Current Politics in the United Kingdom

[Devius]

Rochdale rape: Four boys aged 12 to 14 arrested

Four boys have been arrested on suspicion of rape in Rochdale, police have said.

Greater Manchester Police said the boys, aged 12, 13, 14 and 14, were held after a "young female" reported being raped in the Newbold area at about 18:00 GMT on Saturday.

The force said the four boys remain in custody for questioning.

It added that the child who reported the attack was "currently being supported by specialist officers".

A representative said forensic officers had been at a scene on Kingsway and a police dog team had been used to search undergrowth in the area.

The area, which has been cordoned off, lies in a supermarket car park, about 330ft (100m) from the store entrance and about 165ft (50m) from the Newbold Metrolink tram stop.

The force has appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time of the reported attack or may have information about what happened to get in touch.

Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...ester-68269292

[Devius]

Originally Posted by Devius

Further related...



Women charged with terror offence over paraglider images at pro-Palestine march
Friday 3 Nov 2023 5:31 pm

Source:

https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/03/women-charged-with-terror-offence-over-paraglider-images-at-pro-palestine-march-19771788/

Continued...

Protesters celebrated Hamas with paraglider images, prosecutors allege

Three people at a pro-Palestine march in central London displayed images of paragliders, "celebrating" the Hamas tactic, a court has been told.

Heba Alhayek, 29, and Pauline Ankunda, 26, attached images to their backs, prosecutors allege, just seven days after Hamas militants used paragliders to enter Israel on 7 October.

Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, stuck one to a placard's handle, it is alleged.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court, they deny charges under the Terrorism Act.

They are charged with carrying or displaying an article to arouse reasonable suspicion that they are supporters of banned organisation Hamas.

The trio's display of the images at the protest on 14 October was widely condemned when footage of the demonstration was published on social media, their trial was told.

Prosecutor Brett Weaver told the court: "The displaying of these images could be viewed as celebrating the use of the paragliders' tactic.

"They had them on display for a significant period of time. Each of them would have been able to see what the others were doing," he said.

After the Metropolitan Police began a social media appeal to find them, Ms Alhayek and Ms Ankunda handed themselves in to Croydon Police Station, the court heard.

In a police interview, the pair initially claimed someone at the demonstration "who was not known to them" had stuck the images to their backs, before changing their statements, admitting they had attached them themselves, the court was told.

When arrested and interviewed under caution, Ms Taiwo said she had been handed the placard and not paid proper attention to the "blurry image" it displayed, the court heard.

The trial continues.

Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68275185

[Devius]

Lovelock Hostage Bridge to recognise Israeli hostages in Gaza

A new art installation recognising Israeli hostages held in Gaza has been opened in north London.

The Lovelock Hostage Bridge was initially made up of 100 padlocks, each inscribed with the names of those taken on 7 October.

Some of the padlocks have been left blank to represent those hostages who have died.

The installation is located on the walkway outside JW3, London's main Jewish community centre in Camden.



Family members of the hostages attended the opening and signed their own padlocks.

Prominent members of the Jewish community, including Dame Maureen Lipman, Sir Simon Schama and Dame Margaret Hodge also attended.

The installation was designed by artist Marcel Knobil, who said: "Lovelock bridges around the world have become symbolic of people displaying love for each other, this lovelock hostage bridge does something more than that, it helps display our love and solidarity for the hostages."



He invited people to send their own signed padlocks to add to the bridge.

"Whatever creed, colour, belief, please come and show your sympathy by attaching a lock," he added.



Dr Sharone Lifschitz, whose mother was released from Gaza in October, was one of the first people to attach a lock to the bridge.

Her father, Oded Lifschitz, is still being held hostage.

She said: "We are [on] day 128 and it's human nature to want to move on, yet for me it is still 7 October, my father is still there....I have to do everything I can to bring him back."

Dame Maureen Lipman, who officially opened the bridge, said: "It's a symbol, my religion is full of symbols....it screams louder than words....I hope that it sends out ripples and sends out waves."

Other famous faces including David Walliams, Mick Hucknall and Rachel Riley signed padlocks in advance.

Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68267186

[Priapus]

Originally Posted by foxbat1

The ones who buy their way in treat it like a Rolex, am expensive item that they bought for the prestige rather than because it tells time really well.

Very frustrating, as Britain used to be a place that set and kept standards. Rest assured, despite my almost complete lack of understanding of your legal system, minimal understanding of your culture, and what would almost surely be frequent indiscretions involving women, I'd serve as a Lord should.

[Devius]

UK sanctions four Israeli settlers accused of violence

The UK has imposed sanctions against four "extremist" Israeli settlers it has accused of attacking Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The Foreign Office announced financial and travel restrictions against the four who it says have committed human rights abuses against Palestinians.

Lord Cameron also called on Israel to take action to end the violence.

West Bank violence has surged since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October.

At least 384 Palestinians - members of armed groups, attackers and civilians - have been killed in conflict-related incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, or in Israel, according to the UN.

During the same period, 10 Israelis, including four security forces personnel, have been killed.

The Foreign Office says some residents in settlements and unauthorised outposts have used harassment, intimidation and violence to put pressure on Palestinian communities to leave their land.

Approximately 700,000 Jewish people live in 160 settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and 144 outposts, according to settlements watchdog Peace Now.

The settlements were built by previous Israeli governments after Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, while the smaller outposts have been built without official authorisation.

The vast majority of the international community considers the settlements and outposts illegal under international law, though Israel and the US dispute this interpretation.

Among those subject to UK travel bans and financial restrictions are settlers accused of threatening families at gunpoint and destroying property as part of a targeted campaign to displace Palestinian communities.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said: "Extremist Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs. This behaviour is illegal and unacceptable.

