Real Madrid’s exit from the Champions League has become a hot topic in the Spanish and European press, which has treated the elimination as more than just an ordinary defeat, but rather a ‘resounding collapse’ for a team historically associated with continental dominance and decisive moments.

Real Madrid: game over?

In Spain, the newspaper Marca devoted extensive coverage to the event, arguing that Real Madrid had “lost its European identity” and was no longer a team capable of turning results around in difficult moments. It pointed to repeated defensive errors and a lack of the usual resilience, alongside a lack of leadership on the pitch and a failure to react after falling behind.

For its part, the newspaper ‘AS’ offered a harsher assessment, describing what happened as a “complete tactical collapse”, explaining that the team failed to grasp the rhythm of the match and impose its style at any stage. It also highlighted the lack of effectiveness in midfield, weak pressing and organisation, alongside an attacking impotence and a lack of solutions, in a match it described as revealing a clear loss of the battle of the details.

As for ‘Mundo Deportivo’, it focused on the psychological aspect within the team, noting that tension was evident among the players, that body language reflected frustration and a lack of confidence, and that the team spirit that had characterised the side in its previous historic comebacks was absent. In the same vein, ‘Sport’ argued that the elimination should not be seen merely as a result, but as evidence of a “deeper crisis”, amidst an unstable transitional phase and a decline in the effectiveness of tactical choices.

In the Madrid press, reports pointed to a tense atmosphere in the dressing room after the match, with some players blaming one another, amidst a general feeling that an avoidable opportunity had been squandered.

Across Europe, questions are being asked

At the European level, the French newspaper L’Équipe described what happened as “the downfall of a team that relied too heavily on its history”, arguing that overconfidence had become a weakness and that the opposition were better organised and deserved to progress. In England, The Guardian viewed the match as a “revelatory moment”, asserting that Real Madrid is no longer the team that commands respect across the continent, with the gap between them and their rivals narrowing. Meanwhile, the BBC focused on technical shortcomings, pointing to a lack of balance between the lines and a decline in the ability to cope with the pressure of big matches.

Conversely, several newspapers were unanimous in their praise for the opponents, who succeeded in dictating the tempo and capitalising on Real Madrid’s mistakes, setting an example of organisation and discipline against a team that had lost much of its usual character.

Amid these contrasting views, the headlines summed up the situation with striking bluntness: “Real Madrid without spirit”, “A team that has lost its identity”, and “A collapse at the decisive moment”, raising questions that now dominate the discourse: does Real Madrid’s European prestige still stand, or has a new era truly begun in the club’s history?

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

Argentine star Lionel Messi has become the new owner of Cornella (UE Cornella), following the completion of a 100% takeover of the Catalan football club.

According to the newspaper, the deal was finalised on Thursday 16 April 2026, meaning the club, which competes in the Spanish third division (Tercera Federación – Catalan Group), is now wholly owned by Messi.

Lionel Messi buys UE Cornella

Cornella is a club based in the Catalonia region. Founded in 1951, it is known for its role in developing young talent and training players in the youth ranks, as well as serving as a stepping stone for a number of players who went on to play at higher levels in Spanish football.

The newspaper reported that this move is part of a new sporting project led by Messi, aimed at developing the club’s technical infrastructure and relying on the academy to produce players, whilst working to gradually raise the team’s level in domestic Spanish competitions.

AS also noted that Cornella is one of the clubs that has focused on youth development in recent years, having produced or seen pass through its ranks a number of players, including goalkeeper David Raya, defender Jordi Alba, midfielder Javi Boado and Keita Balde.

The report suggests that Messi’s acquisition of the club reflects a growing trend among former football stars to enter the field of sports investment and club ownership, through long-term projects centred on sporting and academic development.

No further details have yet been released by the club or Lionel Messi’s representatives regarding the financial or administrative aspects of the deal, whilst initial coverage has simply described the transaction as a full takeover of the club.

Lionel Messi thus enters the world of club ownership through the Catalan club Cornella, marking a new chapter in his career off the pitch.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

The post Sadiq Khan’s lies about London appeared first on spiked.

