Politics
Politics Home Article | Nuclear nation: energising communities and catalysing growth

With major projects reaching key milestones and political support at a high, the UK’s nuclear sector is entering a new era. Panellists at an EDF roundtable during Nuclear Week in Parliament discussed how this long-awaited renaissance can drive energy security, regional renewal and generational opportunity – if the moment is seized
With Sizewell C achieving a financial investment decision and Financial Close, the UK has reached an important milestone in its nuclear revival. Alongside continued progress at Hinkley Point C – Britain’s first new nuclear station built in a generation – the selection of a preferred bidder and site for the country’s first small modular reactors, and other exciting future nuclear projects at EDF’s former coal site at Cottam and its generating nuclear site at Hartlepool, nuclear power is experiencing a ‘renaissance’ in the UK.
That sense of optimism was reflected by panellists at a roundtable hosted by EDF during Nuclear Week in Parliament, a programme organised by the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) to promote the industry and the opportunities it has to offer.
Sir Alex Chisholm, UK Chair of EDF, opened the event by celebrating what he described as “the best year that nuclear has had for as long as anyone can remember.” This was supported by the announcement on the day of the event that EDF have committed to a £1.2bn investment over the next three years to support reliable output from its five generating stations.
The success of nuclear, Chisholm told attendees, is based on partnership – not just between industry and government, but also with the public. He pointed to recent polling by EDF that found that 77 per cent of MPs on average are now favourable towards nuclear energy, which he believes reflects support from their constituents*. This has been driven by concerns around energy security and support for decarbonisation, but Chisholm also stressed the opportunity this has presented for communities across the UK to feel the benefits of nuclear in terms of significant spend with local businesses and skilled, well-paid local jobs.
Despite the current optimism in the industry, the panel shared the same concerns about the need to “seize the moment.” Until recently, nuclear was seen to be in decline in the UK. After decades of hesitation and delay by successive governments, the UK supply chain disappeared and vital skills were lost. Now, after a generation, our capabilities are finally being rebuilt. There was a sense in the room of a shared responsibility to make sure the mistakes of the past were not made again. Stuart Crooks, CEO of Hinkley Point C, urged panellists to utilise and build on this momentum and the work they have done at Hinkley: “My plea is: don’t wait too long, or it’ll be too late.”
Panellists agreed that seizing the moment would require not only political will and investment, but also regulatory reform to enable projects to move forward at pace, building on the momentum of the recent Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce recommendations.
Several speakers emphasised nuclear’s deep-rooted impact on place and identity. Jonathan Brash MP reflected on the experience of his constituency, which has been home to Hartlepool Power Station, operated by EDF, for over 40 years. He described how nuclear has provided rare examples of generational employment, embedding skilled jobs within the local community for generations. He argued that the industry has the power to “make places matter again” and reverse long-term economic decline – just as it had done in Hartlepool.
This effect is being felt across the country. Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, shared how “the region is now emerging as a national leader in clean energy technology generation, and whilst the entire clean energy sector is vital for our green transition, the greatest growth opportunity is in fusion and nuclear energy”. With five former coal-fired power stations and ambitions such as the Trent Supercluster, she argued that nuclear could inspire pride in communities while underpinning national growth and industrial renewal.
Ward also highlighted the role of nuclear in powering the next phase of the UK economy, particularly through energy-intensive technologies such as AI and advanced data centres. With secure, low-carbon and always-on power increasingly seen as a prerequisite for growth, she argued that nuclear could anchor future investment and enable regions like the East Midlands to compete globally.
As the nuclear industry enters its “golden era,” Crooks recognised the work that’s already happening in the UK and challenged the myth that we don’t make things in Britain anymore. He pointed to the UK’s “fantastic engineers, fantastic production facilities, and fantastic manufacturing facilities.” “The quality of work we do in the UK is second to none,” he said. “I can tell you, having been at Hinkley, the stuff we do here is outstanding.”
This would not be possible without its brilliant workforce, which Crooks described as “a family.” A powerful personal perspective came from Anabella Andison, a young apprentice at EDF. Although she was encouraged after school to consider more traditional routes, such as university, she chose instead to join the same EDF apprenticeship programme her father entered 25 years ago. In fact, her grandfather began his career at Hinkley Point A, her father still works at Hinkley B, and her brother is at Hinkley C. Together, their stories offered a striking example of the generational employment the industry can provide, a point previously highlighted by Jonathan Brash MP.
