Latest news with #BAME
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Telegraph style book: Bb
B baby boomers: People born 1945–1964. Boomers only in features/comment articles back benches, backbenchers, back-bench (adj) bacteria: Plural form of bacterium Badenoch: Kemi is Mrs Badenoch at second mention, not Ms Bafta: never BAFTA bale/bail: Bale is something made of hay; bail is on a set of cricket stumps or a surety. Bail out is the verbal form. Bailout acceptable when referring to finance balls: Unless a ball has an adjective before it (May ball, hunt ball etc), the plural is 'dances' BAME: Avoid unless in quotes or in direct reference to reports. Always spell out (black, Asian and minority ethnic) banister Bangalore: Do not use except in historical contexts. It is now called Bengaluru Bank of England: The Bank at second mention bank holiday: Lower case Bannister, Sir Roger barbecue: Not barbeque or BBQ Barclays Bank Barnardo's: Note the apostrophe baronets: Sir John Smith, Bt, when necessary to distinguish from a knight. Baronets are not knights battles: Specific ones are capped – Battle of Hastings, Battle of Britain battleships: Use only in historical context. Use warships otherwise baulk: Not balk BBC style: BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra; but BBC 6 Music and 1Xtra, CBeebies BC: Follows dates Beckham, Sir David: His wife is Lady Beckham in news copy; Victoria Beckham in fashion/professional contexts Beck's beer begging the question: A specific logical fallacy involving founding a conclusion on a basis that itself needs to be proved. It does not mean avoiding a question or inviting a question Belarus, Belarusian benefited: One T Beretta: The gun – not to be confused with biretta Berwick-upon-Tweed between: for when things are shared between two people 'He divided the money between his two children' see among Beverly Hills / Beverley (East Yorks) / Beverley Knight Bible: Cap unless figurative ('his bible'). Biblical is lower case Biblical references: e.g. Genesis 1:1, Matthew 3:2 bi- (prefix): Use bimonthly, biweekly, biannual with caution; the meanings are often unclear bid: Use only in context of auctions, finance, football transfers, Olympic bids, bridge biennial: Once every two years biannual: Twice a year big tech, big five etc: lower case billion: A thousand million. Abbreviate to bn for money (£10bn) but not for other things (10 billion people) bin Laden, Osama Birds Eye: Frozen food brand (no apostrophe) biretta: A priest's headgear. Not to be confused with Beretta the gunmaker Biro: A trademark Bitcoin: Capitalised black: Preferred term for African-Caribbean ethnicity. Capitalise only in organisation names Blanchett, Cate blizzard: Use only when wind speed is at least 35mph bloc: Lower case, as in 'Eastern bloc'; from French. Also bloc vote blond/blonde: Blond for men, blonde for women Blumenthal, Heston Blu-Tack BMJ: Abbreviation of British Medical Journal. Full name no longer used Boudicca: Not Boadicea Bonhams: Auctioneers Bonham Carter, Helena: And others – no hyphen bon viveur: Incorrect French; use bon vivant. A woman is a bonne vivante border: Between Scotland and England is lc born of: Not born out of Botox: Botulinum toxin bottle bank Bournville: No middle e bouquet: Adding 'of flowers' is tautological Boy's Own Paper Brands Hatch: No apostrophe brave: Use for courageous acts, not for illness Brexit: Capped, as are Leave and Remain. Withdrawal agreement lower case unless referring to the Bill brilliant: Use carefully. Describes dazzling objects or intellectual distinction, not just anything good British/UK: Avoid unnecessary repetition. Assumed in most stories Bros: Only in company names. No full point. Tech bros only in features brussels sprouts BSE: bovine spongiform encephalopathy (lc) BTec bubbly: Hackneyed as description of a lively woman; vulgar as drink name Buck's fizz: The drink – apostrophe included. No apostrophe for the pop group Budget: Capped when referring to the Chancellor's statement. Lower case for company/local authority budgets budget airline: Avoid. Use low-cost airline bumf: NOT bumph. (Derived from bum-fodder) bungee jumping bureaus: Not bureaux Burka: Not burqa Burns Night: No apostrophe bussed, bussing: Try to avoid. Prefer taken by bus bus stop Bush, George W / George HW / George Bush Sr Butlins: No apostrophe buyout: Noun buy out: Verb buzzwords by-election: Hyphenated
Cosmopolitan
07-07-2025
- General
- Cosmopolitan
‘I was caught up in 7/7 bombings – the UK has become a more hateful place 20 years later'
I was 22 when I was on the same King's Cross tube train as one of the suicide bombers on 7/7. I thought we were all going to die when I heard a bang, the lights went off, and everything went black and smoky — until 45 long, horrific minutes later, I heard a faint voice saying: 'It's the police. We're coming to get you.' I can't begin to describe the sense of relief. It may have been 20 years since that moment, but I still relive it like it was last week. I never thought I would dedicate my 20s to countering extremism. I wanted to be in the corporate world; that was my dream and what I was aiming towards before 7/7. However, that day changed my life — I did a total 360 and wanted to turn my pain into something positive. The bombings left me with lots of unanswered questions, so I decided to quit my full-time job and work more closely with the JAN Trust charity. While it was initially founded in 1989 to help improve the lives of BAME women, the work I did with them aimed to transform the way we tackle and counter the growing epidemic of online radicalisation and extremism through classes and workshops. In that time, I saw how online extremism was impacting the lives of young people and their families. One of my key achievements was developing the WebGuardians programme which provided the tools to help educate family members concerned with a loved one's radicalisation. However, with my work with JAN Trust, I heard the other side of the story. I spoke to Muslim mums who had sons that had travelled to Syria, or joined ISIS. They had lost their children too, but they didn't have a body to bury or a gravestone to grieve over. I also saw the impact of the racism these women faced for being visibly Muslim and the single point of blame for all the actions of extremists, whose beliefs have nothing to do with Islam. In 2015, I was awarded an OBE for services and work towards community cohesion and interfaith dialogue. Then, in 2023, after working all across the UK, the JAN Trust stopped receiving government funding, and so I closed that chapter on my life. During that time, I was becoming increasingly concerned with far-right extremism. JAN Trust was targeted by the far right — we had our windows smashed, received rape threats, and I even needed police protection. My husband would tell me so many times to stop, but I would persevere. I wanted to make the world a better place. The right wing would always criticise Muslims for not doing enough to counter extremism, but here I was sticking my head above the parapet — and for what? What had always kept me going was speaking to people and seeing the difference we could make. 7/7 did change Britain forever; the country was not prepared for that sort of horror happening in the streets. While I grew up in London in the 1980s, and racism has always been a problem, I feel the terror attacks compounded anti-Muslim sentiments. A prime example was how my mother was treated before she passed away in 2021. She used to wear a headscarf, and after 7/7, when we were out together, I could see the dirty looks aimed at her, hear the mumbling, and see people moving away. And 20 years on, things have not gotten better. Last year, we saw race riots directed towards vulnerable asylum seekers across the UK. I would say I no longer feel safe in the country I grew up in. I know I'm not alone in thinking this; from the networks and friends I made through my work at JAN Trust, people are feeling ostracised from society. It feels like we've gone backwards to the days of our parents and grandparents, where being beaten up for not being white was commonplace. Looking back at the last 20 years, I've seen how online extremism has impacted everyone in society and, in response, I've tried to create tools to make the world a less hateful place for everyone. No one should be living in fear behind closed doors. No one should be having bricks through their windows. 7/7 saw me go through a near-death experience, and I decided to dedicate myself to countering extremism. However, I believe we're now at a very scary stage. 7/7 changed Britain — and I think the country has now changed for the worse. Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Former senior police officer who was found with child abuse on her phone is SUING the Met after 'witch hunt destroyed her'
A highly decorated black former police superintendent is suing the Metropolitan Police, claiming she was subjected to a racist and malicious witchhunt that 'destroyed' her career and health. Ex-Superintendent Novlett Williams says the Met forced her out of the job after a six-year legal and disciplinary ordeal, sparked by her conviction over a child abuse video sent to her on WhatsApp, which she insists she never watched. She is now taking the force to an employment tribunal, accusing it of racial and sexual discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. In her testimony, Williams accused the Met of orchestrating a 'campaign of attack' targeting senior black and minority ethnic officers, and claimed the organisation was dominated by a 'white female clique' and 'white male pitbulls'. The Met repeatedly tried to remove her from her post after the