Welcome to The Canary Catch Up. Each Sunday, the Canary’s Rachel Charlton-Dailey will bring us bang up to date with the telly she’s been obsessed with, what she’s hate-watching, and what she can’t wait to get stuck into.

Warning- Spoilers for Bridgerton ahead!

Well, isn’t this exciting! The thing about me is I love ALL telly, there’s very little I won’t watch, to be honest. From a hard-hitting drama to Strictly, I’m there. That’s why I’m over the bloody moon to bring you the Canary Catch Up. Every Sunday, I’ll be here rounding up what I loved, things that I think you need to watch, and of course, the silly TV moments we couldn’t stop talking about.

Murky sewage scandal laid bare

Something that stopped me in my tracks this week was Dirty Business on Channel 4. The docudrama brought the sewage scandal, which destroyed our rivers and coastlands, whilst also risking many people’s health into stark focus. Channel 4 did an excellent job of holding the water companies and the regulators to blame. Showing just how much the latter was in the pockets of the former. But it also highlighted just how detrimental the scandal was for a lot of people personally, and also the cruelty of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

In one absolutely rage-inducing scene, Reuben, an ex-surfer, attempts to be assessed for Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Throughout his assessment, his distress is ignored. The assessor tells him to only focus on the days when he’s not having Ménière’s drop attacks. This is despite him pointing out that the attacks happen at least three times a week and that they leave him paralysed. As a disabled person, I sobbed when he failed his assessment and told the assessor, “I don’t know what to do.” This is such a raw look at how much the DWP is failing those with chronic illnesses; everyone needs to watch it.

Back to the Ton for Bridgerton series 4

Dearest gentle reader, as we head back to the Ton, this writer has many questions she needs answered. Why is Francesca so mad to see Michaela? Who is the new Lady Penwood? And most importantly, how the fuck did Benedict become obsessed with a woman he met at a party yet not realise she wasn’t white?

Yes, it’s back to  Netflix’s dazzling alternate reality Georgian drama where racism doesn’t exist, but also it does. I will admit I’m only on episode 2 so far, but I screamed my face off when we found out who the new lady Penwood is. Everyone’s fave villain, Cressida Cowper! The carriage scene might’ve been a highlight of last series for many, but mine was when this absolute queen showed up pretending to be Lady Whistledown to the soundtrack of Confident by Demi Lovato on strings.

BBC doing the DWP’s work for them, again

The BBC were full of disability hate this week. Alongside airing a man with tourette’s tics to cause division between marginalised communities, they also aired a benefits-hating Panorama. The title says it all, really: The Rising Cost of Health Benefits. As usual, the BBC presented this as concern for taxpayers when it was obviously another attempt to call disabled people scroungers. 

The show was packed to the rafters with murky think tanks like Iain Duncan Smith’s Centre for Social Justice and the Institute of Economic Affairs. Their faux concern was barely hiding their utter contempt for disabled people. There was, of course, the usual poor disabled person exploited for the cameras whilst the presenter, Bronagh Munroe, shat all over autism and ADHD. It was a massively transparent PR piece from the DWP.

Anyone for one last haunting?

Anyone who knows me knows that my favourite TV show EVER is the BBC’s Ghosts. I was left bereft in 2023 when the team announced they were done with the ridiculous spectres forever. But in fairness, I actually respected that they chose to end it before it got too tired. They closed the show off well, and there were no more stories to tell. Or so we thought.

It turns out there’s still one more haunting left. The team announced this week that Ghosts: The Possession of Button House starts filming next week. That’s right, we’re getting a Ghosts movie! I can’t even begin to explain my excitement for this one, lads. I cannot believe my emotional support, silly little dead people are coming back – and I will be so fucking seated for this film.

Featured image via the Canary

Zack Polanski joined Laura Kuensberg to discuss the war of aggression instigated by the US and Israel. An illegal war which has seen Iran’s Supreme Leader assassinated alongside his family. This comes in stark contrast to the shameful ignorance shown by other public figures in the UK with their reluctance to call out the flagrant breaches of international law on clear display.

Nevertheless, many have welcomed Polanski’s perspective supporting the suggestion that the Green Party leader is far more in tune with ordinary people across the UK than most of our elected MPs. Polanski made clear the woefully apparent cowardice shown by the British government. Akin to their ignorance of Israeli crimes, they refuse to stand up to Trump despite his and Netanyahu’s illegal military campaign. A war of aggression that has resulted in 148 schoolgirls murdered through western bombs being dropped on a primary school in Minab, a southern province in Iran.

