suffers Huge New Lords Defeat Over Hardline Brexit Bill

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Boris Johnson has suffered yet another Lords defeat over his Brexit plans, as peers rejected an attempted “power grab” over devolved nations.
Peers voted by 320 to 215 for a cross-party amendment that would prevent Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from being “bypassed” once the UK’s transition period out of the EU ends on December 31.
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In the first serious parliamentary ping-pong between the two houses of parliament over the Internal Market Bill, the Lords move follows the Commons rejecting their amendment on Monday.
Although ministers attempted to see off a defeat by offering greater consultation for the devolved administrations, peers are determined to secure even bigger changes to the bill.
Nicola Sturgeon has already called the bill “a full-frontal assault on devolution” because it hands to London previous EU powers over food safety, minimum pricing, environmental policy and animal health and welfare.
Johnson is under fire over the issue after he told MPs earlier this month that “devolution has been a disaster north of the border”.
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And peers warned that the campaign for Welsh independence would take off too if they bill was passed in its current form.
The Lords voted again for an amendment tabled by independent crossbencher Lord Hope of Craighead, a retired Scottish judge who was the first deputy president of the Supreme Court, to protect “common frameworks” across the whole of the UK.
The common frameworks, first drafted in 2018 under Theresa May, manage the extent of divergence across policy areas for the four nations of the UK.
Lord Hope told peers the government’s bill “needs to suit the needs and aspirations of all parts of the UK, which may differ greatly from one part to the other”.
Johnson has already been forced to gut key sections of the bill, agreeing to EU demands to remove sections that would have allowed the UK to break international law over the Northern Ireland protocol agreed with Brussels.
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Labour’s shadow minister Baroness Hayter said: “We thought that this bill would respect the devolution realities whilst helping to ensure the UK market to prosper for the sake of business, consumers, workers, our agriculture and the environment.”
But instead the government had put in the legislation market access rules that “trumped rather than solidified the common frameworks programme”, which had been “built on consensus rather than top down diktat”.
Cabinet office minister Lord True cautioned peers about creating legal uncertainty for businesses and consumers over whether or not “market principles” applied.
But the minister appeared open to further concessions ahead of a vote on Thursday, when MPs are due to send the bill back to the Lords, saying “the government will obviously continue to reflect further”.
One possible compromise is greater recognition in law of the precedence of the common frameworks in the post-Brexit transition process.
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If MPs again reject the amendment, the Lords is expected to hold another vote next Monday.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Welsh parliament voted to refuse legislative consent for the Internal Market Bill.
Plaid Cymru’s leader at Westminster Liz Saville Roberts told HuffPost UK: “A ‘right to be consulted’ is a ‘right to be ignored’, with frills on.
“Westminster must start treating the devolved governments as equal partners, or their so-called olive branch is a scant fig leaf to conceal Tory contempt for Wales.”
The government later suffered three further Lords defeats on the bill, to give devolved administrations greater rights over state aid, regional development funds and market access.
SNP’s Deputy Westminster leader Kirsten Oswald MP said: “The reality is that the bill remains a power grab piece of legislation which will take a wrecking ball to devolution.
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“On the same day the House of Lords tore apart the bill and inflicted yet another round of defeats on the Tory government, the Welsh Parliament has voted to refuse granting consent to the bill.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-10--RuPauls Drag Race Season 13 Queens Confirmed – And There's Not Long To Wait To See Them In Action

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Without a new series of the UK version this year, it’s felt like a long time since the usually ever-present RuPaul’s Drag Race was last on our screens – but that is all about to change.
The new queens taking part in season 13 of the hit reality competition have been unveiled, confirming that a new series is just around the corner.
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This year, the show is making herstory with its first-ever trans male contestant, performer GottMik.
The queens of RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 World Of Wonder/VH1
The queen’s make-up skills are already known to hundreds of thousands on Instagram, while you might also remember GottMik as the artist behind Lil Nas X’s Nicki Minaj look for Halloween.
A number of the other queens on the line-up may also be familiar to some hard-core Drag Race fans, thanks to their familial relationships with past contestants.
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RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 queens See gallery
Kahmora Hall hails from the same drag family as this year’s Drag Race winner, Jaida Essence Hall, while three other queens are also related to some of Jaida’s fellow season 12 competitors.
Symone is the drag sister of finalist Gigi Goode, while Rosé is also the drag sibling of Jan.
Kandy Muse is the sister of early eliminee Dahlia Sin, both of whom are the drag daughters of season nine’s Aja.
Meanwhile, Tamisha Iman is in the same drag family as season 11′s Ra’Jah Davenport O’Hara.
Completing the starting line-up of the 13 queens are professional dancer Elliott with 2 Ts, professional ice-skater Denali Foxx, musical theatre star Olivia Lux, New York’s Tina Burner, Atlanta Georgia’s LaLa Ri, Joey Jay from Arizona and Utica from Minneapolis.
It has been confirmed that season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race will begin airing in the US on VH1 on New Year’s Day.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-10--Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson 'Steps Aside' Following Arrest

