thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-17--Why China Couldn’t Stop Coronavirus

Why China Couldn’t Stop Coronavirus

Faced with a crisis like coronavirus Covid-19, there are tools available to a totalitarian state like China that simply wouldn’t be options somewhere like the UK.
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Yet as of midday on February 24 there have been more than 77,000 confirmed infections on the mainland, and all but 27 of the 2,619 deaths globally have occurred in China.
So why haven’t the country’s extreme measures worked?
PA Media
Sarah Cook, senior research analyst for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House, told HuffPost UK: “If you look around the world, China is the only country so far where this has really gotten out of control.
“Granted, other countries had more notice so they were able to start containing the virus from a smaller scale, but that is exactly the problem.”
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“The political system in China is actually making it harder to deal with this crisis in a way that reduces public panic.”
What is China’s political system?
China’s political system is vast and complex. In essence, though, it is a one-party communist state.
That party is the Communist Party of China, which exerts full control over the country and exercises power through a network of regional and local party offices as well as the state-run media.
Local officials are elected by the public but the people really in charge – President Xi Jinping and the Politburo (the Chinese equivalent of the cabinet in the UK government) – are not democratically elected.
There is an unwritten social contract between the Chinese public and its government that the state will provide security and economic prosperity and in return the people will let those in power remain in power.
How does it react to crises?
In a one-party state, the reputation of that one party comes first.
The communist government’s rigid structure has long favoured officials that toe the party line and suppress negative information about China rather than speak out.
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Officials fear that flagging even legitimate worries will earn them nothing but a demotion – even though, of course, dealing promptly with a potential future disaster would help China save face in the long term.
Professor Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute, told HuffPost UK: ”[It is] a system that has an incentive for people to underplay the problems rather.”
China’s reactions to a number of crises over the last two decades amply demonstrate this.
During the Sars outbreak in 2003 it took months for Chinese officials to acknowledge the outbreak at all.
The resulting global spread of that disease was due in part to a secretive government’s desperate fear of being shown up on the international stage.
Ultimately, China’s response backfired and it was forced to apologise.
Then, after a devastating earthquake in 2008 that killed nearly 70,000 people, it took nearly a year for the government to acknowledge that more than 5,000 schoolchildren had died because of shoddy construction standards.
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A masked woman in a plastic rain coat walks on a street in Beijing, Tuesday, Feb. 11. ASSOCIATED PRESS
In 2011, a train collision on the country’s much-vaunted new high-speed railway killed 38 people and was accompanied by a media blackout and allegations of a cover-up.
Yaqiu Wang, a China researcher with Human Rights Watch, told HuffPost UK: “We haven’t learned from the Sars outbreak, the 2008 earthquake or the 2011 train crash.
“Almost in every case they try to cover up the death toll or the way the government responded. It’s an authoritarian impulse – they’re not accountable to the people because they not elected.
“They’re accountable to their superiors.”
So how did it react to the coronavirus outbreak?
In exactly the same way, at least initially.
“In many places in China, it seems authorities are equally, if not more, concerned with silencing criticism as with containing the spread of the coronavirus,” says Wang.
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“Among other things, authorities have taken away citizen journalists Fang Bin and Chen Qiushi who tried to document the situation in Wuhan under the name of ‘quarantine’.”
The most infamous case of stifling criticism is that of Li Wenliang, a medic at a hospital in Wuhan who tried to raise the alarm about the new strain of coronavirus in December.
At the start of January, he was warned by police to stop “spreading rumours” about the illness now known as Covid-19, with officers telling him he had “severely disrupted social order” and he would face criminal charges if he continued.
Li died of the virus last earlier this month.
The way the Chinese authorities, at least on a local level, reacted to the emerging crisis severely hampered their ability to fight the virus.
“When Dr Li and his colleagues first tired to alert people and the authorities, there were only a handful or a few dozen cases,” said Cook.
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“And their efforts were quashed precisely because of the internal incentives and political priorities of the Chinese totalitarian system.”
Following an online uproar over the government’s treatment of Li, the Communist Party struck a conciliatory note, saying it was sending a team to “fully investigate relevant issues raised by the public”.
A member of a Chinese honour guard wears a face mask as he stands guard on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Tuesday, Feb. 4. ASSOCIATED PRESS
What should they have done?
Stamping out criticism and stamping out a virus are obviously two very different things.
Professor Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute, told HuffPost UK that if the Chinese government had truly learned lessons from the Sars outbreak then the first cases of animal to human transmission confirmed in early December should have triggered a different response.
“If the government that dealt with Sars and avian flu had learned anything, it would have acted decisively at that stage,” he said.
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“They should have culled all the livestock, incinerated them and quarantined the staff who worked at that particular location.
“It didn’t happen.”
What about those massive building projects, though?
There’s no doubting that few states would have the resources and manpower to pull off the feats China has.
The 1,000-bed Huoshenshan Hospital and a second facility with 1,500 beds were built by construction crews in 10 days who are working around the clock in Wuhan, the city in central China where the coronavirus outbreak was first detected in December.
The ruling Communist Party’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army, sent 1,400 doctors, nurses and other personnel to staff the Wuhan hospital.
“The Chinese government is reporting it widely,” said Tsang. “They are showing how heroically they are confronting it, how they have built impressive new hospitals that no other countries could even imagine doing. They’ve reported how dedicated medical staff are, to the extent that some of them died fighting the virus.”
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But it is all too little too late – at the time of writing 2,619 people have died and 79,434 are infected, the vast majority within China itself.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Jack Whitehall Leads Stars Calling Out Gender Inequality Among This Year's Brits Nominees

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The comedian made a quip about the male-heavy nominees as he fronted Tuesday night’s ceremony, after the awards faced criticism for not recognising any women in the Album Of The Year or Group Of The Year categories.
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Introducing the Best Female Solo Artist category, Jack joked: “Environmental issues have been a big theme of awards show this year. And in the spirit of sustainability the Brits has been recycling all the same excuses for why so few women were nominated.”
Mabel and Billie Eilish were the only women to win on the night, taking home Best Female Solo artist and Best International Female Solo Artist respectively.
Brit Awards presenter Jack Whitehall Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
British singer/songwriter Celeste had already been awarded this year’s newly-renamed Rising Star prize, but was there on Tuesday to make a speech.
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Foals lamented the lack of females in the Best Group category as they made their acceptance speech after winning the prize.
Frontman Yannis Philippakis said: “Hopefully next year we’ll see some more women in this category.”
Former Best Female Solo Artist winner Paloma Faith also referenced the lack of women recognised this year as she presented the award for Best International Male Solo Artist, which eventually went to Tyler, The Creator.
She remarked: “We’re here to award an unrepresented category, the men.”
Paloma Faith lamented the lack of women among this year's nominees Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
During his speech for Best Male Solo Artist, Stormzy took a moment to recognise the contribution women in his team have made to his career.
“To be the Best Male, I have got the most incredible females in my team,” he said.
“You lot are the greatest, the Best Male is nothing without the Best Females. I love you guys. To every single person who supported me, I love you. Thank you guys.”
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Stormzy won Best Male Solo Artist Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
Lewis Capaldi walked away as the big winner at this year’s Brits, winning two awards.
However, it was Dave who was awarded the biggest prize of the night with PSYCHODRAMA named Album Of The Year.
Check out the full list of winners here.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Lewis Capaldi's Brit Awards Speech Referenced Love Island And We Loved It

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After a night of scene-stealing moments, Lewis Capaldi truly saved his best till last as he collected Best British Single during the Brit Awards on Tuesday night.
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Referring to his number one hit, Someone You Loved, he explained: “Contrary to popular belief, you might think this song is about my ex-girlfriend that you can now see every night on Love Island.”
As the crowd cheered at the mention of his ex, Paige Turley, Lewis continued: “[The song] is actually about my grandmother, who sadly passed away a couple of years ago... and hopefully ITV don’t contact her to go on any dating reality shows.”
Lewis went on to thank his family and team, before adding: “And thanks to my grandmother for... dying?!”
Lewis Capaldi Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
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He was also seen drinking from a bottle of the particularly strong Scottish beer Buckfast on stage.
The chart-topping singer previously said of his ex’s appearance on Love Island: “She never told me she was going on it. It would have been a nice heads up! But, I mean, fair play, good luck to her.
“The prize is £50,000, and I’ll be like ’Well, listen, they asked you to go on it, right? I’m not saying I’m the reason but also … slide me two grand.”
Paige Turley ITV
Paige is one of 12 stars currently still in the Love Island villa, where she’s been coupled up with Finn Tapp since he joined the show on day five.
The pair are currently among the favourites to win the show, alongside Siânnise Fudge and Luke Trotman.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Is Boris Johnson Relying Too Much On China To Boost Post-Brexit Britain?

