Even the boss of the Police Federation is slating the government’s coronavirus communications
The Canary UK

Even the boss of the Police Federation is slating the government’s coronavirus communications

The chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales has criticised the “briefing” of a potential lockdown to the media, claiming it had increased pressure on the emergency services. John Apter, head of the organisation which represents more than 120,000 rank-and-file officers, called for “clear communication” on coronavirus measures. He tweeted on Saturday morning: “To those briefing selective media on a potential national lockdown please understand the impact this has. It creates a media frenzy, causes confusion and ahead of any official announcement encourages some to make the most of their pre-lockdown time. This is not a good mix!” To those briefing selective media on a potential…

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31 October 2020
Key states that could decide the result of the US election
The Canary UK

Key states that could decide the result of the US election

A handful of states will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the 2020 United States presidential election.These are the “swing states”: so called because they will help swing the overall result either way. Most states are not swing states and will not change hands at this election – but safe states alone are not enough to get either Trump or Biden to the White House.Here are eight swing states to watch. All were won by Trump in 2016, but all are being strongly contested at this election by Biden. (PA Graphics)– FloridaThis is the most hotly-contested swing state of them all. Florida has been a…

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31 October 2020
People are questioning whether the BBC’s ban on supporting campaigns includes the red poppy
The Canary UK

People are questioning whether the BBC’s ban on supporting campaigns includes the red poppy

BBC staff might be banned from attending Pride events and ‘virtue signalling’ because of confusing new rules on staff conduct. People are now asking if this means that the red poppy will also be outlawed by the channel. BBC director general Tim Davie reportedly introduced the guidance on 29 October. It appears to suggest that attending major LGBTQI+ events like Pride and anti-racism protests like Black Lives Matter could damage impartiality. Emojis in tweets should also be avoided, and stories should be broken through official channels rather than personal accounts, according to the new code. In an email obtained by Press Gazette, Davis said: Trust is the foundation…

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30 October 2020
The government has handed £66m in interest to banks for taxpayer-backed coronavirus loans
The Canary UK

The government has handed £66m in interest to banks for taxpayer-backed coronavirus loans

The government paid Britain’s biggest lenders close to £65.7m in interest in just three months. This was for loans to British businesses during the pandemic. Interest rates The government handed over £65,658,583 for interest on loans between the start of April and the end of June. This is according to figures obtained by the PA news agency through a freedom of information request. The interest was paid on loans taken under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. Through the schemes, banks lent billions of pounds to small businesses. The government promised to pay the interest for the first 12 months,…

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30 October 2020
As the EU votes to ‘massacre nature’, rainforest communities find a trailblazing way to protect it
The Canary UK

As the EU votes to ‘massacre nature’, rainforest communities find a trailblazing way to protect it

The EU parliament came under fire recently for approving a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that critics say will “massacre nature”. ⚠️MEPs just voted for an anti-science, anti-nature and anti sustainable farming #FutureofCAP. Infuriatingly, they did not #VoteThisCAPdown. Statement from our EU Agriculture and Biodiversity Policy Officer, @HarrietBirdlife, below.#EUGreenDeal #EUbiodiversity #ClimateCrisis pic.twitter.com/tsIg2OIXd9 — BirdLife Europe & Central Asia (@BirdLifeEurope) October 23, 2020 But after the EU voted to sign nature’s “death sentence”, rainforest communities offered a ray of climate hope. Because, working with NGOs, communities in rural Borneo have found a trailblazing way to protect nature – and improve their own health in the process. Bureaucratic failure The EU…

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30 October 2020
New report confirms HMRC doesn’t know the true cost of furlough fraud
The Canary UK

New report confirms HMRC doesn’t know the true cost of furlough fraud

Originally HMRC predicted that the cost of fraud and error to the CJRS would be between 1% to 2%. However, according to HMRC’s planning assumption, the total cost could range from 5% to 10%. In real terms, that’s between £2.0bn to £3.9bn.  While the NAO report explains that HMRC’s initial estimates were based on assumption rather than evidence, it is a concern that this large figure has been estimated on a number based on out-of-date samples. HMRC’s predictions were made based on payments made up to mid-September, meaning that the current cost is unknown. A third of employees were asked to work while furloughed  NAO has confirmed that HMRC’s…

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30 October 2020
The public seems sceptical about housing minister Robert Jenrick’s homelessness claims
The Canary UK

The public seems sceptical about housing minister Robert Jenrick’s homelessness claims

Millionaire minister Robert Jenrick says the Tories are on a “moral mission” to end homelessness, and have worked wonders during the pandemic. The public is sceptical. The Cambridge-educated housing minister, who, according to Tatler, owns at least three properties worth over £1 million, launched a new propaganda offensive on 29 October. In a video released on Twitter, he praised the “national effort to support rough sleepers” during the pandemic, and that the government wanted “to end rough sleeping by the end of this parliament”. The national effort to support rough sleepers through this crisis has been remarkable. We have here a golden opportunity to ensure that people do…

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30 October 2020
Jeremy Corbyn’s shocking suspension is met with an outpouring of solidarity on social media
The Canary UK

Jeremy Corbyn’s shocking suspension is met with an outpouring of solidarity on social media

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been suspended, “in light of his comments” in response to an investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)’s investigation, published on 29 October, found Labour responsible for “unlawful acts of discrimination and harassment” in its handling of allegations of antisemitism. In his statement following the release of the report, Corbyn said he regrets it took “longer to deliver that change than it should,” but that: the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated. This comment led to his suspension from the party. Corbyn told followers that he will “strongly contest” Labour’s decision to suspend him.…

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29 October 2020
Starmer’s foolish decision to suspend Corbyn is a gift to the Tories. And racists everywhere.
The Canary UK

Starmer’s foolish decision to suspend Corbyn is a gift to the Tories. And racists everywhere.

Keir Starmer’s foolish decision to suspend former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is a huge gift for the Tory government. And it will help racists everywhere. The suspension, following the publication of the EHRC report into antisemitism in the Labour Party, will be debated for months. But some things are beyond doubt. The suspension has immediately, and predictably, been used by the Conservative Party to attack both Starmer and the left he himself is attacking. Sir Keir Starmer has supported Jeremy Corbyn from the start. He even paid tribute to him this year. He doesn’t do what’s right, he only does what’s politically convenient. #SameOldLabour ? pic.twitter.com/OitIHLgajy —…

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29 October 2020
By suspending Jeremy Corbyn the Labour party has once again shown that it isn’t the party of anti-racists
The Canary UK

By suspending Jeremy Corbyn the Labour party has once again shown that it isn’t the party of anti-racists

Jeremy Corbyn has been suspended from the Labour Party. The suspension follows his reaction to an Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report on antisemitism in the party.In getting rid of Corbyn, a lifelong anti-racist, the Labour Party has once again shown that it is not the party of anti-racists.Starmer’s decision to suspend Corbyn and remove the whip has caused fury and disappointment on social media. Selective StarmerOne of the most prominent questions involves Starmer’s behaviour towards Diane Abbott. Or rather, his total lack of action on the fierce abuse the Labour MP has received. Asking you again @Keir_Starmer https://t.co/n5tjBYZy3n — Francisca (@franciscarockey) October 29, 2020Others pointed out…

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29 October 2020