#Charlotte Nichols MP

[the-almighty-gob-john-langley]

They're Escaping the Asylum, and Running Things!

Here I go again, repeating myself, I know. As potentially boring as it may be, something tells me that you, my friend, may well be as exasperated as me by now. So, here we go. Let's share a common vent as we continue to highlight the sheer idiocy of others nowadays.

Where shall we begin? I know, how about The image of a dead lion being swarmed by bees to be dropped from some of Lyle's Golden Syrup packaging. Question one: who actually cares enough about a graphic on a tin can no one even notices anyway? Question two: What relevance, if any does an insignificant graphic have on a buying decision if someone wants a tin of golden syrup? Not me, for sure, and finally, Question three: who is the marketing numpty who considered this a good idea, and did it cause them to lose any sleep due to the graphic which has been in place for somewhere around 150 years without any bother whatsoever? Actually, I have just thought of one further question. Does this person not have a hobby, because clearly he/she/it has far too much time on their hands.

In a similar vein, I was asked by a news channel to participate in a live broadcast about the statue of Bristol's Edward Colston, earlier this week, as later on that day Bristol city council would be having a meeting regarding its future. My point is that the Colston statue has been in place since seventeen hundred and something, with millions of people passing it by since then on their way to and from work, to schools, universities, for business meetings and conferences, and tourists and shoppers alike, all going about whatever they had to do at the time.

To all intents and purposes, no one gave so much as a flying fig about it because it was just there, and pretty much invisible to all except a self-entitled minority over the past few years who suddenly felt oh, so offended by its presence - poor dears, pulled it down, and then returned home to, I presume, watch children's television following their petulant outburst without even the satisfaction of receiving so much as a Blue Peter badge for their efforts. Awww. Still, as long as it served to feed their oversized egos they were happy, bless them. Meanwhile, of course, the majority of Bristol 'adult's did the adult thing and averted their gaze to the Colston statue, as similarly, the same can be said for those who bought golden syrup over the years.

What next then? Aha, yes, here's another among the loonies who, newly born, deserved to have been baptised in a font of sulphuric acid to save the rest of us from their later life moronisitis (yes, I just made that word up). The prize pillock here is whichever employee of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS) decided to sack pensioner Fran Itkoff from her volunteer position with the charity because she "asked what pronouns meant". Fran Itkoff had served the non-profit for multiple sclerosis patients for 60 years, with her late husband running the Long Beach Lakewood chapter before his death.

She was left stunned when her bosses forced her to step down on January 19 following an exchange with a colleague who asked her to use her pronouns in email signatures. Well now, isn't this "colleague" just full of her own self-importance, or what? I'm surprised her ego doesn't get in the way of her entering whatever building doorway gives her access to her work. Aren't you? Pronouns, my arse, get over yourself woman before you fall off your high horse and injure yourself. These people aren't even worth the satire. Hence, as soon as people begin thrusting their inane pronouns at me in any communication I go incommunicado with immediate effect until they've got over themselves, or, penguins takeover Parliament. Whichever is sooner. I'm not fussed.

Shall we all now deep-breathe for a couple of minutes before I move on? Very well.

Ready for the next assault on your common sense, are you? Good. So, how about this one? Charity umbrella group Wildlife and Countryside Link claim that the British countryside is a "racist colonial" white space. You see, lunatics like this would be enough to drive the sane of our population on the phone to the Samaritans helpline 24/7, wouldn't they? I feel a headache coming on just from writing about it! Which, of course, leads me towards some smartarse saying, "Well, the majority of 'adults would avert their gaze," I suppose. Yeah, yeah, there's always one! Except, like most, I hope, normal, common-sense people with even a modicum of intelligence would recognise blatant, and quite unnecessary stupidity when they see it.

Whoever dreamed this idea up is clearly scraping whatever barrels of employment they can find that enables them to keep their, no doubt, high-paid job. Simply finding problems where none exist to justify their status and salary by stating the countryside as "'racist space dominated by white people' as well as, and wait for it. Yes, grip on to something firm now, "The UK’s role in the European colonial project has also driven the current climate and nature crises."

"European colonial project"? What the hell is that supposed to be? Do you know the worst part about this? Someone has probably been to university for three, or four years, to learn this tripe. It continues, "People of colour in the UK are significantly less likely to visit natural spaces." Give me a break! I'm surprised whoever didn't go further in stating that whenever a black person is seen in the countryside the locals assume it's an African missionary come to convert them all to Christianity because they are such a rare sight out in the sticks. I can just picture it now, loads of white people hurriedly retreating back to their homes, scared out of their wits at the sight of a black face.

