thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--My Brother Died By Suicide – I Know How Much Words Matter

Caroline Flack died by suicide last week. Getty Editorial
On May 29 2004, two days after my final third-year exam at university, my big brother Stephen died by suicide. He was 25 years old.
Unfortunately, in the 16 years that have followed Stephen’s death, we don’t seem to have found the answer to this particular conundrum yet – how do you help someone who feels they have nothing left to live for? In fact deaths by suicide actually rose by 10.9% in the UK in 2018, according to figures published by Samaritans. We do, however, seem to talk about it more – which can only be a good thing, right?
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Not always it transpires, and the media has a particularly big role to play in this. Characteristics of reporting suicide can, for example, lead to imitative behaviour and particularly where celebrity deaths are concerned.
“The guilt and shame associated with bereavement by suicide is its own very particular beast.”
In fact Samaritans publish guidelines on this to prevent the occurrence of further tragedies – guidelines immediately flouted by the likes of the Daily Mail and The Sun, which chose to ignore advice not to publish methods of suicide in headlines, when reporting on the inquest of Caroline Flack on Wednesday. The Sun – the same paper that was quick to publish pieces by senior journalists espousing heartbreak at the death of their friend last weekend and attributing it to treatment by employers and the Crown Prosecution Service. The Sun, the paper which runs an ongoing suicide prevention campaign You’re Not Alone.
Other outlets also chose to ignore these guidelines, though The Sun, which last weekend deleted a bullying and harassing article about Flack published in the run up to her death, reeks of a particularly odious hypocrisy.
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But it’s not just the tabloids running pieces like this that fuel further tragedies and exacerbate those already experienced by grieving families. Straight off the bat were the Twitter users, ready to condemn the tabloid press, the CPS, and, curiously, even ITV presenter Ant McPartlin who apparently should have been given a harder time over his addiction problems when they became the focus of press attention last year. It’s a strange logic by those apparently claiming to care deeply about the mental health of others.
The problem with social media users is that they don’t yet seem to have grasped that they are also the ambiguously titled “media”.
In fact it might interest social media users to know that they are subject to the same laws as journalists regarding libel, for example, or identifying victims of sex crimes online. If the name “social media” did not give the game away, read almost any online article and find the views of any number of Twitter users embedded as additional “content”.
What’s more, it’s not even just the case that the tabloid press serves the interest of the public, anymore – in a digital era, the public actively set the news agenda. Editors prioritise online content on the basis of trending topics, likes, and retweets on social media, so any mention of a topic can drive further coverage.
It’s not just unhelpful to the subjects of such gossip or unkind words in life, it’s damaging in death, too, and not just to their memories. Despite the many empty platitudes of outlets like The Sun, like other awful tragedies, suicide is often a punchline, as well. People don’t come to work complaining they’re late because some “selfish” person had a heart attack on the tube. No one recalls an embarrassing tale and ends it with: “Honestly, I might as well just go rupture my spleen”. You don’t know if you’re talking to a person who has considered suicide, or someone bereaved by suicide, or the struggles of anyone behind their Instagram façade – words matter.
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My brother’s death predated the use of widespread social media, something I am extremely grateful for, and the circumstances of his death were obviously very different to those recently reported in the news. However, even on the tiniest local platform – one door knock, one phone call and a couple of articles in the local news – it was pretty damaging to my own mental health. Knowing that people would be gossiping about him and my family was hard enough, that for some it is now totally inescapable must be absolutely devastating.
Being bereaved is a horrible experience in whatever way it happens, but bereavement by suicide has it’s own nuances and quirks that are particularly hard to grapple with, long after you’ve dealt with the initial, unfamiliar and troubling darkness.
The guilt and shame associated with bereavement by suicide is its own very particular beast. I’ve felt like I didn’t have the right to feel the grief I had, because Stephen “chose” it. If your friend’s parent has died of a disease that they didn’t choose to have, their sadness somehow feels more valid. The additional tragedy that your loved one’s suicide was completely preventable almost doesn’t even get recognised.
What could I have done differently? Would it have been different if I’d picked up the phone that last time he rang? Perhaps if I hadn’t called him stupid when he accidentally let the cats out that time, he would have valued himself more? Maybe people think I’m not a very good sister? Perhaps they’re right.
The fact of the matter is that mental health is more complicated than this, and speculation by tabloid press and social media users about the potential myriad reasons behind a suicide will do nothing to heal the wounds of those left behind.
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Jen Offord is a journalist and presenter of the Standard Issue Podcast.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Greg James' Radio 1 No-Show Was Actually Part Of Another Breakfast Show Stunt

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Greg James made headlines on Wednesday morning when he missed his early-morning presenting slot the day after the Brit Awards, with many assuming he may have just over-indulged at an afterparty.
However, it turns out there’s more to his Radio 1 no-show than we first thought.
Since taking over as host of the breakfast show, Greg has become well-known for his elaborate pranks and stunts, and it turns out his absence on Wednesday was part of one.
Posting on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, he explained to his Twitter followers that he’d been “captured” at a Brits afterparty.
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“Some explaining has got to be done,” he said. “Last night, at the Brits afterparty, I was put into a car, blindfolded and driven over an hour or so away to a building which contains this white room.
“The only thing I was being told is that I was being taken to the boss’ place.”
OK. An explanation on the ‘no show’...
It’s been a mad 12 hours. #WhosGotGreg pic.twitter.com/ZoDlGOJSqr — Greg James (@gregjames) February 19, 2020
Greg then assured his followers that he was “as in the dark” as everybody else over his whereabouts, revealing: “I’ve since learned that it’s a thing called Who’s Got Greg?
“This requires you to be the detectives and with me, work out who from the Brits captured me and took me here. [If we] work that out, I can escape, so please help me.”
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Many fans have pointed out that the room Greg is in appears to have been padlocked from the inside, with the presenter later revealing: “For all those mentioning the padlock on the inside…It has a code that I imagine I have to solve (with your help) in order to get out and see who my captor is…”
He also tweeted out a mysterious letter, which was hidden inside a table:
The matter was also discussed on The One Show, as hosts Matt Baker and Alex Jones urged viewers to get involved in cracking the code:
On Thursday morning, as Greg found himself still locked in the room, the BBC tweeted a round-up of the clues so far, with a “red scarf” seemingly playing an important role:
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SO A LOT HAS HAPPENED...
But here's what we know so far 👇 #WhosGotGreg pic.twitter.com/N4ijoVlXqL — BBC Radio 1 (@BBCR1) February 20, 2020
Greg said: ”[This] feels slightly nightmarish. The thing is, there’s a lot to go at and so many brains on this all over the world really that somebody will come up with this and that’s what I need.
“I need theories and to really think about all the bits. It is fun but ultimately I do want to get out of here ASAP. I’m just lying here in pants. It’s bleak.”
Among the popular theories about the mysterious “boss” include The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, due to a song the band released the morning after the Brits referencing running into someone called “Greg” at a birthday party.
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Others have speculated that it’s actually Mollie King, pointing out that the singer-turned-presenter sported a key on her dress at the Brit Awards.
Mollie King with Matt Edmondson at the Brit Awards Twitter/Mollie King
The clue regarding Lizzo’s “spill” also seems to point in Harry Styles’ direction, after the singer accidentally poured red wine on him during a segment in this year’s Brits.
Around this time last year, Greg was involved in an elaborate escape room stunt, which took him more than a full day to get out of.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Elizabeth Warren Slams Mike Bloomberg For Alleged 'Horse-Faced Lesbians' Attack On Royal Family

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Elizabeth Warren branded Mike Bloomberg “a billionaire who calls people fat broads and horse-faced lesbians”, during Wednesday evening’s Democratic presidential debate.
Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York mayor, was forced to defend his record and past comments related to race, gender and his personal wealth in his first debate appearance of the campaign.
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Warren, whose bid to become the Democratic nominee to take on Donald Trump has faltered, launched a stinging attack on Bloomberg on stage in Las Vegas.
“I’d like to talk about who we’re running against: a billionaire who calls women ‘fat broads’ and ‘horse-faced lesbians,’” Warren said.
“And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump, I’m talking about mayor Bloomberg.”
The US senator said her party was taking a “huge risk” if it decided to “substitute one arrogant billionaire for another”.
The Washington Post has uploaded a booklet of alleged Bloomberg quotes, including him having said: “The royal family. What a bunch of misfits. A gay, an architect, that horse-faced lesbian, and kid who gave up Koo Stark for some fat broad.”
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A spokesperson for Bloomberg said of the pamphlet: “Mike simply did not say the things somebody wrote in this gag gift, which has been circulating for 30 years and has been quoted in every previous election Mike has been in.”
Other candidates on the stage also rounded on Bloomberg, who is pitching himself as a centrist more likely to win broad support in the country.
Bernie Sanders, the left-wing senator seen as the frontrunner in the race, lashed out at Bloomberg’s policing policies as New York City mayor which he said targeted “African-Americans and Latinos in an outrageous way”.
Joe Biden, the former vice president whose campaign is also in deep trouble, alleged that Bloomberg’s “stop-and-frisk” policy ended up “throwing five million black men up against the wall”.
Bloomberg, who has pumped millions of his own dollars into his campaign for the presidency, said he did not think there was “any chance” of Sanders beating Trump. “The best known socialist in the country happens to be a millionaire with three houses,” he said.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Why You Should Never Pour Hot Oil Down The Drain Of Your Sink

