Politics
Reform UK betrays West Mids residents by running from party pledges
Yet another Reform UK council is in turmoil. After campaigning and winning in Walsall on the promise of opposing a £50 school development on Reedswood Park woodland, Reform’s pathetic councillors turned tail and ran from the council chamber when it came to the debate.
Reform turns back on party promises
The controversial project, pushed by the Department of Education, would see a secondary school built on 13.7 acres of green space in Reedswood Park, in the Black Country. Residents have raised concerns as the area serves as a haven for various birds, bats, mammals and even lizards.
Running with this during the local elections, Reform candidates explicitly told locals that, if they won, their administration would oppose the project.
But, and I am sure this will come as a shock to no one, turns out the Reform candidates were lying to their faces.
Reform ‘chickens out’ during unpopular school project debate https://t.co/HrCt5YpCbi
— Reform UK Exposed
(@reformexposed) July 29, 2026
During a full council meeting this week, Reform UK showed its true colours. In the meeting, opposing councillors from Walsall Community Independents (WCI) tabled a motion, asking the new Reform administration to stick to its election pledge and oppose the school.
But instead of facing voters, council leader, Elaine Williams, tucked her tail between her legs and walked out of the chamber. Following at her heels was her faithful deputy leader, Nicky Barker.
Half of their bloody cabinet staged a retreat, cowering behind legal advice from the council’s monitoring officer. They stated they needed to “keep an open mind” in regards to the project.
They don’t work for us…duh
Speaking during the debate, WCI leader, councillor Aftab Nawaz, attacked Reform’s cowardly vanishing act, Birmingham Live reported.
The council leader, as many of you know, during the campaign made several promises. The leader attended meetings and said we will oppose the school. It’s an old habit, but if you get elected on promises, you should keep those promises.
WCI deputy leader, councillor Khizar Hussain, added:
Elected members for that area came to the public meetings and told residents they were going to oppose it. They said that clearly. But now they have chickened out, they’ve left the room…You should not make pledges before the elections and not deliver them when you get into power.
The way I see it, our elected officials have lied to us for years, but Reform UK does it so badly.
The remaining Reform members then had the gall to vote down the motion, directly spitting on their constituents in the process.
Councillor for children, education and skills, Lisa Jones, stated that a decision would be announced “in due course”. Yeah, sure. Probably when Reform’s head office works out just how this project can benefit them, and probably their wallet.
Party dictation over public interest
It seems like there’s a pattern emerging, doesn’t it? Reform councillors promise the world to voters, get into power and then completely renege on their promises and obligations.
This betrayal in Walsall isn’t an isolated fumble and it exposes the dark underbelly of Reform UK’s political project. The party doesn’t care about people, only power.
Reform UK routinely treats working class voters as nothing more than fodder. Its representatives leverage real local concerns to win seats, only to immediately abandon their constituents. They bend the knee and enforce top-down control from their head office, rather than concentrate on real issues.
Unfortunately, it’s a pattern that is replicated nationwide.
Following elections in County Durham, central leadership immediately hustled in to override local councillor control. It seems like Farage was laying down laws before the ink on the ballot paper was even dry.
When local elected officials attempt to honour their community promises, or resist orders from head office, they are silenced or forced to fall into line. Some stand up to it, such as in Westhampton when two Reform councillors quit, citing “misogynistic undertones”. Also 10 councillors from Derbyshire resigned from the party because of its autocratic model.
From Durham to Walsall, Reform’s populist stances evaporate the moment its councillors get into power. I find it hard to understand how these people have looked worried residents in the eye and lied to their faces. All to secure a vote?
Yet when it’s time to stand up for the communities who voted them in, Reform councillors show their true colours: they turn their backs, toe the party line and literally run away from their obligations.
The question is, will the public wake up to Reform’s lies?
Featured image via the Canary
By Antifabot
6 min read
A majority of MPs’ staff are experiencing psychological distress as a result of their work, according to a new survey of employees working in Parliament and constituency offices.
An annual survey carried out by the MPs’ staff Wellness Working Group, shared with PoliticsHome, has shown a record level of distress experienced by MPs’ staff since the survey began in 2000.
