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Politics

Concern over safety of the Scottish Assisted Dying Bill for disabled people

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Concern over safety of the Scottish Assisted Dying Bill for disabled people

The final Holyrood vote on Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying Bill takes place on Tuesday 17 March. Ahead of the vote, research shows significant concern in Scotland about its potential impact on disabled people.

Campaign group Not Dead Yet UK commissioned the poll. It also indicates that concern is stronger still among disabled people.

Public concern over assisted dying

The polling shows nearly 7 in 10 (69%) of Scots agree that the Scottish Parliament should prioritise improving access to care for disabled people before considering whether to introduce assisted dying.

Over 6 in 10 (62%) Scots agree that disabled people who struggle to access the health, social care and other support they need, given the current state of the NHS and social care funding, may be more likely to seek assisted dying.

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Disability groups have made it clear that Holyrood should not introduce assisted dying to Scotland. But MSPs, who appear to be intent on changing the law, are ignoring them. Almost 9 in 10 (86%) of Scots agree that the views of disabled people and the groups representing their interests should be properly taken into account in the debate surrounding whether to introduce assisted suicide.

In fact, a polling comparison between results in 2025 and 2026 shows that public concerns are growing, not reducing, when it comes to protecting the rights and dignity of disabled people in the context of ‘assisted dying’. And this is despite a year of debate in parliament for the issue.

Key findings

  • 69% of Scots agree that the Scottish parliament should prioritise improving access to care for disabled people before introducing assisted dying. This compares to only 18% who disagree.

This rises to three-quarters (72%) for people polled who had a disability.

It has increased since May 2025 when 66% agreed.

 

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  • Almost two-thirds (66%) of Scots agree that disabled people who feel they are a burden on family, friends or society may feel a sense of responsibility to access an assisted death if assisted dying becomes legal. Only 18% disagree.

This rises to over seven in ten (72%) for people polled who have a disability.

It has increased significantly since May 2025 when 59% agreed.

 

  • Almost 9 in 10 (86%) of Scots agree that the views of disabled people and the groups representing their interests should be properly taken into account in the debate surrounding whether to introduce assisted dying. Only 5% disagreed.

It has increased significantly since May 2025 when 75% agreed.

 

  • Almost two-thirds (66%) of Scots agree that some disabled people may be coerced into assisted suicide by others who do not have their best interests at heart. Only 17% disagreed.

 

  • Over 6 in 10 (62%) Scots agree that disabled people who struggle to access the health, social care and other support they need, given the current state of the NHS and social care funding, may be more likely to seek assisted suicide. Only 19% disagreed.

This rises to nearly two-thirds (65%) for people polled who have a disability.

 

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  • 60% of Scots agree that if disabled people are living in poverty, and facing cuts to benefits, they may be likely to seek assisted dying instead of struggling financially. Only one in five (21%) disagrees.

This rises to 70% for people polled who have a disability.

Community leaders comment

Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympian and crossbench peer in the House of Lords said:

The lives of disabled people are under threat from McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill and this polling shows the majority of the public know that.

Making assisted suicide legal in Scotland will have a psychological and practical effect on the lives of disabled people, posing a very real risk to the quality of life of Scotland’s disabled population.

The difference between people who are thought to be terminally ill and people with different disabilities is often blurred, especially if those disabilities require regular management or treatment.

In some cases, failing to manage a disability could make some ‘terminally ill’ in the relevant sense and eligible for assisted suicide under the proposed Scottish Bill.

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It is possible that, in the face of difficult circumstances, there will be some disabled people who deliberately stop treatment so that they become eligible for assisted suicide.

The state should be offering support for such people and those who feel they cannot cope with their circumstances, not offering them assistance in ending their lives.

Tressa Burke, CEO of Glasgow Disability Alliance, said:

This research evidences that the public in Scotland recognises the acute threat of the Assisted Dying Bill to disabled people. Whilst respecting the strongly held beliefs of MSPs who support the Bill, Glasgow Disability Alliance wants to make all those who will vote aware of the depth and levels of fear and concern which currently exist about coercion – either directly or indirectly.

Disabled women are 3 times as likely to experience violence and abuse as non-disabled women and disabled people generally are more reliant on services such as our NHS and social care systems which are under unprecedented pressures at this time.

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Social care, in particular, has been cut to the bone, leaving people reliant on family and friends and feeling dehumanised and under targeted attacks from finance directors.

Consequently, many disabled people feel like a burden, internalising the problems we face. Some are at the very real risk of believing Assisted Dying to be their only option.

Heather Fisken, CEO of Inclusion Scotland, said:

Inclusion Scotland implores MSPs to carefully consider all the evidence on this issue. We know ourselves that whilst some disabled people support a change in the law to make assisted dying easier, Inclusion Scotland like many other disabled people and our organisations, takes the view that until all disabled people’s rights are met and we have equality in health, education, employment, housing, social care support as well as in end of life care, we cannot support a bill that would make coercion to choose assisted dying easier.

Mike Smith is a spokesperson for Not Dead Yet UK. He’s a former commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and chair of its Disability Committee. He commented:

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It’s clear from this polling that a significant majority of Scots agree that disabled people’s lives will be threatened if this legislation is passed.

Coercion comes in many forms, whether it’s intentional or more subtle. Most Scots agree some disabled people could feel encouraged to end their lives even if they don’t want to.

The very existence of McArthur’s wide-reaching legislation risks sending a message from the state that it would be better for disabled people to opt for assisted suicide.

In an environment where people struggle to access the health and social care they need to live a life with dignity, this is not the right time to be risking people’s lives.

The mantra of the disability rights movement is ‘nothing about us without us’. Nearly 9 in 10 Scots agree, yet many organisations representing disabled people report feeling their voices have been ignored in this debate.

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Disabled people know the reality of their lives and how hard they can be. Their voices must be heard and their fears not ignored.

Given almost 70% of Scots agree that improved access to care has to come before assisted suicide is considered, we urge all MSPs to vote against this bill at Stage 3. It is dangerous and will imperil people’s lives. MSPs should be protecting the right to life for the many whose voices are not as loud as the well-funded campaign to change the law.

Featured image via the Canary

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Politics

Oscars stars say no to war and ICE

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16 March 2026

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Oscars stars say no to war and ICE

The Oscars 2026 saw the acting elite from across the Western world come together to celebrate another year in cinema. Presented by Conan O’Brien, the event was the usual display of glitz and glam as some of the most privileged people in the world came together.

However, like previous years, some actors and actresses showed what it is to stay connected to their humanity. Amongst calls for “ICE out”, there was a considerable show of solidarity with Palestinians and a rejection of the pro-war rhetoric in the US.

Once again, Javier Bardem stood on the right side of history. Having advocated against the war on Iraq, Bardem says “no to war” on Iran:

Oscars: ‘No War’

Since the genocide began on Gaza after October 7th, the mainstream media has largely pushed the narrative that celebrities shouldn’t get political. This cynical attitude has flared a few times in British society, with Marcus Rashford coming under fire for opposing government policy around free school dinners. There is a reason that the establishment is scared; whenever a public figure shows they care, it has a huge impact on wider society.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the captured media and political class seek to diminish and silence influential figures from sharing their perspective around controversial and upsetting issues.

Unperturbed, celebrities at the Oscars resisted this attempt at repression, speaking freely wherever possible to advocate for peace and compassion. They also confronted the non-existent ‘ceasefire’ in Gaza which has seen 601 murdered by the Israeli military and a further 1,601 injured.

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“ICE Out” says Thales Junqueira, as he reminds that no human is illegal:

Guy Pearce equally stood firm calling for Palestinian liberation:

Bardem: You can be more than ‘one thing’

When asked why he felt it was important to speak about Palestine, Bardem reminded that people can be more than just one thing and you can be a public figure that opposes genocide – if you actually want to be:

Bardem spoke further on how he protested against the war on Iraq, and why he continues to resist. Wearing his “No a la Guerra” badge from 2003 once again, Bardem protests against another illegal war waged by the US.

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This principled actor shows he values the truth as he confronts Western lies about the Middle East:

American director David Borenstein of Mr Nobody Against Putin also had strong words for repressive and murderous regimes, prompting many to draw comparisons between Russia and the United States:

A reminder of the ‘wars’ being waged through blind hate and supremacy:

Warning from Russia

It is wonderful to see principles and compassion on clear display from some at the Oscars this year. However, possibly most powerful, is the warning being given by Russian director and teacher Pavel Talankin. Talankin has seen his country engaged in a brutal war of aggression on another sovereign territory, he has seen the propaganda and indoctrination attempts.

In light of that, he and his fellow American co-director are sending a stark warning to US citizens:

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In the name of the future, in the name of all our children, stop all these wars now.