"Israel must also take stronger action and put a stop to settler violence. Too often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed through."

He added extremist settlers were "undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians".

The Foreign Office has named the four settlers and described the accusations against them.

Moshe Sharvit is accused by the UK of threatening, harassing and assaulting Palestinian shepherds and their families in the Jordan Valley.

In October 2023, he is said to have forced a community of 20 families to flee after he allegedly attacked residents and said they had five hours to leave.

Yinon Levy, leader of an outpost farm, has been sanctioned after using physical violence and the destruction of property to displace Palestinian communities, the Foreign Office statement says.

Zvi Bar Yosef, also sanctioned, is behind an outpost described by local Palestinian residents as a "source of systematic intimidation and violence", the government said.

A fourth Israeli sanctioned, Ely Federman, has been accused of being involved in multiple incidents against Palestinian shepherds in the South Hebron Hills.

Between the 7 October attacks and 5 February, 506 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians were recorded by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The Foreign Office has accused Israel of failing to act, leading to "an environment of near total impunity" for extremist settlers in the West Bank.

The UK says it is continuing to call for Israel to take action against those responsible for settler violence, release frozen funds to the Palestinian Authority and halt settlement expansion.

The UK move comes after the US approved sanctions last week on Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Shortly after President Joe Biden signed the executive order, Israel signalled its dissatisfaction and described the majority of West Bank settlers as "law-abiding".

"Israel takes action against all law-breakers everywhere, and therefore there is no need for unusual measures on the issue", a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68274777

[Devius]

Originally Posted by Devius

Related...

Azhar Ali: Labour defends standing by Rochdale by-election candidate

Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68272820

Further related (from SKY News live reporting)...

19:40
Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate

Labour has withdrawn its support for Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali after "new information about further comments" came to light.

Sky News understands that he is suspended from the Labour Party pending investigation.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: "Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election.

"Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisable from the party of 2019.

"We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values.

"Given that nominations have now closed, Azhar Ali cannot be replaced as the candidate."

The news of Mr Ali's suspension follows Sky News revealing that a formal complaint about his comments was filed with the party this afternoon

[Devius]

[Devius]

Soho Theatre sorry and saddened after report Jews ‘hounded out’ of comedy show
At least six audience members were said to have left in the incident after the Palestinian flag was produced at the end of the performance.

A London theatre has apologised and said it is looking into an incident after Jewish audience members were reportedly “hounded out” of a comedy show.

Soho Theatre, in the capital’s West End and a former synagogue, said it was saddened by the incident at the end of a performance by comedian Paul Currie on Saturday.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it was “assisting Jewish guests who were reportedly hounded out” of the theatre.



The organisation said it understood an Israeli man and his partner both left, followed by a Jewish party-of-four in an incident where the Palestinian flag was produced at the end of the performance.

The CAA, which said it had been in touch with one of the Jewish audience members who left, reported that people had been encouraged to stand for both the Ukrainian and Palestinian flags.

The Israeli man was then reportedly asked why he had not stood up and, according to the CAA, said that he had enjoyed the show until the Palestinian flag appeared.

The CAA said the Israeli man had been “yelled at” by the comedian to leave, and that others in the audience then shouted “Get out” and “Free Palestine”.

Soho Theatre said: “We are sorry and saddened by an incident that took place at our venue at the end of a performance of Paul Currie: Shtoom on Saturday February 10 which has caused upset and hurt to members of audience attending and others.

“We take this very seriously and are looking into the detail of what happened as thoroughly, as sensitively, and as quickly as we can. It is important to us that Soho Theatre is a welcoming and inclusive place for all.”

The theatre is a registered charity and the Charity Commission has said it is assessing information “to determine if there is a role” for the regulator.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “What the Jewish audience-members have recounted is atrocious, and we are working with them and our lawyers to ensure that those who instigated and enabled it are held to account.

“These allegations are of deeply disturbing discriminatory abuse against Jews. Comedians are rightly given broad latitude, but hounding Jews out of theatres is reminiscent of humanity’s darkest days, and must have no place in central London in 2024.”

The show is described on the theatre website as a “unique, surrealist, dada punk-clown, non-verbal experience from the award-winning Belfast comedy artist Paul Currie”.

A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We are aware of concerns that have been raised on social media relating to an event held at Soho Theatre.

“We are currently assessing information available to us to determine if there is a role for the Commission.”

Currie has been contacted for comment.

Source:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/soho-theatre-west-end-palestinian-caa-jews-b2494929.html

[Devius]

I feel REALLY sorry for the people of Rochdale on Thursday 29 February - who on Earth should get their vote?

Besides Labour's well-publicised woes with Azhar Ali, the Green Party have distanced themselves from their candidate Guy Otten (a retired lawyer and tribunal judge) who previously criticised Palestinians and the Islamic religion on social media...



However Mr Otten's name will still appear on the ballot paper and residents will still be able to vote for him.

Simon Danczuk is standing in the by-election for Reform UK. Mr Danczuk was elected as the Labour MP in 2010, but was suspended from the party in 2015 over allegations of what he called "inappropriate behaviour" (according to his Wikipedia entry, he had exchanged explicit messages with a 17-year-old girl).

Then there's George Galloway, standing for his Workers Party of Britain.
Who can forget his masterclass, pretending to be a cat on Big Brother?..



I'm hoping Ravin Rodent Subortna (Official Monster Raving Loony Party) wins...

[Budo]

Originally Posted by Devius

And they say all we have is bad news these days! Hope it was caught on camera and is leaked to the public. I could do with the laugh!