Time to renounce the migrants hate rhetoric and tell another story

The ongoing demonisation of migrants and refugees continues to pick up pace. The return of Donald Trump as US President has enhanced the process, as he talks in terms of invasions and enemies of America. Walls are to be built, migrants incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay and other detention centres. This country is not much better. Migrants have been vilified for many years, even whilst so many staffed the care homes and hospitals, built the houses, harvested the crops and worked in hospitality. Instead of gratitude, there is an ongoing hostility, seeking to criminalise and stigmatise, those who have in the main contributed to the betterment of society. On the refugee side, the small boats saga has been blown out of all proportion, by spineless politicians egged on by a racist media selling it's own products on the back of fuelling hate. Most of those coming across the Channel are desperate, fleeing for their lives. It is not coincidental that most also come from war torn countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. In terms of economic migrants, the country needs a steady flow to make the economy grow. The UK has a rapidly ageing population, with over 65s increasingly outnumbering under 16s. The government continually talks of the millions of economically inactive people, then, about growth. So, how in a country, with so many inactive, are we going to get that magic growth without migrants? This country desperately needs migrant labour, vilifying them, whilst creating a different kind of hostile environment, will not encourage people to come. The fruits of attacking migrants and refugees was seen last summer with the riots across the country. The government responded firmly, with heavy punishments delivered by the courts. In Walthamstow, among other places, people came out to say no. But since then, the cowardice of the political class has resurfaced. The anti- migrant rhetoric of Reform, with Kemi Badenoch's Tory Party running to keep up. And, the other parties have shown worrying tendencies to emulate, rather than stand up to, the Reform agenda. The result of such an approach will deliver Nigel Farage as the next Prime Minister. The time now is to state a clear pro-migrant, inclusive narrative, not retire into the tired recesses of racism and hate. Let's be bold renounce anti-migrant based racism and tell another story.

Animal Farm - Stratford East

This excellent adaptation of George Orwell's iconic book gives a real contemporary feel to proceedings. The original book published in 1945, saw Orwell drawing what he saw as lessons from the early years of the Russian revolution. This Tatty Hennessy adaptation centres more on power dynamics, manipulation of group situations and inequality. In places there is more than a hint of the recent history of the Labour Party, with a popular leader ousted and a manipulative shadowy figure putting his man into the top job. The role of manipulative pig, Squealer (Tom Simper), has certainly been made far more prominent than in the original book. A cross between Peter Mandelson and Uriah Heep. There is some blurring of lines, possibly due to having to compact so much narrative into the limited time frame. For example, the dogs appear a far more terrifying force, serving the pigs, in the book. In the play, the single dog is an enforcer but also seems an ambivalent part of the group at times. Hayley Grindle, set & costume designer, does an excellent job, with the split stage. The animals below, whilst power resides in a sealed board room structure above.The pigs move to inhabit the board room. There is also a factory farm feel to the set. Tachia Newall nicely builds the role of Napoleon, overthrowing his rival, Snowball, and taking power. The effort to control the group, with fear engendered regarding traitors and enemies outside, also has a nice contemporary feel. The line :"All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others,"rings as true today, as in the 1940s. Napoleon's tour de force is a final speech where he displays the contempt of the ruling elite for the workers that they exploit. There is a real energy about the play throughout, conveyed by clever choreography of movement. A great strength of this production is that it can stand alone, relatable to life today. This owes much to Hennessy 's adaptation and the direction of Amy Leach. It keeps the audience engaged throughout. Well worth seeing. Runs till 8 March, then Leeds Playhouse 12 to 29 March and Nottingham Playhouse 2 to 12 April.

