Politics
Restore Britain gains nine defected Reform councillors
Seven Kent County councillors and two North Northamptonshire County Councillors have joined Restore Britain. Reform UK previously expelled six of them.
Most of these were thrown out of Reform UK when @LeaderofKCC had her meltdown in the ‘suck it up’ cabinet meeting and the video was leaked. https://t.co/w5NmJN5AH8
— Reform Party UK Exposed 🇬🇧 (@reformexposed) February 17, 2026
How do you even get expelled from Reform? Not taking bribes from Russia?
According to the Independent:
The new Restore Britain group members are Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw and Brian Black, who have been sitting as the Independent Group; Robert Ford and Isabella Kemp from the current Independent Reformers Group, and independent-sitting councillors Maxine Fothergill and Dean Burns.
Nigel Farage hoped that Kent County Council would be his flagship Reform council. Look how that one turned out.
Reform won control of Kent County Council in May last year, securing 57 of 81 seats. However, only 48 councillors remain. Nine were removed after they leaked a video showing council leader Ms Kemkaran shouting and swearing at her members.
The Canary’s Joe Glenton described the video as:
a group of dysregulated middle-aged toddlers having an incredibly puerile row
Is it a picture of what’s to come with Restore?
Kent Council was described as being “a window to what a Reform UK government would be like”….
It’s been chaos, full of lies and a wannabe dictator leading it…..so they weren’t wrong!
— AxoAndy (@AxoAndy) February 17, 2026
After all, it’s the same faces, just with a few different letters.
In North Northamptonshire, Jack Goncalvez and Darren Rance have both also defected to Restore.
But Restore Britain has not even registered with the Electoral Commission yet.
Rupert – can you point me towards your Registration Details on the Electoral Commission website… pic.twitter.com/hJEnjmm3cW
— 🦋 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗧 🧵 🌹 (@graeme_from_IT) February 17, 2026
Restore Britain even more racist than Reform
I can’t believe I’m saying this (except I really can), but this clown show is competing for a number one spot in the ‘more racist than Reform’ show.
BREAKING 🚨🚨🚨
Restore Britain Party members forced to elect Rupert Lowe as leader after their original 1st choice candidate shot himself in a bunker in 1945. pic.twitter.com/2L0P6cFA2X
— Politics For You (@PoliticoForYou) February 16, 2026
Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party is promising to sweep ‘Anti-British”, “anti-white” elements out of our universities and schools. Doing so, he is copying the Nazi playbook of 1933. If you’re not worried now, you should be. https://t.co/cLV2qCDF36
— Richard Murphy (@RichardJMurphy) February 18, 2026
But hey, what’s one more shade of blue? They’re all the same racist, ‘we hate every other country’ but Israel-loving muppets. I wonder if there’s some sort of blue attire-for-hire company setting up in Westminster.
If not, I want a commission when it goes live.
Rupert Lowe is welcoming these vile, racist muppets that are too embarrassing even for Nigel Farage and Reform with open arms.
He’s not even scraping the bottom of the barrel. He’s scraping the dregs up off the floor that no doubt have the remnants of rat shit in them.
Feature image via HG
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A new wellness trend has hit social media – and while it’s usually tempting to approach these trends with a healthy dose of skepticism, this one might actually be worth trying.
It’s called ‘dark showering’ and it’s exactly what it sounds like: showering in the dark, not long before you wind down for the night. A cosy nighttime routine that puts you into a restful mindset and could, in theory, help you get a good night’s sleep.
It doesn’t have to be pitch black, and dimming the lights could be enough (or even just leaving your hallway light on and the bathroom door ajar), but it does appear to feel good for some people.
As @Emgilly on TikTok said: “One way I reset my nervous system as a [Stay At Home Mom] is by taking a shower in the dark. Try it, it works.”
Why might showering in the dark work?
First things first, we know that dimming the lights can help us tell our bodies it’s time to sleep.
Writing for The Conversation, Timothy Hearn, a lecturer in Bioinformatics, said: “Bright light in the evening signals to the brain’s internal body clock that it is still daytime. This delays the release of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep and is often described as the body’s ‘darkness signal’.
“In a laboratory study of 116 adults, typical room lighting between dusk and bedtime reduced early night melatonin levels by about 70% compared with very dim light. Exposure to room light before bed also shortened the total duration of melatonin release by about 90 minutes. Participants reported feeling more alert.”
Then there’s the warm water element. Just like parents use bathtime as a sleep cue for their kids, having a warm shower can work in a similar way. But why does it work?
