The Your Party executive committee (CEC) no-confidence vote exclusively revealed by Skwawkbox last week took place on Sunday.

The specially-arranged CEC meeting, to hold no-confidence votes in three key officials, was fraught and lasted almost three-and-a-half hours. Yet it ended without a clear conclusion, forcing members to ask party leaders to respect a clear majority vote that just failed to reach the required threshold.

The issue was a vote of no confidence in three figures blamed for the suspension of three well-known CEC members for attending a socialist conference. A number of members left the meeting rather than participate, but the no-confidence motion was supported by a clear majority of those who voted.

Your Party votes fails to reach supermajority

However, the tallies did not quite reach the two-thirds supermajority required to force the removal of the three officials. This has forced the CEC to ask leadership to respect the majority vote, which has rendered the CEC near-unworkable.

After a meeting in which efforts to put off the vote appealed to Jeremy Corbyn’s claimed wishes, CEC members don’t expect a decisive intervention. Your Party’s chaos continues, when the country is desperate for socialist clarity.

Featured image via Morning Star

By Skwawkbox

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(Stefan Rousseau / PA Images / Alamy)

3 min read29 min

London Labour MPs fighting to stop Heathrow expansion are privately hopeful that incoming prime minister Andy Burnham will cancel the project, with one saying they “wouldn’t put any money on runway three getting any further”.

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The MPs, who argue that a third runway at the UK’s largest airport would have unacceptable environmental impacts, told The House that they are reassured by comments made by Burnham on the subject in January last year. 

Speaking to Times Radio after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced government support for the scheme, the then-Greater Manchester mayor said that the project “diverts infrastructure investment away from the North and traps it in London and the South East”.

He added that it was “a model for an ever-overheating UK economy, rather than a more balanced, levelled-up economy, which is what we would argue for”.

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One London Labour MP said the remarks “have not passed us by” and that Burnham’s ascendancy brings “an opportunity for a change of conversation” about Heathrow expansion.

“It doesn’t make economic sense – it’s just a financially unviable scheme. I cannot see how it can meet our climate targets, but also I think it would be much better for regional growth [not to build it],” they said.

“If there’s going to be growth in air transport, it’s better to share that out with the regional airports, and I hope to get a good hearing on that from Andy.”

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Another London Labour MP said that if Heathrow expands: “Manchester Airport loses out, currently Birmingham Airport loses out even more and therefore the hinterlands, the economies of those regions around those airports… I wouldn’t put any money on runway three getting any further.”

But Steve Race, the Exeter MP who co-convenes the Labour Growth Group, believes the next PM should press ahead with the work started by Reeves.

“As long as we can do it within our carbon budget, as long as we’re forcing airlines and airports to get to [improved] sustainability as quickly as they possibly can, then I think connectivity, trade and infrastructure development is absolutely key to this economy,” he said.

London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan remains resolutely opposed to the project, as he warns it would wipe out the improvements seen in London’s air quality over recent years.

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One well-connected source said that as much as Khan and Burnham “don’t particularly get on” with one another, the new PM will not want to “go to war” with London’s mayor “unnecessarily about something he doesn’t really care about”.

But Burnham, they added, may still “take a more economically minded view of this than people might first assume”.

Burnham could, for example, back a rival expansion proposal put forward by the hotel tycoon Surinder Arora. Unlike the airport’s own proposal, Arora’s plan would avoid the M25 motorway needing to be tunnelled under Heathrow, as it would mean building a shorter third runway on the airport’s existing footprint.

“That would be a compromise,” said the source. “Andy is pretty into compromises.”

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Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye has claimed that the UK “cannot realise its full economic potential without an expanded Heathrow”. The third runway, he added, “is privately funded by some of the largest investors in the world, widely supported by businesses, trade unions and communities across the country and it’s ready to go after years of scrutiny”.

A feature piece on Andy Burnham’s approach to UK infrastructure projects is now available to read in the print edition of The House magazine and will be published online on Thursday 16 July

 

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Reform UK party’s senior figures will do anything for a propaganda win. The billionaire-backed racist outfit are always desperate for attention. Now they’re trying to make themselves the primary victim of the alleged murder of former Tory and Reform UK politician Ann Widdicombe.