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Once your veggies are sautéed or your pancetta’s pan-crisped to perfection, it’s understandably tempting to dump the excess cooking oil or grease down the drain and dig in. After all, the sink is right there and the oil’s liquid anyway, so what could it hurt?
Pouring hot oil down the drain might not seem like a big deal in the moment, but even the occasional grease disposal shortcut can add up over time and result in a whopping plumbing bill.
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Most hot oils don’t stay in liquid form once they’ve cooled.
Many oils, including butter, coconut oil or bacon fat are in a liquid state when warm, but in a solid state at room temperature.
“When you pour hot grease down the sink, it’s still in a liquid state,” said Joel Frederick, president of Quarter Moon Plumbing. But once it cools, the grease hardens and sticks to the walls of the pipes.
The oil, plus any food particles and debris that get washed down the drain, will congeal and stick around (pun intended) ― typically just behind where the pipe makes a U-bend ― the trap ― under the sink.
“Anything heavier than water gets caught here,” said Shane Mahaffey, CEO and master plumber at Towne Plumber. The lingering oil and food bits can cause funky smells to radiate from your kitchen drain in the short term, and a full-on blockage as time goes on.
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Floriana via Getty Images
Perma-liquid cooking oils can still wreck your pipes.
Oils like olive oil and canola oil may not solidify at room temperature, but plumbers still advise against pouring them down the sink. That’s because these oils are hydrophobic, meaning they don’t mix with water very easily, so they end up coating your pipes instead.
“As they move through your pipes, they’ll fuse with the bits of food particles, fats from table scraps, hair and other debris hanging out in your drain,” Mahaffey said. “The blockage created will eventually send the water in your sewer back up into your pipes.”
Chasing the oils with hot water or dish soap doesn’t help.
An old wives’ tale will tell you to run hot water and dish soap down the sink after you pour oil down the drain, claiming to help the oil travel down the pipes before it thickens or solidifies ― but this isn’t as effective a strategy as you might think.
“Remember that anything heavier than water can and will get stuck in the U-bend of your kitchen plumbing,” Mahaffey said. DIY remedies like this one might prolong the inevitable, but they’re not going to wash away the oil entirely.
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Rermrat Kaewpukdee / EyeEm via Getty Images Hotels and restaurants in the U.S. generate around 3 billion gallons of used cooking oil per year.
Even if you were to only send oils down your sink once every few weeks, the residual left behind each time will either create a thicker and thicker coating on your pipes, or a larger and larger solid mass, depending on which oils you cook with.
There’s no water hot enough or dish soap strong enough to keep repeated dumpings of oil or grease from eventually congealing once they reach room temperature, Mahaffey said, not to mention trapping food bits and other debris.
“The further down the oil makes it before it hardens, the more difficult and expensive of a problem it can become to fix,” Frederick said.
It can also cause drama in local sewer systems.
When the oil or grease does manage to mosey its way to the sewer line, it adds deposits to the main wastewater, which contains highly concentrated chemicals and — you guessed it — other people’s oils, fats and grease.
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Because these oils have a fatty base, they bind with other substances found in sewers, such as calcium and sodium, as well as food particles and other products that shouldn’t be flushed down pipes, Frederick explained. As the buildup continues, it sticks to the walls of the sewer, creating what’s called a “fatberg.”
ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images
Fatbergs can grow into a giant mass of solid waste and eventually block wastewater flow. (It’s estimated that almost half of sewer overflows in the U.S. are the result of fatbergs.)
“The only way to get rid of them is to hire a professional who will use high pressure water jets to break down the matter,” Frederick said. “The main takeaway is to do your part and not contribute to a fatberg by disposing of oil the proper way.”
How to dispose of cooking oils and grease the right way.
Restaurants are required to collect oils and grease in traps and have them hauled off by a renderer (a company that specialises in cooking oil pickup and recycling) or risk being fined.
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Considering hotels and restaurants can generate around 3 billion gallons of used cooking oil per year (and wastewater treatment plants typically aren’t designed to handle contaminants like fats, oils and grease), the illegal practice of grease dumping would cause major drama in municipal sewer pipes.
How to do your part?
“No matter the type of oil ― butter, shortening, olive oil ― store it, don’t pour it down the drain,” Mahaffey said.
Start by choosing a collection vessel for the oil, like an old plastic bottle, coffee can, or even a large Ziploc bag. Once the oil has cooled, carefully scrape or pour it into the vessel (a funnel can make the pouring process a lot easier).
“You can add different oils to the container over time, and once it’s full, seal it and throw it in the trash,” Frederick said.
Used cooking oils can also be refined into biofuel: “Many local recycling centres will accept your cooking oils, even if you’ve combined all of your oils in one container,” Mahaffey said.
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You can search for local recycling centres online to see if they accept cooking oils and whether they have any specifications about storage or separation. Follow their guidelines accordingly.
What to do if you’ve accidentally poured grease or oil down the sink.
First of all, breathe. One round of grease down the drain isn’t going to make or break your kitchen plumbing.
If this happens, flush your drain with a pot of boiling water right away, then follow it up with a baking soda and vinegar one-two punch, Mahaffey suggested.
Start by pouring one cup of baking soda down your drain and chase it with a mixture of one cup vinegar and one cup water. Plug your drain for five to 10 minutes, then finish things off with another pot of boiling water.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Millie Bobby Brown Blasts 'Inappropriate Comments' And 'Sexualisation' She's Faced As She Turns 16

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Millie Bobby Brown has hit out at the “inappropriate comments” and “sexualisation” she has faced since her rise to fame as a child star.
The Netflix star – best known for her role as the teenager Eleven in Stranger Things – has just celebrated her 16th birthday, and shared her thoughts on the occasion in a post on Instagram.
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Acknowledging that her time in the spotlight “[hasn’t] been easy”, she wrote: “I feel like change needs to happen for not only this generation but the next. Our world needs kindness and support in order for us children to grow and succeed.
“The last few years haven’t been easy, I’ll admit that. There are moments I get frustrated from the inaccuracy, inappropriate comments, sexualisation, and unnecessary insults that ultimately have resulted in pain and insecurity for me.
“But not ever will I be defeated. I’ll continue doing what I love and spreading the message in order to make change.”
Millie Bobby Brown at the SAG Awards last month Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images
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Her post was accompanied by a montage of headlines from the last few years, including “The truth about Millie Bobby Brown”, “Stranger Things star leaves Twitter after cyberbullying” and “Millie Bobby Brown criticised for adult style”, as well as negative comments that had been posted about her online.
Looking ahead, the teenager concluded: “Let’s focus on what needs changing and I hope this video informs you on the things that go on behind the scenes of the headlines and flashing lights. Don’t worry I’ll always find a way to smile.”
Back in 2018, Millie won an MTV Award for her role in Stranger Things, and while she was unable to attend due to a knee injury, she still took a moment to share an empowering message to her young fans.
She said: “Since I know there are many young people watching this — and even for the adults, too — they could probably use the reminder that I was taught: if you don’t have anything nice to say, just don’t say it.
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“There should be no space in this world for bullying, and I’m not going to tolerate it, and neither should any of you.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Mike Bloomberg Bombarded With Questions About Sexism In First Presidential Debate

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Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg emerged from behind the protective shield of a $300 million-plus advertising blitz on Wednesday night, stepping into the limelight of a nationally televised debate alongside five rivals spoiling for a fight.
The result wasn’t pretty. The media and financial services mogul got pummeled in the presidential debate over his record of allegedly sexist comments and behaviour, his racist policing practices, his failure to release his tax returns, his support for Republicans, and his efforts to buy his way into the Democratic primary.
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Senator Elizabeth Warren led the charge, delivering a haymaker in her opening remarks.
“I’d like to talk about who we’re running against, a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians. And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg,” Warren said, prompting audible gasps from the audience at the Paris Theater.
Bloomberg’s alleged treatment of women went on to become the richest source of material for his adversaries.
Moderator Hallie Jackson initiated the biggest fireworks of the night when she asked Bloomberg to explain his comments defending allegations from former female employees who say he created a hostile work environment. Bloomberg, she noted, reportedly defended some of his sexist comments by saying, “That’s the way I grew up,” and allegedly told one former female employee, “I would do you in a second.”
Bloomberg was visibly flustered, asking for his full minute and a quarter to respond. But he did not address the specific claims, instead falling back on figures demonstrating the success of women in his corporate empire.
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“I am very proud of the fact that about two weeks ago, we were voted the best place to work ― the second-best place in America,” he said. “If that doesn’t say something about our employees and how happy they are, I don’t know what does.”
Jackson turned to Warren, noting that the senator had been especially critical of Bloomberg.
“I hope you heard what his defence was: ‘I’ve been nice to some women,’” she said, prompting loud applause and cheers from the crowd.
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg was on the defensive for much of the Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. Mario Tama/Getty Images
Warren went on to ask Bloomberg whether he would commit to releasing former female employees from the nondisclosure agreements he had required them to sign.
Bloomberg did not but struggled to give a reason. “That’s up to them,” he said. (It’s not.)
“We are not going to beat Donald Trump with a man who has who knows how many nondisclosure agreements and the drip, drip, drip of stories of women saying they have been harassed and discriminated against,” Warren said.
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Former Vice President Joe Biden joined Warren in calling on Bloomberg to release the women from their NDAs.
“Let’s get something straight here,” Biden said. “It’s easy: All the mayor has to do is say, ‘You are released from the nondisclosure agreements.’”
When it came to Bloomberg’s tax returns, which the candidate has yet to release, his explanations were similarly sheepish. “It just takes us a long time,” he said, eliciting gasps from the audience. “I can’t go to TurboTax.”
Bloomberg promised to release the tax returns as soon as were are ready, saying they would be made public in the coming weeks.
Senator Bernie Sanders made sure to remind the audience that Bloomberg supported then-President George W. Bush’s reelection, as well as Republican control of the Senate, in 2004.
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Later, when Sanders asked to explain why he opposes the mere existence of billionaires, the senator pointed to Bloomberg. The former mayor is reported to be worth an estimated $60 billion.
“Mike Bloomberg owns more wealth than the bottom 125 million Americans,” Sanders said. “That’s wrong. That’s immoral.”
Bloomberg, who opposes the wealth tax that Sanders and Warren hope to levy but insists he does want to see the rich contribute more, defended his earnings.
“Yes,” he replied enthusiastically when asked whether he deserved his wealth. “I worked very hard for it. And I’m giving it away.”
For former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Bloomberg occupied a place previously reserved for Biden: He was the foil for Buttigieg’s image as the happy medium between the party’s left and right ideological poles.
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Buttigieg pleaded with the public not to winnow down the field to two candidates whom he said were uniquely polarising and not rooted in the Democratic Party. Sanders remains an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and Bloomberg was a Republican before becoming an independent and then a Democrat in 2018.
“We shouldn’t have to choose between one candidate who wants to burn this party down and another candidate who wants to buy this party out,” Buttigieg said.
The debate, which was by far the most contentious meeting of the primary, contained its fair share of other skirmishes. Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar exchanged blows over their respective qualifications for higher office, as well as some of Klobuchar’s controversial votes. And, of course, the field of candidates slugged it out over “Medicare for All” for the umpteenth time, with the moderates pointing to Warren’s and Sanders’ support for single-payer health care as bad policy and politics.
But the overwhelming theme of the night was who would be most electable against Trump. And whatever their differences, with their relentless attacks on Bloomberg and his less-than-stellar responses, Bloomberg’s rivals united to make the case that it was not him.
After the debate, Howard Wolfson, an adviser to Bloomberg’s campaign, argued to reporters that Bloomberg should be graded on a curve since it was his first presidential debate. “I think it’s fair to say he got better as the night went on,” he said
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Bloomberg’s campaign also sought to spin his performance as a sign of the impact his candidacy has had.
“You know you are a winner when you are drawing attacks from all the candidates,” campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement. “Everyone came to destroy Mike tonight. It didn’t happen. Everyone wanted him to lose his cool. He didn’t do it. He was the grownup in the room.”
And even as Warren drew the most blood from Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor’s campaign continues to want to turn the primary into a head-to-head matchup between Bloomberg and Sanders.
Bloomberg’s campaign argued in a memo reported about on Wednesday that Bloomberg was the candidate best equipped to defeat Sanders and that other candidates needed to drop out in order to stop Sanders.
Sheekey reiterated the campaign’s hopes of framing the primary as a head-to-head contest again after the debate.
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“Tonight, Mike Bloomberg presented himself as the leading alternative to Bernie Sanders,” he said. “Everyone came to get under Mike’s skin, but instead Mike got under Bernie’s.”
Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir welcomed a brawl with Bloomberg.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--The Heartbreak Of Your Child's First Proper Haircut Is For Real

