Victorian Ailments Like Rickets And TB In Wealthy London Borough Hit By Grenfell Fire

Victorian Ailments Like Rickets And TB In Wealthy London Borough Hit By Grenfell Fire
People have been diagnosed with Victorian ailments like rickets and TB in one of the wealthiest parts of London, a shocking new report on inequality has revealed.

The gap between rich and poor in health, housing, education and income in the Grenfell fire-hit borough of Kensington and Chelsea has been laid bare in the report, compiled by Labour’s Emma Dent Coad.

The Kensington MP has compiled the report in the wake of the fatal tower block blaze to unmask the yawning gap between rich and poor in the area.

The ‘After Grenfell’ report details how, in one of the country’s richest boroughs:

Dent Coad said: “In ‘the richest borough in the universe’ this situation is indefensible. If trickle-down (economics) worked, we would not have four food banks in K&C.”

She went on: “The entirely preventable atrocity at Grenfell Tower has revealed the extent of inequality in Kensington and Chelsea, and the years of poor political decision-making and financial mismanagement.”

In the report, she says: “I have often stated that Kensington and Chelsea, where I was born and bred, is a microcosm of everything that has gone wrong in our country in the past few years.

“The proximity of huge wealth attracted by an over-heated international property market unencumbered by taxes, alongside poverty so extreme that children and older people are suffering malnutrition is a scandal that brings shame on our society in 21st Century London.”

Dent Coad used the report to lay into Kensington and Chelsea Council for failing to provide social housing.

K&C became part of a “tri-borough” cost-cutting project with Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster councils, sharing services and outsourcing work.

It initially saved the council money, and was praised by the then-Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, but many of the outsourcing contracts which ensued actually meant the project lost 10m.

The council has built just ten social homes since 1990 but spent £30m on loss-making Holland Opera Park and another £5m on releasing the council from the deal.

The council also opted not to pay the London Living Wage, £1m a year.

Dent Coad wants the legacy of the Grenfell Tower fire to be reducing inequality.

She said: “A refusal to invest in improving educational attainment and life chances, by cutting local services and youth provision, is a form of social determinism which we must resist at all costs.

“As in many urban areas where housing costs are high, overcrowding is rife. In some areas this is just 17%, whereas in Golborne ward 68% of children live in overcrowded homes.”

Low educational achievement ran parallel with low income and lack of employment opportunities, she said. While the borough average for A* to C GCSE grades is 72%, in some wards it was just 30%.

Dent Coad said a total of 376 (857 people) were made homelessness by the Grenfell Tower fire, in the building itself and the surrounding areas. Just a handful have been housed.

And young people living in temporary accommodation or overcrowded housing struggled to focus on their studies.

She said: “I have seen many cases in K&C where up to four children share a bedroom, even teenagers of opposite genders.

“No-one thrives in such a situation, and the embarrassment of how they live means that many young people will be reluctant to socialise at home with their friends, and will either stay at home isolated or head out to commune on the stairways and streets, which can lead to all kinds of challenges and problems.”

In K&C more than 6,000 homes are owned by companies registered in tax havens.

Dent Coad said these companies “do not contribute to our communities, support our shops, cafes and restaurants, or pay UK tax.”

She added: “K&C is in danger of becoming an elephant’s graveyard of overpriced, oversized and overseas-owned properties that no one lives in, while Kensington’s grafters and public sector workers are priced out of the area.”

Shadow Fire Minister Chris Williamson, who will launch the report with Dent Coad at Westminster today, said: “Kensington and Chelsea is a microcosm of society at large. It is a place where inequality has become a gross spectacle. Where childhood poverty, overcrowding and homelessness live check by jowl with opulent second homes, palatial apartments for the mega rich and vast outflows of rent to corporate landlords.

“The devastating Grenfell inferno is a tragedy derived from these unequal times.” 

HuffPost UK has contacted K&C council for comment.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rickets-kensington-grenfell_uk_5a088895e4b0e37d2f382205

Brexiteer John Redwood Slammed For Advising Wealthy To ‘Get Money Out Of The UK’

Brexiteer John Redwood Slammed For Advising Wealthy To ‘Get Money Out Of The UK’
An MP who has been one of the most prominent cheerleaders for the UK quitting the EU has faced fierce criticism for urging investors to move their money away from the UK while also backing a ‘hard’ Brexit.

Earlier this month, John Redwood, the Tory MP for Wokingham and former banker, wrote a column for the Financial Times titled: “Look further afield as UK hits the brakes.”

