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Pride started as a protest, there’s no disputing that fact. And while that sentiment needs to continue today more than ever, allow me to present something radical: pleasure is resistance.
While of course it’s important to recognise and shout about the myriad ways queer people continue to be excluded from rights and society, if there’s one thing that’s going to stick it to the man, it’s us having a banging good time.
And I mean that literally: partying and drinking, duh, but also chasing that orgasm high.
So you can get your socks off this Pride month, whether you have a penis or vulva, I’ve consulted sexologist and therapist for Passionerad Sofie Roos to help me round up the best LGBTQ+ sex toys to shop now.
Best LGBTQ+ sex toys at a glance:
A sex toy is a sex toy, meaning any type can work for straight people and queer folk alike (if you get creative enough), according to Roos.
“The most common queer sex toy categories are basically the same as for straight people, which includes:
“Do you want the toy to focus on the clitoris, give vaginal stimulation, stimulate the G-spot, your penis, balls, anal, the prostate, nipples or something else, and do you value how it looks or only how it feels?” Roos recommends asking yourself.
“Look for toys made out of bod- safe materials, such as medical silicone, glass or stainless steel,” Roos adds. “Pay attention to user reviews, try to pick well- established retailers and brands, and go for one premium toy rather than two or three budget options.”
“You don’t need to go for the most popular sex toys, but rather you should try to find something that feels right for your body and identity, and looks like it will help you discover what gives you pleasure,” Roos emphasises. A good sign you’ll like something is if the mere sight of it excites you.
Keep reading to find our round up of the best LGBTQ+ to shop, and our tips for how to figure out which you’ll enjoy the most.
Best for anal vibrations
Say it with me: the perineum deserves more attention! For double anal stimulation akin to a rabbit vibrator (but for the butt) this LELO number surrounds your P-spot with as much attention as you can ask for. That curved arm sits inside the backside, while the other arm stretches along your entire underside – and all controlled by the handy motion sensor remote control. Hand it over to your partner, so they can surprise you with one of its eight vibration modes, or take the reins yourself as you buzz towards O-town.
We love: Motion-controlled remote
We don’t love: The remote is battery-powered.
Features:
Vibration modes: 8
Material: Silicone
Power: Rechargeable
Insertable inches: 3.4 inches
Waterproof: Yes.
Best non-vibrating butt plug
“This well-built and luxurious butt plug made out of exclusive stainless steel is built to stimulate the prostate, whether you’re using it passively, penetrating yourself with it, or having hands-free fun by controlling your muscles and squeezing around the plug,” says Roos. While the shape of this plug might make it a little intense for beginners, the weight of it will be ideal for more experienced anal aficionados, as the cold metal presses against your P-spot for a potent dose of pleasure.
We love: Easy to clean and that loop handle makes removal easy as pie
We don’t love: Might be too girthy for beginners.
Features:
Vibration modes: None
Material: Stainless steel
Power: None
Insertable inches: 3.4 inches
Waterproof: Yes.
Best glass lesbian toy
Sometimes double-ended dildos don’t get you anywhere: they’re too rigid, they feel like you’re miles apart, and your only option is to scissor if either of you wants any enjoyment whatsoever. To switch things up a little, this glass (hear me out) dildo is designed to enhance connection. Whether you both want G-spot stimulation, or one of you wants it in your behind, this double-ended delight will have you both squirming, and you’ll be able to keep kissing, too. Don’t run for the hills at the mention of a glass sex toy – its cold surface makes it the ideal toy for playing with temperature, as you can heat it up or cool it down in a bowl of water before inserting it – and it’s easy to clean.
We love: The vegan leather storage case and keychain it comes with
We don’t love: It’s completely rigid so it’ll take you a while to figure out how to position yourself.
Features:
Vibration modes: None
Material: Borosilicate glass
Power: None
Length: 7.28 inches
Waterproof: Yes.
