Author: Miles Donavan

The Mail is selling the dream of European life it helped eliminate, to readers trapped in the post-Brexit reality it championed. The Daily Mail has been at it again, selling readers a dream life abroad – this time to Cyprus. “British family moved to Cyprus after getting fed up of dreary UK life – and now enjoy life on ONE parent’s salary only,” boasted a recent headline, promoting the story of a couple from Middlesbrough who moved abroad with their two young children. The article applauds the family’s newfound happiness, freedom from 60-hour workweeks, and the dramatic drop in living…

“Free speech, anyone?” The usual suspects in the right-wing press flew into predictable hysteria this week, over Gary Neville’s comments on the Union Jack and St. George’s flags. Once again, the self-appointed champions of ‘free speech’ revealed how little they actually value it, especially when it comes from voices they dislike. The former Manchester United and England footballer sparked a frenzy after posting a video in which he suggested that patriotic symbols like the Union Jack have become associated with division and hostility, particularly among what he described as “angry, middle-aged white men.” Neville linked this surge in aggressive nationalism…

Unlike other political figures who tend to cower before the tabloid firing squad, Polanski has welcomed the hysteria with open arms. Zack Polanski has had a good week. Not least because the Green Party now boasts more members than the Liberal Democrats, despite having 68 fewer MPs, or because of the infectious energy that reportedly flowed through the party’s conference in Bournemouth, which enjoyed a record-breaking attendance. No, the real feather in his cap came courtesy of Britain’s right-wing media, who seem beside themselves at the mere existence of a confident, unapologetically progressive leader. Unlike other political figures who tend to cower…

The Motability scheme has long been a target of the right. Helen Whately, shadow work and pensions minister, has come under fire after making remarks at the Conservative Party Conference on October 6, where she claimed:  “Millions are getting benefits for anxiety and ADHD, along with a free Motability car.” Whately, the Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, has been accused of spreading misinformation and fuelling prejudice against people with mental health conditions and neurodevelopmental disorders. Critics say her statement misrepresents both the eligibility criteria for disability benefits and the number of claimants actually receiving support through the Motability…

Truss tanked the UK economy and was out in 49 days. Milei may still be standing, but he’s executing an even extremer version of Trussonomics than Liz Truss executed. “Javier Milei is the template,” Kemi Badenoch told the Financial Times in July. When asked whether Britain needed its own version of the Argentine president, known for brandishing a chainsaw at rallies and pledging to slash government spending to the bone, and whether she saw herself in that role, she responded: “Yes and yes.” The Conservative Party leader has quoted Milei at length, praising his belief that state tools such as printing money, subsidies,…

“We remembered people with love, care and compassion.” On October 9, the Museum of Homelessness (MoH) held a national vigil on the steps of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, to honour the lives of those who died while homeless in 2024. During the ceremony, the names of all those who had passed away were read aloud. According to new research from the MoH’s Dying Homeless Project, 1,611 people died while homeless in the UK in 2024, an increase of 9 percent from the previous year. This equates to an average of four deaths per day. The report highlights a rise in ‘deaths…

When Nobel Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes was asked why Trump wasn’t given the award, he suggested Trump wasn’t worthy. The head of the Nobel Peace Prize has justified not giving the award to President Trump, suggesting the commander-in-chief was not worthy of the illustrious award. It comes after Trump made no secret of his desire to be awarded the world’s most prestigious award, boasting that he has solved seven wars, which in recent days has included a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestine as well as previous conflicts such as the wars between India and Pakistan as well as…

Sunak has earned more than half a million pounds from ‘second jobs’ since the 2024 general election Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has accepted a further two paid adviser roles, this time at Microsoft and AI firm Anthrophic.  The post-ministerial jobs watchdog Acoba, which has now been axed, warns Sunak’s time as prime minister could offer the firms ‘unfair access and influence’ in the UK government.  Acoba issued its standard guidance, advising that for two years after leaving office, Sunak should not personally lobby the government on behalf of these companies. Prime minister Keir Starmer abolished the watchdog in July,…

Phillipson is pushing for the cap to be lifted in full, the Guardian reports. Education secretary and Labour Party deputy leadership contender Bridget Phillipson is pushing the Prime Minister and chancellor to abolish the two-child benefit cap in full, ahead of the budget next month. The two-child benefit cap was introduced by George Osborne as Conservative chancellor. It bars families from claiming the £292.81-a-month child element of universal credit for third and subsequent children born after April 6, 2017. According to the Child Poverty Action Group, every day 109 more children are pulled into poverty by the policy. If the…

“So were you lying or was Nigel Farage lying?” Reform’s Zia Yusuf was grilled on Question Time last night over an ex-Reform politician charged with accepting bribes from pro-Russian interests. Green Party leader Zack Polanski challenged Yusuf over the party’s claims that Nigel Farage and Reform “didn’t know” who ex-Brexit Party MEP Nathan Gill was. Gill was leader of Reform UK Wales from March to May 2021 and has been pictured with Farage and Reform deputy leader Richard Tice several times. He was also leader of UKIP Wales between 2014 and 2016, when Farage was leader. On 26 September, Gill…