The school reportedly sheltered 170 at the time, showing the deplorable lack of morality in mainstream media who have refused to discuss it. Whilst highlighting the sheer devastation being dealt by the West against Iranian civilians.

.@ZackPolanski: The US & Israel attack is illegal and unprovoked, the defence secretary & the govt won’t condemn it, we have a PM who is incapable of standing up to Trump, and the worry is that we’ll be pulled into another illegal war.

Spot on. pic.twitter.com/EGFSnu0v1s

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— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 1, 2026

How diplomacy should be done: with a spine

UK officials would be wise to watch Polanski’s interview with Kuenssberg. Specifically taking note of his principled stance and refusal to kowtow to the genocidal state Israel and thug-bully US. After all, this attack on Iran is illegal, unprovoked, and has directly afforded Iran the right to defend itself from attacks on its sovereign territory. It must not be forgotten that these attacks came — once again — as negotiations were ongoing, reaching agreement on issues that had never seen that progress before. Such as a commitment to stockpile limit of zero, making Iran’s capability of building nuclear bombs impossible.

Once again, this exposes the excuse of stopping Iran having a nuclear bomb as a load of hogwash. Instead, it appears to be constructed in a ‘deja-vu’ to Iraq to further the colonialist and imperialist agenda of Israel and the Epstein-compromised US President Trump.

Kuenssberg, like any loyal client journalist to the establishment, refused to acknowledge that retaliatory strikes are a legal right under international law. On the contrary, she firmly lays all blame on Iran for threats to military bases in the region. Both the victim and the aggressor apparently:

.@ZackPolanski says the PM should condemn the strikes by the US/Israel as illegal & unprovoked#bbclaurak: but what about Irans retaliatory strikes, you’re not calling on them to de-escalate

Doesn’t LK know what retaliation means? Of course she does. Shes just doing her job pic.twitter.com/EI4flhG3gT

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 1, 2026

Zack Polanski astutely exposed just how ridiculous that wilful ignorance is:

.@ZackPolanski: “Its absolutely outrageous that they can be at the negotiating table & then our PM puts out a statement that actually condemns Iran for a retaliatory attack as opposed to Israel & America that started the bombing in the first place”🎯 pic.twitter.com/4QnNTGaDN8

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 1, 2026

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Zack Polanski highlighted the fact that there is only one country in the region who has nuclear bombs. Making clear who she works for, Kuenssberg defends Israel as the only ‘democracy’:

.@ZackPolanski: “There is only one [country] in that area with a nuclear weapon, and that’s Israel”#bbclaurak: “but there is also only one democracy..”

Kuenssberg is defending a genocidal apartheid state that denies millions of people under its control their basic civic rights pic.twitter.com/AXwO15fMMK

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 1, 2026

This shouldn’t really need to be pointed out by Polanski, but recollection seems short lived in the West and common sense is second to self interest:

.@ZackPolanski: “I do know that there’s no example in history where you’ve bombed people to democracy.. airstrikes for regime change has never led [to] an example where a country is better off afterwards” 🎯 pic.twitter.com/03CojFCHVw

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 1, 2026

Justice must be necessary, not optional

The illegal war on Iraq killing millions is widely condemned. In fact, it is now widely recognised as having been instigated based on fearmongering lies and manipulations from US President Bush. However, the very fact that no one has been held responsible has long been a stain on our international rules-based order.

For instance, war criminal Tony Blair is seemingly protected from accountability under international law in the International Criminal Court (ICC), having never answered for his crimes against humanity. Instead, he was championed to sit on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ painfully exposing the sham that that is.

Our own Joe Glenton wrote last year on the interconnected realities between Iraq and Israel’s genocide on Gaza. It is highly likely that Iran will soon be joining this list of victimised, terrorised sovereign states that never seem to see accountability. Joe Glenton wrote:

Now imagine a world in which Tony Blair simply never got a platform to advance his grandiose, yet inevitably ridiculous takes?

And imagine a world where the core values of Blairism – embodied today in the Magic Bank Manager Keir Starmer – had been consigned to the dustbin of history.

Sounds alright, doesn’t it?

Well one of the reasons that world doesn’t exist is that nobody was ever remotely held to account over the Iraq War.

The legacy media is a part of this. We shouldn’t be surprised that an industry dominated by Russell Group-educated Professional Managerial Class (PMC) losers would help recondition figures who represent their own values and ambitions.