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My husband and I are not speaking. He is not speaking to me in the kitchen, while clearing away the dinner things. I am not speaking to him upstairs, where I am aggressively if ineptly folding laundry.
This marital discord has divided parenting acquaintances firmly along gender lines. The mums we’ve polled have sided with me immediately, proffering the names of reputable divorce lawyers and ululating along with me in grief-stricken empathy, as though I was a squatter, browner Florence Pugh in Midsommar. Whereas the dads have just looked confused and said: “But it grows back.”
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You see, my husband and I have two boys, aged five and two – one blond, one brunette; both largely adorable and only slightly feral, and blessed with glorious, shiny mop-tops of thick, sproingy hair.
At least, they were until this afternoon, when my husband took them to the hairdresser for “a quick trim”, and returned with Phil and Grant Mitchell off Eastenders.
CSA Images via Getty Images
The boys had been shaved. Actually shaved. Sheared with clippers, like sheep in summer. Every detail on our five-year-old’s scalp is now totally visible; his thick, dark-gold locks are all erased but for a tiny, gelled-up peak on top of his head. The two-year-old was very brave about a stranger running a lawnmower all over his head right up until they reached his crown, at which point he wriggled away, which is why he now resembles Brother Cadfael.
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And me? Well, I received no warning of this, so when the front door slammed open and I found myself under attack from two tiny Jason Stathams, both shouting “MUMMY, MUMMY, OUR HEADS ARE FUZZY LIKE PEACHES, TOUCH THEM! TOUCH THEM!” I may have given a little scream of alarm.
So, my husband is not speaking to me because I wasn’t supportive of our sons’ exciting new haircuts, and I am not speaking to him because he allowed this atrocity to take place at all. It seems impossible to explain to him why this feels like such a betrayal without sounding like a stereotypically “hysterical female”, so instead, I have stropped off. But perhaps I can explain it to you.
Obviously, I know it’s just hair. And, having encountered hair before, I know it grows back. And I know it’s not rational to be so emotionally invested in my kids’ hair when their nail clippings are swept away without a second thought.
My mum-friends understand, though. Our kids’ hair is special. I still have the first curls I ever cut from my sons’ heads, sealed up in envelopes, and I wept over each one.
Only a couple of years ago, our five-year-old was a tubby, pink-cheeked little chatterbox, with rosebud lips and ringlets so pale and golden Botticelli himself might have dreamt him up. Now, he’s a long, angular schoolboy whose hair is darkening to a golden brown. Not only does this new shaving make him look, to me, too grown-up too soon – and too much like a newly-shorn army private for comfort – but the last of his baby blondness was there among the hairs the hairdresser clippered off his little head.
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And I hadn’t had a chance to say goodbye.
Osobystist via Getty Images
So much of parenting – outside the everyday care-taking of small humans – is thrilling in the newfangled people children grow into every day, while secretly mourning the softer, younger versions they were six months, a year, five years ago.
These new kids are fast and exciting and squeeze your heart just as hard as the old ones did – but that doesn’t change the fact that those previous children are forever gone. Each haircut seems to dispatch them faster into history.
All this comes spilling out of me later, when the clothes are as folded as they can ever be, the kitchen is completely clear, and my husband and I are unburdening our souls to each other. Gradually, it becomes apparent that the real reason the haircuts rankle so much is because I feel I’m already missing out on too much of my kids’ childhoods.
Outside of work, the only parenting I do is transitional: putting them to bed, getting them to school, yelling at everyone to put their shoes on. The newer, harder-edged selves these haircuts seem to reveal only deepen the sense that my kids are becoming little strangers. “But they’re not,” my husband points out. “They couldn’t wait to come home and show you their new haircuts. And then you screamed,” he adds, needlessly, I feel.
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And so, a little late-night maths is done; and a decision is reached. One month from now, the kids will start reduced childcare hours, and my working hours will be spread more thinly across the working week, so I get to spend more time – and decent time – with my children.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Dame Julie Walters Discusses Private Bowel Cancer Battle For The First Time

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Dame Julie Walters has spoken for the first time about having been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
The two-time Oscar nominee revealed to Victoria Derbyshire that she was diagnosed with stage three cancer 18 months ago, after doctors found two primary tumours in her large intestine.
She has since undergone surgery to remove 30cm from her colon and chemotherapy, and has fortunately now been given the all clear by doctors.
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Dame Julie recalled her initial reaction to the diagnosis was simply “shock”, having made an appointment a year earlier, after experiencing heartburn and vomiting.
Dame Julie Walters at the 2018 Baftas Karwai Tang via Getty Images
“I was still thinking, ‘That’s ridiculous, he must have made a mistake’,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe it… And then I thought ‘Right’, and then you hold onto the positive because he said, ‘We can fix this’.”
The actress also said that telling her husband of 23 years was an especially heartbreaking moment, revealing: “I’ll never forget his face. Tears came to his eyes.”
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"[I felt] shock. First of all, shock”
Dame Julie Walters reveals to @vicderbyshire she was diagnosed with Stage 3 bowel cancer.
Her most recent scan shows she’s all clear
Watch our full, exclusive interview from 10am on @BBCTwo & @BBCNews channelhttps://t.co/vGdBOxeXOx pic.twitter.com/zXoinVj1Tc — Victoria Derbyshire (@VictoriaLIVE) February 20, 2020
Due to her treatment, a number of her scenes in the new film The Secret Garden wound up having to be cut, and Dame Julie also missed the premiere of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!, as she wanted to keep a lower profile, with her agent saying at the time she had a ruptured hernia.
She has now said that The Secret Garden could be her last film role, although she’s not ruling out a return to the big screen completely.
“It would have to be something I’m really engaged with [to take another role on],” she explained.
“I’m not saying I’ll never act again. But I certainly don’t think I can go back to [filming] six days a week, [from] five in the morning till seven o’clock at night.”
Dame Julie with her husband, Grant Roffey Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
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Dame Julie ended the interview urging those who are experiencing symptoms to “get things checked”.
“Your bowel is part of your digestive system, it’s just what digests your food. Think of that,” she said.
“Doctors are used to bottoms. They’ve got one themselves.”
Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, has since said: “We are very sorry to hear Dame Julie has been treated for bowel cancer.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Is Flooding The New Normal In Britain?

Is Flooding The New Normal In Britain?

