Politics
BBC Question Time Audience Laughs After MPs Policy Blunder
A Reform UK MP was laughed at by the BBC Question Time audience after he was left stumped by the detail of one of his own party’s policies.
Danny Kruger admitted he didn’t know how Reform plans to save £10 billion from the welfare budget by ending payouts to people with mild anxiety.
He was quizzed on his party’s plans for government by Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce.
She said: “Just coming back to the cuts in welfare, because I’ve heard Reform say this every time asked, ‘we’d get rid of benefits for people with mild anxiety’.
“What percentage of the welfare bill do those people make up?”
Kruger, the MP for East Wiltshire who defected from the Tories last year, replied: “I don’t know what that number is, Fiona.”
As the audience laughed, the presenter asked him: “How can you possibly know it’s going to save you £10 billion?”
The MP said: “Excuse me, I don’t know every fact and figure.”
Bruce said: “You’ve just given us a fact which is £10 billion, but you have no idea how you’d get it.”
Kruger insisted he could “stand that up later if you like”.
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After a two-year wait, Rivals is finally back – and if any fans out there were nervous about whether season two could deliver on the outrageous fun provided by the first run, you can breathe a sigh of relief.
Disney+’s adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s bonkbuster novels returned with three brand new episodes on Friday morning, with three more to come in the weeks ahead, and the rest of the season following later in the year.
In the lead-up to the release, these episodes were met with unanimous praise (check that 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes if you don’t believe us), with many of those glowing four- and five-star reviews hailing the new season as even better than its predecessor.
Here’s a selection of what the critics are saying about Rivals’ second season so far…
“How best to reward such exquisitely knowing escapism? Ten stars? Ten thousand stars? Rivals is beyond earthly praise. Let us instead insert a single rose between its tireless bum cheeks and raise a glass of Cinzano to its naked audacity. Bottoms up!”
“Despite its deliberate corniness, this is also gloriously uplifting television. It is unashamedly celebratory and perhaps even better than the last series, though there is no naked tennis this time.”
“The new series delivers exactly what we need in a week of grim headlines: pure, unadulterated escapism. Its unique blend of utter silliness, seriousness and chaos makes us glad that Rivals is so much more than an illicit affair, it’s a long term relationship we want to keep far beyond the morning after.”
“This is glossy, wickedly funny, politically incorrect and completely unashamed. When it comes to old-school escapist TV, Rivals is unrivalled.”
“[Season two is about] class, petty human jealousy, sex, and love […] of course this is a must watch!”
“What a romp this is. Any notion of second season nerves for the surprise Disney+ hit Rivals (Jilly Cooper was hardly hot property) are quickly dispelled in a gleeful continuation of the bonking, big hair and hilarity where there’s a belly laugh every 30 seconds.”
“Rivals continues to refresh the parts that other television cannot reach – a heady mix of guilty pleasure, trenchant satire, rambunctious comedy and out-and-out trash. Repeatedly, characters take their clothes off and jump into swimming pools for no reason. Sometimes you just have to go with it and take the leap yourself.”
“Dame Jilly Cooper died last October, a few months after season two of Rivals went into production. But her legacy looks secure: the residents of Rutshire are in safe hands.”
“Rivals [is] such a rare treat in today’s television landscape. It is well-written and well-acted, but it aspires to nothing more than being fun. Real, associable human emotions are kept at arm’s length in favour of stylised bucolic horniness.”
“If it were all about the plentiful sex, the audiences’ hard-on for the thrilling ’80s-set revenge drama would have long softened. As such the hateful feud between Tony and womanising MP Rupert Campbell-Black is even more fiery than the passionate entanglements that run rife in the season.”
“An unabashedly over-the-top 1980s-set drama that gleefully embraces the idea that there’s no such thing as a guilty pleasure, it’s a series that, at its heart, is about indulgence, both for its characters and for those watching along at home.
“Though it boasts a prestige cast, lavish sets, and a story that’s grounded in class tensions among the British society elite, it’s a show that determinedly refuses to take itself too seriously, and one that is deeply uninterested in lecturing its viewers about its characters’ (many, obvious) moral failings.”
“If Rivals’ first season was glam and fun, season two uses that as a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. The more complex and morally grey storylines refuse to take the easy way out despite the fluffy packaging.