The Sleep Foundation explains: “Body temperature plays an important role in the sleep-wake cycle, and human bodies naturally experience a decrease in core body temperature before nightly sleep.
“Scientists have found that by impacting this natural temperature regulation process, showers and baths can affect sleep.”
It’s been dubbed the “warm bath effect” – and one analysis found taking a shower or bath in water that’s around 40-degrees Celsius can improve sleep quality.
HuffPost UK spoke exclusively to Archie MacDonald, director of Highland Soap Co., who also believes scent plays a “huge role” in how we experience relaxation.
“When you shower in low light, fragrance becomes more noticeable because your senses aren’t competing with visual stimulation,” he said.
“Certain essential oils, like lavender and patchouli, are known to help calm the nervous system and reduce feelings of stress, which is why scent-led rituals can have such a powerful effect on mood and wellbeing.
“A dark shower allows that sensory experience to come to the foreground, turning an everyday routine into something more restorative.”
For the best results, sleep physician Dr David Rosen recommends having a warm shower at least one hour before bed.
Why are dark showers so popular suddenly?
MacDonald suggested the trend is gaining popularity because people are increasingly aware of how overstimulation, screens and busy schedules affect them, and they’re looking for simple ways to unwind that fit into daily life.
“Dark showering doesn’t require extra time or space, but it creates a clear shift from day to night through scent and atmosphere,” he added.
“That focus on small, intentional rituals reflects a wider move towards protecting wellbeing in achievable, sustainable ways.”
It’s got to be worth a try, right?
Former PM, genocide supporter and on-the-loose war criminal Tony Blair has said another ridiculous thing — it must be a day ending in a ‘Y’. The hyper-wealthy friend of a cast of dictators, maniacs and war criminals to rival the steering committee of SPECTRE reckons his favourite film is Schindler’s List.
The 1993 film centres on the Nazi Holocaust and contains powerful lessons from history…
Not a single fucking one of which Big Tony has grasped in any way whatsoever given he has signed up to the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. Blair was one of the first names on the list for Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative.
Blair said the film’s greatest lesson for him was
You cannot be a bystander.
To which we must say ‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph, what on earth are you talking about, you rictus-grinned narcissist prat?’
He added that not being a bystander:
can lead you to right judgments and wrong judgments but it is not just your job to look after your country… you owe some responsibility to the bigger world.
Hmm…
Tony Blair — like a bad smell
To be fair Blair has never been a bystander when it comes to war, invasion and empire. He’s usually been an enthusiastic participant. The interview was part of an interview series which nobody wanted or needed, but Channel 4, in their infinite middle class wisdom, decide to make anyway… head-in-hands…
The general public are less inclined to see Blair on TV:
Imagine watching Schindler’s List and your takeaway is that you should participate in the next genocide you see pic.twitter.com/TR3eYFw3xN
— Council Estate Media (@cem_uk_) February 17, 2026
One Blair fan described the ex-PM as:
an absolute utter fucking piece of Shit.
Say what you feel, mate.
Tony Blair is an absolute utter fucking piece of Shit.
He was happy to see hundreds of thousands of people die for a lie in Iraq and he was happy to see people murdered in Gaza. And yet he’s sitting here talking about Schindler’s list never again it meant to be never again for… https://t.co/SbsOdGuJzi
— Hussain “Hoz” Shafiei (@HussainShafiei) February 17, 2026
Another discouraged us from watching the series with reference to Blair’s famously terrifying Christmas card:
You don’t need to watch The Tony Blair Story. You just need to google “Narcissistic Sociopath” who poses for a Christmas card like it’s a fight outside a Wetherspoons at 2am and leave it at that.#LeaveItTony pic.twitter.com/kuKiTNYtBs
— Niecy O’Keeffe (@NiecyOKeeffe) February 17, 2026
Someone else said that given Blairite ghoul John Rentoul has endorsed the film it was probably about as veracious as Flat Earth Theory:
if John “Blairite truths are eternal” Rentoul has seen your Tony Blair documentary and liked it, it may be something of a whitewash pic.twitter.com/oJUMsJeFg9
— Jack FR (@FrayneJack34043) February 16, 2026
Another was buzzing for Series Two which will presumably see Blair in a war crimes court. We hope and pray:
I’m looking forward to Series 2 of The Tony Blair Story.
The one where he and Alastair Campbell are tried in The Hague for war crimes, and the Dr Kelly ‘suicide’ files they had put away for 70 years, to be released many years after their deaths, are released to the public. pic.twitter.com/9dHcToibmD
— MacPhisto (@BulletBlueSky2) February 18, 2026
In fact — big shocker — the war crimes thing was something of a theme:
Tonight 9pm The Tony Blair Story.
The only Tony Blair Story I want to see is when he’s sharing a cell with Radovan Karadzic.— Ragged Trousered Philanthropist (@alfienoakes63) February 18, 2026
Another X user made the connection with, ahem, current events in the Massive Nonce… sorry… Labour Party:
It’s an Epstein Files who’s who in The Tony Blair Story on Channel 4 tonight 🫣😳
— Neil Robins (@neilarobins) February 17, 2026
There may come a day when the British press stop giving Blair, a figure whose legacy in Iraq alone is unutterably toxic, a platform whenever he fancies it. But it isn’t just a matter of his wars in the early 2000s. Despite being a figure of contempt across the political spectrum, Blair STILL insists on having an active role in world politics. Usually this is by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the most grotesque people on earth.
If there was any semblance of accountability, the man would at the very least be an international pariah. And at best, he’d be held accountable for what he’s done.
Featured image via Twitter
Eighteen defendants from Palestine Action have now been acquitted of aggravated burglary. Earlier this month, a jury cleared six of the Filton24 of aggravated burglary, while leaving the charges of criminal damage and violent disorder undecided. These charges are in relation to direct-action taken targeting Israeli arms company, Elbit Systems in Bristol.
Middle East Eye reported that:
Following the decision to drop the charges, five of the defendants – William Plastow, Ian Sanders, Madeline Norman, Julia Brigadirova and Aleksandra Herbich – were granted conditional bail.
Plastow, Sanders and Norman have been held on remand for the longest period of the 18- spending 18 months in prison. Birgadirova and Herbich has been imprisoned since November 2024.
Bail applications for another eight defendants will be held on Friday.
Palestine Action targeting
Today’s announcement comes as the prosecution have “reconsidered the sufficiency of the evidence”. This move appears to suggest it would be unlikely to achieve the guilty verdicts it is clearly aiming for. However, at this late a stage in a criminal case, the prosecution could not just drop the aggravated burglary charge against the remaining defendants. This left it no option but to concede defeat on that charge if it wished to change course.
Consequently, concerns have resurfaced that the prosecution and government could reconsider their strategy and pursue different charges with a stronger likelihood of conviction.
All of the Filton24 were acquitted of aggravated burglary. SAY IT. https://t.co/ohMIDuUYVb
— Huda Ammori (@HudaAmmori) February 18, 2026
Victory: for now
The Palestine Action defendants have received popular support amongst pro-Palestinian activists and groups. In fact, many pensioners across the country have been seen risking arrest for daring to show public support for then proscribed Palestine Action (PA). The direct-action group has protested against Israel’s settler colonialism for many years, and its members have long sought to call attention to those arming the Zionist entity. The case against them refers to a break-in near Bristol of an Elbit Systems site known to be providing arms and supplies to Israel.
Citizens across the UK have taken to protests in every city since October 7th, 2023, making it clear that the majority of British people do not support the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Moreover, leading Holocaust scholars across the globe and the International Court of Justice in The Hague have identified this as a genocide, while the International Criminal Court has moved forward with arrest warrants at the direction of Prosecutor Karim Khan.
We wrote a few days ago on the court ruling that the proscription of Palestine Action, brought because of their acts of protest, was deemed disproportionate. Yet little has really changed, as Skwawkbox wrote:
The decision was made by a panel of judges who all have strong links to Israel, underscoring just how far the Starmer regime overstepped human rights legislation. It is almost certain to try to appeal, despite the exposed web of lies it created to try to justify the ban.
Nevertheless, people are rightfully celebrating this reprieve across social media:
Victory after victory … what an incredible start to Ramadan, the month of victory https://t.co/zrI9NkAiNi
— Fahad Ansari 🇵🇸 (Stop the Gaza genocide) (@fahadansari) February 18, 2026
Another victory for Palestine Action, defeat for the UK government’s support of genocide. https://t.co/Lw8wj3dV0l
— Syksy Räsänen (@SyksyRasanen) February 18, 2026
Great news BELOW!