Look, lighthearted humour aside, I don't know about you, but I've seen skin of all colours meandering around the countryside and enjoying it. Some people of ethnic minorities have even discovered we have things called buses, coaches, and even trains here in England. How cool is that! If people search hard enough they'll even find out how to use our buses, coaches, and trains too. Wow, twenty-first Britain, who'd have thought it? However, sometimes I do wonder for myself. So, despite this person's claims, and the transport systems we have in place, I'd say it's more a case of lack of interest combined with laziness that fewer people of colour are seen in the countryside, wouldn't you agree?

Finally, because I simply cannot continue with more of this lunacy without an entire month of Valium to calm my increasingly shredding nerves, I arrive at Pillock Central as the final destination on this particular journey, and Labour MP (seems about right so far - no pun intended) Charlotte Nichols, who was either taking the proverbial, or awaiting psychiatric intervention perhaps, and wanted to change the law to let dead people switch their gender. Hey hun, as much as I hate to state the bleeding obvious. Once you're dead, you're dead. It's a terminal thing, you know? No one is going to rise up out of their grave and complain. Trust me, and move on.

I'm done!

[beeseverywhen]

As I arrived, two of the people from the tables across from us were also there, attempting to do the same. The staff behind the bar refused to serve them and when they argued back, the whole bar was shut. As I returned to the table, my friend was still in full flow. Over her shoulder, I saw the ominous hi-vis jackets of two Metropolitan police officers enter the pub and talk to the bar staff before approaching the group next to us. Before long another dozen or so arrived, demanding that they leave. Their crime? Being Travellers in a pub.

We protested over their eviction and ended up in a confrontation with the officers, before leaving with the group. Outside, shaken up and annoyed, we chatted to some of those who’d been ejected. “Don’t bother yourselves about it,” they told me. “It happens all the time.”

For people even tangentially connected or aware of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities (GRT), this incident is not particularly surprising. Nor is this week’s news that the Welsh secretary and Monmouth MP, David TC Davies, had distributed a leaflet encouraging people to air their views on the “establishment of a number of Gypsy Traveller sites in the county”.

The leaflets have come under sharp criticism – some have said they “border on racism” (for what it’s worth, I’d say they’re overtly racist), while others have rightly argued they are emblematic of the continued creation of a hostile environment for GRT people. The reality is these leaflets once again expose a complex system of oppression and persecution that aims to eradicate GRT people and culture. This country has a long history of propagating this kind of racism, and it has only increased in the past few years.

It is said that anti-GRT sentiment is the last acceptable form of bigotry. I know that if you ask any of my black, Muslim, or transgender friends, for example, they would quite rightly push back on this, but it does speak to a bigger truth. Any time I mention my Romany heritage online, even in passing, my mentions immediately fill up with slurs. In the real world, I have lost count of the number of times people, even those who would consider themselves nominally “of the left” have slipped in a slur or a trope into casual conversation (before immediately rowing back when I pull them up on it).

Indeed, a report by the Traveller movement found that 91% of GRT people had experienced discrimination, with 77% having been victims of hate speech or hate crimes. The survey also found that 40% of British parents would be “unhappy” with a close family member forming a relationship with a Traveller. A 2018 report found that 44% of people feel comfortable expressing anti-Gypsy sentiment, the highest number of respondents, with the second (22%) being happy to be openly Islamophobic.

Let’s be very clear: this is not just an issue with the Conservative party. Anti-GRT sentiment exists across the political spectrum – in 2021, Labour MP Charlotte Nichols had to apologise for her own set of leaflets which promised to deal with “Gypsy incursions”. In 2016, the shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, Jess Phillips, tweeted: “To my constituents, we have informed the council and the police about the traveller camp arriving on the Poolway”, apparently forgetting that those in the camp were also her constituents.

The media are also not without blame. From incendiary columns to bungled “investigations” into “traveller crime”, the collective impact of the centuries-old onslaught on GRT people is to continue to posit them as subhuman. As not worthy of safety, security or happiness. GRT people have some of the worst health outcomes across any group. The average life expectancy for GRT men and women is 50. There is poverty, deprivation and vast mental health issues. The collective attack on communities does nothing to deal with these problems – through isolation and prejudice it exacerbates them, while criminalising groups of people based on their ethnicity.

This leaflet row has fallen in the same week as Roma and Sinti Genocide Remembrance Day. It should act as a reminder that we must learn from the past and replace the campaign of hatred and denigration with a recognition of GRT people as human beings deserving of investment, of opportunity and of hope.

[boggart23]

A Taste Of Things To Come Under A SStarmer Led Labour Government?

