Paloma Faith, Massive Attack, Paul Weller and Kneecap are among more than 1,100 musicians and cultural workers calling for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 over the inclusion of genocidal Israel.

Boycott Eurovision unless Zionist Israel is banned

The letter, co-ordinated by campaign group No Music For Genocide (NMFG), has also been signed by artists including David Holmes, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, and Macklemore.

It calls on countries to follow the lead of Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Spain by withdrawing from the popular music competition.

NMFG urged public broadcasters, performers, screening party organisers, crew, and fans to refuse to participate in or platform Eurovision until Israel is banned.

The letter says the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs the competition, should ban Israel from participating because of the ongoing conflict with Palestine, citing its ban of Russia in 2022 following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The letter cites Israel’s genocide in Gaza and said Eurovision should not “whitewash and normalise” the actions of the Zionist state. Since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 72,000 people, with the toll from the genocide likely to rise.

The letter called the EBU “hypocritical” for banning Russia from Eurovision but not Israel, and said that those who had signed the letter “refuse to be silent”.

Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja, who is among those to sign the letter, was arrested earlier this month during a mass protest in central London against the ban on Palestine Action.

‘Silence is complicity’

Irish rap trio Kneecap, who are known for their politically driven music and social commentary, said:

Russia was banned from Eurovision in 2022. Israel has been murdering Palestinians for decades and is now committing genocide – and for the third year running, they’re welcomed back onto the stage.

That’s not neutrality. That’s a choice. We’ve paid a price for speaking out – lost gigs, court cases, visa bans – and we’d do it all again tomorrow.

Silence is complicity. We stand with No Music for Genocide and every artist, fan and broadcaster who refuses to let the world’s biggest music event be used to whitewash genocide. No stage for genocide. Free Palestine.

NMFG organisers said:

Every year, for its entire 53-year tenure as a Eurovision participant, Israel has perpetuated its terrorising systems of apartheid, torture, land theft, and military occupation against Palestinians from the river to the sea with complete impunity.

While many of us in the industry make light of Eurovision or doubt our own power as cultural producers, genocidal Israel’s leaders speak openly about the contest’s geopolitical value.

NMFG stands with and amplifies the incredible grassroots organising efforts across Europe to boycott Eurovision until Israel is banned.

From Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel to direct actionists, from Film Workers For Palestine in Hollywood to striking dockworkers in Italy and Morocco, people of conscience around the globe are fighting complicity in every industry for a free Palestine and a freer world.

Featured image via the Canary

By The Canary

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The British military has been trialling drone swarms in Germany. US and Australian troops joined the so-called Army Warfighting Experiment 2026 as part of the AUKUS alliance between the three nations.

On 15 April, the British Army said:

The biggest achievement of AWE26 was building a system that let British, American and Australian drone swarms share information and data with each other instantly.

Intelligence sharing

The army described how a British drone swarm “collects intelligence” which is then shared via a UK computer to “American and Australian servers straight away”:

This kind of instant sharing between allies marks a significant breakthrough which could make a huge difference on a future battlefield.

Artificial intelligence (AI) was central to the project, forming a third of the exercise:

AI needs to be shown thousands of images before it can reliably identify objects on a battlefield and tell the difference between friendly and enemy forces.

Sounds a little haphazard…

The Ukraine war has seen drone warfare advance at a frightening rate. Battlefield developments there also shaped the allied exercise:

The war in Ukraine is proving enemies have become skilled at blocking the signals between drones and their pilots. AI-powered swarms can help get around this problem — the more data that has been fed in, the greater the accuracy and efficiency the swarm will have at identifying objects.

The precise AI system being used by the British Army was not identified in the army’s publication.

Which AI system is in use?

Commenting on the use of uncrewed systems as a force multiplier in May 2025, UK defence secretary John Healey said:

In five years’ time, AI will have had a massive impact in the military and in the battlefield. We can see this already in Ukraine, just like in every other walk of life.

We have to do a great deal more in defence to get on top and then get ahead and at the cutting edge of this. I want to put the UK military on the leading edge of innovation in Nato on AI.

As Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) points out the current UK government has leant into AI on an unheralded scale — including with a massive budget:

To make good on that promise, the Treasury earmarked £4bn in the Spending Review, explicitly for autonomy. Britain’s defence establishment has long spoken of modernisation, but it has been made unequivocally clear that code, not just iron and steel, would lie at the heart of its future military strength.

In 2022, two AI platforms were put forward for tender. AOAV said:

Two platforms of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) were put forward: one developed by Atlas, the other by Elbit, an Israeli defence company with extensive experience of drones honed in the hellscape of Gaza.

Adding:

Elbit’s system stole the limelight.

AI is being used to marshal UK drone swarms. Who’s AI is unclear… But the overall all implications are concerning. Both the brutal battlefields of Ukraine and Israel’s genocide are shaping drone swarm technology and tactics. And sooner or later those methods will start to turn up closer to home.

Featured image via the Royal Navy

By Joe Glenton

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In the world of modern football, nothing encapsulates a player’s greatness quite like the number of league titles they have won. It is the most rigorous yardstick for measuring dominance, sustained stardom, and excellence, as it is determined by a full season of consistent performance under the pressure of competition.

Hence, the list of the most successful league champions gains value as a definitive record of the names that have succeeded in imposing their dominance year after year.

A crowded football summit and 13 titles separating the greats

According to Transfermarkt data, four players share the top spot among the most decorated league players, with 13 titles each. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer recently joined this elite group after winning the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in the 2025–2026 season.

He is joined by his teammate Thomas Müller and Frenchman Kingsley Coman, who has carved out a unique path with titles across three major leagues. Also standing out is Welshman Ryan Giggs, who won all his titles with Manchester United, setting a Premier League record.

Lewandowski closing in, Messi among the chasers

Behind this quartet, a host of illustrious names with 12 titles to their name stand out, led by Lionel Messi, alongside David Alaba and Paco Gento.

All eyes are on Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, who is just one step away from equalling the record, as Barcelona edge closer to clinching the La Liga title, which could give him his 13th title and put him at the top of the list.

The list contains striking paradoxes, most notably the presence of big names without a European title, such as Gianluigi Buffon with 11 Serie A titles, and Zlatan Ibrahimović, who has won 10 league titles, neither of whom has managed to win the Champions League.

In contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo’s ranking appears relatively low, as he has only seven league titles to his name, despite his historic goal-scoring record, which highlights the difference between individual glory and collective success.

An unfulfilled achievement and a goal yet to be realised

Although 24 players, including David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Eden Hazard, have won league titles in three different countries, the most difficult feat remains unachieved, as no player has ever won a league title in four of the five major leagues.

Here’s a list of the 10 players with the most league titles:

* Ryan Giggs – 13 titles
* Thomas Müller – 13 titles
* Manuel Neuer – 13 titles
* Kingsley Coman – 13 titles
* David Alaba – 12 titles
* Paco Gento – 12 titles
* Lionel Messi – 12 titles
* Robert Lewandowski – 12 titles
* Thiago Alcântara – 11 titles
* Arjen Robben – 11 titles
* Paul Scholes – 11 titles
* Gianluigi Buffon – 11 titles

There is no doubt that these football figures confirm that dominance does not stop at the club level, but extends to create an individual legacy for players, with league titles remaining one of the most prominent measures that immortalise the names of stars in the history of the game.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

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Yet another Israel-linked Labour party paedophile, Conor McGrath, has been given a ‘slap on the wrist’ sentence, despite being convicted of possessing the “most serious and disturbing [child-rape images] for which a person can be prosecuted”.

Conor McGrath escapes jail

Conor McGrath, 29, who used to work for Israel-funded MP Kevin Bonavia, was arrested in February after a ten-month probe by Herts Police and admitted three counts of possessing more than 500 such images. He has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence at St Albans Crown Court.

McGrath becomes the latest in a long line of ‘friends of Israel’ right-wing Labour figures to escape serious punishment despite the gravest child-rape image offences and even attempting to groom children for sex.

McGrath was exposed after Hertfordshire police seized McGrath’s devices on 25 March 2025, when he was arrested on an unrelated matter. The court had heard that he admitted to being worried police would find “rude photographs” and think he was a paedophile. This prompted the police to search his electronics again, leading to the discovery of the cache.