Pontiffs, politics and power

Vatican Spies by Yvonnick Denoel Anyone who had their appetite wetted for more Vatican intrigue, after seeing the film Conclave, will love this book. Vatican Spies reveals much about how the Catholic Church developed it's own intelligence network, often with the help of other agencies such as the CIA, French and Italian security services. The interactions with the Mafia during the World War II period at the behest of America, and getting caught up with the Mob through various dodgy financial dealings, makes for a fascinating read. The Catholic Church with it's universal reach to 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide, connected by a network of parishes and dioceses, amounts to a spy masters dream. On the face of it virtuous and God serving, below the surface as ruthless and brutal as any other intelligence operation. The author charts the development of the Church's intelligence capabilities through the popes from World War II up to the present day. Pope Pius XII (1939 - 1958) really got things moving. Prior to the war the Church mobilised against the Soviet Block. Anti-communism was the watchword. The Nazis, then, became the focus during the war, with Pius XII developing strong links with US President Franklin Roosevelt and the CIA. The President used the Church to bring the Mafia in on the allies side in Italy. The Church seemed to have a mixed war. Pius XII was sympathetic early on to those among the German military who wanted to overthrow Hitler. The Vatican also sheltered Jews and ensured safe passage. Irish priest Father Hugh O'Flaherty oversaw this work. On the debit side was an odd relationship with the Ustasha Croats, who killed thousands. After the war, the Church helped a number of these Nazis find their way to sanctuary in Argentina. Post war, the Vatican's intelligence focus swung back towards the anti-communist, anti- Soviet stance. Pius XII joined in with the Americans to oppose the Communist Party coming to power in Italy. The Church's financial institutions were a conduit for US sourced millions to be pumped into the Christian Democrats, so ensuring their electoral success. Catholics were told they must not support the Communists. A panic about the Communists potentially coming to power in Italy during the late 1940s saw the Irish government consider the Pontiff taking refuge in Ireland. Author, Denoel examines the formation of the different Popes, among the Curia and operating as Secretaries of State in the Vatican before getting the big job. After Pius XII came the more liberal John XXIII (1958 - 1963) and Paul VI (1963-1978). The 33 day papacy of John Paul I in 1976 is dealt with in an even handed way. Denoel does not buy into the popular view that he was murdered, more that he just wasn't cared for. John Paul II (1976-2005) is the ultimate spy masters Pope, involved at every level in a crusade against the Eastern Block, most predominantly relating to his native Poland. The author highlights the contradiction in John Paul II that saw him totally back the Solidarity trade union in Poland, whilst siding with the most brutal American backed dictators in Latin America, against the liberation theology of the people, embracing the church of the poor. Denoel states that: "for the Reagan administration, no battle was more important than that against the theology of liberation." This reached a crescendo against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and the murder of Archbishop Oscar Romero in El Salvador. The relationship between the Vatican and a US President was never closer than between John Paul II and Reagan. The author, though, does dismiss the socialist inspired liberation theology movement far too easily. An interesting section of the book looks at the strained relationship between the Vatican and Israel, compared to the warmth of relations with the Palestinians. It was not until 1993 that the Catholic Church recognised Israel. The wind tended to go out of John Paul II's sails after the Eastern Block collapsed, with the various scandals, particularly around Vatican finances, deaths and paedophiles, embracing his papacy. The present Pope Francis is seen as trying to modernise and clean up the Vatican His dislike of the Curia is well documented. He is credited for bringing together US President Barack Obama and Cuba's Raul Castro to improve relations between the two countries. Yvonnick Denoel has produced a comprehensive, very detailed account of how the Vatican has operated since the 1930s. It will amaze and appall readers at the same time. What is clear is that the Catholic Church developed a capability to interfere in sovereign countries affairs at least as much as any of the Eastern or Western intelligence agencies, often involving one or the other and sometimes both of these. Certainly a good read. Published by Hurst, £25 Published - Irish Post - 8/2/2025

How civilised is a society where a woman is killed by a man every three days?

A woman has been killed by a man once every three days in the UK over recent years. The Guardian newspaper has been reporting the deaths that have occurred over the past 12 months, which total 80. These are extraordinary and shaming figures. Can this country seriously describe itself as in any way civilised, as long as this level of abuse goes on? Domestic abuse rose significantly over the period of the COVID pandemic. It has been the case that such abuse also goes up at time of failure in major sporting events, such as football tournaments. Again, civilised? The problems of such abuse, very much lie with the male, who it seems, in some cases, has not progressed far beyond the cave man stage. Too many males seek to replace their mother with partners. Someone to run around, taking care of their every need - a servant. If the partner fails in this role retribution of varying types results. A lot of men still seem to regard marriage as some sort of property deal. They are not just getting a wife but a possession. Things are not as bad as they used to be. When the male was the sole breadwinner in most households, the females were far more powerless. There was a strict division of labour, males did not cook, do housework and in some cases even have much to do with the children. That was women's work. The abuse went on behind closed doors but was less acknowledged than today. Fortunately, there is now greater equality between the sexes. Female and male can get out of relationships that aren't working. More and more single parents do heroic work in bringing up children. Yet, still there is a long way to go. Women remain poorer paid than men in the workplace and the parent role is more likely to fall to the woman in the event of relationship break up. The struggle for equality needs to step up a gear. The pay gap must close. The parent responsible for bringing up the children should get a living wage for doing so. This work must be recognised. There is childcare benefit but this is limited - more so over recent years. There also needs to be more funding for refuges and other support mechanisms for those seeking to get out of abusive relationships. Leaving an abusive relationship needs support from many areas. Finally, males need to grow up and take responsibility. Stop behaving like adolescents. Relationships need to become partnerships of equals not the subjugation of one to the immature other. Things have improved but as the Guardian figures and rising levels of domestic abuse show there is still a long way to go.

People need to stand up for the River Roding

A walk along the River Roding is an exhilarating experience. The emerald flash of a kingfisher heading down stream, a buzzard drifting overhead and maybe an otter passing through. The Roding is the third biggest river in London, with huge potential. It begins out in Essex wending its way to Redbridge, then onto Barking Creek and out into the Thames. It is a major waterway, with the potential to become one of the London Mayor’s swimmable rivers over the next decade. The biodiversity potential is huge. The river is loved by local people. Volunteers from the River Roding Trust work to bring the river back to its former glory. Recently, they did some work on a stretch near Woodford, creating wildlife habitats, planting willow trees and picking up endless litter. Yet all of this is threatened by the negligence of those charged with custody of the river. A citizens scientist study undertaken under the aegis of Thames 21 and the River Roding Trust, between May and September last year, found dangerous levels of ecoli and intestinal enterococci. There are 9 combined sewer outflows, which discharged untreated sewage for 316 hrs over the surveyed period. Recently, Paul Powesland, founder of the River Roding Trust, discovered oil dumped in the river. Detriment also runs off the roads polluting the river. One outfall at the Aldersbrook tributary is severely impacting water quality in Ilford – with ecoli spikes of 19 times safe limits in the centre of Ilford. This outflow was discovered, four years ago, by Powesland – yet still Thames Water has done nothing about it. And here is the nub of the problem – a private company that puts shareholder dividends ahead of public service provision relating to our waterways. Add to that, the problem of an under resourced Environment Agency. There needs to vigorous enforcement against those who would destroy the waterway. The London mayor, local politicians and regulatory agencies need to step up for the River Roding before it is too late.