Source link

In a horrifying video from Israel’s illegal war on Lebanon, the invaders called a Lebanese man as he drove with his family. The monsters on the other end of the line gave a man an appalling choice: get out of the car and be killed alone, or die in the car with your family:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wear The Peace® (@wearthepeace)

Israel is a terror state and the sickest, most malignant society. ‘Most moral army‘ – yeah, right.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

Source link

Opponents of Israel’s genocide, apartheid, and land-theft have won a reprieve after the government of France withdrew its proposed ‘Yadan’ law that would have outlawed criticism of Israel. Left and human rights groups had worked and protested for weeks to block the law, which was expected to pass if it reached the French parliament.

However, the win is only temporary. The French government has said it will bring a revised bill by late June that will “fully incorporate” the now-withdrawn version.

France faces critical juncture

Opponents believe that the bill itself is antisemitic, because it equates Jewishness with support for a colony that has committed genocide in Gaza and is continually attacking and stealing land from both the Palestinian people and its neighbours.

The so-called ‘Yadan bill’, which was put forward in late 2024 by French MP Caroline Yadan and backed by France’s Israel lobby, targets what it calls ‘new forms of antisemitism’. However, while clearly worded to try to silence critics, there is no doubt that it intends to classify anti-Zionism and opposition to Israel’s crimes as antisemitism. French PM Sebastien Lecornu has shamelessly described anti-Zionism as the “mask of antisemitism”.

Israel’s supporters are desperate to outlaw resistance to Zionism and its genocidal agenda. UK freedoms of speech and protest are similarly under attack by Keir Starmer and the UK Israel lobby. Under Macron’s illegitimate government, France has assisted Israel in its land-grabs.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

Source link

Menopause can bring about a number of mental, physical and emotional changes — including some shifts in your sex life.

Clinically speaking, menopause is reached when you’ve gone 12 straight months without a period, marking the end of one’s reproductive years. The average age of the last menstrual period is 51, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

But the transitional phase leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, typically lasts about four years — though it can be as short as a few months or as long as 10 years. Colloquially, however, many use the word “menopause” as an umbrella term to encompass the whole process.

During perimenopause, which often begins in your mid 40s, levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate. This can lead to irregular periods, hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, mood swings, vaginal dryness and low libido — all of which can impact one’s sex life directly or indirectly. It’s worth noting that, for some individuals, symptoms may be intense and last a while, and for others they may be more mild and fleeting.

Advertisement

And although certain symptoms like hot flashes tend to dissipate over time, others like vaginal dryness often persist and may even worsen.

The loss of estrogen during menopause can cause the vaginal and vulvar tissue to become thinner, dryer and less stretchy, which can lead to pain during sexual activity, Dr. Stephanie Faubion, director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health and medical director of The Menopause Society, told HuffPost.

And while there is a lot of discussion about the challenges of sex after menopause, it may be comforting to know that it’s definitely not all doom and gloom.

“The good news is that most women who had a good sex life before menopause can continue to enjoy a good sex life after menopause,” Faubion said.

Advertisement

Westend61 via Getty Images

In fact, it’s a myth that women stop being sexual once menopause hits, midlife sex coach Sonia Wright told HuffPost.

Menopause “can actually be the beginning of something amazing; even better than sex in your 20s and 30s,” she said. “You get to be a sexual being until the day you leave this world. Postmenopausal sex can be even more intimate, connective, pleasurable and very satisfying.”

If you are struggling with your sexual well-being around menopause, reach out to your health care provider to discuss causes and potential treatment options tailored to your needs. Vaginal lubricants and moisturizers, sex therapy, hormone therapy, and lifestyle changes like incorporating yoga may help.

Below, women share their personal experiences with sex after menopause. Note: Some last names have been omitted to protect their privacy. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Advertisement

‘The only thing that changed was knowing what I want from a sexual relationship, and what I will and won’t tolerate.’

“I was around 52 when menopause symptoms started, and it’s now been close to two years postmenopause. When my monthly cycle started to become irregular, I realised menopause was beginning. I did a bit of reading on what to expect, and two of the possible issues I came across were lack or loss of sex drive and vaginal dryness. The worst symptom for me was hot flashes, and I was fortunate that I didn’t need any hormone replacement therapy.

