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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Doctor Who viewers switch off over 'woke, boring rubbish' after storylines featuring trans, non-binary and drag-queen characters exterminate fans
Doctor Who viewers are turning off in droves due to storylines condemned as ' woke ' and 'boring', new figures reveal. The primetime BBC1 show has taken a turn, with previous star Billie Piper making a comeback while Ncuti Gatwa departs after just two series in the lead Time Lord role. But while 2.3million viewers tuned in to last Saturday's episode including the Doctor's latest regeneration, it appears many more have been tuning out. Researchers have found that 42 per cent of Doctor Who fans say the show has got worse since 2005, when the BBC brought it back after 16 years away. And almost half of current continuing viewers, 46 per cent, say they believe the series now puts social justice and so-called 'woke' issues above quality, according to a poll. The survey of 2,135 people was carried out by London firm JL Partners, set up by people who previously ran research programmes for Theresa May as Prime Minister. The apparent slump in popularity for Doctor Who comes after a series of appearances by trans, non-binary and drag queen characters in recent years. In last Saturday's season finale, Gatwa's Time Lord regenerated and fans got a glimpse of Billie Piper, who played Rose Tyler for 35 episodes from 2005 to 2013. The new findings suggest that 42 per cent of viewers believe Doctor Who has got worse since being brought back to screens in 2005, with only 18 per cent approving. Overall, 38 per cent of people responded by saying it put social justice and 'woke' issues over quality - rising to 46 per cent among those still tuning into the show. James Johnson, from pollsters JL Partners, said: 'This is the first ever major poll done on attitudes to Doctor Who and the results are bleak. 'The public believe a once-great show has lost its way - and their biggest complaint is it puts pursuit of wokeness above entertainment value. The main words associated with it are rubbish, boring, and woke. 'If the BBC want to grow the show's audience once more, they will need a total revamp - and to get back to telling entertaining stories rather than preaching lessons that simply do not have an audience among the British public.' Other terms featuring most prominently in a 'wordcloud' produced by the polling firm after questioning people were 'weird', 'irrelevant' and 'awful' - but also 'entertaining', 'popular' and 'timeless'. Billie Piper's character Rose Tyler was a companion to versions of the doctor played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. Producers are keeping Piper's new role secret, for now, with the BBC saying in a statement after the finale aired: 'Just how and why she is back remains to be seen.' Doctor Who's 'woke' characters at a glance Rose Noble: The transgender daughter of Doctor companion, Donna Noble. She is imbued with Time Lord energy which supports her non-binary personality. She famously grilled David Tennant's Doctor for 'assuming' an alien's gender. Maestro: A non-binary villain played by American drag queen, Jinkx Monsoon. She uses music and singing as a power. Yoss: A pregnant man from the alien species known as the Gifftans. He reveals that unlike humans, both male and female Gifftans can give birth. The Doctor: David Tennant's Doctor, in the 60th anniversary episode, hints at being homosexual after encountering an Isaac Newton of Indian heritage who he goes on to call 'hot'. Showrunner Russell T Davies said in a statement: 'It's an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told.' Piper herself described how Doctor Who had provided some of her best memories - and felt she could not pass up the opportunity to come back. The former chart-topping popstar said: 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return. 'But who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see.' If Piper does indeed become the Doctor, she would be the third woman to fill the role. The Rwanda-born, Scotland-raised Gatwa, 29, was the first Black actor to helm the show, but he was not the first Black Doctor - with Jo Martin having played the so- called 'Fugitive Doctor' in several episodes. Gatwa took over the role from Jodie Whittaker in 2023. Whittaker was the 13th Doctor - and the first woman to play the central galaxy-hopping, extraterrestrial Time Lord who regenerates into new bodies, taking over from Peter Capaldi in 2017. Martin was the second woman to play the title role in a franchise that first aired from 1963 to 1989 before returning in 2005. Campaigners have accused bosses behind the BBC series of 'promoting the cult of gender ideology' in the latest episodes of the time-hopping romp, which is streamed globally thanks to a lucrative deal with Disney thought to be worth £100million. After last Saturday's episode was shown, a statement released by the BBC quoted Gatwa as saying: 'You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. 