Politics
Miriam Cates: Time’s up for the triple lock but there’s little hope of pension reform from the Right
Miriam Cates is a presenter on GBNews and the former MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge.
I never used to understand the appeal of the radical left.
The combination of socialist economics and a rejection of tradition is a recipe for disaster, as has been proven time and again over the last century. But last week, for a brief moment at least, I experienced a pang of revolutionary zeal and saw why the extreme left, currently embodied in Zak Polanski’s Green Party, has become so popular with young people in Britain.
This revelation was delivered to me during a Reform UK press conference, where treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick announced that his party was now committed to keeping the pensions “triple lock.” In doing so, Jenrick slammed the final nail in the coffin for the hope of state pension reform from the political right.
Should the Tories (who still support the triple lock) or Reform, or a coalition of the two win the next General Election, Britain’s young people are now condemned to pay through the nose for the retirement of the wealthiest generation in history, while simultaneously being denied the opportunity for homeownership and parenthood that their parents and grandparents took for granted.
Storming the barricades seems like a perfectly reasonable response in such circumstances.
The triple lock is a relatively new policy, introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government in 2011. It guarantees that each year, the state pension will rise by the highest of inflation, wages or 2.5 per cent. It is a mathematical certainty that the annual increase will always exceed the average of these three metrics, and that is why since in the last 15 years, the state pension has increased by 70 per cent, twice as much as wage growth over the same period. By 2030, the triple lock alone – not the cost of the pension itself – will add £15 billion a year to Britain’s benefit bill. And the price tag will continue to rise as the value of the state pension increases and more of Britain’s “baby boomers” reach retirement age.
The pensions triple lock is a policy that everyone in Westminster – politicians, economists, think tankers and journalists – knows is unaffordable.
Since pensions are paid from current taxation and the birth rate has been falling for 50 years, a shrinking group of working age tax payers is taxed more and more each year to fund a growing number of pensioners. The state pension is driving our economy off a cliff, yet no one in the corridors of power dares to admit it in public – though all do so in private – for fear of losing the ‘grey’ vote.
I had hoped that Reform would be different.
In so many policy areas, Nigel Farage has stood bravely against the consensus, holding his ground and winning the argument, forcing the Conservative Party (eventually) into more conservative positions. On Brexit, immigration, the ECHR and Net Zero, Farage steeled himself against establishment opprobrium, and shifted the Overton Window. The Reform leader has even had the courage to ditch some of his own popular but unsound policies – such as raising the income tax threshold to £20 000 – by explaining the need for fiscal responsibility. In recent months, both Farage and Richard Tice have hinted that the triple lock may need a rethink, rolling the pitch – or so I thought – for an honest debate. Farage is often labelled a ‘populist,’ but the British political right has been considerably strengthened by his willingness to risk being unpopular.
That is why last week’s triple lock announcement is so disappointing.
In departing from the Faragist modus operandi, Reform UK has ducked the challenge of using their unique place in British politics to shift the dial on pensions reform and force the Conservatives into a more sensible position. It was noticeable that in the press conference, both Jenrick and Farage reinforced misunderstandings about how Britain’ s state pension is funded, saying that retirees have ‘paid into’ their pension, even though this is untrue. National Insurance payments are not saved for an individual; NI is a tax that is used to cover the cost of current public spending. The average pensioner receives around 25 per cent more from the state than they contributed in tax and NI. This popular myth – that pensioners receive their pensions from a ‘pot’ with their name on it – is one of the major political barriers to reform and politicians ought to take every opportunity to correct rather than perpetuate the misconception.
Reform (and the Conservatives) also claim that the triple lock can be afforded by cutting spending on foreigners and the workless. But our national finances are in such a perilous state that we must do everything at once. State pension expenditure has reached £150 billion a year; annual spending on asylum hotels (which should of course be stopped) sits at just £2 billion. Universal Credit claims by households including at least one foreign national amount to less than £15 billion a year. It is not possible to reduce spending enough without addressing the burgeoning cost of the state pension.
Supporters argue that Reform’s commitment to the triple lock is born of pragmatism, and that the Party must bolster its position among older voters. Pragmatic it may be, courageous it is not. And it is certainly not in the national interest.
Yet judging by the arguments raging online and in the media this week, it is clear that many on the right see the triple lock and the state pension as untouchable foundations of government policy. Three main arguments are being made by so-called conservatives in favour of the status quo, none of which stand up to scrutiny.
Firstly, opponents to pension reform argue that a generous state pension is part of the social contract and so, even though the state pension is technically not a contributory scheme, it would be immoral for the government to change the terms. But healthcare and unemployment benefits are also part of our social contract, and we all recognise that it is up to the government of the day to set the level of NHS spending and welfare eligibility criteria based on what is sensible and affordable. When the current state pension was introduced, life expectancy was 65 and the birth rate was high enough to sustain our native population. In all other areas of policy making we recognise that times have changed; why ring fence the state pension?