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Glenton was bang on and the theory is ongoing. If war criminals weren’t protected by power, with the rule of law having teeth of its own, our leaders would feel more uncomfortable about their prior, current and ongoing complicity in US-Israeli aggressions.

Nevertheless, it’s clear western leaders are less bothered about silly objective issues of legality. Instead, they have long been far more interested in keeping the big orange paedo-pal in the US happy. Zarah Sultana gave a damning rebuke to Tory Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister:

Tom, it’s interesting that you present yourself as the sole defender of Iranian lives when your record says otherwise:

You sit on the advisory board of United Against Nuclear Iran, a lobby group that supports punitive sanctions that hurt ordinary Iranians and has backed calls… https://t.co/7HVKVmqmfY

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) March 1, 2026

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Her damning takedown of Tugendhat reads in full:

Tom, it’s interesting that you present yourself as the sole defender of Iranian lives when your record says otherwise:

You sit on the advisory board of United Against Nuclear Iran, a lobby group that supports punitive sanctions that hurt ordinary Iranians and has backed calls for US military action against Iran.

You’ve been paid by pro-Israel networks like YPO United Mosaic.

You criticised the UN Security Council for condemning illegal Israeli settlement expansion.

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You described your participation in the illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq, which resulted in the deaths of over a million Iraqis, as “the naughtiest thing I have ever done.”

You condemned the “betrayal” of Afghanistan when Western forces withdrew in 2021, yet consistently supported the interventionist policies that helped produce that disaster.

Your government wanted to deny Iranian refugees the right to claim asylum in the UK and ship them to Rwanda.

And I’m still looking for your condemnation of Israel’s targeted strike on a girls’ school that killed over 100 Iranian children.

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When you mount an attack, you need someone to watch your back.

Healey makes clear that this is Britain’s role – guarding the rear, while Israel and America go on a killing spree.

We are actively participating in an illegal, regime-change war – yet again. https://t.co/q4KpNjjZdK

— Steve Howell (@FromSteveHowell) March 1, 2026

Journalist Richard Sanders also exposed this double standard in a post on X, highlighting the selective nature of western condemnation:

The killing of dozens of girls at a primary school in Iran is not on the front page of a single British newspaper.

A simple test – imagine the reaction if they were Israelis.https://t.co/jvdHrLEMlB

— Richard Sanders (@PulaRJS) March 1, 2026

Mark Curtis of Declassified UK applauded Polanski’s ‘principled position’ on foreign policy, before warning that the threat he poses to the establishment will face concerted efforts to sabotage him as a result:

Many of Polanski’s positions on UK foreign policy are decent/principled and therefore a threat to the UK oligarchy. He’ll obviously be increasingly subject to the same kind of media campaign that helped remove J.Corbyn in 2015-19. We must monitor and raise awareness of it. https://t.co/RrUhAkOyR7

— Mark Curtis (@markcurtis30) March 1, 2026

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Zack Polanski — potential future Prime Minister?

The principle and courage on show from Polanski to speak truth to power and put the interests of the majority over the interests of the powerful is earning respect across the country. It seems where other MPs choose to earn the favour of the US President, Polanski prefers to put the British public first.

In contrast to Starmer and the government’s abysmal approval ratings and failure to ‘read the room’ amongst the electorate, Polanski’s consistent show of principle is now earning calls for him to be PM.

With the recent astounding and overwhelming victory of the Green Party in Gorton and Denton, this might just be a glimpse of the future:

The Prime Minister this country needs: https://t.co/EHsHKZpKRj

— Sharmen Rahman (@sharmen_r) March 1, 2026

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Featured image via the Canary

Both Hillary and Bill Clinton have now given testimony before a congressional panel looking into the crimes of serial child rapist Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the clintons’ frequent meetings with the vile Zionist billionaire, they both seem to have developed selective amnesia about their interactions with him. The former president said in his opening remarks:

You’ll often hear me say that I don’t recall. That might be unsatisfying. But I’m not going to say something I’m not sure of. This was all a long time ago. And I am bound by my oath not to speculate, or to guess.

This inability to recall is surprising, given what a significant role Epstein played in the lives of the Clintons. Earlier in the week, Hillary:

…confirmed that Epstein visited the White House 17 times – as suggested in the presidential mansion’s visitor records – during her husband’s presidency and had flown at least 27 times on the Epstein plane, which was nicknamed the “Lolita express”.