'This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe. 'The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can't thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience. 'I've loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. 'I'll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor.' Meanwhile, Piper said: 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that Tardis one more time was just something I couldn't refuse.' The development came as it was revealed Gatwa would exit after just two series - with ratings for the stalwart show having fallen in recent years. The BBC programme was reported to have been paused for an extended break amid criticism about recent plots involving non-binary aliens, incels and even a pregnant male extra-terrestrial. A small number of social media critics have pointed to the diversity of the cast, a drag queen villain and the introduction of transgender and non-binary characters. Ncuti's first series as the Doctor attracted between 2.25million and 3.18million viewers - a tiny fraction of what it used to pull in. The slump came after Russell T Davies returned as showrunner and introduced a string of controversial plots - which included David Tennant's Doctor realising he was gay after developing a crush on the 'hot' Sir Isaac Newton. Tennant, who stepped back into the Tardis to be the 14th doctor for three Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, made the hint about his sexuality in a comment to Catherine Tate, who returned as his assistant Donna Noble. In the exchange about Newton - who appears to be of Indian heritage in the show and is played by Nathaniel Curtis - Donna said: 'Is it just me or was Isaac Newton hot?' And the Doctor replied: 'He was, wasn't he? He was so hot. Oh! Is that who I am now?' Donna added: 'Well, it was never too far from the surface, mate. I always thought you...' In the anniversary special, fans were also introduced to Donna Noble's transgender daughter, Rose, played by trans actress Yasmin Finney. The 21-year-old, most recognised for her role as Elle Argent in Heartstopper, scolded Tennant's Doctor for 'assuming the gender' of an alien. Tennant was called out by Finney's character for describing a fluffy rat-like creature called Beep The Meep as 'him '. Rose lambasted the Doctor's assumption that the alien was a 'he', asking him: 'You're assuming he as a pronoun?' In an exchange dubbed 'cringe-worthy' by some viewers, the Doctor then apologised and asked Meep if it was a 'he or she or they', to which the creature replied: 'My chosen pronoun is the definite article. I am always The Meep.' But the scene was slammed by viewers, with the Family Education Trust saying it promoted a 'cult of gender ideology' for young people watching the TV show. Taking to X, the trust raged: 'The whole episode is dedicated to promoting the cult of gender ideology. Many vulnerable children watch Dr Who - this is dreadful propaganda from the BBC yet again.' Fans also lamented at the introduction of the screeching, wide-mouthed, ginger-haired non-binary villain, Maestro - played by American drag queen Jinkx Monsoon. The camp icon, who is seen slithering out of a piano while gurning and laughing maniacally, went viral for correcting another character for using 'him' pronouns incorrectly. Ncuti Gatwa and Russell T Davies are pictured here attending the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards 2022 at London's Royal Festival Hall on May 8 2022 In the show, Maestro encounters a man who warns other characters to 'get away from him' - to which the villain replies: 'Them.' 'What?' the bemused man then asks. 'I'm "them", but my notation is "Maestro",' Monsoon's character then replies, before going on to use musical chords as a weapon. Back in 2018, when Jodie Whittaker was the titular Time Lord, fans were introduced to a heavily pregnant man as one of the side characters. The 'man' called Yoss is an alien from a species known as the Gifftans. He reveals that unlike humans, both male and female Gifftans can give birth - when men giving birth to boys and women giving birth to girls. However, both Davies and Gatwa have hit back at flak, with Davies telling BBC Radio 2's 20 Secrets From 20 Years: 'Someone always brings up matters of diversity. 'And there are online warriors accusing us of diversity and wokeness and involving messages and issues. 