“You might have found yourself rooting for extramarital affairs in season one, but season two is ready to douse you in some cold water and remind you that all actions have consequences. That’s what makes the series work: you get the good and the bad.”
The first three episodes of Rivals’ second season are now streaming on Disney+. Check out HuffPost UK’s full review here.
A spokesperson for Britney Spears is sticking up for the singer following accusations that she caused a scene at a Los Angeles-area restaurant on Wednesday night.
TMZ reported on Thursday that Britney had been seen dining out with two people, one of whom was a man she apparently kept saying “I love you” to while they fed each other.
Britney’s rep clarified that she was dining with her assistant and bodyguard at the Blue Dog Tavern in Sherman Oaks, and told a different story than the one reported by TMZ.
Eyewitnesses told the outlet they heard the Piece Of Me star raising her voice, screaming and barking. One described the vibe as chaotic and “kind of sad” though the Grammy winner reportedly “still looked cute”.
At one point, it was reported that staffers had to ask a person with Britney to put out a cigarette she had lit inside, but the most startling moment may have been when she allegedly walked through the restaurant holding a knife.
Entertainment journalist Jeff Sneider wrote on X that he had been dining at the Blue Dog Tavern at the same time as Britney, and called the incident both “wild” and “insane”, adding: “One diner feared for her life. This is not a joke.”
In a statement released to the media, a rep for Britney said the whole story has been unfairly exaggerated.
“Britney was enjoying a quiet dinner with her assistant and bodyguard,” her spokesperson said, while insisting any noise from the singer was because “she was simply telling the story about how her dog was barking at the neighbours”.
“At no point did she put anyone in danger with a knife. She was cutting her hamburger in half,” they added.
“This constant attack on everything that she does and this is exactly what happened 20 years ago when the media tried to depict Britney as a bad person. This is ridiculous and it needs to stop now.”
Britney’s rep notably did not address TMZ’s kissing allegations or the “I love you” comments in the statement.
The story about Britney’s supposedly erratic behaviour comes just over a week after she avoided jail for a DUI charge by pleading guilty to a lesser charge.
She had previously checked herself into a rehab facility following her arrest earlier this year.
If you’re considering booking flights for your family, you might want to think carefully about the times you book in order to try and swerve jet lag and the inevitable meltdowns that can happen when kids are overtired.
One badly-timed flight can end up with children refusing to sleep at 3am, emotional airport meltdowns and exhausted parents spending the first three days of the holiday trying to “fix” everyone’s body clocks.
Omar El-Gohary, CEO and superintendent pharmacist at IQ Doctor, suggested the time families choose to fly can have a bigger impact on children’s jet lag than most people realise. And while many parents assume overnight flights are always the best option, he argues that isn’t necessarily true for every age group.
Here, El-Gohary recommends the best time of day to fly with children depending on their age, plus practical tricks to reduce travel exhaustion.
The best flight times for each age group
0-2 years old
Mid-morning flights often work best (9am-12pm), said the expert.
“For babies and young toddlers, consistency matters more than forcing them into overnight sleep patterns they don’t fully understand yet,” he explained.
Mid-morning flights are often the least stressful as they avoid:
- Extremely early airport wake-ups
- Overtired evening travel
- Disrupted bedtime routines
- Pressure for babies to ‘sleep on cue’
“At this age, many children still nap unpredictably, meaning overnight flights can sometimes backfire completely. A baby who usually refuses to sleep on a red-eye can leave parents dealing with 10+ hours of overstimulation, crying and exhaustion in a confined space,” he added.
Morning departures tend to align better with natural wake windows and allow children to nap more naturally during parts of the flight.
- Keep naps flexible on travel day
- Avoid arriving at the airport too early
- Feed during take-off and landing to help ear pressure
- Pack one completely ‘new’ toy for mid-flight distraction
- Don’t try to force destination bedtime immediately after arrival
2-4 years old
Early afternoon flights (12-3pm) can help reduce meltdowns.
“Toddlers are usually the hardest age group to travel with as they’re energetic enough to become restless, but emotionally sensitive when tired or overstimulated,” he said.