Clinton released a statement after he gave testimony, one that closely resembled his opening remarks to the panel. In it, the 42nd US president dishonestly described his dealings with Epstein as “limited interactions” and said he:

…never witnessed…any indication of what was truly going on…

Clintons forget, but remember they’re definitely innocent

Clinton offered a strange combination of recollection failures, alongside total certainty about his innocence, saying:

First, I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing. No matter how many photos they show of me, I have two things that at the end of the day matter far more than any interpretation of 20-year-old photos. I know what I saw and more importantly what I didn’t see. And I know what I did and more importantly what I didn’t do. I saw nothing and did nothing wrong.

Clinton featured in numerous suspicious photos among the Epstein files, including one of him in a hot tub with a person who appears to be a young girl or woman. Her face is blacked out in the file release. Another features Clinton with a young girl/woman on his lap. Again her identity has been protected.

In the statement, Clinton went on to defend his wife Hillary’s memory loss, saying:

She has no memory of ever even meeting him. She neither travelled with him nor visited any of his properties.

The Clintons seemingly did cut ties with Epstein after his 2008 conviction for procuring a child for prostitution, but remained close to his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. She was honoured by the Clinton Global Initiative in 2013 and attended their daughter Chelsea’s wedding in 2010.

Both Clintons attempted to pass off their testimony as a service to their country, rather than the reality, which is that they would have faced prosecution for failing to appear. They had previously attempted to dodge scrutiny. Bill Clinton opined:

I [testified] for two reasons. First, I love my country, including our Constitution. And America was built on the idea that no person is above the law, even presidents, especially presidents, and that we should all live under the same set of rules. This kind of democracy requires every person to play their part.

And I hope that by being there today, we can bring ourselves just a little further away from the brink and back to being a country where we can disagree civilly and we can search for truth and justice and that it outweighs the partisan urge to score points and create spectacle.

No accountability, no justice for the victims

In reality, every US president has operated beyond the law. Clinton ought to be in the Hague for his crimes against the people of Iraq. Hillary is a similarly vile figure, a backer of so-called ‘Israel’s’ holocaust in Gaza. She too engaged in self-aggrandising rhetoric, concluding her opening statement by saying:

My challenge to you, Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, is the same challenge I put to myself throughout my long service to this nation. How to be worthy of the trust the American people have given you. They expect statesmanship, not gamesmanship. Leading, not grandstanding. They expect you to use your power to get to the truth and to do more to help survivors of Epstein’s crimes as well as the millions more who are victims of sex trafficking.

This was a reference to the committee’s failure thus far to call before it the current criminal occupant of the White House, Donald Trump.  This is a fair point, as Trump is accused of multiple child rapes in the file release. Other documents related to the thug currently wrecking Iran are missing from the files released by the Department of Justice.

Trump’s non-appearance and his atrocities in Iran are yet further indications of the near total absence of accountability for powerful criminals, leaving the same sort of impunity that allowed Epstein to conduct his crimes in the first place.

Featured image via people.com

The cast of Sinners has called out the BAFTAs and BBC for exploiting a man’s disability whilst also blindsiding black presenters and audience members.

“You want to celebrate our art, but you won’t protect it.” – Jayme Lawson calls out the #BAFTAs slip up at the #NAACPImageAwards pic.twitter.com/y19yOIMfrk

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 1, 2026

Last week, the BBC made the ridiculous editorial decision to broadcast an involuntary, racist slur by John Davidson, a white man with Tourette’s. Of course, that resulted in widespread upset and huge increases in racism.

It also sparked heated animosity between Black and disabled communities in the UK. But that is probably precisely what the BBC intended.

The Canary’s Maddison Wheeldon previously reported that:

the BBC seemingly reassured executives from Warner Bros it would not broadcast the slur.

She added:

the BBC may have deliberately left this offensive incident in the cut. This carries considerable weight given the absence of other inappropriate slurs that came as a result of Davidson’s tics.

BBC — Exploitation, not inclusivity

We have to question why production companies, movie producers, and even media outlets (I’m looking at you, BBC) are not providing the necessary resources to keep people from diverse backgrounds and with varied lived experiences safe. 

“Just because you invite someone into a space but you don’t provide the necessary resources to keep them and everyone else in that room safe, by them being there, that’s not inclusivity. That’s exploitation.”

Hrtwt, we’ll talk about this tomorrow. https://t.co/fiaeYsAHYz

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— beygala (@HintonsDrew) March 1, 2026

It’s nothing short of exploitation when they fail to do that.

Jayme Lawson absolutely said the right thing: a man with Tourette’s was exploited.

Assuming the censoring of many elements was done by BAFTA, allegedly, they used John Davidson’s random outburst to create division and needlessly.

