Latest news with #SimonBarry
Daily Mail
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ex-Army chief criticises PM for giving key role to civil servant who invited Gerry Adams to wedding
A former Parachute Regiment boss has criticised the Prime Minister for appointing a civil servant who invited Gerry Adams to his wedding as his national security adviser. Lieutenant Colonel Simon Barry lashed out over Sir Keir Starmer 's decision in a scathing letter lambasting Labour 's plan to scrap the Northern Ireland Legacy Act. Lt Col Barry vented his frustration at the appointment of Jonathan Powell as the PM's national security adviser, who was given the job in November last year. Mr Powell, who previously served as Tony Blair 's chief of staff from 1995 to 2007, invited former Sinn Fein leader Adams and late IRA chief Martin McGuinness to his wedding in 2007. Neither eventually attended the ceremony. The 68-year-old is seen as one of the government's de facto diplomacy whizzes, having previously served as chief British negotiator on Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2007. More recently, he has had a hand in Labour's Chagos Islands 'surrender' deal. But writing to veterans minister Alastair Carns, Lt Col Barry - the ex-commander of the now defunct 10th Battalion Parachute Regiment - took aim at Mr Powell, and at the PM's approach to the Legacy Act, which protects UK troops from legal witch hunts. Lashing out at the government's plan to scrap the bill, Lt Col Barry wrote: 'A previous Labour government gave comfort letters to suspected terrorists and released many others from prison, where they had been held for murder and serious crimes. 'A link to the present is Jonathan Powell, who invited [Gerry] Adams and [Martin] McGuinness to his wedding party and is now the PM's security adviser.' The retired paratrooper said repelling the act would provide 'zero fairness' for Northern Ireland veterans - many of whom are now in their late 70s or 80s and could face being dragged into court for alleged incidents during their service. 'However, what it does - and is doing - is to enable the mass murderers to observe, while laughing at, the UK Government blundering about in a self-harming process that they themselves have created,' the veteran army officer continued. 'And in parallel they continue to rewrite history as the victorious British Army is persecuted for doing its duty.' In his letter, Lt Col Barry accused Labour of betraying the troops who served in Northern Ireland and of reneging on its election promise to be 'on the side of veterans', which he branded as 'no longer believable'. 'The vast majority of veterans are from the working class as you well know,' he continued in his letter, which was shared by former Conservative veterans minister Johnny Mercer on X. 'They are baffled that Labour, who claims to represent the working class, are happy to throw them under a double decker bus in favour of the IRA.' Mr Powell took over the role of national security adviser to the government from Sir Tim Barrow. Announcing his appointment last year, Sir Keir said: 'Jonathan has devoted his career to protecting the interests of the country, having served for seventeen years as a diplomat in the Foreign Office and ten years as Chief of Staff in No10, and I am delighted to appoint him to this important role. 'Together with his experience helping to negotiate the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and work on some of the world's most complex conflicts, he is uniquely qualified to advise the Government on tackling the challenges ahead and engage with counterparts across the globe to protect and advance UK interests.' Mr Powell said he was 'honoured' to have been given the top job which he described as 'hugely important role'. 'As the Prime Minister has set out, national security is at the heart of this country's response to the many challenges we face and having an integrated response will be crucial to our success,' he added. Last week the government was dealt a blow its plans to axe the Northern Ireland Legacy Act was delayed. Aided by the Daily Mail's own 'Stop The SAS Betrayal campaign', almost 200,000 backed the bid to ensure soldiers are not exposed to a witch-hunt in the form of misconduct claims from the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Tory defence spokesman Mark Francois said the Government had been 'rocked' by the backlash and had postponed a Commons bid to scrap the Legacy Act. He had expected Labour to present plans for alternative legislation before summer recess. But after a surge of public support for the Mail's campaign and a parliamentary debate, they were seemingly put on ice last week. The move may also be linked to a reported threat by Labour veterans minister Mr Carns to resign over the issue. Just under 180,000 people have signed the parliamentary petition, boosted by former SAS reservist Sir David Davis, to support veterans. The battle to preserve their legal protections – deemed unlawful by a court in Northern Ireland – is expected to resume this autumn.
Irish Independent
30-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Estate agents and sellers not trusted in home-buying process
Lack of information leaves buyers confused, frustrated and in limbo, with lengthy delays often the result of the lack of transparency. Friends and family are the most trusted source of information, followed by the solicitor the buyers are using. Engineers are also trusted. Sellers are trusted by just 16pc of respondents, with 22pc having faith in estate agents. The research shows that consumers want more information earlier in the process, and are strongly in favour of that information being shared openly. Close to 80pc agreed that if a potential buyer asks a question, the estate agent should have to disclose the information to all others hoping to buy the property. Just 16pc of those surveyed say that the current system is transparent for buyers, according to a survey commissioned by the CCPC and carried out by Ipsos B&A on 1,007 people. Buyers also feel that they waste time on viewings and researching properties that end up being unsuitable due to exaggerated adverts. Delays due to conveyancing are another huge issue. The CCPC found the average conveyancing timeframe in 2024 was 17 weeks. Just 13pc of Irish consumers who bought or sold properties in 2024 reported that the process took eight weeks or less. Furthermore, 30pc of homeowners discovered something after the sale that they wished they had known about the property, its contents or the surrounding area before buying their home. Director of research, advocacy and international at the CCPC Simon Barry said: 'The legal principle of 'buyer beware' puts the responsibility of gathering the necessary information about a property into the buyer's hands. 'Therefore, the CCPC is calling for that information to be more accessible to buyers much earlier in the process. This will empower them to make more informed decisions.' The CCPC called on the Government to legislate for the requirement of pre-sale information to avoid delays and possible sales falling through. It also called for the creation of a new conveyancing profession to enhance the efficiency of the legal process, and has recommended that no property should go to market without details – including whether the property is tax compliant, whether the seller or their solicitor has the title deeds, and if the property is undergoing probate – being confirmed.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix's Wild Teen Gambling Drama 'Bet' Is Coming Back for Season 2
Netflix has officially gone all-in on Bet, its hot show with a 60 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Deadline reported that the streamer announced it has renewed the live-action thriller for a second season, bringing back the high-stakes world of underground gambling at an elite boarding school. Based on the Japanese manga Kakegurui, Bet follows the twisted social hierarchy at St. Dominic's, where status isn't earned through grades or athletic ability, but through strategic, high-risk gambling. The arrival of Yumeko, a mysterious transfer student played by Miku Martineau, quickly turns the school on its head. Her uncanny skill at games of chance and her hidden agenda set her on a collision course with the powerful student council. The show's first season drew global buzz, landing in Netflix's Top 10 English-language series for three straight weeks. Fans were quick to embrace its chaotic energy, stylized aesthetic, and the psychological warfare that played out in every hand dealt. "I'm extremely happy for our amazing Bet fans from all over the world, who get to enjoy another season," said showrunner and director Simon Barry. "And for this incredible cast and crew to return to St. Dominic's for more gambling and general madness." Season 2 will feature 10 new episodes, each running 30 minutes, and promises to ramp up the psychological tension. The ensemble cast also includes Ayo Solanke, Eve Edwards, Clara Alexandrova, Hunter Cardinal, Anwen O'Driscoll, Aviva Mongillo, Laura Afelskie, Dorian Giordano, Emma Elle Paterson, Ryan Sutherland, and Peter Outerbridge. Behind the scenes, Bet is produced by Boat Rocker, with Barry joined by executive producers Jeff F. King, David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, Jon Rutherford, and Nick Nantell. With its mix of elite privilege, cutthroat gamesmanship, and revenge-fueled drama, Bet has carved out a unique space in Netflix's teen thriller lineup. And if the first season is any indication, viewers can expect season two to double down on the Wild Teen Gambling Drama 'Bet' Is Coming Back for Season 2 first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 25, 2025
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anime turned live-action adaptation, 'Bet' has made it to the top, and fans do not like it
Bet has officially made its debut on Netflix. The anime-turned live-action series first aired on Netflix on May 15, 2025, and has got the fans talking. While the anime and manga fans are not too impressed with the live-action adaptation, the series has still managed to pull views and enter the top 10 charts of the week. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Here are the details. Bet enters Netflix's top 10 charts Soon after release, Bet started gathering views, mostly from the anime and manga fans who wanted to see if the live-action did justice to the original story. As per Netflix's charts, the first episode of Bet gathered 2.4 Million views, which earned the series a 9th spot on the platform. Moreover, the series has managed to stay in the top 10 of Flixpatrol reviews, for over a week now. However, the series has received average ratings on both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. While IMDb has given it a 6/10 rating, Rotten Tomatoes gave Bet a 62% rating, which is quite average for any series, live-adaptation or not. Is Bet following the footsteps of Kakegurui As per director Simon Barry, Bet is not completely following the Kakegurui storyline, but is getting inspired by it. When asked about it, Barry said, 'When the Bet creative team set out to develop a series inspired by Kakegurui, we knew there was no point trying to reproduce the original, as it stands on its own and works perfectly. Instead, we chose to be directed by the spirit Kakegurui inhibits in tone, audaciousness, and fun. To that end, we made something 'birthed' from the source material that inspired a new take - one that pays homage to it and doesn't try to replace it. ' Character Yumeko Jabami from the Netflix series "Bet" The series Bet is adapted from the anime Kakegurui, whose manga goes by the same name as well. The story revolves around an elite school by the name of St. Dominic, where only the elite students get admission. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The twist in the story is that, instead of focusing on academics, students are ranked based on their gambling abilities. The story revolves around Yumeko Jabami, who has top-notch gambling abilities, and how she makes it to the top. Written by Homura Kawamoto, Kakegurui has earned a lot of fame in its manga and anime versions. While fans did not like the live-action adaptation, Bet has managed to gather views, and is on its way to top the charts as well. Whether Bet will have the same fate as One Piece's live adaptation, remains to be seen.
Cosmopolitan
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
‘Bet' Cast: All the Stars of Netflix's ‘Kakegurui' Manga Adaptation
Welcome to Bet, Netflix's latest live-action show. Based on the manga Kakegurui and adapted by creator Simon Barry, the teen drama focuses on St. Dominic's, an elite private school where underground gambling rules the social scene. When a a mysterious new student with serious skills—and a score to settle—arrives, the whole system is shaken up. "When the Bet creative team set out to develop a series inspired by Kakegurui, we knew there was no point trying to reproduce the original, as it stands on its own and works perfectly,' Barry, the series' director and showrunner, told Netflix. "Instead, we chose to be directed by the spirit Kakegurui inhabits in tone, audaciousness, and fun. To that end, we made something 'birthed' from the source material that inspired a new take - one that pays homage to it and doesn't try to replace it." The 10 part thriller stars Miku Martineau, Ayo Solanke, and Eve Edwards. Read on for the full cast list, including where you've seen the stars before—from Star Trek to Workin' Moms. Below is a full cast list:
