A way for politicians to share out the freebies
As far as government freebies go, what gets on my nerves is the idiocy (Zoe Williams, 24 March). Accept the Taylor Swift/Sabrina Carpenter/whoever tickets. But the obvious next step is to donate the value of said freebie to a charity that people like: Shelter, Cancer Research, food banks. It's not hard for politicians to both enjoy the perks of the job and get the optics right. It's the arrogance that pisses most of us off. Kate WalkerLondon
So Peter Kaan was nearly right: after Barney Ronay's descriptions of Arne Slot as a butcher then a greengrocer, he is now not merely a jolly baker as Kaan guessed (Letters, 25 February), but, in Ronay's latest compelling assessment, 'the owner of a successful chain of provincial bakers' (Alexander-Arnold's maverick talent will be missed as Liverpool near tipping point, 26 March).Mark de BrunnerBurn Bridge, North Yorkshire
I've also never been in your Birthdays column (Letters, 25 March) despite some people thinking I am, pro tem, the world's leading expert on the Victorian Turkish bath. On 30 April, when Ian Saville marks his 72nd birthday, I hope to be celebrating my 90th – so you have fewer opportunities to rectify your omission in my case.Malcolm ShifrinLeatherhead, Surrey
Midwives exhorted us to do our pelvic-floor exercises after giving birth (Exercise and screen time advice for new mothers angers parenting groups, 26 March). It was so ingrained into me that I once found myself doing them in front of the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, watching the Who.Derryn BorleySt Albans, Hertfordshire
My husband has been a 'beard guy' for over 50 years, but I had no idea he suffered from chronic pogonophilia (The sudden, surprising rise of beard transplants: 'This industry is a wild west', 25 March). Thank you, Simon Usborne.Beverley MasonCardiff
Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Travis Kelce returns to the golf course with NFL hero after wedding in Tennessee with Taylor Swift
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce linked up with another legendary tight end at a golf outing in South Carolina on Monday afternoon. Kelce was seen posing for a photo with former Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen at Kiawah Island. The Chiefs star has been having a more low-key offseason compared to last summer after a defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Kelce's spent the past few weeks at a house in Miami dedicating himself to training to prepare for an upcoming season after briefly entertaining the possibility of retiring. Over the weekend, Travis went to a family wedding and brought along his pop superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift, as a date. Swift gave guests the shock of a lifetime after joining her man as he celebrated his cousin, Tanner Corum, tying the knot at a barnhouse in Nashville on Friday. A loved-up Taylor Swift looked as smitten as ever as she joined Kelce at his cousin's wedding Swift and Kelce posed for a photo with Ashton Corum, the groom's sister, at the wedding The pop megastar Swift was seen wearing a stunning strapless blue floral patterned dress on the day, while Kelce opted for a black-and-white tweed shirt and brown pants at his cousin's wedding. Footage emerged online of the celebrity super-couple enjoying the reception as they watched Tanner and his bride, Samantha Peck, share their first dance together. And in new pictures from the wedding, Taylor can be seen cuddling up to Travis while sitting together at the reception. The pair also posed for a snap with Ashton Corum, who is the sister of the groom. Fans absolutely loved the photos of Swift and Kelce at the wedding, with a fan page dedicated to the NFL star sharing them on Instagram and writing: 'Cozy, low-key, and all smiles'. Another commented: 'They look great together'. 'That's a happy beautiful couple right there,' said a third. 'This is the best picture I've seen yet!!' a fourth concluded. While one even asked: 'Did Tay catch the bouquet??????' It comes just a few days after the celebrity super-couple were seen on a date night in Florida Kelce and Swift's appearance at the wedding in Nashville came just a few days after their latest glitzy date night together. Earlier this week the couple visited Buccan, a James Beard-nominated restaurant in Palm Beach, and were seen leaving the establishment hand-in-hand as they greeted fans before leaving in a black SUV. The restaurant is located a short drive away from Kelce's $20million mansion in nearby Boca Raton. A day after his date night with Taylor, Travis was seen was seen entering a workout facility in Palm Beach, Florida for a game of padel - the popular racket sport played on an enclosed court with walls. The latter was seen wearing a maroon shirt, black mesh shorts, and a gray hat as he arrived to play some padel on Friday. Swift and Kelce have been enjoying some down time together before the latter has to report to NFL training camp next month.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Scooter Braun was 'shocked' by Taylor Swift's reaction over recordings
Music mogul Scooter Braun has said he was "shocked" by Taylor Swift's "deeply unfair" reaction when he acquired the rights to her first six studio said he thought buying Swift's former label Big Machine in 2019 would be an "exciting thing".But in a Tumblr post published soon after the sale, the singer said she was "sad and grossed out" by her master recordings being controlled by Braun, who she accused of "incessant, manipulative bullying".Last month, the US star announced that she had bought back the rights to her music in a deal with the private equity firm that had acquired them from Braun in 2020. On Monday, Braun told the Diary of a CEO podcast: "When I bought Big Machine, I thought I was going to work with all the artists on Big Machine. I thought it was going to be an exciting thing."He had previously met Swift three or four times, including one occasion when she "invited me to a private party and we respected each other", he said."In between that time, since I'd seen her last, I started managing Kanye West, I managed Justin Bieber. I knew she didn't get along with them."Braun said he thought there might be an issue given Swift's history with West and famously stole Swift's thunder at the 2009 MTV Awards by coming on stage during her acceptance speech. Rumours about Swift and Bieber not getting on have circulated for years, and began before Braun's company bought her master who is now retired from talent management, explained: "I had a feeling - this is where my arrogance came in - I had a feeling she probably didn't like me because I managed them. But I thought that once this announcement happened, she would talk to me, see who I am, and we would work together."He said he spoke to other artists signed to Big Machine, who were "excited", and was set to call Swift too."And then this Tumblr [post] comes out and says all this stuff. And I was just, like, shocked." He claimed the experience taught him that "everything in life is a gift"."Having that experience allows me to have empathy for the people I worked with who I'd always say, 'Yeah I understand', but I never knew what it was like to be on the global stage like that."I never knew what criticism like that felt like. And like I told you, the biggest gift that I got from that was understanding that all the praise I had received up until that moment was not deserved, and all the hate I got after that moment was not deserved, because none of these people knew me. She didn't know me."He resolved to sell the rights, and reconciled that the public reaction was out of his hands. "I can't worry about everyone's niece being mad at me," he BBC has contacted Swift's representatives for comment. Taylor's versions Swift recently bought back the rights to her first six albums - Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989 and Reputation - ending the long-running battle over the ownership of her is not known how much it cost Swift to acquire her masters, but the catalogue previously sold for $300m (£222m) in 2020. The BBC understands that rumours she paid between $600m to $1bn are inaccurately high."All of the music I've ever made now belongs to me," said the star, announcing the news on her website recently. "I've been bursting into tears of joy... ever since I found out this is really happening."To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it," she responded to the original sale of her masters by vowing to re-record those records, effectively diminishing the value of those master tapes, and putting ownership back in her date, she has released four re-recorded albums - known as "Taylor's Versions" - with dozens of bonus tracks and supplementary reporting by Mark Savage.
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Diletta Leotta shares stunning bikini snaps as she holidays with ex-Liverpool star husband Loris Karius
Scroll down to see the best snaps from her photo dump WHOLE LEOTTA LOVE Diletta Leotta shares stunning bikini snaps as she holidays with ex-Liverpool star husband Loris Karius Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DILETTA LEOTTA stripped down to a bikini while on holiday with her husband and former Liverpool star Loris Karius. Diletta, 33, works as a football presenter for DAZN in her native Italy. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Diletta Leotta wowed in a figure-hugging bikini Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 She shared several snaps from her holiday Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 Diletta is a sports TV presenter Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 The beauty has a whopping nine million followers on Instagram Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta While Karius, 31, is currently between the sticks for German club Schalke. The couple jetted off to Mallorca for a much-needed break following the end of the season. Diletta soaked up the Spanish sun in an array of incredible outfits. She was pictured hopping out the sea in figure-hugging black swimwear. And after drying off, she looked incredible in a pink bikini as she posed with a friend joining them abroad. Diletta also dazzled while stood next to a massive paella on the beach and when at a restaurant in a stylish black dress. Her stunning looks left her nine million Instagram followers in awe, with one saying: "The most beautiful, there is no better." Another added: "Gorgeous girl." A third commented: "You are radiant." Italian beauty Diletta tied the knot with Karius last summer in a luxurious ceremony after two years of dating. They have a daughter Aria, 2, who was seen in the post. Karius was on daddy duties, holding her in a swimming pool that overlooked the picturesque ocean. The German goalkeeper played 49 times for Liverpool between 2016 and 2018. Dilleta returned from her holiday in time to attend yesterday's French Open men's final, stunning in a bold white dress. 9 Diletta looked in love with a huge paella Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 Her daughter Aria joined her at the beach Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 Her husband is ex-Liverpool keeper Loris Karius Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 Diletta Leotta shares stunning bikini snaps as she holidays with ex-Liverpool star husband Loris Karius Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta