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Slow boast to China
It had taken some time, but he got there in the end. Several weeks after the coronavirus outbreak began (and a full fortnight after his father Stanley let slip the Chinese were ‘concerned’ at his lack of direct contact), Boris Johnson finally spoke on the phone to President Xi Jinping today.
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No.10 told us that the PM “offered his sympathies” for those affected, while the president thanked the UK for its “support”, including the donation of vital medical equipment. But what really caught my eye was the line that the pair “resolved to work together across a range of issues including strengthening the economic partnership, to benefit the people of both China and the UK”.
Normally that would be the usual trade links bromide that accompanies any chinwag with the Chinese. Yet given the events of the past few weeks, it felt like diplospeak for China’s growing satisfaction with the Johnson government. Beijing was delighted the PM gave the go-ahead to Chinese telecoms firm Huawei to play a role in UK 5G phone networks, despite huge pressure from Donald Trump to ban it outright.
Last week it emerged that both governments have also had preliminary talks about Beijing’s state-owned railway firm helping to build the HS2 rail project quicker and cheaper than planned. And for all the UK intelligence agencies talk of Huawei as a ‘high risk vendor’ that should be kept away from nuclear submarine sites, the fact is that Britain already has deals for Chinese firms to build a new nuclear power station in Essex, with its eyes on others.
For Johnson, this is in many ways what Brexit is all about. Just as he’s trumpeted the merits of a new trade deal with the US, he’s very keen indeed on increasing trade with China from its current $90bn a year (a fraction of China-Germany trade of $220bn a year). Just 3.5% of the UK’s total exports go to China. Beijing also expects that the UK will provide healthy competition for the EU when competing for direct investment from Chinese companies. As the coronavirus is laying bare, many UK universities rely on Chinese students for an income too.
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There are more than a few Tory MPs nervous about cosying up to what is still one of the most authoritarian regimes in the world. Natural sympathy for China’s current plight should not blind the PM to the dangers of Beijing’s worldview, they mutter. Surely democratic India should be our focus instead, they argue (though prime minister Modi is making that a tougher sell than usual right now). Some Labour MPs believe that this could also open up a vulnerable flank for Johnson too, under a new leader: imagine Labour saying they’d be tougher on China (and Russia) than the Tories? A bit of economic nationalism could work for the Opposition.
Boris Johnson speaks during his first cabinet meeting after the reshuffle. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Of course, China’s huge scale makes it impossible to ignore, not least in the field of climate change. That’s why Johnson and Xi today discussed the coming COP26 summit in Glasgow (it’s understood the PM gently issued a formal invitation to Xi). Stanley Johnson had raised with the Chinese ambassador this month the idea of his son making a trip to China’s biodiversity summit in Kunming. It’s unclear if that was part of their call today, but the PM (like Cameron and May before him) will be keen on making a trip as soon as he can.
As it happens, Donald Trump too phoned Xi in recent days. Always in awe of a strongman, the president praised his counterpart’s leadership and ‘discipline’ in responding to the outbreak. Some in the US think his softer tone is about reassuring financial markets worried about coronavirus and about getting - yes you guessed it - a workable trade deal with Beijing. It could after all prove a key electoral weapon, ahead of his re-election in November.
Given that Trump was apparently ‘apoplectic’ with Johnson over the Huawei decision (and given his chief of staff is due in No.10 on Wednesday to meet Dominic Cummings to remind him of that displeasure), his own conciliatory tone seems as quixotic as ever. But it would be richly ironic if the White House now decided that trade trumps everything after all.
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The real difficulty for the PM is that he knows that both US and Chinese trade with the UK is currently dwarfed by its trade with the EU. And the more Brussels cuts up rough, the more leverage Washington and Beijing have in trying to extract better terms out of Britain. Avoiding that three-way squeeze really could be what defines Johnson’s premiership.
Quote Of The Day
“The truth is our prime minister’s a real racist.”
Rapper Dave at the Brit Awards
Tuesday Cheat Sheet
The Home Office revealed that its new points-based immigration system would not grant visas to unskilled workers from the EU, once a post-Brexit deal is agreed. Critics warned that social care and the hospitality industry would suffer from acute labour shortages as a result.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned that the UK cannot have the same trade deal with Brussels as Canada because of its “particular proximity” to the continent.
Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said the process for hiring No.10 advisers needs to be “looked at” after Andrew Sabisky’s “racist, offensive and objectionable” blogs and remarks. It also turned out that Sabisky’s father Ed is the finance director of Unite the union (and that he sent his son to private school as a youngster).
New chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Budget will go ahead on 11 March, even though he has just three weeks to put his own stamp on tax and spending plans drafted by Sajid Javid.
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What I’m Reading
How To Stop The Next Pandemic Before It Happens - Foreign Policy
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Our Definitive Ranking Of The Brit Awards 2020 Performances

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Being invited to perform at the Brit Awards is one of the biggest honours an artist can have, and every year, the acts attempt to put on a show befitting of the occasion.
Among the artists who took to the stage during Tuesday night’s 40th anniversary show were newcomers like Dave and Mabel, US superstars Lizzo and Billie Eilish and British icon Rod Stewart – but which of them really stood out?
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Here’s our definitive run down of this year’s offerings...
9. Rod Stewart – I Don’t Wanna Talk About It / Stay With Me
Samir Hussein via Getty Images
Absolutely no disrespect to Sir Rod putting him at this end of our ranking, for the Brit Awards’ 40th anniversary it felt fitting to have such a long-serving British talent closing the show (particularly so soon after he beat both Stormzy and Harry Styles to the number one spot, lest we forget). His reunion with The Faces was a nice touch, too.
However, while I Don’t Wanna Talk About It is an obvious crowd-pleaser, we can’t help but feel other performers on the night thought more outside the box, and therefore stuck out in our minds a little bit more.
8. Celeste – Strange
Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
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As part of changes to the Brits this year, the winner of the Rising Star award was also invited to perform during the main ceremony, meaning we were treated to a rendition of Strange by this year’s recipient, Celeste.
The main thing we’ll take away from her performance is her voice (which, given how stripped back everything was, we assume was the point), and hopefully the Brits stage has set her up nicely for a huge year.
7. Mabel – Don’t Call Me Up
Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
Choreography, chair-ography, even phone-ography – Mabel chucked all the “ographies” at her Brits opener, with staging that looked like it was inspired by Phillip Schofield’s 90s gameshow Talking Telephone Numbers.
However, Mabel suffered slightly with being first up on the bill, and come the end of the evening, it wasn’t one we immediately remembered.
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6. Billie Eilish – No Time To Die
Samir Hussein via Getty Images
For the first performance of her new James Bond theme No Time To Die, the singer made sure she went all out, teaming up not just with her brother and co-writer Finneas, but composer extraordinaire Hans Zimmer and guitar legend Johnny Marr.
The stripped-back approach definitely worked with the song, and this performance was further proof that Billie’s vocal abilities are seriously underrated. But on a night with so many stand-outs, this one may have got a little bit lost.
5. Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved
Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
Lewis’ number one smash packs an emotional punch at the best of times, but it hit even harder than usual as it came after host Jack Whitehall paid tribute to Love Island host and regular Brits attendee Caroline Flack, who he called “a kind and vibrant person with an infectious sense of fun”.
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4. Harry Styles – Falling
Samir Hussein via Getty Images
The former One Directioner chose to showcase a heartbreaking ballad from Brits-nominated album Fine Line for his debut solo slot at the ceremony, which was absolutely on-point vocally.
His muted performance seemed especially poignant given the recent news about his ex-girlfriend Caroline Flack, who it was reported over the weekend had taken her own life.
3. Lizzo – Cuz I Love You medley
Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
After an astronomical rise over the last 12 months, Lizzo showcased why we’ve all fallen in love with her with a medley of her biggest songs.
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In an evening of fairly sombre performances, the US star lifted the mood with her energetic display – which was nearly as iconic as her downing a wine glass of Harry Styles’ tequila later in the evening.
2. Stormzy – Heavy Is The Head medley
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
This is what you call a victory lap. After an incredible 12 months, that has seen the rapper landing three number one singles, a chart-topping album and a headlining slot at Glastonbury, he returned to the stage where he first made headlines two years ago to whizz through tracks from his latest release, Heavy Is The Head.
Combining a gospel choir, backing dancers and a guest appearance from Burna Boy, the whole thing ended with a jam-packed stage dancing in the rain, in a callback to his 2018 performance. True, it didn’t prove to be quite as impactful as that freestyle rap, but Stormzy has nothing to prove in 2020, and it was just great to watch him celebrate his success on such a huge platform.
1. Dave – Black
Samir Hussein via Getty Images
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Dave proved exactly why he is one of the most exciting artists this country has right now as he delivered a politically-charged performance of his song Black, with freestyle raps taking aim at the prime minister, the treatment of the Grenfell Tower victims, the media’s coverage of Meghan Markle and the need for support towards the Windrush generation.
Much like fellow British rapper Stormzy’s 2018 Brits performance that lambasted then-PM Theresa May over the Grenfell tragedy, we expect this is the one people will be talking about for years to come.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Explained: How The UK Will Treat Potential Immigrants After Brexit