Warrington MP Charlotte Nichols (Labour) Calls For Cadavers To Be Given The Right To Change Sex. 3 February 2024 A Labour MP in a northern constituency has called for the law to be changed so transgender people can have their gender changed posthumously in official records. In a written question to Parliament, Charlotte Nichols, the MP representative for Warrington North, asked last week if…

[qudachuk]

During her first week in Parliament, Charlotte Nichols says she was warned of "sexual predators".

[actu24hp]

Two more Labour MPs could be probed over possible lobbying breaches

TWO more Labour MPs may be probed by Westminster’s sleaze-buster over possible lobbying breaches, the Sun can reveal. Catherine West, the shadow foreign minister, and Charlotte Nichols are referring themselves to Parliament’s standards commissioner. Getty Catherine West, the shadow foreign minister, and Charlotte Nichols are referring themselves to Parliament’s standards commissioner It comes a…

[ukrfeminism]

2 minute read

Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the fatal stabbing of a girl, 16, in a park in Warrington.

Brianna Ghey’s body was found on a path at Linear Park in Culcheth at 3.13pm on Saturday. 

A boy and girl, both aged 15 were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of murder and are being questioned by police.

Both are from the local area and remain in custody.

There had been concerns that Brianna was targeted because she was transgender. However Cheshire Police said “at this time” there was no evidence to suggest the killing was a “hate crime”.

Brianna had been living as a girl for several months, according to the Daily Mail.

Police said she had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Evans said the force was doing all it could to establish what happened to her and patrols had been stepped up in the area to provide reassurance to the community.

“At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the circumstances surrounding Brianna’s death are hate related,” he said.

“I would ask anyone who has any information, no matter how big or small, that they believe could help with our investigation to get in touch.

“We are also keen for people and businesses within the local community to check any CCTV or dashcam footage for anything that may aid our investigation.”

Brianna was found dead by members of the public on Saturday afternoon.

Tributes have been paid on Brianna’s TikTok account, on which she had 31,000 followers. One read: “So gorgeous. so sad to see people in the world taken too soon, and in the worst ways.”

Officers have cordoned off the area while investigators comb the area for clues.

Speaking earlier on Sunday, the force’s Detective Chief Inspector Adam Waller said police were pursuing numerous lines of inquiry, but they did not believe there was a wider threat to the public.

Charlotte Nichols, the Labour MP for Warrington North, said she had spoken to the police and urged anyone with information to contact police.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting IML 1476832, report it online, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of a teenage girl in a park in Warrington.

Brianna Ghey, 16, was found with multiple stab wounds on a path in Linear Park, Culcheth at about 15:00GMT on Saturday and died at the scene.

Cheshire Police Det Ch Supt Mike Evans described it as "a truly awful attack".

He said police were especially keen to speak to two people seen in the park, described as a white man and woman, in their late teens or early 20s.

He said they both had dark curly hair, adding: "The man was wearing a longish dark hooded coat and the woman had a distinctive red or purple black checked blanket-style coat and a long flowing skirt, dress or trousers.

"We are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the park from around 1.30pm until 4.00pm yesterday or anyone who may have seen Brianna in the hours leading up to her death. "

Police said a post-mortem examination was taking place to establish the cause of death and that officers were supporting Brianna's family, who are from Birchwood.

[serialcomposer]

Jewish Labour MP Charlotte Nichols got caught handing out anti GRT leaflets

[politicalsci]

Boris Johnson has invoked some of the oldest and most pernicious antisemitic stereotypes in a book he wrote when he was a Conservative shadow minister. He describes “Jewish oligarchs” who run the media, and fiddle the figures to fix elections in their favour.

He portrays a Jewish character, Sammy Katz, with a “proud nose and curly hair”, and paints him as a malevolent, stingy, snake-like Jewish businessman who exploits immigrant workers for profit. There is nothing subtle about this. We know what antisemitism looks like.

Johnson has form when it comes to anti-Jewish hatred. As editor of the Spectator he chose to publish articles in which the notorious racist Taki Theodoracopulos boasted of being “an antisemite”, argued black people “have lower IQs than whites” and praised Enoch Powell as a “great man”. Johnson defended Theodoracopulos, calling him a “distinguished columnist”. Even now Johnson continues to cosy up to Donald Trump, despite his rhetoric about Jewish disloyalty and support for neo-Nazis.

Johnson’s contempt for minorities, women, LGBT+ and working-class people is well known, so it’s not surprising this extends to Jews. We share the pain that many feel about antisemitism on the left and we will continue to hold the Labour party to account. But we wholly reject Boris Johnson’s cynical attempts to exploit our community’s legitimate concerns to distract from his own disgraceful bigotry.