Many people agreed Mr. Davidson is not at…

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— Long Tran (@longttran) March 1, 2026

The BBC were able to censor homophobia. So why couldn’t they muster up enough energy between the whole production team to censor deeply offensive and oppressive, racist language?

I did NAWT expect her to come for blood like that but I’m glad she called out the BAFTAs exploited that mans disability and then blindside the black audience while simultaneously choosing to edit out other things. https://t.co/iZVP7AddkZ

— El Mago (@AtlantisFell) March 1, 2026

Jayme Lawson was putting the blame where it belongs, with the BAFTAs and BBC.

Listen to her and listen to her deeply. It was always the BAFTAS fault. https://t.co/je8WgA0NhY

— 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚜𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛🦇 (@BrowseHorror) March 1, 2026

Lawson also called out both organisations for censoring Akinola Davies Jr. She called for a Free Palestine during her speech.

I love that Jayme Lawson just called out the BAFTAs and BBC for censoring Akinola Davies Jr.’s “Free Palestine” speech https://t.co/A03j73iSvn

— Ahmed Hathout 🇵🇸 (@ahmedhathoutt) March 1, 2026

It’s funny how the BBC remembered to censor that one, isn’t it?

not only is she calling out the BAFTAS for the exploitation, she’s calling out those trying to put John Davidson’s comfort over Michael and Del Roy’s. https://t.co/R4Dbe5z65w

— helena (@wannabespiced) March 1, 2026

What John Davidson did was not his fault. However, that does not omit the harm that his words caused to black people.

what john davidson did was involuntary, he feels awful and i hope he’s okay, but 98% of those advocating on his behalf, have been belittling michael and del roy’s embarrassment/humiliation at what they experienced to uplift john at this time, and you are 100% foul for that.

— helena (@wannabespiced) March 1, 2026

Additionally, speaking about the ableism that the BAFTAs have shone a light on makes zero sense as a standalone issue. Unless you’re going to also speak out about the harm black people faced in hearing those words, and the racist backlash they have then faced for speaking out about said harm. Because the issue here is the BBC exploiting one issue to stir up another.

you condemn those speaking of tourette’s in a negative matter and stay silent about the rampant racism this event has unleashed, because it makes you uncomfortable to realize you aren’t as nuanced as you believed you were.

— helena (@wannabespiced) March 1, 2026

But it all seems to be a game to the BBC. Do the bosses care about anything more than clicks and views?

Clearly, the British public service broadcaster places more value on causing an absolute shitstorm of racism by exploiting a man’s disability than it does on keeping their presenters and viewers safe. So why are they still getting the license fee?

As Jayme Lawson said so perfectly:

You want to celebrate our art, but you won’t protect it.

Feature image via BETNetworks/ YouTube

Today, UK defence minister John Healey spoke to Laura Kuenssberg, answering questions relating to the war of aggression on Iran which has seen its’ supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei assassinated. Widespread reports have further confirmed that a number of Iranian officials were also murdered.

Healey’s opening line was to suggest that ‘no one will mourn’ the death of Khamenei. It’s important to note, we condemn the oppressive acts of Khamenei on his own citizens. It is obvious, as in any state, there will be those who will cheer their leader’s downfall. However, it is arguably a deliberate lie from our defence minister to manufacture consent that is not supported by video evidence.

It’s hard to imagine Western society responding well when someone openly says they would feel no sympathy over the death of a public figure, no matter how controversial that person may be. For example, after the assassination of Charlie Kirk last year, critics quickly condemned those who suggested that Kirk’s own rhetoric had contributed to the hostility directed at him.

Once again, double standards are exposed in the West. And those double standards have a racist undertone.

Iran has begun 40 days of mourning after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in ongoing attacks by the United States and Israel, according to Iranian state media https://t.co/OD5V3wh2x7 pic.twitter.com/DmbFLOGCaA

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 1, 2026

Iranians mourning Khameneipic.twitter.com/kS7tPNE6ej

— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) March 1, 2026

‘Revenge’ calls and deep grief on display after Khamenei assassination, not alleged civil uprising

Mainstream media across the West has spoken of the significant likelihood that Iranians would rise up and overthrow their government once US and Israeli attacks apparently ‘cleared the way’. Today, across UK news outlets, references are made to Iranians supposedly jumping for joy and showing gratitude for the widespread attacks on Iran. Those attacks have already resulted in a majority of deaths being amongst women and girls, with bombs hitting a primary school killing around 150 schoolgirls, as well as a sports hall which sheltered a women’s volleyball team which killed 20. 