More than simply following a family legacy, Andison told the room: “I wanted to say that I made a difference in the community, and I want to actually help build something that’s going to make a difference to the future.”
The benefits of nuclear are felt far beyond the industry’s workforce. Panellists heard from David Crew, Managing Director of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, who pointed to the transformative effect of Hinkley Point C on the regional economy. He highlighted the creation of a HPC supply chain programme through the Chamber which has supported over 4,600 businesses to access contract opportunities, with £5.3bn spent locally, and more than 14,000 people trained through Centres of Excellence. Many firms, he noted, have scaled significantly and are now pursuing opportunities beyond Hinkley – demonstrating the long-term economic legacy of nuclear investment and the strength of public-private partnership.
The roundtable discussion broadened to the systemic enablers of nuclear growth, including the role of regulation in enabling delivery at pace. Contributions from regulators, such as Beatrice Filkin from Ofgem, underlined a shared commitment to delivering projects that benefit consumers, support national growth, and maintain appropriate standards of safety, security and safeguards.
Paul Dicks, Director of Regulation of New Reactors at the Office for Nuclear Regulation, welcomed the work of the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce as a critical catalyst for reform. He emphasised that regulatory reform must focus on outcomes rather than process, enabling innovation and faster decision-making without compromising safety.
Reflecting on his experience of working in the industry for over thirty years, he told the room: “I’ve never, ever seen anything like this in my life. Let’s grab these opportunities as a whole community, as a whole ecosystem.” If we do this, he says, we will be a country at the front of the nuclear renaissance.
Britain is once again embracing nuclear. And it is already translating into tangible economic, social and regional benefits. The event closed with a shared recognition that nuclear’s contribution to the UK goes far beyond getting energy on the grid. It has a role to play in solving the challenges and opportunities we face as a nation – from energy security and decarbonisation, powering AI and data centres, to regional regeneration and national pride.
As Alex Chisholm emphasised when he opened the event, “there is nothing that any individual organisation, or any individual person, however impressive and dynamic, can achieve on their own.” As EDF continues to strongly invest in the UK’s current operating fleet, the morning’s discussion highlighted that the UK’s nuclear future lies in partnership. The parliamentarians, regional leaders, industry, regulators, academia and the next generation of nuclear talent in the room are all ready to play their part – to ensure that the current renaissance delivers lasting benefits.
The optimism in the industry is clear. “There’s not many things we get to do in our working lives where you’re shaping what will make a difference to four generations away,” Chisholm concluded. “That is very exciting.”
* Polling from Savanta commissioned on behalf of EDF.
Politics
The Celebrity Traitors 2026 Line-Up: Charlotte Crosby Claims Casting Rule Is In Place
It’s only been a few weeks since The Traitors left our screens, but we’re already looking ahead to the next celebrity series.
Naturally, speculation is already in full flow about who the next bunch of celebs heading to the Scottish castle could be, but it turns out there’s one casting rule that helps determine just that.
Geordie Shore star and Celebrity Big Brother winner Charlotte Crosby has made it clear that she won’t be getting a call-up for The Traitors because of a supposed “no reality stars” rule.
“That is a genuine fact,” she told The Sun. “My agent is on the line and he will confirm. They take no reality stars.
“A lot of shows have this rule. I’m A Celebrity used to have this rule. But it gets to the point where they’ve obviously run out of big names so they have to start delving into [reality TV].
“So, they’ll have this rule for maybe three or four series, and then they might have to break the mold a bit.”
“As soon as they do, I will be there with my fucking cloak,” Charlotte quipped.
The inaugural celebrity spin-off last year saw Alan Carr win the show against all odds, fending off competition from the likes of Nick Mohammed, Jonathan Ross, Paloma Faith and Stephen Fry in the process.
True to Charlotte’s claims, none of the stars made their name on reality television, although a small handful had appeared on such shows.
Eastenders actor Tameka Empson appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, while Kate Garraway was on the show in 2007, and followed it up with appearances on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! and The Masked Singer.
Even Celebrity Traitors champion Alan Carr dipped his toe in reality TV for charity, with previous appearances on The Great Celebrity Bake Off and a celebrity spin-off of The Apprentice for Comic Relief back in 2009.