Best vibrating double-ended toy
Another thing double-ended vibrators often get wrong is assuming you both want the same levels of vibration. Not all vulvas are made equal! Trust Swedish brand LELO to solve that issue: as well as being coated in ribbed silicone to transport you into a different dimension of delight, each end has its own motor, so you can choose your favourite of its eight vibration patterns and 16 intensities to match your individual levels of comfort. Not to mention, when you sync it with the LELO app, you’ll unlock two extra patterns.
We love: LELO toys always feel luxurious
We don’t love: The fact that it’s not flexible.
Features:
Vibration modes: 8 patterns (+2 on the app) and 16 intensities
Material: Silicone
Power: Rechargeable
Insertable length: 4.3 inches on each side
Waterproof: Yes.
Best penis masturbator
This masturbator does pretty much exactly what it says on the tin: that smooth silicone sleeve stimulates the sensations of penetrating an asshole. As well as being plenty tight (or at least, tighter than other masturbators) it’s filled with ribs to switch it up as you descend into its depths. “It’s definitely an massive improvement over my left hand,” shares one five-star reviewer. “The sensations were powerful and slightly addictive; we ended up fighting over who got to use it.”
We love: The lining feels realistic
We don’t love: The case looks pretty cheap.
Features:
Vibration modes: None
Material: SuperSkin TPE
Power: None
Insertable length: 8.5 inches
Waterproof: Submersible.
Best boxer strap-on
Classic strap-ons aren’t for everyone: the harness is a nightmare, it can dig in, and you might not want your arse on full display. For a more comfortable experience, these boxers are packed with an attached O-ring to slot your favourite dildo into; it even has a pocket that can house either your packer or a removable bullet that rests against your C-spot for extra vibrations as you thrust.
We love: Moisture-wicking material, because things can get sweaty.
We don’t love: A little pricey for just a harness, but worth it.
Features:
Vibration modes: 10
Material: Nylon boxers, silicone and ABS plastic bullet
Power: Rechargeable
Diameter: 1.7 inch O-ring
Waterproof: No, but boxers are machine washable.
Best suction toy overall
As the creators of Pleasure Air Technology, Womanizer knows what it’s doing when it comes to suction toys. So much so that the one and only Katy Perry featured this very toy in her music video for Woman’s World. It might be powered by 14 suction intensities, but even the lowest setting will quickly coax you towards orgasm. While we reckon you’ll struggle to keep quiet, the toy is powered by Smart Silence technology that means no one outside of your four walls with be any the wiser to your late-night antics.
We love: The long handle makes for an easy grip (and you’ll need it)
We don’t love: The mouth is pretty small, so you’ll need lots of lube and movement if you’re not into direct clit stimulation.
Features:
Vibration modes: 14
Material: Silicone
Power: Rechargeable
Length: 6.5 inches
Waterproof: Yes.
Best strapless strap
We’re ending the top/ bottom dichotomy, I’ve decided, and this toy is on board. As well as boasting a 5.5 inch vibrating shaft for the ‘receiver’, the person wearing this strap will also get a heavy hit of buzz, thanks to those rabbit ears fluttering against their clit, and the internal pony hitting their G-spot. So the wearer is getting as close to a good time as they can, the pony is totally bendable, and powered by three vibration modes. On the other end, you can choose from three vibration speeds and nine patterns to have you both humping like happy bunnies.
We love: The fact both partners can get in on the action
We don’t love: That there’s no remote.
Features:
Vibration modes: 3 vibration speeds and 9 patterns.
Material: Silicone
Power: Rechargeable
Length: 5.5 insertable shaft and 4.5 inches in the pony
Waterproof: Submersible.
Best for long-distance lesbians
As the name suggests, this toy will make you dissolve into a sloppy puddle. Its slim shape is designed with the intention of slipping between you and your lover mid sex, while the suction mouth sends 12 intensity levels to your C-spot. What’s more, you can connect it with the We-Vibe app to let your lover control it from anywhere in the world, or even sync the vibrations with your favourite tunes. “If I was prime minister every female in the country would get one of these land on their doormat on their 18th birthday,” one five-star reviewer comments. LOL.
We love: The app connectivity
We don’t love: Honestly… nothing.
Features:
Vibration modes: 12
Material: Silicone
Power: Rechargeable
Waterproof: Yes.