Secondly, supporters of the non-means tested state pension claim that those who paid tax throughout their working lives are entitled to this state handout because of their financial contribution. But by that logic, all working age taxpayers should be allowed to claim Universal Credit. The welfare state is based on the understanding that high earners pay a lot of tax and at the same time are not entitled to benefits. It’s unclear why this should only apply to those under the age of 67.
Lastly, it is argued that pensioners deserve a well-earned and comfortable retirement as a reward for their working life. I have no doubt that most of Britain’s current retirees have indeed worked hard. But no generation has ever before – or will again – enjoy such lengthy and wealthy retirements, benefitting as they have from improved healthcare and macroeconomic policies that saw asset prices rocket. Are Boomers more deserving than, say, the silent generation who fought the Second World War, or the Edwardians who endured the Great War, and the Spanish Flu? Of course we shouldn’t begrudge anyone a long and happy retirement, but we must also recognise that the extraordinarily advantageous circumstances of many current retirees owes more to luck than virtue.
It’s as if a form of wilful blindness has taken hold of some on the right, preventing them from seeing the state pension for what it has become – a universal basic income for those over a certain age.
Apparently without embarrassment, some conservatives complain that Britain’s benefit system is increasingly socialist – with growing expenditure on asylum seekers and those who don’t want to work – while being unwilling to contemplate reform to our most socialist benefit of all; the state pension. The same people who argue that disability benefits should only go to those who really need them seem remarkably comfortable with millionaires (one in four of today’s pensioners) and higher rate tax payers (three million retirees by the end of next year) receiving a state pension. Britain’s pension system now functions as a cash transfer from poorer young to wealthier old, in a reverse Robin Hood phenomenon that has become known online as ‘Boomer Communism’.
The delusion is so potent that it has led some to claim that those calling for pension spending restraint are ‘far left’. We really are flying upside down.
Is it any wonder Britain’s young people are so demoralised? My eldest son turns 18 this year and, once he enters the workplace, a large proportion of the tax he pays will fund an income not just for poor pensioners, but for many who don’t need the money and are sitting on unearned asset wealth that he can never hope to acquire. If this is ‘capitalism’ then there are no prizes for guessing why young people might reject it.
In their press conference, the Reform Party pointed to polling that shows young people support the triple lock. But young people also support puppies and kittens; it doesn’t mean it will be a deciding issue for them at an election. And both Farage and Jenrick had some choice words about the apparently work-shy young, which is a bit rich considering they are the people who are being forced to fund a state pension that will be long gone by the time they reach old age.
Campaigning for economic reform should not be the preserve of the radical left.
There is a compelling conservative argument for addressing generational inequality, based on responsibility, opportunity and the virtue of living within our means. It is notable that Britain’s Reform Party is considerably less popular with young voters than their European counterparts. France’s Rassemblement Nationale and Germany’s AfD have attracted the support of around 30 per cent of young people in their respective nations; just 8 per cent of Britain’s youth say they will vote for Farage’s party.
Perhaps this is because Reform has leaned into Brexit and immigration, rather than issues of identity, ethnicity and economic inequality which drive concern among the young. Interestingly the newest entrant on the right – Rupert Lowe’s Restore Party – is deliberately directing its messaging at younger voters and calling on grandparents to make sacrifices for their grandchildren. Time will tell whether Restore can land their arguments with enough voters of all ages to make a difference.
Time is running out.
The welfare bill (of which around one half is the state pension) has now exceeded income tax receipts. Of course the very poor – of all ages – must be protected. But in refusing to address the burgeoning cost of state pensions, we are enriching the old at the expense of the young and condemning our economy to crisis. If that doesn’t radicalise you, nothing will.
Or perhaps you think we can just let the young eat cake.
Israel has stepped up its illegal attacks on civilian infrastructure in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement which mediators from Pakistan say includes Lebanon.
Beirut is under attack. Bombs going off all around us, multiple strikes across many parts of the city. Can’t post footage now for obvious reasons but people are desperately trying to find a place of safety.
100 strikes in 10 minutes across Lebanon. This is a clear message that…
— Steve Sweeney (@SweeneySteve) April 8, 2026
Reports indicate that 50 Israeli fighter jets dropped 160 bombs on various parts of Lebanon, all within one minute.
🚨Jerusalem Post: 50 Israeli fighterjets dropped 160 bombs on various parts of Lebanon in one minute
— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) April 8, 2026
Israel has not hit Lebanon this hard since 1982.
Israel also targeted an ambulance in Qlaileh, southern Lebanon. The attack killed four paramedics.
