Prison system must be about rehabilitation, not vengeance

Prisons cannot become vengeance factories for victims and the relatives of victims seeking revenge against perpetrators. Whilst the hurt felt can never be underestimated, the victim''s role should end, once the perpetrator has been tried and sentenced by the courts. It is then for the criminal justice system to ensure justice is achieved - that includes managing release and rehabilitation. It has been widely accepted that incarcerating people does not cut crime. In fact, prisons are universities of crime equipping offenders to be better criminals on release. The only way prison can be a positive experience is if proper rehabilitation takes place, giving offenders and the public another chance. Rehabilitation, though, can only work in orderly run prisons, not overcrowded battery style facilities. The latter amount to powder kegs, hence the government's desire to cut numbers in the present overcrowded system. As a former chief inspector of prisons pointed out, all but a handful of prisoners will be released at some point and they could be living next door to you or I. Media incited hysteria may sell papers but it does not solve the problems of the justice system. Out of sight out of mind is not a criminal justice policy. Society needs to face up to the challenges that offenders pose. Punishment, yes, but less incarceration and more rehabilitation should be the way forward. Failure to deal with the present system on the basis of logic, rather than the last headline, will see the powder keg that is the prison system explode, with riots and mayhem - surely no one wants that?

Growth of microbreweries - a local success story

The growth of the brewing industry has been one of the big success stories of recent years. There have been the old traditional brewers like Fullers in West London. The brewery sits next to the Thames at Chiswick, the fantastic aroma of beer filling the air. Beer drinkers will be familiar with Fullers trademark London Pride, a staple of many pubs around these parts. Others like ESB and 1845 also crop up. The Fullers brewery was founded in 1845. Back in the day, beer was a regular part of working people's diets, safer to drink than water. Fullers survived and prospered. They have 360 pubs across the land. Other big brewers like Kent based Shepherds Neame and Adnams in Southwold will also be familiar. There have been many ups and downs in the brewing industry over the past century. The modern brewing industry, though, got a real boost in 2002, when then Chancellor Gordon down brought in Small Brewers Relief. This cut the tax payable by 50% on breweries producing up to 5000 hectolitres (880,000 pints) per annum. There was then a taper of tax payment up to 60,000 hectolitres. Above that figure meant paying the full tax amount. The tax break gave the small brewers a chance against their larger brethren, who benefited from having economies of scale. The impact on the industry was dramatic, resulting in hundreds of smaller breweries developing across the country. In East London, the brewing industry really took off. What has become known as the beer mile in and around Blackhorse Road in Walthamstow bares witness. Many breweries have sprung up in the last 20 years. Present incumbents include East London Brewery, Pretty Decent, Signature, Exhale and 40 Foot. Brewing is not exclusive to this area, with others, like Libertalia recently starting under the railway bridge at Leyton. The Wanstead Beer Festival is supplied by many of these local breweries. The original tax break was campaigned for by the Society of Independent Brewers and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). Times though are tough for brewers and pubs. The cost of living crisis means people have less to spend. The costs of production have increased. Breweries and pubs have been forced to close down. More than a pub a week has been closing across the UK this year. Despite the great success of local brewers, some have been forced to close, such as Walthamstow based Beerblefish and Wildcard. Industry bodies have called for cuts to business rates to help. So these are tough times for the hospitality industry. It needs all of our support. The brewing sector is one of the modern day successes of the British economy. It is great to be able to go into our pubs and have a pint from a local brewery Similarly, people attending the Wanstead Beer Festival have said how much they enjoy being able to enjoy beer from the local breweries - a real precious resource. So let's make sure we support the beer makers, servers and drinkers. See you in 10 October at the Wanstead Beer Festival - tickets now on sale at www.wansteadbeerfestival.co.uk

New Prime Minister must not be fooled by false defence versus welfare spending arguments

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham will have spending choices to make as he takes up the reins of power. One unfortunate narrative pushed forward is the need to spend more on defence. This extra spending it is argued should come from welfare, so something of a loaded dice. First, what is the extra defence spending for? Threats from Russia are often cited, though that country has been bogged down in the Ukraine conflict for over four years. So, is the threat over-hyped to justify more spending? The world situation has become more unstable, since Donald Trump became US President. The war with Iran is but the latest example. Trump has also indicated America won't continue to bankroll the defence of Europe. In this debate, it is significant to look at who is given the platforms to argue for more defence spending. Often, it is spokespeople for the arms industry dressed up as objective commentators. The Defence industry needs constant war and unrest to prosper. Another question should be what will the Ministry of Defence (MOD) do with extra funding? There is a blank cheque approach to the discourse on this subject, yet the MOD is legendary amongst Whitehall departments for wasting money. Procurement over the years has been appalling. Defence will not improve by just throwing money at it. The next part of the argument is that the funding should come from welfare - why? Again, 'helpful' commentators and right wing politicians argue welfare spending is out of control, spiralling ever upwards. It needs to be cut. But as economist Jonathan Portes points out, the welfare spending level as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product is lower than 15 years ago. And compared to European neighbours it is a lot lower. Another favourite target within welfare spending is the state pension. Yet the pension is a right, not a benefit. People have paid National Insurance for 35 years plus to receive the pension. What is more the National Insurance Fund, which holds the funds is £74 billion in credit. Despite all the talk of scrapping the triple lock (ensuring pensions go up by the highest of prices, wages or 2.5%), UK pensioners are worse off than many European counterparts. There maybe an argument for some increase in targeted defence spending but the argument needs to be far more holistic. The big threat is not any one country but climate change. This is destabilising the world, creating ever more refugees and conflict. Yet, ironically, often, those arguing for increased defence spending at the cost of welfare number amongst those arguing for increased fossil fuel extraction, such as oil from the North Sea. So something of a circular, contradictory construct. More funding maybe needed for Defence and other areas but not by cutting welfare or taking climate change enhancing actions. Maybe there should be more taxes from those with the broadest shoulders. Also, some of the inefficiencies in present operations and the continued retention of the Trident nuclear program? Described as Britain's independent deterrent it is anything but. Controlled by the US, the nuclear weaponry is paid for by British tax payers. Cutting an increasingly redundant program would save tens of millions. So the new PM will have to look carefully at spending setting out his priorities for government. What he should not do is fall for redundant neo-liberal based arguments pushed by vested interests. The common good should be the mantra going forward, not who can profit on the backs of the most vulnerable. published - East London Guardian - 24/7/2026