Best long-distance toy for people with penises
Similar to the LELO Hugo 2, this toy offers dual stimulation for your P-spot and perineum, because people with penises deserve blended orgasms, too! Leading the way in long-distance sex toys, Lovense has created an ultimate sex toy app that allows you to customise an unlimited number of vibration modes. It can be controlled by anyone anywhere in the world – seriously, there’s even a roulette feature so a stranger on the app can take control of your vibes – and can also be connected up with your favourite erotic content or a partner’s Lovense toy to sync your vibrations.
We love: It’s super flexy
We don’t love: There’s a lot of exploring to be done with this toy, so you better get going…
Features:
Vibration modes: Unlimited
Material: Silicone
Power: Rechargeable
Insertable length: Not stated
Waterproof: Yes.
Best suction toy for penises
It goes without saying that vulva owners love suction vibes, but you might be wondering where the same love is for penis possessors. Good news: Arcwave has the solution with this masturbator that stimulates the sensation of getting the best blowjob of your life. Unlike other masturbators, it doesn’t sit directly on your penis, so it won’t leave your schlong feeling numb afterwards. But don’t worry, that doesn’t sacrifice on power, as Pleasure Air Technology boots blood flow to your member for an orgasm that goes on, and on…
We love: Easy to clean
We don’t love: Open ended, so it can be hard to hold it in the exact position.
Features:
Vibration modes: 10 intensities and 3 patterns.
Material: Silicone
Power: Rechargeable
Insertable length: Not stated
Waterproof: Submersible.
Most versatile vibrator
Now here’s a toy that deserves its stars for versatility. Coming in at a smaller size than other wand vibrators, so it won’t get in the way too much, this mains-powered toy sends up to an impressive 9,000 RMPs to whatever erogenous zone you want to fire up. Forget everything you think you know about wands, because they can be used for everything from all-over massage, to perineum or shaft stimulation, and even for a little nipple play.
We love: Its dinky size
We don’t love: It’s not waterproof :(.
Features:
Vibration modes: 3,000 to 9,000 RPMs
Material: Silicone and stainless steel
Power: Mains-powered
Length: 37cm
Waterproof: No.
Best vibrating butt plug
We can’t all be anal aficionados, so Lovense has you covered no matter your experience level. This butt plug comes in your choice of four diameters, from 1 to 2.25 inches, so you can get one that fits you snugly (but not too snugly). With up to four hours of continuous use, you’ll want it to be comfy, especially if you’re handing over the reins to your lover in another country. Don’t say I gave you any ideas, but as it’s as quiet as a whisper, you could even wear it out and about.
We love: Flared base aplenty
We don’t love: Magnetic chargers can sometimes be a little fiddly.
Diameter: 1.5 inch.
Features:
Vibration modes: Unlimited with the Lovense app
Material: Silicone
Power: Rechargeable
Diameter: This one is 1.5 inch, but there are three other diameters to choose from
Waterproof: Yes.
Best app-controlled vibrating cock ring
Whether you’re playing solo or with a partner, this app-controlled vibrating cock ring will turn your thingaling into a vibrator. With 10 vibration modes, it’ll send a strong buzz to both you and a partner’s perineum, and thanks to being pretty tight, will help boost your orgasm strength. When things are pretty lubey down there, you probably won’t want to worry about getting your fingers all slippery, so it helps that you can simply switch on the Satisfyer app to power up through the intensities.
We love: Comes with a 15-year guarantee (crazy)
We don’t love: Could be stretchier
Features:
Vibration modes: 10 vibration modes
Material: Silicone
Power: Rechargeable
Diameter: 1.4cm
Waterproof: Yes.
Best anal dildo
“This is a very realistic dildo made for anal play that will give amazing P-spot orgasms thanks to its shape which makes the glans stimulate the prostate perfectly,” says Roos. “The size is beginner friendly, the dildo is handmade out of the softest silicone, there’s a suction cup in the bottom making it easy to get penetrated in different positions, and it looks super realistic.” I mean, what more could you want? While the size makes it ideal for anal, it could also be great for people exploring vaginal stimulation who are more into sensations of fullness than length, thanks to its 1.6 inch girth, just sayin’.