Sadly, we’ll have to wait until the end of the year before we get another series of The Celebrity Traitors, but speculation is already rife about who could join the line-up.
Politics
Trump goes full racist and depicts the Obamas as apes
At this point, the following shouldn’t surprise anyone about Trump, and yet it is staggering to see:
BREAKING: Trump just posted an incredibly racist photo of the Obama’s faces photoshopped on to the body of apes.
Every day is a new rock bottom for this ugly pig. pic.twitter.com/GlMM7Cfjoe
— Dean Withers (@itsdeaann) February 6, 2026
Pure, unfettered racism from Trump
Everyone accepted long ago that it’s racist to depict black people as apes, and the video does literally nothing besides depicting the Obamas as apes.
There is no attempt to hide what his intent is here.
The only excuse you could make for Trump is that he’s too stupid and/or unwell to understand what he posted.
If that’s the case, WHY IS HE THE PRESIDENT?
A racist president is intolerable; a sick president with access to the nuclear button is potentially world ending.
Here’s how people have reacted to Trump’s latest hate crime:
This is the racist video Donald Trump posted.
This is where we’re at. pic.twitter.com/kH49rMWfVH
— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) February 6, 2026
Trump posted a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys. Incredibly racist and disgusting. Beneath the office of the presidency, like everything he does.
Every American must condemn this. pic.twitter.com/vYbGgqqv09
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) February 6, 2026
Global problem
Given how America throws its weight around, it’s a problem for everyone in the world for there to be a racist and/or fascist president. It’s an even bigger problem for us in the UK, because politicians like Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, and Kemi Badenoch all think there job is to suck up to this man.
Starmer and Farage both drape themselves in flags but once again it’s really clear where their loyalty really is.
It’s Trump first. They will always be on the side of the super rich and powerful – no matter how heinous the crime.
This is not patriotism. It’s subservience. https://t.co/M7sVgGLgMJ
— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) January 3, 2026
Featured image via X
Politics
Advance UK Gorton & Denton candidate is a woman-hating loser
Nick Buckley MBE is the Advance UK candidate in the Gorton & Denton byelection. With the fight for the seat heating up, we thought it was time we shone a light on what Buckley actually stands for. And it’s pretty dark:
This is what feminism has done to women – turned them into whores and made them unhappy – 20% of U.K. women are on antidepressants.
Feminism:%20Myths,%20Lies%20&%20Ungratefulness%3A%20Exploring%20Ground%20Zero%20Of%20The%20Woke%20Virus https://t.co/1vxHNVOYJ2
— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) October 26, 2024
Let’s get it out of the way, you’re going to see a lot of misogyny and racism, so buckle up.
Another woman-hating, racist wanker on the ballot
Buckley has been on some really fucking wild rants on Twitter. Firstly, he states women shouldn’t have tattoos, and we can’t do anything right:
Female tattoos are just a trendy way to self abuse – just like cutting, not eating, gender ideology, abortion and always picking wrong men. https://t.co/su3L2sTgx4
— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) September 5, 2025
He fucking hates abortions and apparently all women do is hoof antidepressants and kill babies:
If we do not support women across the globe then how are they going abortion their babies, rely on antidepressants, neglect their children, hate men and contribute to the coffers of the multinationals??
— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) January 28, 2026
And comparing abortion to the holocaust is absolutely wild:
We are killing our babies almost as fast as we are making them. Abortion is out of control and a shame on our society like slavery and the holocaust. History will judge us and it will not be pleasant. https://t.co/XEAkgJ1mIB
— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) January 23, 2026
He really fucking hates abortion:
Feminism taught us that men and women are the same. Women are just as evil as men and commit horrendous acts – they just do it differently to men. pic.twitter.com/UgY75PFrVX
— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) January 15, 2026
And let’s throw a little transphobia in there for good measure:
The Trans lunatics are back! The NHS, our NHS as we are constantly told, is going to be experimenting on kids – legally. All doctors involved should be stripped of their license and prosecuted for child abuse. pic.twitter.com/Q5ekCC2fJz
— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) November 26, 2025
Policing
Let’s be honest, it’s not shocking at all that Buckley is racist. It’s almost a given with Advance UK:
This is a great example of the failures of DEI. We recruit rapists because we have to give blacks a job to ensure no one thinks we are racist. It started with feminism but ends with rapists. pic.twitter.com/3JXAQHU5Kq
— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) January 8, 2026
One commenter was quick to point out the case of Wayne Couzens, a white copper who killed Sarah Everard:
That’s never happened before. pic.twitter.com/8KRjEWrhgf
— catrellneff (@catrellnefff) January 9, 2026
The police literally ignored sexual harassment allegations made against him. Oh, and two other coppers shared racist and misogynistic messages with Couzens.