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India needs gas, but will they ally with Iran over the US?

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16 March 2026

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India needs gas, but will they ally with Iran over the US?

Two tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have been transported from Iran’s Strait of Hormuz to India. Bloomberg reported that the tankers would be:

providing some relief to acute shortages as the war in the Persian Gulf disrupts supply of the cooking fuel.

But, this delivery is quite a surprise given that the US-Israel attack on Iran will test Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s relationship to the US. For instance, Bloomberg noted that Modi, a Trump and Netanyahu ally, has not directly apologised to Iran for what happened to IRIS Dena.

The US sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka, killing 84 crew. The ship had attended a naval event hosted by India days before. Defence analysts told the Guardian the attack embarrassed India and showed the US disregard for its regional influence.

India leverage oil

Journalist Chay Bowes shared a clip of US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who thinks Iran probably made a deal with India.

The Financial Times also reported that:

India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar told the FT that negotiations between New Delhi and Tehran which allowed for two Indian-flagged gas tankers to pass through the Strait on Saturday were an example of what diplomacy could bring.

And, there are reports of further talks to arrange the passage of more LPG to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for India:

Cooking oil shortages in India

The US and Israel’s unprovoked attack on Iran had squeezed India’s cooking-gas supplies, as much of the nation relies on LPG for cooking oil.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that restaurants in India were facing shortages of cooking oil and were being encouraged to use coal or wood fired ovens.

Other Indian news sites were reporting similar shortages.

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Opposition parties, such as the CPI(M), were reported to have urged Prime Minister Modi to address the shortages and to condemn the US-Israel war on Iran in order to stabilize energy supplies.

Missing apology to Iran

However, despite Modi’s allegiances to the US and Israel, this gas delivery begs the question: will Modi apologise to or advocate for Iran on the world stage?

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As the chair of BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – India has not condemned the attack on Iran:

Modi’s supporters are choosing to view his “calculated silence” on the war on Iran as a sign of India’s strength.

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Modi is trying to keep Trump pleased, whilst keeping the nation supplied with gas. Given Trump is known for outrageous swings of emotion, Modi is treading a dangerous line.

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Gaza Tribunal finds Labour culpable for genocide

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16 March 2026

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Gaza Tribunal finds Labour culpable for genocide

The Gaza Tribunal have published their damning report today into British complicity in Israel’s genocide on Gaza. Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn convened the Gaza Tribunal in September with two international law specialists. The tribunal heard testimony from lawyers, medical professionals, former Foreign Office officials, and Palestinians as it worked to determine the scale of the UK’s complicity in the genocide in Gaza.

The report reads:

Britain’s failure to meet its legal obligations has contributed to the mass killing of Palestinian civilians and the wholesale destruction of civilian objects, the desecration of international law and the further erosion of Britain’s status as a nation committed to the rule of law in the international arena.

This report comes ahead of the May 2026 local elections indicating it has potential to be a significant deterrent for voters across the country. Let’s face it: compassionate people don’t tend to tolerate being involved in the murder of tens of thousands of children.

Going further, the report subsequently recommends that the International Criminal Court (ICC) conduct a thorough investigation into British complicity and our participation in the mass murder of Palestinians.

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Corbyn concluded that the UK government has been ‘an active participant’ in Israel’s horrific crimes:

Corbyn on Gaza: ‘we do not need permission to uncover the truth’

Jeremy Corbyn initially put forward a bill in the House of Commons calling for a public inquiry into the UK’s ongoing and significant involvement in Gaza. However, the bill was rejected. The government instead argued that there was “no need” for an inquiry, suggesting it would be “unnecessary” because there is “no confusion” about the nature of the UK’s involvement.

This can only be seen as a sign that Keir Starmer’s government is fully aware of the UK’s complicity and has no intention of addressing it.

Nevertheless, Corbyn and others ploughed on refusing to wait for permission from the government. Affirming his hope that the tribunal’s report will be a “landmark contribution” to seeking justice and a reliable source of evidence of our complicity for future generations, Corbyn stated:

Today, schoolchildren are taught about history’s worst crimes against humanity. They are asked to reflect on how these crimes possibly could have occurred. And they learn the names of political figures that endorsed or enabled such atrocities. In the near future, our history books will shame those in our government who could have stopped the genocide in Gaza but facilitated it instead.