I have always had a relatively high sex drive and sex is important to me, whether in a relationship or not. My sex drive has remained high, and I enjoy a healthy and safe sex life even though I am single. Even though pregnancy is no longer an issue, I always use condoms and get tested for STIs yearly. I have had no issues regarding vaginal dryness and do not need any lubricant for vaginal sex.

For me, the only thing that changed was knowing what I want from a sexual relationship, and what I will and won’t tolerate. Life is too short for bad sex!

Advertisement

What has surprised me is that I find myself attracted to men who are younger than me. I had always dated older. All of my sexual encounters since menopause and becoming single are with younger men ranging in age from 39-50 years of age.” — Kim P., 56, Queensland, Australia

‘I dated a gentleman who made me realise I was still a sexy, vital, vibrant woman.’

“I think I was around 55 when I started going through menopause. I noticed I wasn’t really interested in sex, but I wasn’t sure if it was my circumstances — I was in the middle of a divorce — or ‘The Pause.’ After my yearly gynaecologist visit, where my doctor told me about vaginal atrophy and a few other midlife issues that might arise, I just gave up on sex.

But at age 65, I briefly dated a gentleman who made me realise I was still a sexy, vital, vibrant woman. Sex was fun again! So I’m not sure if it was menopause that made me ‘think’ I no longer was interested in sex/intimacy, or if it was my mind and society. Whatever the case, I’m ready for dating and this next new chapter. Bring it on!” — Brenda B., 67, New York City

Advertisement

‘Now I’m having the best sex of my life.’

“I’ve been postmenopausal for a couple of years at least. Now I’m having the best sex of my life. It’s largely due to the fact that I know exactly what I want. And I feel entitled to say, ‘This is what I want. And this is how I want it.’ And to also say, ‘No, that’s not what I want’ — even if it’s pretty minor. I just know what I want, and I know how to ask for it and to be demanding in a good way.

I had actually very few menopausal challenges, although I started acupuncture early. I’ve done regular acupuncture for probably 20 years now. And my acupuncturist’s goal from the beginning was like, ‘Let’s keep your cycle as regular as we possibly can for as long as we possibly can.’ And I think that was hugely helpful to me: having her support and having her focus on my hormones, to keep them going in the right way. So that’s what I recommend — not necessarily acupuncture — but don’t try to go through menopause solo. Get support, whatever support you can find, that will work for you.

As a sex coach, I’m a huge proponent of masturbation. Because that way, you know your whole body and that really empowers you then to say, ‘This is what really works for me.’ There’s a quality of ‘use it or lose it.’ So if you’re not in a partnership, and you’re not having regular sex and you’re not masturbating, you’re just not ‘juicing your flow,’ basically.

Advertisement

Find the vibrators that work for you. There are so many available right now: vibrators, dildos, combos. I encourage my clients to do “The O 30”: Masturbate 30 days straight, and see what you learn and see what changes in your life.” — Dori Melton, 58, Oakland, California

The Good Brigade via Getty Images

‘My libido actually surged at menopause.’

“I didn’t have expectations about how sex would be after menopause. I had never heard that it might change due to menopause. I think that was positive in that I didn’t internalise stereotypes about inevitable libido changes. My libido actually surged at menopause. But it was also negative in that I had not heard about common postmenopausal physical symptoms such as thinning of vulvar and vaginal tissues, often referred to as a sensation of dryness.

So when I began to experience pain with penetration after menopause, my ignorance resulted in a longer-than-necessary time to diagnosis and treatment after trying various types of lube that did not address the underlying issue. I came to learn that this condition (urogenital atrophy) is very common postmenopause and usually easily treated, but it is under-diagnosed and under-treated. Sometimes considerable self-advocacy is required. In my case, insertable vaginal oestrogen effectively resolved my symptoms and has prevented recurrence of symptoms with ongoing use.

Advertisement

Aside from the temporary physical symptoms I experienced, sex after menopause has mostly been as good and often better than sex prior to menopause. Reasons for this likely include increased sexual confidence; greater experience with sex, relationships and communication; a consistent standard of mutual desire and enthusiasm; some exploration with a variety of interesting partners; and increased privacy as my children have become adults.