Counter-terror investigation opened

Widdicombe was found dead at her Devon home on 9 July 2026.

Naturally, the British establishment scrambled to eulogise Widdicombe, a notorious homophobe and reactionary. Waxy TV prattler Piers Morgan even skipped over her bigotry to call her “fun and fiesty”.

Counter-terrorism police have now taken over the investigation. Top counter-terror cop Laurence Taylor told reporters on 13 July:

Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation.

We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.

Adding:

Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police.

We would like to thank local communities, the wider public and the media for their ongoing support and patience, and would ask them to continue to support us in the next stage of the investigation.

There’s little suggestion what the ‘new information’ is. But that hasn’t stopped Reform trying to trade off the death – despite warnings from the police about the dangers of public speculation.

Abandoned by the state?

Reform’s shadow home secretary Zia Yusuf took to X to complain about a Daily Mail headline from 12 July. The headline said Reform UK MPs had been given 24hr protection due to the risk of being targeted. He said:

Given the way this headline is worded, many are (understandably) taking it to mean Reform MPs have been given police protection by the state.

I want to clarify that the opposite is true.

The state is providing no protection whatsoever.

He added:

In fact, based on what I have seen in the last 48 hours, none of the government, the Speaker nor the police care at all about the security of Reform MPs.

Several of our MPs have written to the above in recent months about distressing, escalating security concerns, asking for help.

Their correspondence was not even replied to.

I will let you draw your own conclusions from this.

Yusuf’s inference appeared to be that the British state has left Reform figures at the mercy of… somebody? It isn’t clear who so far, because the case has just been opened.

Tice calls media ‘sick’

Reform MP Richard Tice also stepped in on 13 July. He was attacking a Times article, which argued Reform leader Nigel Farage was spinning Widdicombe’s death for propaganda purposes:

The Times Group:

You are sick

Your contempt bordering on hatred of Nigel, myself & Reform means you stoop to any low to smear & discredit us. You lie, libel and make things up.

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How many more Reform politicians do you want dead?

Shame on you https://t.co/LnCCZ4YEqi

— Richard Tice MP (@TiceRichard) July 13, 2026

The offending article had featured Harvey Proctor, a former Tory MP and friend of Widdicombe, slamming Farage for trying to use the death for his own ends:

Ann Widdecombe was far too dear to her family, friends and former colleagues for her murder to be exploited as political propaganda.

The police have expressly asked the public not to speculate about the motive. It is therefore deeply disappointing that Nigel Farage has chosen to do precisely that.

Tice followed up again several hours later after counter-terror cops took over the investigation, doubling down on his original claim:

A lot of journalists MUST now APOLOGISE to Nigel and us at Reform

You know who you are

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Counter terrorism police now leading investigation into Ann Widdecombe's murder investigation
https://t.co/K8W2TVcCXs

— Richard Tice MP (@TiceRichard) July 13, 2026

Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle is reportedly not happy with Reform’s claims:

Hearing that Lindsay Hoyle has spoken to Reform chief whip Lee Anderson over Zia Yusuf's claims that he doesn't care about their MPs' security.

Sounds like the Speaker is not very happy, to say the least.

— Jack Elsom (@JackElsom) July 13, 2026

Reform desperate to play the victim

The investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s death is ongoing. Unlike Reform’s Nigel Farage, we aren’t going to speculate on a live case. But what does seem clear is that Reform are desperate to make themselves the primary victim of an old political ally’s death. Which smacks of sheer, sad desperation and low moral health – among other things.

For a group of people who love to talk about others playing particular ‘cards’ – the ‘race’ card, for example – they like nothing more than playing the victim card themselves. Even if it is at the expense of a former member of their own party…

Featured image via Sky News

By Joe Glenton

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Fergie Chambers, a pro-Palestine donor, is facing US extradition over dubious ‘terrorism financing’ charges after he was arrested in Spain on Friday, the Grayzone reported.