An ambulance was just targeted in Qlaileh, Lebanon.
Netanyahu’s office:
“The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shared by the US, Israel and Israel’s regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations.”
“The two-weeks ceasefire does not… pic.twitter.com/isOaKlO62u
— courtneybonneauimages (@cbonneauimages) April 8, 2026
In Beirut alone, the death toll today has already risen to 500 after only half a day of the Zionists carpet-bombing the city.
Breaking: Initial reports say the death toll in Beirut has risen to 500 following Israeli airstrikes. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/6KKFZBuBSl
— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) April 8, 2026
The terrorist state even bombed a funeral. No amount of dead brown people will ever be enough for Israel.
they bombed a funeral in lebanon at a cemetery and everyone is now dead. a fucking funeral at a cemetery. pic.twitter.com/9iMz4DdFdC
— lea (@taylenarare) April 8, 2026
Israel is murdering Lebanese people while they mourn.
False pretences
As usual, Israel’s standard excuse for bombing brown people is ‘defeating terrorists’. In this case, in Lebanon, it’s ‘defeating Hezbollah’. Of course, everyone with even half a working brain can see that’s bullshit.
Remember that Hezbollah, just like Hamas, would not exist if it weren’t for Israel’s illegal invasions.
Meanwhile, Israel bombs hospitals, ambulances, and other civilian infrastructure, in clear contravention of international law, and gets away with it.
And guess what. The IOF is lying. I was caught in the middle of it, and not for the first time. One man I was just with pulled a three-year-old girl from a building judt before it collaped. Hundreds are feared desd, hospitals struggling to cope. Tbid is terrorism.
— Steve Sweeney (@SweeneySteve) April 8, 2026
Hezbollah was formed in 1982 after Israel illegally invaded Lebanon. Its main foundational goal was to fight the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. The group’s resistance to Israeli occupation was instrumental in the IOF leaving Lebanon in 2000, after 18 years.
Armed resistance is not illegal under international law. A United Nations General Assembly resolution states:
The General Assembly,
Reaffirms the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial domination, apartheid and foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle;
Israel and the West have labelled both Hezbollah and Hamas as ‘terrorist groups’ and called for their disarmament – when they’re only defending the land they are native to.
Hezbollah abided by the ceasefire agreement, whilst the Zionist entity did not.
Israel is the only true terrorist state – it combines the barbarity of no holds barred terror tactics and civilian targeting while relying on the modern state’s monopoly on violence and the modern state’s weapons. https://t.co/pEqQHOJLf9
— Sarayu Pani (@sarayupani) April 8, 2026
Senior Iranian officials have told Al Jazeera that it will ‘punish’ Israel for ‘crimes’ it has committed in Lebanon.
The Zionist entity is committing constant atrocities with zero consequences. As usual, the goal is to destroy any chances of a lasting ceasefire. Because that way, Israel’s ‘greater Israel‘ project becomes all the more realistic.
‘God’s chosen people’ are sure causing a lot of death and destruction, which seems a little bit like the opposite of what a loving god would want for its people. Either Israelis have a very weird definition of god, or they’re simply using their religion as an excuse to bomb the shit out of brown people.
Featured image via CNN-News18/YouTube
Plans to cut £200 a month from new Universal Credit claims for those unable to work came into force the start of April. This has sparked a fierce challenge from a Gŵyr Abertawe (Swansea West & Gower) Senedd candidate.
Ben Golightly, the lead candidate for the Welsh Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) and a disability activist, claims the outgoing Welsh government has allowed Westminster to “turn the clock back” on disability rights by failing to stand up for disabled people:
These cuts are biting now, and they were voted for by 25 out of 26 Welsh Labour MPs. It was not good enough for the first minister, as leader of the Welsh Labour party, to say ‘it’s up to them’. The next Welsh government must do better.
That inability to stand up to Keir Starmer undermines the outgoing Welsh government’s ambitions and achievements – some of it world-leading in fact, like the Disability Rights Taskforce – and turns the clock backwards on disabled people’s quality of life.
The TUSC candidate also exposed a “black hole” in local planning, citing documents presented to Swansea Council’s budget meeting last month. These reveal the authority had made “no provision” for:
any increased costs or reductions in income arising from changes to welfare reform.
Golightly explained that welfare cuts would lead to increasing demand for services, while simultaneously reducing the council’s ability to charge for them, as residents’ incomes tumble.
He concluded:
I challenged the councillors on this at public questions. Some of those councillors – who either voted in favour of the budget or merely abstained – are now Senedd candidates: Labour, Green and Lib-Dem. I am standing to hold their feet to the fire and keep the fight for disabled people’s rights firmly on the agenda as a socialist voice for the Senedd.
Featured image via Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru
Relations between the two men are at an all-time low.Keir Starmer has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at Donald Trump – but insisted the pair’s relationship is not “in tatters”.