In my experience, generally speaking, choice in sex partner(s) can make a tremendous difference in how a woman might experience sex. This is true in any stage of life, though there are some stages and circumstances I believe are particularly fragile, such as early sexual experiences, sex post-childbirth, sex approaching menopause when hormones are erratic, sex postmenopause, and sex during ill health or while processing grief.

I was partnered as I was approaching menopause, and the sexual dynamic became all about my then-partner’s needs and fears. Had we still been together and focused on his needs postmenopause when I experienced pain with penetrative sex, I think I might’ve really struggled with the amount of self-advocacy required to get a diagnosis and treatment. Instead of having to focus on advocating to fulfill someone else’s needs, I was motivated to maintain the pleasurable sex life I’d cultivated for myself.” — Jackie, 54, California

Source link

The post The real Keir Starmer scandal appeared first on spiked.

Source link

Israel has agreed to a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, theoretically halting its war of aggression in the south. But we know Israeli ceasefires generally involved quire a lot of firing. And much is unclear about the parameters of the pause, which do not appear to demand Israeli withdrawal.

Al Jazeera reported:

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting at 21:00 GMT today, US President Donald Trump says after speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

However, Hezbollah officials have said the terms of the ceasefire must see Israeli troops removed:

Hezbollah has said the continued presence of Israeli troops on Lebanese territory gives Lebanon and its people “the right to resist”, as it outlined its position on a proposed ceasefire.

In its first public response to the truce, the group said any agreement must not allow Israeli forces freedom of movement inside Lebanon.

Advertisement

Lebanon beseiged

Despite the ceasefire the Lebanese army is telling the millions displaced from the south not to return home:

Breaking: The Lebanese army is telling civilians not to return yet to southern villages, amid reports of a ceasefire. It says people should wait until the agreement officially takes effect and avoid areas where Israeli forces are still present. https://t.co/TunVrrdg7j

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 16, 2026

And Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf insisted any peace deal must include Lebanon:

Lebanon is an integral part of the comprehensive ceasefire.

Pakistan, which is brokering the deal, sent army chief Asim Munir to Tehran to negotiate. He reportedly said:

I understand the importance of the ceasefire in Lebanon and I will follow it.

Nobody trusts Israel

Cradle Media columnist Mohamad Sweidan explained some of the complexities of the situation on X on 16 April:

According to the information:

– There are Pakistani confirmations to Tehran that Tel Aviv will soon announce a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Advertisement

– If Tel Aviv is telling the truth, this comes after Iran’s insistence on not participating in any round of negotiations before a ceasefire in Lebanon.

– Over the past two days, the Lebanon file has been the focus of Iranian-Pakistani discussions.

– Naturally, the extent of “Israel’s” commitment cannot be trusted, but what is certain is Tehran’s position seeking to stop the war.

Adding that:

In a little while, we will publish all the details of the Iranian-American negotiations on the subject.

Even as the peace deal was being thrashed out, Israel took the chance to bomb the last bridge over the Litani river – a strategically important feature the settler-colonial forces had planned to use as a cordon for the time being:

Israel bombed this morning the Qasmiya Bridge, the last operational crossing remaining over the Litani River. Additional updates this morning are linked below. pic.twitter.com/brALUzBgmm https://t.co/a8MMDsMAID

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 16, 2026

Mohamad Sweidan pointed to some of the “constants” to keep in mind in regard to the ceasefire:

بعض الثوابت:
– يسعى ترامب إلى إقفال ملف الحرب مع إيران والدفع نحو إنجاح المسار التفاوضي. وفي المقابل، تمسّك الإيرانيون بضرورة التزام “إسرائيل” بالهدنة وتنفيذها فعليًا قبل استكمال المفاوضات، وهو ما دفع ترامب إلى ممارسة ضغوط مباشرة على نتنياهو لإجباره على القبول بها.
– إن قبلت تل…

— Mohamad Hasan Sweidan (@mhmdsweidan) April 16, 2026

For example:

Trump is seeking to close the file on the war with Iran and push towards the success of the negotiating track. In return, the Iranians are insisting on the necessity of “Israel” committing to the ceasefire and implementing it in practice before completing the negotiations, which has prompted Trump to exert direct pressure on Netanyahu to force him to accept it.