A vote for the Conservatives is a vote for a far-right government that poses an existential threat to all minorities. As Jews, we understand that our fate is bound up with that of other minorities. We will only find safety through solidarity. We call on allies of the Jewish community to reject hate and vote the Tories out.

• In case any of your readers have been influenced by the antisemitism accusations against Jeremy Corbyn into not voting Labour, we, Jewish members of his constituency, have known him for 30 years. We know him well enough to know that there is no foundation to the accusation that Corbyn is antisemitic.

In a party with 500,000 members there will be antisemites and they must be dealt with. But we can assure Jewish voters that they are safe voting Labour.

Pam Zinkin, Annette Thomas and Ruth Steigman London

Andrew Feinstein former South African MP, Dr Brian Klug Senior research fellow in philosophy, St Benet’s Hall, University of Oxford, Em Hilton Campaigner, Prof David Graeber Anthropologist, Dave Gould ASLEF, Francesca Klug Visiting professor, LSE Human Rights, Nadine Batchelor-Hunt Journalist, Cllr Jeremy Newmark Leader of Hertsmere borough council Labour group, Jonty Leibowitz Political economist, Jolyon Rubinstein Actor and writer, Justin Schlosberg Lecturer in journalism and media, Maxim Lundluck-Orr Deputy at Board of Deputies, fellow at JCoRE, Mickey Keller Civil liberties solicitor, Miriam Margoyles Actor, Rob Abrams Campaigner, Robin Samson Chair, Kehillah North London, Cllr Sue Lukes Vice-chair, Kehillah North London, Barnaby Raine PhD candidate, Howie Rechavia PhD candidate, Charlotte Nichols Parliamentary candidate, Warrington, Eleanor Penny Journalist, Daniel Machover Head of civil litigation, Hickman & Rose Solicitors, Ashleigh Loeb Actor, Rhea Wolfson GMB Scotland

TODAY Thursday December 12th PLEASE VOTE LABOUR and GET THE TORIES OUT!

Make sure you get to your polling station early today so you aren’t turned away. It’s open from 7am to 10pm, and you don’t need ID or a polling card to vote. If you can, visit a marginal seat to help getting out the vote.

Low turnout: Tory victory

High turnout: Tory loss

Find your polling station: https://action.labour.org.uk/page/content/polling-station-finder

Plan for today: mypollingday.com

Do not take selfies or pictures of any kind inside your polling station! It could automatically invalidate your vote and isn’t worth the risk.

If you haven’t sent off your postal vote you can hand it in.

You can get an emergency proxy if you’re ill: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/get-ready?utm_source=parliament.uk&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=GE19

[pointsofsue]

The new rendition of where’s Wally......The MP for Warrington North Charlotte Nichols MIA from her constituents.. 

[newslobster]

UK Politician Claims Westminster Has "Whisper List" Of Leaders To Avoid

UK Politician Claims Westminster Has “Whisper List” Of Leaders To Avoid

According to the female MP, Westminster has a “culture of toxicity.” A British female Labour Member of Parliament has claimed that she has a “whisper network list” of about 40 politicians, including two former cabinet ministers, to avoid in Westminster due to sexual harassment concerns, according to The Guardian. Charlotte Nichols, the MP for Warrington North, said she was warned by colleagues…

[harryandmeghan0-blog]

Here's Why Meghan Markle Will Have The Most Modern Royal Baby Ever - Grazia

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/heres-why-meghan-markle-will-have-the-most-modern-royal-baby-ever-grazia/

Here's Why Meghan Markle Will Have The Most Modern Royal Baby Ever - Grazia

© Getty

Meghan and Harry are expected to make a wide departure from Royal traditions when their baby arrives

Vegan paint, gender-neutral tones and decor inspired by private members’ club Soho House: welcome to the nursery in Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor home the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are due to move into as they welcome their first baby in April.

Last week, we learned that Meghan had opted for ‘non-toxic’ paint for the baby’s room, after enlisting the help of Vicky Charles, the interior designer who counts the Clooneys as clients and is responsible for Meghan’s favourite Cotswolds hotspot, Soho Farmhouse. (The duchess was photographed at the Soho House branch with Millie Mackintosh in 2017 and spent her three-day hen party there last May.)

While it was once thought that Meghan would prefer a home birth, sources have now said she has opted for Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey. But what else can we expect from new parents Harry and Meghan?

According to one royal insider, we shouldn’t hold our breath for the sort of photo that the Cambridges have become known for, posing on the steps of the Lindo Wing in London only hours a er the birth of their three children, George, five, Charlotte, three, and Louis, nine months. ‘If Harry gets his way, they won’t go for that scenario,’ said the source. ‘It’s not his style: it’s more likely that there will be an artful, more private official photo.’