This isn’t an issue of political correctness; it’s an issue of the police ignoring the offences of its officers.
This disgustingly racist rhetoric is absolutely bullshit.
Currently, 97% of rape allegations are not even brought to charge in the UK; why the fuck isn’t he screaming about that? 6 out of 7 assaults against women are carried out by someone they know.
Why the fuck are we bringing race into this when it’s clearly just a man problem?
Advance UK throws another stereotype into the ring
Let’s be honest, none of this is shocking from a far-right party endorsed by Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk. But this sets a dangerous precedent for the trajectory of Advance UK. For a party that claims it’s not far right, it definitely seems like it is. And the leader, Ben Habib seems to fully support Buckley:
I am delighted @NickBuckleyMBE will be standing for @_AdvanceUK in the Gorton and Denton by election.
Nick is a proud patriot, local to the area where he also based his charity, Mancunian Way. His MBE was for charitable work.
Nick offers real change, not the same old or the…
— Ben Habib (@benhabib6) January 31, 2026
Luckily, Advance UK’s man seems somewhat irrelevant, but we need to be calling out these fascist wankers whenever we can, and Buckley is definitely one of them.
Featured image via Instagram
Politics
Is the English countryside ‘too white’?
The post Is the English countryside ‘too white’? appeared first on spiked.
Politics
Rivals Season 2 Trailer Promises More Steamy Sex Scenes And Twists
Rivals fans who’ve been waiting over a year for the next instalment of the award-winning series are about to have their patience rewarded.
And we’re happy to report that the new episodes of the Disney+ show look every bit as raunchy as season one.
The new trailer for Rivals season two was released online on Thursday evening, opening with cast member Emily Atack declaring in character as Sarah Stratton: “Welcome to the naughtiest show on television.”
Within the first 10 seconds of the new trailer, we’re treated to a snapshot of everything you’ve come to expect from Rivals, including a steamy shower scene, luxurious and decadent partying and the return of David Tennant as Lord Baddingham.
“Sorry I’m late, darling, I’ve had a terrible headache,” he declares, referencing that infamous season one cliffhanger.

Meanwhile, the minute-long montage also includes shots of fan-favourites Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson, as well as a snippet of new addition Hayley Atwell in character.
Take a look at the full trailer for yourself below:
A press release for season two previously teased: “Rivals returns in 2026 with even more wit, desire, and jaw-dropping twists. Power struggles intensify, rivalries deepen and ambition pushes loyalties to the brink.”
Rivals was adapted from the Rutshire Chronicles novels series, made popular by British author Dame Jilly Cooper, who died last year at the age of 88.
While Dame Jilly was laid to rest at a private funeral towards the end of 2025, last month, a more public memorial service took place in her honour attended by Rivals cast members Aidan Turner, David Tennant, Danny Dyer and Alex Hassell, as well as Queen Camilla.
Back in December, Queen Camilla also paid a visit to the Rivals set for a behind-the-scenes tour, where she was joined by members of the late Dame Jilly’s family.
Rivals returns to Disney+ on Friday 15 May.
Politics
Question Time Audience Member Rips Into Starmer’s Legacy
Keir Starmer was torn apart by an audience member on BBC Question Time last night as questions over his judgement continue to mount.
The prime minister is facing pressure to resign from some Labour MPs after appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, despite knowing about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
As the show discussed whether Starmer should now step down, one audience member suggested this was the final straw.
“I think that since Keir Starmer became prime minister, he upset the pensioners by saying about the winter fuel allowance, then he upset the farmers, then there was the Angela Rayner scandal, and then Alli,” she said, alluding to the clothes the prime minister received from Lord Alli.
“I think how can people trust this prime minister when he appointed Mandelson and he knew that he had the relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and also he has done so many U-turns on different policies,” she continued. “He has betrayed the British people, especially on disappointment with Mandelson, so how can we trust him and how can we keep him as a prime minister?”