'And I have no time for this. I don't have a second to bear (it). Because what you might call diversity, I just call an open door.' Gatwa told Attitude magazine last year that hateful racist comments were 'fascinating, because there's so much energy they're putting into it', adding: 'I think they need to go find a hobby is one thing.' During his time in the lead role, his companions have included Andor actress Varada Sethu, and ex-Coronation Street star Millie Gibson. When contacted by MailOnline, a BBC spokesperson said: 'Doctor Who remains one of the biggest dramas on the BBC and is the most watched drama for the under 35s, as well as being one of the most popular brands on BBC iPlayer.' The corporation confirmed the figure of 2.3million viewers tuning in at home, while saying the episode was also watched in 450 cinemas across the UK and Ireland. The spokesperson also responded to reports of a new longer-term tie-up with Disney+ by saying: 'As we have previously stated, a decision on any future deal between the BBC and Disney+ regarding Doctor Who is yet to be made and any other claims are pure speculation.' The changing face of Doctor Who: Every actor who has played the Time Lord 1. William Hartnell - 1963 to 1966 William Hartnell played the iconic Time Lord in his first incarnation, as he crashed to Earth with his granddaughter Susan after being 'exiled' from their planet Gallifrey. He was initially portrayed as a stubborn old man but a softer side was later shown to him in his compassion as a grandfather and towards his companions. The initial appearance of the doctor was very different to the modern episodes, with black-and-white filming and shaky effects. Hartnell's time as the Doctor also saw the first appearances of the Daleks and the Cybermen but years of travel took their toll on the aging Doctor and he collapsed in the TARDIS, leading to the second incarnation. The First Doctor sadly suffered through ill health while filming, ultimately forcing him to retire from acting. He passed away in 1975, aged 67. 2. Patrick Troughton - 1966 to 1969 Patrick Troughton's Doctor was in stark contrast to his predecessor, and was outwardly scruffy and light-hearted. In the second incarnation, fans met with new enemies such as the Great Intelligence and the Ice Warriors. This time also saw the debut of classic series mainstay Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (or the Brigadier), when he met the Doctor in the tunnels of the London Underground. The Second Doctor's time came to an end when the TARDIS landed in the middle of a war-zone, created by a race of alien warlords. He was able to defeat the plot but was forced to regenerate due to breaking laws of non-interference. Troughton passed away in 1987 after suffering a fatal heart attack. 3. Jon Pertwee - 1970 to 1974 Many modern-day fans will also know Pertwee for his role in Worzel Gummidge and his Doctor was more prone to action that his predecessors. After his exile to Earth was lifted, he and his companions travelled to all corners of the universe, along with meeting journalist Sarah Jane Smith. This era also the first ever multi-Doctor crossover, as the Third Doctor met his two previous selves. It saw the introduction of prehistoric villains The Silurians and The Autons, who appeared in the first episode of the 2005 reboot series. Eventually Pertwee's Doctor regenerated following a nasty encounter with The Green Death. Pertwee is sadly also no longer with us and passed away in 1996. 4. Tom Baker - 1974 to 1981 With his mass of curled hair and legendary striped scarf, Tom Baker was both the longest-serving Classic era Doctor and its most iconic, partly due to his partnership with Sarah Jane, played by the late Elizabeth Sladen. Tom - now 84 - is also known to younger fans as the narrator for comedy sketch series Little Britain. 5. Peter Davison - 1981 to 1984 Peter's Doctor was dressed as a cricketer and his personality tended towards being indecisive - although he had a vulnerable side. Even though popularity for the show dwindled through this era, the Doctor and his companion Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) are fondly remembered. A heart-wrenching scene also saw the first major death of the series, when Adric died trying to stop a space freighter from crashing into prehistoric Earth. 6. Colin Baker - 1984 to 1986 Colin Baker's time as the sharp-tongued Doctor was a turbulent period, with the actor's early dismissal as ratings plummeted leading to a slightly awkward regeneration scene. After the TARDIS was attacked by villainous Time Lady scientist The Rani, the Sixth Doctor was left injured and regenerated, though his death was never played out on-screen. In addition, the Doctor was never reunited with his companion Peri (Nicola Bryant). 7. Sylvester McCoy - 1987 to 1989 The Doctor headed into his seventh incarnation with his signature cane and punctuation-printed vest while, as now-EastEnders star Bonnie Langford took on the role of dizzy companion Mel Bush. However McCoy's tenure in the TARDIS came to an abrupt end when BBC axed the show in 1989. 