video, which showed child abuse, was discovered on her phone. Williams said she didn't report the clip, sent by her sister, because she didn't see it and was the only one of 17 people who received the video to be prosecuted. She has now accused the force of 'disproportionate and malicious attempts' to get rid of her and says she was 'ultimately forced to resign' last year after a long battle that severely impacted her mental and physical health, the Times reports. She was probed in February 2018 after the 54-second video was found on her device. At the time, she had served 39 years in policing and had been awarded the Queen's Police Medal. She told the tribunal that if she were a white male officer, the incident would have been handled internally. 'Despite my absolutely unblemished record, this crime was prosecuted in a way determined to take me down,' she said, claiming the lead investigator pursued the case aggressively because he was 'angry' she had supported a colleague who had complained of racism and bullying. She added: 'I was their most successful and award-winning Black female officer, and they destroyed me.' After being found guilty, she was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and register as a sex offender for five years. She was fired despite the judge ruling there was no sexual element to the crime. But the Police Appeals Tribunal slammed the brakes on the Met's move and forced them to reinstate her. In her statement, Williams said returning to work had been 'scary' as she felt she had a 'target' on her back and that she has been in an 'extreme distress and was overwhelmed' that her life had been 'shattered'. The Met lost its fight against the PAT's ruling in the High Court, then hit Williams with a fresh investigation over claims she failed to declare bank cards and an overseas trip, which she was legally obliged to report as a registered sex offender. Williams says the force tried to 'capitalise' on these breaches by pushing her to accept a police caution — something she knew would lead straight to disciplinary action and getting sacked. 'It was a set-up, disproportionate and malicious,' Williams said, adding the Met 'pressured' the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges against her. When approached by the Times, the Met declined to comment.
Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
NHS manager awarded £250k after colleague said he ‘played race card'
The NHS has been ordered to pay more than £250,000 in compensation to a sacked doctor who sued for discrimination after a colleague complained he was 'playing the race card'. Prof Tanweer Ahmed took the health service to an employment tribunal after he was sacked over 'laughable' bullying allegations. The senior clinical director, who is of a Pakistani background, was put through a disciplinary investigation and sacked after Martin Rayson, the trust's HR director, said he was 'playing the race card'. Prof Ahmed, who is in his late 50s, has been awarded more than a quarter of a million pounds in compensation after suing United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust for race discrimination, victimisation and unfair dismissal. There were 'so many flaws' in the way the NHS Trust investigated and sacked Prof Ahmed, Employment Judge Victoria Butler ruled. The professor joined the Trust in 2003 as the director of Lincoln Clinical Research Facility, director of research innovation, and was also the chair of the BAME staff network. The tribunal heard that in June 2018, Helen Ayre, a researcher who worked under Prof Ahmed, made allegations claiming he bullied her and others, made inappropriate comments and didn't follow the Trust procedures. Ms Ayre's allegations 'relied heavily on hearsay' from other colleagues who no longer worked at the Trust and her allegations dated back years, it was heard. In one instance, Ms Ayre claimed Prof Ahmed had said during a meeting that she was not allowed to get pregnant. The tribunal, held in Nottingham, was told an investigation only began in early 2019 – nearly a year later. The panel heard: 'Most of the allegations were historical, none of the management witnesses remained in [Prof Ahmed's] department and some of the witnesses interviewed as part of the investigation had left [his] department five to ten years before the complaint was made.' 'The white person being harsh' When he was interviewed in February 2019, Prof Ahmed claimed Ms Ayre's complaint was retaliatory because of performance issues and said he felt they were being pursued because of his race. A tribunal judgement said: 'He also said that he did not understand why he was being investigated and suggested it was because he was BAME and 'the white person being harsh'.' In her investigation report, Jennie Negus did not recommend disciplinary action and Dr Neil Hepburn, Prof Ahmed's line manager, agreed that a development plan was an appropriate response. However, Mr Rayson, who was director of HR and organisational development and a board member within the trust, insisted the matter proceed to a disciplinary hearing. Prof Ahmed had pointed out a survey carried out at the hospital which found 80 per cent of BAME staff felt discriminated against. 