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Sign up now to get The Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing, by email.
It was the central issue of the 2016 EU referendum, and now nearly four years later one of the leaders of the Brexit campaign has finally set out how the UK will “take back control” of its borders.
Priti Patel, the home secretary, has announced it will be much harder for EU citizens to come to the UK after the Brexit transition but easier for immigrants from outside Europe.
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The new points-based system will end the free movement of EU citizens and bring overall immigration numbers down, she said.
But who will be coming here once the Brexit transition ends in December, how will they qualify, and will it hurt the UK’s economy?
The key questions are answered here:
What’s happening?
Broadly speaking, EU citizens will no longer be able to enjoy free movement into the UK and will have to get a visa under the same immigration rules as non-EU migrants if they want to work or study here.
This means there is no route at all for low-skilled immigration from anywhere in the world, apart from seasonal agricultural workers, and this essentially amounts to a massive tightening up of the rules for EU citizens.
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But at the same time Patel is relaxing the rules for skilled migrants to come into the UK, which will make it easier for people to come from places like India, Australia or Canada.
This includes lowering the minimum salary required from £30,000 to £25,600, and lowering what counts as “skilled” from a graduate-level to an A-level qualified job.
Alongside the traditional “skilled” jobs, lowering the skill threshold will open the UK up to the likes of painters, decorators, tilers, carpenters, joiners, plasterers, glaziers, window fitters and child minders from outside the EU.
EU citizens with similar medium-skilled jobs will also be able to come, but the likes of labourers, waiters, waitresses and baristas that have come from Europe in the past will be barred from Britain.
Will it lead to less immigration and will it hurt the economy?
The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) report into a points-based system found that 70% of EU citizens who arrived under free movement since 2004 would be ineligible under the new rules.
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This would mean the number of Europeans coming to Britain would be reduced by tens of thousands.
But the corresponding relaxing of rules for non-EU migrants means more are likely to come.
Patel said the new system will “bring overall migration numbers down” while attracting “the brightest and the best”.
But the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) estimated a system very close to what the government is following closely would cut economic growth, immigration and the total population.
It will have essentially “zero” impact on employment opportunities and wages for British workers, and GDP per capita would only rise because the mix of people in the economy was changing.
The changes will also reduce pressure on the NHS, schools and social housing, but increase pressure on social care and increase the ratio of dependent children and elderly people to workers.
How will it work?
Potential immigrants will have to score 70 points on a system devised by the Home Office to allow more skilled workers into the UK, while keeping out low-skilled migrants.
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Each prospective migrant must have three things which automatically add up to 50 points - a job offer from an approved sponsor, a job at the appropriate skill level, and the ability to speak English.
They can then earn the extra 20 points through one or a combination of “tradeable” characteristics, such as having a high enough salary, having a PhD (with more points for science, technology, engineering or maths subjects), or having a job in a shortage occupation.
The table below sets out the details of how points are allocated.
Home Office
This is just the first stage and the Home Office hopes to add more characteristics that earn tradeable points in the future, for example qualification levels, age or experience.
Is that the only way working immigrants can come here?
No. Tourists will still be able to come from the EU for six months without a visa.
The most highly skilled workers from the EU will be able to come on global talent visas without a job offer in the same way that currently applies to non-EU workers.
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The pilot scheme for seasonal workers in agriculture will also be quadrupled to 10,000 places.
Deals with eight countries around the world also allow 20,000 young people to come to the UK every year.
And students will be able to come to Britain if they have an offer from a university or other approved institution, speak English, and can support themselves during their studies.
They will also benefit from a two year post-study work visa during which graduates will be able to stay in Britain and do what they want.
There are also a range of other routes into the UK for specialists such as innovators, ministers of religion, sportspeople, artists and musicians and so on.
Patel in October also introduced a “vindaloo visa”, aimed at fulfilling Vote Leave’s promise during the 2016 EU referendum that Brexit would allow more Asian curry chefs to come to the UK.
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Patel campaigned for Leave in 2016 PA
What will EU migrants need to do to get a visa?
EU migrants will now have to submit facial biometric data using their smartphones, and fingerprints may eventually be required.
Non-EU citizens will submit their biometrics at a visa application centre, as they do now.
All immigrants will also have to pay for their visas, something which does not apply to EU citizens currently.
But EU citizens will be able to continue using e-gates, although the UK may revoke these rights in the future.
What’s the reaction been like?
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott backed MAC’s assessment that this is not actually points-based but a salary threshold system and said there would need to be “so many exemptions” for the NHS, social care and businesses “that it will be meaningless”.
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“Ultimately, it will also be very difficult to attract the workers we need at all skill levels while the Tories’ hostile environment is in place,” Abbott added.
Christina McAnea, assistant general secretary of the Unison union, said the plans would be a “disaster” for the social care sector.
“Companies and councils can’t recruit enough staff from the UK so have to rely on care workers from elsewhere. But even with these migrant employees, there’s still way too few care workers to meet demand,” she said.
“Care work is highly skilled, but low paid, so falls foul of the government’s arbitrary immigration threshold.
“Suddenly ending this desperately needed supply of labour will cause huge problems across the country. The government simply has to think again.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Harry Styles And Lizzo Deliver Moment Of The Brit Awards As She Necks His Wine Glass Of Tequila

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Harry Styles and Lizzo might not have walked away with any Brit Awards, but they certainly won moment of the night during Tuesday’s ceremony.
The former One Direction star was being interviewed by awards show host Jack Whitehall during an interlude from proceedings when he discovered he was drinking a wine glass of neat tequila.
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“He has literally gone off the rails,” Jack joked, before he then passed the glass over to Lizzo on the next door table to verify his claims.
However, Lizzo didn’t seem too bothered as to what it contained, as she proceeded to down its contents in one.
“Oh, my god! Yesss!” Jack shouted, as Harry got up out of his seat and cheered her on.
Harry Styles, Lizzo and Jack Whitehall had a LOT of fun during the Brits ITV
The pair have made no secret of their love for one another over the last few months.
The former One Direction star chose her hit Juice as his (steamy) cover when he played Radio 1’s Live Lounge last year.
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He then got to perform the song as a duet with the lady herself last month during an event for US radio station SiriusXMini.
Harry jumped up on stage during the gig in Miami and not only sang along, but joined in the choreography too.
He previously called Lizzo “one of the most exciting artists working now”, saying during a Radio 1 interview: “I just think she’s amazing.
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“She’s exactly what you want an artist to be, which is themselves.”
During Tuesday’s Brit Awards, Harry missed out on both the prizes for Best Male Solo Artist and Album Of The Year to Stormzy and Dave respectively.
Meanwhile, Lizzo lost out on Best International Female Solo Artist to Billie Eilish.
Harry, Lizzo, Billie, Stormzy and Dave were along among the performers during the ceremony.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Jack Whitehall's Best Jokes And One-Liners From The Brit Awards 2020

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Jack Whitehall returned for this third stint hosting the Brit Awards on Tuesday night and, as ever, no A-list guest was safe.
Since taking over presenting duties on the biggest night in music back in 2018, Jack has made a reputation for his no-holds-barred approach to hosting, taking plenty of shots at the celebrities in the audience.
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This year, we’re pleased to say, was no exception, and over the course of the evening he poked fun at everyone from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and the Spice Girls reunion to the royals, even sending himself up on a few occasions.
Here are just some of our favourite Jack Whitehall moments from the 2020 Brits...
Jack Whitehall during the Brit Awards Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
Starting as he means to go on with the first dig of the night:
“I’m going to be popping up to annoy you like Chris Martin at Glastonbury.””
And it didn’t take long before talk turned to the PM:
“It’s the one night of the year you get to see your popstars in a different light, sat there nervously waiting for an envelope to appear like Boris Johnson on Father’s Day."”
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Reminding everyone just how hard 18-year-old Billie Eilish has been working in the last 12 months:
“We have with us the only teenager in the world who makes Greta Thunberg look lazy, it’s Billie Eilish.””
Introducing Ronnie Wood:
“He's an inspiration to caners everywhere, the horny scarecrow of rock and roll, it’s Ronnie Wood.””
Re-igniting his playful “feud” with Niall Horan:
“Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles. Ladies and gentlemen would you please welcome the other one...””
Some football humour (we think):
“As Man City are currently saying to their managers and players, please, we beg you, don’t go anywhere. Here’s some oil money.””
Reminding everyone of the lack of recognition for female artists at this year’s Brits:
“In the spirit of sustainability, the Brits has been recycling all the same excuses for why so few women were nominated. In this category, though, they didn’t have a choice.””
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Some current affairs chat:
“With the rate royal spots are opening up, it could only be a matter of days before she is our actual queen. All hail, queen Lizzo.””
Throwing it back to the Spice Girls reunion last summer:
“The Spice Girls tour was blighted by sound issues when for three harrowing minutes, Geri’s mic was turned on."”
Oh, and reminding us all of an important Brits moment:
“What a collaboration. It feels like Brian May might have eclipsed that time Brian May duetted with the boyband Five””
Chatting to Harry Styles:
“You were on The X Factor in 2010, which is like three Simon Cowell faces ago."”
Still chatting to Harry Styles:
“Now, I read that you used psychedelic drugs during the making of your album. Now ITV does not condone that, so I’m not going to ask what psychedelic drugs your stylist was on..."”
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Poking fun at the folks in the expensive seats after Stormzy:
“Yes what an epic performance, even the sofa melts are on their feet."”
And finally, even sending up his own presenting abilities:
“Stop covering my autocue, I’m worthless without it.””


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Brit Awards 2020: Full List Of Winners As Lewis Capaldi Tops Night

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Lewis Capaldi has walked away as the big winner at this year’s Brit Awards.
The Scottish singer won two awards at Tuesday night’s ceremony, including Best New Artist.
Lewis and British rapper Dave had entered the evening with the most nominations, with four each.
And while Dave only took home one, he was awarded the biggest prize of the night with PSYCHODRAMA named Album Of The Year.
Lewis Capaldi was the night's biggest winner ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images
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He also delivered one of the performances of the evening, with a politically-charged rendition of his single Black, which took aim at prime minister Boris Johnson and the media’s treatment of Meghan Markle.
Dave delivered one of the performances of the evening JM Enternational/Shutterstock
On an evening that had referenced the lack of female nominees across the non-gendered categories, Mabel and Billie Eilish were the only women to win, taking home Best Female Solo artist and Best International Female Solo Artist respectively.
British singer/songwriter Celeste had previously been announced as the recipient of this year’s newly-renamed Rising Star prize, after beating fellow shortlisters Beabadoobee and Joy Crookes.
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Billie Eilish won International Female Solo Artist Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
Check out the full list of winners below...
Female Solo Artist
Charli XCX
FKA Twigs
Freya Ridings
Mabel – WINNER
Mahalia
Male Solo Artist
Dave
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy – WINNER
Group Of The Year
Bastille
Bring Me The Horizon
Coldplay
D-Block Europe
Foals – WINNER
New Artist Of The Year
Aitch
Dave
Lewis Capaldi – WINNER
Mabel
Sam Fender
Song Of The Year
Dancing With A Stranger – Sam Smith and Normani Don’t Call Me Up – Mabel Giant – Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man I Don’t Care – Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber Just You And I - Tom Walker Ladbroke Grove – AJ Tracey Location – Dave and Burna Boy Nothing Breaks Like A Heart – Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi – WINNER Vossi Bop – Stormzy International Male Solo Artist Bruce Springsteen Burna Boy Dermot Kennedy Post Malone Tyler, The Creator – WINNER International Female Solo Artist Ariana Grande Billie Eilish – WINNER Camila Cabello Lana Del Rey Lizzo Album Of The Year Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent - Lewis Capaldi Fine Line - Harry Styles Heavy Is The Head - Stormzy Kiwanuka - Michael Kiwanuka PSYCHODRAMA - Dave – WINNER Rising Star Celeste