Review of Rebel and the Peacemaker by Geraldine Roberts

This fascinating book traces the lives of Charles and Mary Bagot through turbulent times in America, Russia and latterly Canada during the first half of the 19th century. Geraldine Roberts second book follows on from the Angel and the Cad about the antics of the Duke of Wellington's nephew William Pole Tylney Long Wellesley. In that case, Long Wellesley managed to destroy his wife Catherine 's life. Though, it became the first case where a man was denied custody of his children (that duty going to the Duke of Wellington, after Catherine''s death). Roberts deploys a similar forensic style of approach in this latest book, which picks up with Long Wellesley's sister Mary, who marries Charles Bagot. Bagot is determined to serve in the diplomatic sector. He becomes great friends with future Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister George Canning, though also shares his rise and fall in fortunes. Politically, Bagot is a Tory, at a time when the Whigs are seen as the coming liberating force. However, he excels as a diplomat. First, being sent as British ambassador to Washington in 1815. The British had just burnt Washington in the war of 1812 to 1815. Post war, things are tense but the Bagots charm their way around the diplomatic circuit. Important treaties are agreed, bringing peace. Bagot plays a key role in one of the few positive actions of the British Empire, helping secure liberty for some of the slaves who joined the British side during the three year war. After three arduous years in America, Bagot becomes ambassador to Russia. There, dealing with the elusive Tsar Alexander I. A period follows as ambassador to the Netherlands. Finally, Bagot is brought out of retirement to become Governor General of Canada. A role where he brought unity to a divided country, whilst being vilified at home in the UK for his liberal actions. Roberts provides a fascinating insight to an interesting period of history. Diplomacy in a modern sense is in it's infancy. The period covered, bridges the end of the Georgians and beginning of Victoria's reign (Queen Victoria is not a Bagot fan). The change in reigns is described in terms of a decline of the "vulgar ostentation" of the Georgian era. Whilst at times the author seems something of a fan of the Bagots, aka Hillary Mantel and Thomas Cromwell, she in the main keeps an objective observers pose. In many ways she is setting the record straight, recalling how the online biography at the National Gallery is less than complimentary, failing to mention his role as an abolitionist for slavery. Bagot seems to have been more appreciated in the annals of the US and Canada. Much of the book focuses on Mary, a vivacious, intelligent person, who does all she can within the many confines placed on women at the time. There are some other interesting social history titbits in the account, such as the rich and wealthy had access to a form of condom in these times. Not that that seemed to effect the Bagots, who had 10 children. Mary also had a number of affairs, seemingly forgiven by Charles. One child Arthur wasn't his. Also, that non- monogamy was routinely practiced in the late 18th century, though maybe not a shock, just that it seemed an acknowledged thing at that time.Simething no doubt lost in the haze that the Victorians seem to have pulled over much of the concept of history today. Overall, a very interesting read, especially for those interested in the history of this time, bridging the Georgian and Victorian periods, as the British Empire and influence expanded. published by Canelo August, £20 Published - Morning Star - 25/7/2026

National Emergency Briefing outlines the need for urgent action to address the environmental crisis - the message there is not time to waste, particularly indulging the arguments of fossil fuel funded climate deniers

Extreme weather with fires in the summer and floods in the winter, food shortages, with harvests failing every other year, poor health and growing poverty are all consequences of the climate crisis the world now faces. > These are some of the stark facts presented in the National Emergency Briefing film being shown across the land. > The film, hosted by naturalist Chris Packham, shows a briefing presented at Westminster Central Hall last November. > The briefing saw experts from several fields address different aspects of the crisis. These included weather, biodiversity, security, health, economics, tipping points and transition. > There was then discussion after each segment, with the likes of Deborah Meaden, Jennifer Saunders , Koni Haq and members of the public. > The message was stark, namely that time is running out. Some dramatic change is needed in the way that humans live on the planet > The statistics were alarming, such as that one in four homes in the UK (8 million) will be at risk of flooding by 2050. Food insecurity will increase, with food price inflation growing due to extremes of weather. A third of food price inflation was due to extremes of weather in 2023. > Britain's green and pleasant land will be no more, with extremes of cold and wet in the winter, followed by intense heat (40 degrees plus) in the summer becoming the norm. > There was an upside to this largely doomsday scenario. This envisaged a major transition away from fossil fuels dependency. More renewable energy sources making the UK more secure, with cheaper energy and food. > "Flood absorbing parks, cooler greener cities, better insulation and resilient infrastructure protect people, cut bills,improve health and create skilled jobs," said Hayley Fowler, Professor of Climate Change Impacts at Newcastle University, who cited the example of Copenhagen that has reinvented itself as a sponge city. > What the film did not tackle was the role of the climate deniers in destroying the planet. Those among the political classes, who oppose net zero policies, denying what is happening, despite the evidence all around. It is an Alice in Wonderland approach of simply denying the science of what is happening if you don't like it. > What is more such an approach - as typified by Trumps America, where wind turbines are being destroyed to restore fossil fuel sourced energy - is economically backward. > China is leading the charge on renewables, with growing amounts of its energy coming from that source. It also supplies 80 per cent of the world's solar panels and over half of the electric vehicles. > China is moving totally away from fossil fuels, which are not only damaging the planet but becoming the most expensive way of supplying energy. It is not doing this out of some sense of altruism but because it makes economic and rational sense. > In this area, Trump''s policies will once again ultimately make America poorer again. > The recently elected Reform councils pledged to go back to the future by reversing environmental measures, will soon find this costs more money. The penny has to drop sometime that net zero is the only way forward. > The National Briefing Film is a great tool to communicate the nature of the crisis and the need for urgent action. Organisers want the film to be shown in community groups across the country, with MPs and councillors invited. The ultimate goal is to get a one hour screening of the film on TV. > What is for sure is that urgent action is needed. This is a worsening crisis, not another view on climate. Positive things are happening in this country at local and national level but everything has to happen more quickly. The upside is more jobs, security, cheaper energy and food plus a better life. The alternative is the end of life as we know it. >