The couple have also apparently chosen not to hire a professional nanny or maternity nurse. It was originally reported that they would take on Connie Simpson – a Hollywood nanny who has worked for Jessica Biel, Emily Blunt and Jessica Alba – but Kensington Palace has refuted this. Instead, Meghan’s mother Doria is ‘planning to come over for the first weeks to help out’, according to royal biographer Katie Nicholl. ‘Meghan has her own ideas when it comes to raising their baby. Given her form for doing things quite differently to royal traditions, I’m sure her approach will be quite novel. I don’t see her pushing her baby around in a big old-fashioned pram, for example. She’ll probably have the baby in a sling or hi-tech buggy.’

© Getty

Like William and Kate, Harry and Meghan are set to take their newborn out of London in the first few months. ‘Kate went to her family home in Berkshire after Prince George’s birth, which was really something new,’ adds Nicholl. ‘Most royal babies start their lives in palaces, but the young royals have shaken things up when it comes to parenting. I think Harry and Meghan want to raise this child as normally as possible, away from the cameras and with real family values. It’s one of the reasons they’re leaving London, so that their child won’t be put in the spotlight the way Harry was.’

While it’s likely the couple will differ from Kate and William in some of their parenting styles (as well as not opting for a formal Norland nanny, Meghan is expected to take a shorter maternity leave than Kate, because ‘she’s itching to make a difference’), they will have to be similar in their approach to discipline, given the public events the child will be expected to attend growing up. ‘The Cambridge kids have a reputation for being well-behaved at school and nursery and that, I’m sure, is down to William and Kate not tolerating any nonsense at home,’ says Nicholl. ‘I once saw Kate with Charlotte enjoying a walk in Kensington Gardens and, when Charlotte skipped off because she didn’t want to go home, Kate sharply called her back and Charlotte was quick to run back to her mum.’

Meghan’s British citizenship is still pending, meaning her child will be the first Anglo-American baby to be born into the royal family. The duchess has not been given any special treatment regarding citizenship, meaning her application could take ‘years’ (she has ‘leave to remain’ status). As a result, the baby will automatically acquire American citizenship at birth. Indeed, sources say Meghan is planning to celebrate US traditions, namely Thanksgiving and Independence Day, as a family.

Talk of vegan paint and nannies has shifted the headlines away from those driven by Meghan’s father Thomas, as well as by the unexpected departures of some of her staff. And that, according to a royal source, is the way the Palace intends to keep it. Last week, Meghan was spotted at a meeting with her new deputy communications secretary, Christian Jones, who was previously a speechwriter for MP David Davis. It prompted speculation that Meghan was shaking up her team, ahead of the Sussexes and Cambridges ‘splitting’ their households later this year.

‘Kensington Palace is just trying to weather the storm now,’ a source told Grazia. ‘Everyone is just waiting it out until April, when they know they will be assured of more positive headlines with the birth of the royal baby. The closer they get to that, the easier they know things will become.’

[usnewsrank]

MPs ‘got so drunk on official visit one was escorted off plane in wheelchair’

MPs ‘got so drunk on official visit one was escorted off plane in wheelchair’

Labour MP Charlotte Nichols is said to have been drunk on the flight to Gibraltar with two SNP colleagues (Picture: Getty/Charlotte Nichols) Three MPs have been accused of getting a little too merry on a plane to Gibraltar – much to the disgust of the Defence Secretary. Ben Wallace is said to be furious at the conduct of the trio on an official flight carrying members of the armed forces, with…

[freenewstoday]

New Post has been published on https://freenews.today/2021/03/13/sarah-everard-memorial-arrests-as-police-clash-with-crowds-at-cancelled-vigil/

Sarah Everard memorial: Arrests as police clash with crowds at cancelled vigil

Politicians from all sides have criticised police for their handling of a gathering at Clapham Common to remember Sarah Everard.

A vigil had initially been planned but it was cancelled after police said it risked breaching lockdown rules and the organisers, Reclaim These Streets, decided it could not go ahead.

But despite this, hundreds of people gathered at the common, in south London, with the Duchess of Cambridge even joining them briefly late in the afternoon.

By the evening, the sombre atmosphere turned to one of anger and protest, with scuffles as police tried to get attendees to go home.

Image: Police detained a woman on Clapham Common after crowds gathered to honour Sarah Everard

The scenes in Clapham this evening are deeply disturbing. Women came together to mourn Sarah Everard – they should have been able to do so peacefully.