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Tyler, The Creator Takes Aim At Theresa May During Brit Awards Speech

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US rapper Tyler, The Creator used his acceptance speech at the Brit Awards to take aim at former UK prime minister Theresa May.
The star won the award for Best International Male during Tuesday night’s ceremony, and made fun of May who was home secretary when the Home Office stopped him entering the country.
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As he finished his speech, he said: “Thank you Theresa May.
“I know she’s at home pissed off.”
US rapper Tyler the Creator took aim at Theresa May ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images
Back in 2015, Tyler the Creator was forced to cancel four dates, including Reading and Leeds festivals after being banned from the UK for his violent lyrics.
His manager, Christian Clancy, said that they received a letter from the Home Office, which specifically cited lyrics that Tyler had written up to seven years prior.
Clancy posted on his Tumblr: “Highlights from the letter include that Tyler’s work ‘encourages violence and intolerance of homosexuality’ and ‘fosters hatred with views that seek to provoke others to terrorist acts.’”
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The Home Office’s decision was widely criticised at the time, with many pointing out fellow rapper Eminem’s use of violent lyrics as he had sold out two shows at Wembley Stadium in 2014 without the Home Office batting an eyelid.
Tyler, The Creator won Best International Male at the Brits Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images
During his acceptance during Tuesday night’s Brits, Tyler, The Creator also paid tribute to the UK music scene, saying: “Shout our to all the British funk from the 80s that I try to copy.”
It was not the only political statement of the evening, as British rapper Dave also branded current prime minister Boris Johnson “racist” during his performance of single Black.
He also lambasted the treatment of victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and also added that the Windrush generation still needed support.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Dave Blasts 'Real Racist' Boris Johnson During Powerful Brit Awards Performance

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Dave took aim at Boris Johnson, the British media’s treatment of Meghan Markle and racism within British culture during his powerful performance at this year’s Brit Awards.
The rapper – who, along with Lewis Capaldi, was one of the two most nominated artists at this year’s awards show – began his performance with a rendition of his song Black, an exploration of Black history and social injustice, while seated at a piano.
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He followed this with a brand new verse, in which he branded the prime minister a “real racist”.
“It is racist, whether or not it feels racist,” he began. “The truth is our prime minister’s a real racist. They say you should be grateful we’re the least racist, I say the least racist is still racist.”
Dave on stage during the 2020 Brit Awards Samir Hussein via Getty Images
He continued: “If you don’t wanna get it, then you’re never gonna get it, how the news treats Kate versus how they treat Meghan.”
Referring to the victim of last year’s London Bridge terror attack, Jack Merritt, Dave was heard rapping: “Rest in peace Jack Merritt, you’re my brother in arms, there’s tears in our eyes and love in our hearts.
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“We never had the same background, culture or background, you devoted your life to giving others a chance. And for that, I’m so taken aback, because it gave us all a voice, I have to say it for Jack.”
British rapper Dave at #Brits2020: "It is racist whether or not it feels racist. The truth is our prime minister is a real racist. They say, you should be grateful we're the least racist. I say, the least racist is still racist." pic.twitter.com/7SN4cD9afE — Graeme Demianyk (@GraemeDemianyk) February 18, 2020
As he reached the climax of his rap, Dave concluded: “We want rehabilitation, that would be amazing, our Grenfell victims still need accommodation. And we still need support for the Windrush generation, reparations for the time our people spent on plantations.”
With a grin, Dave then declared “I’m out”, before putting down his microphone and heading off the stage.
Dave rapped down the camera towards the end of his performance JM Enternational/Shutterstock
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Johnson has been heavily criticised in the past for referring to Black Africans as “piccaninnies” with “watermelon smiles” in opinion pieces he has written.
He also once wrote that working class mothers’ children were “unloved and undisciplined” and might “mug you on the street corner”.
Dave’s comments were reminiscent of when fellow British rapper Stormzy closed the show at the Brits two years ago, and called out then-prime minister Theresa May over the way she reacted to the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Check out all the photos from this year’s Brit Awards red carpet in the gallery below...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Brit Awards Bosses Pull Sound During Lewis Capaldi's Acceptance Speech

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Brit Awards bosses were forced to think fast during Tuesday night’s live show, when an excited Lewis Capaldi got a bit overly rowdy during his acceptance speech.
Or, at least, we think that’s what happened. Because they pulled the sound as soon as he started speaking.
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Early in the ceremony, Lewis was the night’s first winner, swigging from a bottle of Red Stripe as he went up to collect the award for Best New Artist.
After getting up on stage, Lewis gave a massive hug to presenter and friend, Niall Horan, after which he seemed a little in disbelief, leaving the crowd hanging before he began talking.
Lewis Capaldi collects his first ever Brit Award ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images
Then… well, we don’t actually know what happened, because ITV pulled the audio on his speech, with the message “audio muted” flashing up on screen.
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Knowing Lewis, though, the chances are it was something not suitable for broadcasting pre-watershed (when we interviewed the singer last year, he managed to drop the F-bomb a total of 17 times in the space of 20 minutes).
Amazing Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
And suffice to say, fans on Twitter were disappointed not to have been able to see the speech in full...
Ffs we waited that long for @LewisCapaldi’s speech & then they muted it 👊🏼 I wanna know what he said! #Brits2020 — Stephanie Millard (@StephCMillard) February 18, 2020
PLAY LEWIS’S SWEARY AUDIO YOU COWARDS #BRITs — Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) February 18, 2020
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Lewis Capaldi gets a full “audio muted” because of course. #BRITS — Scott Reid 🔍 (@scottreid1980) February 18, 2020
Lewis Capaldi downing a bottle of Red Stripe live on stage and getting his entire acceptance speech for Best New Artist muted is exactly what I needed to see 😂😂😂 #Brits2020 — Tom Levins (@Tom_Levins) February 18, 2020
Why did they mute the entirety of Lewis Capaldi’s speech? #Brits2020 pic.twitter.com/Zq9nPH40xC — Sharon’s Passport Photo (@ohwattsoccuring) February 18, 2020
#Brits2020 What did Lewis Capaldi say for his speech? Anyone in the audience able to help? — Steph is real tired of this 🦄 🦋 🦊 🌟 (@Melancholic4Evr) February 18, 2020
Love the thought of the media stuck in the arena with no mobile signal all desperate to tweet what Lewis Capaldi said in his speech #BRITs — Ryan Love (@RyanJL) February 18, 2020
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@LewisCapaldi awww man well done, but stupid ITV cut yer speech what did you say 🤔🤔🤔 — rosaleen tracey (@RosaleenTracey) February 18, 2020
I swear to god I need to know what @LewisCapaldi’s speech was... fully bleeped! #Brits2020 — Nathan Waddell (@Nathan_7) February 18, 2020
why was lewis capaldi’s speech muted?? #brits — aisling (@kozmopolitxn) February 18, 2020
We should launch an investigative podcast to find out what was in Lewis Capaldi's speech #Brits2020 — Scott Bryan (@scottygb) February 18, 2020
As if they muted his whole speech 😂 #BRITs2020 — Burnessie (@charliejburness) February 18, 2020
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Fans in the arena have claimed on social media the singer said “thank you very fucking much”, before leaving the stage.
Lewis Capaldi said:
“Thank you very fucking much, I’ll see you later”
That’s why his acceptance speech was cut out LMAOOO😂😂#Brits2020 #LewisCapaldi pic.twitter.com/F2Y65n0DTm — skyerenaee (@skyerenaee1) February 18, 2020
It’s fair to say that this year’s Brit Awards truly belonged to Lewis Capaldi. Not only did he perform his chart-topping ballad Someone You Loved early in the night, he was also nominated for a total of four awards, more than any other star on the night, joint with Dave.
He also well and truly stole the show on the red carpet, where he struck a variety of hilarious poses.
Check out all the photos from this year’s Brit Awards red carpet in the gallery below...
Brit Awards 2020 Red Carpet See gallery


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Jack Whitehall Pays Tribute To Caroline Flack During Brit Awards Opener

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Brit Awards host Jack Whitehall paid tribute to Caroline Flack as he opened this year’s ceremony, following her death at the age of 40.
The former Love Island presenter was found dead at her London home after taking her own life on Saturday.
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After listing a roll-call of stars who were in attendance at the event at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday night, Jack took a moment to remember a “member of the Brits family”, Caroline.
Jack Whitehall paid tribute to Caroline Flack at the Brits ITV
Describing her as a “kind and vibrant”, Jack said: “Over the weekend we learned the awful news that a member of the Brits family, our friend Caroline Flack, tragically passed away.
“She was a kind and vibrant person with an infectious sense of fun. She will be sorely missed.
“I’m sure I speak for everyone her when I say our thoughts are with her friends and family.”
Jack then introduced four-time Brits 2020 nominee Lewis Capaldi, who performed his emotional number one single Someone You Loved.
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Caroline was a regular attendee at the Brit Awards over the years, and many famous faces have paid public tribute to her in the days after her death.
Caroline Flack at last year's Brit Awards Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Laura Whitmore, who stepped in to cover Caroline as the host of Love Island last month, emotionally remembered her friend and colleague on her BBC Radio 5Live show on Sunday.
“Anyone who knew Caroline knew she was vivacious, loving and had a passion for life, which is why none of this makes sense,” she said.
The ITV2 reality show was taken off air for two nights after news of Caroline’s death broke, and returning on Monday night with narrator Iain Stirling honouring his friend and colleague.
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Speaking over a montage of beach scenery and crashing waves, Iain said: “Caroline, I want to thank you for all the fun times we had making our favourite show. You were a true friend to me. I’m going to miss you, Caz.”
Caroline was due to face trial in March after pleading not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton during a private domestic incident at her home in December.
Lewis, who did not support the prosecution, said he was “in so much pain” after her death, writing on Instagram: “I will be your voice baby I promise I will ask all the questions you wanted and I will get all the answers nothing will bring you back but I will try make you proud everyday.”
Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--UK Flooding: Two Shropshire Towns Urged To Evacuate As Rivers Rise To Record Levels