However another member in the audience said “no major party is without scandal”, and that since July 2024 is the only time there’s been stability in governance especially with a shift in the international world order.
“I feel like right now it’s better off either keeping the party current or keeping the leader current to avoid destabilising the country,” he said.
A third audience member said Starmer “looks like a very broken man” when he issued an apology over Mandelson on Thursday.
However, she added: “But I can’t excuse what he did. I really was hopeful that he would be a good leader. I thought he had all the qualities. So if he doesn’t, then who does? How do we move forwards?”
Environment secretary Emma Reynolds defended the prime minister, saying he has dealt with international challenges “very skillfully” in a difficult geopolitical period.
“The security services did not advise against appointing Mandelson,” she noted, while adding that this process clearly needs to be improved.
Politics
Jacob Elordi Shares How He Perfected Wuthering Heights Northern Accent
Jacob Elordi has shed some light on how he tackled the Yorkshire accent for the controversial new Wuthering Heights film.
Among accusations of whitewashing and test audiences’ shock at a reported opening mid-execution ejaculation scene, the fact that the film’s two leads – Jacob and Margot Robbie – are both Australian has been less talked about.
However, when the trailer – and, later, a full clip – dropped for Saltburn director Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic novel, we got a preview of Jacob’s take on the Northern English accent.
Speaking to the BBC, the actor has now revealed how he tackled the notoriously tricky task.
“I just practise it in the bath, over and over and over and over,” he said. “I like the ‘meks’ and the ‘teks’, instead of ‘take’. I like the ‘M-E-K’, ‘T-E-K’.”
Generally speaking, fans’ reactions to Jacob’s accent has been positive, with many putting their aspersions about Emerald’s take on Wuthering Heights aside to praise how he “nailed it”.
Meanwhile Margot – who plays heroine Catherine in the film – hasn’t gone for the northern accent for the film, instead adopting something closer to received pronunciation English.
Emerald has previously spoken about adding her own stamp to the gothic story, and her choice to include quotation marks around the film’s title.
“I knew right from the get-go, I couldn’t ever hope to make anything that could even encompass the greatness of this book,” she said.
“All I could do was… I don’t know… make a movie that made me feel the way the book made me feel. And so, therefore, it just felt right to say it’s Wuthering Heights… and it isn’t! You know?”
The director isn’t shy about provoking a strong reaction with her work, with Saltburn becoming a huge cultural moment thanks in part to scenes like Barry Keoghan’s bathtub moment.
Equally, her directorial debut Promising Young Woman picked up a slew of awards for its smart, feminist take on rape culture and supposed “nice guys” in the wake of the Me Too movement.
Wuthering Heights arrives in cinemas on Friday 13 February, just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend.
Politics
What does the UK want in its relations with China?
Following Keir Starmer’s recent visit to China, Steve Tsang offers his take on how the UK government should approach its relationship with Beijing.
Prime Minister Kier Starmer was right to visit China and work to put UK-China relations back on an even keel, even though the deals he secured were paltry at best. He should not have been surprised. What was surprising was that his government encouraged the expectation that the trip would benefit the UK economy when, in fact, more new investment will flow to China than the other way round. Moreover, the visit has shown that the UK does not have a strategy for engaging with China.
While putting relations with China on a firmer basis is to be welcomed, a more important question remains: how will it advance UK interests? Indeed, what does the UK want in its relations with China? And how did the visit fit into the big picture? The simple answer is that we do not know.
British policy towards China has swung and drifted in the last decade, as it is not guided by a longer-term strategic vision. When we are dealing with a leading global power with enormous ambitions, some clearly harmful to us, drifting is an indulgence we cannot afford.
For the UK to have a good China strategy, one that advances our interests effectively, we must start by recapitulating our core interests and compare them to China’s in its long-term global strategy. The most basic is over the UK’s commitment to individual rights and sustaining the rules-based international order while China is committed to repressing individual rights and making the world safe for autocracies. Focusing on our core interests will enable us to see where we should or should not cooperate, and provide an anchor for our policy towards China, despite changes of government.
The core interests of the UK are to uphold the values that make all British citizens free and able to fulfil their individual potential. It requires the UK to uphold democracy, freedom, individual rights, and a rules-based international order, the upholding of which should forbid China from seizing Taiwan by asserting, on very dubious grounds, that Taiwan has always been Chinese.