The prime minister refused to directly respond to the US president after he compared him to Adolf Hitler appeaser Neville Chamberlain.
That came after Trump said Starmer was “not Winston Churchill” over his decision not to initially let US jets mount launch bombing raids on Iran from RAF bases.
The PM has also rejected the president’s calls for the UK to send warships to the Gulf to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz.
Starmer flew to Saudi Arabia in the immediate aftermath of a two-week ceasefire being agreed between Iran, America and Israel.
He is due to have talks with leaders in the region on re-opening the strait.
Asked by reporters if his relationship with Trump was now “in tatters”, the PM said it wasn’t.
But he insisted he was right to act “in the British national interest” by refusing to join a war that he believes breaks international law.
He said: “I’ve acted as you would expect of a British prime minister, which is by being absolutely focused on what is our national interest, and that’s why I’ve applied my principles and my values throughout.
“And my principles and values made sure that our decisions were that we wouldn’t get involved in the action without a lawful basis, without a viable, thought-through plan.
“That was the right position for the United Kingdom, and of course, that has included us taking action, collective self-defence.”
He added: “I’m the British prime minister. I act in the British national interest, but nothing, but nothing, is going to deflect me from that.”
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On Saturday 11 April 2026, thousands of ordinary, peace-loving people will gather in Trafalgar Square, London. They’ll be there in open defiance of the UK government’s misguided crackdown on peaceful protest. This peaceful vigil, called ‘Everyone Day’, will demonstrate the unwaning resistance to the ban on Palestine Action. The UK government unlawfully proscribed this direct action movement as a ‘terrorist group’, paving the way for numerous arrests.
The action will be a peaceful vigil, with people sitting down holding their handwritten paper signs. The signs will carry the by now world-famous words:
I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action
Since July 2025, nearly 2,800 people have been arrested under terrorism legislation for holding these signs during peaceful vigils, as part of what was described as the “most widespread mass civil disobedience in modern UK history”.
In February, the High Court ruled that the government’s proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful and disproportionate. The effect of this judgment has been stayed to allow for the government to appeal.
The Met flip-flopping over arrests
Shortly after the ruling, the Metropolitan police issued a clear public statement that they would not arrest people for publicly displaying support for Palestine Action. Instead, the Met said that ‘gathering intelligence’ was the most proportionate action it could take. Only a few weeks later, the Met contradicted this public position by arresting a woman on a peaceful march.
In the weeks that followed, the Met issued a further statement marking a complete U-turn, saying that it would be arresting people after all. It is unclear what prompted this reassessment of proportionality other than correspondence from Defend Our Juries and the organisation of Everyone Day.
The Met’s U-Turn has come under fire, with leading law firm Hodge Jones & Allen arguing that any arrests would be unlawful. Nonetheless, a further 19 people have been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action since the policy change, with further arrests expected during Saturday’s action.
A spokesperson from Defend Our Juries said:
The protest against the proscription of Palestine Action has grown beyond a question of the right to protest. The actions of the UK government and police following the High Court’s ruling expose what many have long known: democracy in the UK is on its knees.
The government’s refusal to accept the judgment of the country’s highest court, coupled with inconsistent and opaque policing decisions, signals a troubling disregard for the rule of law. These are not the actions of institutions committed to protecting citizens, but of a state prioritising its own authority.
This campaign now extends far beyond Palestine Action, beyond Gaza, and beyond the principles of protest and free speech. It speaks to a fundamental erosion of the right to dissent and to hold power to account. This is no longer a marginal issue – it concerns everyone who values democratic freedoms.
Defend Our Juries reminds those planning to attend Everyone Day to read the Action Briefing in full before attending, which includes important legal information. It reminds participants to not have on their person any incriminating bits of paper, sharp items, valuables, drugs (except labelled prescription), phones with sensitive information, or items used to ‘lock on’.
Defend Our Juries gently reminds all attendees, whether sitting vigil participants or spectators, that this is a peaceful vigil and asks everyone to respect this.
Featured image via Defend Our Juries
Real Madrid is facing an unprecedented storm of controversy after a disastrous European night, both on and off the pitch, following their 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League quarter-finals. The match not only complicated their continental campaign but also ignited a major crisis off the field.
On the pitch, the Royal Club appeared unable to keep up with Bayern’s pace, suffering a loss that foreshadows a disastrous end to the season and significantly diminishes their chances of competing for titles. This has led to harsh criticism directed at the players and coaching staff, making it one of the most frustrating nights for their fans.
But, their football is the least of their problems.
Real Madrid have an Islamophobia problem
But what happened in the stands was far more serious than the result itself, after videos surfaced showing shocking racist chants by some Real Madrid fans, directly targeting Muslims with the phrase: “Anyone who doesn’t jump is a Muslim.” This incident has brought back to the forefront one of the most sensitive issues in European football.