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Residents in two towns in Shropshire have been urged to evacuate their homes as fears over flooding continued across the UK.
Rivers hitting record levels are threatening to breach flood barriers as around 600 properties have already been flooded as a result of rain brought by Storm Dennis.
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With further heavy rain forecast to fall on already saturated areas of the UK, more damage is expected. In Shropshire, police urged residents in Ironbridge and Bridgnorth to evacuate their properties as the raging River Severn neared its peak.
People were warned they could be putting their own lives and those of the emergency services at risk if they failed to leave, with fears flood barriers would be overtopped.
Chief superintendent Tom Harding, of West Mercia Police, said: “We know residents want to stay in their homes and understand it is an inconvenience for them to leave, but it really is in their best interests to do so.”
The force said an estimated 384 properties have been “significantly impacted by the floods” across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
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The Environment Agency (EA) has warned that levels on the Rivers Wye and Severn will remain especially high into the weekend, after both broke records this week.
Incredibly busy day again today, flood waters peaking at various times. We have concerns in Ironbridge re: flood defence and increasing flood levels in Bridgnorth. We have officers working Bewdley area and expect high water levels in Shrewsbury, Worcester and Hereford to continue pic.twitter.com/NysSbuutlA — Chief Superintendent Tom Harding (@CSuptHarding) February 18, 2020
BREAKING: Environment Agency confirm to @BBCShropshire this is a major incident in #Ironbridge #floods - new peak expected around 10pm. River level rising still and now real fears for the impact on #Bridgnorth pic.twitter.com/ANLjUZdQmV — Nick Southall (@FootieNick) February 18, 2020
The EA said 599 properties had been flooded across England as of Tuesday afternoon, as a result of the weekend’s storm.
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More than 6km of temporary flood barriers have been erected across the country and flood defences have protected nearly 25,000 properties from the impacts of the storm, the agency said.
But record-breaking river levels and continued rainfall means further flooding is possible across much of the country.
EA executive director of flood and coastal risk management John Curtin said: “We expect further disruptive weather into tomorrow and Thursday, bringing a significant flood risk to the West Midlands, and there are flood warnings in place across much of England.”
The Met Office has issued yellow weather for persistent rain in Wales and the north-west of England for Wednesday and Thursday, and the north of England on Friday into Saturday.
In Monmouth, mountain rescue teams evacuated an elderly man from his home on a flooded road by breaking down his back door with a sledgehammer and taking him to safety on a raft.
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Other neighbours on the A466 ventured to a nearby Lidl supermarket on canoes to pick up their food shopping.
Mountain Rescue team members rescue Peter Morgan from his house where he has lived his whole life, which has been flooded in Monmouth. PA
Nearby residents making their way through floodwater by boat in Monmouth. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Meanwhile, drinking water supplies were hit after a treatment works in Monmouthshire flooded.
Welsh Water asked people in Monmouth to reduce their usage.
EA manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Dave Throup said the level of flooding leaves affected parts in “uncharted territory”.
There was relief in Upton upon Severn and Uckinghall in Worcestershire on Tuesday morning that flood defences had not been breached.
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But Throup urged people in those areas to “remain vigilant”.
He said: “There may be some short-term drops in levels but they may well rise again. We’re certainly not out of the woods yet, there is quite a long way to go with this flood.”
Meanwhile, the River Trent, which had prompted a severe flood warning for Burton-on-Trent, also peaked at record levels of just below four metres on Tuesday.
Severe flood warnings remained in place for the River Severn at Upton upon Severn, Ironbridge and Uckinghall, the River Wye and the River Lugg at Hampton Bishop on Tuesday afternoon.
In Wales, there were two severe warnings in place on the River Wye at Monmouth in what Natural Resources Wales called both “defended” and “undefended” areas.
Over the weekend, the River Taff in Pontypridd reached the highest level in more than 40 years and the River Usk reached the highest level since 1979.
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Donations at Taff's Well village hall for those affected by Storm Dennis. PA
Storm Dennis claimed the life of Yvonne Booth, from the Great Barr area of Birmingham, who was swept away by floodwater near Tenbury in Worcestershire on Sunday.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has faced criticism from the Labour Party for not visiting communities affected by flooding.
The RSPCA said it has responded to more than 200 emergencies during Storm Dennis, including a pony which had been trapped in a flooded field beside the River Wey in Guildford.
Rescuers brought the pony, which they have named Jemima Puddle Duck, to safety by accompanying her on a tethered swim.
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A former wildlife officer has also warned that the extreme wet weather has flooded many low-lying badger setts in North Wales and damaged the structures of those on high ground.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Lizzo Looks Good Enough To Eat On Brit Awards 2020 Red Carpet

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Being one of the most highly-anticipated performers at the Brit Awards this year, you didn’t think Lizzo was going to make a low-key arrival at the event, did you?
The Truth Hurts singer blew all other red carpet looks out of the water after she turned up wearing a giant chocolate wrapper at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday night.
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Lizzo’s brown satin gown carried the American confectionary brand Hershey’s logo and was emblazoned with the words “milk chocolate”.
The elaborate dress even had a huge barcode on the side, too.
Lizzo arrived at the Brit Awards in a chocolate wrapper Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment
And if you didn’t think her red carpet look could get any more extra, she then whipped out a bar of chocolate to munch on as she posed for photographers.
Well, given how long the Brit Awards go on for, we don’t blame her for coming prepared on the snacks front.
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Lizzo had a little snack on the red carpet Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Lizzo brought the joy to the red carpet Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment
Lizzo was one of the performers at this year’s event, having also been nominated in the Best International Female category, but lost out to Billie Eilish in the category.
It’s been a big 12 months for the US star, who last month took home three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Solo Performance for Truth Hurts.
She had been the most-nominated star of the night, but Billie ended up winning five of the six awards she was nominated for.
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Lizzo and her brother, Finneas, at the Brit Awards Joe Maher via Getty Images
The 18-year-old US singer was also in attendance at Tuesday night’s Brit Awards to pick up her Best International Solo Female gong.
Billie also gave a debut performance of her new Bond theme, No Time To Die, during the ceremony.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Harry Styles Robbed At Knifepoint In London On Valentine's Day

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Police are investigating after Harry Styles was mugged in London on Valentine’s Day.
According to The Mirror, the former One Direction singer was robbed of money at knifepoint on Friday night, during a night out in Hampstead, North London.
Scotland Yard has since confirmed that they are looking into an incident in that area, saying: “Officers were contacted on Saturday February 15 regarding the incident which happened at 11.50pm on Friday February 14.
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“It was reported that a man in his 20s was approached by another man and threatened him with a knife.”
Harry Styles PA
They also confirmed that Harry was “not injured” in the incident, but that “cash was taken from him”.
“No arrests and enquiries are ongoing,” they added.
Harry is among the huge stars in attendance at this year’s Brit Awards, where he is nominated for two awards, including the coveted Album Of The Year prize.
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On the red carpet, Harry struck a pose for photographers while wearing a blazer and purple jumper, with an oversized lace collar and pearls. He also sported a black ribbon on his lapel, often associated with remembrance and mourning.
Harry posing on the Brit Awards red carpet Mike Marsland via Getty Images
The Adore You singer will also be performing during the ceremony, where Stormzy, Billie Eilish and Lizzo are also among the stars taking to the stage.
As well as his seven past wins with One Direction, Harry won his first Brit in 2017, where Sign Of The Times was awarded Best British Video, a prize which has since been retired.
Check out all the red carpet photos from this year’s Brits below...
Brit Awards 2020 Red Carpet See gallery


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Lewis Capaldi On The Brit Awards 2020 Red Carpet Is Everything We Wanted And More

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After an undeniably massive 2019, Lewis Capaldi kicked off this year with the news that he was one of the most-nominated artists at this year’s Brit Awards, where he’s a contender for Best New Artist, Best British Single, Best British Male and the biggest award of the night, British Album Of The Year.
On Tuesday night, ahead of the ceremony, the Scottish singer-songwriter was one of the first celebrities on the red carpet, where he made it clear from the off that he was ready to party.
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Whenever Lewis steps onto a red carpet, it’s a given that we’re in for a fun time, and we’re relived to see that the Brits were no exception, after he was seen striking a number of our favourite poses including...
The “oh my goodness I’m up for four Brit Awards how did this happen?”...
Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images
The “subtle middle finger”...
Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
The “oh wait I’m a massive star now I don’t need to be subtle about anything anymore”...
Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock
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The “I’m an angel really, I promise”...
Joe Maher via Getty Images
The “Steps homage”...
Joe Maher via Getty Images
The “I’ll have a consonant please, Lewis”...
David Fisher/Shutterstock
The “year 11 prom standard pose”...
Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock
The “go on then, one serious one for my mum”...
David Fisher/Shutterstock
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And finally, this Capaldi classic...
Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Lewis previously stole the show on the Grammys red carpet last month, where he was nominated for Song Of The Year for his chart-topping breakthrough track Someone You Loved.
He also had a suitably ridiculous moment during the ceremony, when – despite being up for one of the night’s biggest awards – he was mistaken for... a seat-filler.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--All The Brit Awards 2020 Red Carpet Pictures You Need To See