We love: It’s handmade, how cool is that?!
We don’t love: Not for those who aren’t into realistic dildos.
Features:
Vibration modes: None, but you can put a vibrator inside if you’re so inclined
Material: Silicone
Power: None
Insertable length: 5.1 inches
Waterproof: Yes.
Best disposable penis toy
Who knows what you’re going to get up to this Pride? They might look like eggs, but crack ’em open and you’ll find a disposable penis stroker on the inside of these toys. But that’s not all they’re good for, flip them inside out and you’ll find a textured sleeve that feels just as good rubbed against a clit. Because at the end of the day, how you play is entirely up to you!
We love: How stretchy they are
We don’t love: That they’re disposable (but sometimes it’s needed!)
Features:
Vibration modes: None
Material: TPE
Power: None
Insertable length: Not stated
Waterproof: They’re disposable, so I don’t see why not.
Best non-stretchy cock ring
Silicone stretches, but it also presses. This stainless steel cock rings simply sits atop your peen to keep it firm and girthy, while its weight pulls down for a constant snug sensation.
We love: It’s easy to clean
We don’t love: It doesn’t stretch, which not everyone will like.
Features:
Vibration modes: None
Material: Stainless steel.
Power: None
Diameter: Not stated (boo!)
Waterproof: Yes.
Best fantasy dildo
Romantasy has had a huge comeback in the last few years, so of course it’s found its way into our pleasure products. This girthy dildo will leave you feeling as fiery as a dragon’s roar, and those textured nubs and scales will make for an incredible switch up on a plain old penis/dildo.
We love: The masses of texture
We don’t love: This is obviously not for everyone
Features:
Vibration modes: None
Material: Silicone
Power: None
Insertable length: 7 inches
Waterproof: Yes.
Best dildo for lesbians
Listen up, lesbians! Not only is this made in the colours of the lesbian flag, but its non-realistic appearance means it’s approachable for beginners. With a strong suction base, you can attach it to any surface, but it’s also harness compatible and can be used for vaginal and anal penetration alike.
We love: The colours, duh
We don’t love: It’s pretty firm.
Features:
Vibration modes: None
Material: Silicone
Power: None
Insertable length: 5.5 inches
Waterproof: Yes.
In 2026, non-realistic dildos are especially popular, according to Roos. “This includes fantasy dildos, such as dragon or beast models, and dildos that are gender-neutral and don’t look like penises, but instead have strong colours, no glans and no balls,” she says.
“More queer people are entering relationships with folk who live far away, for example because the dating scene is too small where they live, which has made everything from WiFi controlled vibrators, to remote butt plugs, and distance controlled sleeves extra trendy,” Roos explains.
In 2026, sex toys are also starting to focus less on orgasm as the end goal, and more on the experience of pleasure as a whole, Roos adds.
“I’ve noticed a bigger interest in sexual wellbeing products, rather than to only focus on giving strong orgasms,” she says. “More and more, sex toys are talked about as an important part of mental health, in getting to know your body better, and for creating better and stronger intimacy both with yourself and your partner.”
“Bring it up outside the bedroom in a situation where you’re both relaxed,” Roos recommends. Rather than bring these conversations up during sex, which can make your partner feel pressured, approach it in a neutral setting with curiosity, and ask whether it’s something your partner would be interested in.
“Bring up your expectations, boundaries, needs and what you feel comfortable and curious about, as well as what you don’t want to try, this as it gives much better opportunities for having a great experience from the start,” Roos adds. “The more you talk, and the more honest you are, the easier and safer it will be to go from theory to actually testing a sex toy together.”
While talking about sex toys, make sure to emphasise their purpose is to add to both partners’ pleasure, rather than replace them. “Try to be clear that sex toys are a complement, and something that enriches your already fun, hot, and intimate sex life,” Roos says. “This is to avoid your partner feeling like the toy is a replacement for them.”