Exclusive: Fergie Chambers facing US extradition over dubious ‘terrorism financing’ charges

The Grayzone has reviewed a sealed indictment for the pro-Palestine donor, who was arrested in Spain on questionable money laundering charges brought by Trump DOJhttps://t.co/x6Yqh6fuDT

— The Grayzone (@TheGrayzoneNews) July 13, 2026

On July 10, six Spanish police vehicles surrounded Chambers’ car while he drove through Ibiza with his family, before detaining him, the Grayzone wrote.

Chambers’ detention marks the first time an individual has faced extradition to the US from Spain for supporting the Palestinian cause.

Vocalpolitics reported that Chambers was denied bail in an Ibiza court on Saturday and is expected to appeal for bail on Thursday.

Pro-Palestine activist and funder Fergie Chambers was detained by Spanish police on Friday as the Trump administration attempts to extradite him to the US on federal charges with a potential sentence of 30 years in prison, including “international money laundering… with the… pic.twitter.com/Kia8JOjZsh

— VPol (@VocalPolitics1) July 13, 2026

According to the Grayzone, Chambers is an heir to the Cox family fortune who sold his stake in Cox Enterprises in 2023 for an estimated $250 million. It goes on to say that Chambers has since donated more than $1 million to humanitarian projects supporting those impacted by the Gaza genocide, and pro-Palestine activist groups.

The sealed indictment offers no evidence he donated to “foreign terrorist organizations”, citing only transfers from US banks to Tunisia, where he relocated in late 2023, Grayzone added.

Palestine supporters being targeted sparks concerns

Journalist and author, Matt Kennard, said that everyone should pay attention to Chambers’ arrest as it signified Trump’s war on Palestinian solidarity going international.

Everyone should pay attention to this

Trump’s war on solidarity with Palestine is going international

Pro-Palestinian activist + funder Fergie Chambers has been arrested in Ibiza and faces extradition to US on trumped up charges

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Spain must resist ithttps://t.co/icHWH2JeUy

— Matt Kennard (@kennardmatt) July 13, 2026

Journalist Max Blumenthal said:

Chambers’ detention marks the first time anyone has faced extradition to the US from Spain for supporting the Palestinian cause. The sealed indictment conflates his bailing out of pro-Palestine direct action protesters with sponsoring Hamas. It screams political persecution.

Stella Schnabel, Chambers’ partner, is quoted in the Grayzone:

The Department of Justice is politically persecuting Fergie [Chambers] because he is using his wealth to support Palestine, and help people facing genocide in Gaza.

His crime is dedicating his life to building a better society, rather than exploiting people, extract wealth and profit from war.

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He should be home safe with our family and continuing his important humanitarian and social advocacy, not incarcerated in a foreign jail facing effective life imprisonment back in the US.

Test of Spain’s sovereignty

Progressive International’s Pawel Wargan said that Chambers’ arrest was an immensely dangerous precedent and an important test of Spain’s sovereignty. He supports blocking his extradition.

With Fergie Chambers’ arrest, the United States is now seeking to extradite anti-imperialist activists from third countries — an immensely dangerous precedent for the movement and an important test of Spanish sovereignty. The extradition must be blocked. https://t.co/pLauAdXuac

— Paweł Wargan (@pawelwargan) July 13, 2026

Vox Ummah said that the extradition request will test Spain’s policy regarding Palestine.

The extradition request will test Spain’s policy in regards to Palestine. The government has typically been vocal in defense of Palestinians, however moving forward with the extradition request would signal compliance with Washington’s anti-Palestinian policies.

— VoxUmmah (@VoxUmmah) July 13, 2026

Donald Trump has lashed out at Spain several times, calling it a “terrible partner in NATO”, as since March, Spain has not allowed the use of joint military bases on its territory for operations against Iran. It has also closed its airspace to US planes involved in the war.

The coming days will reveal whether Madrid bows to Washington’s pressure or stands by its principles.

Featured image via AIR MAIL

By The Canary

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Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has once again pushed back against the US military machine. He has made it clear to Trump and his backers that Spain will not allow another US president to drag the country into an illegal war in West Asia on the back of bogus claims.

This refers back to the illegal war on Iraq, which began on the basis that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. However, this ‘justification’ for the mass murder of Iraqis was debunked and revealed for the manipulative misinformation it was.