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson at a press conference in Manchester in 2016. PAUL ELLIS via Getty Images
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has announced he will step aside from his role following his arrest as part of a corruption investigation.
Anderson was arrested last week on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation and remains on police bail.
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He was one of five men arrested as part of a Merseyside Police probe into building and development contracts in Liverpool.
Following his arrest, Anderson – who has led the city as mayor since 2012 – was administratively suspended by the Labour Party.
In a statement, he said: “I have always done what I believe is best for the city, and I am taking the following action with those best intentions in mind. It is important that everyone in Liverpool knows that our leaders are focussed on what is most important to the people; their livelihoods and, with a pandemic still in force, their lives.
“For this reason, I believe it is important that the city, and government, are reassured that our city is indeed operating in the correct way.
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“I am, therefore, stepping away from decision-making within the council through a period of unpaid leave, until the police make clear their intentions with the investigation on December 31.
“I will make a further statement at that point. Wendy Simon will be acting as mayor and I have all faith that she will provide the leadership our city requires at this time.
“The arrest on Friday has also been a painful shock for me and my family, following a difficult few months. I need to focus on their future and returning to a normal they can recognise, with the reassurance that I am no longer under suspicion.
“Therefore I am going to focus on co-operating with the police in their ongoing inquiry, as I believe time will make it clear that I have no case to answer.
“This situation has not dampened my passion for our city and the inspiring people who live and work here, most particularly the dedicated public servants who work within the council and the cabinet. They will continue their incredible work, as we would expect, against the challenging circumstances we find ourselves in.
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“But I am not prepared to contribute my own circumstances to those challenges, so I have reached this decision for that reason alone.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-10--Supermarket Opening Times Over Christmas – And The Ones Closing On Boxing Day

corradobarattaphotos via Getty Images
A handful of supermarkets and food stores have revealed they won’t be opening on Boxing Day this year, to allow staff to spend more time with loved ones.
Following the UK’s agreement to temporarily relax restrictions over the Christmas period, M&S decided to close its operations on Boxing Day, having previously planned to open over 200 stores that day.
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Steve Rowe, CEO at M&S, said: “We have taken the decision to close our operations on Boxing Day, so that our colleagues can enjoy more special time with their loved ones. This is a big decision, but it is absolutely the right one given the incredible effort everyone has made in the most challenging of circumstances.”
Asda, Waitrose and Aldi will also be closed on Boxing Day, while Sainsbury’s and some Lidl stores in London will remain open. Here are the details.
Waitrose
The majority of Waitrose & Partners shops will be open for extended hours in the days leading up to Christmas Eve. Most supermarkets will be open until 11pm and some convenience shops open until 12am.
Christmas Eve: majority of shops will be open from 7am-6pm.
Christmas Day: most shops closed (with the exception of Welcome Break motorway service stations and Shell forecourts).
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Boxing Day: most shops closed (with the exception of Welcome Break motorway service stations and Shell forecourts).
Shop opening hours do vary and customers are advised to check times of individual shops by using the branch finder page on the Waitrose website.
Asda
Christmas Eve: opening times will vary between stores (check the store locator to see when your local Asda opens). All shops will close at 7pm.
Christmas Day: closed.
Boxing Day: closed.
Sainsbury’s
The supermarket is extending its Christmas opening hours to allow customers to shop safely and says the vast majority of supermarkets will be open from 6am until midnight from December 21-23.
Christmas Eve: most supermarkets will be open from 6am-7pm.
Christmas Day: closed.
Boxing Day: stores will be open from 10am-5pm.
Opening hours can vary, so customers are advised to check the store locator for the latest details for their area.
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Aldi
In the run-up to Christmas Eve, Aldi has extended its opening hours from 7am-11pm, Monday to Friday.
Christmas Eve: stores will be open from 7am-6pm.
Christmas Day: closed.
Boxing Day: closed.
Lidl
Christmas Eve: stores inside the M25 will be open from 7am-7pm, while stores outside of the M25 (including in Wales and Scotland) will be open 7am-6pm.
Christmas Day: closed.
Boxing Day: stores inside the M25 are open from 10am-7pm however outside of the M25 (including Wales) they’re closed. In Scotland, stores are open from 11am-5pm.
M&S
Christmas Eve: Check the opening hours of your local store here. All stores will shut by 7pm.
Christmas Day: closed.
Boxing Day: closed.
Morrisons, Tesco and Co-op