Once you’re done, talk about the experience and what you both enjoyed. “Ask what felt good, what would you want to try next time, and what didn’t feel comfortable,” Roos recommends.
Morocco have suffered a significant setback just days before the start of their 2026 World Cup campaign, with defender Nayef Akrad and winger Abdel Samad Al-Zalzouli both ruled out through injury.
The Moroccan Football Federation, in coordination with FIFA, have confirmed that both star players will miss the tournament. The team have called up Marwan Saadane and Amine Sebaï as replacements ahead of their Group C opener against Brazil.
Akrad’s absence is a major blow to Morocco’s defensive structure. A key figure in the run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, he had been included in the squad in the hope he would recover in time, but medical assessments ruled him out of their plans.
Al-Zalzouli’s withdrawal further weakens the squad’s attacking options. The winger sustained a knee injury during a friendly match against Norway, forcing him out at a crucial stage of Morocco’s preparations and leaving the coaching staff short of experienced alternatives.
The double setback also deprives Morocco of valuable tournament experience, with both players having played important roles in Morocco’s recent international progress.
Their replacements now face a difficult task. Saadane brings solid club experience, while Sebaï is still relatively new to the Morocco senior setup.
Attention now turns to Morocco’s demanding World Cup opener against Brazil, one of the tournament favourites, as the Atlas Lions look to navigate an even tougher start to their campaign.
Featured image via Jordan Bank / Getty Images
By Alaa Shamali
Torcuil Crichton MP, the Labour MP for the Western Isles, has hit back at campaigners opposing the annual guga hunt.
He accused protesters of “attention-seeking behaviour” and “virtue-signalling”. In response, campaigners accused Crichton of “dismissive and belittling rhetoric”, saying he’s:
lost sight of the views of his constituents.
The spat comes as Scotland’s nature agency received a licence application for the guga hunt this year. The 10 man hunting team based in Ness, Isle of Lewis is seeking NatureScot’s permission to kill gannet chicks on the island of Sula Sgeir. The birds, still too young to fly, are removed from their nests, slaughtered and brought back to Lewis to be eaten as a traditional delicacy.
Supporters say it’s an important cultural tradition, but campaigners say it’s cruel and needs banning.
Former Gaelic broadcaster Crichton poked fun at campaigners’ language skills, saying:
Until now I have hesitated to comment on what its own organisers pronounce as the campaign to ‘Abolish the goo-ga hunt’. It struck me as another one of these boring examples of attention-seeking behaviour, enabled by social media and fuelled by a lack of real purpose in life.
The ‘goo-ga’ campaign does fall into the virtue-signalling camp of activism and to prove their commitment someone undertook a sweat-drenched election campaign in a penguin suit (he didn’t look anything like a gannet) and was willing to put others at risk by climbing onto the roof of a public building.
The MP, who won election to the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency in 2024, added:
The guga harvest is an essential part of the history, culture and identity of Ness. It is conducted with due reverence to sustainability and importantly to what it means to the continuation of the living tradition of the islands.
Crichton’s comments referenced Protect the Wild’s recent Scottish parliament election campaign, during which the organisation’s founder stood as a giant gannet to protest the guga hunt. Responding, Devon Docherty, Scottish campaigns manager at Protect the Wild, said:
We suggest Mr Crichton might want to take a trip to Specsavers if he thought our tailor-made gannet costume was a penguin.
Unfortunately, a man so busy looking down his nose at wildlife campaigners appears to have lost sight of the people he was elected to represent, many of whom oppose the guga hunt, but are afraid to speak out because of exactly the kind of dismissive, belittling rhetoric his statement exemplifies.
Docherty said the MP’s comments were out of step with the Labour Party’s commitments to animal welfare and their recent action to end fox hunting:
He would also be wise to look at the history and stated values of his own party. After all, defenders of fox hunting relied on exactly the same arguments used in favour of the guga hunt: tradition, culture, heritage and rural identity. Labour rightly rejected them then. Why accept them now?
She added:
The guga hunt is indeed part of the history of Ness. But that is exactly where it should stay, because the mass slaughter of native wildlife clearly has no place in Scotland’s future.