“Afternoon flights work well because children have already burned energy during the morning, parents avoid pre-dawn wake-ups, children may naturally nap during the second half of the flight and arrival times are often easier to manage.” (As a toddler mum whose two-year-old is usually out for the count by 1pm, this makes a lot of sense.)
The expert warned that very early departures can be “especially difficult” at this age as disrupted sleep routines can trigger emotional dysregulation for the entire day.
- Let them run around before boarding
- Avoid too much sugar pre-flight
- Download familiar comfort shows beforehand
- Bring snacks in small ‘surprise’ intervals
- Use destination daylight strategically after arrival
5-12 years old
Once kids reach school age, overnight flights start becoming more useful. El-Gohary said 6-10pm is your sweet spot.
Night flights work because their body clocks become more adaptable and overnight flights become more effective for reducing jet lag, the pro suggested, especially if you’re going long-haul.
“At this age, children are more likely to understand travel routines, sleep for long stretches, cope better with delayed bedtimes and manage airport waiting times,” he said.
That said, beware of treating flights like ‘holiday mode’ too early, as “overexcited children staying awake for films, snacks and games throughout the flight often arrive more jet-lagged than adults”.
- Slowly change bedtime a few days before departure
- Encourage sleep shortly after meal service onboard
- Keep screens dim during overnight flights
- Change watches and devices to destination time immediately
- Prioritise sunlight exposure after landing
13-18 years old
Again, late evening flights usually work best. El-Gohary recommends 8-11pm flight times for this age group as “teenagers naturally experience later sleep cycles” so they “often adapt better to overnight travel than younger children”.
“Late evening flights tend to suit teens as they naturally stay awake for longer anyway, tolerate time-zone changes better, sleep more independently during flights and recover quicker from disrupted sleep schedules,” he added.
Teens can still be affected by hidden jet lag symptoms such as travel fatigue, irritability, mood changes, low motivation, headaches or poor sleep quality for several days.
To avoid this, he advises parents to:
- Reduce caffeine before flights
- Encourage hydration before and during travel
- Avoid sleeping immediately after landing if arriving during daytime
- Limit overnight scrolling and blue-light exposure
- Keep first-day holiday plans light.
Politics
Our Survey: Tories expect Burnham to lead Labour to the next election but would ‘prefer’ Starmer did
Accustomed as they have become to getting a say on who leads the Tory Party Conservative members quite obviously have no vote on who might lead Labour.
But they most certainly have a view.
Now before we go further I should say two things. We did ask if Kemi Badenoch should remain leader of the Conservatives after the results which, whilst they had some sparks of optimism, were still not good.
The answer was so big it hardly warrants a graphic – 93 per cent said she should stay.
3.5% said she should go and 3.5% wanted her to stay for now but go before an election.
The second an perhaps more curious point is that this Survey was held over from April to be put into the field over the weekend following the local elections.
It closed completely just as Keir Starmer was due to make his make-or-break speech to try and stave off the absolute meltdown this week has since become for him.
When it closed: Andy Burnham had not so much set foot on a train to London and Wes Streeting was waiting to see – I doubt with much expectation – if Monday’s Starmer pulpit drone would have the effect Kemi Badenoch’s evisceration of Labour in the Commons on Wednesday had on her backbenchers.
It did not. Quite the opposite
But our responders didn’t know that for a fact when they voted on who they expected to lead Labour into the next election;
They already thought it would be Andy Burnham.
Burnham was out in front on just over thirty per cent, Starmer second but ten per cent behind. Streeting, who resigned yesterday but didn’t launch an official challenge (those his actions undoubtedly mean there will be one) managed less than half Burnham’s total.
Again none of those who responded knew Josh Simons MP, ironically once head of the Starmer backing ‘Labour Together’, would further fragment the wider Labour movement after Streeting’s resignation by resigning his Makerfield seat so Burnham could stand in the coming by-election, an intention Burnham has now confirmed.
Now it’s true ConservativeHome was less interested in who Tory members thought would lead Labour into the next election than we were from a purely political advantage standpoint in who they’d prefer to lead Labour into the next election. A resounding win for the current Prime Minister – for all the wrong reasons.
