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Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Incredibly, Essex Police have just made a bad situation worse
The Chief Constable of Essex, Ben-Julian Harrington, spoke to journalists yesterday about the policing operation in Epping on July 17 and the violent clashes, wrecked police vans, and injured officers that resulted on that and later evenings. The disorder occurred when a peaceful protest was held by people from the town against illegal migrants housed in a hotel where one of the occupants had been charged with sexually assaulting a local girl. There were many questions for Essex police to answer, including the allegation first denied, then accepted, by the force that they escorted counter-protestors – some of who were masked – into an already volatile situation. He called his own press conference where journalists were quite reasonably expecting him to explain these odd tactical choices. He ended 20 minutes of what can only be described as bloviating word salad telling Charlie Peters of GB News: 'It's not for me to comment and criticise or indeed examine that operation.' It begs the question of what the press conference was for? And indeed, what is a Chief Constable for? Mr Harrington spent a lot of his opening remarks defending the handling of the protest as a valiant attempt by police to guarantee the rights of free assembly and free speech for everyone. The Human Rights Act was invoked more than once. Yet there is a profound misunderstanding in this interpretation of article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which is enacted in our domestic law. This is the right that covers free assembly, including protests. Importantly, it is not an absolute right, but heavily qualified. Signatory states including the UK can lawfully restrict that right in the following circumstances: 'in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.' If this seems a bit esoteric, I take it to mean that far from escorting masked protestors into an emotional gathering of townspeople, there was every right and reason for Essex constabulary to have kept this rabble from connecting with the larger, until then peaceful, gathering outside the Bell Hotel. But this was in fact facilitated. As it was, the policing operation was clearly overwhelmed. Leadership is about admitting mistakes as well as celebrating success. While it is clearly not in anyone's interests to disclose tactics for future demonstrations, this could have been an opportunity for some welcome reflection on a police response that seemed perversely determined to drive two antithetical groups with violent fringes into each other. As usual, the front-line police officers stuck in the middle suffered. Beyond what I think was an obvious and serious failure to anticipate and properly manage a foreseeable public order risk, there are bigger fish to fry than Mr Harrington's bizarre obfuscation. Illegal migrants housed in hotels across the country have been parachuted into small communities usually with no consent from locals and precious little risk assessment by authorities. Chris Philp, the shadow Home Secretary, has complained that there 'hundreds and hundreds' of 'illegal immigrants' who are housed in 'taxpayer-funded hotels' and have committed 'multiple cases of rape, sexual assault, theft, violence and arson.' The cultural dissonance between predominantly young migrant men from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Eritrea, and Sudan and the local population, Philp said, is producing a 'public safety crisis' for women and girls. The police, learning nothing from last year's spasm of national social disorder after the murders of children in Southport, has called the disorder 'thuggery.' That is the end of people not being listened to, not the beginning. Violence like what we've seen in Epping and will see elsewhere should never be endorsed. But dismissing legitimate fears as bigotry and tolerating disastrous policing appears to be as big a problem.