CPS spokeswoman Claire Beards said of Conor McGrath:

The volume and nature of the indecent images that McGrath collected and stored showed his sustained and unlawful sexual interest in children. Some of the images were among the most serious and disturbing for which a person can be prosecuted.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

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The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)—a leading US think-tank and pro-Trump war mouthpiece—has been throwing shade on Egypt’s latest mediation efforts. These efforts are aiming to broker peace between Washington and Tehran.

The drive for peace by Egypt and regional allies

On the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, Egyptian officials discussed with counterparts from Turkey and Pakistan, lasting solutions to end Trump’s war against Iran. Meanwhile, the think-tank suggests Egyptian mediation counteracts its self-projected image as an “antidote to political Islam.” Explaining the institute’s position, FDD research analyst Mariam Wahba underlined what she described as:

Cairo’s ideological flimsiness and chronic susceptibility to Islamist orbits.

Wahba argues that despite Cairo’s ‘deep backchannels’ with Washington and Tehran — dating back to Camp David — it’s alleged susceptibility towards Islamist actors (who she does not name) casts into doubt the durability of Egyptian president Sisi’s posture. Furthermore, the true fear, it seems, is the emergence of a unified front in the Middle East. This front may be capable of standing firm against US imperialism.

TRT reported that the forum was Turkey’s latest diplomatic initiative to explore viable off ramps to end the US-Israel war on Iran — with Egypt assuming a central role.

Top diplomats from Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt hold crucial meeting on the sidelines of annual Antalya Diplomatic Forum as Ankara launches latest diplomatic push to end US-Israel war on Iran https://t.co/YpQ3pyWzDm

— TRT World (@trtworld) April 17, 2026

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A post shared by Foundation for Defense of Democracies (@fdd_org)

FDD, along with the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), the Hudson Institute, and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), are leading backers of Trump’s unlawful war on Iran. As per their coverage, they have also been relentlessly pro-Israel as documented by Responsible Statecraft at the Quincy Institute.

Manufacturing consent in defence of Israel

FDD, best known for its steely criticism of armed resistance factions and Islamist groups in the Arab world, has been levelling the same criticism at Turkey.

FDD senior fellow, Sinan Ciddi, recently wrote that Erdoğan “lives comfortably in a world of contradictions,” condemning Israel while collecting transit fees on Azerbaijani oil that fuels Israeli F-35s.

My interview w/@Ken_Silverstein for @Forbes where I detail Erdogan’s need for an external enemy in , while compromising on his so-called moral principleshttps://t.co/92APSjdnBd

— Sinan Ciddi (@SinanCiddi) April 19, 2026

Commenting of Erdogan’s posturing, Ciddi contends that:

Erdoğan has a duplicitous relationship with NATO—the same as he does with Israel. Turkey enables the Russian war machine. Erdoğan likes having his feet in both camps, which is an issue for the allies. It is all deeply hypocritical and contradictory, but he needs the trade and profits.

In a similar vein, the FDD has criticised Saudi Arabia. FDD’s Hussain Abdul-Hussain — author of the ‘Arab Case for Israel‘ — wrote in the Jewish Chronicle that Saudi Arabia is “turning back to Islamism — and against Israel” to deflect from domestic economic troubles.

The beginning of the end

These DC think tanks are balking at the prospect of diplomatic unity among Muslim nations. This reflects a fear of losing US hegemony. Its preservation, however, depends on the presence of Israel as a destabilising force in the region. Should they hold, such alliance building may mark the beginning of the end for America’s crumbling imperial architecture in the Middle East.

On the media front in Israel, there have been consistent efforts at manufacturing consent for a ‘pre-emptive strike’ on Egypt. These efforts are rife since Trump attacked Iran. The same can be said for Turkey.

This has also been highlighted by Professor Nicholas Taleb. He recently shared a post by an Israeli commentator highlighting how the campaign for manufacturing consent against Turkey as an “existential threat” was taking place.

The orchestrated campaign has started. https://t.co/y5Cnp3g0zo

— Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) April 19, 2026

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The campaign is already underway. Politicians and diplomats in Pakistan, Turkey, and not least, Egypt, would be wise to recognise it for what it is.