From a record 627 staff responses, the survey found that 50.9 per cent of MPs’ staff working across both Parliament and constituency offices are experiencing psychological distress. This is the highest level recorded to date, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sixty-four per cent of respondents also reported difficulty meeting the demands of the job within expected timescales and 34 per cent said their working hours negatively affect their family relationships and friendships.
The survey found MPs’ staff reporting a ‘tsunami’ of casework, with offices struggling to cope with constituents’ increasingly complex demands.
Constituency caseworkers are also exposed to an increasing level of abuse, threats, traumatic disclosures and suicide-related casework. Two-thirds of respondents said they receive suicidal calls from members of the public, with one quarter being active suicide attempts.
Seventy-eight per cent experience threatening calls and communications.
The survey included disturbing examples of what some MPs’ staff have been sent by members of the public, such as exposed genitals, a bullet sent in the post, and a picture of a dead baby.
Some staff described how this had affected their own mental health, with one saying: “For a few months, I was very depressed after dealing with issues of child abuse and threats of suicide.
“I do not feel that MPs’ offices are given sufficient training or preparation on how to deal with this professionally or given a space to process this afterwards.”
One third of staff – 33 per cent – said they were considering leaving their roles, with survey respondents citing concerns around recruitment, retention and the loss of experienced staff across MPs’ offices.
Recommendations by the working group include increased funding for more caseworker posts, better communication with the public about what timeframes to expect a response, and work phones provided to all staff.
It also recommended compulsory training for staff in how to handle intimidatory physical and psychological threats.
The survey found disparities between Westminster and constituency-based staff on access to services and workplace standards.
I was very depressed after dealing with issues of child abuse and threats of suicide
One anonymous respondent described how a constituency-based colleague developed a work-related physical condition, but the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) refused to fund adaptive equipment or provide occupational therapy, while members’ services said a parliamentary colleague would have received this support.
“The disparity of support provision from Parliament between parly vs constituency staff is genuinely appalling,” the respondent said.
“Parliament is very Westminster-focused; constituency staff are often forgotten about.”
Levels of dissatisfaction with pay are at a five-year high, with 50 per cent rarely feeling that their pay matches the skills required for their role. The working group has recommended that IPSA reviews the offer to staff, including funding for pay.
Estelle Warhurst, executive committee member of the MPs’ staff Wellness Working Group, told PoliticsHome: “Over the last 10-15 years, there’s been a decrease in services out there for the general public, so increasingly people come to MPs’ offices when they’re in a situation and need some assistance.
“Funding has been cut for places like citizens’ advice bureaus and legal advice centres. So people will tend to come to an MP’s office.”
Having worked in an MPs’ constituency office for more than 20 years, Warhurst said that the ability to recruit staff was not keeping pace with the number of people approaching MPs with complex casework.
She said that as a result, services offered by MPs have been adapting to manage their time more efficiently. For example, some MPs do not hold face-to-face surgeries anymore, instead communicating via email or video call.
Warhurst said that although the House of Commons was not officially the employer of MPs’ staff – who are directly employed by the MPs themselves – the parliamentary authorities should still step in to make essential staff training compulsory.
She added that there should be more measures and checks put in place to prevent workplace bullying by MPs towards their staff.
“There should be mandatory training for MPs when they become an MP,” she said.
“They should have to enrol in something within the House to say that they understand how employment law works and how they should treat people.”
Parliament is very Westminster-focused; constituency staff are often forgotten about
Labour MP Josh Fenton-Glynn, who worked for various trade unions before being elected in 2024, said: “I hope it causes IPSA to reflect on the decision not to increase the allowance to let members take on extra staff.
“People are increasingly turning to MPs for support, and it’s right that we offer it.
“I’ve been involved in politics at different levels for over a decade and have seen the level to which social media has normalised abuse. While my office deals with hundreds of letters a week, we still have constituents take to social media when they’re unhappy with the reply. People forget there are humans at the other end and not just me.”
Fellow Labour MP Adam Thompson said he was “deeply concerned” about the findings.
“Like many MPs, my team have set up a collaborative environment of mutual support and have undertaken mental health first aid training, but I am always alert to the difficulties that they are facing,” he said.
“With an increasing demand for complex constituency casework, there is always room for increased caseworking capacity and further training for caseworkers.”