Arguably confirming those civilian deaths were apparently deliberate, Trump celebrated the assassination posting on Truth Social. He stated:

He [Khamenei] was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.

This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.

The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective.

Contrary to Western ‘saviour’ attitudes, reports across the Middle East show widespread grief with women, men and young girls seen visibly weeping. Whilst we have seen happier celebrations too, looking at the sheer numbers showing deep, continuing faith in their murdered Ayatollah shouldn’t be diminished.

Footage you won’t be shown on Western media today:

Mass mourning in Tehran’s Enghelab’s Square to mourn the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei.

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The US and Israel said Iranians would take to the streets and overthrow their government if the leadership was killed…

Instead… https://t.co/9h6APXnEJ8 pic.twitter.com/zqeo0GmhAm

— Going Underground (@GUnderground_TV) March 1, 2026

The post in full reads:

Footage you won’t be shown on Western media today:

Mass mourning in Tehran’s Enghelab’s Square to mourn the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei.

The US and Israel said Iranians would take to the streets and overthrow their government if the leadership was killed…

Instead they have taken to the streets to rally around the flag and mobilise.

And significant mourning seen from his followers in India:

📍Kargil, India 🇮🇳 Mourning the Martyrdom of Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, The Supreme Leader of Iran. pic.twitter.com/RLximdNxJb

— Muhammed Arshad (@Martyrs_lover) March 1, 2026

Many have sought to diminish reports as ‘old videos’, with many coming out to refute that allegation:

Live shot from Shiraz on anti-Iran Qatar’s Al Jazeera – for those who keep insisting that the vast crowds in Iranian cities mourning @khamenei_ir and demanding revenge are “old videos” pic.twitter.com/Nr8HdbZTmk

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) March 1, 2026

Khamenei didn’t run and hide like Netanyahu

Possibly indicating why he was respected by his followers, this report from Al Jazeera suggests the Ayatollah continued his work refusing to run and hide. This draws a contrast to reports that Netanyahu ran like a coward to Germany when he started this war with Iran. A war which has seen retaliatory attacks from Iran on Israelis and Palestinians in the Occupied territories, whilst Gaza has been sealed off. 

BREAKING: Iran’s Fars and Tasnim news agencies say Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed at his office early Saturday while “performing his assigned duties.”

A 40-day period of public mourning has been declared. pic.twitter.com/wpVQOQpSIU

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 1, 2026

Russian President Putin has recognised the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader. Stating the murder was ‘cynical’, pictures have shown him honouring Khamenei by placing flowers in his memory in Moscow. We’re sure Putin is happy to see the West increasingly abandon the rule of law. Especially as the current rhetoric suggests aggressors decide if their acts are illegal: not its victims or allies.

🚨 Heavy mourning worldwide Russian President Vladimir Putin places flowers in Moscow to honor Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei. pic.twitter.com/d5RKFik2Yo

— Hon Nuhu Sada (@NuhuSada0) March 1, 2026

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Khamenei had clearly been an oppressive leader over those who he deemed ‘dissenters’. The immeasurable pain his abuse of power has inflicted is reflected in the X post below.

The Islamic Republic tortured an 87-year-old woman into a confession.

Her only “crime” was mourning her nephew, who was killed by the regime.

In her grief, she cursed Ali Khamenei and the forces responsible for taking his life.

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It is standard practice for the Islamic Republic… pic.twitter.com/EvJz3PJq4g

— The Iran Watcher 🇮🇷 (@TheIranWatcher) February 9, 2026

Hypocrites: Do as the US and Israel say, not as they do

However, bombs falling on schools and sports halls hardly makes Israel and the US superior in their regard for human life and civil freedoms in Iran. These extraterritorial attacks have clearly triggered a deeper sense of loyalty and increased resistance to Western aggression amongst Iranians and followers across the region. This is hardly creating conditions for change, and far more likely to set conditions for all-out war in the Middle East.

Thankfully there are Western figures who are widely respected, who have called out the attacks for what they are. They have also recognised the rights inherent to Iran in light of widespread bombings across its territory. Your Party MP Zarah Sultana reminded us of Iran’s right under international law, provoking danger across multiple regions in light of this hostile aggression against its territory:

Under international law, Iran has the right to defend itself from unprovoked and illegal attacks.