Featured image via Egyptian State Information Service

By The Canary

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Wolverhampton Wanderers – the Wolves – have officially been relegated to the football English Championship, following West Ham United’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace at the conclusion of matchday 33 of the 2025–26 Premier League season.

Wolves: relegated

With this relegation, the “Wolves” bring to a close eight years amongst the elite, returning to the Championship after a disastrous campaign in which they finished bottom of the table, 16 points adrift of safety, with just five matches remaining.

In 33 matches, Wolves managed just three wins and eight draws, whilst suffering 22 defeats, amassing only 17 points – a tally that reflects the significant decline in form that has plagued the team throughout the season.

Meanwhile, the battle to avoid relegation is heating up among several clubs, most notably Tottenham Hotspur, who sit 18th with 31 points, alongside Burnley, who are 19th with 20 points. Teams such as Leeds United (39 points), Nottingham Forest (36 points) and West Ham United (33 points) are also still fighting to secure their survival.

A message from the board following relegation

Following confirmation of relegation, the club’s CEO Nathan Shee addressed the fans in a message, describing the moment as “difficult and painful”, whilst emphasising that work had begun since he took office in December 2025 to lay the foundations for a swift return.

He noted that the management is aware of the shortcomings, and that the coming phase will focus on rebuilding the team and strengthening its competitiveness, whilst seeking to assemble a squad that restores the fans’ confidence.

He concluded his message by expressing his appreciation for the fans’ support despite the harshness of the season, emphasising that the primary objective in the coming phase is to reintroduce a team worthy of their ambitions and give them what they deserve.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

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Grassroots organisations, community leaders and changemakers across London are being encouraged to secure one of the final remaining places at an upcoming gathering hosted by Surviving Universal UK. This is the UK’s only Black-led organisation specialising in culturally competent safeguarding, advocacy and support for individuals affected by high-control and coercive environments.

In This Together: A Grassroots Gathering

Taking place on Thursday 23 April 2026 at the iconic House of MOBO, ‘In This Together: A Grassroots Gathering’ will bring together a curated mix of grassroots leaders, allies, funders and decision-makers for an afternoon of meaningful connection and collaboration.

Unlike traditional conferences, the event has been intentionally designed as an intimate, high-impact space, prioritising genuine relationship-building between those working on the ground and those influencing funding, policy and safeguarding responses.

Founded by MOBO Awards founder Kanya King, House of MOBO provides a culturally significant backdrop for a gathering centred on elevating under-represented voices and strengthening grassroots networks.

Confirmed and anticipated contributors include:

• A representative from London Community Foundation.
• A visit from local MP Helen Hayes.
• A special address from a high-profile Member of Parliament.
• Special address from Dawn Butler.
• Three recent Civic Award winners, recognised for their contribution to local communities.

Attendees will also benefit from:

• A curated networking environment with grassroots organisations and allies.
• Opportunities to connect with funders and decision-makers.
• A culturally rooted venue centred on Black British excellence.
• Complimentary goodie bags for attendees, featuring contributions from supporting brands.

With capacity intentionally limited to maintain the quality of the experience, tickets have now been released to the public via Eventbrite following an initial private allocation to community partners.

Rachael Reign, founder and CEO of Surviving Universal UK, said:

This isn’t about numbers, it’s about impact. We’ve intentionally created a space where grassroots leaders and community groups can be in the same room as people who hold influence and resources. That kind of access doesn’t happen often, and that’s why this matters.

The event is expected to draw a diverse mix of attendees from across London’s community sector.

There’s still time to book, but remaining tickets are limited and expected to sell out. Find more details and book tickets here.

Featured image via Surviving Universal UK

By The Canary

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Here at the Canary, we’re very supportive of people coming to the UK. The exception is people whose sole purpose is driving a wedge between the citizens of Britain — including Valentina Gomez, the disgraced and defeated MAGA congressional candidate best known for her racist and Islamophobic vitriol.

As such, we weren’t disappointed to read the following:

NEW: The Home Office has barred Valentina Gomez from the UK on the grounds that her presence would not be conducive to the public good, Sky News understands.