To Kill a Mockingbird - Wyndham theatre

To Kill a Mockingbird - Wyndham Theatre The latest production of To Kill a Mockingbird has prescient timing,coming as the darker forces of violence and racism are very much on the move in Trumps America. The scenes dramatically brought to life in this play reminds all of how close to the abyss things have become. Previous incarnations of the play have had the luxury of a feeling of looking back, things aren't as bad now as then - no one could fall into that trap now. In Trumps America the lynch mob mentality has been emboldened, out on the streets in official and unofficial guises. The central character of Atticus Finch is played to great effect by Richard Coyle. The moral, yet vulnerable man, multi-layered, rather than simply good versus evil. He and the children Scout Finch (Anna Munden), Jem Finch (Gabriel Scott) and Dill Harris (Dylan Malyn) hold the narrative together. The whole episode is set over one summer. This adaptation by Aaron Sorkin brings the black characters very much into the foreground. In the original 1960 Harper Lee book, and then film, they were silent victims, being done to - appreciative to Atticus and the good whites. In this version, housekeeper Calpurnia (Andrea Davy) voices the anger. She is critical of Atticus, with his at times patronising ways - expecting gratitude. It is Calpurnia who breaks the reasoned tone of Atticus, when the news of the death of Tom Robinson comes through. She allocates blame to the jurors, who returned guilty verdicts, as "monsters" in the court room and "murderers" outside. Another element making this a more contemporaneous account is the role of the abusive father Bob Ewell. Played brilliantly by Oscar Pearce, the voice of the angry disempowered white man in America rings out. The supremacist message that the white man built America and Europe, yet he is the one now under threat - the new oppressed minority! Atticus is not only the lawyer defending a black man but the epitomy of everything that Ewell despises and blames for his own situation. "Your not one of us," is a memorable line. Director, Bartlett Sher, ensures the right tempo throughout, dark forces at play, yet also much virtue and quite a bit of humour. On set there is slick switching between the courtroom and the Finch house. The design is very good, enabling a seamless flow in proceedings. One possible fault would be the transition from court scene, verdict and death of Robinson to the later action involving the attack on the children and saviour role of Boo Radley. This passage has a slightly disjointed feel. Overall, though, this is an excellent production, well worth seeing. The way in which the original book has been brought up to date to resonate with Trump's America makes it particularly poignant. There is also a clear warning as to where things are headed, if the divisions now widening in society, are not healed soon. Runs till 12 September

Read the insider story of Labour under Starmer

Get in - the inside story of Labour under Starmer by Patrick Maguire & Gabriel Pogrund Published by Vintage £12.99 This devastating account of the rise and falling years of Keir Starmer's Labour Government really does reveal the inner workings of the project. Times and Sunday Times journalists, Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund, chronicle the parallel progression of Starmer and his chief collaborator Morgan McSweeney. A man determined to destroy Corbyn's Labour and build a new right wing edifice of obedient servants. All he required was an acceptable face for the project, who happens to be Starmer. The two men seem to share the same goal, with Starmer ambitious and utterly determined to become PM, no matter what the cost. So the plotting and scheming begins, in the early stages with meeting at Jenny Chapman's house in Camden. Then, other groups in other places. Starmer, though, is as ruthless as McSweeney, effectively getting rid of his cohort of inner support after the narrow Batley and Spen by-election victory in 2021. Then, the Blairites come in. Labour Together, gestated from Blue Labour, is the initial vehicle to destroy the Left. Shabana Mahmood and Conor Mcginn. are two leading figures in the fight against the Left. Mahmood does much heavy lifting across the party but is screened out of the picture, despite her Muslim heritage, at the time of the Gaza crisis. Steve Reed is another key player. An honourable mention for the Morning Star, as a must read for right winger John Spellar to see what his enemies were doing and celebrate any former hard left adversaries coming up in the obits. There are some intriguing insights such as when earlier Dominic Cummings contacted former Corbyn spokesperson Matt Zarb Cousins, suggesting that if Corbyn's Labour backed Theresa May's Brexit deal, the Tories would split enabling Corbyn to win a subsequent election promising to fund the NHS and public services. Another is McSweeney preparing for government, with a clandestine meeting with Michael Gove. The overall impression of Starmer though is a man crashing from crisis to crisis, only nominally in charge but willing to throw anyone under the bus to save his own skin. Casualties range from Corbyn and Louise Haigh to Sue Gray and in the end McSweeney himself. Angela Rayner is sidelined before she falls from grace over her tax issues. Though, she seems to have been one of the more effective ministers. Maguire and Pogrund succeed in producing what comes across as a fly on the wall account of the Starmer years. What is striking is how mythical this facade of competence, that Starmer and co endeavour to put across, actually is. Since being elected the government has just crashed from disaster to disaster - rarely seeming in control. Sue Gray, brought in as the chief of staff, to ensure a smooth transition to government, seems to do anything but. Instead, Gray seems to alienate everyone, until she has to go. Interestingly, it does not seem that despite popular perception there was any particular feud between Gray and McSweeney, more she alienated everyone and made government more difficult. The perception of constant chaos has ofcourse continued. The account ends with the budget in November 2025, so all of the stumbling of this year over Peter Mandelson, McSweeney, the local elections etc has yet to come. The overall impression is that Starmer is one of the least suited and incapable individuals to hold the office of Prime Minister probably ever. And as everyone knows there has been quite a bit of competition for that epitaph over recent years. The judgement of Maguire and Pogrund is all the stronger, given that they come over as not unsympathetic to Starmer, particularly in the early stages. They are certainly no Corbynistas. In fact, if there is a criticism it is siding too much with McSweeney and his anti-left agenda. It would also have been useful to have got an explanation as to why the hand picked 2024 intake of MPs - with the rooting out of anyone perceived to be vaguely Left - has resulted in such a rebellious Parliamentary Labour Party. The unsaid conclusion must be it has been due to Starmer's uniquely dysfunctional way of running government! Another area not addressed directly in the book is whether 2024 was like 1997 a time when Labour were bound to win, whoever they put up. The country was sick of the Tories and wanted them out. Both the Blairite apologists and those around McSweeney more recently have sort to build this myth that without radical change Labour could not have got elected. As a result, particularly with Starmer, the party has travelled policy light, bowing to all the neo-liberal shibioliths but basically pledging, while deploying the rhetoric of modernisation and change, to only manage the system better rather than replace it. The Corbyn years threatened to change the cosy arrangements but the forces within as well as without - as this book and the writers previous volume Left Out chronicle. Looking forward the quest now is whether a Burnham leadership will offer more of the same or genuine change. But I digress. Get In is a highly readable book, that exposes Starmer and McSweeney's Labour from the inside - fascinating for those who want to know how things ended up where they are today. And maybe where they are headed tomorrow.

