Politics
The House Article | “Deeply affecting”: Sarah Champion reviews ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’
The Voice of Hind Rajab starring Saja Kilani as Rana Hassan Faqih, Motaz Malhees as Omar A. Alqam and Clara Khoury as Nisreen Jeries Qawas | Image by: BFA / Alamy
4 min read
This powerful and authentic docudrama recounts the desperate real life attempts to save a six-year-old Palestinian child
I felt anxious as I walked into the cinema to watch The Voice of Hind Rajab – a sickening anxiety of knowing what I was likely to be watching but not knowing how I would react.
This new release tells the desperate and real-life tragic struggle to rescue a six-year-old girl, Hind Rajab, who was caught up in the Israeli military operation into Gaza in January 2024.
Using a mix of dramatisation by an impressive cast, as well as the actual recordings of phone calls between the Red Crescent emergency call centre and Hind – and including real footage of the staff talking during the incident – the film shows the human tragedy not just of the war of Gaza but of every war where innocents are involved.
During the telephone conversations, you can hear the terrifying sound of shooting and explosions in the background. Hearing a little girl pleading for help from the emergency call centre staff is heartbreaking. The emotions and frustration shown by the actors bring to life the deep effect this incident had upon those close to this tragedy.
The film runs for 89 minutes and is tightly focused on the desperate efforts of those talking to Hind – who is surrounded by the dead bodies of her family in a car riddled by 355 bullets – as well as trying to co-ordinate a rescue via third parties with the Israeli Defense Forces. An effort that could have succeeded if the ambulance attending was not destroyed by an Israeli tank, with the loss of two Red Crescent rescue workers.
The film never seeks to lays blame or make moral judgements; it just presents the truth in the literal words of those involved
As many filmgoers will know the fate of Hind before watching, I’d recommend this film for its authentic and sympathetic view of this terrible incident in the early stages of what would become an issue that gained international notoriety and later investigated as a war crime.
As chair of the International Development Select Committee, I have been closely involved with many of the organisations and individuals on the ground trying to protect and support the Palestinian civilians caught up in this horrific conflict.
The film shows how complex and brutal the reality is, and how that impacts on the people involved. It never seeks to lay blame or make moral judgements; it just presents the truth in the literal words of those involved. As a committee, we had visited the Red Crescent Centre later that same year.
The film portrays the volunteers and staff very accurately; they are remarkable people tasked with a near-impossible role. The only thing I noted had changed from the film was the number of photos of civilians, and Red Crescent staff, on the memorial wall.
So, was my anxiety misplaced? It really is a good film, and I do recommend it. Honest, powerful and gripping – you live every moment. Making a film about the real life story of one little girl is, in many ways, more powerful than the incomprehensible statistics around the deaths in Gaza we have seemingly become immune to. The filmmakers deserve huge credit. My partner Richard Butterworth co-wrote this review with me. It gave us both nightmares – but maybe that is the point.
Sarah Champion is Labour MP for Rotherham and chair of the International Development Select Committee
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Written & directed by: Kaouther Ben Hania
Venue: General cinema release
On Saturday 11 April, the Independent published what may be an alarming headline to some:
Labour faces a green apocalypse at the local elections
By ‘some‘, we of course mean ‘the Starmer loyalists and councillors who are about to lose their jobs‘. And for them, the following message from the Green Party’s Zack Polanski almost certainly hasn’t helped:
Yes. That’s the plan.https://t.co/0qbagSvIYp pic.twitter.com/TSWfw2AKof
— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) April 11, 2026
Starmergeddon coming from Polanski
The piece Polanski was responding to was written by the Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul. The Independent was considered left-leaning back in the day, but has never recovered that reputation since it backed the Tory-Lib Dem coalition in the 2015 election.
In his piece, Rentoul wrote:
I suspect that the commentary will overshoot, in that one two-party system, Tory vs Labour, will not be replaced overnight by another, Reform vs Green. As I wrote last week, both Reform and the Greens have ceilings to their support. Farage’s party is not considered respectable and Polanski’s is not considered realistic by enough people to make the total eclipse of the old parties possible yet.
We’ve certainly seen evidence of Reform having a ceiling. The party rose to 30%+ in the polls, but has dipped below that since it accepted a mass exodus of ex-Tories:
The truth about the Greens under Polanski is it’s difficult to say where their ceiling is.