I share their anger and upset at how this has been handled. This was not the way to police this protest.

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 13, 2021

One video posted online showed Met Police officers grabbing women standing on the common’s bandstand before leading them away, to screaming and shouting from onlookers.

Labour Leader Keir Starmer wrote on Twitter that the scenes were “deeply disturbing”.

He added: “Women came together to mourn Sarah Everard – they should have been able to do so peacefully.

“I share their anger and upset at how this has been handled. This was not the way to police this protest.”

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey wrote on Twitter: “The Met Police have acted terribly and caused great harm and hurt.

“Millions of women are angry and in grief, Sarah Everard’s horrific murder and the millions of acts of assault women face every day are why women created this vigil.”

Conservative MP Steve Baker said the scenes were “unspeakable”, adding: “You need to change lockdown law now Boris Johnson.”

Mr Baker has previously called for a faster easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy tweeted footage of the clashes, saying: “This could have been the socially distanced vigil the community needed to remember Sarah and all the women who have lost their lives to violence.

“We knew what was going to happen if the event was shut down.

“I know Lambeth Borough officers made efforts to compromise with the organisers but were overruled from high up.

“They’ll be left to deal with the fallout of this and the further burden it places on already strained community relationships. Very disappointing from Scotland Yard.”

Image: People clash with police during a gathering at a memorial site on Clapham Common

Labour’s Sarah Owen added: “No one can see these scenes and think that this has been handled anything but badly by Met Police. It could and should have been so different.”

Charlotte Nichols, shadow minister for women and equalities, wrote on Twitter: “If Met Police had put the resources into assisting Reclaim These Streets to hold the COVID-secure vigil originally planned that they put into stopping any collective show of grief and solidarity (both through the courts and a heavy-handed physical response), we’d all be in a better place.”

Police said the gathering was “unsafe” and was a breach of coronavirus regulations.

A tweet from the Lambeth police account said: “The gathering at #ClaphamCommon is unsafe. Hundreds of people are tightly packed together in breach of the regulations and risking public health.

“We are urging people to go home and we thank those who have been engaging with officers and who are leaving.”

The ugly scenes came ahead of a planned nationwide tribute to Ms Everard, with organisers of the vigil having asked people to instead shine a light on their doorstep at 9.30pm.

Among those to take part will be Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who tweeted: “Tonight Carrie and I will be lighting a candle for Sarah Everard and thinking of her family and friends. I cannot imagine how unbearable their pain and grief is. We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Duchess among huge crowds to honour Sarah Everard

Ms Everard, a marketing executive, went missing while walking home across Clapham Common earlier this month and was later found dead in a woodland in Kent.

Wayne Couzens, a Metropolitan Police officer, appeared in person before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday charged with her kidnap and murder.

Source

[qudachuk]

Labour MP Charlotte Nichols says there is a ‘rotten culture’ in Westminster

[bbcbreakingnews]

Gay Tory MP Rob Roberts who invited female intern to ‘no strings’ ‘fool-around’ reported to watchdog

A Conservative MP investigated over claims he asked a female intern to ‘fool around with no strings’ before begging ‘pweeease’ has been referred to Parliament’s standards body.

Delyn MP Rob Roberts, 40, who came out in May, allegedly praised the 21-year-old for her ‘lovely legs’ then WhatsApped her ‘might be gay but I enjoy… fun times’.

He also confessed to asking out a male House of Commons employee, which led them to move position.

Mr Roberts’ own party is investigating him over the messages but scrutiny of the politician has deepened after a Labour leader referred him to the MP watchdog.

Charlotte Nichols, MP for Warrington North, tweeted: ‘I reported @RobDelyn via the third party reporting line over a month ago.

‘I called on @Conservatives to remove the Whip and refer him over a month ago.

‘This is totally unacceptable conduct for an MP. The @Conservatives should immediately remove the Whip from Bob Roberts, and refer him to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. No excuses.’ 

The watchdog will look at if he broke the House of Commons Code of Conduct and if finds against him can escalate matters via a formal report to the Select Committee on Standards.

That committee’s ultimate punishments can ask MPs to be suspended without pay or even expelled from Parliament – although has never exercised this final sanction. 

It emerged after calls this morning for the Tories to remove the whip from him while the ‘incredibly serious allegations’ were investigated.

The texts at the centre of the investigation are dated April 12 and show Mr Roberts urging the young woman to have ‘happy thoughts’ when she was upset.

MP Rob Roberts was today at the centre of a probe into texts propositioning an intern

He appears to then add ‘I was just thinking about fun times.

‘Maybe if you thought of them too it might help you’.