There are many wise strategists who know that ‘Commons performance’ alone does not make a leader, nor a winner, and they are correct. Kemi Badenoch is a wise enough woman to know that – but it helps. And since, as CCHQ themselves felt bold enough to tweet after her blistering Kings speech response, ‘This is Kemi Badenoch’s chamber, you’re just sitting in it’ it’s perhaps a reflection of her relentless questioning of Keir Starmer and pursuit of his failings that Tory members would prefer him to stay.
There are some of that group however who will undoubtedly have felt that for all his faults Keir Starmer may not be as bad for the country as some of his rivals for the job.
It’s worth just noting though the comparison of expectation for Burnham to lead 30.97% with the preference for him to lead 3.85%.
In all the smoke and mirrors and speculation – some of it wild nonsense to fill the airwaves and ‘socials’ – there isn’t an Elephant in the Room, there’s a herd.
No candidate including the incumbent will reduce welfare spending, and the others will probably argue to borrow more.
If Starmer and his supporters’ argument was that he provided stability in the country and the markets, then why has this all occurred in the first place? Because people including voters in last week’s elections and a third of his own backbenchers have decided he doesn’t and he can’t.
If Starmer had no plan, there’s precious little sign of what plan or vision his rivals have. Badenoch’s team brought an alternative to the oddly back seat product that was the actual King’s speech.
Starmer, who at some point, probably soon, will be leaving Downing Street, had one rather well delivered line about the election results aimed straight at Badenoch:
“We both have in common that we suffered disappointing election results. The difference between us is she has noticed”
She has, and she’s very wise not to ignore that. The bouquets for Wednesday’s speech, the alternative Kings Speech policy programme, and not being afraid to lay out the reason why successive PMs have failed – and will do so again – unless they accept that the entire system of government is constraining them.
She says she has a plan, and I truly believe she does, but she knows it has to include rehabilitating the Tory brand, not just her own, and not just in London but across the country.
Otherwise she’ll be taking a bow, but not a crown, however much she’s unafraid of the member for Clacton – who wasn’t even there.
The post Our Survey: Tories expect Burnham to lead Labour to the next election but would ‘prefer’ Starmer did appeared first on Conservative Home.
During a wide-ranging Thursday night interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump went on quite a tangent about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s appearance, especially his stature.
“But I say about him (Xi), that if you went to Hollywood and you looked for a leader of China to play a role in a movie … ” Trump said.
“Central casting,” Hannity interjected.
“He’s central casting, you couldn’t find a guy like him,” Trump said. “Even his physical features, he’s tall, very tall. Especially for this country, cause they tend to be a little bit shorter. You look at the military, I mean, the military today was incredible, that military marching was incredible. But no, if you went to Hollywood, you wouldn’t find that. You’re not gonna find a guy to play the role.”
“I mean, I’ll get criticised, they always criticise me when I say good things about certain leaders,” Trump continued.
Trump and Xi met behind closed doors on Thursday morning, where the Chinese president reportedly told his counterpart “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” according to a post on X by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
“If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” she wrote.
Trump also told Hannity during the interview that Xi said during their conversations that he “would like to be of help” in negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and an end to the war in Iran.
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EastEnders actress Kellie Bright is leading the charge for SATs to be scrapped in schools.
In England, SATs – or standard assessment tests – may be taken twice during primary school: once when kids are six or seven (at the discretion of the school), and again when they’re 10 or 11 (these are compulsory).
It’s a way for the government to measure a school’s performance and give secondary schools an indication of how well a child’s doing in maths and English before they move up.
With Year 6 SATs currently underway (starting 11 May), a collective of parents, particularly those with children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), are calling for the exams to be scrapped for good due to the overwhelm, anxiety and stress they cause.
It comes after Childline revealed May is the peak season for children to call the service about exam stress – between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026; the free, confidential service for kids delivered 1,679 counselling sessions where exam or revision stress was mentioned.
The majority of concerns about exam stress were from children aged 12-18 years old, however 11% of contacts were from children aged 11 and under.
In a video shared on Instagram by SEND campaigner Kirsti Hadley (@futurepowergang), actor Kellie Bright said: “We all know the system isn’t working, especially for those who learn differently.”
The Eastenders star – whose son is autistic, dyslexic and has ADHD – invited parents to share their experience of SATs week in the comments, so they can “amplify these stories anonymously and push them in front of MPs to try and scrap SATs for good”.