An IPSA spokesperson said: “We recognise the dedication of MPs and their staff and value the work of the Wellness Working Group. We have responded positively to their recommendations over the last few years and work closely with them, and with other staff representative groups, to ensure we understand how best we can support MPs’ staff.
“We have received feedback from some offices about the impact rising and increasingly complex casework is having on the wellbeing of MPs’ staff, and in response we have introduced additional, dedicated funding to support those offices facing particular pressures and a ring-fenced training and wellbeing budget. We also have a separate budget that exists to fund workplace adjustments for MPs’ staff in constituencies, as well as for MPs, volunteers, job applicants, or constituencies visiting the office or a surgery.
“We are currently consulting on the framework for setting MPs’ budgets, which seeks feedback on the principles that should guide our decisions and whether the framework remains appropriate. Our role is to balance the resources MPs and their staff need with public confidence in how those resources are used.”
If you’re an avid reader, 2026’s film schedule has been pretty great so far.
Between Wuthering Heights, The Odyssey, H Is For Hawk, and Project Hail Mary, we’ve seen some major titles transformed into big-screen projects – with more yet to come.
So how do the movies stack up to the books?
Well, obviously, the answer to that question is subjective. But review aggregation sites like RottenTomatoes and Goodreads do, at least, provide an average score from ordinary viewers and readers.
Here, we compared the book and film site fan ratings to one another. We used the audience-generated Popcornmeter rather than the professional-critic-led Tomatometer results, so that both metrics came from the general public.
And we translated Goodreads’ five-star system into percentages, so it was easier to compare book scores to the film reviews.
1) H is For Hawk
Claire Foy stars in the adaptation of Helen McDonald’s 2014 memoir. Both focus on a woman’s moving experience with a goshawk following the death of her father.
Goodreads score: 74.6% (3.73/5 on the site)
RottenTomatoes Popcornmeter score: 76%
Verdict: fans liked the movie better, but only just.
2) Wuthering Heights
The director knew she wasn’t creating a like-for-like remake from the beginning, though, saying she made “something that was my response and interpretation to that book and to the feeling of it.”
Goodreads score: 77.8% (3.89/5)
RottenTomatoes Popcornmeter score: 74%
Verdict: the readers have it, but not by as broad a margin as you might expect (critics gave the film a 57% score on average).
3) Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir’s 2021 sci-fi novel, which focuses on teacher Ryland Grace’s unexpected sci-fi mission, was turned into a blockbuster hit starring Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, and, if you listen close enough, Meryl Streep.
Goodreads score: 90.2% (4.51/5)
Verdict: Wow! Readers and viewers loved both – but the movie just won out.
4) The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s record-breaking The Odyssey isn’t an exact replica of the 12,000-plus-line Homeric poem, but it captures an impressive amount of the story.
The original text is “an epic, an adventure story… a Greek audience roots for the destruction of evil characters in the same way that we root for the destruction of the villains in film noir, Westerns, or the [Marvel Comic Universe],” Jeffrey Carnes, an Associate Professor of Classics and Classical Civilisations at Syracuse University, told HuffPost UK previously.
Goodreads score: 77% (3.82/5)
RottenTomatoes Popcornmeter score: 97%
Verdict: OK, Goodreads’ database is missing a couple thousand years of readers’ opinions here. Still, with that substantial caveat, the film’s got the lead in 2026.
5) People We Meet On Vacation
The Netflix adaptation is based on Emily Henry’s slow-burn, friends-to-lovers novel. It stars Emily Bader and Tom Blyth as its romantic leads.
Goodreads score: 76.8% (3.84/5)
RottenTomatoes Popcornmeter score: 68%
Verdict: The book’s proven a greater hit in this case!
It’s not affairs or volatile arguments that send most couples to counselling, according to relationship therapist Steven Buchwald.
Rather, it’s a series of minor issues that can build up over time, leading to couples slowly turning away from one another – resentment builds, intimacy dwindles and communication breaks down.
With research suggesting the average relationship seeks support two years after issues begin, Buchwald, of Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, shares some of the unexpected reasons couples enter counselling – and how to navigate them if these resonate in your own relationship.