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-10--Insects 'Crept Out' Of PPE Box In Hospital, MPs Told

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A former senior nurse has described how quality controls on PPE became so uncertain that when she opened one box of protective gowns “insects crept out”.
Dr Emily McWhirter, from the Royal College of Nursing, told the Commons public accounts committee on Thursday that the Easter weekend as coronavirus spread across the UK was the “most frightening” of her 30 years in the job.
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She told MPs the supply of protective equipment for NHS staff “fizzled out” as March progressed.
“We did receive some stock where the elastics on the masks were just rotten they just broke, you couldn’t use them, they didn’t create any sort of seal,” she said.
McWhirter was the director of nursing at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in London.
“I had a box of gowns that I opened and a load of insects crept out of them, god knows where they came from,” she said.
“We were sent gowns from nail bars,” McWhirter added of the struggle to secure supplies. “And masks from beauty salons.”
On another consignment she said the expiry dates were “covered over with new dates” because the products had expired.
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“It was absolutely the most frightening thing I have had to deal with,” she said of the Easter period.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the chair of the Council of the British Medical Association (BMA), told the committee the lack of PPE was a “national emergency in the middle of April” but things improved from May.
A National Audit Office (NAO) report published in November found the UK spent £10bn extra in inflated prices for safety kit due to an “inadequate” stockpile and a surge in global demand.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-10--How Brexit Is Likely To Impact Your Food Shop

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Brexit negotiations are going down to the wire this week, with Boris Johnson making a last-ditch attempt to secure a trade deal in Brussels.
But deal or no deal, your food shop is likely to be impacted after December 31. We asked industry experts how it may change.
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Sorry brie fans, your favourite cheese is about to get a lot more expensive...
Prices may go up
The biggest difference you may notice with your weekly shop is the price at the checkout if the UK cannot agree a zero-tariff deal with the EU. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has calculated that these tariffs could cost retailers more than £3 billion – and the extra cost is likely to be passed on to the consumer.
Tesco’s chair John Allan has estimated that the average household food bill may increase by 5%, with some increasing even more.
It’s concerning, especially as lower income families are already struggling due to the pandemic, says Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at BRC.
“Coronavirus is already making life hard for consumers, particularly those on lower incomes, and a no deal Brexit will have a massive impact on their ability to afford essential goods,” he tells HuffPost UK.
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“UK consumers have benefitted from great value, quality, and choice of food thanks to our ability to trade tariff free with the EU. There is now the risk of a £3 billion tax bill for the food we cannot source here in the UK.”
Dmitrii Guzhanin via Getty Images
There shouldn’t be empty shelves (in theory)
BRC says it is “not anticipating food shortages”. Supermarkets are also putting measures in place to avoid empty shelves like we saw during the first wave of the pandemic.
Tesco’s John Allan told Bloomberg: “We are trying to ensure that we have stockpiled as much as we can of long-life products either in our own warehouses or with our suppliers.”
Of course, there’s a limit to how many bags of pasta and rice supermarkets can pre-order – so shoppers can also help by resisting the urge to panic buy.
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You may have less choice
Retailers have insisted there will always be food on the shelves, but your options may dwindle a little.
“The lack of a comprehensive trade deal could mean less choice in stores and a shorter shelf life for perishable products such as fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as an inevitable cost pressure from delays,” says Opie.
“We import the vast majority of our salad vegetables and soft fruit from the EU in January, so delays at the Channel ports will inevitably have an impact.”
He adds that disruption could continue for most of 2021 as the UK introduces new border checks. “But it will impact less as we switch over to UK production of seasonal fruit and vegetables,” he adds.
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You’ll be swapping out old favourites (like brie)
As prices increase, you’re likely to notice some items skyrocket more than others – and food swaps may become the norm.
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Allan told the BBC that import taxes could push up the price of brie by as much as 40%. He said it might “change the mix of what people eat”, leading to people buying more British cheddar.
We asked BRC for other pricey food predictions – and it doesn’t look good for beef mince. “Without a deal, the tariff schedule would mean 85% of foods imported from the EU will face tariffs of more than 5%. The average tariff on food imported from the EU would be over 20%,” Opie explains.
“This includes 48% on beef mince, 16% on cucumbers, 10% on lettuce, and 57% on [non British] cheddar cheese. Those costs would inevitably be passed onto shoppers.”
There’ll be booze hikes and shortages
A no deal will mean higher prices for UK consumers on booze, says Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.
“Consumers will have to pay a tariff on all wines produced in the EU, adding 7-9p on a bottle of still wine or 22p on a bottle of sparkling,” he tells HuffPost UK. “We estimate tariffs will cost the UK wine industry a further 70 million a year, which ultimately will be passed on to the consumer.”
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The government has given the wine sector a six-month grace period, Beale explains, but unless the government takes further action, he thinks “it’s inevitable that UK wine consumers will see reduced choice on shelves and will have to pay more for the wines they love”.
The majority (99%) of the wine consumed in the UK is imported, Beale adds.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-10--Muppet Christmas Carol's Lost Song, When Love Is Gone, Has Been Found And Restored