Many neurodivergent children struggle with exam season
In the UK, around one in seven people are estimated to be neurodivergent.
Dr Laura Powling, Evolve Psychology’s consultant clinical psychologist, explained that many neurodivergent children struggle with exam season because traditional teaching methods – long periods of focus, written revision and silent study – “don’t match how they process information”.
The disruption of routines can also have a major impact. In response to Bright’s Instagram post, shared on 12 May, one mother, who has two autistic daughters, said her eldest is currently doing SATs and “is having to start therapy because they’ve brought on panic attacks, something she’s never had before until now”.
Her other daughter, who is a year younger and not doing SATs, “simply cannot be in the school during SATS week because she finds the atmosphere so awful”, said the parent.
“Everything in the school changes, so many new rules and set ups and all her usual grown ups aren’t available within the school because they are so busy and taken up with SATS.”
The mum suggested the assessments don’t just affect those doing them, adding “it has a ripple across the whole school, and not in a good way”.
Another parent said: “My AuDHD son is putting so much pressure on himself, I can see the weight he is carrying on his little shoulders despite us reassuring him otherwise.”
And it seems the pressure doesn’t just extend to SATs week. One commenter noted: “It’s more than just SATS week, it’s the whole of year 6! The consistent pressure of having to score so highly, to achieve the very best!
“For a high functioning autistic/ADHD girl, the whole system has crippled her this year and her mental health is now at the lowest it’s ever been. Chuck in this week where every day looks different to normal, the enormous weight of having to be in school on time and achieve your very best, we’re at breaking point.”
Even children who are neurotypical are finding the pressure unbearable
One parent noted their almost 11-year-old daughter is “academically bright and capable” yet she has “spent every night this week lying in bed with her – which I have not done since she was a toddler – because, as she says, she feel exhausted and overwhelmed”.
Another said: “My daughter is currently doing her SATS. She doesn’t have SEND, but her anxiety in the run up to these tests has been through the roof. We’ve had tears, sleepless nights, low mood. All the work has been focused around SATS which has made her so stressed.
“I can’t imagine how it must be for children with SEND. Kids should not be sitting exams at the age of 10/11. It’s wrong.”
Parents urged to be aware of burnout
Evolve Psychology suggests neurodivergent children often spend significant energy masking and trying to behave or learn in ways that feel unnatural to them. This means when exam stress is added on top, burnout can follow quickly.
Dr Powling urged parents to watch for signs such as exhaustion after school, emotional outbursts, negative self-talk or feelings of failure.
“Prioritise sleep, hydration and nutritious food and, if you can, try to build in activities they will find calming, such as listening to music, a short walk, breathing exercises or spending time with a pet,” she added.
If your child is struggling, it might help to shift the focus away from results, reframing the conversation around effort, strategy and wellbeing.
“Exams aren’t the only measure of success,” said Dr Powling. “The reality is that many neurodivergent adults thrive once they understand how their brains work.
“Creativity, problem-solving and unconventional thinking can become powerful strengths. If, as a parent or carer, you can help your child understand how they learn best, that is something that will serve them far beyond any test paper.”
lead image
Benjamin Netanyahu claims he paid a “secret visit” to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during his illegal and unprovoked attacks on Iran.
The UAE has denied the visit, which brings into question both states’ motives.
Conflicting statements
The statement on X, from the official account of the Prime Minister of Israel, stated:
In the midst of Operation Roaring Lion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE.
However, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) then stated:
The United Arab Emirates denies reports circulating regarding an alleged visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE, or receiving any Israeli military delegation in the country.
The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements. Accordingly, any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE.
The UAE calls on media outlets to exercise accuracy and professionalism, and to refrain from circulating unverified information or promoting misleading political narratives.
The head of Netanyahu’s office at the time, Ziv Agmon, also contradicted the UAE’s claims. He stated that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed personally welcomed and drove Netanyahu:
A former Netanyahu aide who says he accompanied the Israeli PM during the reportedly secret Abu Dhabi visit is now openly contradicting the UAE denial.
– Zeev Agmon, as quoted in Iranian channels, claims Mohammed bin Zayed personally welcomed Netanyahu together with members of…
— Babak Vahdad (@BabakVahdad) May 13, 2026
This comes days only after both Reuters and the WSJ revealed the UAE carried out secret military strikes on Iran.