1. You celebrate everyone else’s wins better than your partner’s
Without realising it, you might express joy and offer congratulatory statements in response to the achievements of friends, colleagues, and those outside your immediate family, whilst remaining indifferent to your partner’s successes.
If this issue persists, it can start to harm a relationship.
The expert acknowledged that actively celebrating a partner’s wins builds intimacy, whereas dismissive action diminishes it.
“A person should feel that their partner is their biggest supporter,” he said. “If this isn’t the case, resentment can build, and validation is sought elsewhere. It often isn’t about wanting superficial praise but knowing that your success matters.”
His advice: if your partner shares good news or something they’re proud of, stop what you are doing and mirror their excitement. Ensure that you ask a minimum of three questions and ensure that they’re aware you’re proud of them, too.
2. Every conversation feels like a business meeting
Life admin is important and communication around it is equally vital; however, it shouldn’t be the only thing you discuss.
“Logistical conversations can easily take over a relationship,” said Buchwald. “We’re time poor, and everyone needs to plan; however, conversations between a couple shouldn’t solely consist of who is picking up the children, booking the holiday or working late.
“Constant logistical conversations see a person’s relationship become administrative rather than emotional. This pattern sparks feelings of loneliness in a relationship despite time spent together.”
His advice: carve out 10 minutes a day where you and your partner talk about something other than life admin. This, he said, is a “great way to reinstate subjects that you have in common and safeguard yourselves against feelings of loneliness”.
3. There are many missed windows for connection
One conversation rarely ends a relationship, but hundreds of tiny, missed ones can lead to a breakdown.
Research from Dr John Gottman found that stable relationships capture ‘bids for connection’ – aka small attempts to engage a partner, which can be anything from sharing a TikTok video to expressing a worry – whereas those that are less secure frequently miss them.
Missed bids can look like failing to acknowledge your partner, doomscrolling when they’re in the room or not continuing a conversation because you’re distracted by your phone or the TV.
His advice: adopt a ‘five-second rule’ for a minimum of a week where, when your partner engages with you, you put your phone down, ensure that you look at them and respond for a minimum of five seconds.
4. Criticism has become a constant in your relationship
Many couples claim that they rarely argue – but that doesn’t mean criticism isn’t rife in the relationship. They might be commenting on how their spouse loads the dishwasher wrong, criticising their wording in a text or commenting on their cleaning.
The intention may be to help, but it gets to the point where, instead of feeling accepted, one partner begins anticipating criticism before they speak.
Studies from the Gottman Institute found couples’ critiquing each other is one of the strongest predictors of long-term relationship distress.
His advice: before you make a remark that could be deemed negative, ask yourself if your partner asked you to solve the issue, or simply share it.
5. Worries and concerns go unspoken
“Couples often feel that they’re helping a relationship by hiding stressors such as financial anxiety, work stress or family issues,” said Buchwald.
“This can hinder a relationship as the other partner often senses an emotional disconnect with no explanation. The intention may be out of kindness, but it leads to a sense of rejection.”
His advice: implement a weekly ritual where you share what has been on your mind that week. Ensure that you actively listen rather than jump to try and fix the problem.
Christopher Nolan’s take on The Odyssey has generated plenty of buzz in recent weeks, with critics hailing it as a ‘masterpiece’ and his ‘best film to date’.
And while the classics expert whose translation inspired the director’s take wasn’t overly impressed by it, it’s fair to say that such a huge pop culture moment is sure to make an impact more widely – especially when it comes to what people name their babies in years to come.
Mythology has a long history of influencing parents’ naming choices – but experts predict The Odyssey might just spark a resurgence in Greek classics.
The team at JoJo Maman Bébé have analysed Office for National Statistics (ONS) baby names data to reveal which Greek mythology-inspired names are already climbing the ranks – and may prove even more popular in 2027.
Greek mythology-inspired girls’ names
Who is she? She’s the wife of Odysseus (played by Anne Hathaway in the new Nolan movie).
How popular? 1,174 girls were given this name in 2025, according to the ONS.
Who is she? Goddess of wisdom, courage, and warfare (played by Zendaya in The Odyssey film).
How popular? There were 519 girls called this in 2025.
Who is she? Titaness, mother of the original Olympian gods and goddess of female fertility.