Cánticos racistas junto al Bernabéu antes del partido de Champions entre el Real Madrid y el Bayern de Munich.
“Musulmán el que no bote”.
El Madrid tiene millones de seguidores musulmanes.
Lamentable. pic.twitter.com/pcjshvqRa5— Julián Macías Tovar (@JulianMaciasT) April 7, 2026
The same chant had previously caused a stir during a friendly match between Spain and Egypt, revealing a worrying pattern of recurring behavior, not just an isolated incident.
Spanish football under scrutiny
These developments come at a highly sensitive time, especially with FIFA’s move to open an official investigation into the previous incident during the friendly match against Egypt. This puts the reputation of Spanish football at stake and threatens repercussions that could extend beyond traditional sanctions, potentially impacting Spain’s hosting of the 2030 World Cup.
This latest incident is just the latest in a long series of racist abuse incidents within Spanish stadiums, the most prominent victims of which have been Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, along with other prominent names like Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, and Ansu Fati. This situation reflects a crisis that runs deeper than mere individual transgressions.
Amid this storm, Real Madrid finds itself compelled to act swiftly, cooperating with Spanish authorities to identify and hold accountable those involved, in an attempt to contain the fallout from the scandal. This is particularly important given that similar incidents in 2024 resulted in the arrest of several fans inside the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
Between a loss that threatens its season and a scandal that tarnishes its global image, Real Madrid faces a true test, not only to salvage its European campaign but also to protect its reputation from further damage in a battle that now transcends the boundaries of football.
Featured image via the Canary
The legacy media are fluffing their Israel reporting again. The Guardian reported on 8 March 2026 that “Israel hits Lebanon with massive wave of airstrikes amid ceasefire uncertainty”. This is, at best, a half truth.
There’s uncertainty about the ‘when’ of the tentative ceasefire between Iran and the US, sure. Not least on the ground in the affected countries. As Al Jazeera’s Heidi Pett reported:
The Israeli army launched what it said were 100 air strikes at multiple locations across Lebanon in a span of 10 minutes.
I am at the scene of one of them in central Beirut. The devastation is extraordinary. These strikes came without warning. They came at a moment of confusion across Lebanon as to whether the regional ceasefire applied here.
But the ‘what’ of Israel’s plans in Lebanon is as clear as day and at least as old as Israel itself: Zionism demands the settler-colonial state batters Lebanon into submission and colonises large swathes of it. How’s that for ‘uncertainty’?
And the current assault, it is being reported, rivals the 1982 war for violence:
Al Jazeera Arabic’s bureau chief in Lebanon, Mazen Ibrahim, says that many in the capital have been reminded today of Israel’s invasion of Beirut in 1982.
Israel, America’s attack dog in the region, could well wreck this fragile ceasefire. You can read our analysis of the scale and scope of the current attack here.
Israel: the ‘ceasefire’ terms are clear
The Iranian terms for a two week cessation of hostilities, which have been accepted by the US in a Pakistan-China brokered deal, contain a number of points. One of these is:
Halting the war on all resistance fronts, “including against the heroic Islamic resistance of Lebanon” (Hezbollah)
A later version of the demands reportedly expands this slightly:
The “necessity to end the war” against all Resistance axis factions – fronts listed in the document include Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine (occupied territories) – described as the “historic defeat of the child-killing Israeli regime’s aggression”
Read for yourself:
🚨 REPORT | Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the Islamic Republic’s top security decision-making body, announced that “negotiations will begin with complete distrust of the American side on Friday, April 10, in Islamabad,” with 2 weeks allocated for talks to finalize the… https://t.co/QExSWLTZU4
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 8, 2026
Now, you can quibble over the wording but an end to Israel’s attack on Lebanon is a load-bearing strut in this ceasefire.
So what was Israel’s response to this chance for even a moment of respite? In the Israel Occupation Forces’ (IOF) own words:
the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion.
‼️ In 10 minutes, the IDF completed the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion.
The strike targeted 100+ Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, & command-and-control centers in Beirut, Beqaa and southern Lebanon, including:
•…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 8, 2026
The fact that Israel remains the primary aggressor – even at the potential cost of wrecking a fragile ceasefire – should be central to ANY reportage. That Israel might wreck the tentative agreement intentionally is a whole other can of worms. One that we – and any media outlet worth its salt – should have the courage to crack open.
Israel’s ambition in Lebanon
Al-Jazeera reported on 8 March that Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said:
We will continue to strike the terrorist organisation Hezbollah and seize every opportunity.
We will not compromise on the security of the [Israeli] residents of the North. We will continue to attack without pause.
And Israeli Defense Minister Katz said:
Hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists were attacked in a surprise strike on headquarters across Lebanon in the largest concentrated blow Hezbollah has absorbed since Operation Buzzers… We warned Naim Qassem that Hezbollah will pay a very heavy price for attacking Israel on Iran’s behalf – and Naim Qassem’s personal turn will come too.
Underneath the usual reference to ‘terrorists’ and ‘security’ the same old colonial ambitions are what drives the Israeli state machine.
And within hours of the ceasefire plan being publicised, Iran – which had to some degree reopened the vital oil channel through the Straits of Hormuz – reportedly closed it in direct response to the Israeli attack on Lebanon:
🚨BREAKING: Iran has halted all oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following Israeli strikes on Lebanon, according to IRGC-linked Fars News Agency.
The pause comes after a brief reopening earlier in the day, when two oil tankers were allowed to pass with Iranian…
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 8, 2026
Underpinning colonial ambitions
Israel are not getting it all their own way. As the Canary reported on 4 April, the settler-colonial state could still face humiliation:
Israel’s invasion and attempted annexation of southern Lebanon has been portrayed as a sideshow to the war in Iran. And legacy media coverage has tended to miss out details of stubborn resistance to the Israeli military campaign.
Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich made it very clear that the Israeli invasion has colonialist, expansionist aims.
Reuters reported on 23 March 2026:
Smotrich told an Israeli radio program that the military campaign in Lebanon “needs to end with a different reality entirely, both with the Hezbollah decision but also with the change of Israel’s borders.”
Smotrich added:
I say here definitively…in every room and in every discussion, too: the new Israeli border must be the Litani.
Foiled for the moment in the long-dreamed-of war with Iran it helped push the erratic US president into, Israel is still eager to pursue its ambitions in Lebanon – even at the risk of wrecking the ceasefire and re-igniting the hot war with Iran.
Featured image via the Canary
FIFA has opened an official investigation into the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The investigation follows racist chants during last week’s friendly match between Spain and Egypt in Barcelona, as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The incident sparked widespread controversy and condemnation in both the sporting and political spheres, at a time when international pressure is mounting to combat racism in football stadiums.
Disciplinary proceedings and official investigation
According to a report in the Athletic, FIFA confirmed it has opened disciplinary proceedings against the RFEF following the events that occurred during the friendly against Egypt, which took place during the international break.
The referee documented the racist chants in his official report, leading to the case being referred to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee for review and appropriate action.
Offensive chants spark crisis
Racist chants, most notably ‘Anyone who doesn’t jump is a Muslim’, were heard in the stands of Barcelona’s RCDE Stadium, sparking widespread outrage and being considered a blatant violation of FIFA’s anti-discrimination regulations.
Potential sanctions without stadium closures
According to reports, the potential sanctions against the Spanish Football Federation could range from a fine to requiring them to display anti-racism awareness messages during upcoming matches.
However, the same source indicates that the sanctions are not expected to extend to closing stadiums to fans, despite the seriousness of the incident.
A sensitive test before the 2030 World Cup
These developments come at a sensitive time for Spain, which is preparing to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Morocco and Portugal, potentially placing it under international scrutiny regarding its anti-racism record.
FIFA continues to tighten its measures against racist behavior, having previously clearly supported Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior in his repeated stances against racist abuse in European stadiums.
Featured image via the Canary
Kai Havertz scored in the 90th minute to give Arsenal a 1–0 win away to Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal in Lisbon. The result hands Arsenal a slender but valuable advantage heading to the second leg at the Emirates.
Early shock
In the sixth minute, Sporting displayed a leading stance when Maxi Araújo’s rising shot met a diagonal from Ousmane Diomande. David Raya pushed the ball onto the crossbar with a fingertip save. This early intervention proved empirical in keeping the score level (UEFA match analysis). After the game, Raya said:
Those saves give you confidence. We believe 100% that we can win it…If you don’t believe then you’re never going to win it.
Midfield chess — Arteta’s plan and its limits
Mikel Arteta started Martin Zubimendi alongside Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard to win space in midfield. Zubimendi’s positioning allowed Rice to press forward and gave Ødegaard room to probe between Sporting’s lines. Yet Arsenal struggled to find a clean final pass. Gabriel Martinelli threatened down the left but had cutbacks blocked. Noni Madueke found Matheus Reis a tough matchup.
Sporting invited Arsenal to play and relied on counters. Viktor Gyökeres worked hard to bring teammates into the game, while Sporting’s best moments came from long range, a sign of Arsenal’s defensive discipline.
Momentum swings
Arsenal believed they had taken the lead in the 58th minute when Zubimendi finished a neat move. VAR intervened and ruled Viktor Gyökeres offside in the buildup, wiping the goal out. The emotional swing was sharp: Arsenal had to reset after the disallowed goal, and Sporting found fresh belief.