There is a CHASM between what the politico-media “elites” think about the GENOCIDE in Gaza and what the general public think
The general public is decent & humane
The “elites” are immoral & cruel https://t.co/Hrw6j3dBgt
— Tom London (@TomLondon6) February 18, 2026
Returning home to their loved ones
Some defendants have since been granted bail following being declared ‘not guilty’ of the original charge of aggravated burglary. This represents a huge relief for the defendants given they will now be able to return home to their loved ones. Nevertheless, some still remain on remand awaiting trial, signaling that not much has changed regarding our government’s intentions.
As Investigative journalist Asa Winstanley reported on X:
BREAKING: Aleksandra Herbich and Yulia Brigadirova both also granted bail in Filton 24 hearing. Both have been on remand for 15 months.
In total, five Palestine Action activists have been granted bail today. Four are expected to be released today.
Brigadirova has a second case… pic.twitter.com/YO6Hkq9WHC
— Asa Winstanley (@AsaWinstanley) February 18, 2026
Although we at the Canary recognise this as a significant victory, it should not be mistaken for a safeguard against future action by the UK government or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
It is clear that accepting defeat on this charge will leave a bitter taste for the Starmer government. Their premiership is already facing serious scrutiny over its significant levels of funding from the Israel lobby. This announcement today raises legitimate concerns that the prosecution may return with renewed determination, pursuing alternative charges it believes are more likely to secure convictions.
The broader fear we must acknowledge is that this effort is not merely about this case, but about setting a precedent – using the Filton 24 as a warning to deter dissent and protest in support of Palestinians.
As Richard Sanders pointed out on X, the British Government have no love lost for these defendants. Something they made clear recently during the defendants’ principled hunger strikes:
A reminder that the government was prepared to let 4 of these people die on hunger strike. https://t.co/9zHFayUSP9
— Richard Sanders (@PulaRJS) February 18, 2026
We must stay vigil
We reported on Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori’s comments on the CPS’ case against the six acquitted by jury. Skwawkbox wrote:
This case from the start has been heavily politicised.
The CPS are now publicly declaring, before the court hearing, that they’ll seek a retrial, despite the defendants having already spent 18months in prison without a single conviction.
This is political theatre.
Sadly, we believe today’s victory may prove similarly short-lived. The actors are currently off-stage changing their outfits and rehearsing their lines. But we must not forget, political theatre is still heavily permeating through this oppressive criminal case against the Palestine Action defendants.
We must stay vigilant and ready for whatever may follow this temporary reprieve.
Featured image via the Canary
More than 25,000 people have now signed a petition calling on NatureScot to stop licensing the controversial guga hunt. And pressure continues to mount on Scotland’s nature agency.
The guga hunt – killing young gannets
Each autumn, a group of men from the Isle of Lewis travel to the remote uninhabited island of Sula Sgeir to capture and kill flightless gannet chicks (“guga”) for food. The hunters use poles to dislodge the young birds from the cliffs and then batter them to death.
The activity is part of a historical tradition and takes place under authorisation from public body NatureScot. The agency decides whether to grant a licence each year there’s an application, subject to conservation tests.
Protect the Wild created the petition. It argues that NatureScot is failing to meet evidential thresholds when issuing these licences and should not continue authorising the guga hunt.
Mounting public pressure recently prompted NatureScot to issue a public statement. It acknowledged the “strong feelings” about the guga hunt and confirmed that its board is considering people’s concerns.
In its statement, NatureScot said:
We understand there are strong feelings about the guga hunt, and that some people will disagree with it taking place. The hunt is recognised in law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act…Our role is to make licensing decisions based on the most recent scientific evidence.
NatureScot confirmed that in 2025 it reduced the permitted take from 2,000 birds to 500 following survey data collected after avian flu outbreaks. And it said that it granted a licence on the condition that the hunters killed the birds “humanely”.
Insufficient monitoring
But Protect the Wild says the Sula Sgeir gannet colony remains in decline and that allowing even a reduced guga hunt risks further damage. It also questions how NatureScot can guarantee the killing is humane when it does not directly monitor the process.
Devon Docherty, Scottish Campaigns Manager at Protect the Wild said:
Sula Sgeir is now the only Special Protection Area for gannets in Scotland that has fallen below its official citation level.
NatureScot continues to grant licences knowing the gannet colony is vulnerable, the hunt harms other breeding seabirds, and that they cannot verify whether the chicks are killed humanely – they simply take the hunters’ word for it.
With tens of thousands of people now calling for it to stop, the continued licensing of the guga hunt is becoming increasingly difficult for NatureScot to justify.
NatureScot has stated that if a new licence application is received for 2026, it will be brought before its Board for decision.