Let’s be real; until about six months ago, we all thought their ceiling was something like 10%. The fact that they’re now leading in some polls means we have to reconsider everything:
‼️BREAKING | Greens surge into LEAD (1st!!)
🟢 Grn: 21.4% (+2.1)
➡️ Ref: 20.9% (-1.4)
🔵 Con: 20.5% (+0.2)
🔴 Lab: 17.0% (-0.4)
🟠 Lib: 9.2% (-1.9)Poll: @LordAPolls, 26-30 Mar (+/- vs 19-23 Feb) pic.twitter.com/oDVw4cDaFC
— Stats for Lefties 🍉🏳️⚧️ (@LeftieStats) April 5, 2026
Rentoul also said of Polanski and the Greens’ surge:
How should Labour respond? There are two possible answers that will dominate the discussion on 8 May, which I think are both mistaken. One is to replace Starmer. That will have to be done at some point, but as long as the most likely replacement is Angela Rayner I do not think it would help. The other is to copy the Green Party’s policies.
Rentoul went on to say:
Instead of panicking and indulging in a leadership crisis or lurching to the left, Labour needs strategic patience, dealing with the difficult world situation as best it can, explaining the trade-offs and compromises needed. Reform has already peaked in the opinion polls, and the limits of the promises that won it control of several councils last year are becoming more evident. If the Greens win control of councils with a slate of untried paper candidates, they, too, will come up against the constraints of power.
The Greens are not ready to replace the Labour Party yet.
Labour and the UK at large are in a moment of crisis, in which it’s become clear to everyone that the longstanding ways of doing things don’t work; that the system we live under exists solely to direct wealth upwards, and that there’s very little wealth left to be lost.
As you’d expect, then, a UK political commentator is advising that the party of government should simply fiddle while Rome burns.
The status quo is dead
Our political leaders and commentators can bury their heads in the sand all they like, but the rest of us don’t have that choice.
We’re forced to confront the world as it is because the world is a confrontational force that demands our attention.
We feel it every time our bills increase; we feel it when our retirement age slips further and further away; we feel it when our loved ones suffer as they wait for hospital appointments which may never come.
At the same time, we do hope Labour listen to Rentoul over Polanski. It’s horrible advice, of course, but it will at least ensure it’s clear to everyone what Labour actually stand for.
Because let’s be real; Labour will never deliver actual change, but there is a risk they’ll offer enough phony to promise to retain what’s left of their dwindling vote share.
Featured image via Canva
Tucker Carlson has said Donald Trump is a “slave” to Israel over his decision to go to war in Iran.
The right-wing podcaster’s comments came as talks between the US and Tehran aimed at ending the conflict broke down without agreement.
Carlson, a former close ally of Trump, said the war was “the single biggest mistake that any American president in my lifetime has made”.
The US president, alongside Israel, launched military action against Iran on February 28.
Despite declaring victory on numerous occasions since then, the regime in Tehran remains in place, and has triggered a global economic crisis by effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz.
On BBC 1′s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Carlson said: “The whole thing is a fantasy. The United States went to war in Iran in order to effect regime change, to throw out the people who run the country and collapse it, at the behest and then the demand of Israel, and that’s a demand the Israelis have made of the US government for decades.
“President Trump fell for it, did it, and I think he recognised immediately that it was a mistake and that it is very difficult to extricate yourself from a war like this once it has begun.
“I think the net effect, and I think the president himself has said this, is at best to leave the regime in place, give that regime control over commodities that flow through the Strait [of Hormuz], in effect to make Iran more powerful than it was on February 27.”
Asked by presenter Victoria Derbyshire what his relationship is like with Trump now, Carlson said: “I feel sorry for him, as I do for all slaves. He is not free in this moment at all to do what is best for himself or his country.
“He’s not free and we learned that yesterday when Donald Trump announced a ceasefire, clearly with relief, and made its terms public and then that ceasefire ended within two hours because Israel potentially violated the terms by attacking not just southern Lebanon but the city of Beirut.”
Derbyshire then asked him: “Are you saying he’s a slave to Benjamin Netanyahu?”
Carlson replied: “I don’t think it’s as simple as he’s under the control of Netanyahu, but you could summarise it that way and you wouldn’t be totally inaccurate.
“We know this because the single biggest mistake that Trump or any American president in my lifetime has made was going to war with Iran in an effort to change its regime.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Carlson also denied that he is an anti-semite.