The match opened up after that. Trincão curled a shot wide and Geny Catamo forced another save from Raya. Arsenal pushed but could not break Sporting’s compact defence.
In the 76th minute Arteta brought on 16yearold Max Dowman for Zubimendi. Dowman became the youngest English player to appear in a Champions League knockout match. Arteta said of Dowman:
He’s ready. He’s shown it every day. Moments like this are part of his growth.
Havertz’s late moment of quality
As the match looked destined for a draw, Martinelli delivered the decisive pass in the 90th minute. He threaded a weighted ball between Diomande and Eduardo Quaresma; Havertz ghosted into the gap, took one touch and slotted the finish past Rui Silva. It was a composed, well-timed strike that broke the deadlock. After the goal, Havertz said:
It’s something very special that is happening at Arsenal. We believe until the last second.
What it means for the tie
Sporting leave Lisbon with pride intact. They matched Arsenal for long periods, created chances, and conceded only to a late lapse. Their compact, aggressive defensive shape gives them a platform for the return leg.
On the other hand, Arsenal controlled key phases, rode the VAR setback, and produced a decisive moment at the end. The tie is far from finished, but Arsenal will head to the Emirates in a stronger position.
Featured image via the Canary
Anti-war activist group Genocide-Free Cyprus have warned that despite pressure the UK wants to keep its colonial presence on the island intact. The group are vocal opponents of the use of Cypriot bases for Israeli genocide and the US/Israeli war on Iran.
They said in a post on 7 March:
They previously warned on 3 April:
The UK government is actively ramping up personnel and military equipment at RAF Akrotiri as the US and ‘I$rael’ intensify their attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran.
Increasing numbers of foreign military aircraft are now passing through the bases, with no transparency or public disclosure about their purpose.
Adding:
These bases in Cyprus are being exploited to enable and sustain military operations that are deepening suffering and devastation across the region.
Cyprus is a war base for Britain
Cyprus is a hub for British military flights over Gaza. The flights are suspected to be gathering intelligence for Israel.
A suspected Hezbollah drone of Iranian manufacture hit Cyprus on 2 March 2026. Locals have raised their concerns about British colonial bases:
The British military has openly stated it considers Cyprus to be an aircraft carrier to project military force, As the Canary reported on 17 March, the head of the military Sir Richard Knighton said:
We don’t need the carrier. We don’t need the Navy. We have an aircraft carrier – it’s called Cyprus.
Knighton was answering criticism that the UK was unprepared for war. But his attitude betrays the same old colonial arrogance.
Snowden leaks show the truth
And as reporter Matt Kennard said on 17 March the US also used the island as a colonial spy base:
Top Secret (Strap1) document leaked by Edward Snowden
First time we knew the specifics of UK spy sites on its Cyprus colonies
First time we knew that every single one was a joint site with US spies
Snowden did the world a major service – a hero for the ages pic.twitter.com/oCqRzDlSal
— Matt Kennard (@kennardmatt) March 17, 2026
The Snowden leak Kennard is referring to states:
Cyprus hosts a wide range of UK and US intelligence facilities.
Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on 3 March:
Despite the assurances given in yesterday’s address by the prime minister of the United Kingdom, there was no clear clarification that the British bases in Cyprus would not under any circumstances be used for any reason other than humanitarian.
Adding:
The information we had, through many communications and at various levels, was clear, that the British bases would have a strictly humanitarian role.
Genocide-Free Cyprus clearly feel their country has been colonised. They’re well within their rights to say so. UK and US control of sovereign Cypriot territory should end. And the sooner the better.
Featured image via the Canary
Iran and the US have agreed to a two week ceasefire. Mostly, it appears, on Iran’s terms. Israel has said Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire deal. UK PM Keir Starmer effectively vanished from sight ahead of the deadline for US president Donald Trump’s genocidal threat to wipe out Iran at 8pm EDT on 7 March 2026.
Starmer nowhere to be seen
Starmer re-emerged at 7.10am on 8 March once the ceasefire was announced. His comments were typically milquetoast:
I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.
Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 8, 2026
His only tweet on 7 March – commencement day of a potential genocide and nuclear war – was in reference to far-right rapper Kanye West’s cancelled appearance at the Wireless festival:
Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless.
This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.
We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and…
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 7, 2026
Starmer’s absence at that critical moment in world affairs was so obvious that even right-wing TV fool Mike ‘Concrete Grows‘ Graham belittled the PM:
Like a fart in the wind… https://t.co/PNHI9Tcwig
— Mike Graham 🇬🇧 (@Iromg) April 8, 2026
UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper also released a statement:
It is vital that the proposed talks lead to a full end to the conflict and ensure that Iran does not continue to threaten the Strait or its neighbours. I also call for an urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon.