Her Electronic Travel Authorisation has been revoked. https://t.co/4HG5sGX10p

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— Ben Bloch (@realBenBloch) April 20, 2026

Stop the boat

In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s 2016 win, acting like an unhinged demon became a viable path to political power. This worked for politicians like Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz; it hasn’t worked for Valentina Gomez, despite her many desperate attempts.

Islam has no place in Texas.

Help me to Congress so we can end the Islamization of America.

I only fear God. pic.twitter.com/NxjsNlZSGo

— Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForUSA) April 29, 2025

Gomez sought to satisfy her need for attention with a US political career, but she was too much of a freak for the Yanks — and at this point, that’s really saying something.

Valentina Gomez, the extremist MAGA candidate for Texas’s 31st congressional district, lost the Republican primary and received only 10% of the vote.

She is now like a typical Trumper claiming the primary was “rigged”:

“I have video evidence that my election has been RIGGED to… pic.twitter.com/pFxF6ypvAp

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— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 4, 2026

In the video above, Gomez burns a Quran with some sort of toy flamethrower while claiming the “one true God” is the “God of Israel”. This strange wording makes more sense when you learn that Christian Zionist Gomez has ties to the nation of Israel. This includes waxing lyrical about Israel’s genocidal military and in-person visits to the Gaza border facilitated by the genocidal power.

Watching Valentina Gomez prostitute herself out to a foreign nation is absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/uw2zqqFeQz

— Stew Peters (@realstewpeters) October 22, 2025

To give you an idea of how rancid Gomez is, here are some recent posts of hers:

I’m coming to England whether the pedophiles muslims like it or NOT.

Idk why muslims are obsessed with me.

I’m not 6 years old OR a goat.

Don’t forget, this is a goat, NOT a wife. https://t.co/s6rNPZ2AmN pic.twitter.com/NeWLXMNcQa

— Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForUSA) April 19, 2026

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The Home Office and Shabana Mahmood need to be consistent.

They revoked Kanye West’s visa. Why not revoke Valentina Gomez’s for her bigotry? pic.twitter.com/SKe5mAtIwE

— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) April 9, 2026

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Valentina posted the following in preparation for her visit to the UK:

England, see you SOON

May 16th.

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England will be ENGLISH again. pic.twitter.com/JvCgXQilr0

— Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForUSA) April 17, 2026

Since having her visa revoked, Gomez has vowed to travel to the UK by boat:

I’m coming to England on a boat.

They can try to ban me, but they cannot ban the TRUTH.

See you on May 16th pic.twitter.com/dnvyPJbzZ4

— Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForUSA) April 20, 2026

If history has taught us anything, it’s that hostile hispanic invaders do well when they travel to Britain by sea.

This is a joke, obviously. Because unlike Gomez and her bedfellows, we do not support drowning people at sea.

Even when they’re really, really annoying.

Not the first

Gomez was set to appear at this year’s Unite the Kingdom rally. As we reported 15 January, a speaker at last year’s rally was also banned from entering the UK:

Vlaardingerbroek is part of Generation Remigration, which is a group that advocates for — you guessed it — ‘remigration’. For those who don’t know, Remigration is the plan to deport non-white people from European countries. This includes those who were born here.

We added:

According to the last Census, the number of people who aren’t ‘white’ is over 10 million — many of whom were born here. Indeed, many may be second, third, or fourth generation. How many of those people would oppose being deported? How many white people do you think would join them? Going off the global George Floyd protests, we can assume ‘a shit tonne’.

What do you call a situation in which one section of the country goes to war with the other?

As we argued, if agitators like Gomez and Vlaardingerbroek got their way, Britain would descend into civil war.

In other words, why would we grant them a visa?

If they want to fuck up a country, they can start at home.

In Gomez’s case, there won’t be much left to fuck up by the time Trump is done with America.

Featured image via X/Valentina Gomez

By Willem Moore

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Liberal Democrat MP and environment spokesperson Sarah Dyke has led a cross‑party letter to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It calls on the government to bring forward mandatory, clear and consistent animal welfare labelling on meat products. And it urges stronger enforcement against misleading claims in food marketing.

22 cross-party MPs and peers signed the letter to Angela Eagle, minister for food security and rural affairs. Leading animal welfare organisations are supporting it. They include the Animal Law Foundation, Compassion in World Farming and Humane World for Animals UK.