How popular? 109 girls were called this in 2025.
Who is she? Queen of the Underworld and goddess of spring growth.
How popular? 77 girls were called this in 2025.
Who is she? Goddess of the Earth.
How popular? Again, 77 girls were given this name last year.
Other girls’ names to watch
Who is she? Helen of Troy (played by Lupita Nyong’o in The Odyssey) was the most beautiful woman in Greece and became an indirect cause of the Trojan War.
Who is she? A sorceress and goddess of magic (played by Samantha Norton in Nolan’s The Odyssey).
Who is she? A sea nymph (played by Charlize Theron in the film).
Greek mythology-inspired boys’ names
Who is he? The Titan condemned to carry the weight of the sky for eternity.
How popular? 355 boys were given this moniker in 2025.
Who is he? The god of war and courage.
How popular? Just 56 boys were given this name last year.
Who is he? God of prophecy, music, light, truth and healing.
How popular? 39 boys received this name.
Who is he? The goddess of hunting, the wilderness and wild animals.
How popular? Only 17 boys received this name.
Who is he? The demigod who defeated Medusa.
How popular? Eight boys were given this name last year.
Other boys’ names that might jump in popularity
Who is he? He’s the king of Ithaca and star of The Odyssey (played by Matt Damon) who is known for his intelligence, cunning and bravery.
Who is he? An agent of chaos and disorder (played by Robert Pattinson), he plots to take control of Ithaca while Odysseus is away fighting the Trojan War.
Who is he? One of the soldiers (played by Elliot Page) instrumental in the Trojan horse plot.
Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta has entered into an AI ‘content partnership’ with far-right ‘news’ platform Newsmax. According to the company’s announcement, Meta’s platforms will use Newsmax content to train their AI how to answer questions from users:
Under the agreement, Meta will have access to Newsmax’s digital news content. Meta will be able to draw upon Newsmax’s significant current reporting as well as archived content across its platforms to support AI queries across Meta’s apps and devices.
Expensive lies from Meta
The agreement means users of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp will find replies from their AI guided by a company that has had to pay out to settle a lawsuit over its election lies:
This, my friends, is how you message & demand accountability. Well done @davidlitt
David Litt: “Newsmax lied to its own viewers & had to settle that lawsuit…Are you still telling that lie or are you telling new lies?”
NewsMax: [Ends Interview]pic.twitter.com/QbPA4AfxkZ
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) May 10, 2021
Human rights lawyer Qasim Rashid describes Newsmax as a:
propaganda rag… [and] election denying, pro racist, pro Trump, anti-Muslim, anti-woman, anti-democracy state media platform.
AI scandals
In July 2026, Meta was at the centre of another AI scandal after it used artificial intelligence to fire disabled workers. The company has already been criticised for using its systems to censor pro-Palestine content and admitted in 2020 that it was setting up its pages to hide left-wing content and favour right-wing ‘news’.
Now, it is going to feed far-right drivel to its AI engine. What could possibly go wrong?
Featured image via screengrab and screengrab
By Skwawkbox
Nigel Farage has furiously hit out at Andy Burnham after the prime minister did not invite the Reform leader to cross-party talks on fixing social care.
The PM asked Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to help him “problem-solve” the crisis later today.
Farage – who is not a sitting MP right now having triggered a by-election in his own Clacton constituency – claimed the PM was “conspiring” with the main parties.
He said: ”If Andy Burnham is serious about putting politics aside to solve Britain’s biggest problems, it’s remarkable that he’s chosen to ignore Reform.
“He is conspiring behind closed doors with the failed political establishment to foist further tax rises on the country.
“The fact Ed Davey and Kemi Badenoch are going along with this tells you all you need to know. This is the uniparty in action.”
Reform’s Treasury spokesperson, Robert Jenrick, also attacked the prime minister.
Jenrick said: “I’m not surprised that Andy Burnham hasn’t invited Nigel Farage.
“If he had, Nigel would have told him he’d fight this tax rise all the way.
“That Ed Davey and Kemi Badenoch are going along with this tells you all you need to know about their parties.
“Andy Burnham has no mandate to tax the life savings of hundreds of thousands of families.
“So instead of having the decency to ask the public if they’ve changed their mind about a policy they’ve rejected four times, he’s conspiring behind closed doors with the failed political establishment to foist it on the country.