Is Flooding The New Normal In Britain?
Successive storms have brought widespread damage across the UK as unprecedented flooding ruins homes, businesses and property. Is this Britain’s new normal in the face of climate change and can the government do more to help people that live close to rivers and coasts?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--British Couple With Coronavirus Post Pictures From Hospital After Being Taken Off Cruise Ship

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A British couple being treated for coronavirus after being quarantined aboard a cruise ship off the coast of Japan, have posted pictures of themselves receiving treatment in a “lovely hospital”.
In a post on Facebook, David and Sally Abel said they had been taken off the Diamond Princess on Thursday and were now undergoing a series of tests.
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David added: “Outside the hospital I came over a bit weird and nearly passed out. Every pore on my body opened and i was wheel-chaired to our room.
“Full health inspection and now we know what’s going on. We both contracted a cold (unaware of) and it has not yet turned into pneumonia. (We do have coronavirus).”
The couple were taken off the cruise ship after confusion over whether or not they had actually contracted the virus.
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The couple have been posting regular updates on social media about their situation and on Tuesday announced they had been told they had contracted coronavirus but did not have any symptoms.
Later that day they posted on Facebook suggesting there had been a “massive communication error” with Japanese officials and that they might not have coronavirus after all.
The Diamond Princess was quarantined in the port of Yokohama on 4 February for two weeks after a man who left the ship in Hong Kong was later diagnosed with the virus.
Two other elderly passengers taken off the ship because they were infected with coronavirus have died, Japan’s Health Ministry said on Thursday.
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They are the first fatalities from the virus-stricken boat, and Japan now has three deaths linked to the Covid-19 illness.
Japan’s NHK public television said both were Japanese and in their 80s. A Health Ministry official only confirmed that they had been previously taken to hospital in serious condition and had existing chronic diseases.
More than 540 people have tested positive for Covid-19 on the cruise, which originally carried 3,700 passengers and crew, with those infected transferred to hospitals in Japan.
Other Brits aboard the ship are due to be evacuated on Friday via a flight from Tokyo.
I can confirm the evacuation flight out of Tokyo on Friday for British nationals from the Diamond Princess cruise ship: https://t.co/vBYNRkvBbK — Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) February 20, 2020
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said information has been provided to those registered for the flight, but he urged “other British nationals still seeking to leave to contact us”.
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He added: “We will continue to support British nationals who wish to stay in Japan.”
There were 78 British passengers on the cruise liner when cases of the coronavirus strain known as Covid-19 started to emerge.
Four British cases have since been confirmed by the Foreign Office.
It is understood only healthy passengers with no symptoms of the virus will have a seat on the plane, with all to spend 14 days at the Wirral.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--My Family Nearly Lost Everything In The Floods. And We’re Feeling Forgotten

Flooding in Nantgarw, Wales, the author's hometown HuffPost UK
It started with a sudden knock at the door at 4am on Sunday.
Our neighbour, Lee, was alerting everyone he could that our street in Nantgarw, south Wales, was completely flooded. Looking out, our road resembled a river – fast flowing water, dragging along with it people’s possessions.
Along with my parents, Wendy and Keith, I checked out our back garden and could see the rising water working its way towards our patio doors. We quickly decided to get all valuable and electrical items upstairs before the water made its way inside. Grabbing nearly all our towels from our bathroom, we stuffed them against the doors, praying we could block any way for the water to get inside.
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Only some 10 minutes later, we realised that wasn’t enough. Working its way through to our kitchen and hallway, there was only one thing we could do: give up and let the flooding take its course.
Our village was one of the worst hit in the floods in the early hours of Sunday morning. My parents and I got off lightly compared to a lot of our neighbours at the bottom of our street, Rhyd-Yr-Helyg, and Oxford Street, who lost almost the whole downstairs of their houses, with no opportunity to save things like we did.
Courtesy of the author HuffPost UK
Currently we, like many others here and in nearby towns like Pontypridd, are waiting on insurance providers to assess our damaged homes let us know when we can try to clear up and recover what we can.
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It’s a painful waiting game. We only recently redecorated our living room and it’s likely it will need redecoration again, along with replacing the flooring throughout the whole bottom floor. We may also lose basic kitchen appliances like our washing machine or tumble dryer too. My father’s and my own cars were flooded too, and our insurance will likely consider them a write off. I’m heartbroken – this was my first car, that I worked so very hard to afford.
Meanwhile, others on our street have been able to begin the clean-up, and I must say the support from the wider community has been absolutely exceptional. The local rugby club, Taffs Well, have been taking donations and taking them to be taken out to all the people affected by the floods. Our neighbours unaffected by the floods have been absolutely outstanding, bringing supplies up to our street for those like us who no longer have cars to access them. A lot of us owe a huge amount of thanks to them.
Courtesy of the author HuffPost UK
How long will it take us to recover from all this? The phrase “how long is a piece of string?” comes to mind. Different families have been hit with different levels of damage, but it would be bold to assume this won’t take a long, long time for Nantgarw to recover from this. When I try and think of this in terms of financial hit, it’s impossible to figure out. Beside the cost of the damage itself, people like my parents are also taking a double financial hit, forced having to take time off work to deal with this situation.
Prior to Sunday’s floods, we were given no warning on a possible risk of flood in our area, despite the Met Office having predicted this storm almost a week in advance. We were given no help in preparing for any possible flood. Not a single sandbag.
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At 5am Sunday, I checked the Natural Resources Wales website to find there wasn’t even a flood risk warning. Our street had already been underwater for about an hour. At around 6.10am, this status helpfully changed to a flood risk warning.
Courtesy of the author HuffPost UK
When visited by representatives on Monday, we were told we “should have” received warnings, and that neighbouring towns and villages of Pontypridd and Taffs Well had in fact received these warnings. Later that night we were visited once again... to offer us sandbags. I don’t want to sound ungrateful but this was, frankly, laughable. Homes like ours were already ruined and much of the town had even been evacuated earlier in the day.
Whenever we get through this, the basic requirement families like mine need in the future, is better communication from those like NRW to help us prepare for catastrophic events like this. We in Nantgarw often don’t want to be the “forgotten” village any more. Being forgotten this week has cost residents who have lived here their whole lives their home, and their livelihoods.
That can’t happen again.
Emily Davies is a student living in Nantgarw, Wales. Follow her on Twitter at @EmilyDavies99
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Is Michael Bloomberg Trying To Buy The US Presidency?

The billionaire media mogul Michael Bloomberg last night made his first major public appearance as a would-be Democratic presidential candidate.
His uncertain debut on a TV debate stage in Nevada on Wednesday marked a significant moment in what many regard as a historic campaign that poses a huge question. Is it possible to buy your way to the US presidency?
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While his rivals have been on the campaign trail for months, the former mayor of New York has been biding his time. He only announced his intention to run in the Democrat presidential candidate election in November, skipped the early voting contests, and until now has only made carefully choreographed personal appearances. He’s also spent a lot of his own money. And while avoiding scrutiny, the 78-year-old has soared in the polls.
Estimates suggest Bloomberg has already lavished $360m (£279m) of his own money on a barrage of ads on TV, radio and digital media. Put in a UK context, 75 parties and 18 campaign groups spent around just £43m between them in the 2017 general election.
And with a personal fortune of more than $60bn at his disposal (Forbes ranked him as the 12th wealthiest person in the world), Bloomberg’s campaign spending is certain to dwarf anything ever seen in US politics.
Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks during the Democratic presidential primary TV debate. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Who is Michael Bloomberg?
Born in a suburb of Boston, the 78-year-old gets his extraordinary wealth from the company he founded in 1981 after he was fired following 15 years in finance.
Bloomberg LP provides financial information to traders across the world, and is also a news agency. It is privately held, with Bloomberg himself owning most of the company (he has said he will sell it if he becomes president). Analysts estimate the company generated over $10bn in revenue last year.
Bloomberg was mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013, and originally ran as a Republican. But he left the party mid-way through his second mayoral term and won his third stint as an independent. He rejoined the Democrats in 2018.
His presidential campaign has proposed gun control measures, focussed on his ‘self-made man’ backstory and majored in his ability to beat Donald Trump, playing up to an online feud between the two (the president calls him ‘Mini Mike’). Curiously, he has proposed an open plan office at the White House and paid Instagram influencers to post memes in support of him.
He has a lot of money
The numbers are staggering. The millions Bloomberg has ploughed into his primary campaign is already more than any presidential candidate has ever spent on a primary push. In theory, he could spend just 10% of his $60bn net worth and it would come close to equaling the total cost of all US federal elections held in 2016. As well as being omnipresent on paid-for media, his money has bought his campaign the formidable staffing levels of a general election operation.
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There is no precedent for this level of spending in any political campaign in American history, which means commentators are struggling to say with any degree of confidence whether or not it will work.
Bloomberg has vociferously defended his self-funded campaign by arguing that he doesn’t accept campaign contributions because he doesn’t want to be bought. “Those other people expect something from them,” he said about campaign donors to his rivals. “Nobody gives you money if they don’t expect something.” On the debate stage, Bloomberg stumbled over a question about releasing his tax returns, boasting he makes “a lot of money” and couldn’t prepare a return like an ordinary American via the TurboTax accountant.
He now faces scrutiny
By now entering the race and posing a genuine threat to their campaigns, rivals are certain to challenge Bloomberg over his record. He is only now beginning to face scrutiny over his record and previous statements on a range of issues from Wall Street power, stop-and-frisk, transgender rights, sexism and sexual harassment and civil liberties.
In the opening minutes of the TV debate, Elizabeth Warren went for the jugular. “I’d like to talk about who we’re running against: a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians,” Warren said. “And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg.”
“Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another,” she added.
Sixty-four women have accused Bloomberg and his company, Bloomberg LP, of sexual harassment and sex discrimination. The businessman’s former staffers have alleged he told a pregnant employee to “Kill it!” and suggested other women at his company would offer sex to co-workers and clients.
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Mike Bloomberg clashes with Elizabeth Warren. ASSOCIATED PRESS
When he was New York’s mayor, Bloomberg embraced a police strategy of detaining people they suspected of committing a crime. Known as ‘stop-and-frisk’, or ‘stop-and-search’ in the UK, the practice has faced criticism for its disproportionate impact on people of colour.
Earlier this month, Bloomberg faced the first flashpoint of his campaign as an audio clip of him defending the strategy in 2015 resurfaced.
In the clip shared on Twitter, Bloomberg can be heard saying children in minority neighborhoods need to be “thrown up against the wall” and frisked in order to reduce crime rates.
“Put a lot of cops in the street,” Bloomberg said while discussing what other cities can learn from New York City’s policing model. “Put those cops where the crime is, which means in minority neighborhoods.” Bloomberg has recently reportedly said he was “sorry” and acknowledged it often led to the detention of blacks and Latinos.
Questions have also been raised over Bloomberg spending billions on Democratic candidates and left-of-centre causes, with some suggesting it helps to explain why an ex-Republican who opposes the Democrat party’s progressive grassroots can enjoy broad goodwill and even endorsements among the party’s elite. Critics say it squares with a long history of deploying billions to gain allies and silence critics, with no-one wanting to anger the rich guy who could keep their campaigns and causes afloat.
Dozens of mayors across the country have endorsed Bloomberg’s presidential campaign. His philanthropy provides significant support to cities and their mayors through its American Cities Initiative. He has funded arts and cultural programs in cities across the country. The mayors of those some of those cities, including San Francisco and Washington, DC, now back his campaign.
His rivals are calling him out
Bloomberg has come under heavy fire on the campaign trail as his poll numbers have surged and his formal entry into the race on March 3 draws closer. He is gaining traction in the race despite bypassing the traditional early voting states, focusing instead on the 14 states that vote in the Super Tuesday. On Tuesday, Bloomberg was in second place behind Bernie Sanders among Democrats in a Reuters/Ipsos national poll.
Sanders, Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Warren and Pete Buttigieg have all accused Bloomberg of buying his way into the election and made clear they were eager to take him on in a debate.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Chihuahua That Can't Walk Befriends Pigeon That Can't Fly