China under Xi Jinping, in contrast, has a global strategy that aims to make China great again, described by Xi as fulfilling ‘the China Dream of national rejuvenation’. This implies China taking over the besieged liberal international order and transforming it into a Sino-centric variant, based on the tianxia (all under heaven) paradigm. In Xi’s conceptualisation, the best of times in history were when China was pre-eminent, with the mythical tianxia order in place, to which all other nations look up, embrace and defer, thus delivering pax Sinica. China’s national rejuvenation is about ‘restoring’ China as the pre-eminent power.
Translated into contemporary policy terms, Xi’s China dedicates itself to forge a ‘common destiny for the humankind’ by ‘the democratisation of international relations’. It means China proactively cultivating support in the Global South, which consists mostly of a majority of UN member states and the bulk of the world’s population. China presents itself as devoted to advancing the interests of the Global South, reassuring autocracies they will be safe under Chinese pre-eminence. With their support China will make the UN and the wider international system put the interests of the Global South as interpreted by China first, ahead of the minority and privileged ‘democratic West’.
If Xi has his way, a new rules-based international order will replace liberal internationalism with Sino-centrism, based on Xi and the Communist Party’s preferences. Xi will need to mark the advent of Chinese global pre-eminence by a spectacular event, the most likely of which is for China to take Taiwan, despite American commitment to preventing a forceful change of Taiwan’s status. Despite its rhetorical commitment to peace, the fulfilment of Xi’s global strategy implies a major war if Taiwan, a vibrant democracy that is also a middle power, should fail to surrender. Such a war will have cataclysmic consequences for the world economy.
China under the Communist Party has never shared the UK’s core values, but China before Xi did not have such a grandiose global ambition. A fundamentally mercantilist China, as it was from Deng Xiaoping through Jiang Zemin to Hu Jintao, was one we could accommodate, but one that works to reshape the world after its image, as under Xi, requires a re-think. In working out a China strategy, the UK cannot lose sight of the implications of Xi’s ‘China Dream’.
Xi’s ’China Dream’, to be fulfilled by 2050, goes against the core interests of the UK. In the very least, the UK should ensure that a Taiwan contingency does not arise, as such an eventuality could imply Washington asking London (and others) to join its efforts to confront it, either militarily or with wide-ranging economic sanctions, or both. It should also work with democratic allies to contest China’s efforts to transform the UN with Global South support.
A China strategy for the UK should first and foremost be based on how we can contain Xi’s global ambitions so we can protect our core values. Preventing a takeover of Taiwan will require the democratic West to reinforce US military deterrence by collective economic deterrence. The latter is more likely to deter as Xi’s top priority is to stay in power and he can hold off invading Taiwan if he knows it will trigger an economic catastrophe for China, potentially unleashing forces to challenge his leadership. This can happen as nearly 50% of China’s external economy is interdependent on the major democratic economies.
There is therefore no need to create a false dichotomy that we either uphold democratic values or engage with China. The reality is that diplomacy is a desirable luxury when engaging with friends but an absolute essential when dealing with one with less than benign intents. Engagement is just an instrument. Economic ties provide leverage in diplomacy, though they always cut both ways. We must engage with China, but it should be guided by a long-term strategy, so we avoid being distracted by short-term gains that undermine our long-term strategic objectives.
By Steve Tsang, Professor of China Studies and Director of the China Institute at SOAS, London.
His new book (with Olivia Cheung) China’s Global Strategy under Xi Jinping will be released by Oxford University Press on 1 September.
Politics
Period Blood Tests Could ‘Replace’ Cervical Screening
Cervical screenings are key to spotting cell abnormalities and HPV (responsible for 99% of cervical cancers) early, preventing any changes from turning into cancer.
Since 1964, these screenings have happened through cervical screenings in the UK, in which a “soft brush” is inserted into a person’s cervix to collect cells.
But new research published in the BMJ said “HPV testing of menstrual blood could be a robust alternative or replacement to clinician-based testing”.
This could be promising, the researchers say, because people can “non-invasively collect samples at home”. The process also “reduces their discomfort and alleviates fear of pain”.
As many as 62% of people eligible for cervical screenings say they worry about discomfort, while one in three skip their appointment.