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The Muppet Christmas Carol has been watched countless times by millions since its release in 1992, but what you might not have realised is that there was a song missing from the original version.
However, the ‘lost song’, When Love Is Gone, has now been found and restored after the discovery of the video master.
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The tune was sung to a young Scrooge by his fiancee Belle in the Muppets’ reworking of the classic Charles Dickens tale, but was removed at the behest of Disney’s then-studio chief Jeffrey Katzenberg after he noticed children fidgeting through the scene.
Michael Cain played Scrooge in Muppet Christmas Carol PA Media
Director Brian Henson – the son of Muppets creator Jim – previously said that in the process of cutting the song for the cinema release, they lost both the video master and negative.
But speaking on BBC Radio 2, he revealed that he had received a call two weeks ago saying the film was being remastered in 4K and was asked if he would check the new version.
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He recalled: “I was so excited. They actually hid it. So I went down and they said, ‘But before we show it to you, we’ve got something else we want to show you’.
“And they put up reel four of Christmas Carol with When Love Is Gone.
“I was like, ‘No, you did not’ and they said, ‘Yes we did, we found it’.
“I was so happy, I was so happy. They are all set with the full-length version again.”
Muppets' version of A Christmas Carol debuted in 1992
Brian said he was not sure whether Disney would be able to have the restored version ready for its Disney+ streaming service by Christmas, where it is currently available to view.
He warned that they would “have to scramble to do it in time”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-10--Covid-19 And Erectile Dysfunction: What You Need To Know