Time to act on environmental catastrophe is running out

So the dust has settled on the local council elections in May. Labour retained control of Redbridge Council, taking 43 seats. The Independents (Your Party) got nine, the Greens and Tories five each. Thankfully only one seat for Reform. The Greens took Walthamstow Council from Labour. It will now be interesting to see if the Greens are greener in power than Labour - a big ask, especially in Waltham Forest. In Redbridge, the opposition parties will have to ensure that Labour steps up to the plate on the environment. In March, the Labour Council passed a nature emergency motion. Some suspected green washing but now is the time to prove the doubters wrong and deliver. A lot of the biodiversity gains in Redbridge have been due to the actions of residents and volunteer groups, like the Wrens, Wanstead Community Gardeners and the Friends of Wanstead Park. There has been the adoption of tree pits and creation of pollinator pathways (which include tree pits and stopping the use of pesticides in the streets). Unfortunately, there are just 10 pollinator pathways in 1800 roads in Redbridge. So, a long way to go. The concept of grow zones, where areas are allowed to run wild have been a success. Developments at Fairlop and Hainault Forest have also been encouraging. The concern though is that the council is happy to empower residents to act, just so long as it doesn't cost too much. What a real commitment to address climate and biodiversity emergencies requires is real funding and officer resources to make it happen. There also needs to be an overall effort to deepen and increase biodiversity.Too much of the borough has disappeared under concrete. Why not incentivise people to re-green their front and back gardens. Our gardens have huge potential for biodiversity - the creation of corridors and connection. There is a lot to do to really move forward on the environmental agenda. Nationally and internationally, the climate and biodiversity disasters attract a varying level of reaction. These go from Donald Trump's total denial that the disasters exist at all to the likes of Reform and the Tory Party in this country, who accept the problem but not prioritisation. Both target net zero policies as a bad thing, a luxury that cannot be afforded, whilst arms spending spirals upwards. The nihilist approach on fossil fuels like oil and gas underline the point. The country is too dependent on these energy sources, so instead of moving away from them to renewables, the Tories and Reform believe we need to double down on production. Turkeys voting for Christmas doesn't really cover it. So there are challenges at all levels. Pressure needs to be brought on national and local governments to accelerate programs to address climate and biodiversity emergencies. Denial is not an option. We must all act in different ways to bring about the change at local, national and international levels

Michael Rosen on great form for 80th birthday tour

Michael Rosen - Nice Rose Theatre, Kingston Author, poet, broadcaster and former children's laureate Michael Rosen was in cracking form at the Rose theatre for the start of his 80th birthday celebratory tour. Titled, Nice, the 60 minute show amounts to a quick run through life, with accompanying favourite poems, such as Hot Food, No Breathing and Chocolate Cake. Also, some from his new collection: Peas on Your Knees. Just honoured with the Hans Christian Andersen award for writing for his lifelong contribution to children's literature, Rosen enters his eighth decade in buoyant form. This is very much a show for the kids, with the former children's laureate immediately clicking onto their wavelength. The show is very interactive, with audience participation throughout. No recalling his long hospitalisation with COVID or the tragic death of his son Eddie.Both subjects of his last tour:Getting Through It. This is a light hearted trip through life. The odd signpost from his north London roots, such as saying his brother came south 40 years ago, he hadn't seen him since. And ofcourse Arsenal football club. Politics is limited to a dig at former education secretary Michael Gove, when he speaks of coming from the stone age. This section focusing on Rosen's age, sees him claim to be from 3,000 years old, so from the stone age. Time certainly flies with this show. A very enjoyable hour for all ages from the peoples poet. Next dates - 17/5 - Tunbridge Wells, 24/5 Norwich and 26/5 Cambridge. Tour ends next April.

4th Wanstead Beer Festival coming up on 10 October - and how about a micropub?

The fourth Wanstead Beer Festival (WBF) is nearly upon us. This year Christchurch halls and grounds will transform into a beer paradise for just one day - Saturday 10 October. So reserve the date, tickets will soon be on sale. It is intended to bring an even wider range of beers and ciders this time. There will also be a special Wanstead Beer Festival beer, brewed just for us by Sambrook breweries head brewer. So that's one to look out for. The aim is once again to keep costs down, so most beers will be around the £5 a pint mark. A few specials might be a bit more but they'll be worth it. Funds raised will again be split between three local good causes. The River Roding Trust has already been selected as one of these. Thanks also to the great support from local sponsors, pubs and breweries. So lots to look forward to. These, though, are tough times for the hospitality industry. Business rates, tax on alcohol, rising wages - all make the challenge of keeping going that much greater. The government has recently provided some relief to pubs but there is long way to go. A pub a day closed in England and Wales last year. One interesting development of recent years has been the growth of the micropub. These premises, often amount to not much more than a front room. They usually provide a number of local beers and ciders plus gin and wine. The food is basic, often something like scotch eggs or pasties. Also, often a ban on mobiles and other conversation averse technology is another plus. So, in some ways a beer festival type menu on a permanent basis. Micropubs began developing in Kent a few decades ago but have now spread all over the country. My own favourite is the Waterworks in Rye, Sussex. The Waterworks used to be a public toilet but it has transformed since 2018, winning many awards and plaudits. Micropubs seem less popular in London but surely their time is coming. The growing overheads and desire for a good value drink, plus great company, surely means a micro pub would work around here. Let's hope someone takes up the challenge. For now the WBF and our fine local pubs will have to suffice. But what these outlets prove is that there is a great demand for good ale, food and company. If you want all three in abundance come to the WBF on 10 October. * More info + tickets for the WBF at www.wansteadbeerfestival.co.uk

Great new take on One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest at the Old Vic