Additionally, according to Israeli and US officials, Israel sent the UAE an Iron Dome air defence system, along with troops to operate it.
Iran fired around 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones at the UAE. Most were intercepted. However, some hit military and civilian targets in the country.
Abraham Accords
Iran has previously criticised the UAE over its close ties to Israel. The Abraham Accords of 2020 formalised these ties.
Essentially, the United States mediated an agreement between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel, promising to normalise ties between these Arab Gulf states and Israel. Since then, Morocco and Sudan both joined the Accords.
The Accords established full diplomatic relations and included plans to advance economic, security, and other ties.
However, the UAE government found it hard to deal with Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and other far-right genocidal maniacs, who came to power in Israel in 2022.
The first paragraph of the Accords states:
We, the undersigned, recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East and around the world based on mutual understanding and coexistence, as well as respect for human dignity and freedom, including religious freedom.
Obviously, by committing its illegal war on Iran, carrying out multiple genocides and illegal occupations in Lebanon and Gaza, and its additional illegal occupation in the Syrian Golan Heights, Israel has failed to abide by even the first paragraph.
Nothing says “mutual understanding and coexistence” and “respect for human dignity” like waging multiple genocides at the same time.
Flight plans don’t lie
Since Netanyahu’s alleged visit to the UAE, open source activists have published the route and flight data for two private aircraft that travelled from Tel Aviv to Al Ain in the UAE on March 26.
The visit occured on March 26th, Netanyahu reportedly traveled with two Israeli private jets (reg M-ULTI & M-ARVA) https://t.co/yaOutzkPmn pic.twitter.com/d2J9xZwFCa
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) May 13, 2026
This means the UAE no longer has plausible deniability.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has since said that those “colluding with Israel” will be “held to account”:
Netanyahu has now publicly revealed what Iran’s security services long ago conveyed to our leadership.
Enmity with the Great People of Iran is a foolish gamble. Collusion with Israel in doing so: unforgivable.
Those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 13, 2026
More lies…
This is not the first time that either Israel or the UAE have lied about their shady dealings.
Israel previously claimed that the UAE attacked an Iranian desalination plant. However, the UAE firmly denied the allegations and slammed Israel’s lies.
We know Israel lies. However, we also know that there is nothing it loves more than refusing to take accountability, stitching other people up and damaging their reputations in the process.
And as social media users have pointed out, it is also distinctly possible that the UAE wanted to keep the visit a secret, and either Netanyahu played the UAE, or the UAE panicked after Abbas Aragchi’s Tweet:
Netanyahu tweets from his PM office Twitter handle that he visited UAE during the war and helped UAE with several things.
Then @araghchi tweets that neighbours doing such things against neighbours has consequences.
Exactly 7 minutes late UAE issues an official denial from its…
— Mir Mohammad Alikhan (@MirMAKOfficial) May 14, 2026
The UAE may be attempting to hide its direct involvement in Israel and the US’s illegal attacks on Iran. Or Israel may be stitching it up. Either way, both states are directly involved in illegal attacks against Iranian civilians and Israel’s ongoing genocides in both Gaza and Lebanon.
Featured image via HG
By HG
The UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has had punitive and abusive sanctions imposed on her by the Trump administration suspended by a US court.
In granting the preliminary injunction, the Judge presiding over her case affirmed:
Protecting the Freedom of speech is always just the public interest.
Hailing this victory for civil rights and freedoms, Albanese said:
Thanks to my daughter and my husband for stepping up to defend me, and everyone who has helped so far.
Adding:
Together we are One.
BREAKING! US court ha suspended the US sanctions against me! Together we are One. pic.twitter.com/z6L3tb7Esp
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) May 13, 2026
As the judge says: "Protecting the Freedom of speech is always just the public interest".
Thanks to my daughter and my husband for stepping up to defend me, and everyone who has helped so far.
Francesca Albanese: ‘US court has suspended the US sanctions against me!’
This wonderful – and restorative – news from Francesca Albanese will likely relieve many across the world who draw inspiration and strength from her persistent courage to speak truth to power. Unsurprisingly, Albanese herself also clearly feels that relief. Bringing this case to the US courts was her daughter and husband, who evidently share her beautiful resistance to oppression and injustice.