He said: “Unlike the UK, we have a first amendment. So if I was an anti-semite I guess I would just say so at this point, I don’t know why I would lie about it.
“But I have opposed it in public consistently for my entire public life.”
Carlson added: “Doubtless there are anti-semites who don’t like Israel. I’m not an anti-semite, I don’t hate Israel.
“The Israeli government steered the United States into a war that hurts the United States and the world. I’m offended by that, I didn’t want it and I’m mad about it now.
“I have every right to feel that way, that does not make me an anti-semite.”
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The Met Police have confirmed 523 arrests in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 11 April, where Defend Our Juries protesters staged a silent vigil against the genocide and the unlawful use of terrorism laws to silence opposition to the genocide.
This brings the total number of arrests for defying the Palestine Action ban from 2,779 to over 3,302.
Defend Our Juries out again
In March, the Met announced that the number of arrests for proscription offences relating to Palestine Action since the ban came into effect in July 2025, was 2,779 arrests.
The Met chose to make the arrests on 11 April despite the High Court ruling in February that the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful as a violation of the democratic rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. Leading legal figures warned the Met that arrests at this peaceful vigil would be unlawful in light of the High Court ruling, pending the Court of Appeal hearing on 28 and 29 April.
Many of the Defend Our Juries supporters arrested were older or disabled people, with ages ranging from 18 to 87.
Arrestees included Robert Del Naja, the artist and musician from Massive Attack. The arrests took the number of terrorism arrests for quietly holding cardboard signs to over 3,300 since 5 July 2025.
Earlier in the day, a former Met police chief told BBC Radio 4 that arresting these peaceful protestors creates optics which are “very challenging for the police” and that there “will be a huge amount of people who have sympathy with what is going on with the views of Palestine Action”.
Bad optics
The Met Police’s mass arrests of Defend Our Juries protestors come despite their stating publicly in February that they would not arrest people for holding signs, given the illegality of the proscription order. They said at the time that not arresting people, pending the Government’s appeal, was “the most proportionate approach we can take”. On 25 March, for unclear reasons, they announced a U-turn on this policy.
Meanwhile, the Devon and Cornwall Police undermined the Met’s decision by refusing to make arrests under the Terrorism Act in Truro on 11 April. Protesters in Truro held exactly the same sign as protesters in London and police chose not to arrest, whereas the Met arrested 523 people.
Former Met Police chief superintendent, Dal Babu, previously said on BBC Radio 4:
I think the difficulty is, when you’ve got 700 or 800 people who are willing to be arrested, that just isn’t practical. The optics of this will be very challenging for the police.
It will present some significant difficulties for the police in terms of how they manage it and also be aware of the fact there will be a huge amount of people who have sympathy with what is going on with the views of Palestine Action.
“Surreal”
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said:
It is truly surreal that over 500 people have been arrested for defying a ban the High Court has declared unlawful. An already absurdly authoritarian measure has now descended even further into farce ahead of the Court of Appeal hearing this month.
The Met Police has inexplicably reversed its position that, in light of the High Court ruling and pending the Government’s attempt to appeal, it would not arrest peaceful protesters defying the ban. Leading legal figures warned these arrests could themselves be unlawful, and the Met now seems destined to face legal challenge over what may amount to hundreds, if not thousands of unlawful arrests.
The fact that Devon and Cornwall Police chose not to arrest protesters yesterday for holding the exact same signs only deepens the chaos surrounding the unlawful ban on Palestine Action and underlines a simple truth: this ban is unenforceable.
It’s obvious to every sane observer that the Israeli and US governments are committing war crimes in Gaza, the West Bank, Iran and in Lebanon. Instead of standing up to these atrocities, which are already having dire consequences for the British public, Keir Starmer’s government supports them, including by criminalising peaceful protest against these heinous crimes.
Everyone who cares for democracy and the rule of law should be appalled by what is happening, and should ask themselves what they can do personally to prevent the descent into fascism.
Featured image via Marly Lyman
Engaging in “mentally active” activities versus “mentally passive” ones while sitting or lounging may affect your risk for dementia, according to a recent study.