Israeli co-author and human rights scholar Professor Neve Gordon provided a statement ahead of the launch today:

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The government’s complicity in the genocide in Gaza has created a very dangerous precedent for our current moment. Indeed, we are already witnessing the fallout with Keir Stammer’s immoral response to the illegal war of aggression in Iran.

To ensure that ‘Never Again’ does not become entirely meaningless we must hold ministers and officials accountable for the government’s complicity in the destruction of Gaza. Accountability is the most effective guard against the repetition of such crimes in the future.

‘British government has failed’

The report is likely to create a major and inconvenient headache for Starmer’s government, with its authors committing to work with the ICC to:

draw their attention to evidence presented in this report, including violations of international law and evidence of criminal complicity implicating government ministers and officials.

Including:

those who have authorized the continuation of economic ties with Israel, as well as the commission of arms trades, arm transfers and intelligence exchange.

Furthermore, it calls on the government to allow an official, full, independent public inquiry into the evidence collected in the report. This tribunal is unofficial so it would require an official inquiry instructed by the government. Nevertheless, this will likely be blocked by pro-Israel Starmer and co, meaning public pressure will be essential to force an inquiry.

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The report published today reminds us that people must not wait for permission from the most powerful:

The Gaza Tribunal cannot itself deliver justice. However, by documenting testimony, gathering evidence and drawing attention to violations of international law, this report seeks to contribute to the growing global effort to secure accountability and justice for the Palestinian people.

After all, when officials bury their heads in the sand, nothing disappears – it only makes them more complicit.

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DWP rejects disabled job seekers over ill health

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16 March 2026

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DWP rejects disabled job seekers over ill health

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been accused of using a screening process which filters out applicants with any health problems.

The Disability News Service (DNS) reported that the DWP is using a private sector employment health screening service once they’ve offered someone a job.

The service consists of a seven-page long questionnaire, called Fit4Jobs, which provides the DWP with a comprehensive picture of an applicant’s health.

If an applicant doesn’t score enough points for the ‘health qualifying rate’, their job offer can be withdrawn, meaning the DWP is finding a way not to hire disabled people whilst simultaneously pushing disabled people into work.

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The DWP didn’t even try to deny the questionnaire is being used to weed out disabled employees. A spokesperson told the DNS:

The Fit4Jobs questionnaire is a standard pre-employment health declaration, completed by successful external candidates to ensure any workplace adjustments are in place from day one.

However, the department also hypocritically said:

We are committed to ensuring disabled people and those with long-term health conditions get the right support at work.

This is a ridiculous statement to make when they clearly don’t want disabled people in their own department. The DWP didn’t even try to deny the questionnaire is being used to weed out disabled employees.

It’s the DWP, not the secret service

The questionnaire probes into all aspects of someone’s medical history from past medications to whether they’ve ever broke a bone or have other health conditions. This includes whether someone has “ever suffered from any mental health conditions or if they have any issues with their stomach, kidneys or skin”.

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It’s ridiculously thorough for a DWP job, to be honest. You have to tell them about allergies, whether you’ve had Covid, smoke, drink, or take drugs and even about your diet and exercise. It also drills into immune conditions and whether an applicant has ever had two or more weeks off work due to their health.

The service is provided by the People Asset Management (PAM) group, who then use an algorithm to score the answers. Applicants must score over 80% to achieve the ‘health qualifying rate’ and be regarded as suitable for the role.

The questionnaire is apparently to help employers “identify any risks that could prevent an employee from undertaking their new role” and ensure reasonable adjustments are provided.

However, a DWP work coach told John Pring at DNS that applicants would need to answer ‘no’ to most questions to pass the screening process.

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They added that the scoring system “appears to reject candidates on the basis of health, disability and age”.

Referring to what the work coach said, Pring wrote:

They said that it was hypocritical of DWP ministers to call endlessly for more people with health conditions to seek employment, while using a service that prevents many of them working for the department.

As hypocritical as ever

It’s beyond fucking hypocritical of the DWP to exclude disabled applicants whilst it’s pushing the ‘economically active’ narrative of disabled people not wanting to work.

At a time when the DWP wants to force disabled people into work by any means, it’s showing how little they value disabled employees. But this is no surprise from a department that has lost more employment tribunals for disability discrimination in the past five years than any other UK employer.

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The DWP is also quietly scrapping Access to Work which aims to support disabled people in the workplace. How are disabled people supposed to believe the department actually wants to support them into work when they don’t even want to employ disabled people themselves?