Irish Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Post
Born in Britain, still not English
THERE are quite clearly some people who were born and raised in Irish families in England who consider themselves English. I don't have any problem with that.I don't fully understand it, but that's not meant as any kind of judgement. I'm only going by my own experience, and such was the intensity of being Irish in that upbringing that being English just never occurred to me. Of course, I can see how that is different for different people. Coming from those huge, urban Irish immigrant communities, I can't quite see how you come out of that not being Irish—but, you know, to each their own. English. Half-Irish-Half-English. British. I've heard all of them and, like I say, while I can't quite grasp those identities, that doesn't mean they aren't valid. The failure of understanding is mine, isn't it? I know I can define and defend my identity—God only knows I've gone on about it quite enough—so I've no need to denigrate someone else's. I do have some bad news, though, for those who do see themselves as English: it might just be the case that they don't want you. The English, I mean. The English-English, if you like. Fittingly enough, as I'm writing this in the month the death was announced of Norman Tebbit, the 1980s hardline Conservative MP. Back in the eighties, Tebbit was one of my early confirmations of how I wasn't English when he rolled out his infamous 'cricket test'. It all sounds quite innocent by today's standards, but Tebbit's notion was that if you had been raised and were living and working in England but did not support England in the cricket, then what were you doing here? As neither a cricket fan nor an England fan, I knew I was going to fail that loyalty test every time. I was never going to be English in Tebbit's eyes—and that suited me fine. But we've gone way past cricket now in Brexit-flavoured England. What follows is not a conversation from the dark corners of the internet, nor one between fringe figures. It comes from The Spectator magazine and features Michael Gove, who was until recently a senior government minister, and Matt Goodwin, a political scientist, commentator, and GB News presenter. These are their words, quoted verbatim for the purposes of commentary: Michael Gove: 'Would you say that Kemi Badenoch, or Rishi Sunak or Tony Sewell or Dame Kelly Holmes are not really English?' Matt Goodwin: 'Well, this is a debate. My view is that Englishness is an ethnicity, deeply rooted in a people that can trace their roots back over generations. It is a very distinctive identity and a different identity from Britishness. I think someone can identify as British and can be British but they cannot simultaneously identify as English.' Goodwin continues: 'I take a much thicker view of Englishness and that is that our history, the legacy of our collective identity, the legacy of our culture, goes much deeper and much further back.' Gove then asks him about the Englishness of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak—pointing out that Sunak was born and raised in Southampton, went to that most English of public schools, Winchester, supports Southampton FC, and is a Conservative. 'Is he not English?' To which Goodwin replies: 'Well, Rishi Sunak could choose to identify as English if he views himself that way, but I think it is also true that there is an English ethnicity, an English group, that goes back generations that Rishi Sunak himself would say, 'I do not have as strong a linkage to that group as other people do.'' Asked to define Englishness, Goodwin says: 'I would say someone who has been born in England, can trace their roots back through many generations, and who would identify with a way of life and a culture that surrounds Englishness as an identity.' Now, all of those words are theirs. I haven't altered them or shaped them to fit an argument of my own. I haven't even explored where such ideas of English ethnic identity lead to, or just how many people it excludes. But one, maybe two generations removed from a farmer in Mayo, a labourer in Cork, or a painter in Dublin—just how English do you think they really think you are? Joe Horgan posts on X at @JoeHorganwriter See More: Englishness, Irish Identity
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eamonn Holmes 'takes swipe at ex-wife Ruth Langsford' as he calls new partner Katie Alexander his 'soulmate'
Eamonn Holmes has reportedly gushed over his girlfriend Katie Alexander. The GB News presenter, 65, began dating the marriage counsellor, 43, at the end of last year after his split from Loose Women star Ruth Langsford following 14 years of marriage. According to Bella magazine, the presenter even called Katie his 'soulmate' at GB News star Nana Akua's engagement party earlier this month. He reportedly added: 'In sickness you find out who is there for you.' 'It was an insensitive comment from Eamonn, but he's smitten with Katie and does feel like she has been there for him through the hard times,' a source told The Mirror. 'That said, it is a kick in the teeth for Ruth because she has been there for him since the beginning.' The Standard has contacted a representative of Eamonn Holmes for comment, Eamonn been has been battling health issues for years after dislodging discs in his back which he said previously impinged on his sciatic nerve and affected the mobility of his right leg. In March, the presenter told his followers he is in constant pain. "Even when the sun shines there's pain,' he said, sharing a selfie to his 782,000 followers. "Sometimes I feel I'll never beat this disc immobility but I'm determined to have a life. 'So pray for me, help me or get out of the way social media haters.' He has frequently been pictured either in a wheelchair or relying on walking aids and turned to various therapies to aid his rehabilitation. And posting a throwback snap on social media in May, Eamonn said a picture of him broadcasting made him upset as he now can't walk. 'Great picture popped up from 3 years but it's made me sad - I could walk,' he wrote. 'Got to redouble my efforts.' Last year, Eamonn and his ex-partner Ruth Langsford confirmed that they were set to divorce after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together. Issuing a joint statement, a spokesperson for the former couple - who share one grown-up son - said: "Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing."