Whilst many haven’t learned and continue to parrot lines from bad actors in power, Spain has, with Sánchez telling Trump:

Twenty-three years ago, the U.S. dragged us into Iraq over claims of weapons of mass destruction. None were found. You cannot fool us twice.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to Donald Trump:

"Twenty-three years ago, the U.S. dragged us into Iraq over claims of weapons of mass destruction. None were found. You cannot fool us twice." pic.twitter.com/tLk6SRIgCq

— Jackson Hinkle (@jacksonhinkle) July 11, 2026

When will other Western leaders learn?

Spain, it appears, has learned from the mistakes of the past. It has consistently opposed both the genocide on Gaza and the current illegal war on Iran.

However, our own leaders are still far too slow – or reluctant – to take any decisive action to stop the world careening into another world war. Equally, they seem unperturbed – meaningless rhetoric aside – by the mass slaughter of Arab men, women and children. Theyhave afforded Israel absolute impunity.

Starmer and co. have said they oppose the war on Iran waged by the petty, childish and egotistical US President, but their words have not been followed by actions. The defence budget has still increased following Trump’s orders, and they still allow the US to use its bases for ‘defensive’ purposes.

Instead of defending international law and calling for true diplomacy, the British government are budgeting huge sums to go directly into the hands of Western arms companies (war lords), who only care about their profits. And there is a hell of a lot of profit to make in war for those who supply the means to obliterate other people.

Sánchez, by contrast, recently spoke about Spain being a “peaceful and pacifist country”, vowing to “put an end to all wars”:

A pesar de la distancia geográfica, España está siempre con sus aliados.

Somos un país pacífico y pacifista. Y un aliado fiable.

El objetivo último de todas nuestras acciones debe ser acabar con todas las guerras. pic.twitter.com/NBTkIuoEOq

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 8, 2026

War mongers want to have their cake and eat it too

The Canary‘s Joe Glenton has written extensively about the military machine and the illegal war on Iraq. Glenton is a former soldier who refused to return to duty in Afghanistan as he rightfully believed the aggression was illegal under international law.

Recognising how these wars only benefit the billionaire-owned arms and fossil fuel companies, Glenton has played a big role in trying to get the British people to open their eyes to the manipulation pushed by Western leaders to justify more endless wars in West Asia.

Glenton wrote of the disingenuous Royal British Legion (RBL) and its incestuous relationship with global arms firms back in February:

Since the ousting of the pre-2003 government, Iraq has become a lucrative cash cow for certain players, including global arms firms – what I prefer to call Big Death. Welcome to the military charity-industrial complex.

What makes the Iraq event and comments from the Royal British Legion striking is that both the legion and the National Arboretum proudly state their connections to the global killing business.

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BAE Systems is a major partner of the RBL – to the tune of £400,000. The Arboretum’s website names Amey, Key Systems, Briggs Equipment and Jaguar Land Rover among its partners and supporters. All of these firms make profit from war and global instability.

The press and RBL did not even attempt to reflect these galling truths in their coverage of the event.

Those billionaires fuel fear and spread lies about countries that refuse to follow US orders or possess resources they want to get their grubby hands on.

Therefore, it becomes pretty clear that doing the bidding of arms companies – and the politicians in bed with them – hurts ordinary people, drains our pockets, and enriches only the billionaires at the top.

Britain faces a national security crisis within just a few years due to the impending collapse of global ecosystems, spy chiefs have warned, but the government is refusing to publish their report in full.

A redacted 14-page document warns of severe food shortages, which could… pic.twitter.com/Iia7CxE73k

— Novara Media (@novaramedia) July 13, 2026

A futile situation for the many whilst the few sit pretty

Meanwhile, there is a very real crisis coming towards us as a result of the breakdown of global ecosystems, which we always seem to fail to invest in, instead saying there just simply isn’t the funds.

This was called out recently by Labour MP Chris Hinchliff, who highlighted the blatant hypocrisy and failure to prioritise action on the climate emergency. As reported by Novara Media:

The government can summon billions of pounds for new military hardware when the defence sector calls for it. We need an equally decisive mobilisation of investment to restore the natural world on which we rely for our food, water and clean air.