Protect the Wild says it will continue urging NatureScot to reject future licence applications. And it’s calling on the Scottish government to remove the legal exemption that allows the guga hunt to take place.
Featured image via John Ranson / the Canary
Two years after a war that left widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip, Ramadan returns amid an extremely complex humanitarian crisis. Feelings of joy at the arrival of the holy month are mixed with grief, displacement and the collapse of basic services.
The population welcomes Ramadan burdened by loss. Longstanding traditions have been replaced by tents and queues for aid.
Ramadan in Gaza — a pressing humanitarian situation
More than two million Palestinians are living in severe hardship. There are acute shortages of food and drinking water, and purchasing power has fallen to unprecedented levels amid widespread unemployment. A large segment of the population now relies on soup kitchens and relief aid to meet daily needs. Even then, supplies cover only a fraction of demand.
The health sector faces serious challenges. There are ongoing shortages of medicines, medical supplies and laboratory materials. These gaps threaten to increase health risks during the holy month, particularly for chronically ill patients, children and the elderly.
Medical authorities warn of the consequences of continued restrictions on humanitarian supplies. Ramadan is traditionally a season of solidarity and support, yet conditions remain dire.
Modest meals and absent rituals
Each evening, families gather for modest iftar meals. These are often limited to bread, vegetables and whatever relief supplies are available. Before the war, the holy month was marked by large family feasts. Extended families rarely gather now. Many have been scattered by displacement and the loss of their homes.
Street decorations and festive lanterns have largely disappeared. Children no longer roam markets buying Ramadan lights. Instead, small temporary lamps replace traditional decorations.
Some families craft handmade ornaments inside their tents. It is a small attempt to preserve the spirit of the month despite harsh conditions.
Mosques between destruction and temporary alternatives
Many mosques were damaged during the war. Some remain completely out of service, depriving residents of a central part of Ramadan.
In response, residents have set up temporary prayer spaces inside tents or damaged schools. Prayers are performed with whatever resources are available. Despite ongoing security concerns and tensions, many remain determined to perform Taraweeh prayers. For some, these rituals provide rare moments of peace amid instability.
Childhood in Gaza looks different this year. Children who have lost homes or family members play between rows of tents. They carry simple lanterns made from available materials.
They try to recreate the joy they associate with Ramadan, even while surrounded by rubble.
Parents strive to create moments of warmth within the family. They prepare simple meals together or organise small group prayers to maintain social bonds.
Between the ‘yellow line’ and the expanding buffer zone
Ramadan’s arrival coincides with ongoing changes on the ground. These shifts have altered Gaza’s demographic map.
A 9 February report by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Observatory described what it called a “silent and slow genocide.” It said this goes beyond bombardment to include structural changes. According to the report, the buffer zone is expanding along the so-called “yellow line,” dividing the Strip into two areas. Israel controls land to the east, which the report says represents more than half of Gaza’s territory.
The line, previously expected to remain fixed, has reportedly advanced around 1.5 kilometres into residential areas. Additional neighbourhoods have been annexed, forcing more families to flee.
Ramadan in Gaza, between loss and resilience
Ramadan in Gaza this year is not only a month of worship. It is also a test of resilience.
Homes have been destroyed, families dispersed and daily life remains under pressure. The holy month feels very different from before the war. Yet residents continue to observe Ramadan as best they can. They stress that its spirit lies in patience and solidarity rather than outward celebration.
Between forced hunger and religious fasting, Gazans are redefining Ramadan. Even amid devastation, many see it as a space for hope and quiet endurance.
Featured image via Aljazeera
7 min read
As the Prime Minister prepares to appoint Antonia Romeo as Cabinet Secretary, Ben Gartside looks at the fierce battles to block her appointment
In Downing Street, a coronation as new Cabinet Secretary is anticipated for Antonia Romeo. So impressed is the Prime Minister that an expedited process is being sought so the Home Office permanent secretary can be appointed at speed.
Romeo would become the first ever woman to hold the position of Cabinet Secretary, though a whisper campaign against her has already formed.
Last week, Lord McDonald launched an unprecedented attack via Channel 4, inviting Downing Street to go looking for bodies in Romeo’s resume.
In his televised interview, the former Head of Diplomatic Service said: “Due diligence is vitally important, the Prime Minister has recent bitter experience of doing the due diligence too late. It would be an unnecessary tragedy to repeat that mistake… if [Romeo] is the one, in my view, the due diligence has some way still to go.”