How could period blood help with HPV screening?
In this research, 3,068 women, aged 20-54 years, with regular periods, wore “minipads” while menstruating.
This was a sterile cotton strip added to their period pad.
They also provided a clinician-collected cervical sample, and an “an additional clinician collected cervical sample for laboratory processing” – like a regular cervical screening.
Researchers wanted to measure the respective diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of these different tests.
“Sensitivity indicates how well a test picks up people who have a disease and specificity indicates how well a test picks up those who don’t,” the BMJ said in a press release.
In this study, minipads had a sensitivity of 94.7% for detecting CIN2+ (precancerous cervical cells usually caused by HPV). This was not far from the sensitivity of clinician-collected samples (92.1%).
And while specificity was lower in the minipad tests (89.1% vs 90.0%), with clinician-collected samples performing better, the negative predictive value, or “the probability that a person with a negative test result truly does not have the disease,” was identical (99.9%).
Additionally, the positive predictive value – “the probability that a person with a positive test result truly has the disease” – was about the same (9.9% v 10.4%), and referrals for further testing were also about equal.
Can we expect these tests soon?
Researchers stressed that more research is needed. This study also said that real-world research should focus on factors like cost and accessibility, as well as ensuring the biomarkers they’re using to detect HPV help the tests to become as specific and sensitive as possible.
Still, the authors add, “The results of this large-scale community-based study show the utility of using minipad collected menstrual blood for HPV testing as a standardised, non-invasive alternative or replacement for cervical cancer screening.
“The findings of this study support the integration of menstrual blood-based HPV testing into national cervical cancer screening guidelines.”
Politics
What Happens When Type A And Type B People Date
There are two types of people in the world: type A and type B. Or so common wisdom says, anyway — of course, as with anything human, we’re all much more complex than that.
Still, sorting people into type A and type B categories can sometimes serve as useful shorthand for understanding ourselves and others. This is especially true in romantic relationships.
You might think that a partnership between a type A person and a type B person could never work, or would be fraught with tension, but this isn’t completely accurate.
Firstly, type A/type B relationships are all around us — opposites attract, after all. In fact, these relationships can be super successful. All it takes is a little communication.

Maria Korneeva via Getty Images
We spoke to two relationship experts to find out what type A/type B relationships tend to look like, and how to navigate some of the issues that can crop up in these pairings.
A Quick Recap Of Type A and Type B People
People often use the terms “type A” and “type B” in everyday conversation, but few know their slightly odd origins. According to Medical News Today, the terms were first invented in 1959 by two cardiologists whose research suggested that a type A personality may be linked to higher instances of coronary heart disease — but their research has been widely questioned because the scientists received funding from the tobacco industry. Still, the categorizations themselves do hold water as a starting point to understanding how different people work.
Anyway, “type A is typically characterized by high drive, urgency, competitiveness, and a need for control. The person who has a color-coded calendar and gets twitchy when plans change,” Sabrina Zohar, a dating coach and podcaster, told HuffPost. “Type B tends to be more laid-back, flexible, go-with-the-flow, and less reactive to external pressure.”
With that in mind, there’s a LOT of nuance to these categories, and it’s important to take them with a grain of salt. After all, there’s even been a type C personality discussed lately.
“Awareness of one’s personality is helpful when it comes to matters like job placement and relationships; however, only focusing on one’s designated personality type may cause one to underestimate their ability to adapt to circumstances,” Michele Leno, a licensed psychologist, relationship expert and host of the talk show “Mind Matters with Dr. Michele,” told HuffPost. “If you place them in a box, you may not notice the type A behaving calmly under pressure or how well the type B pursues and accomplishes goals.”
Also, there’s a difference between innate personality traits and those brought on by environmental necessity. “Type A may be dealing with anxiety that causes more hyper-vigilance,” said Dr. Leno. “Type B has perhaps learned to home in on their emotions and effectively manage underlying distress so that it is less obvious.”

And another thing: Nobody is just type A or just type B. “We exist on a spectrum and can shift depending on context. Someone might be extremely type A at work but more relaxed in relationships, or vice versa,” said Zohar. “The labels can help us understand general tendencies, but I’d caution against using them to box people in or excuse behavior. We contain multitudes, and ‘that’s just how I am’ isn’t a free pass.”