This is US imperialist aggression, plain and simple. https://t.co/oObYj5mSJd

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) February 28, 2026

Law must be objective, not selective

Attempts to hail the assassination of Khamenei are across western media. They are working hard to convince the public that it was a ‘righteous act’ by the US and Israel. An aggressive act that came in answer to calls from Iranians miserable and oppressed under Iran’s IRGC regime. However, evidence does not support the suggestion that ‘few will mourn’ his assassination.

Also, moral superiority is increasingly short-lived when we look honestly at our own government’s behaviour, and that of our staunch allies. Instead, the arrogant ignorance of the west is likely to exacerbate the calls for vengeance amongst his followers.

This will likely be bad news for all civilians around the world as we see the rule of law diluted beyond all meaning.

Featured image via Aljazeera

‘What do you wish people asked you about more?’

‘What was your family like when you were growing up?’

‘What did the world expect from you when you were young?’

FG Trade via Getty Images

‘When you look at the world now, how does it feel to you?’

‘Is there anything you still feel responsible for passing on?’

‘What feels good in our relationship right now? What doesn’t?’

It’s astonishing how many experts on international law there seem to be. They all seem to know it, chapter and verse assume that any action taken by the USA or Israel must, by definition, breach international law. And that tells you all you need to know about their motivations.

Of course they can never provide any detail of which clause of which treaty they are talking about. Quiz them and then they start spluttering about the UN. As if the UN is the arbiter of when a nation is justified in taking miliary action against another.

I make no pretence to be an expert in international law. Why would I? I’m not even a domestic lawyer, let alone an international one. I do know, however, that launching a military attack on one nation by another does not necessarily mean that it is illegal. Self defence and pre-emptive self-defence can be totally justified. Both Israel and the USA have been attacked by Iran, and Iran has been guilty of issuing almost daily bellicose threats to both countries with its leaders’ constant mantras of ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel’. It is somewhat ironic that having continually chanted those words, Ayatollah Khomeini suffered ‘Death FROM America’.

I see some people arguing that all the Iranian regime wanted was peace and it was no threat to anyone. Seriously, that’s what some are saying, trying to keep a straight face at the same time. Iran has been a threat to both Israel and the USA ever since the 1979 revolution, yet some people seem to like ignoring the basic facts of history. A simple internet search provides all the evidence you need.

Article 51 of the UN Charter states: “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs…”. In addition, it can also be argued that an attack is justified if an attack is imminent and unavoidable. Any international lawyer worth their salt would be able to argue this is exactly the scenario here, given Iran’s current and planned ballistic missile capabilities.

Where there is more doubt is about the legality of targeting a head of state for assassination. International law leaves less room for interpretation here, but I still think there is a good case to argue, given Khameni was Commander in Chief and therefor the presidential palace, where he met his maker, was a justifiable military target.

The UK government’s response has been timid, tepid and embarrassing. As George W Bush said after 9/11: “You’re either with us, or you’re on the side of the terrorists”. Simplistic maybe, but sitting on the fence should never be an option for a country like Britain. Starmer did take a stance of sorts by refusing to let American bombers take off from Diego Garcia or RAF Fairford. All he has done since then is to call on Iran not to respond to the attacks and for things to de-escalate. How courageous.

If both the Australian and New Zealand prime ministers can issue statements of support and understanding for the US/Israeli actions, why can’t ours? After all, we currently hold the presidency of the UN Security Council, so it is surely important that we state our position clearly. Either we are for the action or we’re not. Both positions can be justified. Sitting on the fence and displaying the weakness of a wobbling jelly cannot.

The Prime Minister should come before the House of Commons tomorrow and state his position very clearly. Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey, Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage have all stated their positions very clearly. It’s about time Keir Starmer did the same, rather than hide behind the well-trodden path of saying ‘well on the one hand’. Show some leadership, Prime Minister.

On Trevor Phillips this morning, UK defence minister John Healey condemned ‘indiscriminate’ attacks on Bahrain by Iran. This is despite widespread reports confirming it was a US military base. However, Healey said nothing about the blatant indiscriminate attacks by Israel that have brutally murdered almost 150 women and children, bombing a girls’ elementary school in Iran.

Nevertheless, it’s no surprise as he seems perfectly happy to ignore the flagrant breach of international law in the US and Israel’s war of aggression on Iran. He even went so far as to suggest that the regime ‘lashing out’ in the Middle East is Iran.

Apparently murdering dozens of schoolgirls isn’t illegal in the eyes of our defence minister.