The UN official posted the memorandum opinion put forward by the Judge presiding over her case against Donald Trump, in which it said:
Plaintiffs L.C., a minor, and her father Massimiliano Cali bring suit against various federal defendants challenging the designation and sanctioning of Francesca Albanese, their mother and wife, respectively.
Albanese is a scholar and author who has published widely on human rights issues, including on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Plaintiffs allege that defendants are sanctioning Albanese because of her speech – namely, Albanese’s non-binding recommendation to the International Criminal Court to pursue war-crimes prosecutions against Israeli and American nationals.
Plaintiffs allege that they are harmed by defendants’ sanctioning of Albanese and seek a preliminary injunction.
Finishing:
For the following reasons, I will GRANT plaintiffs’ motion.
We assume that this is where the Judge made the statement posted by Albanese, in which the court recognised that freedom of speech is – and always will be – in the public interest.
The interim decision by the US judge gives me respite but the battle is not over. ICC judges and Palestinian NGOs remain sanctioned with no recourse to justice. The stakes are incredibly high. — Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) May 14, 2026
Please sign and share the petition: DEFEND THE DEFENDERS!https://t.co/DiWhUOx0Ks https://t.co/2GM7ihctz9
This is just a reprieve, the fight for justice is not over
Nevertheless, this is a preliminary injunction and we will undoubtedly see further attempts to push through this blatant move to censor officials or public figures who dare call out the murderous, genocidal regime of Zionist Israel.
Pushing back against Israel’s moves once again to place itself as the victim, despite its genocide of Palestinians, Albanese posted since the injunction:
Israel the victim???
If narcissism were a crime, this could be added to the lot to be considered by the court. https://t.co/iO1bTPw5do
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) May 13, 2026
True to form, Albanese once again refuses to centre her own hardship in this victory though.
Replying to a message showing concern for the “huge toll” this undoubtedly had on the UN official, she said:
What has taken a huge toll on me is the genocide of the Palestinian people, unfolding and still unrestrained. Seeing what men and women can do to other men and women, and children and older people, has been sickening.
We have extensively reported, and relied on as many people do, Albanese’s restoring and inspiring resistance to injustice.
In April, our own Skwawkbox wrote about how the Guardian still wanted to defend Israel despite speaking to Francesca Albanese about the lawfare being used against her:
Borger also fails to point out the illegality of the sanctions the US has imposed on Albanese. But he does at least give some attention to their impact on the steadfast UN volunteer. And that’s where Albanese’s courage is given chance to shine through. Trump’s sanctions are massive blow to any prospect of a normal life – Albanese is unable to use a credit card, is severely limited in access to banking and relies on cash lent by family members. Yet she is without self-pity, even as she honestly describes the blow and its injustice:
“It was bad. That sort of puts you together with mass murderers and drug dealers of international proportions. It was a paradox of facing one of the harshest forms of punishment without due process, because I’ve not even been afforded the possibility to defend myself. I’ve just been sanctioned without trial.”
Despite awareness of the serious risks to her own safety and that of her family, Albanese continues to use her position and influence to advocate for those rendered powerless – in stark contrast to much of the Western political establishment.
But the cravenness of corporate media makes the courage of those who do stand up shine all the brighter – and so it is here. Albanese freely admits that the impact of the sanctions has been “brutal” enough to make her pause and consider, but she is unbowed:
“That is when I started wondering: is it worth it? I have two kids. What if they harm them? I cannot take this responsibility. There is a lot that I’m putting on the line, but, at the same time, I don’t have any alternative. I still need to continue to throw water on the fire and I have a bigger bucket right now … and strong arms.”
The fight is not over until Palestine sees justice
Once again, this principled and brave official shows that her sense of justice is formidable and will take a hell of a lot to offset her moral compass. As a result, this will undoubtedly rejuvenate and inspire the millions across the world who feel disgusted, heartbroken, and appalled by Israel’s continuing genocide.
Moreover, those running for leadership in the Labour Party will do well to recognise the huge – and growing – solidarity with the suffering of Palestinians and their inalienable right to take back their homeland. This might run against the will of their backers and nefarious Zionist influencers, but they should remember it is ordinary people who see them elected.