This excellent production of the 1960s classic One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest grips from the start. Clint Dyer's direction brings a new twist to the story, with a predominantly black cast and explosive energy throughout. The play starts with an allusion to Congo Square, New Orleans - a place of meeting for trade and expression for enslaved African Americans. A place that marked histories of resistance and culture in America. In the play, this very much comes out in the character of native American, Chief Bromden (Arthur Roan), whose past is subordinated in the disciplinarian atmosphere of the psychiatric hospital. He hides behind a pretence of deaf and dumbness, as a defence mechanism. It is only the anarchic antics of Randle P McMurphy (Aaron Pierre) that bring out the truth and Bromden's story of indigenous struggle. Pierre gives a virtuoso performance in the role made famous by Jack Nicholson in the 1975 film of Ken Kesey's book. Always on the edge, provoking and challenging what he sees as absurd rules. No utterance, though, of the classic line from the film : "medication time." Pierre creates a bustling, energetic, aggressive character but also manages to bring out an underlying vulnerability. This anarchic intent of McMurphy comes up against the authoritarian rule of Nurse Ratched (Olivia Williams). The two vying for control of the group. The power struggle is fascinating as it unfolds. There is, though, much humour to lighten the load in a play, that finally ends in tragedy. Strong tones of misogyny flow throughout the play, with for instance McMurphy's declaration that he "fights and fucks." The other characters are variously "victims" of overbearing mothers and neglectful wives. It is important, though, to remember, that Kesey's book came out in 1962 - a different time. Misogyny is ofcourse alive and well today. Dyer's direction keeps the whole play flowing with a real energy. The clever setting in the round means that the audience almost feels part of the play - patients in the hospital. Ben Stones minimalist set with the white and green tiled floor and perimeter marked with radiators brings that sense of constraint yet potential power to break out. An excellent adaptation of Kelsey's book, with power and control amid stifling group dynamics to the fore. Well worth seeing. Runs till 23 May

Review of You want what we've got - Big Tech v Big Journalism by Jason Whittaker

Published by Reaction Books £16.99 Jason Whittaker has produced a comprehensive and intriguing examination of the media world over recent decades. He plots how legacy (traditional) media has gone from a position of dominance and power in the early 1990s -with high advertising revenues bringing in big profits - to one of fading influence today. Whittaker outlines how the growth of Big Tech companies, with the technology but not the editorial content, led to the eclipse of much of the legacy media . So the scene is set of Big Tech companies rolling forward, swallowing up the content and ads revenue in a brave new world of disinformation. Whittaker highlights the period after 9/11 as being crucial for legacy media, when it effectively lost credibility and so the trust of people. The time of the dodgy dossier and failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq are described as the time when media failed to hold government to account and so became its propaganda wing. This ofcourse opened the door to claims of fake news. So Whittaker profoundly reflects that:. "Legacy media had poured fuel over the pyre of public trust and credibility. All it required now was an unscrupulous individual with a talent for social media to light the match." Enter Donald Trump/Elon Musk. He then goes onto unravel the free for all that developed. So where legacy media had concepts like balance and objectivity, as well as gatekeepers, the new media saw content as anything that attracts clicks. This would be determined by algorithms, thereby manipulating people's choices and opinions. By 2016, 50% of US adults turned to social media, rather than legacy for news. The evolution of the likes of Meta, Google, Twitter (later X) and Microsoft all come in for scrutiny. The final stages of the book enter the debate on AI. Interestingly, Whittaker views the technology as a possible aid to journalism if used and controlled properly. The need for gatekeepers is emphasised. What is most interesting about this book is that it points the way to a future for journalism.The world of fake news, where increasingly people don't believe what they are fed, will lead to a demand for authenticity. If media can regain trust, in some way, then it can provide that authentic voice. So some hope for the future. Criticism of this book would centre on its density. It is not an easy read, particularly getting bogged down in sections such as the one on AI. So whilst the thesis is a fascinating one, some of the execution could have done with a lighter touch. All the same, an interesting read, that raises many profound questions as to where the world of media and information goes from here.

Review of Bonfire of the insanities by John Crace

Published Guardian Faber £16.99 This latest hilarious collection of Guardian political sketch writer John Crace's columns covers the dying days of Rishi Sunak's Tory government through the first year of Keir Starmer's Labour. Crace really has to be one of the best satirical sketch writers around, shooting down the pomposity and incompetence of the political class in equal measure. The day to day terrain of the political sphere is laid bear, as the politicians stumble from crisis to mishap. He takes no prisoners, especially when it comes to the ineptitude of Sunak and his assorted ministers. The nick names given to different ministers seem particularly apt. So, James Cleverly becomes Jimmy Dimly.When assessing Cleverly's credentials as a contender in the Tory Party leadership contest, following the election defeat, Crace questions "what has Jimmy D ever done in government?" The answer:"Very little, apart from turning left into first class, when boarding aeroplanes on government business." In the same contest, there is "Honest Bob" (Robert Jenrick). "If the answer is Robert Jenrick then odds are you've been asking the wrong question," writes Crace. Crace heralds the return of "Lord Big Dave" (David Cameron) to government as Foreign Secretary. Summarised as: "Sunak searches the gene puddle of Tory talent..and finds David Cameron." Crace scythes through one calamity after another, from the flights to Rwanda to the "we'll leave them on the beaches" episode that saw the hapless Sunak depart the D-day commemoration early. Crace has much fun at the expense of Tory convert and later Reform defector Lee Anderson, asserting that he'd said:" Sadiq Khan had been taken over by Islamists and London was now being run by terrorists." Then as Anderson doubles down on his claims, Tory MPs get queasy."And while there are plenty of Tories willing to attest that they had personally seen the London mayor take part in the 7 October terrorist attack, there were still a few who thought that maybe - just maybe- Anderson had gone too far this time." And so the Tory trauma goes on, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt described as "someone unthreatening, if a bit useless." There is "literally nothing to him." Priti Patel "not just dim but dangerous with it." And finally, Kemikazi ((Kemi Badenoch), "the most divisive woman in politics." Someone "who hates the electorate almost as much as she hates her colleagues.And herself. She could start a fight with her reflection " There is a longing to see the back of Sunak and co. The election becomes a formality. Crace does betray a hope in the new Labour Government. He does seem to have swallowed some of the propaganda about the return of adults to government etc. One wonders if he was not something of a Keir Starmer fan in the run up to the election and early days of government. He probably, together with most at the Guardian, was not a Jeremy Corbyn fan. The first year of the Starmer government is chronicled with some hope and sympathy but this eventually reaches the same level of derision as was deployed with the Tories. So the Labour leading lights come under scrutiny. Starmer's boring demeanour and Angel of Death, Rachel Reeves come in for increasing ridicule. Health secretary Wes Streeting is described as: "one of those who always knows he's loved by everyone. By himself more than anyone." On the subject of Reform, Crace is beginning to turn his critical fire on the party as they become a looming political threat. Nigel Farage (Nige) is regularly described in charlatan terms, whilst no opportunity is wasted to link deputy Richard Tice to sun beds and fake tans. Described as:" a man you might find on the shopping channel, trying to flog you an air fryer, that would fall apart within a week." This book provides a highly entertaining romp through the period from October 2023 to last July. The problem ofcourse is that these things rapidly date. So reading the accounts of the dying days of Rishi Sunak in 2026 does seem a bit distant. And many of the calamities of Starmer are yet to come. Reading the column each week in it's first manifestation ofcourse does not suffer such an ageing process but it does when a number are brought together later in a chronology. All that said this is a great read from one of the funniest, wittiest, political writers around. The take downs can be excruciating, leaving the reader in fits but also wondering how did he get away with saying that. Great read, especially in these dark days.