In a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine last month, researchers evaluated over 20,000 adult participants in Sweden, most of whom were women. Researchers administered a baseline questionnaire to participants in 1997 to assess their mentally passive sedentary behaviours, such as watching TV and listening to music. They also assessed their mentally active sedentary behaviours, such as office work or knitting and sewing. Their light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was also assessed using questionnaires. The participants were evaluated for incident dementia nearly two decades later.
The study found that mentally passive sedentary behaviour ― for example, watching TV ― was associated with a higher incidence of dementia. But adding mentally active sedentary behaviour (needlepointing, anyone?) showed promising outcomes.
Researchers found that each additional hour of mentally active sedentary behaviour a day was associated with a 4% lower risk of dementia — and that adding mentally active sedentary behaviour showed a higher protective effect for participants aged 50 to 64.
The study also found that replacing one hour of mentally passive sedentary behaviour with one hour of active sedentary behaviour was associated with a 7% decreased risk. What’s more, adding one hour of mentally active sedentary behaviour, while maintaining the same passive sedentary behaviour and light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, was associated with a 11% decrease in incident dementia risk.
Researchers noted that the study had some limitations. For starters, the study began in 1997, before the vast introduction of smartphones, social media and video streaming — which are now very common ways people engage in sedentary behaviour.
Dr. Hussein Yassine, a professor of neurology at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, emphasised to NBC News that phone and social media usage, which are considered mentally passive behaviours, may pose risks to our ability to concentrate.
“It’s going to be affecting your ability to process information and potentially build synapses in certain areas in the brain that help with concentrating,” Yassine told the outlet. “So the next time you have a serious task or you need to concentrate, you’re less capable because your brain networks have been hijacked by this passive reception.”
Among several other limitations cited in the study: Researchers pointed out that cognitive assessments were not done at the start, and it’s possible the sample may have included more prevalent cases of dementia, which may have resulted in a bias in the results.
Justin Paget via Getty Images
Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University and CNN wellness expert, told CNN that one explanation for the results of the study could be due to the fact that “the brain benefits from being challenged.”
“Cognitive engagement helps maintain neural connections and may support what’s called cognitive reserve, which is the brain’s ability to adapt and compensate for changes over time,” she said. “When people spend long periods in activities that require very little mental effort, those pathways may not be stimulated in the same way. Over the course of months and years, that lack of engagement could contribute to decline in memory and thinking.”
Wen cautioned, though, that the study doesn’t prove cause and effect.
“It’s possible that people with better baseline cognitive function are more likely to choose mentally engaging activities,” she said. “So, while the findings are compelling, they should be interpreted as an association rather than proof that choosing passive activities directly leads to dementia.”
Research has shown that engaging in mentally stimulating activities, in addition to staying physically active, can be beneficial for your brain health.
Dr. Dylan Wint, director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, previously emphasised the importance of strengthening the brain in an interview with HuffPost.
“You could try brain games, a new hobby, taking a class at a college or community centre, or learning a new language or instrument,” Wint said. “When determining whether an activity can have some cognitive benefit, what’s most important is that you are challenged and learning.”
At approximately 4am on Sunday, 12th April, three people from the direct action group People Against Genocide successfully evaded security and stormed the Keysight Technologies research and development plant in Hampshire:
Once inside, the activists destroyed computers, servers and machinery, directly linked to the murder of Palestinian, Lebanese, and Iranian civilians.
All three were arrested inside the factory:
Keysight Technologies: complicit in Israel’s genocide
US-owned Keysight Technologies manufactures radar and electronic warfare systems for military use. They supply UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS), a drone factory which is now entirely owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons maker.
Amongst other drones, U-TacS are responsible for developing the Watchkeeper drone, based on Elbit’s Hermes 450 drone, which has been central to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and linked to the killing of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen in April 2024. They have been used to surveil and kill innocent citizens across West Asia, on behalf of the Israeli regime, and other genocidal regimes around the world.
As well as supplying Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems, Keysight Technologies works with the US Army, US Air Force and US weapons companies, including Lockheed Martin. Keysight Technologies also specialises in 5G technology for military applications. The firm collaborates with Lockheed Martin on a 5G military solution called ‘5G.MIL Unified Network Solutions’ which provides a high-speed connection for weaponry and military applications used by the US military. Keysight Technologies also has a manufacturing plant in Israel.
In addition to Elbit weapons being used to kill thousands in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, the Israeli weapons firm also made a $2.3billion deal with the UAE, which is accused of arming the Congolese genocide.