“When you get a regime like this [Iran], lashing out in the Middle East, indiscriminately and widely, hitting civilian as well as military targets”

This is the UK defence minister talking about an illegal and unprovoked attack *on Iran* pic.twitter.com/ghsUbGx8nM

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— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 1, 2026

John Healey: US-Israeli bombing campaign is a ‘positive action’

In the interview, Healey was asked about the legality and legitimacy of the unexpected attack by Israel and the US on Iran. He didn’t state it was legal, clearly wary to show that level of support, but notably said he didn’t disagree with Phillips that the act was ‘positive’. Unsurprisingly, Phillips failed to bring up the Israeli bombing of a girls’ school in Iran, most of those killed between the ages of 7 and 12.

The double standard is hard to ignore, as Saul Staniforth highlighted on X:

John Healey: “The answer to the question of, is the US action legal, that is for the US to set out & explain, its not for me as a defence secretary of the UK”

So its up to Russia to say whether its invasion of Ukraine was legal or not, & you don’t have an opinion, right? pic.twitter.com/72gUnKYwtf

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— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 1, 2026

As a result, it’s hard to avoid the painful reality that it appears John Healey either is undisturbed by the majority of those murdered being women and children in Iran on day one.

Or is his omission indirectly confirming the attack by Israel and supported by the US was ‘discriminate’ so deliberately? Given the advanced technology that has been on clear display from Israel in its brutal genocide on Palestine and acts of aggression on Lebanon, it’s incredibly hard to accept it as ‘accidental’.

Just hours after we reported the US is moving forward with a $260+ million sale of kits that make bombs more “precise,” Israeli forces have bombed a school, killing more than 80 people — with the help of “precise arming” https://t.co/VLSvd8DNn6 pic.twitter.com/odoVflLkex

— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) August 10, 2024

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According to international law, the Israel-US attack on Iran represents an illegal, unprovoked and aggressive act. In light of that, Iran very much has the legal right to defend itself. This is why it is ever more crucial for western leaders to remember the rule of law to prevent this escalating even further across the region. After all, I can’t imagine a western leader would hold back if a girls’ school had been bombed on our own territory.

John Healey refuses to say if the UK will join the US & Israel in bombing Iran. I guess we don’t have a right to know if our govt is planning to take us to war.

And as for #trevorphillips calling bombing Iran a positive action rather than an offensive action. That says it all. pic.twitter.com/zpPdZYkk5h

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 1, 2026

.@ZackPolanski: The US & Israel attack is illegal and unprovoked, the defence secretary & the govt won’t condemn it, we have a PM who is incapable of standing up to Trump, and the worry is that we’ll be pulled into another illegal war.

Spot on. pic.twitter.com/EGFSnu0v1s

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— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 1, 2026

Selective condemnation

This should come as no surprise that our leaders seem reluctant to defend and uphold international law. They’ve done so ever since October 7th, 2023, refusing to step on the wrong side of the rogue US President.

We wrote yesterday about Thornberry’s surprise recollection of the rule of law, declaring the attack on Iran was ‘illegal’. Whilst it’s a positive development, it also highlights how selective western government officials are in determining legality of military campaigns conducted by allies.

Our own Joe Glenton wrote:

She’s not entirely wrong. The strikes are illegal and ill-advised. Their consequences are likely to be severe not just for the wider region, but also for the global economy.

But still, there are a couple of thorny issues we must first address.

Thornberry has herself previously defended Israel’s genocidal misconduct in Gaza. In 2024, when asked on BBC if Israel cutting off food and electricity in Gaza was “within international law”:

Thornberry, with a straight-face, said:

I think Israel has an absolute right to defend itself against terrorism…

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One could be forgiven for thinking he meant Israel because it is the ONLY regime “lashing out in the Middle East indiscriminately and widely, hitting civilian as well as military targets”. https://t.co/PxYJvjZQUA

— Karyn Taylor-Moore (@TaylorMooreK) March 1, 2026

Let’s be clear, Donald Trump and the Epstein class that have enabled genocide in Gaza are now blowing up Iranian children and setting the Middle East on fire to enrich themselves and cover up their paedophilic crimes.

We need to build a mass movement to stop them.

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) February 28, 2026

We do not consent to WWIII

Thankfully, many more have been loud in their condemnation of these attacks and those who had been complicit in Gaza are stepping out of turn with their colleagues, such as Thornberry. Once again, as we saw with the genocide on Gaza, ordinary people are overwhelmingly able to understand the rule of law without a need to selectively apply it. This highlights that those who have power have precious little sense of principle.

As Zarah Sultana stated on X, we need a mass movement to stop the world careening into WWIII and we need that now.

Featured image via the Canary