West Ham, Spurs or someone else to face the drop from the Premier League come May

West Ham, Spurs or someone else to face the drop from the Premier League come May So, as the Premier League season enters the final stretch, the prospect of Championship football looms for either West Ham or Spurs. Both local clubs are deep in the relegation zone. The other teams involved, seeking to avoid the drop are Nottingham Forest and Wolves (Burnley and Wolves can be taken, as gone). It will come as a rude shock to West Ham or Spurs supporters to be hosting Championship football in their vast stadiums should either drop out of the top league. So how has this sorry situation come to pass? Well, both teams have been on the managerial roundabout for the past two seasons. The biggest mistake the owners of West Ham have made was getting rid of manager David Moyes in the summer of 2024. The previous season the club won the Europa Conference League. In Moyes final season, they finished ninth and got to the quarter finals of the Europa League. Moyes is now managing Everton, who sit in mid table, pushing upwards. West Ham appointed former Wolves manager, Julen Lopetegui, who never looked happy in the role. He lasted half a season. Then, came former Chelsea and Brighton coach, Graham Potter. He seemed to steady things, ensuring Premiership safety but then things went backwards at the start of this season. Goodbye Potter, hello, former Notts Forest and Spurs manager, Nuno Espirito Santo. It took him sometime to settle things down but he now seems to have the team going in the right direction. The fans like Nuno but there is a growing campaign against joint owner David Sullivan and chief executive Karen Brady. Many have never forgiven the duo for taking the club away from it's iconic ground at Upton Park. There has also been some bad recruitment. Spurs demise is difficult to fathom. Winners of the Europa League last season, the club seemed to take a leaf out of the West Ham book of mismanagement, then, getting rid of manager Ange Postecoglou. Enter, former Brentford manager Thomas Frank. Things seemed to go well to begin with but then results turned and Spurs have been in freefall since Christmas. Frank was sacked, and replaced with Igor Judge on an interim basis. His tenure though has been no better. He was sacked after 44 days in charge. All of the sides in the relegation scrap, bar Leeds, have had multiple managers this season. Notts Forest top the list with four (Espirito Santo started managing Notts Forest before moving to West Ham), Spurs next with three and West Ham two. So what will happen? Spurs have a better quality squad than West Ham but at time of writing the players don't seem to want to play for the club. West Ham have a good spirit amongst their squad but are overly reliant on two or three players. There is a basic lack of quality and inconsistency. The ideal of ofcourse would be that both survive, which is quite feasible. Indeed, it is that scenario, with Leeds or Notts Forest taking the final relegation place that I would favour. That though will depend on Spurs players coming together for the club and West Ham showing much more consistency - the next few games will be vital.

Grass roots movements are demanding action in areas like water and the natural environment

The recent Channel 4 drama Dirty Business exposed the scandal that is the privatised water industry. Literally thousands of gallons of sewage being poured into our waterways. The damage caused to humans and wildlife. The privatisation of water has been a disaster since it took place in 1989. People were sold the lie that privatisation would bring money and expertise into the sector. The reverse occurred, less money spent on infrastructure, so no reservoirs built, leaks not fixed and sewage pumping into the seas and rivers. Meanwhile, the companies paid out generous dividends to shareholders and piled up debt. It is difficult to see why people cannot see the futility of privatising public utilities. The privateers want one thing -profit. Privatisation offers a great opportunity to asset strip and operate monopolies on vital services. The pattern is well known: sell off assets (often property), the cost to consumers goes up and services gets worse. It has been seen with water, the railways and most recently Royal Mail, yet still this madness continues. Water needs to be renationalised with proper regulation. Dirty Business exposed the ineffectual nature of the Environment Agency, which seems to have an unhealthily close relationship with the water companies it is supposed to regulate. The good news is that people are fighting back and taking control. Dirty Business, features the Windrush Against Sewage Pollution and Surfers Against Sewage. There are many of these type of groups springing up across the country. Here, there is the River Roding Trust (RRT). The growth and influence of this group has been a wonder to behold. Wren members, who attended the recent AGM, will have heard Paul Powesland's inspirational account of how he got involved and fell in love with the river. RRT members take action on the river, monitoring sewage leaks, clearing rubbish and planting trees on the borders. One recent action saw members clear out and recover the Aldersbrook. What is for sure is that the Roding now has a strong group of guardians, looking out for its welfare. Thames Water and the Environment Agency will not be allowed to ignore their responsibilities anymore, on this stretch of water. The Wren Group ofcourse fulfill a similar role with Wanstead Park and the Flats. The Wrens do practical work alongside Epping Forest staff. They also have a significant voice in the management of the area. These type of groups proliferate in this area. So there is Friends of Wanstead Park and the Wanstead Community Gardeners all playing different roles. The growing concern of people about the environment has been reflected in the support for the Nature Emergency called by Redbridge Council in January. An inaugural meeting, attended by over 100 people, to get things moving, took place at In llford library last month (march). Expectancy levels are high. So, much is happening, a real grass roots movement, fired by direct action and demanding results is taking shape. It would be very silly for politicians and other decision makers to take these people for granted. They expect not simply to do voluntary work and get a pat on the head for their troubles. Taking these actions comes with a price which is a real voice in making decisions effecting our natural heritage. The time for talking has long past. People want action, starting with cleaning up our waterways and addressing the biodiversity crisis.Voters at the upcoming council elections will be looking to elect those genuinely committed to bringing about such change. The time for sitting on the fence has long since passed. Onward.