'No bearing on this investigation' In an email to Dr Hepburn, Mr Rayson said: 'Tanweer will play the race card I suspect. His reference to the staff survey results... are irrelevant in this case. 'It is a matter of concern but has no bearing on this investigation into complaints about the way a manager has dealt with his staff. 'We should point him in the direction of the broader staff survey results which (unfortunately) show that the perception of bullying and harassment extends beyond the [BAME] group.' In May 2019, Prof Ahmed went off sick with stress and then raised a whistleblowing complaint alleging discrimination. The following month, Dr Hepburn ruled Prof Ahmed had displayed a pattern of bullying, victimisation and inappropriate behaviour. He was sacked during a disciplinary hearing, despite one witness who worked closely with him describing the allegations as 'laughable'. A 'far from even' playing field The employment tribunal ruled there were 'glaring flaws' in the Trust reaching the conclusion to fire him and found it had failed to adequately explain how it reached this decision. Employment Judge Butler concluded: 'The format of the disciplinary hearing was set up in such a way that indicates [the Trust] had already formed the view that the management witnesses were telling the truth. 'The playing field was far from even and we draw an adverse inference from this. 'We would have expected Mr Rayson to explain why the decision to direct a disciplinary hearing was not related to race. 'However, there is no explanation for the leap between the findings of the investigation report to the calling of a disciplinary hearing. 'Given this, we cannot conclude that race was not a factor in the decision to call [Prof Ahmed] to a disciplinary hearing in the first place. 'Furthermore, we would have expected Mr Rayson to explain why [Prof Ahmed's] accusation of racism escalated into a row and why he used the phrase 'play the race card'.' A judge has now ordered the NHS trust to pay Prof Ahmed a total of £256,031 in compensation This includes more than £160,000 for loss of earnings and more than £80,000 for loss of pension.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Row over Reform council's new 'British values' flag rules
Reform's decision to scrap Leicestershire County Council's flag flying policy has been formally challenged by opposition party approved the move during its first cabinet meeting on 12 June, discontinuing a previously agreed schedule of flags to be displayed outside County Hall in Glenfield, including those to mark LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Windrush Day and Reform council leader Dan Harrison said the changes to the protocol were "to celebrate British values that unite us all".However, opposition leaders have called the decision in for further scrutiny, saying they did not believe it had been "thought through properly". Under the new rules, Harrison said the union jack flag and the county council's own flag would fly permanently on two of the three flagpoles outside County St George's flag would fly from the third pole, he said, unless it was replaced with the Lord Lieutenant's flag when they were in the building.A fourth flagpole in County Hall's quadrangle could be used to mark events such as Armed Forces Day, Commonwealth Day and Armistice on flying all other flags are to be delegated to council chief executive John Sinnott after discussion with Harrison. The decision prompted a joint letter from representatives of LGBTQ+, disabled and BAME staff who said they had not been properly consulted on the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the decision will be subject to further debate on Tuesday.A call-in announcement, signed by Conservative Deborah Taylor, Liberal Democrat Michael Mullaney, Labour's Jewel Miah and Naomi Bottomley for the Green Party, said the decision was "not clear".According to the LDRS, it states: "It cannot be left to a weekly decision. Neither can the staff be left without any clear direction."This decision was weakened by the current positive position of our approved flag flying policy."Harrison previously told the LDRS that staff were "protected by law" and said they "could always" fly flags at home."I will meet with their groups and assure them that their health, their safety, the [working] environment will be safe," he added."Nobody would ever disrespect anybody because there's a law to protect them, and we as a county council will guide the way to protect these people."