Shutting it down
Keysight Technologies has been targeted for some time by anti-genocide activists, with several previous actions at their site at Winnerish in Berkshire, as well as Keysight facilities in Scotland. So far, rather than cutting their ties to Elbit, which supplies the Israeli military with 85% of their killer drone fleet, Keysight has chosen to invest millions in infrastructure and security.
A spokesperson for People Against Genocide said:
Keysight Technologies makes a killing by supplying the necessary components for the weapons used to commit mass murder in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran and the Congo. By dismantling Keysight’s research and development site, we are taking necessary direct action against the US and Israeli military industrial complex, responsible for the killing of people across West Asia and in the Congo.
So long as they are directly involved in genocide, we will continue to target this murderous company, exposing their role in supplying the Israeli and US military, and shutting them down.
One action taker said:
Keysight Technologies is a key supplier of Elbit Systems, who are are supplying and supporting the genocidal Israeli army. Wherever there’s genocide, Elbit Systems is involved. They’ll participate in any and every other illegal war. Their tag line is “battle-tested” on the Palestinian people. That is their marketing line.
Recently the UAE who is heavily involved in genocide has signed a billion dollar contract with Elbit Systems. Elbit has been looking to the Congo genocide for business opportunities, and their bombs have been used in the Congo. All of the struggles are absolutely the same struggle, connected by the same genocidal maniacs.
Elbit Systems uses your tax money to make billions while you can’t afford healthcare, childcare, a holiday, groceries. “I support genocide” is legal. “I oppose genocide” makes you a terrorist. Now tell me who’s the real terrorist?
Featured image and additional images supplied
Wes Streeting has condemned Donald Trump’s “incendiary, provocative and outrageous” threat to destroy Iranian civilisation.
The health secretary accused the US president of using “rhetoric which people might find shocking” in the most outspoken attack on him so far by a government minister.
Streeting took aim at Trump after peace talks between America and Iran broke up without agreement.
Trump sparked an angry backlash last week when he claimed that “an entire civilisation will die tonight” unless Tehran re-opened the Strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire was agreed at the last minute, but the vitally important waterway remains effectively blocked to oil traffic.
On Sky News on Sunday morning, Streeting said: “Over the course of the past week, President Trump has said some pretty bold, in Yes Minister language, incendiary, provocative, outrageous things on social media.
“I think we’ve all come to learn that you judge President Trump through what he does, not just what he says.”
Trump has also launched repeated attacks on Keir Starmer over the UK’s initial refusal to allow the US jets to use RAF bases to launch their attacks on Iran.
He said the prime minister was “no Winston Churchill” and has also compared him to his Hitler-appeasing predecessor Neville Chamberlain.
Streeting said the so-called special relationship had been “undoubtedly strained” by the split over Iran, but insisted the two countries still enjoyed a strong partnership.
He said: “We are old and close friends and we’ve got a shared outlook as democratic countries and we’ve got shared security interests.
“So all of that partnership continues to go on. The point I’m making is you have to distinguish between some of the rhetoric which people might find shocking, and then the reality.
“There were lots of people who went to bed earlier this week with President Trump threatening the end of Iranian civilisation, wondering what on earth would happen overnight, and woke up to a very different picture next morning.
“That’s the point we’re making. There’s a difference between what he says and what he does, and the prime minister has kept level-headed cool, calm leadership that I think the public have appreciated and respected.”
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We’ve all been there. Whether it’s a fight with a partner or a tense moment with a co-worker, something gets triggered and suddenly it feels like your nervous system has been hijacked. You say or do something you regret later and think: How could I have handled that better?
The frustrating part is that trying to “think” your way through it in the moment often doesn’t work.
“When you’re mid-fight and your nervous system is flooded, your rational brain is offline,” Erica Schwartzberg, somatic therapist at Downtown Somatic Therapy, told HuffPost. “That’s why ‘just calm down’ or ‘let’s talk about this rationally’ doesn’t work. You have to regulate your body first. Then your brain comes back online, and you can have a productive conversation.”
But when you’re already dysregulated, it helps to adjust your expectations. As Toni Teixeria, licensed clinical social worker at Strong at the Core Counseling, put it, “When you are already dysregulated, it is often hard to get regulated.” The goal isn’t instant calm. It’s to “bring your thinking brain back online so that you can make the best choice in the situation.”