Leeds edge past West Ham on penalties to secure semi-final at Wembley - 2-2 (4-2 pens)

Leeds emerged eventual winners of this gripping FA cup quarter final, after a penalty shoot out at the London Stadium. Leeds began the game more brightly, with Noah Okafor drawing an early save out of home stopper Alphonse Areola, who pushed his shot round the post. West Ham then came close, when a Jarrod Bowen pull back was touched on by Taty Castellanos but keeper Lucas Perri pushed away. Perri then saved from Bowen, after he had been put in by the industrious Adama Traore. Leeds took the lead when James Austin set Okafor off down the right, his cross was collected by Ao Tanaka, who was allowed space to twist and fire home, via a deflection off the bar. Castellanos then saw his effort on the half volley go just over the bar. In the second half, Castellanos was unlucky to see his header come back off the post, from an Adama cross. All looked lost for West Ham, when the referee awarded a penalty, after a VAR intervention ruled that Maximilian Kilman had fouled the Leeds player in the box. Dominic Calvert Lewis converted the resulting penalty. Some of the unsympathetic home fans then booed Kilman for the rest of the game - hardly a way to install confidence. All seemed lost, as the game entered added time. But first, a Bowen shot came back of the post into the path of Mateus Fernandes, who fired home. Then, a Fernandes cross was prodded home by Axel Disasi. Extra time. West Ham dominated extra time, having two goals disallowed for offside. The first, when keeper Perri came out and headed on, only for Castellanos to slide home, was most perplexing. The offside came earlier in the play when Castellanos strayed inches offside. The second, a Bowen shot coming back off a post to be finished by Pablo. Again, offside. West Ham stopper Areola, then had to go off being replaced by rookie Finlay Herrick. He endured a debit of fire, facing the penalty shoot out. He saved the first but misses by Bowen and Pablo saw Leeds go through to a semi-final against Chelsea. West Ham were left to rue what might have been. West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo felt his side showed great character under pressure. "We must now keep going," he said.

In the Print at Kings Head Theatre

This entertaining play covers the duration of the year long Wapping dispute, between 1986 and 1987, focusing on key players Brenda Dean, general secretary of the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT) and Rupert Murdoch. Dean played nicely by Claudia Jolly and Alan Cox as a surly Murdoch dominate proceedings, jousting over the issues at stake. Other characters come and go. So there is Russell Bentley as foul mouthed Sun editor Kelvin McKenzie and Alasdair Harvey as urbane Sunday Times Editor Andrew Neill. Writers, Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky, who previously wrote Gang of Three, nicely capture the conflictual relationship between Dean and Murdoch. So there is Murdoch, who wants change at any cost, seeing more profit for him as progress. Dean, on the other hand, is not opposed to change but wants it done more humanely. The difficulty of Dean's position is illustrated in a sub plot about the unions being able to use the News International equipment to produce a left of centre paper "between the Guardian and Morning Star." The Labour Party director of communication agrees. "Peter's (Mandelson) a man you can trust," says Murdoch, to much mirth in the audience. But Dean wants to produce the paper using the traditional print methods, only to be informed by the union lawyer Joan Harrison (Georgia Landers) that it would at best last a year. Dean probably receives a generous treatment in the play, given that her role was certainly not approved by all in the trade union movement. Some felt she sold out and were suspicious of her secret meetings with Murdoch. After the dispute, SOGAT merged with the National Graphical Association, with Dean losing out to Tony Dubbins in the election for leader. She stayed in the role for a year, then went to the Lords in 1992. The depiction of Murdoch is spot on, seeing himself as some sort of industrial evangelist for the newspaper industry. Winning and profit being all that matters, people have no value. This is nicely underlined by the sight of Murdoch destroying all around him. So his right hand fixer is sacked, while Andrew Neill is moved out of the Sunday Times. "Andrew Neill is someone you must kill with kindness. But make sure he is dead,"is one memorable line. Even Eric Hammond, general secretary of the Electrical Electronic Telecommunication & Plumbing union, who worked with Murdoch to undermine the other unions is described as "duplicitous" and so expendable. Overall, this is an enjoyable play, never going too deep into the detail of the dispute but managing to set it in the the wider context of struggle between organised labour and the Thatcher government. The cut and thrust between characters is lightened with witty dialogue and a little slapstick. Director, Josh Roche, keeps the 90 minute narrative (no interval) moving at a good pace. Well worth watching to get an insight on the past 1980s industrial struggles, including the mendacity that led Murdoch to dominate the media terrain of the next 40 years. Most enjoyable. * Till 3 May

Why did BBC not cover 500k anti-far right march in main news programs?