8. Paul McGann - 1996 and 2013 After a near-decade off-screen Doctor Who was brought back as a TV movie in an American co-production, with Paul McGann taking on the leading role. This film saw The Master (played here by Eric Roberts) trying to steal the Doctor's remaining lives by opening the Eye of Harmony the TARDIS, which nearly destroyed the Earth. Luckily, the Doctor and his companion Dr Grace Holloway (Daphne Ashbrook) prevent the Earth's destruction, leading the Master is sucked into the Eye. It was in this film that fans saw their first glimpse at what a romance between the Doctor and his companion could look like, as they shared a firework-lit kiss in the closing scenes which infuriated fans at the time. 9. Christopher Eccleston - 2005 The series was an instant hit as Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) teamed up with Eccleston's version of The Doctor, this time a leather jacket-clad man with a Northern accent because 'lots of planets have a North!' A drastic change for the series at this point was the absence of Gallifrey, which had been destroyed - off-screen - in a Time War with the Daleks. The Daleks took centre stage in this new series with a scary gold exterior, and an explosive finale saw thousands of the alien robots try to conquer a futuristic version of Earth under the leadership of their Emperor. Sadly Eccleston's tenure in the TARDIS was brief - largely due to reports of disagreements behind the scenes - but his regeneration proved epic, kissing Rose to absorb the TARDIS vortex and save her life. 10. David Tennant - 2005 to 2010 Ask most Doctor Who fans, and they would predominantly name David Tennant as their favourite Doctor and fans became invested in his feelings for Rose Tyler. It was also the birth of his famous partnership with Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) which saw hilarious banter between 10 and companion. Ten's exit also saw Russell T Davies step down as showrunner and his closing scenes saw the fan-favourite alone in the TARDIS saying 'I don't want to go' before bursting into regeneration, with viewers of more than 11 million struggling to hold back their tears. 11. Matt Smith - 2010 to 2013 Matt, 27, made for the youngest-ever Doctor as he had big shoes to fill, while Stephen Moffatt took on the reins of show-running. Known as the 'raggedy Doctor', fears were soon gone as Eleven's sprightly nature and signature bow tie won over fans in a heartbeat alongside companion Amelia Pond. He stepped down after four years after saying it was long enough in the role. 12. Peter Capaldi - 2013 to 2017 Fans felt the show headed back to its classic roots during Twelve's era as Scottish actor Peter took on the role. The character was capricious and spiky but became more compassionate over time. Fans grew to love the friendship between the older Doctor and his companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) while the show's first ever gay companion was introduced in the form of Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) 13. Jodie Whittaker - 2017 to 2022 Jodie Whittaker took on the then-controversial role of the first-ever female Doctor. The actress, 41, has portrayed the eponymous Time Lord on-screen for four years, and bowed out of the sci-fi series in her last episode in October 2022. However, the role and the show's script were criticised throughout her tenure. Her departure featured in the episode The Power Of The Doctor, which even saw a brief return of David Tennant. 14. Ncuti Gatwa - 2023 to present Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa is making history as the first-ever black actor to take on the role of the Doctor. He will be taking on the iconic role from Christmas Day onwards after his first appearance in the 60th anniversary episode, in which the Doctor 'bi-generated', meaning there were two versions at the same time. He is set to cross paths with new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) for the first time.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Doctor Who's ‘woke, boring rubbish' storylines have caused staggering number of fans to turn off
MORE than half of Brits who used to watch Doctor Who say they turned off because it had become 'woke, boring rubbish'. That is the result of an independent survey conducted as star Ncuti Gatwa exited the Tardis with a paltry 2.3 million viewers on Saturday. 4 4 In a shock twist, he appeared to regenerate into the Doctor's former companion Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper — but many are not convinced she is the Time Lord's 16th incarnation. The Sun exclusively revealed last month that Ncuti, 32, would be leaving the role after two series — the shortest tenure of any actor in the role since Christopher Eccleston, who left the rebooted BBC show after one series in 2005. The survey quizzed 2,135 adults and found 42 per cent of current and former viewers said it had got worse since its relaunch two decades ago, with stories increasingly preachy and worthy. Even one in three current viewers think it has got worse. Plotlines over the past three years have featured trans heroines, non-binary baddies and drag-queen villains — and the Doctor coming out as gay, and crying in most episodes. James Johnson of pollsters JL Partners said: 'This is the first ever major poll done on attitudes to Doctor Who and the results are bleak. 'The public believe a once-great show has lost its way — and their biggest complaint is it puts pursuit of wokeness above entertainment value. 'The main words associated with it are rubbish, boring, and woke. 'If the BBC want to grow the show's audience once more, they will need a total revamp. 