Protect the Wild’s petition urging NatureScot to reject the Guga hunt licence has surpassed 200,000 signatures. The group believes it’s the largest petition the agency has ever received. NatureScot says it will assess the application using the most recent scientific evidence, before its board makes the final decision.
Featured image via the Canary / Protect the Wild / Jeff J Mitchell – Getty Images
By The Canary
Ageing doesn’t always mean decline, particularly if you don’t expect it to. One study involving more than 11,000 participants found that almost half improved either their physical or mental capacity after their 65th birthday; people who improved on one or both metrics were likelier to have a positive view of ageing.
But what about personality?
A paper published in the journal Communications Psychology put 165 adults (a younger set in their 20s, and another group aged between 60 and 80) through an eight-week training course designed to help them handle stress and social situations.
They found what study author Professor Dr Cornelia Wrzus called a “striking and unexpected result” among the older cohort.
Participants were given personality tests before and at various stages after their training.
These aimed to find out about traits like emotional stability and extraversion.
Both groups performed better on these scores after the eight-week intervention, including a year after it ended.
“Investigations [on personality changes] frequently focus on young adults between the ages of 18 and 30,” Prof Wrzus said.
But after looking at the results of this study, the professor said her team found that the average change in behaviour barely varied between the age groups.
This was a “striking and unexpected result, since it seems more difficult for older adults to learn something new, like a foreign language or a musical instrument,” Prof Wrzus said.
The researchers also asked the participants to describe how intensively they practiced the tasks given to them during the training course.
They found that 60+-year-olds typically engaged more enthusiastically with things like coursework and at-home tasks, perhaps explaining the “unexpected” outcomes.
“Our study results somewhat contradict the adage that ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. That is good news for aging populations,” Prof Wrzus stated.
“When people are sufficiently motivated, they maintain the ability to change and learn new things.”
Dame Helen Mirren has shot down the rumours of behind-the-scenes tension on the set of MobLand between herself and co-star Tom Hardy.
Last month, it was widely reported that Tom had been fired from the Paramount+ crime drama after the second season wrapped, after allegedly clashing with producers.
According to a “source” quoted in The Hollywood Reporter in May, Tom had also “refused to come out of his trailer for hours at a time”, leaving his co-stars waiting for him so they could shoot.
However, Dame Helen has now insisted that there is no bad blood between herself and her co-star.
“As long as what’s on the screen is fantastic, I’m totally chilled with whatever, however anyone gets there,” she told Deadline.
Dame Helen said she would work with the Inception actor in a “heartbeat”, but did admit they had “different” creative “processes”.
“I love Tom. I think he’s the most amazing actor. I’ve always loved him on screen and different actors have different processes. I’ve learned over the years that some people get things fast and other people took time,” the Oscar winner said.
She added: “He’s got the kindest heart… I think he’s absolutely remarkable. So my support of him is genuine and heartfelt.”
Millie Turner/Invision/AP
When asked if she thought Tom would return to MobLand, Dame Helen said she hoped it would happen.
She explained: “When you have these sort of very powerful artistic people working together, the creative process is very challenging and people can get their knickers in a twist, as we say.
“But yes, we will go forward, absolutely, and it’ll be even better.”
This isn’t the first time Dame Helen has shown Tom her support. Last month, shortly after articles in the press about Tom’s alleged on-set behaviour were published, she posted an Instagram photo of him alongside the caption: “Love you now and always.”
Following the initial rumours of Tom being axed, Variety later suggested that he had, in fact, not been fired and that “the door is not closed for season three and things are being worked through creatively”.
HuffPost UK contacted Paramount+ for comment last month, but did not receive a response.
MobLand returns to Paramount+ for its second season later this year.
Keir Starmer’s Labour party is trying to push a bill through Parliament that amounts to legalising bribery.
Clause 60 of the Representation of the People bill will remove caps on political donations and de-couple donations from companies’ UK taxable profits. Starmer has already pulled murky political tricks to mask its passage so far. He is ignoring almost all the recommendations of Labour’s own already-weak ‘Rycroft Review‘ into foreign political interference. UK state-corporate media are ignoring the bill.