Vladimir Vladimirov via Getty Images
That’s why simple actions matter. In the middle of a fight, “doing small things is best,” she said, especially because “doing something complicated or forgetting what to do may increase your frustration.”
And importantly, this isn’t about suppressing what you feel. As Schwartzberg noted, “These exercises aren’t about suppressing your feelings or ‘being nice’ when you’re legitimately hurt or angry. They’re about creating enough space between stimulus and response so you can choose how to express yourself instead of just reacting.”
Below are a few quick, physical ways to shift your state just enough to move from reacting to responding.
Take A Small Step Back
This might seem almost too simple, but it’s powerful. By taking a step back in the middle of a conflict, Teixeria said, “You are physically changing your position to move into a safer state.” It becomes a literal cue to your body that “you don’t need to fight.”
This simple movement can soften the body’s impulse to stay in “fight” mode by signaling that you don’t need to engage at full intensity.
“Research on ‘psychological distancing’ shows that stepping into more of an observer perspective can support emotional regulation,” Teixeria explains. “Creating even a small amount of physical space between you and the stressor gives you a chance to shift your perspective and interrupt the stress cycle, which may help dial down the surge of stress chemicals keeping you in a heightened, reactive state.”
Horse Flutter Breath (Lip Trills)
Schwartzberg calls this her favourite, and for good reason.
The practice is simple, and maybe a little fun. “Relax your lips and blow air through them so they vibrate/flutter (like a horse snorting or making a ‘brrrr’ sound).” Let your face soften and continue for a few seconds.
What’s happening underneath is surprisingly powerful. As Schwartzberg explains, “This technique releases tension in your face and jaw,” which are two places we instinctively tighten during conflict. When those muscles soften, it sends a bottom-up signal of safety to your nervous system.
There’s also a neurological component. According to Schwartzberg, the vibration stimulates the vagus nerve through the facial muscles while creating a gentle “pattern interrupt.” In other words, it disrupts the escalation loop just enough to give you a reset.
And then there’s the human element. “It’s nearly impossible to stay furious while making horse noises,” she said. That tiny moment of absurdity can add just enough lightness to break the intensity.
Shake It Out
This one might require you to step out of the room for a moment, but can be incredibly effective.
Basically, according to Schwartzberg, you’re going to physically shake your hands, arms, legs, or whole body for 10 to 30 seconds. “Let it be loose, floppy, and uncontrolled,” she said.
Why does it work? “When you’re in fight-or-flight, your body is flooded with stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline) and physical tension. Animals in the wild literally shake after a threat to discharge that energy as a trauma release,” Schwartzberg explains. “Humans need to do this too, but we’ve been socialized to ‘hold it together.’”
Shaking does the opposite, said Schwartzberg, because “it completes the stress cycle your body started,” allowing that activation to move through instead of getting stuck.
Take A Deep, Audible Sigh
A sigh is more than just an expression ― it’s also a reset. “Sighing tends to reset your nervous system,” Teixeira explains, especially because it creates “a longer exhale which helps your parasympathetic nervous system to begin to settle you down.”
Physiologically, “a long, audible exhale helps your heart rate to slow down,” activating the vagus nerve ― your body’s internal calming system ― and helping shift you out of fight-or-flight.
One practical note: Sighing can be misinterpreted. People might confuse your sighing for frustration, which is why Teixeira suggests naming it so it doesn’t escalate things, letting the other person know you’re taking a pause rather than expressing annoyance.
Butterfly Hug (Bilateral Stimulation)
Coming from her work as an EMDR therapist, Schwartzberg said this one is especially useful when conflict feels emotionally overwhelming.
The setup: “Cross your arms over your chest… and slowly alternate tapping your shoulders (left, right, left, right).”
The butterfly hug uses “bilateral stimulation, alternating left-right tapping, to calm the amygdala (your brain’s fear and threat-detection center), and helps the left and right hemispheres of the brain reconnect,” Schwartzberg explains.
In a dysregulated state, those systems aren’t communicating well, said Schwartzberg, because our thinking brain and emotional brain aren’t linking up. The rhythmic left-right tapping helps restore that connection.
There’s also a deeply human layer to it, too. The motion “mimics being rocked or held, which is deeply soothing to your nervous system,” she said. “Especially if you’re feeling attacked or alone in the conflict.”