At the end of May Mr Roberts announced he had split from his wife Alexandra ‘six weeks ago’ – placing the split in the middle of April.

His constituency page makes no reference to his new situation and still says he ‘currently lives in Mold with my wife and daughter’. 

The new messages were revealed to BBC Wales by the intern, who said they had made her feel ‘incredibly sick’.

She said: ‘I had had one of the worst days ever, and then I messaged him saying I’m crying, I’m not okay – and his solution to that was to proposition me.’ 

The female intern, 21,  said the messages which the MP has not yet commented on had made her feel ‘incredibly sick’ and worried about returning to Parliament

‘I felt really vulnerable and I felt like I was being used to make him feel better about everything.’

‘I kind of felt backed into a corner about everything. I was worried about my job first of all, and I was worried about being involved in politics and I felt like I had to respond, but I wasn’t really comfortable responding.’

Afterwards she said she no longer felt comfortable about returning to Parliament and had made her mental health problems worse.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said it had been made aware of the complaint and messages and were looking into them.

They added: ‘Our party takes all allegations extremely seriously and has safeguarding and complaints processes in place to investigate complaints made to it under the party’s code of conduct.’

Mr Roberts was elected as the Conservative MP for Delyn in north Wales in December 2019.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Mr Roberts in a selfie captured at an event last year

His seat was a gain from Labour in the so-called Red Wall and had been previously held by Labour MP David Hanson since 1992.

On May 17 this year he posted a number of messages where he came out.

Then 11 days later his family home was at the centre of a lockdown row after neighbours spoke of their anger today after a 40th birthday party was held there.

Police broke up the celebration and two people were thrown out after officers arrived in their car just after 5pm.

Mr Roberts pleaded ignorance when quizzed by reporters at his home, despite a silvery ’40’ banner being visible behind him.

Answering the door to the family’s modern detached home, he said: ‘What party?’ when questioned by MailOnline.

Mr Roberts’ family’s home, where he was quizzed about a 40th birthday party earlier this year

In a separate series of messages to a male Parliament member of staff, Mr Roberts admitted asking him out.

He said he told him ‘that I liked him and asked him to dinner’.

Mr Roberts added: ‘Really poor judgement on my part, hands up. He didn’t react very well because it created a problem for him that I felt that way

‘My invitation was not accepted and the staff member did not feel comfortable about it.

‘I do now recognise that it was inappropriate to have extended the invitation to a member of staff in the first place.

‘However, I have found the last few months and the ‘coming out’ process to have been particularly challenging and the cause of a great deal of mental stress to me.

‘Creating a story from this interaction which has been dealt with amicably seems calculated to add to that stress, which is distressing.’

Commenting on the latest allegations against Conservative MP Rob Roberts, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said:

‘These are incredibly serious allegations that cannot just be brushed under the carpet. Women must be able to work in politics and know that it is a safe place for them.

‘The Conservative Party must immediately remove the party whip while they urgently investigate, or they risk sending the message that they view this behaviour as acceptable conduct for a sitting Conservative MP.’

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[ukrfeminism]

Commonwealth Games chiefs have agreed on new gender rules which could pave the way for a trans woman to race for a female cycling medal.

Telegraph Sport understands a potential contender who previously competed in male categories is in serious contention to be picked following the green light by authorities.

She has yet to formally confirm she wants to compete in Birmingham, but talks between authorities extend back a year, and have now opened the door to her potential inclusion.

Despite concerns being raised privately by others in the sport over female-athlete rights, the Commonwealth Games Federation have now removed any hurdles for her to take part.

With the Lia Thomas controversy in swimming having brought the issue into sharp focus, medical chiefs from the Games met last week to sign off their own policy for Birmingham.

Games bosses agreed on a blanket policy in which they will effectively honour international federation rules agreed for each sport. The athlete in question's national governing body has a transgender policy that stipulates that a rider’s testosterone level must be below 5nmol/L for at least 12 months before their first race.

As far as the Commonwealth Games is now concerned, she can compete on the same terms as she would be allowed by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body.

“The CGF will work in close partnership with the relevant international federations to establish qualification and eligibility criteria for athlete participation at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games," the federation told The Telegraph of the new policy.

The Commonwealth Games' new transgender policy is for all sports and is not dramatically different than the 2018 guidelines which allowed New Zealand trans weightlifter Laurel Hubbard to compete. She had been a favourite to win +90kg gold, but an elbow injury during the competition forced her withdrawal from the event.

Rules around transgender competition have since been one of the most divisive issues in sport, with the International Olympic Committee among organisations to tie themselves in knots.