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With the Golden Globes, Grammys and Oscars now out of the way, it was time to bring awards season to a close on Tuesday night, as London played host to the Brit Awards.
The biggest names in British music were out in force on to celebrate their achievements over the last 12 months during the ceremony at London’s O2 Arena.
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But prior to the action kicking off, there was the small matter of the red carpet, which was rolled out again as the stars arrived at the venue.
Lewis Capaldi on the Brit Awards red carpet Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
Nominee and performer Lizzo also turned up looking good enough at eat in dress inspired by a chocolate wrapper.
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Other names included fellow nominees Dave, Stormzy, Harry Styles, Mabel and Billie Eilish.
Lizzo Mike Marsland via Getty Images
There were also a whole other host of names from the music and entertainment industry in attendance, too.
Take a look at all the celebrity arrivals in the gallery below...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--How One Last Vintage Hurrah Might Just Save Laura Ashley

Neville Marriner/ANL/Shutterstock Those trademark Laura Ashley florals.
Laura Ashley is synonymous with florals. No brand summons up images of feminine frocks and borderline-chintzy home decor quite like it.
But, those flowers have been left to wilt – the quintessentially British brand looks on the brink of dying out.
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Shares in the Laura Ashley have slumped 41% after the retailer said it was in crisis talks with its lender, according to the BBC – and trading fell by nearly 11% in the second half of 2019.
And yet, it’s hard to believe this will be the end of Laura Ashley, a company that’s reinvented itself more times than Madonna. Well, nearly.
Newscast via Getty Images
Once the godmother of high street clothing in the late seventies and eighties, the brand shifted its focus to homeware when popularity for its trademark togs showed signs of waning this century. The uncontested stars of this noughties revival were wallpapers, scatter cushions, rugs and lamps.
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With plenty of florals incorporated, of course.
As Laura Ashley looks in trouble once again, could a return to its roots – rather than another rebrand – be the solution? There’s a market of hungry hipsters snapping up the brand’s vintage designs on eBay, with velvet skater skirts and full, floral frocks selling for as much as £50, even £80.
The clothes in Laura Ashley of late have been safe, indecisive, even. I ventured into a store this Christmas, only to u-turn at the wall of dowdy, uninspiring block colour cardigans. But as journalist Daisy Buchanan put it: “Laura Ashley could make kajillions by reissuing their archive pieces.”
Ken Towner/ANL/Shutterstock
Look through the photo reel of Laura Ashley’s fashion highlights and you’ll find a white and black dropped-hem dress from 1975 that isn’t realms away from the Zara Dress that sent women into a frenzy last summer and – in a reverse of the usual haut-couture to high street journey – inspired the catwalks this season.
The Laura Ashley of old was trendsetting, unapologetically feminine and above all: flattering. In a world where your mom jeans could come from Topshop, Tom Ford or Tesco, a distinctive brand which knows its clientele is exactly what the high street needs.
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Our homes are also thirsty for some style variety. Visit most homeware sections in 2020 and you’ll be met with a sea of grey as customers flock to create identical little indoor caves. Many consumers clearly adore the Mrs Hinch look, and that’s fine, but I like a home that’s full of character, not primed for cleaning.
One of my favourite purchases of the past five years has been my Laura Ashley curtains, which feature a soft, pussy willow floral print and perfectly frame the tree outside my window. They may not scream for their place on Instagram but boy, do they feel homely.
So please, Laura Ashley, if you’re going to leave us, at least do it on one last, floral high. Bring back the bold prints of yesteryear – and you might survive another decade yet.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Is Climate Change To Blame For Flooding After Storm Ciara And Storm Dennis?

“The number of big storms we get, one after another after another, is predicted to increase with climate change – and we think that this is what we’re seeing right now,” says Professor Daniel Parsons, director of the Energy and Environment Institute.
“It’s the same with the fires in Australia. These are the sorts of predictions we have been saying over the past 20 years and we’re seeing them manifest right now in front of our eyes in many ways.”
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The past two weeks has seen the UK battered by bad weather, with Storm Ciara – dubbed “the biggest storm this century” by the Met Office – and Storm Dennis bringing high winds and punishing rains.
Rising river levels over the weekend saw hundreds of properties flooded, people having to be rescued from their homes by firefighters and a record number of flood warnings and alerts issued by the Environment Agency.
As parts of the UK try to recover from record levels of flooding – and prepare for more heavy rain forecast for later in the week – people are asking themselves the obvious question: are storms like these down to climate change?
Mountain Rescue team members rescue Peter Morgan from his house where he has lived his whole life, which has been flooded in Monmouth PA
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For Parsons, a professor of sedimentology at the University of Hull, it would certainly seem to be the case.
“The impacts of climate change are being seen right now in terms of these sorts of storms,” he said, adding that it is “absolutely is the case” that we’re seeing more flooding – and that it’s likely to get worse.
Even if countries uphold the Paris Agreement and the globe only warms by 1.5C this century, “we’re going to see an increasing risk of flooding and an increasing occurrence of both the magnitude and the frequency of the sort of storms we have seen over the past few days”, Parsons added.
Dr Dann Mitchell, an associate professor in atmospheric science at Bristol University, agrees that the UK will see more “strong rain events” as climate change hits.
“We know that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, and so there is more moisture to rain out,” he said.
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A canoeist makes their way towards Lidl in Monmouth in the aftermath of Storm Dennis PA
“We wouldn’t necessarily expect more storms under climate change, but we do expect that the storms that hit the UK will be carrying more water, and can cause more strong rain events, especially in the winter.”
It’s hard to say now whether Storms Ciara and Dennis are down to climate change, he said, with studies – like the one carried out on the 2013/14 floods – taking time to reach conclusions.
Meanwhile, “large-scale flooding is all too frequent in the UK, and certain years have seen many more houses flooded than we’ve seen from either Ciara or Dennis, for instance 2000, 2007, and 2015”, Mitchell said.
But “we can be confident that the impacts of storms like these will get worse in the future”.
So, what can – and should – the UK do to protect itself from flooding in the future? In a word, adapt, experts say.
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“The coincidence of two strong storms hitting the UK in short succession has overwhelmed some defences,” said Dr Carola Koenig, flood and coastal engineering course director at Brunel University.
But simply improving flood defences will not be enough to become more resilient for “what lies ahead”, she added.
“We have all seen images of mountains of carpet and furniture being removed from flooded houses or cars being swept away although we knew the storms were coming.
Floodwater covers fields in the Wye Valley in Hereford, England Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
“Anticipating the worst and being prepared needs to be the new mind-set for us all rather than hoping that flood defences will hold. Anticipating the worst needs to feed into our building standards, planning policy, insurance strategy, education and more.”
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It’s a view echoed by Parsons. “There’s no way we’re going to win a fight against water,” he said.
“We’re going to have to learn, as a society, how to get wet better. We can’t just continue to build walls higher and higher and higher because people don’t want to live behind walls, first and foremost.”
We need to accept that some areas of the country are going to flood, he added. “That’s a change in mindset for society and it’s a big behavioural change for the way we live.”
Society must also become more resilient in a practical sense. “Houses in flood-prone areas need to be designed to flood so that these communities can respond to being flooded and can be up and running the next day.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Why Recycling Is So Complicated

Why Recycling Is So Complicated

Tidying Up The Myths Around Recycling
With the world facing a climate emergency, everyone feels compelled to recycle but is it as easy as made out? Across the UK, councils employ different methods and plans to recycling, making for confusing guidelines that change by area. With products sometimes comprising of several materials it can also be confusing on how best to recycle, running the risk of contaminating recycled materials and sending everything to landfill.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Gina Miller: Curbing Judicial Review Is Johnson’s Brexit ‘Revenge’ – But Will Hit Most Vulnerable

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Government plans to clamp down on the use of judicial reviews are rooted in “revenge, not reform”, according to the activist who used the process to fight Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans.
Gina Miller won her Supreme Court bid to overturn the PM’s prorogation of parliament in the face of a no-deal Brexit last year – prompting him to launch a review into the “abuse” of the legal mechanism.
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But lawyers advocating for the most vulnerable – from refugees to victims of domestic violence – fear the move will leave desperate people with nowhere else to turn, as revealed by HuffPost UK on Tuesday.
Miller said she believes the PM’s plan, laid out in the Queen’s Speech last year, is based on a desire for “revenge” against those who were a thorn in his side during the Brexit process.
“It’s not about reform of the judiciary at all,” she told HuffPost.
“There is no evidence whatsoever that the judicial review process is being abused or overreached. In fact, I agree that the system needs reform, but not in the way the government is proposing – vulnerable people need to be given more access to judicial review.
“My cases were only ever about accountability and the sovereignty of parliament. The reforms being talked about are extremely dangerous. If you have a biddable parliament and a biddable judiciary, who is there to hold the government to account?”
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Campaigner Gina Miller ASSOCIATED PRESS
A family entitled to NHS care wrongly charged hospital fees and a woman told she couldn’t be reunited with her refugee daughter after the girl was raped are among the cases won by law centres, who rely on judicial review when advocating for those who cannot afford extortionate legal fees.
“Many of these people have been forced to choose between paying their rent arrears or buying food, so have simply not eaten,” said Pamela Fitzpatrick, the director of Harrow Law Centre – which offers free legal advice and representation to about 1,000 north London residents every year.
“More than ever before, and certainly more in recent years, we are seeing people who have lost access to benefits and who literally have nothing come to us for help.”
More recently, campaigners used judicial review to halt the deportation of 25 people to Jamaica by the Home Office, many of whom they claimed had not been offered proper legal advice.
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Miller added: “It begs the question: does this government actually care at all about the most vulnerable people?
“A lot of people are extremely concerned about these plans, and following the cabinet reshuffle we are even more concerned – any sensible voices seem to have been sacked.
“But I and plenty of others will be keeping a laser-like view on whatever the government decides to do.
“There has to be a counter to this, and a coming together of voices to speak up for the vulnerable, and for the independence of the judiciary.”
A Cabinet Office spokesperson told HuffPost further announcements would be made on the constitutional review, being overseen by minister Michael Gove, “in due course”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Are CBD Health Benefits Too Good To Be True?