This just proves once again how little the government actually wants to help disabled people into employment. What the DWP really cares about is saving money and it would rather continue to demonise disabled people than fix its crooked department.

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Meningitis outbreak causes death of two people

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16 March 2026

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Meningitis outbreak causes death of two people

Two young people have died following an outbreak of meningitis in Kent. According to BBC reporting, a further 11 individuals are critically ill in hospital.

The first individual to die was an as-yet-unnamed student at the University of Kent. The second was Juliette, a year-13 student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham.

The outbreak is thought to be linked to an event at Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury. As of yet, the specific strain of the infection hasn’t been identified.

Meningitis outbreak: UKHSA response

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is currently managing the response to the outbreak. The organisation is contacting over 30,000 people in the Canterbury area with information.

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The University of Kent has stated that it’s moving assessments and exams online as a precautionary measure. Given that we’re currently in an exam season, this is likely to cause a not-insignificant level of disruption.

A spokesperson also said that students who have been in contact with infected individuals are being offered advice.

On campus, hundreds of students stood in line today wearing masks, waiting for preventative antibiotics. Students also reported seeing ambulances and hazmat suit-clad teams outside of their accommodation.

Meanwhile, the guardians of pupils from Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford have also been warned that a sixth-former has been admitted to hospital on suspicion of meningitis.

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What to watch out for

Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the meninges, the protective membranes that wrap the brain and spinal cord. It’s most common in young people, from babies to young adults, although anyone can be affected.

If it isn’t treated quickly, the infection can cause permanent brain and nerve damage, or even life-threatening sepsis. Having been infected before is not guarantee that you can’t be re-infected.

Asymptomatic carriers of the infection can spread it to others via spit or saliva. Usually, this will take the form of coughs and sneezes, although it can also be transferred by sharing cutlery or kissing.

Trish Mannes, the regional lead for UKHSA South East, stated that:

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Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly, so it’s essential that students and staff are alert to the signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.

Students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs of meningitis because they can be easily confused with other illnesses such as a bad cold, flu or even a hangover.

According to the NHS website, symptoms to watch out for include:

  • a high temperature (fever)
  • being sick
  • a headache
  • a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
  • a stiff neck
  • a dislike of bright lights
  • drowsiness or unresponsiveness
  • seizures (fits)

A rare outbreak

After a confirmed meningococcal outbreak, specialist lab testing is needed to confirm the exact strain of the bacteria responsible. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests allow technicians to determine the bacterium’s serogroup and genome.

This information is highly important, as it allows healthcare workers to determine whether a targeted vaccination programme is needed, and whether individual cases are linked. In this case, the wait to know the exact strain may be anywhere between three and seven days.

Outbreaks of meningitis of this magnitude are rare in the UK. However, the BBC reported that senior scientists believe that group B meningococcus bacteria are the most likely cause.

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Just last October, the UK government announced that there were 378 cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in 2024-25. Of these, MenB accounted for 313 (82.6%) of the cases.

Crucially, the Men B vaccine was introduced back in 2025, but only for babies. This means that the teens and young adults who are being affected in Kent wouldn’t have received the vaccine. As things stand, the only way to access the vaccine for individuals outside of infancy is privately, through high-street pharmacies.

Vaccine skepticism on the rise

With vaccine skepticism on the rise in the UK, the US and elsewhere, the current outbreak in Kent is a tragic reminder of the lifesaving necessity of immunisation.

In the US, the rise of anti-vaxxers was underlined by Trump’s appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a noted vaccine conspiracy theorist, as health secretary. And sure enough, last year, the American Centre for Disease Control was forced to take down its statement that ‘vaccines don’t cause autism’.

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Meanwhile, in the UK, Reform leader Nigel Farage is also busy stoking up the conspiracists. In particular, he made vague claims that the Covid-19 jab wasn’t a real vaccine, stating that:

I believe in vaccinations when they’re vaccinations. I don’t think what happened with Covid were vaccinations. You have to keep having them every 6 months.

This anti-science pandering to the extreme right is dangerous – it’s an active threat to public health, and one that we must oppose at every turn. If not, we’ll only see more tragedies like the scenes unfolding in Kent right now.

Featured image via the Canary

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Hochul promotes her agenda with state-funded ad campaign

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16 March 2026

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Gov. Kathy Hochul does not appear in the ads directly though it encourages people to visit a New York run website touting her accomplishments towards more affordable housing.

Gov. Kathy Hochul does not appear in the ads directly though it encourages people to visit a New York run website touting her accomplishments towards more affordable housing.