Without these essentials our country has no future.

Every critical ecosystem across our planet is on a pathway to collapse with an irreversible loss of function, and this poses huge threats to our national security. This looming crisis demands urgent action.

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Funnily enough, many of the same billionaires and hedge funds pouring money into arms companies also hold major investments in the fossil fuel industry.

That overlap creates a dangerous conflict of interest. It drives the world ever closer to the brink and forces billions of people to bear the consequences of climate breakdown and social collapse.

As the world burns, whether from bombs or extreme weather, the super-rich retreat to their private islands on private jets, shelter in air-conditioned luxury, and watch.

Featured image via the Canary

By Maddison Wheeldon

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Steven Spielberg has paid a heartfelt tribute to the actor Sam Neill, who he directed in the first Jurassic Park movie.

On Monday, the Oscar-winning filmmaker was among the Hollywood stars to pay their respects to Sam, following his death at the age of 78.

In a statement to Variety, Spielberg shared how “saddened” he was by the loss, beginning by expressing his “gratitude” to filmmakers Roger Donaldson, Gilliam Armstrong, Graham Baker and Phillip Noyce “for casting Sam Neill in the roles in which he was so brilliant that brought him to my attention”, which led to him being cast in Jurassic Park.

Spielberg enthused: “Sam was exceptionally collaborative. It was a stretch for him to play a character who acted as though children were messy and smelly because this was the opposite of the loving father he was to his children.

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“I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him. Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our Jurassic family and Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world.”

Laura Dern then shared her own tribute with the US outlet, which read: “Sam was my beloved lifetime friend.

“He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit. He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man.”

Amblin/Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock

“I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant,” she concluded.

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Following the news of Sam’s death on Monday morning, a number of his Hollywood peers and former co-stars have been paying their respects on social media…

I’m just absolutely devastated. Darling Sam. I really don’t have any words right now. I’m in complete shock. Last time we spoke he was going so well. My heart goes out to his family and all who love him – and there are so many of us. Vale my darling friend 💔💔💔💔#Sam #samneill

— Magda Szubanski AO (@MagdaSzubanski) July 13, 2026

Oscar winner Cillan Murphy, who starred alongside Sam in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders, told Deadline: “Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired him and adored him in equal measure.

“He was one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors.”

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New Zealand and Australia’s prime ministers, Christopher Luxon and Anthony Albanese, also posted tributes of their own.

Sir Sam Neill was one of the greats.

He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of. For more than fifty years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today – one of our greatest…

— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) July 13, 2026

Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts.

Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance.

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He will be much…

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 13, 2026

“It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13 July, in Sydney Australia,” his family announced in a statement.

“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”

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The Emmy nominee’s death was described as “sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free”.

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Zia Yusuf has received criticism over his claim that the state provides Reform MPs with “no protection whatsoever”.

Given the way this headline is worded, many are (understandably) taking it to mean Reform MPs have been given police protection by the state.

I want to clarify that the opposite is true.

The state is providing no protection whatsoever.

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In fact, based on what I have seen in the… pic.twitter.com/TaFZzEMNkH

— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) July 12, 2026

Zia Yusuf: Nobody ‘cares about security of Reform MPs’

The headline Yusuf was responding to read:

Reform MPs given 24-hour protection in Widdecombe murder hunt

In full, Yusuf’s response read:

Given the way this headline is worded, many are (understandably) taking it to mean Reform MPs have been given police protection by the state.

I want to clarify that the opposite is true.

The state is providing no protection whatsoever.

In fact, based on what I have seen in the last 48 hours, none of the government, the Speaker nor the police care at all about the security of Reform MPs.

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Several of our MPs have written to the above in recent months about distressing, escalating security concerns, asking for help.

Their correspondence was not even replied to.

I will let you draw your own conclusions from this.

Since Yusuf made these claims, multiple MPs have come forwards to dispute them, including Rosie Duffield, an Independent MP for Canterbury, Whitstable and the villages.

Every single sitting MP is entitled to security provided by @HouseofCommons. This also covers our outside engagements.