That intervention meant that previous allegations of bullying and questions about her use of expenses in 2017 resurfaced – despite the fact they were investigated at the time and Romeo cleared.
The interview also brought into the light an animus that has been an open secret in Whitehall for years. It began, it seems, around the time McDonald was appointed Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign Office in 2015. In his memoir, Leadership, McDonald describes a “senior colleague” as “stylish, energetic, warm, a bit iconoclastic and a bit marmite”, though he adds “preternaturally sensitive to” feedback.
The ”senior colleague” is widely assumed to be Romeo, who was special envoy to US tech firms at the time and was the subject of an investigation into bullying and expenses during his time at the helm.
While he managed the investigation, the ultimate arbiter was Jeremy Heywood. In his memoir, McDonald described his conclusions as “comprehensive and damning” and said her impending promotion to permanent secretary should have been paused or cancelled altogether. However, Heywood intervened to protect his mentee, Romeo, and the promotion still went ahead.
In another section, McDonald recounted blocking the “senior colleague” from what appears to be the US ambassador’s job in 2019.
“The senior ranks of the civil service are chock-a-block with people who didn’t do anything for very long – they agitate to move on and up quickly. Apparent success must be banked professionally before its shortcomings come to light.”
McDonald was on scathing form, describing how Romeo had cashed in on her success managing reforms around probation, before the changes were revealed to be an unmitigated disaster.
He said: “The most senior civil servants had moved on, promoted on the back of a single ‘success’… none of whom has ever suffered professionally for the flawed advice on which the Lord Chancellor based his decisions… The self-promoters not only relentlessly push their own claim, but they deter others from having a go.”
Friends of Romeo label much of the chatter around her sexist – no other senior civil servant has faced as much judgement outside the realms of performance and delivery, or as much focus on their character.
One top civil servant, an ally of Romeo, described McDonald’s behaviour as outrageous.
“At all levels of the civil service, there is a feeling of sheer outrage that a retired civil servant could launch an attack on an existing one, knowing she can’t defend herself against it. It is a drive-by on her, and deeply damaging to the institution.”
She confounds the old nostrums of the civil service
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, tells The House: “She’s an ambitious woman who doesn’t mind a bit of publicity. A lot of underlying rumours around her are an example of sexist, misogynistic culture. Lord McDonald’s talk around vetting is nonsense. She’s been vetted within an inch of her life already; she can see documents that cabinet ministers don’t have access to.
“She’s quite a dynamic, people-focused leader. I was quite impressed with that, and I’m of the view that senior leadership in the civil service should have more of a profile. She’s much more in the leadership role than the courtier role, and that’s what the civil service needs right now.”
That being said, concerns around bullying behaviour still require probing. One civil servant who worked under Romeo says she responded poorly to bullying allegations levelled at former cabinet minister Dominic Raab, and had ignored a slew of staff leaving his private office.
Penman disagrees: he sees Romeo as the only permanent secretary to have been shown by the investigation to have confronted Raab on his behaviour.
Others are more robust – albeit from behind the cloak of anonymity. A minister was quoted in The Sun as saying McDonald was part of a “posse of old baldies throwing dirt on a brilliant woman for having a bit of chutzpah”.
Sir Matthew Rycroft, a former colleague, and Rupert McNeil, the former head of government HR, are among those who have defended Romeo on the record.
Allies bill Romeo as a reformer, eager to enact change within Whitehall at the best of the government. In her office, a poster reading “Keep Calm and Carry On Transforming” sat above her desk, unwilling to accept stasis within the government.
Through this reputation, Romeo has built an unlikely list of allies: She was Liz Truss’ first choice for permanent secretary of the Treasury, before ultimately renegeging and preferring a Treasury insider. Now, numerous Labour advisors are admirers, with Shabana Mahmood’s success at the Home Office being ably supported by Romeo.
Robert Buckland, who worked with her during her time at the Department for Justice, offers a glowing endorsement.
“I think she is an extremely impressive person. She’s not a conventional backroom figure; she’s not scared of publicly projecting herself, but that shouldn’t be a block on her becoming first female cabinet secretary.
“She confounds some of the old nostrums of the civil service. Seen not heard, be aware of the hierarchy. As a politician, I didn’t have time for that. Running a department during Covid, I needed flat structures and quick decisions.
“She doesn’t play the old civil service game, hiding behind hierarchies and using delay as a tactic.”