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Birds of a feather stick together, but what if the one of the birds is actually a dog?
In what would typically be an unlikely friendship outside of the world of cartoons, a Chihuahua puppy that can’t walk has made friends with a pigeon that can’t fly.
It all started six weeks ago when Lundy, a Chihuahua that can’t use his back legs showed up at the Mia Foundation, a nonprofit in Rochester, New York, that helps animals with disabilities. There, he met Herman, a pigeon who has been at the foundation for the past year because he’s unable to fly, mostly likely due to a brain injury or the West Nile Virus, according to Inside Edition.
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Mia Foundation founder Sue Rogers said the heartwarming friendship began when she put them together while attending to Lundy. When the two started snuggling and ― surprise! ― didn’t peck or nibble at each other, Rogers got out her camera.
“I had Herman in a dog bed and was tending to Lundy. I set Lundy next to him and they looked so adorable that I snapped a few photos,” she said, per Inside Edition.
After Rogers posted the photos on Facebook, the reaction blew her away, she told CNN. Suddenly, she was getting messages of support and donations from around the world ― $6,000 in two days alone, enough to cover a high-end surgery for one of the rescue animals.
Although some people have shown interest in adopting Lundy, the puppy isn’t strong enough yet for that. And there are some who insist that Herman be part of the package.
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For animals with disabilities or who otherwise have health conditions, “there’s a chance we could lose them,” Rogers said. “So we don’t want to make anyone really excited. But now I think we’ve gotten a thousand emails asking, ‘Please, don’t ever separate those two!’”
There are at least 100 people who have offered to take both Lundy and Herman, Inside Edition reported.
Rogers told Rochester NBC affiliate WHEC-TV that she understands why people are so doggone smitten over this pair of pets.
“I think the world needs good stories and when you have two species that basically fall in love, it can only touch hearts,” she said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--EastEnders' Most Iconic Storylines Ever: From Sharongate To Little Mo's Revenge

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Between explosions, baby swaps, illicit affairs, grisly murders and spinning bow ties, there isn’t much the residents of Walford haven’t seen in the 35 years EastEnders has been on air.
And yet somehow, the producers keep thrilling and exciting us, as evidenced during its milestone anniversary episodes this week, which have seen a Titanic-style disaster hit as some Albert Square favourites enjoy a booze cruise on the Thames.
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As we celebrate 35 glorious years of the BBC soap, we’re looking back on some of the most iconic storylines ever. Is your favourite in there?
Stacey and Max’s affair is revealed
There’s nothing quite like a Christmas Day revelation to shake things up is there? This classic clip is still tough to watch as Stacey Slater and Max Branning’s affair is revealed to the whole family.
“You ain’t my muvva!”
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From the classic Slater family row to Zoe’ priceless reaction, everything about this clip screams “legendary TV moment”.
Dirty Den’s divorce papers
Angie was dealt a blow when Den handed her divorce papers for Christmas. While it certainly wasn’t the gift she had been hoping for, the moment is still the UK’s most watched TV episode ever.
Steve Owen goes out with a bang
Martin Kemp’s character certainly made an exit, blowing up in a car fire after a high-speed chase with Phil Mitchell.
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Sonia’s surprise baby
With Big Mo’s guidance, Sonia Jackson gave birth in her living room, just minutes after the Slaters worked out that she had been pregnant for the last nine months but knew nothing about it.
Tiffany Mitchell’s death
This New Year’s Eve death scene stunned fans as Frank Butcher mowed down Tiff in one of his dodgy motors, just as she was finally ready to escape her abusive relationship with Grant Mitchell.
The Queen Vic goes up in flames
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Peggy Mitchell was left distraught when her beloved pub went up in flames after Phil set it alight whilst in the grips of alcoholism, leading to her first exit from the soap. Her wailing “Let it burn!” is up there with some of her most iconic lines.
Matthew’s guilty verdict
Matthew Rose was wrongly convicted of manslaughter, after helping Steve Owen cover up his own crime when he hit lover Saskia over the head with an ashtray in the e20.
Who shot Phil?
This storyline is still arguably the biggest “whodunnit?” in soap history with the nation on absolute tenterhooks to discover the identity of Phil’s shooter back in 2001.
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Colin and Barry’s relationship
Their romance was not only a major event in soap, but a milestone moment for LGBTQ visibility on screen. The moment Colin shared a forehead kiss with Barry was the first gay kiss to be screened on prime time British TV in 1987.
Christian & Syed’s affair
Nearly two decades on from Colin and Barry, EastEnders broke new ground once again with a storyline that saw Syed embark on an affair with Christian. It marked the first same-sex relationship involving a Muslim character in soap.
Linda Carter’s rape
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In harrowing scenes, Linda Carter was raped by her nephew Dean Wicks. The long-running storyline took a twist when it was revealed that Shirley wasn’t Mick’s sister but his mother, making Dean his brother.
Mel leaves Ian
Mel walked out on her Ian Beale just hours after getting hitched on Millennium eve, when she found out that he’d lied about daughter Lucy having cancer.
Mark tells his parents he’s HIV positive
The Fowlers were left stunned when their son Mark revealed his diagnosis, in what was a landmark storyline for the soap aiming to tackle the stigma around the condition.
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Who killed Archie?
This plot not only saw off one of the best baddies the show has ever seen, but it also was the catalyst for some other huge moments, including Bradley Branning’s death in the 25th anniversary live episode.
Dot helps Ethel to die
Once again, the show kicked up a huge debate on a topical issue with this storyline, as Ethel begged best friend and devout Christian Dot to help her die.
Little Mo’s revenge
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After months of torture and abuse at the hands of her husband Trevor, Little Mo fought back and attacked her husband with an iron in Pauline Fowler’s kitchen.
Sharongate
When Grant discovered Sharon’s affair with Phil his reaction was, well.. see for yourself.
Dirty Den’s death #1
There’s not many soap characters who can say they had two on screen deaths, but Dirty Den is one of them. For his exit in 1989, “the Firm” killed him off by shooting him through a bunch of daffs, causing his body to fall into a canal.
Dirty Den dies: The sequel
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After his return from his watery grave, Den was bumped off once again (for good this time) when his wife Chrissy whacked him over the head with Pauline Fowler’s doggy door stop in the Vic before burying his body in the cellar. Camp does not cover it.
Arthur Fowler’s breakdown
After stealing money from Walford residents’ Christmas Club savings scheme, Arthur suffered a breakdown as he tried to cover his tracks, before eventually being sent to prison.
Pat and Frank’s affair
There were many moments we will never forget during former couple Frank and Pat’s affair behind the backs of their spouses Peggy and Roy, but the image of a naked Frank wearing nothing but a spinning bow-tie has stayed with us years on.
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Who killed Lucy?
EastEnders really does love a whodunnit, but when they do them this well (especially with the killer being revealed in a fully-live episode), who are we to argue?
Ronnie’s baby swap
One of the most controversial storylines EastEnders has ever aired saw Ronnie Mitchell swap her son James with Kat Moon’s baby Tommy after he died of cot death.
Janine pushes Barry off a cliff
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We have nothing to say except, “If only he’d worn slip on shoes.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--Children In Care Repeatedly Rejected By Academies As Admissions 'Scandal' Grows