In November, the IOC ruled trans women should no longer be required to reduce their testosterone levels to compete in the women’s sport category. That framework, which replaced 2015 guidelines, also concluded there should be no presumption that trans women have an automatic advantage over natal women, a controversial view that reversed the IOC’s previous position.

However, the IOC says ultimately it is up to individual sports to decide rules – and the Commonwealth Games appears to agree. A spokesman said the new policy "will be in keeping with principles established in the IOC framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations". "We embrace all Commonwealth athletes, citizens, communities and nations and promote fairness, non-discrimination and inclusion,” a federation statement added.

The potential transgender medalist's national body declined to comment specifically on her case, saying it "does not comment on individual selection decisions, but we will consider any rider who meets the eligibility criteria which we use when making decisions on our nominations".

Elsewhere, leading figures in sport and politics remained fiercely divided over swimmer Thomas, who became the first transgender person to win a title at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in the US last week.

Ross Tucker, a leading expert from the Science of Sport podcast, said the evidence now shows that competition cannot be fair if trans women athletes are allowed to be included simply on the basis of lowering testosterone:

Meanwhile, Charlotte Nichols, the Labour MP for Warrington, was accused of "abandoning women's rights" by former Olympian Sharron Davies. Nichols said that those who were discussing whether biological males should be able to compete in women’s sports were “nastily trying to diminish Lia Thomas's incredible achievement because of lazy transphobia”.

But her comments led to a backlash including from Davies, who said the comments were “disappointing” from an MP whose constituents included women.

A number of high-profile Labour MPs have recently appeared to struggle with the definition of a woman whilst Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism earlier this month for stating “trans women are women” when asked for a definition.

Q&A: Does lowering testosterone level the playing field and are there safety issues?

What is the issue?

The recent success of American swimmer Lia Thomas at the National Collegiate Athletic Association championships has reignited the debate over male-to-female trans athletes. Specifically, whether male-to-female trans athletes retain an unfair advantage over “biological females” even if they have undergone hormone suppression therapy. And if so, whether their human rights should trump the rights of female athletes to fair competition.

What do sport’s governing bodies say?

Guidance varies from sport to sport, which is part of the problem. The IOC has allowed trans athletes to compete at the Olympics since 2004, but until 2016 that only applied to athletes who had undergone surgery on their genitals. Female-to-male athletes can now compete without any restrictions, provided they show lowered testosterone levels. Current guidelines state that a male-to-female transgender athlete must show that her testosterone levels have been below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to her first competition.

Does that level the playing field?

That depends who you listen to. Hard data is very limited. Joanna Harper, a Canadian transgender woman and runner, published a study in 2015 suggesting male-to-female transgender athletes tended to run significantly slower after having hormone therapy, to the point where they had no advantage over other women. But her sample size was small - just eight athletes - and only conducted on amateur runners. 10 nmol/L is around the bottom of the range that clinicians consider normal for adult males, but is more than three times higher than the upper limit of the normal range for adult females. Sports scientists such as the South African Ross Tucker say that difference in muscle mass and strength between men and women is typically around 30 to 40 per cent, while testosterone suppression reduces it by only 0-5 per cent. And while the reduction might be different for elite athletes, there is no evidence to suggest it would be. But there is evidence to suggest that if athletes continue to train while suppressing testosterone they can prevent any loss of muscle mass. And that is before you get to natural physical advantages such as longer levers, larger hands and shoulders etc

Do those physical attributes not pose a safety issue in combat/contact sports?

It would be hard to argue otherwise. Retired transgender MMA fighter Fallon Fox famously broke her opponent's jaw in one match, leading to fears it was only a matter of time before a combat sport saw a female fighter suffer serious harm at the hands of a trans male-to-female athlete. Some governing bodies are now taking action. World Rugby’s current guidance, for instance, recommends that national unions exclude trans women on the basis of safety. But it is not written into its statutes as it is a legally grey area and could be challenged by athletes from countries such as Canada, where it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender.

Is it the same issue as Caster Semenya?

There is clearly some overlap in that Semenya, a South Africa athlete, has been ordered to take hormone suppression treatment if she wants to compete. But it is not the same issue. Semenya is intersex, having a hormone disorder causing her to naturally have a higher level of testosterone —the condition being categorised as “46 XY DSD”.

What is the solution?

In short, there isn't one. A major UK review last year by the Sports Councils' Equality Group (SCEG) concluded some sports should consider creating different categories of competition in an attempt to ensure fairness, conceding it would need to be done on a sport-by-sport basis. But charities such as Stonewall and Mermaids believe this could lead trans athletes to feel ‘othered’, insisting there is “no evidence that [trans athletes] are disproportionately succeeding in competitive sport or posing safety risks”.