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We know that the coronavirus can affect many parts of the body, including the brain and lungs. Is it time to acknowledge impotence might be a symptom too?
As more cases of Covid-19 have appeared, so too have more reports linking erectile dysfunction to the disease. A study published in July in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation found coronavirus survivors may experience sexual and reproductive health issues like erectile dysfunction (ED) following their illness. Doctors and experts also say they’ve seen patients who have struggled with the problem after contracting the virus.
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The fact is that Covid-19 is still new to the medical world, and we’re still discovering short-term and long-term effects of the virus. There isn’t enough scientific data to definitively and directly link the coronavirus to erectile dysfunction.
But some experts don’t anticipate ED remaining a rare symptom as time goes on, and believe it will become more common “in anyone who has a severe Covid infection,” said Judson Brandeis, a urologist in California.
Here’s what could be going on with people experiencing erectile dysfunction following Covid-19.
Covid-19 can cause blood flow issues, which could be a factor in erectile dysfunction.
Data has shown that the virus can infect and attack blood vessels. This explains why some people who survived Covid-19 have experienced blood clots, complications with the lungs or kidneys, or oral health issues like tooth loss. It could also be the reason behind coronavirus-related ED, according to Christopher Kyle, a urologist in Oregon and medical advisor at Giddy, a company that focuses on sexual health and wellness for men and their partners.
“Erectile dysfunction largely stems from issues with blood flow, so it’s no surprise that Covid-related vascular issues may be related to erectile dysfunction,” Kyle said. “Anything that degrades blood vessels or impedes how freely blood flows throughout all parts of the body will almost assuredly have an impact on the ability to achieve an erection.”
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PAVEL IARUNICHEV via Getty Images
Erectile dysfunction is a symptom of a cardiovascular condition that might be brought on by Covid-19.
The blood flow issues mentioned above are also related to the cardiovascular system. Some experts believe this connection might be responsible for potential long-term erectile dysfunction in some Covid-19 patients.
“There is a theory that Covid-19 can lead to a cardiovascular disease called endothelial dysfunction,” Kyle said, which is a condition affecting the large blood vessels on the heart’s surface. “This disease is also caused by other conditions like diabetes, hypertension and smoking, all of which are linked to erectile dysfunction, further suggesting that Covid may contribute to ED later in life.”
So, in other words, if Covid-19 causes endothelial dysfunction, it could also be possible that a person will experience ED as a result of that condition. However, there needs to be more research on this connection to draw a definitive conclusion.
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Finally, contracting the coronavirus can take a toll on your mental health — another key component of sexual performance.
Mental health and physical health are intrinsically linked. Preventing, contracting and recovering from Covid-19 can affect your emotional well-being, which “could lead to a significant worsening in sexual desire and mood,” according to the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation study authors.
All of this underscores the need for more Covid-19 data and research. It’s unclear how long ED may last if people experience it, but Kyle also stressed the importance of treatment.
“The primary concern, of course, is treating the most acute symptoms of the coronavirus infection,” he said. “Once those issues are addressed, then we can determine if there are any long-term effects. If it turns out that Covid has lasting effects on an individual’s blood flow and ED is a byproduct of these issues, there are many treatment options available, such as medications and wearable devices.”
As always, do everything you can to prevent transmitting or contracting the virus, including wearing a mask, physical distancing and limiting social gatherings, Brandeis said.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-10--Government Complains MPs Asking Questions About Brexit 'Undermine' Negotiations

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A Tory minister has complained that MPs asking questions about Brexit in the Commons “undermine” deadlocked negotiations on a trade deal with the EU.
Penny Mordaunt claimed that queries about how ready the UK is for the end of the transition period “undermine the possibility of us getting the deal we all want”.
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The Cabinet Office minister said the outlook for a deal was “gloomy”, despite Boris Johnson and the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen agreeing to restart negotiations following a crunch dinner summit in Brussels on Wednesday.
Negotiations are now going down to the wire, with the UK due to default to World Trade Organisation terms for trade with the EU from January 1 – widely predicted to be the most damaging outcome – if agreement cannot be found.
With the outcome of the talks set to exercise a huge influence over the UK’s future over the coming years, shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves asked for an update on progress in an urgent question to the government.
But responding, Mordaunt accused MPs of risking the outcome of the negotiations by hauling ministers to the Commons to answer questions about them.
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Johnson and von der Leyen in the Berlaymont EU headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday OLIVIER HOSLET via Getty Images
To the groans of opposition MPs, she said: “I appreciate also that members of the House are very concerned about these matters, ministers are always happy to come and answer questions and update as much as we can on these issues.
“But I would say to all colleagues, and particularly those on the opposition benches, that in calling urgent questions or asking other questions on the floor of the House with the express mission of trying to undermine our negotiating position by pretending we are not ready for any outcome that these negotiations might yield I think is not helping secure the outcome... and it is certainly not in the interests of this country.
“These are serious times and nobody should be doing anything which may undermine the possibility of us getting the deal we all want.”
Cabinet Office minister Penny Mordaunt PA
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It came after Reeves said there is a sense of “huge dismay” that progress was not achieved in Brussels on Wednesday.
The Labour frontbencher told MPs: “The country was hoping for a breakthrough last night, yet there was none. There is a sense of huge dismay as we all wanted to hear significant progress but we heard more about the prime minister’s meal than we did about his deal.
“In fact, we have not heard from the prime minister at all, even though he was supposed to be taking charge of these negotiations.
“On Sunday we’ll have just 18 days to go until the end of the transition period, how has it come to this? Businesses desperately trying to plan need to know what on earth is going on.
“If the talks break down and the government pursues no-deal, what happens next?
“Will the government look to swiftly restart negotiations or does the government believe there should be no talks next year, or even for the rest of this parliament? Or, have the government not thought that far ahead?”
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The exchanges came as the European Commission set out contingency measures aimed at coping with the disruption if no trade deal can be agreed with the UK.
Negotiations are still ongoing but the end of the transition is near. There is no guarantee that if & when an agreement is found it can enter into force on time. We have to be prepared including for not having a deal in place on 1 January. Today we present contingency measures ⤵ pic.twitter.com/FQ4Urn9YUC — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 10, 2020
The measures would ensure basic reciprocal air and road connectivity between the EU and the UK – and allow for the possibility of reciprocal fishing access.
They include a proposal on “basic air connectivity” for six months, provided the UK does the same.
A proposal on aviation safety would allow various safety certificates to continue to apply in the EU, avoiding the grounding of aircraft.
Another measure would cover freight and passenger travel on the roads for six months, as long as the UK reciprocated.
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In a more contentious move, Brussels proposed a 12-month period for continued reciprocal access to fishing waters, one of the key sticking points in trade talks.
A commission statement said: “Disruption will happen with or without an agreement between the EU and the UK on their future relationship.
“This is the natural consequence of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the union and to no longer participate in the EU single market and customs union.”
Von der Leyen addeed: “Negotiations are still ongoing.
“However, given that the end of the transition is very near, there is no guarantee that if and when an agreement is found, it can enter into force on time.
“Our responsibility is to be prepared for all eventualities, including not having a deal in place with the UK on January 1.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-10--Photo Of Dishevelled Boris Johnson At EU Commission 'Sums Everything Up'