We will continue to work internationally to support this ceasefire, to promote progress on negotiations, and to restore and protect security and stability for the region, and freedom of navigation for the world.
And the BBC reported that Starmer would visit the region in light of the ceasefire. A move bound to lift the spirits of the embattled people of the Middle East…
Trump is still trying to claim a win
Trump, who started the war without provocation, said this was a day for world peace and the start of a “golden age” for the region:
💢 Trump declares “big day for World Peace” following announcement of two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran
🔹Trump said that the U.S. “will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,” without stating what the U.S. role would entail. “There will be lots of… pic.twitter.com/azlVKtwhEN
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 8, 2026
US-Israel attacked Iran first on 28 February without provocation. Iran was offering unprecedented concessions in negotiations at the time. The Pentagon has since stated there was no imminent threat from Iran. And the UN’s atomic watchdog, the IAEA, has said there is no evidence Iran was developing a nuclear weapon.
The US has achieved none of its original war aims. Iran predictably closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil channel, once attacked – creating a global energy crisis. Far from being defeated, Iran has said the war will continue until “the enemy’s inevitable and permanent humiliation, disgrace, regret, and surrender”. Trump came to power on an anti-war ‘America First’ ticket. He now faces worldwide humiliation.
There is some confusion over the details and origin of the ten-point ceasefire deal. But there is a strong sense that Trump accepted Iran’s terms while trying to rehash them as his own for the benefit of less media savvy audiences:
This is nuts, Trump really did do exactly what Ryan Grim suggested he do hours earlier: pretend Iran’s ten-point plan is a new proposal, counting on the fact that the media hasn’t been reporting on Iran’s demands to make it look like a new offer Tehran put forward in desperation. https://t.co/ywm6f4e3PZ pic.twitter.com/5sTfJlrQGH
— Caitlin Johnstone (@caitoz) April 8, 2026
You can read over the initial terms of the deal here:
🚨 REPORT | Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the Islamic Republic’s top security decision-making body, announced that “negotiations will begin with complete distrust of the American side on Friday, April 10, in Islamabad,” with 2 weeks allocated for talks to finalize the… https://t.co/QExSWLTZU4
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 8, 2026
Pakistan and China
Pakistan helped broker the deal. A last minute push from China appears to have gotten it over the line:
Associated Press (AP) reported on 8 March:
China, which is Tehran’s biggest trade partner, spoke with the Iranians to get them on board, according to two officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Chinese officials were in touch with Iranian officials to encourage Tehran to find a path to a ceasefire deal as the negotiations were evolving, the officials said.
Adding:
Beijing primarily had been working with intermediaries, including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, as it tried to use its influence, said one of the officials, who was not authorized to comment publicly on the diplomatic matter.
China’s foreign affairs spokesperson Mao Ning told AP:
All parties need to demonstrate sincerity and quickly end this war that should not have happened in the first place.
She said China was deeply worried:
about the impact the conflict has on the world economy and energy security.
Timing of ceasefire taking effect still unclear
Israel continues to attack Lebanon. In fact, strikes appeared to intensify:
Israeli strikes pummel various neighborhoods in Beirut, Bekaa and Jnoub simultaneously. pic.twitter.com/mdadHWTvsm
— courtneybonneauimages (@cbonneauimages) April 8, 2026
Many strikes were focused on the capital Beirut:
Chaos in Beirut as Israel carries out a wave of airstrikes across the country hitting what it said were more than 100 targets in ten minutes. pic.twitter.com/t0If72xogY
— Will Christou (@will_christou) April 8, 2026
And Clash Report claimed strikes were still underway inside Iran:
Strikes hit an Iranian oil refinery on Lavan Island today.
Iran is now retaliating with strikes on targets in Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE. pic.twitter.com/xOptoGRjbB
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 8, 2026
Open source accounts also said Lavan island, home to an oil refinery, had been hit. Neither the US or Israel commented:
Iranian state news outlets are blaming the U.S. and Israel for recent strikes on the oil refinery on Lavan Island. No word from the Israel Defense Force or CENTCOM at the time of writing pic.twitter.com/jBD3ekyMJI
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 8, 2026
As AP reported:
Neither Iran nor the United States has offered any time for the ceasefire to begin
But a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations, said American forces had halted offensive operations.
And:
Iran continued to fire at Gulf Arab states and Israel, despite Pakistan saying the ceasefire had taken hold immediately.
Much remains unclear. No timeframe has been set of cessation of hostilities. Iran and the US are both claiming some form of victory. And Israel is still battering Lebanon despite cessation of Israeli attacks being a key point in the ceasefire plan. In the coming days the framework of the ceasefire may become clearer. But it is important to keep in mind that this is only a pause, not a long-term peace deal.
Featured image via the Canary
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