Sweidan also said the resistance had been central to forcing a deal:

If Tel Aviv accepts the ceasefire, it will be due to the steadfastness of the resistance fighters on the front and the steadfastness of the Iranian negotiators in their position.

And he emphasised that the current deal meant a pause – not a withdrawal:

And naturally, even if Tel Aviv announces its commitment, we should not trust it.

The full text of the ceasefire has now been published by the US State Department:

Just In: The full text of the ceasefire statement agreed to by the Government of Israel and Government of Lebanon, and issued by the US State Department:

Following productive direct talks on April 14 between the governments of the Republic of Lebanon (hereinafter “Lebanon”)…

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 16, 2026

As the Canary reported on 16 April, Israeli forces have demolishing 1400 homes in south Lebanon. This is in line with their explicitly genocidal scorched earth Dayiha doctrine. And as we argued in the same article, Israel’s ambitions to colonise Lebanon are unlikely to have dimmed.

Featured image via the Canary

By Joe Glenton

Source link

Keir Starmer may be seeing red over the latest Peter Mandelson drama but so are Labour MPs.

Three weeks before the May elections – when voters will choose their candidates for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments along with some English councils and mayoralties – the prime minister has been hit with a fresh revelation about the ex-ambassador.

It appears security vetting officials advised against hiring Mandelson last year but the Foreign Office decided to give him the job as the UK’s attaché to Washington anyway.

The prime minister promptly sacked the Foreign Office’s top civil servant Olly Robbins hours after the Guardian broke the story on Thursday night.

Advertisement

Downing Street said neither Starmer nor other government ministers were not aware until this week that Mandelson, former friend to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, had not passed vetting.

Starmer told the press he was “furious” that he had not been told ahead of giving Mandelson the plum post.

Meanwhile, his political opponents have accused Starmer of misleading parliament after he previously told MPs “full due process” was followed with Mandelson.

The Liberal Democrats have also reported the prime minister to ethics adviser Laurie Magnus for failing to notify parliament as soon as he knew about the vetting on Tuesday evening.

Advertisement

This is not the first time Starmer has been hit with calls to resign over Mandelson.

He vowed to fight on in February when questions arose over how much the PM knew about Mandelson’s Epstein links before he gave him the top job.

Starmer also dodged questions about whether he had even spoken directly to Mandelson before making him chief diplomat to the US during prime minister’s questions in March.

The eruption of the Iran war, and the public’s support for Starmer’s refusal to be drawn drawn into it, shifted attention away from the crisis around his judgement.

Advertisement

But will he be lucky enough to escape with his job yet again after this latest crisis?

One Labour source told HuffPost UK: “Yeah, he’s fucked.”

Most party insiders speculated that Starmer’s time in office is almost certainly up – it’s not expected to happen this side of the May elections.

Multiple sources claimed even the PM’s internal opponents would want him to stay in post so he could take the fall for what is already expected to be a bloodbath for Labour.

Advertisement

Just before the new Mandelson crisis erupted, James Johnson of JL Partners said early polls suggest it could be “the worst even local election for Labour in England”.

The party is expected to plummet to third place in Wales too, losing control of the entire Senedd for the first time in history.

Savanta’s political research director Chris Hopkins said Starmer expressing his own anger over Mandelson “just isn’t going to wash with voters”.

He told HuffPost UK: “Trust in politicians is at an all-time low and Labour, elected in part off a ‘holier than thou’ election campaign, have been anything but in office.

“They have done nothing to differentiate themselves from the chaos, sleaze and lies of the Conservative Party, so who can blame voters for seeking something completely different now?

Advertisement

“UK politics is no longer a case of ‘better the devil you know’, and voters are more than willing to roll the dice with insurgent parties and relatively unknown quantities when it comes to candidates.”

But not everyone is quite so pessimistic about what this means for Starmer’s future, insisting the blame still sits with officials rather than the prime minister.

A cabinet minister told HuffPost UK: “I don’t think he has lied. It is extraordinary that he wasn’t told vetting [was] not passed, but that’s different from lying or deliberately misleading.”

One Labour insider blamed the process, adding: “It’s the whole system that is totally dysfunctional and all the time we keep blaming it on individuals we’ll keep going round this loop.”