Look Around (Orienting)
According to Teixeria, conflict narrows your focus. “When there is [perceived] danger we are locked on it,” she said. And in an argument, that “danger” becomes the other person, and can easily dysregulate our nervous system.
That’s where orienting comes in. “Looking around is a way to send signals to your nervous system that you are safe,” she explains. By scanning your environment, you interrupt that tunnel vision and remind your brain this isn’t a life-or-death situation. You might even repeat: “I am in a room with four walls and a ceiling, not in a life-or-death struggle.”
This, Teixeria said, helps your brain recognise that you’re safe, so you can actually step out of survival mode.
Chef comment provided by Stuart Gillies, chef-owner for Number Eight, Sevenoaks and Bank House, Chislehurst, and Luca Meola, chef-owner of Rossella, Italian restaurant and deli in Kentish Town.
Recently, HuffPost UK asked chefs to share the very best meals they could think to make with rhubarb and leeks.
The seasonal staples are especially delicious in spring and early summer. But what about a good ol’ tin of butter beans, which lasts year-round?
Here, we asked chefs Stuart Gillies and Luca Meola to share their favourite meals to make with this “fibremaxxer’s” fave:
Stuart: a creamy Niçoise-style salad
Usually, the classic French salad contains potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, olives, lettuce, tomato, and tuna.
On top lies a tangy garlic, anchovy, mustard, vinegar, and olive oil dressing.
But for a “creamier” version, chef Gillies said you can’t go wrong with a can of butter beans in place of the usual spuds.
“I love adding them into a Niçoise-style salad ― they bring a natural creaminess and make the dish feel more substantial, while still keeping it fresh and balanced,” he told us.
“Tossed with green beans, tomatoes, olives and a sharp vinaigrette, it’s a really satisfying, protein-rich plate that works perfectly for warmer days.”
Luca: garlicky butter beans speak for themselves
One of my favourite lunches of all time is a leek and butter bean dish that takes less than 15 minutes to whip up. Another beloved version is “marry me” butterbeans, which basically just means cooking them in tomato sauce and adding something creamy and/or cheesy at the end.
Chef Meola takes a similarly minimalist approach.
“Butter beans are great cooked slowly with garlic, olive oil and a bit of rosemary until they go really soft and creamy,” he told us.
“Finish with good olive oil, and that’s pretty much it.”
He didn’t explicitly mention eating that with a hunk of crusty bread, but we’ll be trying it that way anyway.
4 min read
Labour MPs say Angela Rayner is down, Andy Burnham is up. Sienna Rodgers reports on the obstacles on the mayor’s path to No 10
Even the most enthusiastic advocates of a change in the Labour leadership are starting to wonder whether the current stalemate will really be broken by terrible results in May.
The party’s press operation may not yet have begun its expectation management ahead of the elections, but a very low bar has already been set in the minds of its MPs. “Ah, but that’s baked in,” they often say when asked about the possibility of shocking outcomes such as losing power in Wales for the first time ever. The number of Labour councillors lost in England could easily exceed 1,000, one whip privately conceded with a shrug.
The mood of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) can shift quickly, however, and allies of Andy Burnham hope that, in the case of truly dismal results, MPs will wake up to the severity of the crisis the party finds itself in and get moving. The best-case scenario for them would be an orderly transition in which Keir Starmer sets a date for his departure, allowing time for the ‘King of the North’ to get into position.
Although the Iran war makes this less likely, the good news for Burnham is that he appears to have secured the support of senior members of the PLP, especially the Tribune group. Ed Miliband, Louise Haigh, Lisa Nandy and Miatta Fahnbulleh are all now considered by sources close to the mayor to be on board the Burnham train. He has moved from 50-odd potential nominees in the PLP to triple figures, says a backer.
After being promised by a senior Labour figure that his Gorton and Denton candidacy would not be blocked, Burnham failed to lobby National Executive Committee officers ahead of the vote and was blindsided by the outcome of his application. He is a busy politician with significant responsibilities, so “trying to find the time to be the saviour of the Labour Party and the civilised world is quite tough”, reasons one ally. But The House understands that Burnham is now doing the outreach required for a move.
READ: Worker Bees: Inside The Burnham Operation
He has started meeting with Labour MPs in a more intentional way, and a supporter of his ambitions says he is beginning to organise among trade unions too. Unison – a huge party affiliate that is best associated with Rayner but is now led by Andrea Egan, a Burnham fan – is regarded as key. The unions are significantly more amenable to the idea of a Burnham bid than they were pre-Gorton, says a source.
