Not for the first time, see also denial of citizenship for refugees based on manner of entry for example, Labour appears to have forgotten that Article 34 of the Refugee Convention exists. It very explicitly was the intention of the framers that refugee protection would lead to naturalisation.
In the example given, they both work at a bank. It is the bank that makes the economic contribution - and who decides to pay bankers more than cleaners. It couldn't function without either of them though.
An extract from a pamphlet available at Reykjavik Cathedral. It shows a floorplan of the structure that has quite a suggestive shape. Beneath it is a subtitled paragraph 'Clock and bells'.
Meanwhile, this is not from the Penis Museum. It's from an official pamphlet in Reykjavik Cathedral. Why would you think it is from the Penis Museum?
The bar at Iceland's penis museum. The beers are Icelandic Penis Ale (IPA), Big Cock Ale (with an image of a Rooster). Phallic Lager. Moby Dick and Dick Johnson's Special. The taps are all shaped like erect penises of impressive length.
It is quite something watching someone pour these pints.
Genuinely recommend the penis museum though. Well put together exhibits, good blend of information and whimsy, very well stocked bar and they encourage you to take a drink with you as you peruse.
"would otherwise receive immediate access to welfare and social housing" is BS.
Correct: "after 5 years working in a care home, would be eligible to apply for welfare and social housing on the same basis as the rest of us."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Deliberately misleading/disingenous.
Mahmood may actually agree with the policy but I suspect for many in government it's just expediency. They think it'll be easier to convince Labour's base to accept it than to convince the country to change tack. I think they're wrong though. The country is not as anti immigration as they believe.
However, what they are trying to do here is explain to Labour why they should accept an unpalatable policy. Aligning this with 'Labour values' is difficult and unconvincing (the article is full of cliches and platitudes) - fundamentally it doesn't align with how Labour's core supporters think. 2/
OK, there is a slight shift here. Rather than not trying to do any persuasion work, they're now trying to explain why they are right. It is good they are at least setting out the case... it means there can be dialogue. 1/
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My mum died a couple of months ago and I'm sorting out closing her accounts. A bank just said they want to "express our sincerest apologies for your loss." I really rather hope they have nothing to apologise for!
Greg Davies: Great task, well done. Didn‘t eat a thing.
Persephone: Thank you.
Alex Horne: Ah. Well. Let’s take another look at that pomegranate.
It took months of national and international debate, diplomacy, parliamentary scrutiny and public protest before Blair managed to involve the UK in an illegal war.
Starmer has done it within a single news cycle.
That's just how supine he is to Trump.
Khan too. London going Green is a real possibility. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
To be clear, I don't back Streeting. He's well to my right still on trans rights and other issues. But he's a cautious opportunist with a factional following so a change of tack from him may suggest Starmer's position doesn't have much support even from the self avowed centrists.
Streeting actively moving to Starmer's left is interesting.
I suppose it's because we don't believe we can influence the US any more.
Partially it's the US hasn't asked the UK to back it (or if it has, the government has kept it behind the scenes). But even so, when the US does something like this you'd expect some debate here.
What's been surreal to me is the lack of public debate on Iran. The buildup has been happening for months, but compared with Iraq or Libya there has been very little public cutthrough.
The ridiculous extension of the wait for settled status isn't about putting up barriers to arrival, it's about putting up barriers to integration for people who have already been here for years. It's agreeing with Farage that these people should be treated with suspicion - and leaving it at that.
This could be a mistake - Reform's voters are not libertarians on the whole, nor, I suspect, are many of them career landlords.
We've had questions from three broadcasters so far, and they have all been about the practicalities and costs. None has asked about the legal/moral issue of retrospectively changing laws so huge numbers of people who have made their lives in the UK will be expelled.
A retired British primary school administrator with a British passport and a valid visa was shackled, chained and detained for six weeks by ICE
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Absurdly, I could imagine a situation where the UK becomes a republic but has still not managed to get rid of the hereditary Lords.
If you publicly comment that you think someone is guilty when they've been arrested and not yet charged you are (a) a dickhead (b) an absolute GIFT to trial lawyers like me who can argue my client cannot possibly have a fair trial as no jury can be unbiased with the volume of social media posts.
Not the point, but I'm fairly sure the English realm isn't a thing and hasn't been since the Acts of Union.
This explainer is very good on the topical offence of Misconduct in Public Office.
Useful detail on when it has been used re politicians.
I don't disagree with the sentiment, but I do think you should go to the effort of ensuring it can be sung to the tune of We Didn't Star the Fire.
Genuinely good point; people who don't like cities are often people who also don't like anonymity. I actively like being able to walk into a pub I've been going to for 17 years with the confidence I won't know anyone there and no-one is going to say hello and try to start a conversation.
Oh absolutely not, nope, nope. No.
Yes, on this basis, orchestra conductors are complete freeloaders...