Advertisement

““If the PM did know, then it’s terminal.””

– Labour minister

A source from within the party’s headquarters suggested internal Labour groups do not feel the same “levels of hatred” felt during Jeremy Corbyn’s time in office towards Starmer.

“There is a lot of loyalty to him,” they said. “But just anger at the situation. We all know whoever comes next will be fucked up.”

A different minister said: “It’ll all come down to what he was told and when. Given Olly Robbins has gone, there must’ve been something but we don’t know.”

Advertisement

But they added: “If the PM did know, then it’s terminal.”

Meanwhile a Labour backbencher suggested the current saga “feels like another match to avoid relegation.”

Meanwhile, Maryam Eslamdoust, the general secretary of the Labour affiliated TSSA union, publicly said it was time for a leadership contest.

She said: “Labour is in danger of being irreversibly tainted by this latest installment in the Mandelson scandal and Keir Starmer’s handling of it.”

Advertisement

Her brutal assessment concluded: “At the very least, Keir has lost control by presiding over such reckless conduct.”

His critics seem to think it has become a question of when, not if, Starmer is forced out of office.

Will the prime minister be able to defy the odds and hang onto power?

Subscribe 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.

Advertisement

Source link

Organisations specialising in support for neurodivergent employees are advertising their services to people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) through the Department of Work and Pension’s (DWP) Access to Work scheme. An investigation by the Canary has revealed how they have been treating ME as an ‘acquired’ neurodivergent condition.

Now, the Canary has also uncovered how some are promoting notorious pseudoscientific psychotherapies to get people with ME back to work.

DWP Access to Work: sending people with ME for coaching

As we previously reported:

A person living with ME has approached the Canary to whistleblow over their alarming experience engaging with AtW. Notably, DWP staff administering the scheme had directed them to organisations misrepresenting the condition as a form of neurodivergence.

Further undercover investigation by the Canary has found that the support these organisations offered people with ME may have involved some problematic therapies.

The Canary approached staff at these organisations as an employee with ME seeking prospective support through the Access to Work scheme.

Conversations with them revealed a number of incongruities in their understanding and approach to employees with ME.

Conflicting understanding around ME

A senior employee at No Drama Llamas mentioned the concept of “spoons”. She demonstrated some level of knowledge over the ME patients’ need to pace. People with ME regularly use “spoons” to describe their limited energy/relative wellness budget.

The staff member explained how the organisation provides co-coaching with managers and the employee with ME. This would be to advocate for workplace accommodations.

All this sounded somewhat positive, until they detailed how ME:

comes under our neurodiverse umbrella.

They said that as an organisation, they:

know that it’s not just about the fatigue, it’s about the impact on your working memory and your time management and being organised and your focus and concentration. This is why it comes under the neurodiverse thing, because it impacts your brain in just the same way as me with ADHD and dyspraxia and autism. You’re going to have the same challenges that I have because of the way that your condition affects your cognition and your executive function.

Similarly, a Creased Puddle coach explained that the company views ME as “an acquired neurodivergence” stating that:

when we think about neurodivergence, the conditions people think of [are] Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, tourettes, and these are all conditions that people are born with and will have for the whole of their life. Whereas you weren’t fresh out of the womb with ME, you didn’t have it at all. You’ve developed it over time and you could actually recover.

Again, coaching seemed to centre round learning “strategies” and “workarounds” for addressing ME’s impact on “executive function”.

However, the conversation with Creased Puddle also revealed that coaches would apply controversial psychological therapies in sessions involving people with ME.

When workplace adjustments means adjusting you

On its neurodiversity coaching webpage, it lists the credentials of its coaching team. The Canary noticed that this included Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP).

ACT has been described as part of the “third wave” of cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT). As MEpedia explains:

ACT assumes that psychological suffering is caused by experiential avoidance of symptoms and hurtful thoughts and feelings.

So, as the NHS puts it, ACT is about learning:

to get ‘unhooked’ from unhelpful thoughts.

Biopsychosocial clinicians have long promoted this “think yourself better” psychotherapy guff for people living with ME. However, the 2021 NICE guidelines finally downgraded the evidence around its efficacy. This was only after years of the promotion of CBT as a cure for ME causing incalculable harm to patients.