The increase in backing for Burnham has run parallel to a waning of Rayner’s star power. The more she says, a critic on the left asserts, the worse it gets for her.
Although the speech she delivered to soft-left group Mainstream’s March reception was successful in creating headlines, multiple sources say some of the contributions to it from left-wing partner Sam Tarry, MP Clive Lewis and ex-MP Jon Cruddas were removed by her parliamentary team. “The deeper thinking was ripped out,” as one disappointed insider puts it, adding that this left her with a classic Friday night Constituency Labour Party stump speech.
So, MPs on the soft left and left are waiting for Burnham instead. Getting into the PLP nonetheless remains a challenge, of course – but his allies are confident that appropriate options exist and that it will be easier to exert control over the timing of such by-elections this time.
They will not comment on which specific seats Burnham is eyeing. But with Marie Rimmer’s Merseyside seat out of the running (the MP has told The House in no uncertain terms that she would not be stepping aside to make way for the mayor), one friend of the mayor suggests that Manchester Rusholme (Afzal Khan) and Bootle (Peter Dowd) are seen as the favourites – and that the promise of a peerage could smooth this path.
Labour’s third-place result in Gorton and Denton has worried local MPs, they say, making it easier to persuade them to quit the green benches before they are pushed. Another idea floated is that Nandy could swap places with Burnham, though there is no suggestion that the Culture Secretary has endorsed such a plan.
So, as Burnham looks increasingly like the desirable choice for Starmer critics, his operations, organisation and policy work are all being ramped up.
For supporters, what worries them above all is the scale of the repair job needed. “Gorton and Denton had to happen for Andy’s support to rise this much, but on the other hand, Gorton and Denton may have been the death of the Labour Party,” says a Burnham-allied MP.
Understandably, finding the right solicitor can feel stressful. This is especially true when you are already dealing with a legal issue. Whether you are buying a home, sorting out a dispute, or handling a family matter, the person you select can make the entire process smoother or harder than it needs to be.
Nonetheless, the good news is that hiring the right legal support is not a complicated process. With that said, if you are looking for Solicitors in Malton, North Yorkshire, or anywhere else in the region, the following smart steps can help you select someone you can actually trust.
Read on to learn more.
Understanding What You Need Help With
The very first thing to do before you start searching is to understand your situation. For instance, are you dealing with divorce? Are you planning to sell property? Are you going through workplace issues? You should know that not every solicitor handles every type of case. There are specialties, which is why some might focus on property, and others might deal with family matters.
Knock off by knowing what you need, you can easily narrow down your options and avoid wasting time talking to the wrong firms.
Looking for Strong Reputation & Experience
Now, if you are hiring someone locally, it is actually a big advantage. For instance, solicitors in North Yorkshire do understand legal procedures, property trends, and even the pace at which things work in the region. With that said, before selecting the solicitor, pay attention to their reputation.
The best way to go about it is by checking reviews, asking friends, and checking how long the firm has been operating. More importantly, do not be afraid to ask questions, such as whether they have handled cases like yours before.
Analysing Communication Style
Always arrange a first call with the solicitor and analyse their communication style. Believe us when we tell you that the first conversation will tell you a lot. You do not need a solicitor who talks over you or makes you feel rushed. You need someone who can listen, explain, and treat you like a real person instead of another case.
Seeing Through Fake Promises
One of the worst mistakes you can make is falling for promises that sound too good. You should know that legal matters take time, and the outcomes are not always guaranteed. It is quite self-explanatory that you must be cautious of anyone who promises quick results. Also, watch out for someone who claims that your case is an easy win before asking for the details. You might want to think of it like April Fool’s Day. This might sound convincing at first; however, they are not necessarily based on truth.
You should know that a trustworthy solicitor will always be honest about what they can and cannot guarantee.
Final Thoughts
Before you commit, you must understand the costs. After all, money matters! Before hiring anyone, ask for a transparent explanation of how they charge. You should know that some solicitors charge hourly, while others work according to fixed fees depending on the service. With that said, make sure that you really understand what is included and what might cost extra later.
Disclaimer
Please be advised this article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained legal professional. Please seek the advice of a legal or real estate professional if you’re facing issues where you need legal help.
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