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Children in care are increasingly being turned away by academies, a freedom of information investigation has revealed.
Ministers have been asked to intervene 72 times over the last three years to use their power to force academies to accept looked after children, with some schools repeatedly blocking enrolment.
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Official guidance states children in care should get top priority when it comes to schools admissions because they are vulnerable, with many having faced neglect, abuse or a chaotic home life.
While local authorities can force a council-run school to accept children, academies have power over their admissions policy. However, education secretary Gavin Williamson can overrule them.
Data released by the Department for Education to HuffPost UK shows the number of requests for an official government direction is climbing, with October last year marking the highest month on record, with five requests for intervention. In 2018, the minister was approached 23 times and in 2019 the figure rose to 27.
The call for assistance, which comes from a council via the Education and Skills Funding Agency, is usually a last resort as most disputes are resolved with a warning.
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Education secretary Gavin Williamson has been forced to intervene Peter Summers via Getty Images
Sam Turner, from the charity for children in care and young care leavers Become, described the news as “deeply concerning” and said some youngsters may miss a term or face long journeys to reach an alternative school.
He added: “Many refusals won’t be challenged and won’t go as far as direct intervention by the secretary of state – how many more children are being affected by this open discrimination?
“Care experienced young people are more likely to experience disruption to their education due to frequent changes in where they live – school can be the one stable and secure place in their lives that offers them structure and support.”
HuffPost UK reported on academies using the “legal loophole” in 2018 and the government has said ministers planned to launch a review of the school admissions code.
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Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said: “It is now well over a year since this scandal was first exposed, yet these figures suggest it remains a persistent problem.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner EMPICS Entertainment
“We need to ensure that looked after children are prioritised and given the best possible education rather than fall victim to a rigged system.
“Ministers know that looked after children are among the most vulnerable in society, so it’s about time they stepped in and took decisive action.”
It comes amid much concern about a sharp rise in school exclusions and teachers “off-rolling” pupils.
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Off-rolling, which Ofsted has warned is on the rise, is described by the government as “the practice of removing a pupil from the school roll without using a permanent exclusion when the removal is primarily in the best interests of the school, rather than the the best interests of the pupil”.
Academies are schools in England which are state-funded but free from local authority control. They were legally established by Tony Blair’s Labour government in 2000 but massively expanded by the coalition after David Cameron won power in 2010. Almost all academies are secondary schools.
Labour MP for South Shields, Emma Lewell-Buck, who is a former social worker, told HuffPost UK that government at “every level” had failed children in care.
“Far from tackling a care crisis of their making, the government are presiding over legislation that allows vulnerable children who need certainty and stability in their lives to be actively discriminated against,” she said.
“Repeated failure from various secretaries of state to strengthen the admissions criteria sends a clear message to children in care that they do not matter to this government.”
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A Department for Education spokesman said some requests were beset with delays, with headteachers pushing back on ministers’ direction.
“It is vital that looked-after children have access to the best schools, which is why they have top priority in the admissions process,” he said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--The Rudest Things You Can Do At The Gym

The Rudest Things You Can Do At The Gym

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Going to the gym is a regular part of many people’s routines, and as with any public activity, it comes with many opportunities for rude behaviour.
“Because a gym is a shared space, one where adrenaline is in ample supply, members must be particularly mindful of how their behaviour can adversely affect the experiences of others,” said Thomas P. Farley, an etiquette expert also known as “Mister Manners.” “Whether their commitment entails a once-a-week treadmill run or a daily heavy-lifting regimen, all members should remember they are part of a community and therefore need to follow common-sense guidelines to ensure everyone hits their goals.”
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Of course, people are often not aware of the consequences of their actions in shared spaces ― gym or otherwise. To help make working out an enjoyable experience for everyone, HuffPost asked Farley and other etiquette experts to identify the faux pas they often see people committing at the gym. Read on for 11 examples.
EmirMemedovski via Getty Images
Not Wiping Down Equipment
After you sweat all over a piece of equipment, it’s important to wipe it down before moving onto the next machine.
“Nobody wants to sit in your sweat,” said April Masini, an etiquette expert and fitness advocate. “So grab a towel or wipe to clean it.”
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If you notice someone else failing to do this, there’s a polite way to confront them, said Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting.
“You can say, ’Oh excuse me, I don’t think you realised it, but there are paper towels over there so you can wipe down the machine,” Smith said. “Most people are well-intentioned and will do that. But don’t engage further if they disagree. Just go tell some staff members.”
Failing To Return Weights
If you use the free weights at the gym, be sure to put them away when you’re finished. Leaving them on the floor is not only rude but can pose a safety hazard, as people may trip over them.
“This is a kindergarten skill,” Smith said. “Once you’re done playing with your toys, put them away.”
Masini said it’s important to re-rack weight plates because you don’t know who will be using the equipment after you.
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Be mindful when you’re using or returning your weights, as well. Farley noted that “dropping heavy weights rather than placing them gently” on the ground is “among the biggest etiquette lapses at the gym.”
Hogging Machines
In the age of iPhones, people often sit on equipment texting without realising that people are waiting to use it. Other times, they use a particular machine for a long time and prevent others from completing their workouts.
“If I’ve been waiting for a long time, I may say something like, ‘I hate to trouble you because it looks like you’re training for something, but I need two minutes on this machine. Do you mind getting off, so I can work through my circuit?’” Smith suggested. “Often people say, ‘Oh, I had no idea you were waiting!’ or, ‘Yes, I was just finished!’”
andresr via Getty Images
Playing Your Music Loudly
It’s common to listen to music while working out, but be sure to keep it in your earbuds.
“Some people have their music playing so loudly that others nearby can hear it ― which is annoying to those people and also really bad for your ears,” said Smith. “People shouldn’t be able to stand by you and know what music you’re listening to. And be respectful about singing along. Even if you’re a Broadway star, don’t assume people in a confined space want to hear you singing.”
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Laughing At Other People Working Out
“It’s disheartening when people are mean-spirited and stare or laugh at people who are somewhat out of shape,” Masini noted. “If you’re someone who hasn’t spent much time at the gym, you probably feel intimidated, so it takes a lot of courage to get there.”
Rather than encouraging inexperienced gym-goers, many people make them feel embarrassed, insecure and less inclined to return.
“That’s why a lot of people quit,” Masini added. “They don’t feel confident, especially after feeling people staring and laughing at them.”
Talking On The Phone
Farley advised against “talking on one’s phone while others are nearby.”
Smith echoed this advice, noting that it can be OK to have a chat with the person on the machine next to you, but phone calls in the gym push the boundaries of etiquette.
“It is infinitely more annoying to listen to half a conversation than it is to listen to a whole conversation, so don’t subject people to listening to you talk on the phone,” she said. She added that you can make an exception with something quick like an appointment confirmation.
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Leaving A Mess In The Locker Room
The locker room is another shared space that gym-goers should respect.
“Among the missteps gym members might make here include leaving towels on the floor and benches rather than dropping them in a laundry bin,” Farley said.
“Don’t take forever in the shower and then leave your shampoo bottle or wrapping from the soap or hair in the drain,” Smith said. “If you’re shaving at the sink, rinse and wipe down the sink at the end. Nobody wants to see the evidence of your grooming regimen.”
Masini highlighted another unhygienic locker room behaviour. “Don’t sit on a bench or sofa or chair completely nude,” she said. “Now the next person’s got to go and sit there.”
andresr via Getty Images Locker room conduct is a big part of gym etiquette.
Showing Up Smelly
It’s natural to sweat and produce an odour while exercising, but you shouldn’t show up to the gym in dirty workout clothes you haven’t washed since your last visit.
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“There’s a difference between fresh sweat and old sweat,” Smith said. “People should wash their workout clothes in-between”
Mentioning another way people fail to be considerate in the gym-odour category, Masini said, “You’d be surprised how many people don’t shower and don’t wear antiperspirant.”.
Treating It Like Social Hour
Although it can be OK to chat with the person exercising next to you, you should be mindful of your conversation’s volume level and whether you might be distracting others.
“Don’t act like it’s social hour,” Masini said. “Sure, some gyms are more socially inclined, but others, like the one where I go, are very serious. People there don’t want to be interrupted for chat time. And it’s a bad habit to go up and start talking to someone when they’re in the middle of a set.”
Going Overboard With Selfies
If you want to take a mirror selfie at the gym, don’t make a big production of it or expose others.
“Don’t take pictures in the locker room. It’s disrespectful of others’ privacy,” Smith said, noting that people walk around in various states of undress. “Even if you aren’t trying to include other people in the photo, someone could walk by. People should be able to walk through the locker room with the expectation that they won’t be photographed.”
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As for the gym floor, it’s best to take up minimal space and be quick with your selfie-taking.
“You want to be careful. Minimise the number of other people you capture in the background,” Smith said. “And don’t use the guise of taking a selfie to get a picture of someone else working out to body-shame them. If someone else is doing something rude, don’t selfie-shame them, either. Speak with them directly and politely, and get the staff involved if that doesn’t work.”
Staring At People
Overall, gym-goers should be respectful of each others’ personal space, whether that’s space in the locker room, at a fitness class or on the gym floor. And it’s not just physical space.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--I Tried Three Hyaluronic Acids For My Oily/Combination Skin, Here's My Review

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You’re reading our Spenny vs Penny series, where we compare pricey products against cheaper versions.
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I’m in my early thirties, which means I’m increasingly concerned about my skin – more specifically, my ageing skin. Against my better (feminist) judgement, I find myself suddenly envious of younger people – newborn babies in particular – for their wrinkle-free complexions. And it doesn’t help that some of my friends are starting to get botox.
But rather than turn to injections or sucking the life out of the young, I’d rather take a less invasive tack. Those in the know tell me my basic micellar-water-followed-by-generic-night-cream routine needs a shake up and that, if I’m going to add a step, it should be hyaluronic acid.
This much-hyped ingredient promises to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – not only making your skin look plumper but supposedly reducing the appearance of fine lines. I’ve never thought of my oily-combination skin as particularly dry, but it has its moments. And while acid sounds terrifying, when I realise it hasn’t melted the glass of the bottles it comes in, I feel more confident.
I’ve spent a few months trying three different products to see how they measure up. Here’s how I got on.
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This one is easy to apply from the pump and I can follow up with my moisturiser straightaway, rather than having to wait for it to soak in – ideal for someone like me who is always running late. At night, it replaces my moisturiser completely, and it feels like plenty to keep my skin hydrated.
The product has quite a positive impact on my dull complexion, so much that a few people tell me my skin looks good, even without makeup. I’m not one to brag but one person even used the word “glowing” (no, I’m not pregnant). It also works as a nice base for my moisturiser and foundation – happy families.
Downsides? Hmm, it’s quite a big bottle to be carting around, I go to the gym some mornings and find it a pain to add to my already bulging backpack. But the product is available in travel sizes, too.
One word: wet. So wet that I have to wait a good few minutes until I’m able to put my moisturiser on. It feels like I’ve splashed gloopy water on my face – odd, tolerable, but not ideal.
This isn’t so much of an issue in the evenings, only in the mornings when I’m clambering out of the door to make it to work on time. Tick tock.
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I do feel quite bamboozled by all of the science surrounding this product. Ingredient-led skincare may be the current trend, but it reminds me of Jennifer Aniston’s “here comes the science bit” from her L’Oréal days. I didn’t buy into it then either. After all this, I don’t really notice a difference while I’m using the product, apart from the wetness.
This product is more expensive than Drunk Elephant (per millilitre at least), but its minimalist appearance (including pipette) is more like The Ordinary, which is some £30 cheaper.
The serum itself is incredibly lightweight and watery, a welcome property for my oily/combination skin. But it soaks in so quickly, I struggle to see if it’s doing anything – and over a few weeks of use I can’t see a major difference in my skin.
I note the product has 4.9 stars out of five on beauty site, Look Fantastic, with fans praising its consistency and brightening qualities. This suggests it could be having a positive, beneath-the-surface impact over time for some people, but if I’m shelling out £39 for a product, I expect to see visible results pretty quickly.
My verdict:
Drunk Elephant is definitely my pick of the products I try, I think because it has more of a traditional serum-y feel to it – silky and luxurious. Turns out it does come in smaller travel sizes which can be bought as part of a set – the retinol and Vitamin C serum are also great. The impact of the Pestle & Mortar was negligible, at least for me. As for The Ordinary, I don’t think my oily/combination needs quite such a dramatic moisture hit. Or maybe I’m just getting old...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--My Sister Died During Her Pregnancy. Stop Asking Me When I'll Have Kids