— Rosie Duffield MP (@RosieDuffield1) July 12, 2026

An MP messages: “Each MP is afforded personal security at their advice surgery and constituency engagements should they wish.

“We’re also able to make use of physical security measures at our homes and offices – including cameras, door strengthening devices, and alarm systems.… https://t.co/6gM8MYu8WJ

— Kevin Schofield (@KevinASchofield) July 12, 2026

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Commentator Dan Hodges said:

Zia Yusuf’s statement was untrue. And he knew it was untrue. It had one purpose. To try and deflect from legitimate scrutiny of Nigel Farage.

Hodges also called out Reform mayor, Andrea Jenkyns:

A perfect example of how Reform are manipulating the security issue. Yesterday morning Andrea talked about how security had been provided for her surgeries. But this contradicted Zia Yusuf. So by the evening she was claiming she’d had “zero” support. https://t.co/UTGcpcVYD6

— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) July 13, 2026

Zia Yusuf vs Lindsay Hoyle

The Sun’s political editor noted the following:

Hearing that Lindsay Hoyle has spoken to Reform chief whip Lee Anderson over Zia Yusuf's claims that he doesn't care about their MPs' security.

Sounds like the Speaker is not very happy, to say the least.

— Jack Elsom (@JackElsom) July 13, 2026

Yusuf is now feuding with the speaker of the house, as you’d expect from him.

He said:

Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House, has no jurisdiction over me.

I am not afraid of him.

He is a bully who did not even reply to a letter from a female Reform MP pleading for assistance with security until after I revealed it.

If this is not true then I invite him to deny it on the record rather than try and bully the very people he has let down.

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Instead he briefs the press like a coward.

He is a disgrace to his office.

Yusuf doesn’t have to worry about Hoyle because he isn’t an MP and neither is Yusuf because his own party keeps blocking him from standing, which the Canary explored why this could be.

What goes around comes around

Another point people are raising is that Reform politicians pursue a maximally divisive form of politics. Despite this, they’re also the first to complain that they face hostility. You really can’t have it both ways.

If you’re going to label people ‘traitors’ — as Zia Yusuf has — then people are going to get angry. If you’re going to claim successive governments have overseen an ‘invasion’ — as he has — then tensions are going to rise.

Politicians who stoke fear and division think they can ride the wave, but hatred is more like a fire than a sea. And people who play with fire get burned.

Featured image via the Canary

By Willem Moore

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The heatwaves in the UK over May and June are estimated to have caused over 2,700 excess deaths. Around 42% of those deaths are thought to be a consequence of climate change, which increased maximum temperatures by 3-4°C.

That’s according to a study conducted by the Met Office, Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. It builds on previously published UK research from 2022, which found that rising temperatures caused nearly 800 excess deaths annually.

Imperial College London’s Dr Clair Barnes stated that:

Every time we have a heatwave, our news is filled with reporters at swimming pools, images of people eating ice cream and sunbathers on beaches. We all love the sun, but people need to be aware that we are now seeing dangerous climate-change-fuelled heat that is claiming lives, disrupting schools and hospitals and shutting down transport and infrastructure.

It’s time we woke up to the fact that we now live in a country with dangerously hot summers. To protect people during future extremes, we must urgently adapt to the reality of the climate we now have, and double down on global efforts to reach net zero emissions to stop this from getting worse.

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Heatwaves ‘longer and more frequent’

The researchers compared historical mortality records using rapid-analysis modelling methods. They focused their efforts on England and Wales, as Scotland and Northern Ireland didn’t face the same extraordinary high heat.

Professor Lea Berrang Ford, chief of the Centre for Climate and Health Security’s UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), explained more:

These modelled estimates are based on past trends in temperature effects on mortality and provide an important indication of the potential health impacts of sustained hot weather, particularly for the most vulnerable among us. While they are not a measure of observed mortality, they help illustrate the scale of risk associated with extreme heat and the growing threat climate change poses to our wellbeing.

As set out in our most recent Health Effects of Climate Change report, periods of heat in the UK are likely to become more intense, longer and more frequent as the world continues to warm.