As such, it’s obviously concerning that AtW services supporting people with ME may be applying a CBT approach in fresher wrapping.

Meanwhile, NLP is a pseudoscientific psychotherapy that has bounced around since the 1970s. It’s a loose collection of techniques:

designed to alter behaviour by reprogramming unconscious patterns of thought

Put simply, it’s more junk science pushing the idea that ME patients just need to think more positively.

The staff member the Canary spoke to confirmed that this was a possible approach coaches might use for clients with ME. When the Canary asked what this might look like for an employee with ME, they told us that:

It may be something like, for example, you might be telling yourself internally, I’m no good at doing this, this, and this. I never get it right. I always get it wrong. So your coach will kind of challenge the language you’re telling yourself. Because actually, if you’re telling yourself you’re never going to do it, then you’re never going to do it.

Not dismissing its neurological basis?

The Canary contacted these organisations for comment. Genius Within had not responded at the time of publication.

No Drama Llamas refuted the suggestion it classifies ME as a “developmental neurodivergent condition”. It  stated that it fully recognises ME:

as a complex, multi-systemic, and acquired neuroimmune condition, as supported by research such as the DecodeME study.

However, it told the Canary that:

while the biological causes of ME/CFS and developmental neurodivergence (like ADHD or Autism) differ, there is a widely recognised and evidence-based overlap in how these conditions present cognitively in the workplace. Emerging clinical literature highlights that neuroinflammation—often mediated by immune and autonomic responses, including Mast Cell Activation—frequently drives cognitive challenges in ME/CFS patients, such as severe executive dysfunction, reduced processing speed, and “brain fog.”

Because of this profound overlap in cognitive impact, our approach utilises the ‘Taxonomy of Neurodiversity’ (Dr Nancy Doyle, BPS) and the concept of a “spiky profile” (an uneven distribution of cognitive strengths and challenges). We are not stating that an ME/CFS patient has a developmental neurodivergence; rather, we recognise that neuroimmune inflammation can chronically or temporarily alter executive functioning. This creates a functional cognitive profile that benefits greatly from similar workplace strategy coaching used for neurodivergent individuals.

Creased Puddle told the Canary that since December 2025, it has stopped offering its services to people living with ME. According to organisation’s PR consultant, this was following an “internal quality review” where it:

made the decision that our offering to Access to Work would only be for individuals whose grant was primarily as a result of challenges related to Autism, ADHD or a Specific Learning Difference and we notified ATW assessors on the 19th December 2025 of this change.

Reflecting a ‘wider systemic problem’

The undercover conversations the Canary had with these organisations gave us the impression that coaches were genuine in their desire to support people with ME. Nevertheless, it was patently clear none were qualified to actually do so.

And of course, it’d be remiss not to recognise that their businesses will of course profit from providing this coaching. The DWP’s AtW scheme is essentially subsidising their services for employers with workers living with ME.

On reading our findings, Sally Callow, founder of ME training organisation Stripy Lightbulb CIC that runs ME-informed sessions for employers and healthcare professionals, told the Canary that:

This situation reflects a wider systemic problem: there is currently no requirement for organisations providing workplace support to have any training or understanding of ME/CFS. Without basic, evidence‑based knowledge of this complex neurological disease, it is unsurprising that some providers are misclassifying M.E./C.F.S. or offering approaches that are inappropriate, but also potentially harmful, for people living with the condition.

Improved M.E./C.F.S. education across government departments, assessment bodies, and commissioned services is essential. A consistent and accurate understanding of the condition would prevent unsuitable referrals and ensure that people with M.E./C.F.S. receive support that aligns with current biomedical evidence rather than assumptions or outdated models.

The investigation raises serious concerns about the types of support available to employees living with ME. In spite of its long delays and numerous accessibility issues, the DWP’s AtW is currently the only scheme for helping chronically ill people returning to or staying in work.

However, it seems that what that support looks like for employees with ME could very well be more gaslighting and psychologising interventions that treat them like malingerers: not the extremely ill and disabled people they really are.

Featured image via the Canary

By Hannah Sharland

Source link