Are CBD Health Benefits Too Good To Be True?
Head to any health and wellness store, pharmacy or even supermarket in the UK and you’ll find a row of products containing CBD – ranging from vape liquid to oil and skincare products. The legal cannabis extract is part of an industry expected to skyrocket beyond £1 billion in the country by 2025. But while advocates claim the ‘miracle’ cannabinoid can ease the symptoms of a seemingly endless list of conditions – from acne to anxiety – do these claims stand up to science? With the help of expert Dr Chandni Hindocha, we find out.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Celebrities Get Treated So Badly By The Media Because You Keep Reading The Stories

Caroline Flack Getty Editorial
Decades on from Princess Diana’s death, the public is once again discussing how the British press destroys the young women it exploits for its stories.
Caroline Flack was just 40 when she took her own life this weekend, and for all the particulars of those tragically few decades, her death tells an age-old story. Be it Amy, Judy, Tulisa, Whitney, Britney, Lindsay, Amanda and so on, women’s complicated lives are glorified then condemned by an avaricious press. On a whim, their pedestal becomes a witch’s pyre, a cautionary tale to any woman who tries to rise above her station.
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A petition, set up by Stephanie Davis, an ex-Hollyoaks actress aims to put an end to this. With over 525,000 signatures, this petition demands that the government introduce laws to “stop exploiting people in the public eye”. It is well intended, but it will never work. For example, a ban on the press sharing private medical details already exists. Other demands, including a ban on “sharing private information that is detrimental to the celebrity” could halt any #MeToo stories about, say, a famous TV star, and an outright ban on revenge porn stories would mean no scrutiny of the laws aiming to prevent it.
I understand why Stephanie, who has been the centre of many gossipy stories, willing or not, for years, is impassioned. The press, alongside many other institutions, will doubtless be discussed at the actual inquest into Caroline’s death. Their enduring sexism must be taken into account, too. But I have no idea if anyone involved in this petition, which has had more hits than most news reports today, is aware of Samaritan’s code of reporting. The suicide prevention charity advises “Over-simplification of the causes or perceived “triggers” for a suicide can be misleading and is unlikely to reflect accurately the complexity of suicide.”
If Caroline received a trial by media, I’m not sure why it’s then appropriate to conduct a hasty inquest via social media. But of course, we always like to smash the mirrors that most reflect our worst selves.
Because while all these stories of women falling from grace remain so similar, the big change is how close the public and press have grown. Every day, they come together in a grotesque dance of misery and bitterness.
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Before, a tabloid editor could see salacious stories boost circulation but never quite tell if it was the item on Diana, or the piece on the Tory sleaze scandal that had sold it. Today, in a 24/7 digital news cycle, editors can see precisely what viewers are clicking on and reading and searching for and shape their reporting accordingly. Similarly, they can gauge public mood on social media, reflecting and amplifying the memes and jokes in their stories. Their defence can and always will be: “Well, we’re not saying that so-and-so is this-that-and-the-other, we’re just telling you what Joe Public thinks of them!”
Why don’t these publications get on with serious news, you might wonder, writing instead about starving orphans in Yemen or domestic violence in Bury? They would, if the public cared. But in an age of pay-per-click journalism, when writers vie for the attentions of readers who prefer to get unverified news on social media sites, why produce stories that they’d simply scroll past?
The truth is, websites only make stories that people want to read. And it doesn’t matter to the analytics processors if users are reading out of titillation or revulsion. A click is a hit, and a hit means ad revenue and that means a job.
I knew this when I wrote a story about Caroline Flack on a slow news day nearly a decade ago. Using a tone that I’d felt emboldened to use because it was all over social media, the piece was unnecessarily mean. Caroline had been upset by it, my editor later told me after having deleted the story.
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That same editor sat me down and assessed – correctly – that I was only so mean because I wasn’t feeling so great myself. We worked on getting me somewhere better, and these days I try to punch upwards, not down. I take full responsibility for contributing to Caroline’s distress, in a story that I don’t doubt helped chip away at her self-worth. And I’m so sorry to her family and friends.
As a member of the press, I’m thinking hard about how to no longer exploit celebrities. And rather than signing a petition and thinking the hard work is over, I’m going to keep thinking of how my words can carry. We all have the power to stop allowing cruelty to be the tabloids’ best option. We can all encourage the press’s very human writers with very mechanical targets to do the right thing.
After Princess Diana died, Private Eye’s cover featured a banner reading “MEDIA TO BLAME” above a crowd of onlookers/well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace. One says: “The papers are a disgrace”, to which another quips: “Yes, I couldn’t get one anywhere”. The sucker-punch is a third person, offering: “Borrow mine. It’s got a picture of the car”. It still resonates today, and I know we all – social media users and press alike – wish it wouldn’t.
Sophie Wilkinson is a freelance journalist and associate lecturer in multimedia journalism at London Metropolitan University.
Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--It’s Five Years Since Tanya Branning Asked ‘How’s Adam?’ In EastEnders And We’re Still Not Bored Of

It’s Five Years Since Tanya Branning Asked ‘How’s Adam?’ In EastEnders And We’re Still Not Bored Of Watching It

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EastEnders celebrates 35 years on the box this week.
To mark this momentous soapland milestone, bosses at the BBC show have lined up a heeeeuuuge storyline that sees one of Albert Square’s inhabitants killed off during an ill-fated boat trip along the Thames.
Previous anniversaries were marked with special live episodes, but the showrunners at the BBC soap said they wanted to do something different this year, which we’re sure has absolutely nothing to do with one of The Greatest TV Moments Of All Time.
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Yup, not only do we have 35 years of EastEnders to celebrate, it’s also five years since the iconic line “How’s Adam?” was uttered, which resulted in these incredible reactions...
Who's Adam? BBC
Jo Joyner - who reprised her role as Tanya Branning in the 30th anniversary special back in 2015 - later admitted she was left haunted by her gaffe when she mistakenly referred to Ian Beale by the name of the actor who plays him [Adam Woodyatt], saying: “How’s Adam?”
“I don’t need to (watch it) because people were sending me pictures of my face in shock every day on Twitter. So I’ve seen that image a few million times,” Jo told Radio Times.
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“I’ve got a good sense of humour. But I couldn’t laugh about it until I’d gone out there the next night. I knew that people were watching to see if I messed up again.
“And to do that next episode live in front of 10 million viewers was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”
We’re not sure if Jo’s been brave enough to watch the clip back yet, but to save her trawling YouTube, here it is one last time*...
*definitely not the last time.
Happy 5th birthday ‘How’s Adam?’!
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-18--Boris Johnson’s ‘Revenge’ Over Brexit Will Hit Domestic Abuse Victims And Refugees