Clarity over animal welfare

The signatories urge Defra to implement fairer food labelling without delay. They say clearer standards would reward responsible farmers, restore trust in food labels, and strengthen the UK’s reputation for high animal welfare standards. These are criteria that must sit at the heart of the government’s food strategy.

The MPs and Peers warn that misleading and inconsistent labelling is preventing shoppers from making informed choices and undermining animal welfare. Polling commissioned by Humane World for Animals UK found that two-thirds of UK consumers mistakenly believe that common labels such as “welfare assured” protect animals from common cruel practices, such as caging and gassing.

Reports from the Food Standards Agency show that over 70% of consumers care deeply about animal welfare. Yet the current labelling system offers little clarity about the reality of how animals such as pigs, cows and chickens are farmed.

The UK-EU relationship

The UK-EU agrifood trade deal, currently under negotiation, will cut red tape and ease food trade. But it could also bind the UK to ongoing alignment with EU meat labelling laws.

Charities are urging the government to secure clear carve-outs that would ensure that the UK could unilaterally adopt a method of production labelling. The agreement is expected to be finalised later this year in order to enter into force in mid 2027.

The letter cites the government’s own 2024 Fairer Food Labelling consultation. This showed overwhelming public support for mandatory method‑of‑production labelling, with 99 per cent of respondents in favour.

Defra’s impact assessment found that such measures could improve the lives of 111 million animals on farms. They could deliver a net societal benefit of £140m over ten years, and increase UK farmers’ profits by more than £46m a year.

Dyke is the MP for Glastonbury and Somerton and the Liberal Democrats’ rural affairs spokesperson. She said:

People want to buy food that matches their values, but right now it’s too easy for shoppers to be misled by vague welfare claims on meat products that are masking low-welfare practices like caging.

This is not fair on families trying to make informed choices or on farmers who are trying to improve their standards.

The government must act without delay to introduce clear, consistent, mandatory method-of-production labelling and to enforce existing consumer protection laws. Shoppers, farmers and animals all deserve markets to be driven by the truth, not marketing spin.

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Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane World for Animals UK, said:

Mandatory animal welfare labelling would present facts rather than marketing spin on supermarket shelves. If consumers are able to make informed buying choices that reflect their values, market forces could play a decisive role in driving genuinely higher welfare standards in farming.

But lockstep alignment with EU labelling laws will massively constrain the UK’s freedom to protect consumers and animals from ‘welfare washing’. We urge the government to prioritise SPS [UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement] carve-outs that preserve the UK’s right to mandate meat labelling in the interests of consumers, farmers and animals.

The relevant regulators and law enforcement bodies also need adequate resources and direction to ensure the enforcement of existing laws to prevent the misinformation that surrounds animal farming and animal products in the UK.

Edie Bowles, executive director of The Animal Law Foundation said:

Consumer protection, media and advertising laws exist to protect the public and consumers from being given misleading or partial information. But there is a clear compliance issue where data from The Animal Law Foundation shows 100% of supermarkets and 100% of TV shows use images and footage of healthy animals outside, yet in reality 85% are kept on factory farms.

Just as regulators are cracking down on greenwashing, we need urgent action to address ‘humane-washing’ in animal agriculture. Consumers and the public must be able to trust the claims made and authorities must ensure that those who partake in misleading practices are held to account.

Anthony Field, head of compassion in World Farming UK, said:

The vast majority of UK farmed animals are reared in factory farms, but this shocking fact is frequently hidden behind misleading food labels. Idyllic images of healthy farmyard animals, picturesque countryside or meaningless phrases like ‘farm fresh’ or ‘all natural’ provide a false sense of security and conceal the truth.

Britain is a nation of animal lovers and consumers deserve to know what really lies behind the label. The government’s own research has shown that mandatory method of production labelling would be more profitable for farmers as well as benefiting the UK economy and the welfare of hundreds of millions of farmed animals.

The government must introduce honest labelling to improve transparency and support higher welfare farmers.

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Featured image via the Canary

By The Canary

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The London borough of Newham will see a direct face-off between Greens and Newham Independents in the 2026 local election. Both parties will seek to eat away at Labour’s longstanding domination in the area, and the council could realistically switch to “no overall control” — a scenario in which no single party secures a majority of council seats.