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The first time I heard myself say out loud why I wasn’t sure that I wanted to have children was six months ago when I was 31-years-old. I was at a work-related conference and I found myself talking to a complete stranger about my sister passing during the fifth month of her pregnancy. I was telling this stranger things I hadn’t yet mustered up the courage to talk about with my own husband, who cannot wait to have children, or with my closest friends, some of whom I’ve known since I was a teenager.
I’m not the kind of person who usually goes about spilling details of my personal life in professional settings. If anything, as a lifelong introvert, I can take years to open up to someone. But she was incredibly easy to talk to, a woman and mother who understood and did not judge me for how I was feeling.
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My 29-year-old sister and her husband had been trying to get pregnant for a couple of years. She’d been warned of the risks by her doctors, who knew she had dealt with chronic kidney disease since she was a child. After a lifetime of fighting the disease with medication and treatments, and battling through relapses, she’d been advised not to attempt to bear a child because of the increased risk to her own life and the likelihood of a miscarriage if she did manage to conceive.
But she was an optimist with infinite faith in a higher power. The same power that had led her to survive as long as she did, get married and live a happy life as a primary school teacher. When someone asked her if she had any children yet, she’d smile and reply, “I have a lot of children,” referring to her students who adored her. Though she was happy, that wasn’t enough. She wanted to have a child of her own. It was frustrating to me that I didn’t get a say in this decision.
“After a lifetime of fighting the disease with medication and treatments ... she’d been advised not to attempt to bear a child because of the increased risk to her own life.”
I was 17-years-old when she and her husband decided they wanted to try for a baby. While my mother urged her to consider the potential consequences, she remained adamant. A year later, we lost our mother unexpectedly to cardiac arrest. I withdrew into a shell and she was always around to take care of me, cooking my favourite dishes, taking me shopping or out for a cup of hot chocolate on a rainy day.
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After three years, her wish came true, and my big sister was pregnant. Even as doctors warned her repeatedly of the risks of severe renal impairment, she was optimistic, at least at first. After three months, the signs were not good. She had become weaker, her old symptoms began to resurface and doctors upped the dosage of her medication. She even tried ayurveda and met with religious gurus promising a miracle.
As her belly began to swell and her health started to deteriorate, she stopped teaching and stayed home. It saddened me to see her unable to do what she loved doing.
Then, one afternoon during the fifth month of her pregnancy, her mother-in-law called me. “Your sister needs you,” she said. Over the next two weeks, I spent many nights at the hospital where she was admitted. The days were a blur of disappointment and fear as her kidneys grew weaker and her condition worsened, confusion as doctors and nurses came and went, and desperation as we waited and prayed.
“I’ll never know why my sister was adamant about having kids even though she was told it could cost her life.”
Then her suffering ended. I was at university when I got the call. An infection had accelerated the renal failure, and neither she nor the baby survived. For months, I was in a daze of sadness, anger and confusion.
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A decade has gone by and I’ll never know why my sister was adamant about having kids even though she was told it could cost her life. But I always wonder if it was society’s obsession with motherhood that made my sister feel like she had to have a child despite what doctors told her. I fear I lost my sister to this idea that women’s lives are incomplete until they’ve been through childbirth. Until they’ve become mothers.
Why does society tell us that having children and being mothers is what completes a woman’s life? Why don’t more people think about what they’re implying when they ask, “So when will you have children?” As if having children meant crossing over the finish line of some race I hadn’t known I’d signed up for.
I suppose it isn’t an uncommon question to ask women who are in the same phase of life as I am – over 30, married for more than five years and settled career-wise. It seems like my relatives and friends are just waiting and watching. But for me, the question immediately opens the door to a flood of memories I’m still not prepared to deal with. A door I had managed to firmly shut over the last decade as I was earning my master’s degree, transitioning to a career in travel media and getting married to my best friend and love of my life. A door I had managed to keep shut until I turned 30, older than my big sister ever had the chance to be.
“Why don’t more people think about what they’re implying when they ask, ‘So when will you have children?’ As if having children meant crossing over the finish line of some race I hadn’t known I’d signed up for.”
When people ask if I have siblings, I don’t mention her. Sometimes I feel guilty – an entire lifetime, once precious, is now being forgotten. But sad stories make people uncomfortable and are not pleasant conversation topics. Some of my close friends today seem to have forgotten I once had a sister while others, I suspect, don’t know that I’m not an only child, let alone the circumstances.
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While it took a lot of work, I’ve let go of the anger. Time brings both healing and perspective, and I now have the maturity to respect her choice – one that she fully had the right to make for her life. I’m not bitter about the idea of motherhood; I’m just not sure it’s right for me.
I’ve never been overly fond of children. It’s not that I dislike them; I love my cousins’ children and my friends’ children and think they’re adorable. But I’m just not the person any of them would call to babysit their kids. I don’t naturally have a nurturing, patient, motherly temperament. With not a clue about what to say to these little humans, I’m somewhat awkward around young children, at least at first.
“It’s impossible for me to separate how much of my ambivalence comes from my own temperament ... and how much from what happened to her and how I blame society’s beliefs and conditioning.”
Then there’s my career as a travel writer, a passion that drove me to quit my comfortable job in finance and give up steady paychecks. It’s hard for me to imagine giving up the freedom to pack a bag and hit the road solo for weeks or months anytime I want.
I’d be lying if I said I wanted kids before I lost my sister. I was only 21. Now it’s impossible for me to separate how much of my ambivalence comes from my own temperament and lack of motherly instinct so far, and how much from what happened to her and how I blame society’s beliefs and conditioning ― the same beliefs that might have cost me my sister. I cannot accept that my life is any less meaningful should I choose not to have children. And if I do decide to become a mother, I want to be sure it’s for the right reasons.
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Maybe we become the sum of our tragedies. And maybe we should talk about them more often, more openly. How else can we drive home the point that the presumptions implicit in the question “When will you have children?” are flawed. That so many thoughts, memories, fears and anxieties can arise in a woman’s mind before she is able to smile politely and say whatever she must to move on.
As for me, I am still healing and I don’t know how long it will take. In the meanwhile, I really could do without having my wounds prodded open by other people, the burden of whose expectations I refuse to shoulder. A better question to ask me about my life would be “Are you happy?” Then I’d tell them that I’m married to a wonderful man, have a moderately successful career, travel around the world, and most importantly, feel the most complete I’ve ever felt. I’d say, “Yes, I’m happy,” and hopefully, that would be enough.
This article first appeared on HuffPost US Personal


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-20--There's A Reason Why You Get Earache When It's Cold Outside

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The UK has braced storm after storm (hello Ciara and Dennis) and the bad weather is showing no sign of slowing down – expect frost, wintry showers and bitterly cold winds in the weeks ahead. Sob.
In these chilly climates, you might notice your ears hurt when walking to the bus stop in the mornings or during a weekend stroll – a painful ache deep inside that can get worse the longer you’re outside.
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But why does this happen? And what can you do to prevent it?
Dr Simran Deo, from online doctor Zava, says our ears are one of the most sensitive areas of our body due to the number of nerves in and around our ear canals. Cold temperatures and strong winds can irritate this canal, which can, in turn, cause pain.
“Our ears aren’t covered by the layer of fat that covers the rest of our body,” she explains, “meaning that all these areas are exposed to the weather. Cold air can also reach the ear drum, which is also very sensitive.”
Everyone is different, so those who often experience earache in the cold may have a different makeup of nerves in their ears than others, she suggests.
The good news? If this is an issue you struggle with, it’s usually nothing to worry about and won’t cause any lasting damage. You can relieve symptoms by wearing a hat or earmuffs when you spend time outside, advises Dr Deo.
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Don’t try to put anything inside your ear, such as cotton buds, and try not to let water get inside, states the NHS.
“Our ears aren’t covered by the layer of fat that covers the rest of our body” - Dr Simran Deo
If you have an ear infection – which is particularly common in children and can be caused by colds, flu and allergies – the pain is likely to be worse when you’re out and about. Again, it’s important to cover up.
Dr Deo adds that you may be able to relieve symptoms of an ear infection with over the counter painkillers, trying a hot or cold compress, or talking to your local pharmacist about other treatments, such as drops.
It’s important to remember if you have earache and become unwell with a hot temperature – or feeling hot and then shivery – call NHS 111 for advice.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-19--Donald Trump Offered Pardon To Julian Assange, UK Court Hears