'And to get back to telling entertaining stories rather than preaching lessons that simply do not have an audience among the British public.' Dr Who gone Woke The poll found 46 per cent of current viewers think it puts social justice and woke issues above quality, compared with 37 per cent who believe the show puts quality first. Those who have stopped watching say it puts social justice and woke issues first by a ratio of three to one. The average age of current viewers is 42, compared with 51 for ex-fans. They are also heavily Labour voters compared to a more politically diverse former audience. The wokery ratcheted up after Doctor Who was taken over for a second time by showrunner Russell T Davies in 2023. He was the man who rebooted the show in 2005 with Eccleston, followed by David Tennant. 4 Who has starred in Doctor Who? Which actors have portrayed the famous Time Lord over the years? First Doctor: William Hartnell (1963 - 1966) Second Doctor: Patrick Troughton (1966 - 1969) Third Doctor: Jon Pertwee (1970 - 1974) Fourth Doctor: Tom Baker (1974 - 1981) Fifth Doctor: Peter Davidson (1982 - 1984) Sixth Doctor: Colin Baker (1984 - 1986) Seventh Doctor: Sylvester McCoy (1987 - 1989) Eighth Doctor: Paul McGann (1996) Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (2005) Tenth Doctor: David Tennant (2005 - 2010) 11th Doctor: Matt Smith (2010 - 2013) 12th Doctor: Peter Capaldi (2014 - 2017) 13th Doctor: Jodie Whittaker (2018 - 2022) 14th Doctor: David Tennant (2023) 15th Doctor: Ncuti Gatwa (2023 - present) A respectable 5.1 million tuned in to see his 'comeback episode' with David returning to play the Doctor for a second time in 2023. The actor then handed over to Ncuti who had his first full series as the Fifteenth Doctor last year. One Whovian writing on X/Twitter, said: 'Thanks to RTD (Russell T Davies) Ncuti is tainted and '15' will be remembered as the worst Doctor with the worst era in the history of Doctor Who.' The Sun revealed BBC bosses were considering a hiatus for the show, though execs maintained they would not make a decision until the second series had aired. Russell T Davies teased a return on Saturday, saying: 'After 62 years, the Doctor's adventures are only just beginning!' But that seems optimistic given their current multimillion-pound deal partnership with Disney+ is facing an uncertain future — and the viewing figures for one episode of the last series fell as low as 1.6 million. A spokeswoman for Doctor Who said: 'Doctor Who remains one of the biggest dramas on the BBC and is the most watched drama for under-35s, as well as being one of the most popular brands on BBC iPlayer. 'As we have previously stated, a decision on any future deal between the BBC and Disney+ regarding Doctor Who is yet to be made and any other claims are pure speculation.' WARNING: ALIENS AHEAD By Thomas Godfrey A THEATRE adaptation of sci-fi novel The War of the Worlds has been slapped with a woke warning — as it features Martians. The alien invaders, who try to destroy humanity in H.G. Wells' 1895 book, have been included in a list of potential triggers. The 3D immersive experience at central London's Hallmark Building also has warnings about violence. A spokeswoman said: 'The notices ensure transparency and inclusion.' But ex-Tory minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke said last night: 'They clearly think the public is stupid.' 7 Hints that Billie's no true Doc BILLIE Piper's arrival on Saturday as Ncuti Gatwa left was seen as a sign the show would continue. Known for playing past companion Rose Tyler, Billie appeared to debut as the 16th Doctor. But Whovians think she may not be the true Time Lord, meaning a big question mark hangs over the troubled show's future. TV Editor Rod McPhee looks at seven clues: NOT CREDITED AS THE DOCTOR: Every new Time Lord has been introduced as the Doctor in the end credits. In Saturday's episode, hers simply read: 'introducing Billie Piper'. RUSSELL T. DAVIES WON'T EVEN SAY: After the twist, Doctor Who's own showrunner said of Billie's return: 'Quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told.' BILLIE HINTED SHE'S STILL ROSE: Just after her return, Billie posted on Instagram a picture of herself holding a rose with the caption: 'A rose is a rose is a rose.' TENNANT'S RETURN WAS CLEARER: When Jodie Whittaker regenerated into David Tennant in a similar twist, execs immediately confirmed he was the Doctor. ROSE IS LINKED TO THE TARDIS: Ncuti tapped into the Tardis before regenerating. Fans reckon it caused Rose to return, since she held the power of the Tardis in 2005. SHE STILL SEEMS TO BE REGENERATING: Billie is still glowing when the episode ends, suggesting the transformation is incomplete and the true Doctor is yet to emerge. THE BBC DON'T CALL HER THE DOCTOR: The corporation avoids calling her the Doctor in a news item released soon after the episode.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Police afraid to use force after ‘woke witch hunt'