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tells cabinet to prepare for more unrest
The British Prime Minister told his cabinet to prepare for many more fiery protests over migrant crime in English towns, if "social cohesion" isn't mended. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned his cabinet that more anti-illegal migration protests lie ahead if social cohesion isn't mended, as his government struggles with an influx of illegal migrants crossing the English Channel. Mr Starmer is reported to have said to his ministers that more protest will follow if the government does not deliver on its promise to cut immigration and stop illegal boat crossings in the English Channel. Meanwhile, Downing Street's executive director of policy and delivery Liz Lloyd warned that social cohesion was "fraying at the edges." It comes after a series of protests against migrant hotels - recently in the Essex town of Epping in the southeast of England, and in the Norfolk town of Diss in the east of England. Speaking on GB News, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said there was a risk of a summer of civil disobedience on a grand scale. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) July 22, 2025 "Don't underestimate the simmering anger and disgust there is in this country," he warned, highlighting weekly arrivals of "many hundreds of undocumented young males". Mr Farage also said most people attending the anti-immigration protests are concerned families who are worried about social cohesion. "Do I understand how people in Epping feel? You bet your life I do." In a statement, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner - who is also the UK housing minister - said immigration and deprivation was fraying social cohesion. Presenting the UK's Plan for Neighbourhoods, Ms Rayner said 17 of 18 neighbourhoods that experienced rioting last year were among the most deprived in England. "While Britain was a successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith country, the government had to show it had a plan to address people's concerns and provide opportunities for everyone to flourish," she warned. She said it was 'incumbent on the government to acknowledge the real concerns people have and to deliver improvements to people's lives and their communities.' Opinion polling in the UK suggests that if a general election was held today Reform UK would most likely be the largest party, with the governing Labour party - which swept to power after 14 years of Conservative governments - reduced to the opposition.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Eamonn Holmes 'takes brutal swipe at ex-wife Ruth Langsford' as he gushes over new love Katie Alexander
Eamonn Holmes reportedly took a brutal 'swipe' at Ruth Langsford while gushing over his new girlfriend Katie Alexander. The TV presenter, 65, found love with Katie, 43, following his divorce from Ruth, 65, in May 2024, when they split after 14 years of marriage and two decades together. Eamonn and Katie have not been shy of showing off their affections for one another and looked very loved-up at GB News star Nana Akua's engagement party earlier this month. While attending the glitzy party, Eamonn seemingly took a swipe at his ex-wife Ruth while discussing his blossoming new relationship, according to Bella Magazine. He described Katie as his 'soulmate', before adding: 'In sickness you find out who is there for you.' A source told The Mirror of his remark: 'It was an insensitive comment from Eamonn, but he's smitten with Katie and does feel like she has been there for him through the hard times. 'That said, it is a kick in the teeth for Ruth because she has been there for him since the beginning.' Eamonn has battled a number of health problems in recent years, including a double hip replacement surgery, slipped discs and ongoing spinal problems. MailOnline has contacted Eamonn's representatives for comment. Eamonn and Katie grew close last summer and began dating soon after, with engagement rumours even swirling in December. Eamonn and Ruth had shocked fans with their joint statement on May 25, 2024, confirming the end of their 14 year marriage. However, the TV presenter continued wearing his wedding ring before he ditched the band last month, while Ruth has also stopped wearing her ring. At first, Ruth had resolutely kept her ring on, even declaring to a fan that she wouldn't remove them 'because I am still married', before officially ditching the band. The exes are now going through divorce, with Ruth thought to be desperate to finalise their split, having sought advice from lawyers to keep their £3.6million six-bedroom home in Surrey. However, Eamonn is reportedly 'dragging his feet' and is 'determined' to get his finances back in order to give Katie the same lavish lifestyle his ex Ruth enjoyed. A source told The Sun: 'Katie's been a rock to Eamonn throughout his ongoing divorce Eamonn's health is always a big concern and after a few tax blows lately, he is more determined than ever to get his finances back in order. 'Eamonn feels hard done by in the divorce. 'He's dragging his feet because Ruth's got the house and they have a lot of other financials still to sort out between them. 'Eamonn knows his mobility issues are a worry, he needs a carer to help him get ready for work and that's expensive.' The insider added that Eamonn 'doesn't want to lose' Katie, and is keen to give her the 'kind of lifestyle she deserves'.