Alex Chalk, a former justice minister, describes Romeo in similarly favourable terms to The House magazine: “She is whip-smart, highly intelligent and knows Whitehall inside out. She also has good judgement, meaning she gives candid and practical advice about how best to deliver on ministerial priorities. Crucially, her instinct is to develop solutions, not simply point to problems. She is the reboot the civil service urgently needs.”
Former secretary of state Brandon Lewis echoes this, crediting Romeo for bringing an end to the bar strike and relieving pressure on prison spaces. “[Romeo] is focused, engaging and always has a smile to share, great to work with and a real leader of her team,” he says.
However, one policy wonk points back to her time in probation at justice as an example of the double-edged sword of being popular with officials.
“In 2014, the probation reforms were rushed on the behest of Chris Grayling, as he wanted to be appointed home secretary after the election. The data wasn’t ready, contractors were excluded from bidding in order to meet political goals. If Romeo hadn’t been so popular with politicians, perhaps the reforms would have been more successful.”
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “Antonia Romeo is an outstanding leader with 25 years of public service. She has been appointed to three different Permanent Secretary roles and has led hundreds of thousands of public servants to deliver for governments of all stripes.
“As we have repeatedly said, one formal complaint was raised 9 years ago, which was thoroughly investigated. The allegations were dismissed on the basis that there was no case to answer.
“It is entirely inappropriate to resurface dismissed HR proceedings almost a decade later.”
Lord McDonald declined to comment on the book excerpts.
Serious UK prime ministers should be afraid to discipline special forces troops over war crimes because they are so popular with the public. That’s according to Dr. Simon Anglim, who wrote a lengthy essay on the UK’s new ranger and special operations units.
The essay makes a range of (in fairness, very interesting) points about shadowy deployments overseas — including to Ukraine. But the King’s College War Studies lecturer — yes, it’s the KCL War Studies people again — also warned that the current Haddon-Cave inquiry into war crimes in Afghanistan could have serious implications for the use of UK Special Forces (UKSF).
UKSF is distinct from the ranger units and remains heavily protected from even basic democratic scrutiny. The government refuses to comment on what they do — even in parliament.
It’s a distinctly British practice. None of our major allies refuse point blank to comment on their special forces operations. Yet we do. As the now-defunct Remote Control project pointed out in a 2016 report:
this blanket opacity policy is not standard practice, and the UK is lagging behind its allies on transparency over its use of Special Operations Forces (SOF). The US, Australia, and Canada are all more transparent about their deployment of SOF than the UK.
The practice is also deeply undemocratic:
This leaves the British public, and the parliament that represents them, among the least-informed of their foreign allies about the government’s current military activities in places like Syria and Libya stymying informed debate about the UK’s role in some of the most important conflicts of our age.
So what’s happening then?
Special Forces afraid of the light
Anglim said the threat of accountability over the Afghan allegations was “a shadow hanging over UKSF”:
The ongoing Inquiry, presided over by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, investigating allegations that UKSF members committed unlawful killings in Afghanistan in 2010.
Ireland legacy allegations were also an issue. The SAS investigation:
runs concurrently with the Northern Ireland Coroner’s ruling that soldiers of 22 SAS were ‘not justified’ in killing three members of the Irish Republican Army in an ambush at Clonoe in Northern Ireland in 1992, and the stream of further allegations of unlawful conduct it has set off.
As Anglim pointed out, the cases are sub judice — ongoing — currently. But he expressed a concern they:
could strengthen demands for UKSF to face greater Parliamentary scrutiny, possibly via a Select Committee similar to the one overseeing Intelligence.
Clearly, public scrutiny is a terrifying prospect.
Scrutiny and pressure
This, Anglim said, could result in political pressures which might limit the use of SF:
Given the potential for security breaches and increased hostile scrutiny, this may have a freezing effect on future UKSF deployments and could alter the relationship between the Directorate and its political masters.
Presumably by ‘hostile scrutiny’ he means from the press and public. Anglim suggested he might write about it more once the cases are resolved:
but it is worth noting that, given their high status with the British public, no serious Prime Minister would want to impose collective punishment on Britain’s Special Forces and besides, they are too valuable as national assets to do this too severely if at all.
Anglim makes some very good points in his essay. He is also the definition of an establishment academic. He has worked with the US Department of Defence (currently ridiculously rebranded as the Department of War), the Sultanate of Oman, various establishment think-tanks and has given evidence on readiness to the defence committee.
Here he is talking about how Covid and Brexit affected the military:
But his warnings that some sort of basic accountability could reduce Britain’s ability to conduct secret military operations are telling. As with all things the British establishment says you must turn them upside down to understand them.