Police are 'concerned' about using force while making arrests after a 'woke witch hunt' resulted in a decorated officer being dismissed for gross misconduct. Dorset Police Federation has called for 'urgent clarification' from senior officers about the implications of using force, including by those 'who make genuine mistakes when doing so'. It comes after Lorne Castle was dismissed for behaving aggressively and using unreasonable force during an incident in Bournemouth in January last year. Castle is alleged to have told a youth who was found to be in possession of a knife to 'stop screaming like a b---h' and threatened to 'smash him' before putting his hands around the boy's neck. Campaigners have since hit out at Dorset Police, calling the force 'woke' and claiming Mr Castle had been 'thrown under a bus'. Dorset Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers such as Mr Castle, said its members were now doubting themselves over whether they should manhandle suspects to overpower them. A spokesman said: 'Dorset Police Federation has been overwhelmed by the response by our members since the outcome of this case – colleagues are understandably concerned about what the outcome of this case means for them and their use of force. 'It must be said that we note the strength of feeling from members of the public in Dorset over this incident as well. 'We are seeking urgent clarification from Dorset Police about the implications of using force for officers, including those who make genuine mistakes when doing so. 'We are also keen to review the sustainability of our training provisions around the use of force to ensure that it is fit for purpose. We want to ensure that our members feel that they will be supported when using force lawfully and proportionately.' 'Woke and weak agenda' In a decade as a PC, Mr Castle was twice commended for saving the lives of members of the public. In 2023, he put his own safety at risk to rescue a woman from being swept away in a flooded river. In 2021, he was made Dorset Police's officer of the year for his 'outstanding service' and for undertaking every shift 'with the personal commitment to make a difference and do the right thing'. At the time of the arrest last year, the youth was wanted in connection with an assault on an elderly member of the public on Bournemouth seafront and for being part of a gang attack at a McDonald's restaurant. As three officers struggled to restrain him and handcuff him, a three-inch knife fell out of his pocket. One end was a lock knife and the other a Stanley knife. The teenager claimed it was for use at his work. Campaigners have hit out at Dorset Police over the officer's dismissal, with a petition on calling for him to be reinstated. Some have also called for the Home Secretary to intervene. Chris Amey, who served in the police for 30 years, has set up a GoFundMe campaign to pay Mr Castle's wages. He accused Dorset Police of pursuing a 'woke and weak' agenda. Mr Amey, a retired chief inspector, said: 'Dorset Police have completely lost touch with reality and the community they serve. 'If you have been following this case you will see a significant overwhelming positive response from huge numbers of the general public, both via social media and in person to Lorne himself. 'It is fantastic to see that this woke and weak agenda will no longer be tolerated. I couldn't stand by and watch a good man and his family suffer at the hands of what can only be described as a 'witch hunt'. 'The decisions made in this case have serious and unprecedented consequences for all serving officers looking to proactively stop and search or arrest offenders in possession of bladed weapons. Are they all now expected to go up to such offenders and politely ask them if they'd kindly hand over anything nasty they might have on them?' 'Unbelievable amount of public support' He added: 'The Home Office should be looking at this, and if I was the Home Secretary I would be really concerned about what's going on at Dorset Police at the moment. It was an abysmal decision to dismiss him. All common sense has gone out of the window.' Mr Castle, a married father of three, has thanked people for the 'unbelievable amount of public support'. He said: 'I can't say how much the messages and public support have meant. It's been a tough time, it's been hard on me and my family. I'm OK, I feel free for the first time since I joined this job. Who knows what the future holds, but I had to say thank you.' A spokesman for Dorset Police said: 'An independent panel reviewed all the evidence in relation to this incident and found PC Lorne Castle had committed gross misconduct, having breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy, conduct and use of force after he behaved aggressively and used unreasonable force while arresting a 15-year-old boy in Bournemouth town centre. 'We continue to support our colleagues where they use force in a lawful and proportionate way and the standards of behaviour, that the public expect, are upheld. We are working hard to maintain and improve trust and public confidence in policing and tackling unethical or unacceptable behaviour remains a Force priority.'