During May’s heatwave, West London saw temperatures of 35.1°C. Likewise, in June, meteorologists recorded temperatures above 37°C for East Anglia. Both of these figures broke national records for their respective times of year.

The Met Office explained that temperatures like these would be extreme even in mid-summer, noting that they occurred during the start of the season. Normally, July and August bring the highest temperatures of the year across the country.

The Met Office’s Dr Mark McCarthy emphasised that these extremes are due to human activities, stating:

it is clear that human-caused climate change is leading to more frequent and more intense summer heatwaves. This intensification is driving many impacts, including those affecting human health and mortality and other issues, such as agriculture, effects on transport infrastructure and biodiversity.

‘A major health risk’

During the May heatwave, the study estimated that around 550 people died due to the heat. Approximately 59% of those deaths are attributable to human-caused climate change.

June’s heat event was even more devastating, with around 2,200 excess deaths according the the model’s findings, of which 38% were due to climate change.

It’s also notable that the risk pattern associated with the heat is shifting northwards. Although the highest temperatures were recorded in the south, the Midlands showed similar estimated rates of fatalities. The researchers attributed this trend to the fact that the Midlands are less accustomed to extreme heat.

Dr Malcolm Mistry of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said:

With climate change driven by human activity making summer heatwaves more frequent and more intense, these spikes of extreme hot weather are rapidly evolving into a major health risk for people in the UK.

It is vital that action on adapting Britain’s homes, workplaces, and critical infrastructure to extreme heat outpaces these health risks, especially if we are to protect those most vulnerable to its impacts, such as older people, babies, and children.

As the Canary previously reported, over 1,500 people participated in a heat strike in the last week of June. Workers staged symbolic lunchtime-walk-outs and took thermometers into work to demonstrate their unsafe conditions.

Participants in the strike are calling on ministers to set a maximum working temperature – a demand already voiced by the Bakers Union for over a decade. In doing so, the UK would join countries like Austria, Belgium, China, India, Portugal and Spain, which already regulate maximum working temperatures.

Featured image via the Canary

By Grace

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A few summers ago, I noticed tiny, tapioca-like clusters of bumps on my fingers. They were flesh-coloured and incredibly, hand-bitingly itchy.

This turned out to be a condition called pompholyx or dishydrotic eczema. The issue is sometimes nicknamed “summer finger bumps”, due to how much worse it tends to get in the hotter months.

In fact, warm weather and excessive sweating are listed as factors that may cause pompholyx to form or flare up.

What are the symptoms of dishydrotic eczema?

• extreme itchiness
• the sudden appearance of tiny blisters on your hands (especially the sides of your fingers) or feet
• a prickling sensation
• dry or cracking skin after the blisters burst
• feelings of heat in your soles or hands.

Symptoms typically last two to three weeks.

It’s more common among women, people under 40, individuals with another type of eczema, those with asthma and heavy sweaters.

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It’s a chronic condition, meaning that though there are ways to manage the symptoms, we don’t have an outright cure yet.

Flare-ups may be more likely during times of stress, hot weather or contact with soaps, cleansers and detergents.

What should I do if I suspect I have dishydrotic eczema?

Don’t try to diagnose yourself, the NHS says. If you have new skin issues you suspect are due to dishydrotic eczema, see a GP.

The same goes if you have pompholyx that’s already been diagnosed but “the blisters are very painful, leak yellow or green pus or are covered in a yellow-brown crust – these are signs of an infection”, they added.

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Soaking your hands in potassium permanganate may help if they’re weeping or oozing. Using an emmolient moisturiser on the affected area is one of the main ways to manage flare-ups.

Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream to help you manage the itching or send you to see a specialist for UV or other treatments.

• washing your hands with warm water and using a moisturising soap,

• wearing protective gloves (ideally with a cotton lining) when using chemicals like shampoos, cleansers and detergents

• wearing socks, tights or stockings made from cotton or silk, rather than nylon, if the condition affects your feet,

• wearing shoes made from leather, rather than plastic or rubber (again if the condition affects your feet),

• avoiding anything you think causes your symptoms, such as cleansers, some metals, or detergents.

Don’t burst your blisters, as this can lead to further damage and leave your skin open to infection.

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