It follows, then, that ordinary people have the power to remove the Zionist rot from our political establishment so that all lives can finally begin to matter.
After all, we have seen where hierarchies of human life can lead – whether in the Holocaust or in apartheid-era South Africa. But we have also seen the power of ordinary people to bring murderous, corrupt, and abusive regimes down.
Like Albanese proves time and again, that resistance to injustice must be unwavering.
Featured image via the Canary
Nathaniel Menday, the newly elected Reform UK councillor for Sheffield Woodhouse, has been suspended from the party over his history of white-supremacist social media posts. The far-right party is now investigating the councillor’s posts, “which have brought the party into disrepute.”
The only problem? The Times had already published on Menday’s bigotry weeks before the election. However, Reform only suspended him after the Sheffield Star uncovered another slew of bile, including a post on Twitter stating:
Compared to many continental countries people here are fatter, uglier and poorly dressed.
On top of this we have a disgusting, almost subhuman underclass of people bringing the place down.
Self-identified ‘ethno-nationalist’
On 22 April, more than a fortnight before the elections, the Times wrote that:
Nathaniel Menday, standing for Reform in Woodhouse, Sheffield, has called himself an “ethno-nationalist” and encouraged the use of white supremacist symbols. Last October, he asked a fellow Sheffield United fan to add a sonnenrad “sun wheel” emblem to a flag — a symbol widely used by neo-Nazis.
In January 2024, he shared a picture of Berlin’s Olympiastadion and wrote: “Whichever group of people built this must have been real visionaries!” The stadium was built by Nazi Germany to host the 1936 Olympics and designed by Albert Speer, the munitions minister who was convicted at the Nuremberg trials of crimes against humanity.
Likewise, Menday also blamed “Jewish people in the West” for the antisemitism they suffer because they “overwhelmingly favour open borders.”
In spite of Menday’s vile support for white supremacy being known well in advance of the polls, he nevertheless received 1,987 votes. By comparison, Labour’s Danny Allsebrook – the second-place candidate – received just 890.
‘I am not antisemitic’
When the Times approached him for comment before the elections, Menday stated that:
I am not antisemitic nor do I have any Nazi sympathies.
I have flirted with what could reasonably be referred to as ‘far-right ideology’ but ultimately I have come to reject its core tenets.
I am passionate about my country but I am and always have been motivated by love, not hate.
Sure, you were calling people a “subhuman underclass” out of love.
On top of all this, the Sheffield Star published further records of Menday’s bigotry on 13 May:
Many posts celebrate the Nazis, with him sharing an picture of Adolf Hitler’s book Mein Kampf, and one image with a box of Lynx Africa that appears to reveal a swastika flag and SS uniforms on display in a room. […]
At other times he praises eugenics, and in one post says that ‘dictator shouldn’t be an ugly word’, adding: “A dictatorship with the right man in charge will always be a better way of governing than democracy.”
You’d tell us if you’re a Nazi, right?
Back in April, BBC Essex asked Nigel Farage if his party had vetted its local election candidates. The Reform leader stated that:
I know that our candidates will be held to a higher standard than any of the other parties.
That’s because we are the challengers. We are the ones taking on the establishment. Yet we have done a good, thorough professional job.
On 11 May, when yet another Reform councillors resigned over his rascist posting history (noticing a pattern?, the Canary wrote that:
That “thorough professional job” raises an important question. That is, did Reform know about Prior’s disgusting comments and not care, or was Farage simply lying?
Importantly, thanks to Nathaniel Menday, we now have an answer: it’s both! Regarding Menday’s disgusting tweets, a Reform spokesperson said:
Cllr Menday has been suspended from Reform UK pending investigation after he failed to declare social media posts which have brought the party into disrepute.
Reform UK does not support such comments.
So, we now know that the party’s idea of a “thorough professional job” boils down to asking ‘Are you a white supremacist? You have to tell us if you are?’ Likewise, it’s obvious that the party didn’t care about Menday’s self-identified ethno-nationalism, because – again – that was already well publicised.
Reform UK are a party of disgusting bigots. This alone should be enough reason to avoid them, but on top of that its MPs and councillors don’t do their fucking work. These far-right jackasses are a danger, pure and simple, and the UK will spend the next election cycle learning the truth of that statement.
Featured image via the Canary
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