Irish Times
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Why ‘left' and ‘woke' are not the same thing
In her book Left Is Not Woke today's guest Susan Neiman argues that the left has taken a wrong turn and must differentiate itself from 'wokism'. On the Inside Politics podcast she talks to Hugh Linehan about what she means by 'woke' and why its appeal to traditional left-wing tendencies, like solidarity and supporting the underdog, helps disguise its more reactionary elements. They also talk about Germany's relationship with Israel and how its own history influences German views on what is happening in Gaza. Susan Neiman is an American moral philosopher, commentator and author known for her work on ethics, the Enlightenment and contemporary politics. She is the director of The Einstein Forum, a think-tank based in Potsdam, Germany.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Dining across the divide: ‘She said ‘woke' had gone too far'
Occupation Early retired primary headteacher Voting record A diehard Lib Dem, but will vote tactically and loves Labour's Cat Smith, who she says is a great local MP Amuse bouche She's a governor of two independent schools in Kazakhstan, one in its capital, Astana, and one in Almaty Occupation Geography lecturer Voting record Used to vote Labour, but was put off by their stance on the Palestinian cause and their attitude to the left. Now votes Green Amuse bouche Once, she and some flatmates made their own version of Findus Crispy Pancakes from scratch Emma She seemed very nice, very smiley. We were having a bit of banter outside straightaway. Sue The first two minutes were awkward, but once we had looked at the menu we didn't shut up. Emma We both had surf and turf. She ordered it and I had to ask the waitress how to use the tools to eat the lobster. It was delicious. Sue I had chocolate mousse for dessert, and Emma had raspberry and elderflower sorbet. It was beautiful; the whole place was gorgeous. Emma The main bone of contention was that she said 'woke' had gone too far. It was originally an African-American term that means being aware of structural racism. So to suggest it's gone too far is to suggest anti-racism has gone too far, that social justice has, which it obviously hasn't. It must be very frustrating for African Americans, that their language gets co-opted. It's important to remember who it belongs to and not let it be neutralised. Sue If by 'woke' you're talking about protected characteristics, then obviously I respect those; they are absolutely essential. But I feel it stifles free speech, and those who are marginalised become even more so. Emma Sue has worked in schools in a lot of really deprived communities. Her concern is that when you get this intellectual censoriousness of liberal identity politics, the people the left should be serving are excluded. Sue If you over-police and don't look at context, you won't have any idea where people are coming from; whether they might be receptive to changing their view. You have to really work to understand what it's like when you haven't got a voice. Somebody who hasn't had a privileged, middle-class education, who lives a hand-to-mouth existence – their reality is going to be polar opposite. Sue I bet Emma is an amazing lecturer. She speaks with such passion about the young people she's working with. And I was talking with equal passion about the children I've worked with – lack of school readiness is really striking. We had children whose socialisation, speech, potty training, just general physical strength, weren't where they should have been. They hadn't got the pincer grip needed to write because they'd used screens and simply swiped. Emma We're both quite anti social media; neither of us use it. We both think young people need to spend more time outside, and we've seen negative impacts in the cohorts we teach. Nowadays, students come to university and it will be their first time pushed into independence, very high stakes. I think it affects their happiness. They seem very stressed, and you shouldn't be stressed when you're 19 – you should be living your best life. Emma I work in the environment department at the university and I live in an eco-community, so all my friends and colleagues were saying: 'You've got to say this about net zero, you've got to say that.' And then I met Sue and she said: 'I've got an environmental science degree, I'm not against net zero.' Sue She thought I was going to be all 'Drill, baby, drill'. She said: 'Shall I tell you about my eco house?' And I said: 'Yes, please.' Emma I almost felt like I doing a Blind Date. We had loads of very personal conversations, and kept saying: 'This doesn't go in the paper.' We ended up going very deep. Sue We had so much in common. She's the type of person I would want to be friends with. She's absolutely authentic and I trusted her. Additional reporting: Kitty Drake Emma and Sue ate at Quite Simply French in Lancaster. Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part