This video from the Canary explains:
View this post on Instagram
Starmer already sold the party to the super-rich when members deserted the hollow corpse he made Labour into after Corbyn. Now he wants the freedom to crawl even deeper into their pockets – and up their backsides.
Featured image via Peter Nicholls / Getty Images
By Skwawkbox
World Cup history is awash with politics — and politicians — intruding on the soccer.
For almost a century, leaders ranging from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini to Argentine military junta boss Jorge Videla to French President Jacques Chirac have sought to score political points from the tournament.
This year’s competition is also not the first to be overshadowed by conflict. North Korea tried to upstage the event in 2002 with a bloody naval assault on South Korea, and the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina loomed over the 1982 World Cup.
In 1934, Mussolini viewed a World Cup victory as a way to symbolize Italian might. Brazilian dictator Emílio Médici said that the 1970 triumph was testament to his country’s greatness. Memories of the Falklands provided fraught context to England’s clash with Argentina in 1986, one of the most famous games in the tournament’s history.
In more recent times, Chirac cast himself as a big fan of the all-conquering, racially diverse French national team in 1998. Vladimir Putin exploited the 2018 tournament to project Russian soft power, while Gulf petromonarchy Qatar used the 2022 edition as part of a major nation-building project.
And this year, it’s the the politics of MAGA — an ongoing foreign war and domestic immigration crackdown — that are coming back to bite soccer’s governing body FIFA.
Our first letter was answered/dismissed by “Service Adviser 1989847”, so this reply to our second one, while it doesn’t say much, definitely feels like a step up.
Our KC has offered all possible assistance to the Cyber and Fraud Unit in relation to the matter, and we’ll keep you posted with any developments, readers.
John Healey has done something unfashionable for a politician in our times: he has resigned, not over a sex scandal, a briefing war or a manufactured media row, but over a matter of substance. The now former UK defence secretary says the government will not properly fund the defence of the realm. He is correct, and he deserves commendation for upholding such high principles.
Healey’s resignation is an indictment of Keir Starmer’s government. The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was meant to be the moment when Starmer’s solemn talk about a dangerous world would be turned into hard commitments: defined funding for ships, missiles, drones, air defence, munitions stockpiles, personnel and industrial capacity. Instead, Healey says he was shown a settlement that would limit spending to just 2.68 per cent of GDP by 2030, short of the three per cent he judged necessary, and a mere 0.08 percentage-point increase over four years.
There is no mystery about why the money is missing. Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves bottled welfare reform. Last year, facing a Labour backbench revolt, the government gutted its planned savings from sickness and disability benefits of £5 billion annually. The u-turn meant the reforms would no longer save taxpayers any money and had shredded the margin Reeves needed to meet her fiscal rules.
This is the basic arithmetic of government. You cannot fund a swollen welfare state, an unreformed NHS, Net Zero, debt interest and national defence all at once. In the real world, priorities must be set. Labour has chosen welfare dependency over military readiness. It has chosen to appease backbenchers over the first responsibility of any government – to protect its people.
Starmer is not solely to blame for this sorry state of affairs. Britain’s armed forces have been hollowed out over many years. The Cameron-Osborne austerity settlement began a long era of strategic negligence. The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review cut defence spending by eight per cent. A military that cannot sustain combat is nothing more than an advertising campaign masquerading as an army. And that is what we are left with.
The Ajax tank farce is emblematic of the sickness. The programme was supposed to deliver a modern, armoured reconnaissance vehicle. Instead, it has become a monument to defence dysfunction – years late, billions wasted, the tanks plagued by defects so serious soldiers were harmed in training. Ajax was expected to enter service in 2017. The tanks are now expected to be operational – at best – by 2028.
The Ministry of Defence excels at producing acronyms, reviews and procurement frameworks, yet struggles to deliver fighting power at speed and scale. A 2023 Defence Committee report on the procurement system described it as bureaucratic, slow, poorly accountable and in need of comprehensive reform. Britain has talented officials, engineers and service personnel. It lacks a governing class willing to make hard choices, enforce accountability and accept that defence exists to deter enemies and, if necessary, win wars.