Double push against Labour in Newham

Newham Independents — who have received an endorsement from Your Party — are currently the main opposition but the Greens are close behind. Both have claimed they’re “the only party” able to defeat Labour locally.

However, in a borough where around 50 percent of residents live in poverty, why isn’t there a progressive coalition to defeat Labour outright? One possible answer is that the area is highly diverse and where the far-right has no chance. Opposition groups are fighting it out to see which challenger to the left of Labour has the best chance of prevailing in Newham.

The BBC reported earlier in April that:

The borough’s directly-elected mayor has significant powers over local services such as housing, including local regeneration schemes and affordable housing targets, planning and waste collection.

The main candidates challenging Forhad Hussain, the Labour candidate, are Newham Independents councillor Mehmood Mirza and Green councillor Areeq Chowdhury.

Mirza and the Newham independents

Mirza, a self-described socialist, has called out Labour’s wastefulness in office, asserting that:

Reform & Labour are two sides of the same rotten system that has been failing residents for decades!

Labour’s support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and warmongering throughout the Middle East is another burning issue for Mirza, insisting that:

Britain must stand for international law, diplomacy, and democratic accountability

Newham Independents have also emphasised the effort they’ve put into challenging Labour ahead of the vote:

The numbers speak for themselves, we will work tirelessly every day of every week of every month to serve you the people of Newham.

Vote Newham Independents on May 7th pic.twitter.com/31C7IAFp0B

— Newham Independents (@NewhamIndParty) April 17, 2026

They’ve also outlined in a manifesto the priority issues they would tackle if elected, such as:

• Freezing council tax
• Ensuring all secondary school children get free school meals
• Introducing free first parking permits
• Offering “a no-charge bulky waste collection”
• Improving public spaces like parks

Our Little Ilford park is a direct link to crime & antisocial behaviour

Neglected parks often become hotspots for:
   •   Drug use
   •   Vandalism
   •   Intimidation and loitering
This is backed by the “broken windows theory” when an area looks abandoned, it signals that no… pic.twitter.com/yQMzOhTzAf

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— Tahir Mirza 4 East Ham (@TahirMirzaPTI) March 31, 2026

A full list of Newham Independents candidates can be accessed here.

Chowdhury and the Greens

Riding the wave of increasing Green popularity across the country, Chowdhury has called the Newham elections “a straightforward choice” between Labour and the Greens. The councillor has also been receiving high-profile support from within the party.

Chowdhury has highlighted a council house controversy surrounding Labour candidate Hussain, and called into question Labour’s reliability after the leak of its manifesto. He has also underrated and ignored the Newham Independents, despite admitting they “will do well in some wards“.

Locally, the Greens have three key missions:

to ensure we have the best possible environment to live in; to root out corruption at Newham Council; and to radically reform Newham’s housing department, so that it serves residents properly.

Their manifesto also insists that:

If elected, Green Party councillors and I will meet regularly with community groups, campaigners, academic experts, and residents to consider further ways to support our communities and achieve the three key missions.

The main plan, it stresses, is to:

alleviate poverty, drastically improve our environment, and tackle the housing crisis

The Green Party's manifesto, published today, sets out our plan to build a Newham we can be proud of.https://t.co/nxL2CpLfZl pic.twitter.com/2fpp3J5Ca1

— Areeq Chowdhury (@AreeqChowdhury) April 16, 2026

Is an anti-Labour coalition possible?

Labour seems to be fully aware of the challenge it’s facing in Newham, sending numerous high-profile figures to campaign in the borough. But it might feel the burn even more if the opposition on the left were more unified and less fractious.

As the Canary has previously reported, it’s perfectly possible for left-wing independents and Greens to collaborate and challenge Labour together via a cooperative alliance. And with some people in Newham predicting a strong result for independents, an anti-Labour coalition would certainly seem like common sense.

Newham Independents and Greens have a lot in common. But for now, they’re competing with each other to end Labour’s domination.

Hopefully, once the election results are in, there’ll be more cooperation across the left to bring the people of Newham the meaningful change they deserve.

Featured image via the Canary

By Ed Sykes

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