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With the end of the Brexit transition period now just weeks away, many hoped Boris Johnson’s last-ditch dinner with European commissioner might finally bridge some of the huge gaps in a UK-EU trade deal.
Imagine our surprise when not even a fish supper (yes, really) was able to heal the divides, with both parties saying “very large gaps” remained in negotiations.
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There also appeared to be “very large gaps” between Britain and the EU when it came to wardrobe choices, as demonstrated by this rather unfortunate photo showing a dishevelled Johnson and chief Europe adviser David Frost.
Johnson’s loose tie, shapeless suit and messy hair alongside Frost’s errant collar stood out somewhat beside an immaculately turned out Ursula von der Leyen and chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier.
In the absence of any real Brexit developments for what feels like the millionth day in a row, the picture dominated discussions online – with some pretty unflattering comparisons drawn.
From Worzel Gummidge to Benny Hill, Twitter users didn’t hold back:
Not sure why #BennyHill is trending tonight pic.twitter.com/TUDfeMaxe6 — Catherine Redmond (@Redmo8Catherine) December 9, 2020
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The new Worzel Gummidge looks a bit shit. Well, alot shit. pic.twitter.com/ujjj4uRWwa — db (@dbrereton) December 9, 2020
Torvill & Dean meet The Chuckle Brothers https://t.co/Ky7GAKYYG2 — Ian Freshwater (@TheAquaFresca) December 10, 2020
“How can someone this powerful and wealthy dress like a poorly stuffed scarecrow who’s been pulled through a gorse bush?” wrote one Twitter user.
How can someone this powerful and wealthy dress like a poorly stuffed scarecrow who's been pulled through a gorse bush? It's embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/RqQA3wlWeO — Otto English (@Otto_English) December 9, 2020
Others also commented on Johnson’s suit, with one person remarking the picture was “not a good ad for British tailoring”.
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Not a good ad for British tailoring. https://t.co/MVA2IY6GXb — dan barker (@danbarker) December 10, 2020
To borrow one of Johnson’s own catchphrases, another remarked: “We’re world-beating at dressing badly”.
Others were, well, a little more succinct in their opinions.
Just about sums everything up. https://t.co/ij8wnrGCuZ — Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) December 9, 2020
The absolute state of this. pic.twitter.com/RbIBTSngXo — Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) December 9, 2020
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Which side looks like they’ve got their s*** together? pic.twitter.com/6UqLrb9NB1 — Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) December 9, 2020
good to see Boris Johnson preparing us all psychologically for Brexit by looking like he crawled out of a skip pic.twitter.com/uf4SXKzA7Q — dave ❄ 🥕 🧻 (@davemacladd) December 9, 2020
Meanwhile, talks on a post-Brexit trade deal are unlikely to be extended beyond Sunday unless the European Union drops some of its key demands, the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has said.
Raab told the BBC on Thursday that, while he could not rule out a further extension in the talks process, it is important to have “finality”.
He said: “I think it’s unlikely but I can’t categorically exclude it.”
The Cabinet minister added that there has not been “enough pragmatism and flexibility on the EU side” and called for “substantial movement” from the bloc in order to seal a deal before the weekend is out.
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