Some 500,000 people march and rally in London against the far right - most would think, a major story for national broadcast networks, but not the BBC. The British state broadcaster failed to cover the march in its main national bulletins (5.30 and 10.10pm) on the day. A car crash involving American golfer Tiger Woods and a variety of sporting events were considered to have more news value. The BBC did cover the march on its regional version BBC London and online. Other broadcasters, such as ITV and Channel 4 mentioned the event, though not in depth. Public order seems to be the editorial framework adopted for such events. Ironically, the event organised by the Together Alliance was in response to the surge of the far right in the UK, as typified by a rally organised in London by Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley Lennon) and addressed by Elon Musk last year By contrast, this drew blanket coverage across the media. So, what is going on at the BBC? There has been a dumbing down of news going on for some years. This has, particularly, seen sport becoming a premier staple of coverage. But beyond this there has been an Americanisation of coverage, with viewers no doubt wondering at times, whether this country has become the 51st state of the US without their knowledge. What is alarming is the way in which the BBC has helped the advance of Reform and the far right, sometimes just by omission - as with the march. Increasingly, Reform politicians are being normalised as acceptable alternatives for government. At its worst, this approach treats the prospect of Nigel Farage as PM as an inevitability, rather than a possibility. A party of just 8 MPs (four of whom are defectors from the Conservatives) is offered the opportunity to comment on everything. There is no shortage of the oxygen of publicity. Take the BBCs flagship program Question Time. Reform or apologists for the party are given a place on the panel nearly every week. The exposure and treatment is far more favourable than for the Liberal Democrats (71 MPs) or Greens (5 MPs). Indeed, it is interesting to contrast the favourable coverage given to Reform with the hostile approach to the other rising force of the moment: the Greens. The hostility to the Greens and leader Zack Polanski is reminiscent of the approach taken to the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn. The BBC hides behind it's charter and claims of the need for balance. This seems to now border on the absurd. Why for instance do programs like Question Time , Newsnight and news bulletins feel the need to give platforms to so many commentators from the far right. These programs literally provide second jobs for many at GBNews,the Telegraph and Sun. The great irony of ofcourse being that this group would all favour abolition of the BBC as a licence fee funded broadcaster forthwith. The most absurd recent interpretation of balance from the BBC concerned climate change, when for years the science was clear but the Corporation insisted on treating fossil fuel industry backed skeptics on an equal billing with those warning of the dangers. The BBC eventually caught up with reality, after much criticism of its position. The new Direct General Matt Brittin needs to take a long hard look at where the Corporation is positioning itself. It has made huge errors in the past, which need facing up to and addressing. Among these were it's part in demonising Corbyn and the climate change position. The promotion of Reform is the latest manifestation of such editorial misjudgement. The BBC needs to find a backbone and reconnect with it's founding principles of truth, neutrality and balance. At present it seems determined to normalise the abnormal, which could result in the far right taking power here very soon.

Review of Ruth at the Wilton Music Hall

This excellently crafted musical about the life and death of Ruth Ellis grips throughout. Ellis, the last woman executed in Britain, in 1955 has been a controversial subject over the years. Her family are still seeking justice. In this version, there is the double take with Ellis in her prison cell in dialogue with executioner Albert Pierrepoint. He is excellently played in fatherly fashion by Ian Puleston-Davies. Meanwhile, the story of Ellis's life go on in the split stage all around. Ellis is played by Bibi Simpson in the cell and Hannah Traylen during the life story. Mel-Li Yap plays Ellis as a child. There are also excellent performances from Connor Payne as abusive partner David Blakeley and John Faal as unrequited lover Desmond Cussen. Andy Morgan and Denise Silvey do an excellent job directing and producing this musical, keeping a nice pace and interlocking the scenes well into a strong narrative. The set design from Nicolai Hart-Hansen is clever managing to use a small space to create multifaceted story telling. The depiction brings a certain Marilyn Monroe imagery to the Ellis portrayal, particularly, the cell scenes. The musical essentially revolves around the two relationships. The first, abusive one, with racing driver David Stanley, the second with Pierrepoint for 21 hours in the cell before execution. The double standards of the 1950s are clear for all to see. The power imbalance between men and women, with the violence, control and patriarchal judgement all evident. There is a chilling parallel with society today. The songs ring out, illustrating the dialogue. One particular effective tune by the "working girls" brings down the lawyers and judge, who also happen to be clients. The Pierrepoint interchange delves into the iniquities of capital punishment. Ellis referring to the executions of innocent men Derek Bentley and Timothy Evans, while Pierrepoint insists there must be a deterrent. Though, Pierrepoint later, in response to Ellis's admission of killing one person, says he has killed over 400. The Pierrepoint scene ofcourse is a total fiction,seeing him interceding with the Home Office to try and get clemency for Ellis. In reality, there was a 50,000 petition but then Home Secretary, Gwilyam Lloyd George, rejected it. The hanging of Ellis, though, is said to have deeply effected Pierrepoint. He did his final execution two weeks later. Ruth is an excellent production, taking a well known story and introducing a number of more contemporary themes. The interchange of dialogue and music works well to bring a strong narrative to life. Well worth seeing. Runs till 28 March.

Labour needs to address its problems with Islam and specifically Gaza

The Labour Party seems to have a problem with Islam. Nowhere was this clearer than in the recent Gorton & Denton by-election, where the Greens picked up many ethnic minority votes, from those who would previously have voted Labour. On Gaza, the party was feeble in its approach, once Israel began it's onslaught. The approach being one of unquestioning backing for the Conservative governments unconditional support of Israel and all it did - following the attacks of 7 October on that country. The party responded harshly towards MPs, councillors and members, who stepped out of line. Motions condemning what was going on in Gaza were blocked. Councils remained largely silent. This, particularly, did not go down well in areas with large Muslim populations. There was a growing perception that the leadership was far more concerned about anti-Semitism than Islamaphobia. They are twin evils. The alienation of the Muslim population from the Labour Party was clearly evidenced at the last general election. Independents got elected, as the Muslim electorate left Labour. Locally, Ilford North MP, Wes Streeting scraped home by 500 votes - up against Independent Leane Mohammed. His majority cut from over 5,000. In neighbouring Ilford South, former council leader Jas Athwal saw the majority of 24,000 won by his predecessor Sam Tarry, cut to 6,894. The runner up was Independent, Noor Begum, who subsequently took Athwal's vacated council seat - one of the safest in Redbridge. The problem continues to fester. Senior Labour figures recognise a problem but it is difficult to see what is being done to address it. The Labour Government has certainly been better than it's Tory predecessors on Gaza, condemning much of what has gone on and recognising Palestine as a state. However, the government was slow to do anything about weapons being supplied to Israel. Adding to all of the problems the party has at present, the estrangement of so many voters over the issue of Gaza is likely to badly impact in the upcoming council elections. Some politicians who remained silent for so long seem to have found their voices on the issue. But the recent suggestion following the Gorton & Denton by-election that those who voted Green were extremists did nothing to help. The Greens did address Muslim and others concerns, communicating sensitively with some communications in Erdu - a major reason why they won. A lot more needs to be done, if the Labour Party is to heal the rift with the Muslim community. Some honesty on Gaza about what the Party got right and wrong would help. Also, to reassure Muslims and other ethnic minorities that the Labour Party still welcomes them. Less Reform light, especially on immigration. Failure to address these problems will see the split with these groups grow ever wider. And the electoral cost, especially in areas where Labour majorities were substantially reduced at the last general could prove catastrophic. The May regional and council elections offer an early test, where many councillors seem likely to pay the price for their long term silence on Gaza. What happens next is up to those in the Labour Party.