Redwood, who as well as being a Member of Parliament earns £180,000-a-year as chairman of an investment committee for the Charles Stanley Group,  suggests the European Central Bank will pave way the way for more fruitful investments than the Bank of England.

Oh the irony @johnredwood said #Brexit great for UK now advises invest in EU as UK weakens. “European Central Bank better for growth.” pic.twitter.com/UCxCTsFuG0 — Mark Nottingham (@mnottingham) November 5, 2017
The column was published on November 3, but was roundly criticised on social media on Sunday after being the subject of a blog by Forbes magazine writer,  Frances Coppola.

Redwood has long argued the UK economy will flourish after quitting the EU, and has argued the British public will be well-catered for by UK-produced cars, wine and cheese in the event the EU imposes high import tariffs post-Brexit.

Brexiteer @johnredwood warns investors to get their money out of the UK, then tells the UK to go for hard Brexit. #disasatercapitalism t.co/Akjfu4ytI2 cc @FlipChartRick

November 12, 2017
In his piece, the veteran MP and former Cabinet minister compares the European Central Bank’s measures to “promote faster growth” – no rises in interest rates for the foreseeable future, a money creation and bond-buying programme – to the Bank of England, which is “busily arguing with itself”.

While Coppola agrees with Redwood’s broader point that the UK is facing a  sharp slowdown, she points out that “he does not mention Brexit” before giving “advice to investors to flee the UK before the credit crunch bites”.

“It is an absolute disgrace for this man to give such advice,” she adds, arguing he is “a senior member of the Conservative Party, which is currently in government and making a total hash of the Brexit negotiations”.

She points out his FT profile makes no mention of his job as an MP. “After all, telling investors not to invest in the UK is hardly patriotic, is it?,” she notes.

The writer then points out how Redwood a week later “told the UK government to go for ‘hard Brexit’” – in the tweet below – amid a UK-EU deadlock over trade talks.

The UK needs to reverse the argument – if the EU does not start talking about a free trade agreement with the UK before the end of the year then the UK will press ahead with the WTO option as Plan A and work with business to trade without an FTA with the EU.

November 11, 2017
Coppola argues ‘hard Brexit’ would mean “an immediate deep recession for the UK and permanently lower living standards for many of its citizens”, and goes on to accuse Redwood of trying to “protect his job as an investment manager” by warning his “wealthy clients to get their money out before the disaster hits”. The writer finishes:

“This is despicable behaviour by a lawmaker. The Rt. Hon. John Redwood MP is putting his own interests above those he represents. He is unfit to hold office. He should resign.”
The response to the column on social media was unforgiving.

A mere month after John Redwood told the Chancellor to “get the Treasury to have more realistic, optimistic forecasts” he is advising investors to take their money out of the

November 12, 2017
A financial expert called John Redwood advised investors to abandon the UK. The brexiter John Redwood won’t be pleased with that and what do you mean they’re the same person? pic.twitter.com/ijlDP8hZhR

November 12, 2017
This is horrendous. I see some Brexiteers on here ranting about Remainers being “traitors” and “unpatriotic”. Well, why not have a look at what John Redwood, that arch-Brexiteer, has been doing? t.co/K7T7AT34Az

November 12, 2017
WTAF. John Redwood is on record advising investors NOT to put money into the UK, indicating he knows damage is coming. At the same time he’s a politician actively pushing for a ‘no deal’ Brexit. Where are his priorities? t.co/QwODHPdAzL

November 12, 2017

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/john-redwood-brexit_uk_5a08cb50e4b0e37d2f3833c4

Sean Hannity’s Fox News Show Loses Five Major Advertisers Over Roy Moore Coverage

Sean Hannity’s Fox News Show Loses Five Major Advertisers Over Roy Moore Coverage
Sean Hannity

Sean Hannity

Advertisers are beginning to flee Sean Hannity’s Fox News show after its skeptical coverage of the child sex accusations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. At least five companies over the weekend said they will be pulling their ads from the show “Hannity.” None of the companies directly blamed Hannity’s coverage of Moore, but most made…

The post Sean Hannity’s Fox News Show Loses Five Major Advertisers Over Roy Moore Coverage appeared first on Towleroad.


Sean Hannity’s Fox News Show Loses Five Major Advertisers Over Roy Moore Coverage

EU Planning For Failure Of Brexit Talks, Says Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier

EU Planning For Failure Of Brexit Talks, Says Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier
The EU’s chief negotiator has warned that the union is drawing up contingency plans in case of a “no deal” Brexit.

Michel Barnier said that the collapse of talks with the UK was a “possibility” though not his preferred option.