How Type A And Type B Partners Complement Each Other In Relationships
It’s called a partnership for a reason. When we have different strengths and weaknesses in a relationship, we can fill in the gaps for each other — making the ride easier for both people involved.
In a type A/type B relationship, “the type A partner brings structure, planning, and forward momentum,” said Zohar. “The type B partner brings flexibility, calm, and the reminder that not everything needs to be optimised. Type A helps type B stay on track; type B helps type A actually enjoy the ride.”
… And How They Clash
When someone close to us does things really differently from us, many of us find it difficult, and we may turn to judging them rather than seeking to understand how they work.
“Type A can perceive type B as lazy, unmotivated, or not taking things seriously,” Zohar said. “Type B can experience type A as controlling, critical, or exhausting. Type A wants a plan; type B wants to see how they feel. Type A gets frustrated when things aren’t efficient; type B gets frustrated when everything has to be a production.”
“You didn’t fall in love with this person so you could turn them into you.”
– Sabrina Zohar, dating coach and podcaster
But differences aren’t bad in themselves — the problem lies in how the type A and type B partners respond to those differences.
“They can clash when one tries to change the other,” Dr. Leno said. “While early dating can be exciting, as the relationship progresses, so will expectations. Requiring one to deviate from their natural way of being will induce conflict and possibly a breakup.”
Or as Zohar put it, problems arise “when each person starts interpreting the other’s wiring as a personal flaw rather than a different operating system.”
How Common Are Type A/Type B Couples?
Short answer? Type A/type B couples are super common. “Opposites do attract, especially early on when differences feel exciting and complementary rather than irritating,” Zohar said. “Type A might be drawn to type B’s ease and chill energy, thinking ‘I need more of that in my life.’ Type B might admire type A’s ambition and ability to get shit done. We often seek out what we feel we lack.”
You probably know where this is going: Those differences may not always feel as good as they did when you started dating. “What attracts you in the beginning can become what annoys you later if you’re not intentional about appreciating those differences rather than trying to change them,” Zohar said.
How Can These Partners Learn to Communicate Effectively?
It doesn’t matter who you are, ALL romantic relationships include major differences between partners — and a learning curve to navigate them effectively.
In the case of a type A/type B relationship, “First, recognize you’re speaking different languages. Type A communicates to solve, fix, plan. Type B communicates to process, connect, explore,” Zohar said. “Neither is wrong, but if you don’t understand what your partner actually needs from a conversation, you’ll keep missing each other.”
Both partners can work on how they approach discussions. “Type A needs to practice patience and resist the urge to immediately turn everything into an action item,” Zohar said. “Type B needs to recognize that their partner isn’t being controlling. They’re trying to create security in the way they know how.”
Again, as in every relationship, it’s important to be clear about what you’re looking for from your partner. “Get explicit about what you need: ‘I’m venting, I don’t need solutions’ or ‘I need us to make a decision on this, can we focus?’” Zohar said. “Don’t expect your partner to just know. Mind reading isn’t intimacy.”

Goodboy Picture Company via Getty Images
How Can Type A and Type B Partners Set Healthy Expectations and Boundaries?
The key to relational harmony is to really lean into what you’re both good at and feel grateful for what your partner brings to the table that doesn’t come as naturally to you.
“Divide and conquer based on strengths instead of fighting over whose approach is ‘right,’” Zohar said. “Let the type A partner take the lead on things that require planning and logistics. Let the type B partner take the lead on spontaneity and making sure you’re actually having fun together.”
In terms of expectations, you should both commit to understanding each other by explicitly communicating how you work and what you need AND by paying attention to your partner’s habits. “Type A: your partner’s relaxed approach isn’t a sign they don’t care,” Zohar said. “Type B: your partner’s need for structure isn’t them being uptight. It’s how they feel safe.”
In terms of boundaries, it’s “about protecting the relationship from your own worst tendencies,” Zohar said. “Type A might need to agree not to criticize how their partner loads the dishwasher. Type B might need to commit to showing up on time when it matters to their partner.”
More than anything, type A partners shouldn’t try to make their partner more like them, and vice-versa — that’s the surest way to strangle the relationship. “You didn’t fall in love with this person so you could turn them into you,” Zohar said. “The goal isn’t to make your type B partner more ambitious or your type A partner more chill. It’s to build a relationship where both ways of being are respected.”
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