“If we need to, Reform will stand alone to fight this cruel tax. Nigel and I will not see millions of families betrayed like this.”
Badenoch has actually made it clear she would oppose any tax rises or increases to borrowing to pay for social care reforms.
Until recently, Reform had led every opinion poll for more than a year.
But Burnham’s move into No.10 and growing scrutiny over Farage’s finances have shifted the polls in Labour’s favour, even giving the party the lead over Reform in at least two different surveys.
Reform has seven MPs right now as Farage is not in the Commons.
Meanwhile, the Tories have 117 MPs, making party leader Badenoch also the leader of the opposition.
The Lib Dems have 71 MPs, meaning they are the third largest party in the House.
Badenoch is not able to attend so the Tory shadow health secretary is attending in her place, while Davey is away and will be tuning in via Zoom.
Labour has a majority in the Commons already so Burnham does not necessarily need the support of MPs from other parties to get legislation through the House.
However, Burnham has promised to create an atmosphere of unity and offered to use his “political capital” to implement real changes to social care.
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
A new poll from CNN released on Wednesday showed that President Donald Trump’s approval rating had sunk to its lowest level since the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.
According to the poll, 34% of Americans approve of the job Trump is doing as president, while over half of respondents said they strongly disapprove. Even among Republicans, Trump’s approval had fallen to new lows of 78%, with only 19% saying they were enthusiastic about the rest of his second term.
With the ever-widening conflict in the Middle East nearing its sixth month, Americans are continuing to show their disdain for the US-Israeli war on Iran. Roughly two-thirds said Trump’s military policies had worsened economic conditions in the US. Just 25% said the war was worth the financial burden being placed on the country. And only 25% of respondents said Trump had a clear plan for ending the war, down from 40% at the beginning of the conflict in February.
Trump also tested low on a number of other key issues, including his handling of inflation (25%) and gas prices (21%).
Possibly the most eye-opening revelation from the poll was that 73% of Americans said Trump had not spent enough time focusing on the most important issues facing the country.
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
When my copy of ‘The LUSH Guide to Knot Wrap’ dropped through my letterbox, I didn’t expect it to entirely change my outlook on Christmas. Weird sentence, isn’t it? But somehow this book managed it.
The LUSH Guide to Knot Wrap
Did you know that every year, the UK throws away around 227,000 miles of single-use wrapping paper? That is enough bleached, dyed and sellotaped trash to stretch from your living room, all the way to the moon. We buy this crap paper, which is made from felled trees, and it’s covered in metallic inks, making it unrecyclable. We wrap all of our gifts in it, and we watch someone rip it apart in 30 seconds before shoving it into a single-use bin bag. Do you see the issue with this? It’s unhinged behaviour, and yet we repeat it every single Christmas without a second thought.
The LUSH Guide to the Knot Wrap arrives as a direct, stunningly colourful weapon against this societal madness. It’s not a corporate promo or some shitty craft manual. This book is a passionate and well-written manifesto for more sustainable living. And it asks a simple question:
Why keep throwing money in the bin when every gift we give can be wrapped in a permanent piece of art that we can share with our loved ones?
Guys, we need LUSH’s Knot Wraps, and let me tell you why.
Reclaiming a lost feminist art
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how it grounds the zero-waste movement in stunning cultural history. Knot Wraps are not a new concept, they may not be huge in the UK (yet) but the very blueprint if them goes back centuries. And they come from East Asia, most notably the Japanese traditions of ‘Furoshiki’ and the Korean art of ‘Jogakbo’.
Furoshiki, translating literally to ‘bath spread’ from it’s historic roots of carrying clothes in public bath houses, transformed a simple square of cloth into an indispensable, multi-use tool for carrying, shielding and gifting items. Similarly, in Korea, the art of jogakbo developed by women. Jogakbo wrapping cloths were an intricate patchworking technique that women would create by sewing scraps of old material to create something new, vibrant and useful. Excluded from formal education and banished to domestic quarters, Korean women took these offcuts of leftover household fabric and created striking, abstract art. They sewed love, fortune and protection into every stitch.