HOCHUL’S AD CAMPAIGN: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office is using taxpayer money to fund an advertising blitz promoting her agenda, brushing up against a ban on governors appearing in promotional material.

State law prohibits elected officials from appearing in ads paid for with state funds.

Hochul doesn’t directly appear in any of the ads. Instead, they encourage people to visit a state-run website where she’s prominently featured talking about wanting to cut red tape to build affordable housing.

“They’re skirting the very intent of what that law was meant to do, and that’s using taxpayer dollars to promote the image or likeness of the governor,” Republican Assemblymember Matt Slater said. “It’s clearly something that needs to be looked into so we can figure out what consequences she should be facing if she is in fact violating the law.”

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The ads have appeared over the past week on Facebook, YouTube, and at least one billboard. The governor’s office said a FOIL request would be required to see the full scope.

One example is a YouTube commercial that simply states “Let Them Build” and directs people to the state’s website. The Executive Chamber has spent between $10,000 and $15,000 on that ad — one of 21 to air on YouTube or Google over the past week. The ad has been viewed one million times.

“The state routinely engages in awareness and education campaigns on critical policy priorities and this campaign was designed in compliance with all ethics laws,” said Hochul spokesperson Jen Goodman.

Reinvent Albany’s Rachael Fauss said that if the 20-year-old law had been written today, “it probably would take into consideration” campaigns like this.

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“From a technical perspective, she may not be violating the law,” she said. “But I think the spirit of the law is to not have the governor’s likeness be promoted through the use of taxpayer funds. That was the intent of it. Unfortunately, this is an area where the law hasn’t kept up with the way people consume media and ads these days.”

The ban on advertising came about after former Gov. George Pataki ran state-funded commercials during an election year in which he encouraged people to register in a new healthcare program. Ethics reforms passed as part of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s inaugural agenda included language prohibiting the practice.

Hochul isn’t the first elected official to brush up against the intent of the law in recent months. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s likeness has appeared on WiFi kiosks, a practice that’s permitted since the city is given the screentime for free. And Mamdani, unlike Hochul, isn’t up for reelection anytime soon.

“She’s got plenty of campaign funds that she could be using to pay for these things,” Slater said. “What she’s doing right now is spending taxpayer money to enhance her image when she’s on the ballot this year.” — Bill Mahoney

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FROM THE CAPITOL

Attorney General Letitia James appeared in Albany this morning to support regulating algorithmic pricing legislation.

PRICING POLITICS: Democratic state Attorney General Letitia James is throwing her support behind a bill meant to crack down on retailers’ use of algorithmic pricing.

James was in Albany this morning to back legislation meant to halt the practice, which uses a consumer’s personal data to set individually tailored prices.

The bill, backed by Assemblymember Michaelle Solages and Deputy Senate Majority Leader Mike Gianaris, is part of a broader push being made by elected officials to address peoples’ pocketbook concerns.

“This online pricing model hits hardest where it hurts the most — food, medicine, diapers and other essentials,” James said at a news conference. “We all have all been focused on the issue of affordability across this state.” — Nick Reisman

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FROM CITY HALL

Former NYPD sergeant Tim Pearson (third from left) served as a top mayoral aide to former Mayor Eric Adams.

EVIDENCE HUNT: The former NYPD sergeant accusing former mayoral aide Tim Pearson of sexual harassment wants to get her hands on the evidence that prompted the Mamdani administration to stop paying for Pearson’s legal bills.

In 2024, the former sergeant, Roxanne Ludemann, sued Pearson, a confidant and top adviser to former Mayor Eric Adams, accusing him of sexually harassing her at work and then professionally retaliating against her when she rejected his overtures.

Thanks to an unusual arrangement greenlit by Adams’ Law Department, Pearson received taxpayer-funded private lawyers to defend him against Ludemann’s suit. But Mamdani’s corporation counsel, Steve Banks, announced last week that he had rescinded Pearson’s arrangement, citing unspecified “new evidence” that warranted terminating it.

In a court filing late Friday, John Scola, an attorney representing Ludemann, demanded that the Law Department provide his client with access to the evidence in question, arguing it’s relevant to her ongoing case.

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“Produce all documents, records, evidence, reports, memoranda, and materials of any kind that constitute, refer to, or relate to the ‘new evidence’ relied upon, reviewed, considered, or referenced by corp counsel in making its determination to decline or withdraw representation of Defendant Timothy Pearson in this matter,” Scola wrote in the filing.