He told French newspaper, Le Journal du Dimanche: “It’s not my option, but it’s a possibility.

“Everyone needs to plan for it, member states and businesses alike. We too are preparing for it technically.

“A failure of the negotiations would have consequences on multiple domains.”

Negotiations to unravel more than 40 years of union have stalled, and Britain may miss a December deadline to move the talks to a discussion of future trade ties, which businesses say is vital for them to make investment decisions.

The key sticking point is the financial settlement the UK is prepared to offer as part of the divorce deal. Last week, Barnier said Britain had two weeks to spell out how far it would “honour its obligations” to break the deadlock.

But Brexit Secretary David Davis said on Sunday said Britain will not offer a figure for how much it believes it owes the EU.

Davis told Sky News the EU had agreed Britain would not need to offer “a number or a formula” for the financial deal when London accepted the bloc’s schedule for the talks – first a discussion about the divorce and second, about future trade ties.

“In every negotiation, each side tries to control the timetable. The real deadline on this is, of course, December,” Davis said, referring to the next EU summit when Britain hopes the bloc will launch the next phase of the talks.

″(British taxpayers) would not want me to just come along and just give away billions of pounds. So we’ve been very, very careful, and it’s taking time and we will take our time to get to the right answer.”

Prime Minister Theresa May says she cannot offer a figure for the financial settlement until her government knows what the future relationship will be. But she also does not want to inflame Brexit campaigners who have suggested Britain walk away.

Barnier also told Journal du Dimanche that Britain had to detail which financial commitments it would honour.

“Theresa May has committed to paying the contributions of 2019 and 2020, as well as other commitments, without specifying which ones,” Barnier said.

“The European taxpayer should not pay the price of a decision made … by the United Kingdom.”

The two sides must also reach agreement on the UK border with EU member Ireland, something that Irish officials say is still a long way off.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/michel-barnier-brexit_uk_5a08bd4ce4b01d21c83f43a7

Why we all should take the “Chappy Pledge” to end hate on dating apps

Why we all should take the “Chappy Pledge” to end hate on dating apps
For a people bonded by feeling different, sometimes it seems like we’ve learned to be just as mean as the people who made us feel being different was wrong in the first place.

www.queerty.com/take-chappy-pledge-end-hate-dating-apps-20171112?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Result: Ruth Langsford Is The Seventh Celebrity To Leave The Competition

‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Result: Ruth Langsford Is The Seventh Celebrity To Leave The Competition
Ruth Langsford has become the seventh celebrity to leave ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

The ‘Loose Women’ and ‘This Morning’ presenter faced Paralympic gold medallist Jonnie Peacock in Sunday night’s dreaded dance off.

Ruth and Anton Du Beke and Jonnie and his partner Oti Mabuse bothalso performed their Foxtrot again.

It was then down to the judges to decide who to save. Craig Revel Horwood chose to keep Jonnie and Oti, telling them: “The person I think that took on the notes and criticisms that we dealt out on board and improved in the dance-off and for me personally, was the better dance, I’d like to save Jonnie and Oti.”

Darcey Bussell also chose to save Jonnie and Oti, saying: “The couple I’d like to save on the element of difficulty and having no mistakes, and that is Jonnie and Oti.”

Bruno Tonioli also decided to keep Jonnie and Oti in the competition, with Head Judge Shirley Ballas agreeing with her fellow judges’ decision.

When asked by host Tess Daly if she had enjoyed her time on the show, Ruth said: “I’m disappointed for Anton because he should be going to Blackpool. He’s made this whole thing so much fun, I’ve absolutely loved it, even the judges’ comments, even Craig’s – he knows I love him really!

“All those wonderful people up there, they all deserve to be going to Blackpool. And you Anton Du Beke, are just the most fabulous man, so funny and you are a beautiful dancer and I hope we will be friends for a very long time.”

Anton added: “It’s a funny old thing this, getting voted off Strictly Come Dancing, it never gets any easier and this is, by far the most difficult. I feel a bit emotional and I don’t know why. I don’t really get emotional about this kind of thing because it’s part of the fun of the show.

“The thing that upsets me the most is not being able to spend all the time that we do together. You are beyond the most joyous person I’ve ever met, I’ve enjoyed every second of it. You are amazing and I love you.”

The remaining eight couples will now pack their suitcases and head to Blackpool as next week the show is broadcast live from the world famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/strictly-come-dancing-result-ruth-langsford-is-the-seventh-celebrity-to-leave-the-competition_uk_5a083b28e4b0e37d2f37ee27