Activists outside the Supreme Court in London as the legality of the prorogation of parliament was challenged. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Mothers fleeing domestic violence, families facing homelessness and refugees could be left with no way to seek legal help if government plans to clamp down on judicial reviews go ahead.
Boris Johnson has pledged to cut “abuse” of the judicial review process – a legal mechanism by which the decisions of public bodies can be challenged.
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The PM’s actions are seen by some as a swipe at anti-Brexit campaigners, who used judicial review to fight his bid to prorogue parliament. They were described as being rooted in “revenge, not reform” by leading activist Gina Miller.
But lawyers rely on them to fight the corners of some of society’s most vulnerable. A family entitled to NHS care wrongly charged eye-watering hospital fees and a woman told she couldn’t be reunited with her refugee daughter after the girl was raped were just two of the cases we were told about.
“Many of these people have been forced to choose between paying their rent arrears or buying food, so have simply not eaten,” said Pamela Fitzpatrick, the director of Harrow Law Centre – which offers free legal advice and representation to about 1,000 north London residents every year.
“More than ever before, and certainly more in recent years, we are seeing people who have lost access to benefits and who literally have nothing come to us for help.
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“It’s truly shocking and not what you expect to see in the UK in 2020.”
Part of a network of law centres across the country, the facility is paid for partly by legal aid and partly through a collection of smaller grants and direct fundraising efforts.
Solicitors at Harrow, who specialise in welfare benefits, housing and immigration issues, use the judicial review process on a weekly, if not daily, basis.
“We have seen people with serious diseases, including cancer, who have had their benefits stopped due to bad decisions being taken by the authorities,” said Fitzpatrick. “The appeal process for a claim can take a year – many would be dead by then.”
Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller speaks outside the Supreme Court in London after it made its decision on the legality of Boris Johnson's five-week suspension of parliament. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The first step in the judicial review process involves a lawyer sending a “letter before claim” to the relevant body – which can often prompt a reversal of the original decision. This work is usually done free of charge, as lawyers cannot be funded through legal aid until a judicial review is given the green light to proceed through the courts.
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The number of judicial review applications fell significantly after the coalition government tightened processes around legal aid in 2013.
“Often the threat of judicial review is enough in cases where, for example, the Home Office has made a wrong decision on an asylum case, or a housing association is trying to evict a family unlawfully,” Fitzpatrick said.
“It’s something that can be relied on when you are operating in the shadow of the legal system on a vulnerable person’s behalf, and it’s often the last hope for people who have been left with literally nothing.”
One case dealt with at Harrow concerned a breastfeeding mum who had been left homeless, with no access to benefits. An EU national, her claim for settled status was wrongly rejected, despite her having lived in the UK since she was a toddler.
“She came into our office and she hadn’t eaten for days. She was obviously still feeding her baby and it was starting to affect them too. Before we could even start on helping her with her legal issues, we had to have a whip-round to get her some food,” Fitzpatrick said.
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“Luckily her benefits appeal was accepted second time around, but if it had been rejected we would have been relying on the judicial review process.
“Other judicial review cases we’ve taken on involved a schoolboy who came home one day to find his family’s housing association had changed the locks.
“Another saw an EU national come to us after his wife had a baby and he was presented with a bill for several thousands of pounds from the hospital, despite having rights to live, work and access healthcare in the UK.
“It had got to the point where bailiffs were involved and the hospital would not back down. If we hadn’t sent a letter before claim, he would still be being chased for a huge debt that he never owed in the first place.”
Cases dealt with by other law centres across the UK included a refugee who was separated from her young child while fleeing Somalia 17 years ago – a girl who was later found living in a camp in Uganda.
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“Her child had been raped and had a child herself as a result,” a spokesperson told HuffPost UK. “We sought to have the family reunited, but the Home Office refused – because her daughter had a child of her own she was no longer considered to fall within the definition of family member.
“We started judicial review proceedings and the Home Office backed down. Our client was reunited finally with her daughter after 17 years, and met her grandchild.”
Another case saw a woman fleeing domestic abuse who was told she didn’t qualify for emergency housing even though her violent ex-partner kept breaching his bail conditions and turning up at her home, in one case breaking in. Thanks to judicial review she was offered a new home in the same borough.
The relentlessness of the work can be depressing, Fitzpatrick said, but the pay-off is worth it when centres are able to change lives, and Harrow keeps a running commentary of its successful cases on its Twitter feed.
Today is one of those days you burst with pride at working in a Law Centre. Our client, an Afghan refugee called in to show us a film of her being reuinited with her mother after 6 years apart. Happy endings do happen sometimes thanks to Law Centres. — Harrow Law Centre (@HarrowLawCentre) February 14, 2020
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One of our immigration solicitors is assisting a recently arrived young refugee. Alone, frightened without friends or family. That is until our solicitor realised we previously assisted the boy's uncle with his asylum claim and he lives in Harrow. We have reunited the pair. — Harrow Law Centre (@HarrowLawCentre) February 14, 2020
But simply sourcing the means to keep the centre afloat day-to-day is a full time job, Fitzpatrick admits.
“We could expand and expand and not be able to keep up with how much demand there is, and that’s only going to get worse,” she said.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is currently overseeing the constitutional review promised in the Queen’s Speech, expected to examine the role of British judges and the use of judicial review. The PM promised the review would “come up with proposals to restore trust in our institutions and in how our democracy operates”.
Gove will reportedly work alongside justice secretary Robert Buckland and newly-appointed attorney general Suella Braverman, and a Cabinet Office spokesperson said further updates would be made “in due course”.
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But Harrow Law Centre, and others like it, remain unconvinced and believe those most in need of help are the ones who will suffer.
“This is undoubtedly a political performance which will just harm the most vulnerable people in our society,” Fitzpatrick said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-19--Tory Business Minister Says He 'Hates' Donald Trump's Trade Agenda

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A newly appointed business minister has said Donald Trump’s approach to trade is “total nonsense”.
Lord Callanan, who was handed a job in the department by Boris Johnson in the reshuffle last week, also warned Conservatives they should not simply support the US president because he upsets “all the right people”.
Speaking at the Adam Smith Institute on Tuesday evening, Sky News reported Callanan said of Trump: “I hate his protectionist agenda.”
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Business Minister Lord Callanan said Donald Trump's views on trade were 'total nonsense'. Horacio Villalobos via Getty Images
Callanan used his speech to warn the UK post-Brexit had to be a “badly needed” advocate of free trade.
“You’ve got people like Trump,” he said. ”I’m very ambivalent about Trump. On the one hand, a lot of the stuff he says is total nonsense – I hate his protectionist agenda.
“But he does have the great virtue of upsetting all the right people.
“And we must be careful not to support him just because he upsets [London mayor] Sadiq Khan and [Guardian columnist] Owen Jones [...] tempting though that is.”
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Callanan said free traders had to “make neoliberalism popular again” – a reference to Trump’s “make America great again” slogan.
Trump has brought in a series of trade tariffs, including on goods from the EU and China.
The British government is hopeful it can sign a trade deal with the US in order to show it can forge new economic ties post-Brexit.
In January, US trade secretary Steve Mnuchin told said he was “optimistic” a trade agreement could be reached this year.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-19--Jimmy Tarbuck Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

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Jimmy Tarbuck has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The veteran comedian, 80, opened up about his diagnosis on Good Morning Britain, insisting he was determined to “try and beat it”.
Speaking to hosts Kate Garraway and Adil Ray on Wednesday, he said: “Right now I feel great. I’m on the telly and I’m having a good time.”
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Jimmy Tarbuck on Good Morning Britain Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
He said his doctor has told him his cancer has not spread and that they believe he will not die “of” the disease.
He said: “I’m having these injections and taking these tablets and then I go onto a yearly thing.”
Jimmy revealed that singer Sir Tom Jones has been his “mentor” and had advised him to see a doctor when he told him about his symptoms.
He said: “He told me what was going to happen, all the tests.
“He said ‘I’ve had this done’ and he told me ‘You’ll get bloods shown’.”
'I have prostate cancer and I'm going to try and beat it.'
Jimmy Tarbuck is urging all men to get checked out.
Listen to Jimmy, boys. He's a total legend. ❤ pic.twitter.com/ff65hFJnlP — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 19, 2020
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He added: “Boys, go. It is embarrassing. The fella said to me ‘We’re going to give you the thumbs up’. I said ‘I hope not’. He roared laughing.”
Jimmy also urged men to get tested if they are worried about their health.
“All men out there watching, and all wives, get your husbands to go for the tests,” he said. “I think after 50, just have a test, let them have a look at you.
“You will be relieved and be with your families for extra years.”
Jimmy said Sir Tom Jones had been his "mentor" Jim Dyson via Getty Images
Jimmy, who rose to fame in the 1960s and was known for hosting variety shows including Sunday Night At The London Palladium and Live From Her Majesty’s, also talked about going on tour again at the age of 80.
He told the programme: “I love the work, I hate the travelling, but I’m doing two cities that I love – Norwich and Wolverhampton.
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“The people are very nice, they come out to see me there, so I enjoy that.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-19--8 Ways Workplaces Can Become More Vegan-Friendly

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Vegans could soon find themselves with a dedicated shelf in the work fridge, as well as separate food preparation areas.
These are just some of the recommendations made by The Vegan Society in its new booklet: ‘Supporting veganism in the workplace: A guide for employers’.
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It contains tips on how to a foster vegan-inclusive environment at work, from nipping jokes about plant-based diets in the bud, to ensuring staff uniforms are vegan-friendly.
If separate fridge space stops colleagues nicking the precious oat milk, we’re here for it. But really, you’d hope people would leave their colleagues’ food alone anyway – especially for the sake of those with allergies.
The booklet has been made by the organisation in response to the landmark legal case that ruled “ethical veganism” qualifies as a philosophical belief for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.
The case was brought forward by Jordi Casamitjana who said he was sacked by the League Against Cruel Sports after raising concerns that its pension fund was being invested into companies involved in animal testing.
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The ruling said “ethical vegans” are entitled to protections in the workplace in line with those who hold religious beliefs.
The recommendations on how to create a vegan-friendly workplace are:
Sending out a ‘dietary requirements’ sheet for catered events, ensuring that vegans have the opportunity to request that appropriate food is provided for them.
Ensuring kitchen facilities are acceptable for them to use, for example by keeping utensils and foods clean, providing colour-coded equipment and separating food preparation areas.
Designating dedicated food storage areas for vegans, such as a shelf in the fridge above non-vegan foods.
Ensuring that vegans have access to vegan-friendly clothing or other items, such as synthetic safety boots or a non-leather phone case.
Exempting vegans from a requirement to attend corporate events such as horse racing, and team building events that revolve specifically around animal products such as a ‘hog roast’ barbecue.
Considering exempting vegans from participating in buying (or signing off on the purchase of) non-vegan products.
Supporting vegan employees to discuss their pension investment options with a relevant member of staff.
The booklet also points out that jokes made about an employee’s veganism can become “burdensome” so “steps should be made to improve this”.
“One way of assessing whether a co-worker has gone too far with comments to or about vegans is to consider what type of conversational behaviour would be deemed offensive to other individuals with protected characteristics, such as those who adhere to certain religious values,” it says.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-19--Priti Patel Claims Boris Johnson Is 'Absolutely Not A Racist' After Dave's Brits Performance

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Priti Patel has insisted Boris Johnson is “absolutely not a racist”, after rapper Dave used his performance at the Brits to brand the prime minister a “real racist”.
The home secretary said the accusation was “very much a generalisation”.
Patel told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning: “I know the prime minister. I’ve worked with the prime minister for a long time, for many years. He’s absolutely not a racist.
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“I don’t know how much [Dave] knows about the prime minister and whether he actually has met the prime minister or knows the prime minister.
“I work with the prime minister, I know Boris Johnson very well, no way is he a racist, so I think that is a completely wrong comment and it’s the wrong assertion to make against our prime minister.”
PA
But Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, told the BBC Dave’s words “clearly resonated with people”.
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“I think Boris has a lot to do to convince the community that he’s not unduly negative about Black people and Muslim people,” she said.
Dave performed his song Black at the ceremony at the O2 Arena in London on Tuesday evening and added new verses at the end.
“It is racist whether or not it feels racist/ The truth is our prime minister’s a real racist,” he said.
The British artist also said: “Grenfell victims still need accommodation and we still need support for the Windrush generation.”
And he paid tribute to London Bridge attack victim Jack Merritt. “There’s tears in our eyes and love in our hearts,” he said.
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Johnson infamously used a 2002 column in The Daily Telegraph to refer to “watermelon smiles” and “piccaninnies”.