Also last week, Banks terminated a similar arrangement that allowed Jeffrey Maddrey, an Adams ally and former NYPD chief of department, to receive taxpayer-funded attorneys in the Pearson matter, too. Maddrey is accused by Ludemann of helping Pearson retaliate against her.

Scola’s filing demanded access to the information that prompted Banks to slash Maddrey’s arrangement as well.

Pearson and Maddrey, who resigned from city government in late 2024 after being ensnared in unrelated corruption investigations, have denied any wrongdoing.

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A Law Department spokesperson did not comment when asked today about Scola’s demand.

New York City taxpayers have already paid more than $620,000 to cover Pearson’s legal tab alone. — Chris Sommerfeldt

FINANCE SHUFFLE: Mamdani is zeroing in on a pick to run the Department of Finance, a normally under-the-radar agency that has taken on new prominence amid the mayor’s push to raise property taxes.

Mamdani’s administration is in talks to hire Richard Lee for the job, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions who were granted anonymity to discuss an internal personnel matter.

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Lee currently serves as director of the City Council’s Division of Finance. That means his move to Mamdani’s finance department would leave Council Speaker Julie Menin without her top budget adviser amid increasingly tense negotiations over the city’s $127 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Council is conducting budget oversight hearings throughout the month to better ascertain how city agencies are planning to operate amid a precarious fiscal situation. The city is facing a projected multi-billion dollar deficit over the next fiscal year, and Mamdani’s administration is relying on cash reserves, optimistic revenue projections and an increase in property taxes to bridge that gap and balance the spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Increasing levies on property owners would require approval from the Council, and Menin has dismissed the idea as a nonstarter. She has argued the city needs to look for other ways to cut costs beforehand. The mayor, by contrast, says drastic steps like property levy hikes can be avoided if Albany gives the city the authority to raise local taxes on millionaires and corporations — proposals Menin has declined to support.

Lee, should he ultimately join Mamdani’s administration, would be working for the finance department as it tabulates a key variable — the assessed value of property in New York City — which helps determine how much revenue the city collects from owners each year.

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Read the story from Joe Anuta and Chris Sommerfeldt in POLITICO Pro. 

AROUND NEW YORK

— MACHIAVELLIAN MAMDANI: The mayor forced his political will on fellow lefty lawmakers, including by squashing Tiffany Cabán’s congressional prospects and threatening Chi Ossé. (The New York Times)

— ADAMS OFFICIAL UNDER PROBE: The former commissioner of the city’s probation department under Mayor Eric Adams is being investigated by the Manhattan district attorney. (Gothamist)

— MAYOR DINES WITH KNICKS: Mamdani broke his Saturday Ramadan fast with Senegalese Knicks player Mo Diawara. (GQ)

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Streeting announces reduction in share of NHS spending for mental health

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16 March 2026

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Streeting announces reduction in share of NHS spending for mental health

Health secretary Wes Streeting has delivered a statement to the House of Commons in which he confirmed that funding for mental health has fallen as a proportion of NHS spending in England.

While there has been a real terms increase of £140m, this amounts a 3.2% reduction in share of spending from last year. Streeting’s statement makes this seem smaller by expressing it as a drop from 8.68% to 8.40% of the total.

This spending reduction comes despite confirmation that one in five people aged 16-64 (22.6%) in England now have a common mental health condition, a 20% increase since 2014. This rises to one in four among young people.

Mental health problems are the leading health condition among young people out of work.

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Mark Rowland, chief executive at the Mental Health Foundation, said:

Poor mental health is at record highs, including millions of children and young people on waiting lists for treatment or out of work with mental health problems without adequate support to return to the workforce.

This is a human and economic catastrophe, costing the UK at least £118bn a year. In the midst of a national mental health crisis, a cut to the share of spend for mental health raises real concerns about the government’s commitment to mental health.

We support essential NHS reforms to focus on early intervention and prevention (such as Mental Health in School Teams) as well as a focus on Neighbourhood health centres. However, a reduction in spend relative to other areas of health spend undermines this effort. We wouldn’t accept rising cancer rates and falling share of spend and we shouldn’t for mental health.

Without an effective, co-ordinated ‘invest to save approach’, the mental health crisis will only get worse. It will continue to cost the UK billions of pounds, and millions of people will continue to suffer the consequences of preventable mental health problems.