This book reminds us that wrapping with fabric isn’t just some quirky contemporary trend, dreamed up by some modern marketing team. It’s an historical act of compassion, ancient ingenuity and feminine resourcefulness. If we reconnect with this ancient arts, it exposes just how lazy and destructive we have become. By switching to these traditional methods, we reclaim so much. And we can make sure the labour behind our new Knot Wraps are honoured and cared for, in typical LUSH fashion.
We trade cheap, single use trash for meaningful objects that carry history, intention and actual human connection. Plus they come in a WILD variety of colours and sizes, of which I have ear-marked at least seven to collect.
Turning actual trash into treasure
Where the book truly stunned me is in exposing the scale of what is possible when a company actually cares. You hear all of these soft platitudes from corporate giants. LUSH actually put it’s money where it’s mouth is. In this book it lays out the messy, honest reality of sustainable innovation. They tell the story of early attempts at spinning fabric from otherwise landfill-bound plastic bottles. Their first attempts produced a material that was crispy and too stiff.
But rather than giving up, the team doubled down and refined the process. Today, they have partnered with the EP Group and Henry’s sewing unit. And together, they have managed to divert over 7.5 MILLION plastic bottles from landfill and our oceans. They have managed to turn them into silky, durable rPET fabric which will last generations.
And LUSH didn’t stop their. As per usual, they leveraged their purchasing power to help heal communities. The one that stuck with me was in the wake of the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Salt contamination decimated local farmland, but where most saw disaster, LUSH found hope. Supporting the Fukushima Organic Cotton Project, fabric sourcing became a tool for disaster relief. The company helped local farmers to switch to organic cotton that actively decontaminates the soil and gives people back their livelihoods. Think about it. You buy a simple Knot Wrap, and in doing so you’re helping to fuel an engine for environmental and human recovery.
The real-world test for LUSH
As I found, a good book doesn’t just inform you. It forces you to reflect and change. Which is exactly what this book did. There were so many stunning examples of Knot Wraps in the book, each with their own heart-warming story. From highlighting artists with learning difficulties to supporting small community projects, I went on the website and fell in love with so many. They’re colourful, they’re meaningful but I had one final test. Would my closest friends, those who I literally see as family, like the idea?
I pitched an ultimatum, filled with stats, in the group chat: We are done with wrapping paper.
I waited for the pushback, but of course my friends loved the idea instantly. And what followed was literally dozens of screenshots of stunning Knot Wraps, excited chatter about which of us would like which and if we would ask for them back after the gift or if we would circulate these new wrappings, for years. We chose the latter, knowing that eventually, what we had gifted would probably come full circle anyway. Even better, another member of our little family actually pointed out the fact that we could make our own, owing to the fact she has a tie dye business.
See? Switching to reusable wraps isn’t a chore. And it makes gift-giving feel infinitely more meaningful. Instead of filling single-use bin bags with crappy, unethical rubbish on Christmas morning, you can grow a collective library that you can circulate between the people you love the most.
The LUSH Guide to Knot Wrap makes the case for change undeniable. And it doesn’t just prove our toxic relationship with single use paper needs to end to help save the planet – it’s simply a more beautiful way to live.
Now, if you will excuse me, I am off to buy about seven of these. In the next one, I’ll be showing you guys how to use Knot Wraps, and telling you about some of the communities that help to make each one a work of art.
Featured image via Lush
By Antifabot
Andy Burnham has said an £8.4 billion investment in nuclear submarines will bolster UK security and jobs in his latest policy announcement.
Keir Starmer’s government actually agreed this funding as part of the £15 billion uplift for the UK’s defence and nuclear budget in the Defence Investment Plan.
But Burnham is suggesting this money will help “reindustrialise” Britain by supporting apprenticeships and jobs.
He said: “Security is not only about what we build, it is about who builds it, and who benefits from it.
“The submarines produced in Barrow will protect Britain for decades to come, and the 47,000 jobs and apprenticeships will change lives both in this town and in dozens of places like it.
“British money, spent on British workers, British firms and British skills, in the places that were written off for 40 years.”
The project will look at replacing existing nuclear submarines and getting them ready for service.
Defence secretary Wes Streeting said: “Our nuclear-armed submarines are essential to keeping the UK secure, acting as the ultimate deterrent to our adversaries in an increasingly dangerous world.