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Donald Trump offered WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a pardon if he said Russia was not involved in the leak of Democratic National Committee emails, a court has heard.
The claim emerged as Assange, 48, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court ahead of an extradition hearing next week.
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His barrister Edward Fitzgerald QC highlighted evidence alleging former US Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher had been to see Assange, while he was still in the Ecuadorian embassy in August 2017.
He said a statement from Assange’s lawyer Jennifer Robinson shows “Mr Rohrabacher going to see Mr Assange and saying, on instructions from the president, he was offering a pardon or some other way out, if Mr Assange… said Russia had nothing to do with the DNC leaks”.
A series of emails embarrassing for the Democrats and the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign were hacked before being published by WikiLeaks in 2016.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said the evidence is admissible.
Responding to the claims after the court hearing, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham told reporters: “This is absolutely and completely false.”
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The president “barely knows Dana Rohrabacher other than he’s an ex-congressman. He’s never spoken to him on this subject or almost any subject,” she said.
“It is a complete fabrication and a total lie. This is probably another never-ending hoax and total lie from the DNC.”
Assange is wanted in America to face 18 charges, including conspiring to commit computer intrusion, over the publication of US cables a decade ago.
He could face up to 175 years in jail if found guilty.
He is accused of working with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents.
The extradition hearing is due to begin at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, beginning with a week of legal argument.
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It will then be adjourned and continue with a three weeks of evidence scheduled to begin on May 18.
The decision, which is expected months later, is likely to be appealed against by the losing side, whatever the outcome.
Julian Assange is fighting against extradition to the US on charges over the leak of classified documents. PA
Assange has been held on remand in Belmarsh prison since last September after serving a 50-week jail sentence for breaching his bail conditions while he was in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
He entered the building in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex offence allegations, which he has always denied and were subsequently dropped.
Assange appeared in court on Wednesday by videolink from Belmarsh prison, wearing dark tracksuit bottoms and a brown jumper over a white shirt.
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He spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, and sat holding a stack of papers during the hearing.
The hearing came after Australian MPs George Christensen and Andrew Wilkie called on Tuesday for Boris Johnson to intervene and stop the extradition hearing.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell is expected to become the first British MP to see Assange behind bars in a visit to Belmarsh on Thursday.
At a press conference on Tuesday it emerged that fellow inmates at the high-security prison successfully lobbied for his release from solitary confinement.
Speaking after the press conference, Assange’s father John Shipton said his son’s condition had improved, but said the extradition going ahead would be akin to a “death sentence”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-19--Will Boris Johnson’s Immigration Plans Upset Both Voters And Business?

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You’re reading The Waugh Zone, our daily politics briefing. Sign up now to get it by email in the evening.
The business of government
Well, they can’t say they weren’t warned. Way back in the balmy summer of 2018, “f*ck business” was how Boris Johnson famously responded to worries companies had about a hard Brexit. Fast forward to today and many firms seem to think they are indeed being screwed over on the issue of migration.
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Although many of the varied business groups were more careful with their language that the PM ever was, the message was consistent: how on earth are we going to fill the labour shortages that the new points-based system could create in just a few months time?
Across retail, hospitality, tourism, the health and social care sector, meat processing, freight and horticulture sectors, it was slowly sinking in that home secretary Priti Patel simply didn’t have an answer (or a clue, some may say) to reassure them.
In fact, one of the most extraordinary messages Patel sent out today was that the shortages could be filled by 8.45 million people in the UK “aged between 16 and 64 who are economically inactive”, she said. “We want businesses to invest in them, invest in skilling them up.”
Businesses know better than anyone that the UK is close to full employment (a huge achievement which was once the holy grail for Gordon Brown and many in the Labour movement by the way). And they also know that ‘economically inactive’ includes students (27%), retired people (13%), carers of children or elderly relatives (26%) and the long-term sick (22%).
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The ONS itself says that 6.6m of that 8.45m don’t actually want a job and of the remainder many would like a job at some point but can’t do one right now. So, it’s pretty difficult to see why Patel would single out the ‘economically inactive’...unless she knew that there was not much slack in the employment market itself.
Business is already unhappy with the government over things like the apprenticeship levy, being asked to act as immigration officers and continued uncertainty over whether they will have similar or different EU regulations to deal with by the end of the year.
A few scraps chucked the high street’s way on business rates in the Budget won’t compensate for staff shortages in the actual shops themselves. Of course, current EU citizens working in the UK won’t be affected by the changes but over time the impact will be felt.
Lecturing firms that they should somehow persuade more Brits to take low-wage jobs currently taken by EU nationals is not likely to produce much change either. Diane Abbott correctly pointed out today that care workers are not ‘low skilled’ and in fact require excellent empathy and caring skills, they just happen to be badly paid. But it’s far from clear that the care home industry will suddenly raise its rates because of migration shortages.
Boris Johnson and Priti Patel visit a security control room in Port of Southampton. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The other real difficulty for the PM is that for all the rhetoric in the Tory manifesto about getting migration numbers down, this new system may not make much difference if non-EU migrants start to arrive in greater numbers because salary thresholds have been lowered. So, anti-immigration voters may end up being unsatisfied, while ‘liberal’ voters may feel this is all yet more anti-migrant mood music (eg forced English language requirements).
The sense that the UK is simply ‘taking back control’ of migration may be enough for some voters, and the detailed ups and downs of the figures may be academic in the absence of a right-wing party like UKIP or the Brexit party to shout betrayal. But the long-term damage of the Tories being seen as both anti-business and anti-migrant could offer Labour a groundswell of support under a new leader. That is what may be worrying Tory MPs most tonight.
Quote Of The Day
“For us it’s a different ball game that we are playing with the UK to the one that we agreed with Canada in terms of the level playing field.”
Stefaan De Rynck, senior adviser to Michel Barnier, speaking at the LSE
Wednesday Cheat Sheet
Donald Trump offered Julian Assange a pardon if he would say Russia was not involved in leaking Democratic party emails, Westminster magistrates court was told. The claim was made by Assange’s lawyer ahead of the opening next week of his legal battle to block attempts to extradite him to the US.
Craig Whittaker, Tory MP for Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, said he had been “hammering on doors on Whitehall” since the Storm Ciara flooding began nine days ago to get the government to trigger its emergency funding scheme. It was finally announced on Tuesday night.
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Green party MP Caroline Lucas is being investigated for a possible breach of parliamentary rules for offering a tour of the Commons in exchange for £150, as part of a fundraising drive. The Code of Conduct for MPs states they must not offer tours of the House in raffles or auctions.
What I’m Reading
Why Trump Is Very Beatable - Axios
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-19--Nigel Farage Is Trying To Charge Supporters £35 For Old Brexit Party Placards

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Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party is attempting to sell defunct election placards to supporters for £35 each.
Farage said last month he would mothball the party given Boris Johnson’s success in delivering Brexit, but he has continued to ask for donations.
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One email from party chairman Richard Tice to supporters on February 1, the day after Britain left the EU, asked backers to “support Nigel” with a £25 donation.
And the pair are now offering signed Brexit Party Correx boards which have been waved by supporters at rallies around the country for £35, along with a “stunning photo” of the Brexit night celebrations in Parliament Square on January 31, although the photo is not previewed. For comparison, a pack of 10 Correx boards is available online for £16.48.
The party lost an important revenue stream when its 23 MEPs left the European Parliament following Brexit.
It is unclear who gets the £35 given Farage’s promise to mothball the party.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage with a Correx board PA
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HuffPost UK understands that Farage’s continued requests for donations after standing down hundreds of election candidates in Tory-held seats has angered some Brexit Party figures.
After learning of the placard sale, former Dover candidate Ed Hall laughed and told HuffPost UK: “I’ll sign my own and sell it to Nigel for £25.
He went on: “I’m a bit surprised.
“We were a grassroots movement and we don’t really have any wider organisation anymore: it’s been closed down I support Nigel, but the Brexit Party was more than one man, and we all need to understand what this is all about.
“Perhaps he can use the money to buy stamps to put on all the thank you letters he needs to send to supporters and candidates.”
Farage last month told ITV’s This Morning he would mothball the party, keeping it in the background as an “insurance policy” in case the Tories “messed up” Brexit.
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He said: “What I’ll do now is put it (the Brexit Party) on care and maintenance, just in case they make a mess of it.
“In 2016, I actually believed that Mrs May was going to do the thing properly… I was wrong, so I’m not going to close it (the Brexit Party] down.
“But I think the truth of it is that Boris Johnson knows that he has got a big parliamentary majority.
“If he goes soft on this he’d lose in five years time.
“I’m actually quite optimistic.”
In December, Farage said he would turn the Brexit party into the “Reform party” once Britain left the EU and campaign for changes to the voting system and the abolition of the House of Lords.
But he has not mentioned the idea since.
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “The question used to be asked of Richard Nixon: ‘Would you buy a used car from this man?’
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“Even Nixon had more style than this.
“Would you buy a used poster from this man?”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-19--Justin Fashanu, England’s First Openly Gay Footballer, Honoured In Hall Of Fame

Justin Fashanu, England’s First Openly Gay Footballer, Honoured In Hall Of Fame
England’s first and only openly gay male professional footballer, Justin Fashanu, is inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. The induction comes on what would have been the footballers 59th birthday and coincides with the launch of the National Football Museum’s LGBT+ Tour. Fashanu endured discrimination and prejudice throughout his playing career and posthumously is widely seen as a hero of the LGBT community for coming out. The former striker and Britain’s first black £1million player died by suicide in 1998 aged 37, eight years after coming out publicly.