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Featured image via the Canary

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Talk of a ‘white genocide’ is morally grotesque

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16 March 2026

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Talk of a ‘white genocide’ is morally grotesque

When someone speaks of a genocide against indigenous peoples, you could be forgiven for thinking they’re referring to historical events. Maybe Europeans’ devastating, disease-spreading conquests of the Americas during the 16th century. Or Japan’s campaigns of assimilation and dispossession directed at indigenous Ainu in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

But not anymore. Today, a ‘genocide of indigenous people’ is just as likely to be used to describe the supposed ‘ethnic cleansing’ of white Europeans as it is an event from centuries ago. Take a recent viral GB News clip, featuring someone called Thomas Corbett-Dillon. Introduced as a ‘former Boris Johnson adviser’ (a seemingly tenuous claim), Corbett-Dillon declared that ‘there is a genocide happening on this island because it is being taken over by different people who are not indigenous to this land’.

That pundits are prepared to make such a claim on live TV is a sign of just how normalised elements of the so-called Great Replacement Theory have become among parts of the right. Popularised by French writer Renaud Camus, the theory holds that Western elites are conspiring to replace white populations with immigrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Camus was banned from entering the UK last year – a decision that only amplified his arguments and allowed him to pose as a truth-teller silenced by the elites.

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The likes of Corbett-Dillon are far from the only ones to invoke the spectre of ‘genocide’ to advance their cause. Over the past decade, the concept of genocide has been stretched far beyond its historical meaning, which was rooted in the singular horror of the Holocaust. Trans activists have spoken of a ‘trans genocide’. Anti-abortion activists have described abortion as a ‘silent holocaust’ or an ‘American genocide’. And Israel has relentlessly been accused of committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza while waging war against Hamas, the terrorists responsible for the 7 October massacre, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. In fact, the accusations began in the immediate aftermath of that tragedy, before Israel had even responded militarily.

The likening of abortion rates or high levels of net migration to the most horrendous event in human history may be grim, but it serves a propagandistic purpose: to dress up, in this case, demographic change as a form of genocide that demands extreme action – hence, extremist right-wingers’ fantasies of ‘total remigration’ (the removal of all non-whites from Western countries).

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What’s especially striking about the right’s growing willingness to frame anti-immigration arguments in terms of genocide is the extent to which they’ve adopted the morally charged language of the left. After all, the discourse of indigeneity and victimhood was long associated with ‘progressive’ politics. Many conservatives usually recoil from the language of indigenous rights in the context of Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US. But they now appear all too comfortable invoking it in the context of Britain. In one YouTube video, commentator Carl Benjamin, also known as Sargon of Akkad, even asked why the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples should not apply to the English.

Instead of advocating equality before the law and a shared national identity that transcends ethnicity, too many on the right are now pursuing their own identity politics, complete with their own claim to victimhood.

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In the absence of a serious vision for the betterment of society, it seems parts of the right have embraced rhetorical hysteria instead. It is less a political analysis than it is an emotional release. Talking up a fictitious ‘genocide’ allows parts of the right to avoid confronting the significant challenges we face, including those brought about by migration and multiculturalism, from failures of integration to a lack of social cohesion.

None of this means that questions of culture, ethnicity and demographics don’t matter. Concerns about segregation, the entrenchment of ethnic and religious identity politics, and the social consequences of poorly managed immigration are urgent topics for public debate. Too often, anyone airing these concerns has been dismissed as racist or reactionary.

But describing demographic change as ‘genocide’, because migrants settle in Britain and have children, is not only inaccurate, it is morally grotesque, too. It is using the worst crimes in history to score political points. Plus, it poisons the debate and sets people against one another. By pushing the discussion to its most hysterical extremes, some on the right are making the serious conversation we need about immigration and demographic change harder rather than easier.

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Those warning of a ‘genocide’ may think they’re speaking for ordinary Brits. But just like the woke left before them, they’ve mistaken their social-media echo chamber for the nation at large.

Inaya Folarin Iman is a spiked columnist and founder of the Equiano Project.

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Trump Callously Reveals Rep's Diagnosis

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Trump Callously Reveals Rep's Diagnosis

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WATCH: Healey Admits Britain’s ‘War Footing’ Defence Investment Plan Still Not Ready

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WATCH: Healey Admits Britain’s ‘War Footing’ Defence Investment Plan Still Not Ready

Missing: Britain’s “war-fighting readiness” defence investment plan. Expected arrival date: last autumn…

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