“This milestone investment breathes new life into Barrow’s historic traditions and secures our commitment to deliver Dreadnought Class submarines by backing British industry.
“Supporting thousands of skilled, local jobs, we are fusing Barrow’s proud heritage with modern technology to build our security for the future, supporting the next generation to keep our country safe as their parents and grandparents did.”
Burnham has made delivering “security and growth in every postcode” central to his mission to help tackle the cost of living.
The prime minister will be visiting Barrow-in-Furness on Thursday to unveil a new BAE apprentice scheme which will train 30 apprentices over the next three years.
The prime minister previously suggested it was time to put a nuclear deterrent at the centre of a reindustrialised Britain.
Questions over whether the Burnham government still intend to spend 3% of GDP (gross domestic product) on defence by 2030 remain, though.
The prime minister dodged the query on Wednesday during his announcement on social care and instead promised to honour Nato’s goal of reach 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said while this was a “re-announcement of funding previously confirmed in the DIP” it was still welcomed by the Tories.
However, the party pointed out that Burnham is adding to the uncertainty by failing to commit to the 3% target.
The Liberal Democrats also supported the announcement but warned more needed to be done to help the military sector.
Defence spokesperson James MacCleary said: “Our nuclear deterrent is the ultimate guarantor of Britain’s national security.
“The prime minister is right to focus on securing its next generation, but he can’t turn a blind eye to the damage done to the rest of our military by years of Conservative negligence and cuts.
“With [Vladimir] Putin expanding his aggression and an unreliable partner in the White House, we need to invest properly in the regeneration of our Army, Navy and Air Force.
“This is a real missed opportunity for Andy Burnham to have heeded Liberal Democrat calls for defence bonds, and raise dedicated funding to rebuild capabilities across the whole of the Armed Forces.”
Reform UK’s Danny Kruger accused Burnham of focusing on “press releases instead of strategic decisions”.
“This rehashed spending plan does nothing to address the crisis in the UK’s nuclear programme, which needs vision, grip, and sustained funding – not a re-announcement to plug a gap in the new PM’s summer grid,” the MP said.
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
Nigel Farage and Zack PolanskiThe Metropolitan Police has confirmed it will take no further action after Zack Polanski reposted a guillotine t-shirt image which appeared to take aim at Nigel Farage.
The Green party leader accepted a collaboration of 20 photos on Instagram earlier this week, one of which showed a man wearing a t-shirt which said, “we’re only making plans for Nigel” and had an image of the guillotine.
Polanski later deleted the post but Reform UK reported the incident to the police.
Farage claimed a political leader with a following like Polanski’s “cannot put out on his social media the image that he did, my name, the guillotine, without some consequences”.
The Green leader refused to apologise during an appearance on BBC Newsnight, claiming it was “quite obvious” he had “not done anything wrong apart from make an inadvertent mistake”.
In a statement last night, the Met Police said it did not believe sharing the image constituted an offence.
“We absolutely understand the reaction to this image being shared online, particularly in the context of increasing threats towards politicians,” the officers said.
“We take the safety and security of those in public life, including politicians, very seriously.
“Where we identify threats we take appropriate action and where there is evidence of offences we will investigate.
“While there will be people who will argue that those who shared the image in this Instagram post should be subject to criminal action, our review has concluded that on this occasion, the threshold is not met.”
A Green Party spokesperson said it was “obvious from the start” that no crime had been committed, and claimed Reform was “using this as a political football for their own cynical purposes” as a distraction.
A Reform UK spokesperson said: “Once again we see that we are living in two-tier Britain.”
The force recorded a crime over the wearing of the t-shirt itself and passed it onto Avon and Somerset Police, as the image had been taken in Bristol.
However, the force said “the threshold for a criminal offence has not been met”.
Avon and Somerset Police said: “Particular consideration has been given to the context around the image; its use of song lyrics, and the marketing of the T-shirt as a satirical piece.
“No complaints were received from people at the event at which it was worn and there is no evidence the wearer of the T-shirt intended to threaten any individual, or encourage anyone else to do so.”
The force said it took the safety of elected politicians “extremely seriously” and would take action “wherever a threat is identified”.
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
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