Public and journalistic scrutiny are good, actually, because they are a threat to the British ruling class’s hunger for war, war-profits — and for staying close to US imperial foreign policy whatever the cost and whoever is president. The more scrutiny, then, the better. And if ‘serious’ prime ministers would be afraid of the light of said scrutiny, let’s hope for an ‘unserious’ one.
Featured image via the Canary
We all want to help out our feathered friends – especially in these biting winter months when their food is more scarce than usual.
But there’s one garden mistake many of us might be making that could unintentionally cause harm to the British bird population.
According to wildlife expert Kate Macrae, known to millions as Wildlife Kate, we mustn’t forget about bird feeder hygiene.
“There are many diseases that can be passed around dirty feeders, causing death to species that we actually wanted to help,” she says.
The RSPB notes that diseases such as Trichomonsis – which has been a major factor in the decline of Britain’s greenfinch population – can be spread by contaminated food and drinking water.
So, how often should be cleaning bird feeders?
Macrae recommends having a couple of high-quality bird feeders that come apart completely for cleaning. You can clean them with warm soapy water and an animal-safe disinfectant spray.
The RSPB notes feeders and baths should be cleaned once a week – Macrae agrees, and she’ll typically wipe down all ports and perches every day.
For those intent on keeping feeders filled right to the top with food, the wildlife expert, who has partnered with UK woodcare brand Protek, says high-quality food matters more than quality.
Sunflower hearts, sunflower seeds, suet pellets and balls are her top picks. She notes peanuts should be dispensed in a suitable feeder where they cannot be removed whole.
The RSPB also encourages people to not overfill their bird feeders (again, for cleanliness reasons). “Try and make sure they are being emptied every 1-2 days”, it suggested, and if you do need to refill them, make sure old food is emptied out first.
The wildlife charity recommends moving feeders regularly “to prevent the build up of bird food and droppings potentially contaminating the ground below”.
And don’t forget your bird baths and water dishes need a good clean, too.
“Again, remember that hygiene is paramount and clean the dish and put fresh water out daily,” Macrae adds.
We all know that Wuthering Heights is not about a love that we should aspire to, right? We know that their bond was eventually very toxic, that they mistreated each other and everybody around them, and it ended anything but happily ever after.
All of that being said, watching Emerald Fennell’s take on the novel can definitely remind you of a certain ex. Not the one you had an amicable split with, not the ‘fun summer fling’. No. This ex is the one that you had the senselessly passionate relationship with. Everything was aflame and when it ended, you went no-contact. Probably because your friends begged you to.
It’s not romantic but it’s definitely alluring: the thrill of the chase, the passion between you, the way they took up residence in your head and squeezed into every thought… they’re pretty unforgettable, probably quite toxic, and seeing a highly stylised version on-screen with this blockbuster can easily reignite certain memories.
Why you can’t get over your toxic ex
On paper it should be easy, but getting over this kind of ex is not simple, much like the bond itself – as divorce coach Carol Madden notes on Medium: toxic relationships take longer to heal from than healthier ones.
Speaking to Business Insider, relationship expert Jessica Alderson explained that these kind of relationships are a bit like an addiction, saying: “They are often characterised by extreme highs, during which relationships seem perfect and magical, followed by crashing lows, which are usually caused by a partner pulling away or acting out – this can make people feel alive.”
Once the relationship finally ends, your body can still crave this unpredictability. She added: “The emotional rollercoaster can make it harder to move on and accept that the relationship wasn’t meant to be.”
How to get over an ex
Clinical psychologist Dr Ruth Ann Harpur suggested that after a relationship breaks down, people will naturally try to seek answers about where it all went wrong – and while it’s a “crucial step” in the early moments of the breakup, it’s important not to keep going over every detail of the relationship and your ex’s behaviour.
If you get stuck ruminating, you become “tied to the past” and end up reliving the pain, she suggested. So, her advice is to: “Understand that ruminating on past abuses may feel safe but it keeps you from living fully in the present and building healthier relationships.”
She also urges people to focus on activities they really enjoy to keep busy and connect with themselves again, and to open themselves to new friendships and relationships.
Experts at Calm have a guide to getting over a relationship with advice that includes:
- Clearing out physical reminders of them.
- Allowing yourself to feel your feelings.
- Limiting or cutting contact with them, including on social media.
- Setting new goals.
- And seeking therapy.
It isn’t easy, but you can move on.
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