The delayed DIP has turned that failure into a national humiliation. The Public Accounts Committee warned this week that the delay had undermined Britain’s credibility with allies and weakened its ability to deter adversaries.
It will take far more than speeches to make forces combat-ready. Defence companies cannot invest on the basis of ministerial mood music – they need hard commitments. Our NATO allies cannot plan around such vagueness, either.
This is why Healey deserves respect for his resignation. He did not fix the system. He did not reverse the hollowing out. He presided over part of the drift. Yet when finally confronted with an underfunded plan, he refused to front it. So too has Al Carns, the armed forces minister. In his resignation statement – made on the same day as Healey’s – Carns said: ‘We ask soldiers to fight for this country. In return, we owe them the kit to do the job.’
The chief of the defence staff and his subordinate generals, admirals and air marshals should follow suit. Leadership demands accountability, and senior leadership in the Ministry of Defence should take Healey’s example as a lesson; otherwise, nothing will change.
Britain’s defence establishment now faces a brutal question: does the state still believe national defence is its first duty? At present, the answer is not good. The armed forces are too small, too thinly resourced and procurement is poor.
John Healey’s departure has exposed the truth. Britain lacks a Ministry of Defence, a Treasury, or a defence policy worthy of the threats we face.
Andrew Fox is a retired Parachute Regiment officer, a senior fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, and co-host of The Brink podcast.
The pioneering British artist David Hockney has died at the age of 88.
On Friday morning, his publicist, Erica Bolton, announced that the legendary painter had died at his home the previous day.
Her statement read: “The celebrated British artist David Hockney, one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries, passed away peacefully at home on 11 June 2026, one month short of his 89th birthday.”
Born in Bradford in the July of 1937, David studied as a young man at the Royal College of Art, before making the move to California.
First making a name for himself in the 1960s as a leading figure in the pop art movement, David became synonymous with his brightly-coloured swimming pool paintings in the early years of his professional art career.
His other most notable works included portraits using various media of key figures in his personal life – including family members, friends and lovers – many of whom he revisited numerous times over the course of his decades-long career in different works.
During his lifetime, he repeatedly stated that his ethos when it came to art was to “paint the things you love”.
In 2018, he set a new record when his painting Portrait Of An Artist (Pool With Two Figures) sold at an auction for around £70 million, the highest figure ever for a work by a living artist.
His accolades included the Alfred Toepfer Foundation’s Shakespeare prize and being named Britain’s most influential artist in a 2012 poll of painters and sculptors.
David was also appointed to the Order of Merit in 2012, having declined a knighthood years earlier, claiming in the early 1990s that he didn’t “rate prizes”.
An exhibition of recent paintings by David is currently on display at London’s Serpentine gallery.
Reform’s deputy leader was left squirming by a GB News journalist over the party’s record on defence.
Richard Tice clashed with Christopher Hope, the broadcaster’s political editor, after John Healey’s resignation as defence secretary.
Hope said the fact that Reform does not even have a designated defence spokesman showed the party “isn’t serious” about the issue.
At one point in the live interview, Tice even claimed that Nigel Farage, the party’s leader, was also its defence spokesman.
Hope told him: “You don’t take it seriously … you don’t have a defence spokesman. That says everything about your seriousness as a party.
“If you think you are a serious party on defence, who is your spokesman?”
A clearly-flustered Tice insisted that “what matters” is Reform’s pledge to boost defence spending.
“We’ve shown how you do it, that’s what matters,” he said. “That’s why we’re leading in the polls.”
But Hope asked him again: “Can you name your defence spokesman? It’s not an MP, is it? It’s someone else. Who is your defence spokesman?”
Tice said: “Listen, Nigel and I cover foreign and defence, and we know how you get the money. You scrap net zero, you provide at least an extra £10-£20 billion as required in order to keep British citizens safe.”
Hope hit back: “But your party isn’t serious without having a defence spokesman. You can’t come on GB News – it insults our viewers for you to say it’s important.”
Watch the full clash below.
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